11:56 a.m., May 14, 2009----Robin Morgan, dean of the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and professor of molecular biology, was awarded the Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI) medal of achievement at its 53rd annual booster banquet in April.

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DPI, which is the trade association for the Delmarva Peninsula's chicken industry, recognized Morgan for her two dozen years of support for the industry as a teacher, disease researcher, and administrator at the University.

“Robin has been involved with Delmarva's chicken industry for many years,” said Bill Satterfield, DPI's executive director. “During our avian influenza challenge in early 2004, as dean of the College (of Agriculture and Natural Resources) at the University of Delaware, she worked hard and caused her colleagues to work hard to keep up with the huge number of diagnostic tests needed to ensure the safety of Delmarva's chickens and chicken industry. Her support for the diagnostic labs is one reason why the University's two labs are so highly regarded.”

Morgan joined the faculty at UD in 1985 and has since been a University leader in working with the chicken industry and promoting the industry within the University system.

She is a national leader in Marek's disease virus, a herpesvirus that causes infectious T-cell lymphomas in chickens. She has provided direction for a research program looking at the use of solar energy on chicken farms through the installation of a photovoltaic solar system on a poultry house in Laurel, Del., bringing together industry, government, and academic partners.

As dean, Morgan helps direct resources and personnel to nutrient management programs -- programs that are vital to the poultry industry's environmental efforts.

Satterfield added, “A faithful ex-officio member of the DPI Board of Directors, Robin seeks chicken industry input on many University projects and programs. We are fortunate to have her working with us. She is a huge chicken industry advocate who attends countless meetings, including faithful attendance at DPI Board of Directors' and committee meetings.”

UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty members and Cooperative Extension professionals, and their extensive contributions to the poultry industry, have been recognized by DPI since 1960.

Past winners of the DPI medal of achievement include:

1960: J. Frank Gordy
1961: George Worrilow
1963: W. T. McAllister
1965: Morris Cover
1968: Ray Lloyd
1971: William H. Henderson
1976: Spangler Klopp and John Rosenberger
1979: George Chaloupka
1986: Edward H. Ralph
1988: William Benton
1990: Daniel H. Palmer
1992: George (Bud) Malone
1993: Edwin M. Odor
2001: Jack Gelb
2005: Mariano Salem
2007: Conrad Pope
2008: Bill Saylor and Tom Sims
2008: Special award to Lasher Lab team

At the banquet in April attended by more than 800 people, DPI also recognized 15 outstanding poultry producers selected by their companies from Delmarva's nearly 1,800 poultry growers.