Judith Van Houten, George H. Perkins Professor of Biology, was named the inaugural recipient of the President’s Distinguished University Citizenship and Service Award for her outstanding service and major long-term contributions to the University of Vermont.

For over three decades, Professor Van Houten has given dedicated departmental, college, and University-wide service including serving as chair of the Biology Department and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, among other administrative roles. She also shared her expertise on numerous College and University committees, including chairing the Department Committee on Graduate Affairs for many years and serving on the President’s Advisory Committee. She is highly regarded for her generous mentoring of junior faculty member and countless students at UVM.

As a University Distinguished Professor at UVM, she has served as State director of the Vermont Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and director of the Vermont Genetics Network INBRE program. Her contributions significantly advanced the University’s research mission by building cyber infrastructure, establishing core facilities, hiring faculty across five colleges, supporting the entrepreneurial endeavors of UVM faculty, and obtaining major grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Throughout her tenure at UVM, Professor Van Houten’s tireless dedication to institutional building has been transformational at this University. She has given exceptional service to this institution, the State, and the nation.