Nina Fedoroff and Alan Walker have been named Evan Pugh professors, the highest distinction Penn State awards to faculty members.

The award honors faculty members for their published research, previous awards and teaching skills.

Fedoroff, the Willaman professor of life sciences and director of the Life Sciences Consortium and the Biotechnology Institute, came to Penn State in 1995.

She is exploring genes in plants that help them fight disease and environmental pollutants like ozone.

"I'm very honored by my institution. It seems like more honor than one person deserves," Fedoroff said.

Walker, distinguished professor of anthropology and biology, also came to Penn State in 1995. He is an expert on the evolution of primates and humans and the author of several books including The Wisdom of the Bones.

"It is very nice for the university to notice faculty members and have honors like this," Walker said.