Gloria McCutcheon Wins 2019 SC Environmental Awareness Award
Monday, June 1st, 2020
Dr. Gloria S. McCutcheon of Claflin University was named the winner of the 2019 S.C. Environmental Awareness Award at a small ceremony at the school Thursday, May 28.
Chair and professor of biology at Claflin, McCutcheon is a scientist, author, teacher, community worker and trailblazer in the conservation of natural resources whose professional work has focused on the study of beneficial insects in soybean, cotton, vegetables and medicinal plants.
Her early research at Clemson University provided substantiating data to assure farmers and the agricultural community that through integrated pest management, conservation of these beneficial insects promotes a cleaner environment and more economical crop production.
The South Carolina General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions to the protection, conservation and improvement of the state's natural resources.
Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee, which includes representatives from the state's natural resource agencies. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment. Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. Forestry Commission, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Dr. McCutcheon earned a B.S. degree in Zoology, and an M.S. in Entomology from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Environmental Entomology from the University of Georgia. She served at Clemson University for 33 years directing M.S. and Ph.D. students who have made great contributions in sustainable agriculture across many sectors throughout South Carolina, the nation and the world. She is a Professor Emerita at Clemson University and currently serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Biology at Claflin University.
As a member of the inaugural class of the Kellogg Foundation Food and Community Policy Fellows, she studied sustainable food systems and global health in Costa Rica, Cuba, Europe and Zimbabwe and used her experience to communicate issues in sustainable food systems to youth, civic and faith-based organizations across South Carolina. Throughout her career she has spoken around the state, nationally and internationally about her work and remains extremely passionate about promoting environmental awareness.
Dr. Tantiana Burns, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Claflin recently wrote, "Dr. Gloria McCutcheon is a trailblazer not only in entomology and environmental science but as a woman in science. Her tenacity and dedication are evident by the outstanding works that she has produced. She inspires me to not only be a great scientist and researcher but to make an impact in the lives of those that I interact with. She is truly a phenomenal woman."
A list of previous award winners, nomination guidelines and a nomination form are available at www.trees.sc.gov/enviroaward.
