John L. Hess of Christiansburg, Va., professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title "professor emeritus" by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board’s quarterly meeting June 12.

The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1967, Hess was a dedicated teacher of a wide range of courses, an adviser to both undergraduate and graduate students, and accomplished researcher. He has an extensive publication record including books and articles in refereed journals. Hess received significant awards for research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institutes of Health, and was selected as a fellow of both the Virginia Academy of Science and the Carnegie Institute of Washington.

Hess was elected to the Society of Biological Chemistry, Sigma Xi and Omicron Delta Kappa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College, a master’s degree from the University of Delaware and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Ranked 11th in agricultural research expenditures by the National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers students the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s leading agricultural scientists. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives students a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. The college is a national leader in incorporating technology, biotechnology, computer applications, and other recent scientific advances into its teaching program.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become among the largest universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech’s eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.

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