LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Kenneth J. Davis upon the occasion of
his designation as a 2016 Inductee into the Auburn Alumni Hall of
Distinction, on May 6, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Kenneth J. Davis upon the occasion of his designation as a 2016 Inductee
into the Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction, to be celebrated at an
Induction Ceremony on Friday, May 6, 2016, at the Hilton Garden Inn,
Auburn, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction was established in 2012
by the Auburn Education Foundation to recognize, honor and celebrate
graduates who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academ-
ic, professional, or civic achievements and to inspire current students
to pursue a path towards personal success; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular merit, Kenneth J. Davis, Auburn High Class
of 1983, has continually demonstrated tremendous competence, extraor-
dinary intelligence and diligent leadership in his unwavering service to
both his community and his profession and consequently has been selected
for this most prestigious honor; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth J. Davis grew up in Auburn, New York, and graduated
as Valedictorian of his senior class; after graduating, he earned his
Bachelor's degree in Physics with a Certificate in Theater and Dance,
with honors, from Princeton University; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth J. Davis furthered his education by obtaining his PhD
in Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences from the University
of Colorado; he then spent two years as a postdoctoral Fellow at the
National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado; and
WHEREAS, Today, Kenneth J. Davis holds the position of Professor of
Atmospheric and Climate Science in the Department of Meteorology and
Atmospheric Science at The Pennsylvania State University where he teach-
es graduate and undergraduate classes in atmospheric and climate science
and has supervised eight master's theses and eight doctoral disserta-
tions; and
WHEREAS, In this capacity, Kenneth J. Davis studies the earth's
climate system, in particular the terrestrial carbon and water cycles;
much of his research is motivated by the need to understand how humans
are changing the climate via emissions of greenhouse gases and how we
can best manage and minimize climate change and its impacts; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Kenneth J. Davis is currently studying sources
and sinks of carbon dioxide and methane in the forests of central Penn-
sylvania, the forests of the Gulf Coast, the city of Indianapolis, and
the Marcellus shale gas fields of northeastern Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth J. Davis has served in a variety of other advisory
roles for the United States government agencies including NASA, the
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable man was recently selected to lead a five-
year, $30 million, NASA airborne campaign to measure greenhouse gas
concentrations and fluxes across the eastern United States; and
WHEREAS, A prolific author, Kenneth J. Davis was a contributing author
to a U.S. CARBON CYCLE SCIENCE PLAN, in 2011, and has written and
co-written 135 peer-reviewed scientific publications; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth J. Davis and his wife, Deb, live on a small farm
outside of State College, Pennsylvania, with their youngest child, Mary
and a flock of horses, dogs, cats and chickens; and
WHEREAS, An avid distance runner, Kenneth J. Davis has competed in
many marathons including four ascents and descents of Pike's Peak; and
WHEREAS, Faithful members of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, both
Kenneth J. and Deb Davis teach religious education programs; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, the former Deb Smart,
and his three children, Maggie, Nathan, and Mary, all of whom feel priv-
ileged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Kenneth J. Davis upon the occasion of his designation as a 2016
Inductee into the Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction, on May 6, 2016; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kenneth J. Davis.