Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Miguel Mora, 979-845-5777, mmora@tamu.edu
SAN ANTONIO – Dr. Miguel Mora, professor in Texas A&M University’s department of wildlife and fisheries sciences at College Station, was honored with the 2013 Distinguished Scientist Award by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, or SACNAS, during their National Conference and Special 40th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 3-6 in San Antonio.
Dr. Miguel Mora (Courtesy Photo)
Mora’s honor was presented during the Oct. 5 Lunch Plenary Session at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. He received the honor based on his work in training diversity students. According to an organizational news release, Mora is recognized worldwide for his accomplishments in ecotoxicology with more than 70 journal publications to his credit. He was joined by four other scientists, program directors and mentors who were nominated by those who have been influenced by their work. They were then selected by a committee of their peers.
Mora established the Texas A&M SACNAS Student Chapter in 2009 and serves as the chapter’s advisor. He is a former SACNAS board member and Life Member, and served the society as the nominations committee chair and co-chair for nearly 10 years.
A native of Mexico, Mora received master’s and doctorate degrees in ecology from the University of California, Davis, then held a postdoctoral research position at Michigan State University. Mora then worked as a research wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey for 15 years prior to accepting his current position in 2007.
The other honorees were:
– Dr. Maria Cristina Villalobos, professor, University of Texas-Pan Am, 2013 Distinguished Undergraduate Institution Mentor Award.
– Dr. Renato J. Aguilera, professor, University of Texas at El Paso, 2013 Distinguished Research Mentor Award.
– Dr. Robert Urtecho, College of the Sequoias, 2013 Community College Mentor Award.
–Dr. Jacquelyn Bolman, Humboldt State University, California.
SACNAS is a society “dedicated to fostering the success of Hispanics/Chicano and Native American scientists-from college students to professionals-to attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in science,” according to their mission statement.
For more on SACNAS, see http://sacnas.org/about/our-history .
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