AMES, Iowa — Mike Weber has been named the Harmon Family Professor in Forestry in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University.
Weber, a natural resource ecology and management assistant professor, was awarded the professorship in a medallion ceremony on Sept. 12. He joined Iowa State in 2012 and has taught courses ranging from fishery management to marine ecology.
Weber has worked with a variety of aquatic systems including ponds, shallow lakes, large reservoirs, rivers and the Laurentian Great Lakes. He uses an integrated approach of field experiments, experimental manipulation and modeling to address research questions. His research provides an increased understanding of aquatic ecosystem structure and function that ultimately enhances fisheries management practices.
The professorship is named for Wendell Harmon, a nationally recognized forestry expert. The professorship was established by a gift from his sister, Eleanor Harmon Cowen, and was created to support "an instructional innovator who is capable of developing and demonstrating innovative teaching techniques."
Harmon graduated with a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Iowa State in 1932 and led a distinguished career with the U.S. Forest Service. He died in 1999.