Doug Gillham's first grade teacher knew he would become a meteorologist. Each day when he entered the classroom, Gillham would tell classmates when they'd have the next snow day.
While the Canadian native didn't know forecasting techniques at this early age, he did have a fascination with the weather. Coordinating television channels in the United States and Canada, he flipped through six o'clock weather forecasts to watch seven different forecasts each evening.
"I was the class weather man," Gillham said.
Coupling his interest in the weather with a desire to teach, he combines both at Mississippi State, where he teaches meteorology and climatology. As director of the department of geosciences' distance learning programs in meteorology and geosciences, he instructs forecasters throughout the United States and the world in the best methods to accurately predict weather.
He also has led MSU's forecasting teams to three consecutive championships in annual North American competition.
Gillham said he will always have a fascination with the weather and teaching future forecasters the most accurate ways to inform others.
"The weather changes every day," he said. "Every day is a new forecasting challenge."