Saint Mary's honors Dick Kowles with Presidential Award
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| Dr. Dick Kowles, center, received a Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit from Michael Gostomski, left, chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees, and Brother William Mann, president of Saint Mary's. |
In recognition of his dedication and service, Dr. Kowles was presented with a Presidential Award for Outstanding Merit by Saint Mary’s at its undergraduate commencement ceremony May 12.
The award citation noted that Dr. Kowles has served the mission of Saint Mary’s in an exemplary manner and exhibits the characteristics of service and ethical leadership that the university strives to develop in all of its students.
Dr. Kowles was recognized for teaching, mentoring and inspiring thousands of biology students for more than 40 years and for securing more than 30 national and private grants for the advancement of science at SMU. Additionally, Dr. Kowles — renowned regionally and nationally as an expert in the field of genetics — has distinguished himself as both a researcher and a writer through the publications of books, textbooks and scientific articles.
A beloved colleague, department chair, mentor and friend, Dr. Kowles received the Brother Charles Severin Award for Teaching Excellence from Saint Mary’s in 1979, and the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award from the Minnesota Academy of Science in 1984.
