Dr. Cathy Whitlock, a professor of earth sciences at Montana State University (MSU), has been appointed a Regents Professor, which is the most prestigious title for a professor to have in the university system.
Dr. Cathy WhitlockWhitlock was nominated for the title as a result of her contributions to MSU, its students and for her research, according to the Billings Gazette.
She co-founded the Montana Institute on Ecosystems in 2011 and served as its director from 2011-2017. The Institute assists interdisciplinary environmental research, helps educate environmental scientists and publish findings to share with higher education institutions around the world.
“Dr. Cathy Whitlock is an internationally recognized scholar and academic leader who truly believes in service and uses her passion for environmental science to inspire and encourage others, including her MSU students, faculty colleagues, and the citizens of Montana,” said Dr. Nicol Rae, dean of the College of Letters and Science. “Her work could not be more relevant for our state and our nation at this time.”
In addition, Whitlock was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in May. The National Academy of Sciences is one of the highest honors a scientist can achieve and Whitlock was the first scientist from a Montana college or university to be elected.
Whitlock earned a bachelor’s of arts from Colorado College and a master’s and Ph.D. degree in geological sciences from the University of Washington.
