12:15 p.m., June 2, 2003--Two faculty members have been honored for advising and mentoring graduate students at UD.

James K. Oliver, Emma Smith Morris Professor of Political Science and International Relations, received the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Award, and Limin Kung Jr., professor of animal and food sciences, received the Outstanding Master’s Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring Award.

The awards honor faculty members whose dedication to graduate students and commitment to excellence in graduate training have made significant contributions to the quality of life and professional development of graduate students at UD.

“Professors Oliver and Kung exemplify the high quality of advisement and mentoring for graduate students at UD, and we are pleased to recognize the contributions they have made to the academic and professional success of their graduate students,” Bobby Gempesaw, vice provost for academic and international programs, said.

James K. Oliver

James K. Oliver, Emma Smith Morris Professor of Political Science and International Relations

Oliver, who holds a joint appointment with the College of Marine Studies, has directed 13 doctoral dissertations in political science, 30 master’s theses and has served as a reader for numerous dissertations and theses. He also has served as a mentor to doctoral students in marine studies and has worked with and mentored younger members of the faculty.

His doctoral students now hold tenured positions at such institutions as the U.S. Naval Academy, James Madison University, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Air Force War College. Others are faculty members at Cheney State and Lincoln universities, the University of the Virgin Islands and Dogus University in Turkey.

Those who completed master’s degrees under his direction have moved on to doctoral programs, entered public service or hold distinguished positions in the private sector.

Several students nominated Oliver for the award. One wrote, “…he was a constant source of support, inspiration and advice. He has contributed to my education and professional development in more ways than I can count.”

Another student wrote that Oliver “exemplifies the role that academics seek to fulfill….He is a true scholar, with a flexible and ever-expanding grasp of the subject matter; he is a gifted teacher and most important, he is a mentor who cares deeply about his students—a facet of his personality that shines through everything else.”

Oliver, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and his doctorate from American University’s School of International Service, joined the UD faculty in 1969. He is a recipient of UD’s and Mortar Board’s excellence-in-teaching awards.

His research and teaching fields include international relations and organization, American foreign and defense policy and international relations theory.

He has published and made presentations extensively in these fields and is the coauthor of “The Future of United States Naval Power,” “United States Foreign Policy and World Order,” “Foreign Policy Making and the American Political System” and “International Organizations: Principles and Patterns.” Oliver has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Information Agency and the Department of the Navy.

Limin Kung Jr.

Limin Kung Jr., professor of animal and food sciences

Kung’s field of research is ruminant nutrition and microbiology, focusing on animals such as cows, sheep and deer.

His graduate students write that he works with his laboratory groups as partners on a team and advocates sending students to other universities’ laboratories and to industries to learn other techniques.

Although Kung is popular as an invited speaker at farmers’, industry and professional meetings, his students write that he puts the needs of his students first and finds time to discuss topics ranging from coursework to research projects to the attainment of personal goals. To date, Kung has served on 15 master’s thesis committees and three doctoral committees.

One student wrote that Kung spent “countless hours in assisting his students to ensure that their presentations at conferences and their research contributions in journals and abstracts are flawless.” Another wrote “He has inspired me to work to the best of my potential….” Another said, “I view him not only as a mentor and teacher, but as a personal friend, and all of us appreciate his exceptional dedication to his graduate students.”

Kung, who received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hawaii and his doctorate in dairy nutrition from Michigan State University, joined the UD faculty in 1987. He received the National Milk Producers Federation Award in 1982 in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in dairy science and application of research to the dairy industry, and the 1999 Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Award for outstanding research and education in the field.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson