To add to her many recent awards, Geography Professor Ruth DeFries has been recognized as a Distinguished University Professor by UMD. Chair John Townshend wrote this statement in his nomination of Professor DeFries: “The importance of her work is reflected in three major achievements during the last two years. She has been appointed a member of the National Academy of Sciences, she recently received a MacArthur Fellowship (the so-called ‘Genius’ Award) and she received a Fulbright Award to conduct research in India.

“It is worth noting that membership of the Academy is normally regarded as being a recognition of outstanding accomplishment, whereas the MacArthur fellowship ‘is not a reward for past accomplishment, but rather an investment in a person's originality, insight, and potential.’ To receive both awards within 18 months is a singular measure of how highly Ruth DeFries is regarded.”

Congratulations to Professor DeFries!