BROOKINGS – Madhav Nepal’s relationship with the Botanical Society of America dates nearly 15 years. While his roles have changed over the years from member to program director and eventually chair, he did not expect to be honored for his service.
Nepal received the Samuel Noel Postlethwait Award for service to its teaching section at the society’s national convention in Rochester, Minnesota, in July.
The Postlethwait Award is given in honor of Samuel N. Postlethwait, the Botanical Society of America’s first Bessey Award winner and pioneer of the audio tutorial system of instruction in 1961. Postlethwait served as the chair of the BSA’s Teaching Section in 1962 and chair of the BSA Education Committee from 1966-68 and 1982-83.
Nepal is the 11th winner of the Postlethwait Award, which was established in 1992.
“I wasn’t expecting this award. The people who have received it have been outstanding leaders of this society for most of their professional lives, not nearly 15 years like me,” said Nepal, an associate professor in the College of Natural Sciences’ Department of Biology and Microbiology.
“I was honored when someone contacted me for information to be nominated. Part of me hoped my work would allow me to be nominated in 10 years, not now. I’m just so, so honored to be recognized and to receive this award,” he said.
Nepal has served on the BSA’s teaching section for six years. He began his service to the section as vice chair and program director (2012-15) and then became chair (2015-18).
“Dr. Nepal has contributed to the society through his leadership in the teaching section, which underscores his passion and commitment to broader impacts of the discipline,” said Gordon Uno, the past president of Botanical Society of America and professor of plant biology and the David Ross Boyd Professor of Botany at University of Oklahoma. “Madhav has brought a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the society and has contributed over 45 presentations sharing results from his disciplinary research as well as botanical education.
“He has presided over multiple paper and poster sessions of the teaching section at the annual conference,” Uno continued. “Madhav has been involved in symposia and colloquia review and selection for the society, and has sponsored multiple symposia including on evolution and broadening participation.”
In addition, Nepal has been credited for revitalizing SDSU’s chapter of Sigma Xi and Gamma Sigma Delta, which has received three national recognitions under his leadership.
SDSU photo
