Auburn University Faculty Awards
2011 The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching
These awards honor two full-time, tenured faculty members who have demonstrated effective and innovative teaching methods and a continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring inside and outside the classroom.
Mark Byrne
Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden Associate Professor – Chemical Engineering
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
PhD, MS — Purdue University
BS — Carnegie Mellon University
Mark Byrne is the co-founder and chief technical officer of OcuMedic, Inc., a drug delivery company based in Auburn. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and conducts research in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and is a recognized leader in the field of biomaterials engineering, controlled therapeutic delivery, polymer engineering, and biomedical devices. His research group is pioneering methods using biomimetic principles and strategies to rationally design, engineer, and develop more effective materials for medicine. During his eight years on the Auburn faculty, he has won numerous awards for his teaching and research and his work has appeared in the popular press and television on a number of occasions. Byrne has given numerous lectures and invited talks around the country and has authored many well-cited publications and licensed patents in the field. He has held a number of leadership roles in professional organizations and serves on three editorial boards. Byrne has developed and organized numerous scientific sessions at national and international conferences including the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
Leonard Bell
Professor – Poultry Science
College of Agriculture
PhD, MS — University of Minnesota
BA — Virginia Tech
Leonard Bell came to Auburn in 1994 after a post-doctoral research appointment with the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. An academic reorganization resulted in his transitioning from the Department of Nutrition and Food Science to the Department of Poultry Science in 2010, where he currently oversees the food science program, serves as the food science undergraduate academic advisor, food science graduate program officer, and Food Science Club co-advisor. His courses include introductory food science, experimental food science, and food chemistry courses. Bell has published one book, nine book chapters, and 47 refereed journal articles. His research regarding the caffeine content of carbonated beverages gained national attention in 2007. His service activities include departmental and college scholarship committees, the College of Agriculture Curriculum Committee, the Admissions Appeals Committee, the Academic Standards Committee, and the University Curriculum Committee. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Xi honor societies.