Loke T. Kok, professor of entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of “professor emeritus” by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Timothy D. Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.

A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1972, Kok made significant contributions to the field of biological control, which focused on the use of natural enemies to help control the populations and spread of numerous non-native weed and insect pest species.

He is the author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and reviews. He has directed or co-directed 18 master’s degree and 23 doctoral degree students, and served on many more graduate committees.

In addition to his research, Kok served as head of the Department of Entomology for 10 years and interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for seven months.

Kok has been a Fellow in the Entomological Society of America since 2005. He was honored with the society’s Outstanding Service Award in 2010, and received the L.O. Howard Distinguished Achievement Award from the Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch in 2004. He served as president of the Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch from 2009 to 2010.

In addition, Kok received the Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award in 1997 and Virginia Tech’s Alumni Award for Research Excellence in 1986. He is also a member of Virginia Tech's Ut Prosim Society.

Kok holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Malaysia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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