James Powell is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  He received his Ph.D. in 1990 from the University of Arizona.  He joined the USU faculty a year later as an assistant professor after a year as a postdoctoral fellow at the Arizona Center for Mathematical Sciences.  Powell’s research interests are broadly based in applied mathematics with an emphasis in ecological models and in mathematical biology.  In particular, his extensive work on the dynamics of mountain pine beetle infestation of forests is widely known and highly respected.  Powell has been very successful at getting funding to support his research and to support the student’s that work with him.  He has nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications in top journals in mathematics and biological sciences.  In his department, Powell has become very active in an “interdisciplinary/industrial” mathematics group with several colleagues.  He has established an undergraduate honors program, published with his undergraduate students, and provided excellent research mentorship to all of his students.  Among his other accomplishments, Powell was instrumental in developing an Industrial Master’s Degree, and he is associate editor of the journal Ecological Applications.  Powell’s service to his department and to his profession has been outstanding.