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Achievements
INSIDE ILLINOIS, May 3, 2012 [ Email | Share ]
IN THIS ISSUE: LAS | LIBRARY | UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
LAS
Two UI professors were honored with awards from the American Society of Plant Biology.
Elizabeth Ainsworth, a professor of plant biology and an affiliate of the Institute for Genomic Biology, received the Charles Albert Shull Award from the society for her research on current and potential impacts of global and environmental change on both natural and managed plant ecosystems.
The annual award is given for outstanding investigations in the field of plant biology by a scientist who is under 45 years of age or who received his/her doctoral degree less than 10 years ago.
Stephen Long, the deputy director of the Institute of Genomic Biology and a professor of crop sciences and of plant biology, received the Charles F. Kettering Award from the society for his discoveries of the responses of photosynthesis, changes in the physical environment and the role of photosynthesis in mitigating climate change.
Established by the Kettering Foundation in 1962, the award recognizes excellence in the field of photosynthesis.
Justin S. Rhodes, a professor of psychology, was named a 2012-13 Helen Corley Petit Scholar for his extraordinary academic record. Rhodes’ research explores how genes and environment affect voluntary behavior.
The honor was established by an alumna of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the development of the scholarship and teaching of young faculty members in the college.
LIBRARY
Valerie Hotchkiss, the director of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library and a professor of medieval studies, of religious studies and of library science, was honored as the second Andrew S.G. Turyn Endowed Professor at an investiture ceremony April 27.
Hotchkiss has focused on making the library collections more accessible through archival processing and cataloging projects.
The professorship is open to full professors of library administration at the UI who are pursuing innovative research in any scholarly area.
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION
Several university administration employees who work on the Urbana campus have been awarded the Distinguished Employee Leadership and Team Award. This award is designed to recognize individual employees and teams for their exceptional accomplishments, service and dedication to the university. Recipients were honored April 4 at an awards ceremony and reception.
Those honored from the Urbana campus:
Amanda Akers, assistant controller at the Alumni Association, handles all bills for the organization and, until recently, all receivables. Akers ensures that the rules are followed while also providing quality customer service.
Lynn Spencer, an office manager at the University Office of Planning and Budgeting, assists with projects for the President’s Office and the UI Board of Trustees. Spencer ensures that deadlines are met and delivers an exemplary product.
Shi-Yu (Eddie) Tsai, a senior software engineer at the University Office of Administrative Information Technology Services, specializes in Proxy Access and works on updating Banner modifications.
The team award was presented to Benefits Services employees who responded with outreach information sessions to provide answers to employees during the uncertainty of health insurance options during the 2011 Benefit Choice period. Those honored: Zachary Becker, Brenda Butts, Carole Devaney, Gayle Dunahee, Annie Buford Harris, Pamela Kennie, Dennis McGiles, Jennifer Steiling and Susan Vergara.
