Posted: 8/29/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Donald Eggert Angela Green, a new assistant professor, gives a course overview of Humanity in the Food Web on Tuesday in the Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building.

There are several new faces on campus this year, and many of those faces belong to professors with the goal of bettering students.

These recently hired faculty members have come straight from doctoral work, teaching and research positions at other universities or from other jobs. They have transitioned here from all over the U.S. and beyond.

"We look for very high-achieving and high-ability individuals who come from diverse backgrounds," said Ruth Watkins, University vice provost.

Diversity, potential and teaching excellence are among the traits the University looks for when hiring new faculty.

"The excellence of the institution is a critical factor in attracting more excellence," Watkins said.

Angela Green, assistant professor of agriculture and biological engineering, arrived at the University in February. This will be her first semester teaching as she recently received her doctorate from Iowa State University.

She said she is glad to be a part of the best agricultural engineering program in the country. As a member of the faculty she hopes to contribute to the University community, and in turn, develop students who can contribute to society.

"I just hope I'm able to get students excited and motivated about learning course content and succeeding at the U of I," Green said.

Anupam Agrawal, assistant professor in business administration, said he believes the community fosters productivity amongst staff.

"I like the atmosphere here, which (is) more conducive to research and training," he said.

While here, Agrawal plans to continue his research and teach both undergraduate and graduate students.

"My goals are to merge my teaching and research together ... to help students," he said.

The agriculture department at the University is known worldwide, said Kathy Baylis, visiting assistant professor in agricultural and consumer economics. This is why the Canada native decided to leave her former school in British Columbia to teach in Illinois.

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