Strategic Communications and Marketing News Bureau

Achievements

IN THIS ISSUE: ACES | Education | Engineering | FAA | Student Affairs |

agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences

Several faculty and staff members, students and alumni in the UI College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences were honored during the college’s annual Paul A. Funk Awards banquet on April 28. The awards encompass teaching, research, Extension and support services.

Elizabeth H. Jeffery, a professor of food science and human nutrition, and Schuyler S. Korban, a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences, received the Paul A. Funk Recognition Award for contributions in their respective fields.

Robert M. Skirvin, a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences, received the Spitze Land-Grant Professorial Career Excellence Award. The Faculty Award for Global Impact went to Michael E. Irwin, also a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences.

The college bestows six awards at the banquet for excellence in teaching, research and extension. Winners for teaching were L. Arthur Spomer, a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences, and Dean E. Riechers, a professor of crop sciences.

Bryan A. White, a professor of animal sciences, and Kelly A. Tappenden, a professor of food science and human nutrition, received the award for excellence in research. Awards for excellence in Extension went to Douglas F. Parrett, a professor of animal sciences, and Gary D. Schnitkey, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics.

White also received the Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award. The John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award went to F. William Simmons, a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences.

The team award for excellence went to those involved with farmdoc, a computer-based information transfer system hosted by the department of agricultural and consumer economics. Faculty members on the team are Paul N. Ellinger, Darrel L. Good, Robert J. Hauser, Scott H. Irwin, Dale H. Lattz, Schnitkey, Bruce J. Sherrick and Donald L. Uchtmann. Extension personnel on the team are Stephen R. Ayers, Kevin W. Brooks, James G. Endress, Ruth F. Hambleton and Paul A. Mariman. Joao G. Martines, a former member of the team who is now at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, also was honored.

Professional staff awards for excellence went to Gary L. Beaumont, head of news and public affairs in the Office of Information Technology and Communications Services; Deborah A. Cavanaugh-Grant, an Extension specialist in the department of natural resources and environmental sciences; Judith A. Hartley, director of Child Care Services in human and community development; and Rebecca J. McBride, assistant dean, ACES admissions and records.

Staff awards for excellence were given to Geraldine C. Goldberg, a secretary in the department of animal sciences, and Melissa K. Warmbier, a secretary in the department of agricultural and consumer economics. The Marcella M. Nance Staff Award was presented to Steven M. Maddock, a laboratory supervisor in the department of agricultural and biological engineering. William R. Roy, a senior geochemist with the Illinois State Geological Survey and an adjunct faculty member in the department of natural resources and environmental sciences, received the Service Recognition Award.

education

The late Steven A. Stahl, professor of curriculum and instruction, recently was honored by the International Reading Association with the 2004 William S. Gray Citation of Merit in recognition of his significant contributions to reading education. Stahl died May 6. The award, named for the first president of the association, recognizes a nationally or internationally known scholar for outstanding contributions to the field of reading. Stahl was best known for his research on two elements of the reading process – vocabulary and decoding. He also was widely known for his work in the more general area of early reading instruction.

engineering

The Japanese government has awarded The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays With Neck Ribbon, to Saburo Muroga, professor emeritus of computer science. Muroga was recognized as “one of Japan’s computer pioneers,” and a globally significant leader in the extensive field of information processing since the early stages of Japan’s computer era.

fine and applied arts

Work by Bea Nettles, professor of art and design, will be part of an exhibition, “Six From the Seventies: The Last Years of Modern Photography,” June 17 through July 31 at Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York City. According to the curator’s notes, the exhibition brings together the work of six photographers whose work in the 1970s helped define the state of fine art photography in the years just prior to the advent of postmodernism.

The Japanese government has awarded The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays With Rosette, to Shozo Sato, professor emeritus of art and design and former director of Japan House. Sato was recognized for his contributions to the introduction and promotion of Japanese culture in the United States and for promoting goodwill between Japan and the United States.

A play directed by Daniel Sullivan, Swanlund Professor of Theater, was nominated for Best Play for the 2004 Tony Awards. Sullivan directed “Retreat From Moscow” last fall at the Booth Theater in New York. Two of the actors in this production also received nominations. The winners will be announced during a live broadcast June 6 on CBS-TV.

Sullivan’s production of “Intimate Apparel” at the Roundabout Theater, New York, in March won the 2004 New York Drama Critics Circle Best Play Award. It also received the 2004 Steinberg New Play Award and the Francesca Primus Prize. His most recent directing effort is Donald Margulies “Sight Unseen,” which opens at the Manhattan Theater Club, New York, on May 25.

student affairs

Six Student Affairs staff members received the 2004 Student Affairs Outstanding Staff Award for their significant contributions to the lives of students and the campus community. Honored at a reception on May 5: Cheryl A. Andersen, office manager, The Career Center; David W. Chih, assistant dean of students, Office of the Dean of Students; Priscilla Fortier, associate director, Office of Minority Student Affairs; John D. Gomperts, assistant business manager, University Housing; Karen A. Paulsen, associate director, The Career Center; and Rick Ruppel, assistant director for networking, Housing.

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