Brown receives national weather education honor
Professor Mike Brown of MSU's geosciences department was honored this week by the National Weather Association. Brown is pictured with former student Rachael Kroot, who completed a master's degree in broadcast meteorology this spring. PHOTO: Russ Houston | Public Affairs
A Mississippi State faculty member and alumnus who also is the state climatologist received a major honor from the National Weather Association last week.
Professor Michael E. "Mike" Brown of the geosciences department received NWA's 2014 Public Education Award for "providing significant contributions to increase the public's weather awareness."
Brown traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the association's 39th annual meeting, during which he accepted the award.
Brown coordinates the geosciences department's graduate program, and he is a specialist in land-surface-atmosphere interactions.
Along with an MSU graduate degree in geosciences, Brown holds a bachelor's in meteorology from Western Illinois University and a doctorate in geography from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He first taught at MSU as a geosciences department graduate assistant in 1993; his tenure-track career began as an assistant professor in 1999.
Brown, who became Mississippi's official climatologist in 2012, works to provide the public with accurate information and critical expertise in the fields of climatology and meteorology. Additionally, his office has an educational role to help enhance Mississippians' knowledge of weather and climate, their related elements and their impacts on every aspect of life.
Gregory Dunaway, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, extended congratulations to Brown and said the university values having Brown among the faculty.
"As MSU's senior meteorologist and state climatologist, Dr. Brown is the consummate professor. He not only is an effective and innovative educator, but he also provides tremendous leadership that assists with protecting our campus and the citizenry of the state of Mississippi," Dunaway said.
With offices in Norman, Oklahoma, the National Weather Association is a member-led, non-profit, professional association that since 1975 has worked to support and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities. Of some 50 chapters around the country, it has two in Mississippi -- at Flowood and MSU.
Brown said he is humbled and honored to be recognized by NWA.
"Mississippi State University has produced a large quantity of high quality meteorologists. These alumni are now leaders in many aspects of the industry. I am proud to be part of a department with a faculty that values and is dedicated to quality instruction and the development of student opportunities," Brown said. "I hope to continue to serve MSU and the state of Mississippi for many years to come."
For more on MSU's geosciences department, see www.geosciences.msstate.edu; on the state climatologist office, www.geosciences.msstate.edu/scAbout.htm.
MSU is online at www.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.
Sammy McDavid | Public Affairs
