BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 21, 2005 – Forrest W. Thye of Blacksburg, associate professor of human nutrition, foods, and exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title "associate professor emeritus" by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board’s quarterly meeting Nov. 7.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech faculty since 1969, Thye was a devoted teacher to both undergraduate and graduate students. He also served the University Honors program by contributing to the premedicine and predental advising program. Thye made significant contributions in research related to mineral metabolism and had advanced knowledge and understanding of the response of plasma lipids and lipoproteins to exercise and dietary components. He also served as the president and treasurer o the Virginia Tech chapter of Sigma Xi..
Thye received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Ranked 11th in agricultural research expenditures by the National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers students the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading agricultural scientists. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives students a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. The college is a national leader in incorporating technology, biotechnology, computer applications, and other recent scientific advances into its teaching program.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech’s eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities, and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg, and other campus centers in northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.