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Achievements
INSIDE ILLINOIS, June 7, 2012 [ Email | Share ]
IN THIS ISSUE: ACES | FAA | ENGINEERING | IlliAAC | LAS | LAW | SOCIAL WORK
ACES
Laretha C. Henderson, an office support specialist for UI Extension, received the Staff Award for Excellence from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Susan L. Conrad, an office support specialist for ACES Administration–Advancement, was awarded the college’s Marcella M. Nance Staff Award.
FAA
eDream, the Emerging Digital Research and Education in the Arts Media Institute, has selected UI faculty members Gerald Guthrie and Deke Weaver as the institute’s first fellows. During their one-year fellowships, they will collaborate with eDream on new projects that can be facilitated and enhanced by access to the institute’s advanced technologies and expertise.
“These are both well-recognized artists employing digital technologies in their creative productions,” said eDream director Donna Cox. “Their research exemplifies the type of innovation that eDream is helping to engender at the University of Illinois.”
Guthrie, a professor of art and design, teaches animation and foundation studies. His current project involves the creation of philosophy machines, designing an unusually large low-powered microscope and fostering a new appreciation for the beauty of animal life not visible to the naked eye.
Weaver is a writer-performer/media artist as well as a professor of art and design. During his fellowship, Weaver will focus on the third performance of his lifelong project, “The Unreliable Bestiary.” After “Monkey” and “Elephant” (which was included in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival), Weaver is turning his attention to “Wolf.”
Robert Olshansky, a professor of urban and regional planning and acting department head, was recently inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners’ College of Fellows. New members were honored at the American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference in Los Angeles.
“The fellows have devoted their careers to excellence in planning,” said AICP President Anna Breinich. “They continue to set the bar for professional planners today.”
A world-renowned expert on natural disaster recovery planning, Olshansky has conducted groundbreaking research on recovery from earthquakes in California, China, India and Japan, and co-wrote the definitive study of post-Katrina recovery planning efforts in New Orleans.
ENGINEERING
The College of Engineering recently honored its faculty and staff members.
The Stanley H. Pierce Award for Faculty was awarded to Jennifer Bernhard, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
The Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research was given to assistant professors Samuel King, computer science; Hyun Joon Kong, chemical and biomolecular engineering; Xiuling Li, electrical and computer engineering; Thanh Huong (Helen) Nguyen, civil and environmental engineering; to associate professors Chandra Chekuri, computer science; Kenneth Christensen, mechanical science and engineering; Brian DeMarco, physics; and Mark Hasegawa-Johnson, electrical and computer engineering.
Harry Dankowicz, a professor of mechanical science and engineering, received the Collins Award for Innovative Teaching.
P. Scott Carney, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, received the Everitt Teaching Award.
The Rose Award for Teaching Excellence was presented to Rohit Bhargava, a professor of bioengineering, and Marie-Christine Brunet, a lecturer in electrical and computer engineering.
The College of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award was awarded to Narayana Aluru, a professor of mechanical science and engineering.
Gary Parker, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, was honored with the Tau Beta Pi Daniel C. Drucker Eminent Faculty Award.
Other recent awards:
Daniel J. Bodony, a professor of aerospace engineering, has received a Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the National Science Foundation. Bodony studies how air interacts with the vocal folds to make sound, and connects the fundamental ideas to the flight of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and hypersonic vehicles. Understanding this biological phenomenon also leads to better designs for aircraft, Bodony said. The award supplies $400,000 in funding for the project over five years.
Stephen A. Boppart, a Bliss Professor of Engineering with appointments in the departments of electrical and computer engineering, bioengineering and internal medicine at Illinois, has been awarded the Hans Sigrist Prize, an international award presented annually to a distinguished scientist in a selected field.
The 2012 award was competitively selected to honor outstanding research in the field of diagnostic laser medicine. Boppart’s Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology focuses on developing novel optical biomedical diagnostic and imaging technologies, and translating them into clinical applications.
Brian T. Cunningham, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and of bioengineering, was named a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. An expert in biomedical engineering and biomedical imaging, Cunningham has focused most recently on using photonic crystals as biosensors.
