Kim Kidwell, Executive Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, has been elected a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA).
Kidwell will receive a 2016 Fellow Award at the Society’s Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz., in November.
The Fellow Award is the highest recognition bestowed by the CSSA, an international scientific society that fosters plant science for a better world. Members nominate recipients based on achievements and meritorious service. Fewer than a dozen fellows are named each year.
“Being a fellow validates the efforts and contributions I have made to the discipline and the Society over the duration of my career,” Kidwell said. “It means a tremendous amount to me.”
In 2003, Kidwell received the CSSA’s Young Crop Scientist Award, which recognized her early contributions.
“That award predicted that I would do good things to support agriculture as my career progressed,” Kidwell said.
“Thirteen years later, the society has validated for me that what they predicted was actually true,” she added. “This is an honor that I greatly appreciate and deeply respect.”
Kim Campbell, a USDA researcher and adjunct professor in the WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, nominated Kidwell for the honor.
“Dr. Kidwell is a great friend who works hard at her craft, and strives to promote excellence among young people in the field of crop science,” said Campbell.
Serving farmers and training leaders
Starting her career at WSU in 1994, Kidwell served for 15 years as the university’s spring wheat breeder, developing more than 20 wheat varieties for Washington farmers.
As an instructor, Kidwell created one of the most popular classes at WSU: Human Development 205, which uses hands-on experiences to build students’ communication and leadership skills.
As executive associate dean and associate dean of academic programs, Kidwell guided efforts to redesign classes to better serve students. She spearheaded development of the WSU Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership (CTLL), which provides beyond-the-classroom experiences for students and leadership development for graduate students and professionals. Kidwell continues to teach CTLL courses.
Kidwell served as acting dean of the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, the largest college in the WSU system, during the 2015-2016 academic year.
• Learn more about Kidwell’s work here.
• Learn more about the Crop Science Society of America here.