Dr. Kenneth Shane Sajwan, Professor in the Department of Biology and Life Sciences has received the Regents’ Distinguished Professor Award for the 1998-1999 academic year. Dr. Sajwan was honored for his outstanding contribution to teaching and research. The award is granted annually to a professor at Savannah State University by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Dr. Sajwan earned a BS in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, an MS in Agronomy from India; and Ph.D.s in Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India and in Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition from Colorado State University.

Dr. Sajwan joined Savannah State University during the fall of 1992 as an associate professor, and was promoted to full professor in 1996. Prior to coming to Savannah State University, he had worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. His previous work experience also includes World Bank consultancy to Colombia, South America, and a research associateship at the University of Kentucky and University of Wisconsin. Dr. Sajwan also holds an Adjunct Professorship appointment at Alabama A & M University, and the University of South Carolina at Aiken.

Professor Ken Sajwan is a devoted and talented teacher. He is well-organized and current in environmental studies, his area of expertise. He is very punctual, and conducts his classes promptly. Throughout the campus, students speak very highly of him because he supports and enhances course materials with real world examples. Students are curious and well focused in his classroom and laboratory sessions. Furthermore, he promotes open discussion and student participation on specific topics and also integrates appropriate technology into his term paper assignments using such sources as the Internet and the World Wide Web etc. at the library. Similarly, his laboratory exercises are designed and

executed to challenge, motivate, and inspire student learners. In addition, the campus community has been impressed by his sensitivity towards student welfare. The respect and esteem held for Dr. Sajwan by his students, as well as by his colleague’s testament to his affable disposition, student-focused learning projects and research and his prolific writing of research papers.

Dr. Sajwan is also known for his boundless energy, his pleasant disposition and his seemingly unlimited capacity for work. These sterling qualities have served him well. Consequently, Dr. Sajwan has accumulated an impressive record of accomplishments in teaching and research. He has edited a book, "Trace Elements in Coal and Coal Combustion Residue;" two laboratory manuals: "General Biology Laboratory Manual"and "Environmental Science Laboratory Manual;" and has published over ninety (90) articles in peer-reviewed journals, serials, conference proceedings, and symposia. Currently, he is editing another book on "Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements in Coal and Coal By-product." Dr. Sajwan is very well known nationally and internationally in his area of research. He has served as an invited speaker, session chair, and technical advisor of several national and international conferences. Dr. Sajwan is also an effective grant writer. He has authored or coauthored several grant proposals since his arrival in 1992.

Dr. Sajwan’s administrative responsibilities include coordination of the Environmental Science (ENSC) program and General Biology for non-majors. He is to be commended for reviving the ENSC program and for increasing its enrollment from nine (9) in 1992 to over seventy (70) today. Several of his former students are studying in various graduate schools, working towards the M.S. and/or the Ph.D. degree. Dr. Sajwan serves on departmental, school, and university committees, and is very active in community service. He has served as President of Sigma XI scientific research society of Savannah Chapter, consultant to Citizen for Environmental Justice, science fair judge to area middle and high schools, and student mentor for several middle and high school students for their science projects.