Contact: Bob Ratliff
Two Mississippi State University faculty members were among those honored by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) during Black History Month.
Lesia Crumpton, associate professor of industrial engineering, and Phillip D. Nelson, associate professor and associate dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine were among 11 educators selected by the IHL board for their contributions to the positive advancement of diversity at the state's universities and in their communities.
Crumpton developed and directs the Ergonomics Laboratory in Human Factors Engineering at MSU. The laboratory is used to develop improved designs to allow the full employment of disabled workers.
Crumpton holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University. She was the first African-American female to earn a Ph.D. in engineering from Texas A&M.
Nelson received his bachelor's degree in biology from Jackson State University. He also holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee Institute and a Ph.D. in veterinary immunology from North Carolina State University.
A National Merit finalist, Nelson has received several awards for clinical instruction, service and research. His research interests include the use of animal models in AIDS research.