EL PASO – Dr. Ari Michelsen of El Paso was honored recently at a Regents Professor and Fellow Service Awards banquet, hosted by Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp in College Station.
The awards recognize faculty members and agency professionals who have made outstanding contributions to their university or agency and the people of Texas and beyond, according to Sharp.
Michelsen, resident director at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research in El Paso, was the recipient of a Regents Fellow Service Award.
Sharp recognized Michelsen for his research on improving the effectiveness of agricultural and residential water conservation programs, creation of water markets, and the valuation of water resources. Michelsen also was cited for establishing the economic impact of endangered species from water acquisition programs and air and water quality regulations and the development and use of decision support systems for water management and policy analysis in the U.S., China and Chile.
Michelsen was also applauded for chairing a curriculum development for a graduate degree in interdisciplinary water resources planning. The degree program has been adopted at Harvard, Johns Hopkins University and the universities of Arizona and Florida, according to the citation.
Michelsen has published more than 140 articles and technical reports and has presented his findings in national and international meetings.
The Board of Regents established the naming of Regents Professors in 1996. The Regents Fellow Service Awards were added in 1998 to recognize exceptional service by professionals in the seven Texas A&M System agencies.
More than 165 faculty members have been named Regents Professors and more than 95 agency professionals have been named Regents Fellows. Honorees receive a $9,000 stipend.
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