In addition, a new Violet B. Haas Fellowship has been given to Sara McMillan, assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, to facilitate her research.

The Violet Haas Award "recognizes those individuals, programs, or departments at Purdue who have effectively facilitated the advancement of women in hiring, promotion, education, and salary, or have generally enhanced a positive professional climate for women at Purdue University," according to the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, which administers the award.

Howell becomes the 24th person to receive the award, which began in 1990 under Purdue's former Council on the Status of Women. At the reception, Patrice Buzzanell, director of the Butler Center and the Susan Bulkeley Butler Chair for Leadership Excellence, said Howell's "lists of accomplishments in discovery, learning, and engagement -- and tireless work on behalf of women at Purdue, in engineering, and in the local and global community -- are inspiring."

In nomination materials, Tom Shih, professor and head of the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, said Howell has been "nurturing a generation of future female faculty members who could lead the nation." Klod Kokini, associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering, said she has demonstrated "complete dedication to support women at Purdue and nationally."

In addition to her teaching and research duties, Howell serves on the Engineering Cabinet.

More about the Violet Haas Award is at Celebrations of Women at Purdue.