MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas State University (KSU) agronomy professors Dan Devlin and Guihua Bai have been named Fellows by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the university announced on Sept. 21.

The award is given to less than 1% of the society’s active and retired members each year. It recognizes professionals across the U.S. for their professional achievements and meritorious service.

Bai is a research plant geneticist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an adjunct professor in KSU’s Department of Agronomy. His research focuses mainly on hard winter wheat molecular breeding and wheat resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

He also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and is a guest professor at six universities.

Devlin is a professor and KSU Research and Extension specialist, with a focus on water quality extension programs. His expertise is in nutrient and pesticide management, and watershed planning.

"I’m really excited (about this award)," said Devlin, who recently was editor of the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education.

"I feel honored to get the award, but particularly because it really is for our (department’s) extension education efforts. I think it also is the society recognizing the importance of the land-grant university, and its three areas of research, teaching and extension. And I think the credit for this goes to a lot of people."

The professors will be recognized during ASA’s annual awards ceremony this November in Long Beach, California, U.S.

ASA has approximately 8,000 members in the U.S. The society helps to advance the disciplines and practices of agronomy.