The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is pleased to present an Association of Former Students’
Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching to Dr. Robert B. Ditton, Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.

A respected teacher, mentor and scientist, Dr. Ditton is regarded nationally as one of the top human
dimensions researchers in the natural resources arena. He joined Texas A&M in 1974 after a brief tenure at
the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and has risen through the ranks to serve in his present capacity as a
Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.

According to his nominator, he’s world class in the classroom and simply adored (and highly respected)
by both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Ditton is recognized for taking each individual student into
account and makes the effort over a semester to integrate the academic and professional interests of each
student into his class presentations and discussions.

Following graduation, he closely follows the post-TAMU career of nearly every student with whom he
develops a working relationship. Over his career, he has mentored countless undergraduate students and
advised over 50 graduate students ....... many of whom currently hold positions of considerable stature and
responsibility. His former students include ...... the Deputy Division Director of the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Coordinator of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Attorney-Advisor for the
National Marine Fisheries Service, Director of the Department of Natural Resources for the state of Delaware, and over 10 faculty members at Mississippi State, the University of Florida, Penn State, among countless others.

One former student notes, “Dr. Ditton, through his remarkable passion to teach and assist those that
wish to be taught, has gone above and beyond what any student would expect from a teacher or mentor.”
“Dr. Ditton sets high standards of expectations of excellence from his students, he shares enthusiasm for his
subject matter, he is responsive and available to students, he projects professionalism by expecting the best,
and he mentors through high standards of excellence.”

Another former graduate student notes.......... “while attending a recent end of the semester party of
faculty and graduate students in Gainesville, Florida,...... someone remarked that about half of the attendees
were either first or second generation “Dittonites” meaning that several of the faculty were students of current
professors (like myself) trained by Bob Ditton or they were current students of faculty trained by Dr. Ditton! I
was struck by this observation that in a city 800 miles from College Station, his impact is carrying on to
another generation now.”

And yet another former student who serves in an academic role at the University of Massachusetts
sums it up as follows: “I reflect on my time at Texas A&M and opportunities and guidance offered me. Bob
‘educated’ me by immersing me in almost all aspects of what it meant to be a professional. He made it a point to get me (and his other graduate students) to professional meetings early and often. The purpose was to interact with our future colleagues and to present research papers. We also were fully involved in research
activities. Often we worked on multiple research projects, and when I say worked on, I mean design,
implementation, analysis and in the end, peer reviewed publications. And excellence was the minimum
standard. Much if not most of my doctoral education occurred outside of the classroom. We weren’t just the
next batch of students – he cared about us and where we would be 5, 10 or 20 years later. His is a long-term
commitment to teaching and mentoring.... and that level of involvement and caring continues 15 years plus
since I graduated in 1988!”