ISU President Gregory Geoffroy will recognize more than 50 faculty and staff members for their achievements during the past year at the Fall Convocation on Monday afternoon.

“This is both convocation and the university awards ceremony,” said Charles Dobbs, assistant to the president for communications.

Dobbs said Fall Convocation is the companion event to the Student Scholars and Leaders Recognition Ceremony, which will be held in April.

“All the major university awards for faculty and staff [will be given out] in the same way that student awards are given for student scholars and leaders in the spring,” Dobbs said.

Three individuals, Diane Birt, professor and chair of food science and human nutrition; Susan Lamont, professor of animal science; and Vijay Vittal, professor of electrical and computer engineering, will be awarded the title of distinguished professor, the highest academic honor that Iowa State bestows.

In addition, faculty and staff will be acknowledged for professorships, service and teaching awards, and professional and scientific accomplishments.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend convocation for two reasons, Dobbs said.

“It’s exciting and interesting to see people get recognized for their work,” Dobbs said.

“It makes the degree worth more to say, ‘I’m interacting with profoundly talented people.’

“Also, students will be interested to hear what the president has to say — I know I will be.”

The event will be an opportunity for Geoffroy to give an overview of his upcoming goals for the university, Dobbs said.

“The president gives his remarks, which in part is the state of the university and also what he intends to accomplish in the next year,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs said he did not know what topics Geoffroy would be covering in his speech.

“He writes his own remarks and wishes to keep them to himself,” Dobbs said.

“People will hear it for the first time at convocation.”

Fall Convocation will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.