Holiday e-mail
Vol. 17, No. 15Dec. 18, 1997

Former dean honored with state award

Donald Crossan, AG '50, who served as dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences from 1977 until his retirement in 1991, recently received the Distinguished Service to Agriculture in Delaware Award. The presentation was made at the State Farm Bureau annual banquet in Felton, where guests included U.S. Sen. William Roth and Delaware Gov. Thomas Carper.

Crossan currently chairs the Delaware Aglands Preservation Foundation, is a member of the Longwood Gardens board of trustees and for 18 years chaired the Delaware Coastal Zone under three governors.

During his 37 years at UD, Crossan, a professor of plant pathology, chaired the plant science department, directed the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station and was vice president of University Relations and Business Management. He also served as president of the Council of Academic Deans of Agriculture of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.

His honors include the college's Lindbach Award for Excellence-in- Teaching, the E. Arthur Trabant Award for Women's Equity, the George M. Worrilow Award for outstanding service to agriculture by a UD alumnus, a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts award for distinguished service.