Zeigler Student Achievement Award
The John M. & Marilyn Zeigler Student Achievement Award honors the contributions to student needs of Dr. John Zeigler, the first SMS Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and Mrs. Marilyn Zeigler. The Zeigler award formally recognizes students who excel in scholarship, leadership, research initiative, outstanding publications, and exceptional thesis or dissertation work.
This year’s recipient is Dr. Patricia Thibodeau.
Tricia was an outstanding student who excelled in her Ph.D. program in every way. Her dissertation, which focused on pelagic snails known as pteropods, illuminates climate-change impacts on the marine ecosystem along the Antarctic Peninsula—one of Earth’s most rapidly warming regions. Tricia spent 8 months at sea on 5 research cruises and many long hours in the lab. Novel insights from her research are already being used in models for the region.
While at VIMS, Tricia received 3 fellowships in recognition of her achievements and potential. She’s given 13 presentations at major conferences, published 5 peer-reviewed manuscripts, has 2 more submitted, and another on the way. As the recipient of a post-doctoral scholarship at the University of Rhode Island, she is now making additional contributions to her field and gaining even greater respect from colleagues.
Tricia further distinguished herself at VIMS through service and leadership. She taught courses for the undergraduate minor in marine science and mentored more than a dozen undergrad researchers, two of whom are now in graduate school in large part due to her training and encouragement. As part of VIMS’ DiveIn Committee, Tricia planned activities that brought students, staff, and faculty together; as co-President of the VIMS Graduate Student Association, she helped bring counseling services to the VIMS campus. She was also instrumental in creating a Society for Women in Marine Science chapter at VIMS, and bringing a number of intramural championships to Gloucester Point.
In recognition of her research initiative, exceptional scholarship, outstanding publications and leadership, we are very pleased to formally recognize Tricia Thibodeau as the Zeigler Student Achievement awardee for 2019.