USU professor named national fellow
USU principal lecturer David Wallace joined the ranks of the nation’s top professionals in his field as a 2013 American Industrial Hygiene Association Fellow.
Election as a fellow is bestowed on AIHA members by their peers in recognition of outstanding contributions to the association and the profession. Fellows are full members of the AIHA in good standing for a minimum of 15 continuous years and have made recognized contributions to industrial hygiene or related disciplines either through research, leadership, publications, education or service to AIHA. Fewer than 360 individuals nationwide currently hold the title.
“I’m surprised and humbled by this honor,” Wallace said. “It’s personally very gratifying to learn my efforts have had a positive impact on my profession.”
Alan Savitzky, head of USU’s biology department, said Wallace has played a critical role in the success of the university’s highly-respected public health program. The program includes industrial hygiene, one of four such undergraduate programs in the nation accredited by the Applied Science Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology.
“Dave’s election as an AIHA fellow provides further recognition of his contributions and the esteem in which he is held by his colleagues at the international level,” Savitzky said. “In addition to his accomplishments as an industrial hygienist, he’s an exemplary teacher, advisor and mentor and his students have been the primary beneficiaries of his expertise.”
Nick Rice, who graduated from USU’s industrial hygiene program in 2000, said Wallace is loved and admired by his students.
“Much of the success of Utah State University’s industrial hygiene program, their outstanding students and the program’s continuing recognition by ABET can be attributed to Dave’s tireless work,” said Rice, manager of Corporate Industrial Hygiene Services for Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City.
Wallace, who was named 2012 Safety Professional of the Year by the Utah Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, said industrial hygiene is a component of workplace safety that deals specifically with protecting workers from health hazards.
“Industrial safety is a critical contributor to public health,” he said. “Healthy workers equal healthy business. Every workplace, no matter what kind of work is involved, has characteristics that can affect employee health.”
Wallace graduated from USU in 1975. He began his career in industrial safety and hygiene in 1985 after ten years of work experience in industrial process control and development in. He worked in the chemical and metallurgical fields and as a consultant before becoming an instructor at the University of Utah in 1991, where he also obtained a master’s degree in public health.
Wallace joined USU’s biology department in 1999 as a lecturer in the public health program. He is currently the academic advisor for students majoring in public health. Wallace also teaches EPA-approved asbestos courses.
“We are all really proud of Dave,” Savitsky said. “His tireless efforts have made an impact, and now he is being recognized for his work in a big way.”
Wallace will be formally recognized as an AIHA fellow during the annual American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, May 18-23, 2013, in Montreal, Canada. More than 5,000 industrial hygiene and safety professionals are expected to attend the conference.
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