People, papers and presentations

Kevin Kirby, vice president for administration, is this year’s winner of the Student Association Mentor Recognition Award, which recognizes “extraordinary service to the student body as an adviser, counselor, teacher or friend.” Leo Costello, assistant professor of art history, and Helena Michie, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of English, are recipients of the Graduate Student Association Faculty Teaching/Mentoring Award, which recognizes “demonstrated commitment to graduate education and teaching graduate students.”

Maria Meza-Lopez, graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology, won the first-place oral presentation in ecology, environmental and Earth sciences for “Apple Snails (Pomacea maculata) Facilitate Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Invasion, But No Evidence of Invasional Meltdown Occurs in Wetland Communities.” She presented at the 2013 Emerging Researchers National Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Feb. 28-March 2 in Washington, D.C.