November 16-17, 2000

ITEM 109-2003-R1100 Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Molecular Biology upon C.A. Speer; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT:  Upon the occasion of the retirement of C.A. Speer from the faculty of Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for his service to the University, the Montana University System, and the people of the State of Montana.

EXPLANATION:  Dr. Speer received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Utah State University. After postdoctoral training at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Speer was hired by the University of Montana to direct their Electron Microscope Facility. He served the University of Montana in this capacity for 8 years. In 1983, we had the good fortune of hiring Dr. Speer as an Associate Professor to direct the Electron Microscope Facility at Montana State University. In 1986, he was promoted to full Professor. During his tenure in this Department, Dr. Speer served on numerous departmental and university committees and was appointed Head of this Department for 8 years.

Dr. Speer's outstanding scientific accomplishments have been recognized nationally and internationally. He is one of the premier electron microscopists in the world, and has published extensively on his research in well respected journals. To date, Dr. Speer has 178 peer-reviewed publications, 19 review articles, 4 books, and over 250 published abstracts. He has also produced 19 research and education videos from his observations of parasite development. Dr. Speer's primary research area has been in studying parasitic diseases that affect livestock and humans, and his research has been instrumental in identifying and characterizing a number of previously unknown parasites. In recognition of his work in this field, a recent publication in the Journal of Parasitology honored Dr. Speer by naming a newly discovered parasite after him (Sarcocystis speeri). The quality of Dr. Speer's research is also demonstrated by the high level of grant funding awarded to conduct this research. Throughout his career, Dr. Speer has obtained a number of major grant awards, totaling more than $1.5 million. 

Because of this specific expertise and high level of accomplishment, Dr. Speer has been appointed to a number of journal editorial boards and grant review panels. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at many national and international conferences and has also chaired and organized several conferences. He also served as Scientific Advisor at the National Research Institute of the Amazon in Brazil. Recently, Dr. Speer established the Center for Bison and Wildlife Health at Montana State University and has served as its Director since its inception. This Center represents a cooperative effort between a number of M.S.U. departments, veterinarians from the Montana Department of Livestock Diagnostic Laboratory, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, veterinarians from the USDA/APHIS, veterinary researchers from the Texas A&M University, and wildlife ecologists from the University of Calgary. The value of this Center to M.S.U. and the State of Montana is tremendous and will have significant impact in future years.

Not only is Dr. Speer a premier research scientist, he is also a dedicated educator who had contributed significantly to M.S.U.'s educational programs. He has taught a number of courses throughout his career, but is best known for his outstanding courses in ultrastructural cytology. In addition, Dr. Speer played a major role in the development of Agriculture at M.S.U. Outside of M.S.U., Dr. Speer has also conducted special training courses in veterinary wildlife management, including courses taught in Caldwell, Idaho and Zimbabwe. Indicative of his commitment as an educator, Dr. Speer has also mentored a number of graduate students who have gone on to successful careers. These include 5 Ph.D. and 9 M.S. students.

For these and other contributions, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon C.A. Speer the rank of Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Molecular Biology at Montana State University and wishes him well for many pleasant years in the future.