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Sharon Ramsey, 919/515-7222

Nov. 7, 2003

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Honors Two Alumni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Warren H. Casey

North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has named Drs. Warren H. Casey and Mark D. Stowers as Distinguished Alumni Award winners for 2003.

Casey, of Knightdale, is manager for investigative pathology and toxicology at GlaxoSmithKline Inc., where he designs and coordinates research into drug-induced toxicity. He was honored both for his leadership in the fields of pharmaceutical microbiology and toxicology as well as his support of NC State.

According to Dr. Hosni Hassan, head of the college’s microbiology department, Casey has hosted students in his laboratory, helped establish a scholarship program for undergraduate students and serves as organizer, host and speaker for a microbiology “Career Day” for students.

Dr. Mark D. Stowers

Casey has also served as an officer in the U.S. Army and the N.C. Army National Guard. He is a past president of the N.C. Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology.

Stowers is president and chief executive officer of the Michigan Biotechnology Institute in Lansing, Mich. The non-profit research-and-development institute works to develop and commercialize agricultural biotechnology to increase farm productivity, to bring new plant-based products to market, and to reduce dependence on petroleum products.

Before joining MBI, Stowers worked for VivoRx Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing cell-based therapies to treat diabetes; Seminis Inc., a vegetable seed company; Monsanto’s Plant Science and New Products divisions; Gargiulo Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Monsanto; and Kodak Bioproducts Division.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in biology from Appalachian State University in 1977, Stowers came to NC State, earning a master’s degree in microbiology in 1980 and a doctorate in microbiology in 1982.

Stowers was cited by Hassan and Dr. Gerald Elkan, an NC State microbiology professor emeritus, for his career accomplishments in microbial and agricultural biotechnology and for his support of the university. Stowers has provided financial support, given invited lectures, served on advisory boards and assisted with research projects.

Stowers and Casey were honored during a recent reception hosted by Dr. Johnny C. Wynne, interim college dean. Others receiving awards from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Alumni and Friends Society were as follows:

• Outstanding Alumni: William Enloe, Major Gen. Timothy A. Peppe and Dr. Karl Smith. Enloe (B.S. horticulture 1955) of Edneyville is a farmer and past president of the N.C. Apple Growers Association. Peppe (B.S. food science 1970) serves as special assistant for Air and Space Expeditionary Forces at the U.S. Air Force headquarters in Washington, D.C. Smith (B.S. zoology 1985) is a Raleigh dentist who mentors NC State students and visiting foreign scientists.
• Outstanding Young Alumni: Joshua Bledsoe and David Correll. Bledsoe (B.S. agricultural and extension education 1995) works for NC State, serving as North Carolina’s state FFA coordinator. Correll is herd manager for Correll Farms in Cleveland County, N.C., and a volunteer with North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Rowan County.
• Outstanding Faculty and Staff: Dr. Geraldine Luginbuhl, professor of microbiology and advisor to the Microbiology Club, and George Upton, director of North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Sampson County Center. Upton has worked with the center since graduating from NC State in 1956.
• Outstanding Friends: Billy Ray Hall and Bonnie Holloman. Hall (B.A. economics 1969 and Master of Economics 1970) is president of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. Holloman is president of Southeastern Association Services, which represents many North Carolina agricultural commodity organizations.

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