IN THIS ISSUE: Communications | Education | Engineering | FAA | LAS | NCSA | Public Safety | Social Work |Library |
communications
Cliff G. Christians, professor in the Institute of Communications Research, was recently honored by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Christians won the 2004 Paul J. Deutschmann Award for Excellence in Research for distinguished research in journalism/mass communication will be presented at the association’s convention in Toronto on Aug. 6. Christians will address the Deutschmann Award Session on “Ethical Theory in Communication Research.” The professional organization was founded in 1912 by professors to promote excellence in journalism education at colleges and universities in the United States.
A documentary by Jay Rosenstein, professor of journalism, will soon be broadcast internationally. “In Whose Honor? American Indian Mascots in Sports” has been licensed for three years to a television network in New Zealand, giving the independent film its first international broadcast audience. The film also recently was screened at a film festival in Norway. Rosenstein wrote, produced, directed and edited the 7-year-old documentary that focuses on the debate regarding Chief Illiniwek and other Indian sports symbols.
education
Mildred Trent, director of educational career services, was awarded the Priscilla A. Scotlan Award for Distinguished Service by the American Association for Employment in Education at the association’s recent 70th national conference in San Diego. This is the highest award given by the association and honors a member who has made significant contributions to the organization during several years. Trent was recognized for excellence in leadership and service to the profession and to the association.
engineering
Brian DeMarco, professor of physics, has received a 2004 Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research, one of only 26 such awards given in all branches of science and engineering this year. The Young Investigator Award is intended to honor outstanding new faculty members at U.S. universities, to support their research and to encourage their teaching and research careers. Award recipients are selected on the basis of past performance and the quality and creativity of their research proposals. DeMarco will use his award to begin an experiment in quantum control of trapped ultra-cold atoms.
fine and applied arts
Kimiko Gunji, director of Japan House, has received the Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the foreign minister of Japan. The commendation recognizes meritorious service of individuals and groups who promote friendly relations between Japan and the world and to provide further public awareness and understanding for these activities. Along with Gunji, nine other individuals and organizations were honored with this award in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of U.S.-Japan relations.
Robert I. Selby, associate director for graduate studies in architecture, has been elevated to the College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects. The College of Fellows was founded in 1952 by the Institute to stimulate fellowship among architects, promote the purposes of the institute and advance the profession of architecture. With the exception of the Gold Medal, it is the highest honor a member can receive. Selby will be invested into the College of Fellows at the 2004 national convention on June 11 at the University of Chicago.
liberal arts and sciences
Robert W. Ghrist, professor of mathematics, received the 2002 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the nation’s highest honor for professionals at the outset of their independent research careers. Fifty-seven researchers were honored in a ceremony May 4.
The young scientists and engineers receive a five-year research grant to further their study in support of critical government missions.
Eight federal departments and agencies annually nominate scientists and engineers at the start of their careers whose work shows the greatest promise to benefit the nominating agency’s mission. Ghrist was nominated by the National Science Foundation.
Eugene Giles, professor emeritus of anthropology, was recently honored by the American Academy of Forensic Science. The academy awarded Giles the Physical Anthropology Section’s T. Dale Stewart Award at its 56th annual scientific meeting, held in February in Dallas. The award is given for distinguished service in forensic anthropology.
John Lynn, professor of history, gave three invited lectures on constructing historical models at Ohio State University in April. Also in April, he gave invited lectures to the School for Advanced Military Studies and to the Command and General Staff College, both at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. In March, he gave an invited lecture at the Military Classics Society in Washington, D.C. Earlier this spring, he presented a paper on the “Problems and Complexities of a Cultural Approach to Military History” at the Presidential Session of the American Historical Association, and also a series of lectures at the National Institute for Defense Studies in Tokyo. On May 21, he will give the keynote lecture at the annual meeting of the Society for Military History in Washington, D.C., on the topic “Is There Any Value in the Theory of a Western Way of War?”
Brigit Pegeen Kelly and Jean Thompson, professors of English, have been invited to teach and read at the Indiana University’s Writer’s Conference on the Bloomington campus from June 27 to July 2. Kelly will teach poetry workshops while Thompson will lead fiction workshops.
ncsa
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications was awarded the Dell Centers for Research Excellence Award by computer company Dell Inc. on April 28. Dell’s president and chief operating officer, Kevin Rollins, came to the UI campus to present the award.
public safety
Sgt. Roy Acree was named Police Officer of the Year 2003 at the UI Police Department’s awards ceremony April 30. Acree was nominated by his peers who cited him for his outstanding leadership qualities and his ability to inspire those around him.
Officer Barb Robbins received the Valor Award for aiding in the apprehension of a homicide suspect.
Other UI award recipients:
Marksmanship: Officers William Smoot (first place), Jeff McCracken (second) and George Sandwick (third);
Cecil Coleman Award: Ilene Harned, health educator, Counseling Center;
Citizen Commendations: John Horton, assistant to head, crop sciences; and Rob Russian;
Excellence in Community Policing Award: Officers George Sandwick and Eric Vogt;
Team Excellence in Community Policing Award: Tim Hetrick, Tony Micele, Robert Murphy, Jose Ortiz and Eric Vogt; Deborah K. Kloth, secretary, Planning, Construction and Maintenance; Daniel R. McCue, business intelligence specialist, PCM; Larry S. Bonebrake, R. Daniel Davis and John G. Ragland, construction project coordinators, PCM;
Division Commendation: Officer Tim Hetrick;
Merit Award: Officer William Smoot;
Director of Public Safety Recognition Awards: Officers Eric Cook, Todd Short; Lt. Jeff Christensen; Mark Briggs, campus risk manager; Vicki Strom, secretary, Public Safety; and Dick Justice, associate dean of students, Housing;
Civilian Employee of the Year Award: Jennifer Payan, public safety telecommunicator.
Service recognition and student honors also were awarded.
social work
Mark Testa, director of the Children and Family Research Center, was invited to present a poster at the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research’s 10th anniversary poster session and reception on Capitol Hill in March. Testa was one of 15 researchers chosen to address the broad areas of social work research. His poster, “Illinois Subsidized Guardianship Waiver Demonstration: An Experiment in Family Permanence,” presented information on the transferal of 6,822 Illinois children from state custody to private guardianship.
university library
Priscilla C. Yu, professor of library administration, delivered a lecture, “A Crown Jewel: The University of Illinois Library System,” at the National Library of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, on March 29. She was invited by the director general of the National Library of Malaysia and the president of the Library Association of Malaysia.
