Dr. Roger W. Ruess

Professor of Biology, Emeritus

WHEREAS Dr. Roger W. Ruess has served the University of É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ Fairbanks with distinction in teaching, research and service from 1989 to 2020; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ruess has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in biology; and

WHEREAS Dr. RuessÉ«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ™ early work on the effect of grazing upon the African savannah is considered a classic in ecosystem research; and at UAF he has studied Arctic and sub-Arctic ecosystems; and his studies have illuminated the dynamics of fine tree roots and their role in carbon and nitrogen cycling in the boreal forest; and his work has contributed to understanding how herbivores affect ecosystem productivity and plant succession; and more recently he and his students have contributed to our understanding of the importance of the symbiosis between alder and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in northern ecosystems; and

WHEREAS Dr. Ruess has led large, collaborative research programs, most notably the Bonanza Creek Long-Term Ecological Research Program, which includes a great breadth of studies investigating the impacts of climatic warming and the changing boreal forest and is supported by more than $6 million in funding to UAF; and he received the 2014 Emil Usibelli Distinguished Research Award; and he has mentored many junior faculty and guided twenty-five graduate students in their research endeavors;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ Fairbanks expresses its deep appreciation to Dr. Roger W. Ruess for his extensive contributions to the State of É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ and to the University; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ Fairbanks, in further recognition of the invaluable services rendered by Dr. Ruess and as evidence of the UniversityÉ«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ™s desire that his identification with the University be maintained, hereby confers upon Dr. Roger W. Ruess the title of Professor of Biology, Emeritus; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be appropriately engrossed and signed by the Chancellor as further evidence of the University of É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ FairbanksÉ«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ™ esteem and respect for Dr. Roger W. Ruess, and conveyed to Dr. Ruess on this twenty-third day of May, 2020.