COSAM News Articles 2022 April Karen McNeal named Auburn University’s 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Winner

Karen McNeal named Auburn University’s 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Winner

Published: 04/10/2022

For Karen McNeal, it just means more.

McNeal, the William P. Molette Endowed Professor in the Department of Geosciences, is a 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Award Winner.

One of just 14 people, McNeal represents Auburn University for her outstanding work and impactful contributions to the university.

“I am proud to represent Auburn University as the 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Award Winner,” McNeal said. “It is an amazing honor to be recognized and to see the difference we are making by helping to create a more climate resilient future.”

McNeal, who is been awarded more than $25 million in research grants, is the primary investigator for Auburn’s very first grant from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Graduate Education’s NRT Program that focuses on training the next generation of scientists focused on climate resiliency.

This highly competitive $3 million award gives her the opportunity to lead an exceptional interdisciplinary team within the Colleges of Sciences and Mathematics, Agriculture and Forestry and Wildlife Sciences.

McNeal, who joined Auburn in 2016, embodies the land-grant mission of the university. Her grants have not only impacted research and shaped the future for graduate students, but have given back to the community through meaningful educational outreach.

“It really does mean more when your work can help make a difference to future generations,” McNeal said. “We are increasing the awareness of the changes to our climate that ultimately impacts everyone. The research that our team is working on aims to improve how people in the state of Alabama understand and respond to changes in our environment.”

The SEC Faculty Achievement Award is given to faculty for excellence in an array of areas including focusing on teaching at the undergraduate level and their record of research.

“The proliferation of data in Earth and environmental Sciences has created challenges and exciting opportunities for subject matter experts to learn, communicate, and educate. Dr. McNeal’s work makes scientific data understandable and meaningful to students, teachers, policy makers, and the general public,” said Ming-Kuo Lee, chair of the Department of Geosciences. “The SEC Faculty Achievement Award represents a well-deserved honor for Dr. McNeal for her remarkable achievements in establishing a nationally known geosciences education research program at Auburn.”

For McNeal, this award showcases how faculty can make a difference in the lives of students, while enhancing the level of research and positively impacting the local community.