Entomologist named Distinguished University Professor

COLUMBUS – An internationally renowned entomologist received The Ohio State University's highest faculty honor at Friday's meeting (6/7) of the Board of Trustees.

David L. Denlinger was designated a Distinguished University Professor by Barbara R. Snyder, executive vice president and provost. He will receive an additional annual budget of $10,000 for three years to support his academic work, and he will become a member of the President's and Provost's Advisory Council.

Denlinger, a member of Ohio State's faculty since 1976, has served as chair of the Department of Entomology for more than 10 years and is regarded as one of the world's leading environmental insect physiologists. His discoveries on how insects survive harsh weather offer new tools for controlling insect populations and for better understanding the regulation of animal development. His research has profoundly impacted agriculture, the environment and human health.

In 2004, Denlinger was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the premier scientific society in the United States. He also has been named a fellow of the Royal Society, the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Entomological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Additionally, Denlinger serves on three editorial boards, and has been the editor of the Journal of Insect Physiology since 1993.

The Distinguished University Professor title is awarded permanently to no more than three exceptional faculty per year. Honorees are nominated by their colleagues, both at Ohio State and internationally, and outside evaluators are invited to assess each nominee's academic accomplishments. Since the professorships were first awarded in 1987, only 32 faculty members have received the title.