David Willis is a distinguished professor ad head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at South Dakota State University. Dr. Willis has numerous research projects, including one from the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. His research primarily involves fisheries management. He is especially proficient in pond, lake, and reservoir management. In 1996 Dr. Willis coauthored (with Drs. Flake and Scalet) the text Introduction to Wildlife and Fisheries: An Integrated Approach (the second edition was published in 2009). In 1997 Dr. Willis received the Excellence in Fisheries Education Award from AFS. In 2003 he received the Excellence in Public Outreach Award from AFS. In 2007 he was inducted into the Fisheries Management Section Hall of Excellence (AFS). Finally, in 2009 he was honored with the President's Fishery Conservation Award from AFS.