Meteorology and Horticulture alumnae, Katharine Perry, named as Penn State Alumni Fellow

University Park, PA (May 19, 2004)

Katharine Perry

Katharine Browne Perry ('74 Meteorology, '76 and '79 Horticulture), professor and senior vice provost for academic affairs at North Carolina State University, has been selected by the Penn State Alumni Association to receive a 2004 Alumni Fellow Award.

Katherine "Katie" Perry received her bachelor's degree in meteorology from Penn State under the direction of professor Dennis W. Thomson and then decided to remain at Penn State to pursue her master's and doctoral degrees in horticulture. Katie's educational background has provided her with a unique level of expertise that meshes both the atmospheric sciences and agriculture. While studying at Penn State, Katie met her husband, Steven Perry, who was completing his Ph.D. in meteorology at the same time.

Those who know Katie have glowing accounts of her personal demeanor and character and are not surprised to see her career flourish. Katie moved through the ranks at NC State starting as extension specialist in 1980. By 1992, she was promoted to full professor and also served as the department extension leader until 1998. In 1998, Katie was promoted to assistant dean for administration, and in mid-2003 she served briefly as associate dean for administration until later that year when she assumed her current position as the senior vice provost for academic affairs.

Katie's expertise was invaluable to North Carolina's small tree and fruit industry and in building North Carolina State's agricultural weather program. Her contributions to both the earth sciences and the agricultural community have been recognized by a number of organizations. A few of these accolades include the 2002 Leadership and Administration Award by the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS)-Southern Region, the ASHS Extension Publication Award in recognition of the most outstanding paper on horticultural extension published by the Society in 1998, the 1996 North Carolina Cooperative Extension Leadership Award, the 1971 U. S. Department of Commerce Special Achievement Award, and two American Society of Agricultural Engineering Blue Ribbons in the Educational Aids Competition (1994 and 1995). In 1996, Katie was honored by Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences as a Centennial Fellow, and in 1999 she was selected as a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science. Katie is an active member on many professional societies, such as the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, the American Meteorological Society, the American Society for Horticultural Science, the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science and the Central N. C. Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. She is also a current board member of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).

Katie was jointly nominated for the 2004 Alumni Fellow Award by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences. The Penn State Alumni Association will recognize her with this prestigious award in October and both colleges will invite her to participate in activities with the students and faculty during her visit to Penn State.

The Alumni Fellow Award is the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association. Since 1973, it has been given to select alumni who, as leaders in their professional fields, are nominated by an academic college and return to the University to share their expertise with students, faculty, and administrators.

Questions or comments? Contact: Lynn Persing (814) 863-8568.

Last Updated: June 28, 2004

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A department in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
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