C.K. Gunsalus, the director of the National Center for Professional and Research Ethics at Illinois, has been appointed to the National Academies’ Committee on Responsible Science. Her one-year term began Jan. 1. The committee will be responsible for preparing a second edition of the 1992 report, “Responsible Science: Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process.” The report established definitions and standards that underlie current policies and practices.
Rakesh Kumar, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and a researcher in the Coordinated Science Laboratory, has received the Army Research Office’s Young Investigator Award. The award, which honors young researchers who “show exceptional promise for doing creative research,” will fund the development of algorithmic techniques to make applications robust to numerical errors.
Michael C. Loui, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and an education scholar, has been named editor of the Journal of Engineering Education, the journal for the American Society for Engineering Education. He will take over editorial duties of the journal this summer. The journal reaches nearly 10,000 subscribers in 80 nations. It is published quarterly in partnership with a global community of engineering education societies and associations.
IlliAAC
IlliAAC, which provides support for academic advisers at the UI, announced its 2011-12 awards.
Trent Shumway, Division of General Studies and the School of Social Work, was named Most Promising New Professional.
Todd Spinner, School of Chemical Sciences, was named Outstanding Adviser/Counselor.
Kristy Gorden, School of Chemical Sciences, was honored for Outstanding New Initiative.
The Outstanding Established Program award went to Mi Pueblo (Campus Spanish conversation tables) and Beth Chasco, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese department, for creating the program and for its continued success.
LAS
Eric Oldfield was recently invested as the Harriet A. Harlin Professor of Chemistry. Oldfield was selected because of his dedication to research and students.
According to his website, his lab’s research interests include “using XRD, computational chemistry, NMR and synthesis to develop new antibiotics, anti-parasitics and anti-cancer drugs.”
The endowed chair is in memory of a 1946 home economics alumna, who later was a chemistry teacher in the Chicago Public Schools system.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recently honored faculty and staff members.
The 2011-2012 LAS Academic Professional Award was presented to Scott Bartlett, an academic adviser in the department of history; Wendy Harris, the director of budget and resource planning in the department of mathematics; and Carol Wakefield, the director of budget resource and planning in the Office of the Dean.
Joellyn Pedro, an office manager in the Office of the Dean, received the LAS Nancy J. McCowen Distinguished Staff Service Award. The LAS Staff Award was presented to Sarah Beall, an office manager in the department of psychology; Amy Rumsey, an office manager in the department of English; and Peggy Wells, an office support specialist in the department of philosophy.
Barbara I. Hall, an academic adviser in the department of communication, received the LAS Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising.
Eric Snodgrass, an instructor in atmospheric sciences, received the LAS Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Instructional Staff.
The LAS Lynn M. Martin Award for Distinguished Women Teachers was awarded to Stephanie M. Hilger, a professor of Germanic languages and literatures and of comparative and world literature, and Kerry L. Pimblott, a teaching assistant in history.
The LAS Humanities Council Teaching Excellence Award was presented to James A. Hansen, a professor of English, and Kathryn A. Walkiewicz, a teaching assistant in English.
The LAS Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching was awarded to John C. Lammers, a professor of communication; Tracy E. Sulkin, a professor of political science; and Jeremy Tyson, a professor of mathematics.
The LAS Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for Graduate Teaching Assistants was awarded to Jane V. Butterfield, mathematics; Andrew A. Hunte, mathematics; Christopher S. Josey, communication; and Chera A. LaForge, political science.
LAW
Professor Melissa F. Wasserman received the college’s Carroll P. Hurd Faculty Excellence Award.
Professor Andrew D. Leipold was named Outstanding Faculty Member (as voted by the J.D. Class of 2012), and professor John D. Colombo was named Outstanding Faculty Member (as voted by the LL.M. Class of 2012).
Three named chairs have been announced. Eric Freyfogle was named the Guy Raymond Jones Chair in Law; David Hyman was named the Ross and Helen Workman Chair in Law; and Charles Tabb was named the Mildred Van Voorhis Jones Chair in Law. All three appointments are effective in August.
SOCIAL WORK
Douglas Smith, a professor of social work, received the 2012 Deborah K. Padgett Early Career Achievement Award from the Society for Social Work and Research. The society is dedicated to the advancement of social work research.
Lissette Piedra, a professor of Latina/Latino studies and of social work, received the Anthony Halter Teaching Excellence Award as well as the Marjorie Monkmon Research Award from the college.
