Dr. April Blakeslee Receives AFS Tidewater Award for Excellence in Fisheries Education

Dr. April Blakeslee, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, was awarded an American Fisheries Society (AFS) Tidewater Chapter mentor award for Excellence in Fisheries Education during the AFS-Tidewater annual meeting on March 14^th, 2025. According to AFS-Tidewater guidelines, this award is given to “an individual who has achieved excellence in teaching and student advising in the field of fisheries science, or closely related curriculum, and who also encourages student participation in fisheries-related meetings, notably AFS and the Tidewater Chapter.” Dr. Blakeslee’s former PhD student, Dr. Tim Lee, nominated her for the award, remarking in his nomination letter that “… absolutely no words can possibly express how grateful I am to have been her doctoral student. When I look back at my years at ECU, I can easily say they were some of the best years of my life.” During the presentation of the award, Dr. Blakeslee was described as a mentor that provides a perfect balance of being available for her students when they need assistance, while also encouraging students to become independent thinkers and researchers. She was also described as creating a supportive and encouraging learning environment for her students, fostering creativity through active learning.