HLS 19RS-1043 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 34
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Christopher F. D'Elia on his receipt of the "Wes Tunnell
Lifetime Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation"
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Christopher F. D'Elia, dean of the Louisiana State University College of the
3 Coast and Environment and professor of oceanography and coastal sciences, upon
4 his receipt in 2019 of the first ever awarded "Wes Tunnell Lifetime Recognition for
5 Gulf Science and Conservation".
6 WHEREAS, at the 2019 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science
7Conference held in New Orleans in February of 2019, the Gulf of Mexico University
8Research Collaborative presented to Christopher F. D'Elia, dean of the Louisiana State
9University College of the Coast and Environment and professor of oceanography and coastal
10sciences, the first "Wes Tunnell Lifetime Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation"
11award, named in honor of Dr. John Wesley "Wes" Tunnell Jr., a prolific marine ecologist
12and biologist in the Life Sciences Department of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and
13Endowed Chair of Biodiversity and Conservation Science at the Harte Research Institute for
14Gulf of Mexico Studies; and
15 WHEREAS, Christopher F. D'Elia, dean of the Louisiana State University College
16of the Coast and Environment and professor of oceanography and coastal sciences, was
17recognized by the Gulf of Mexico University Research Collaborative for his lifetime of
18dedication and achievement in support of a healthy and sustainable Gulf of Mexico
19environment and economy; and
20 WHEREAS, Louisiana State University has a coastal legacy dating back nearly a
21century and is at the forefront of coastal and environmental discoveries and research on
22every continent; where more than two hundred faculty members teach and equip nearly one
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HR NO. 34
1thousand graduates per year with the multidisciplinary tools needed to address coastal,
2marine, energy, and environmental issues; and
3 WHEREAS, Louisiana State University is recognized globally as a renowned leader
4in educating the coastal workforce and for providing the gold-standard for coastal and
5environmental science, investigation, and expertise; and
6 WHEREAS, the college's Coastal Environmental Science program proudly boasts
7that, to date, one hundred percent of its undergraduates acquire employment or acceptance
8into graduate or professional programs within two months of graduation; and
9 WHEREAS, Christopher F. D'Elia, the university's longest-serving dean, has served
10as professor and dean of the College of the Coast and Environment since 2009 and has
11brought passion, experience, and leadership to his position; and
12 WHEREAS, during Christopher F. D'Elia's tenure as dean, he has expanded the
13School of the Coast and Environment into a college and has established an award-winning
14outreach program with students from Scotlandville Magnet High School to pair students
15underrepresented in the sciences with college mentors who help the students complete
16environmental research projects and pursue college scholarships; and
17 WHEREAS, Christopher F. D'Elia has performed outstanding community service
18through his participation in more than twenty professional and outreach organizations, has
19held numerous research grants, and has authored or coauthored more than sixty scientific
20publications on the nutrient dynamics of estuaries and coral reefs, science policy and energy,
21and the environment.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
23Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Christopher F. D'Elia on receiving the "Wes
24Tunnell Lifetime Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation" and wishes him the best
25in his future endeavors.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
27to Christopher F. D'Elia, dean of the Louisiana State University College of the Coast and
28Environment.
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HR NO. 34
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 34 Original 2019 Regular Session Bishop
Commends Christopher F. D'Elia, dean of the LSU College of the Coast and Environment
and professor of oceanography and coastal sciences, on receipt of the "Wes Tunnell Lifetime
Recognition for Gulf Science and Conservation".
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