NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani has recognized Elias M. Elias, professor of plant sciences, as a University Distinguished Professor. Bresciani made the announcement Oct. 4, during his annual State of the University Address.
NDSU established the University Distinguished Professorships to recognize the accomplishments of faculty. Professors who earn the designation have at least 10 years at NDSU of outstanding teaching, service, research and reputation within their disciplines. The designation is the highest honor NDSU has to celebrate outstanding faculty.
“Dr. Elias’ scholarly accomplishments and contributions to some of the most pressing needs of our state, nation and increasingly the world, define this recognition which he so richly deserves,” Bresciani said.
Elias, who joined NDSU in 1990, works with the durum wheat breeding and genetics program as the J.F. Carter Durum Wheat Breeding/Genetics Endowed Professor. The program develops durum wheat varieties to maximize the economic return for producers and provide excellent quality durum wheat for the pasta industry and international export market. He has been named Durum Man of the Year by the U.S. Durum Growers Association. He is the recipient of NDSU’s Larson/Yaggie Excellence in Research Award, Early Career, and the Waldron Award for Excellence in Research.
Elias earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Aleppo University in Syria and his master’s in plant pathology from Montana State University. He earned his doctorate in agronomy from NDSU.
Elias joins a select group of faculty members with the designation, including Allan Ashworth, geosciences; Bill Perrizo, computer science; Mukund Sibi, chemistry and molecular biology; Neil Gudmestad, plant pathology; Bill Wilson, agribusiness and applied economics; Kalpana Katti, civil engineering; Tom Isern, history and religion; Jo Ann Miller, music; and Larry Reynolds, animal science.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education; that designation puts the university in the top 2 percent of all private and public universities in the nation.
