TIEHH Director Receives Alumni Award from Virginia Tech

Written by Suzanne Taylor

The director of The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) received the Gerald H. Cross Alumni Leadership Award from Virginia Tech University.

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, recognized Ron Kendall for his outstanding achievements in leadership.

“I was extremely honored to be selected to receive the Gerald H. Cross Alumni Leadership Award,” said Kendall. “It is really an amazing feeling for our alma mater to reach out 30 years later to tap you with recognition that you are among its best graduates.”

The award has only been given four times in its tenure with the previous recipient being honored three years ago. Kendall was honored for more than 30 years in the field of wildlife toxicology.

Receiving his doctorate at Virginia Tech in 1980, Kendall worked under the mentorship of Pat Scanlon. Kendall founded three institutes responsible for leading toxicological research including TIEHH.

In relation to receiving the award, Virginia Tech invited Kendall to speak at the university regarding his research and leadership within the field. His speech was titled, “Leadership: it’s not a once in a while thing, it’s an everyday thing.” Kendall highlighted in his speech his experience as a doctoral student at Virginia Tech and lessons learned over the past 30 years.

“Clearly, Dr. Kendall has demonstrated leadership in all domains of university life, and merits recognition with the Gerald E. Cross Alumni Leadership Award,” said Eric Hallerman, chairman of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech.