Colorado State University Interim President Tony Frank recently bestowed the title of University Distinguished Professor–the highest recognition awarded for outstanding accomplishments in research and scholarship–on prominent equine researcher Wayne McIlwraith, BVSC, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Director of the Orthopaedic Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, during the university’s annual “Celebrate! Colorado State” event.

McIlwraith, along with two other faculty members who received the distinction on April 28 (Ian Orme, PhD, of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology; and Diana Wall, PhD, of the Department of Biology) collectively have made great strides in diverse fields of science, garnering more than $100 million in research grants, taught hundreds of students who now make contributions around the world, and have influenced scientific thought in their respective fields. They are:

“The designation of University Distinguished Professor is the highest honor Colorado State University bestows to faculty,” said CSU Interim President Tony Frank. “Professors Wall, McIlwraith, and Orme have all led pioneering research that has transformed their fields of study, and all three are known around the world as among the most distinctive, innovative and accomplished thinkers in their disciplines. Each also has contributed significantly to the quality of research and education at Colorado State, and this honor is a fitting tribute to the stature they’ve attained as scholars and faculty leaders.”

Only 1% of CSU faculty members are honored with the rank of University Distinguished Professor and it is a lifetime award which carries into retirement as Professor Emeritus. To obtain the rank, faculty members are nominated through an extensive review process and must be approved by the current University Distinguished Professors