An SEC First

Millspaugh is first recipient of MU's SEC Faculty Achievement Award

Written by · April 23, 2013

Joshua J. Millspaugh, Pauline O’Connor Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Management, was chosen as the first recipient of the University of Missouri’s Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award.

This annual award recognizes one professor from each of the 14 SEC member universities who have meritorious records in teaching and scholarship and who serve as role models for other faculty and students.

To be eligible to receive the SEC Faculty Achievement Award, a professor must be a teacher or scholar at an SEC university; have achieved the rank of full professor at an SEC university; have a record of extraordinary teaching; and have a record of scholarship that is recognized nationally and/or internationally.

Josh MillspaughMillspaugh will receive a $5,000 honorarium from the SEC and will become MU’s nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award.

Millspaugh has published approximately 170 journal articles and book chapters, as well as four books. He has received The Wildlife Society Best Article Award, the Missouri Department of Conservation “Outstanding Research Collaborator” award, and was named the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Teacher of the Year in 2008. His research has been highlighted on NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Evening News, the History Channel and PBS.

“The most rewarding thing about my research is the opportunity to work with students and watch them develop,” Millspaugh said. “I also really enjoy working with management agencies, like the Missouri Department of Conservation and seeing what the students and department develop and how they are implemented.”

Millspaugh and his students do research work in Missouri, as well as western states and South Africa. Millspaugh is leading the research on the ecology and management of reintroduced elk in Missouri. In Wyoming, he is leading a study to investigate the effects of wind energy development on sage-grouse. Millspaugh is also researching elephant movements and stress physiology from ecotourism in South Africa.

Originally from New York, Millspaugh moved to Columbia to take a position as an assistant professor after receiving his Ph.D. in 1999 from the University of Washington. Millspaugh, his wife Rami and their three-year-old son Owen enjoy spending time in the cabin they built in New York.

“I love the culture here at Mizzou,” Millspaugh said. “I especially love the culture of CAFNR. The faculty and staff truly care about the students and teaching. That is hard to find in a big research institute. I am so thankful for the wonderful support network in the administrative side of CAFNR, from the Dean to the department chair. CAFNR has been a great place for me to develop a career.”