Nine USask faculty members named distinguished professors

Nine University of Saskatchewan (USask) faculty members have been awarded the title of distinguished professor, a designation that honours and celebrates outstanding achievements in research, scholarly, and artistic work.

“On behalf of the University of Saskatchewan, I congratulate our esteemed colleagues who have been awarded the distinguished professor designation during the 2023/24 academic year,” said Professor Airini, USask’s provost and vice-president academic.

“In the University Plan 2025, USask has articulated the bold ambition to be the university the world needs. These nine distinguished professors now join those recognized previously for having made a significant impact locally, nationally, and internationally through their outstanding research, scholarly, and artistic work.”

Professors emeriti and current USask faculty members who hold academic qualifications corresponding with an appointment at the rank of full professor are eligible for appointment to the distinguished professor position. Recipients of this lifetime award become distinguished professors emeriti upon retirement.

“On the selection committee, I was joined by senior leaders, faculty, and members of the community. We examined submissions for evidence of meaningful impact on and off campus,” said Dr. Scott Walsworth (PhD), vice-provost, faculty relations. “The nine new distinguished professors represent the best qualities of faculty at our leading university.”

This year’s distinguished professors are Dr. Gregg Adams (DVM, PhD), Dr. Barry Blakley (DVM, PhD), Dr. John Gordon (PhD), Dr. Jim Handy (PhD), Dr. Jill E. Hobbs (PhD), Dr. Vikram Misra (PhD), Dr. Vivan R. Ramsden (PhD), Professor Susan Shantz, and Dr. Terry Wotherspoon (PhD).

Hobbs, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in economics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and her Master of Arts degree in economics at the University of Calgary before completing her PhD in agricultural economics at the University of Aberdeen in 1995. Her research interests include food policy, supply chain economics, and consumer behaviour in agri-food markets, which has led to research examining issues such as supply chain resilience, the economics of food safety and traceability, transaction costs in agri-food supply chains, consumer trust and attitudes toward novel food products and technologies, the policy environment for health foods, and the international regulation of gene editing technologies in agriculture.

Hobbs is a nationally and internationally renowned expert in agricultural and food supply chains and a highly sought-after advisor for industry, producer groups, and government. She has built a prestigious research program with support from many sources, including Tri-Council funding, and has written 133 papers and eight books. Hobbs and her students have received more than 180 invitations to speak at global events, including keynote addresses in Europe and Canada.

Hobbs has held visiting appointments at San Diego State University, the University of Reading, and Bournemouth University. She held an honorary chair at Aberystwyth Business School, Aberystwyth University, from 2014-2019. Her research has been recognized with awards, including the Publication of Enduring Quality Award from the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society in 2016 and 2019, and a Top Cited and Downloaded Article Award from Wiley Publishing in 2020 and 2022. She was nominated for the Agricultural Students’ Association Instructor of the Year award in fall 2022 and fall 2023. She actively contributes to the academic community through appointments and professional services and, in 2017, was appointed as a fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society—the most significant recognition from the agricultural economics discipline in Canada.

For the full story, visit news.usask.ca.