Michael Bell, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Community and Environmental Sociology, received the 2018 Teaching and Mentorship Award from the American Sociological Association’s Environment and Technology Section. This biennial award honors faculty who have provided exemplary service in teaching environmental sociology and mentoring students.

Bell received the award at the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting in Philadelphia on August 11.

Over his teaching career, Bell has advised 32 PhD students and 25 students pursuing master’s degrees. He teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the Community and Environmental Sociology and Sociology departments, the Nelson Institute, the Agroecology Program and the Global Health Institute.

As director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Bell has led three service learning trips to South Africa and has mentored graduate students’ research on agriculture and public health in this country.

Bell’s textbook, An Invitation to Environmental Sociology, is widely regarded as the leading textbook in the field. Co-authored by Bell’s former PhD student Loka Ashwood, the sixth edition will be published in 2019.