Mark B. Lapping, professor of public policy and management at the Muskie School of Public Service has been named University of Southern Maine's first Distinguished Professor. The appointment, among the highest accorded at the University, is awarded in recognition of his exceptional national and international contributions to scholarship, teaching and service.
The announcement was made at the annual Faculty and Staff Breakfast. Provost Joseph Wood explained that a dean must nominate a distinguished professor, based on a peer evaluation, and the council of deans must recommend the appointment to the provost and the president.
“Mark Lapping epitomizes the kind of broad and deep scholarly work, translated effectively in the classroom and manifested in outstanding academic leadership and university citizenship, that are the criteria for appointment,” said Wood to faculty and staff.
When thinking of the University's first Distinguished Professor appointment, President Richard L. Pattenaude said Lapping immediately came to mind.
“Mark was an outstanding scholar while he was doing the difficult work of being an excellent provost,” said Pattenaude. “Since returning to the faculty full-time, his scholarly activity has grown in amount, impact and reputation. Mark certainly is one of the most widely known and respected faculty members in Maine.”
A former USM provost and vice president for academic affairs, Lapping has served in academic and leadership positions at UVM, SUNY at Plattsburgh, University of Guelph, Ontario, and Kansas State University. Prior to joining USM, Lapping was founding director of the Bloustein School of Planning and Policy at Rutgers University. He has authored several books, articles and monographs and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Rural Studies, Agriculture and Human Value, and Small Town. Additionally, Lapping has been a consultant to governments and agencies throughout North America and several nations, and once served six months in the White House during the Carter administration. Currently, Lapping is working on policy and planning issues in Canada, Estonia and Maine.
