BLACKSBURG, Va., March 30, 2010 – George Simmons Jr., Alumni Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the "Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus" title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members 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 community since 1971, Simmons officially retired in 2003, but has continued to teach and advise students since. He taught courses at the freshman, senior, and graduate levels, and provided extensive academic advising to undergraduate students as director of the department’s undergraduate advising center, which, under his leadership, received the university’s Exemplary Department Award for Academic Advising in 2002.
His research in the field of aquatic biology resulted in external funding from the National Science Foundation, Virginia Electric Power, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He wrote or co-wrote two books; 25 review papers, book chapters, and symposium papers; and 67 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Simmons received his bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.