Alcorn State biology professor honored
Alcorn State biology professor honored
Dr. Alex D.W. Acholonu, professor of biology at Alcorn State University, has been included in the “Top 20 Medical and Nursing Professors in Mississippi” for 2013 by onlineschoolsmississippi.com.
Dr. Acholonu has been a part of the Department of Biological Sciences since 1991 teaching various classes, serving as director of the Ecology Education Program, Ecology Club advisor, and conducting research. He is a sought after authority in the areas of water pollution, parasitology, microbiology and public health. He is a former president of Alcorn’s Faculty Senate and chair of the Zoology and Entomology Division of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS), now serving as MAS’ chair of the Health Care Disparity Committee.
Dr. Acholonu is an author of numerous articles published in scientific journals in the U.S. and abroad. His latest publication “Water Quality Studies of Ground Water in Owerri, Nigeria”, which he collaborated with Dr. Peter Okorie of Imo State University, Nigeria, was published in the current issue of the international journal Advances in Science and Technology. This article focused on growing worry about the possibility of ground water pollution in oil producing areas of Nigeria as a result of intensified oil exploration and other human activities.
Dr. Acholonu is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Nigerian Association of Medical Scientists, Science Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Microbiology, African Union Against Venereal Diseases and Treponematosis, American Society of Parasitologists, Helminthological Society of Washington, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists, Ecological Society of America, American Society of Veterinary Parasitologists, and the National Association of African American Studies.
During his outstanding career, Dr. Acholonu has received numerous awards and recognitions, including an award for outstanding contributions to science from the Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee, Life Achievement Award for Leadership and Devotion from the World Owerri People’s Congress, the Life Achievement Award in Parasitology and Microbiology from the Nigerian Academy of Science and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
Dr. Acholonu was awarded Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the President of Nigeria, cited as one of 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century and Great Mind of the 21st Century by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, he received the Universal Award of Accomplishment in Microbiology and Parasitology and International Educator of the Year Award by the American Biographical Institute, and has been included in America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals.
Dr. Babu Patlolla, interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences said, “The School is elated that our distinguished professor is recognized for his numerous contributions to science and education. We congratulate Dr. Acholonu and thank him for his outstanding representation of Alcorn State University.”
