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The UH-led Lone Star Wind Alliance has been named
one of two finalists for the Department of Energy’s new large-scale
wind turbine research and development facility.
The Quality Urban Education for Students and Teachers
program received the Association of Teacher Educators 2007 Distinguished
Program in Teacher Education.
The UH Law Center moved up 10 places in the latest
ranking of top graduate schools compiled annually by U.S.News &
World Report magazine. The Law Center tied with five other schools
at No. 60.
UH presented honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to broadcast journalist
Ray Miller and Houston businessman and former UH
System Board of Regents chairman Leonard Rauch.
Eric
R. Bittner, associate professor of chemistry, was selected
as a 2007 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow for demonstrating
exceptional capacity for productive scholarship. Bittner was one
of only two chemists in the United States and Canada selected for
a fellowship this year. The fellowship will support his visit to
Cambridge University next academic year. He is the recipient of
numerous awards and honors, including the National Science Foundation
CAREER Award in Chemistry.
Alumni
Harkishin Aswani (’84), managing director
of Tolaram Group, was appointed Singapore’s honorary consul-general
to Nigeria.
The Texas Commission on the Arts appointed poet Larry
D. Thomas (’70) as the 2008 Texas State Poet Laureate.
Xiuli Wang (’00) received a 2007 Asian
American Engineer of the Year Award from the Chinese Institute
of Engineers-USA in cooperation with the National Engineers Week
Foundation.
Faculty
UH recently recognized outstanding faculty. Fazle Hussain,
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical
Engineering, received the 2007 Esther Farfel Award, the university’s
highest faculty honor.
Lois Parkinson Zamora, professor of English,
and Randolph Thummel, professor of chemistry,
were named John and Rebecca Moores Professors. An Excellence in
Research and Scholarship Award was given to David J. Francis,
professor and chair of psychology and the Texas Institute for
Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics director. Rigoberto
C. Advincula, associate professor of chemistry, and Steven
Baldelli, assistant professor of chemistry, also are
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award recipients.
A Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Richard
Alderman, UH Law Center associate dean for academic affairs,
Dwight Olds Chair in Law, and Consumer Law Project director. Other
Teaching Excellence Award recipients are Jim Johnson,
associate professor in the School of Theatre and Dance; Kairn
Klieman, associate professor of history; and Robert
Ragazzo, UH Law Foundation Professor of Law.
Teaching Excellence Awards: Provost’s Core Awards were
given to Peter Copeland, associate professor
of geosciences, and Brian McFarlin, assistant
professor of health and human performance. Michael Newman,
visiting assistant professor of accountancy and taxation, received
the Teaching Excellence Award for nontenure faculty. Newman also
is the Bauer College of Business director of accounting programs.
Jaspal Subhlok, associate professor of computer
science, received the Teaching Excellence Award for innovation
in instructional technology. Teaching Excellence Awards for graduate
teaching assistant were presented to Douglas Hughes
and Ana-Maria Medina. Kenneth L. Brown,
professor of anthropology, received the Faculty Award for Mentoring
Undergraduate Research. The Provost Faculty Advising Award was
bestowed upon Betty Barr, associate professor
of electrical and computer engineering.
Christine Agnew, assistant professor of law,
was nominated to serve on the Council of the American Bar Association
Section of Taxation.
Sidney Berger, director and John and Rebecca
Moores Professor of the School of Theatre, received Houston’s
Theatre Under the Stars 2007 Ruth Denney Award. The award recognizes
the lifetime achievement of individuals who have played an instrumental
role in shaping the lives of young artists.
Janok Bhattacharya, Robert E. Sheriff Professor
in Sequence Stratigraphy, received the Grover E. Murray Memorial
Distinguished Educator Award from the American Association of
Petroleum Geologists.
Rudy Casparius, senior lecturer in the Conrad
N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and director
of the Latin American Hotel and Hospitality Management programs,
received the Angel of Merit medal from Mexico’s Cessa University.
The award recognizes his lifetime contributions to the hospitality
industry and to education.
Anthony R. Chase, associate professor of law,
was reappointed to the Dallas Federal Reserve board of directors
for a three-year term. Chase is the board’s deputy chair.
Gary Cheng, assistant professor of engineering
technology and assistant professor of industrial engineering,
received the 2007 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator
Award.
Fredell Lack, C.W. Moores Jr. Endowed Professor
of Music, received the TexASTA Phyllis Young Outstanding Studio
Teacher of the Year Award for 2007. The award recognizes excellence
in private studio string teaching.
Aibing Li, assistant professor of geophysics,
received a $450,000, five-year National Science Foundation Faculty
Early Career Development Award, which supports teacher-scholars
who most effectively integrate research and education within the
mission of their organization.
Ioannis Pavlidis, Eckhard Pfeiffer Professor
in the Department of Computer Science, and the Computational
Physiology Lab received contracts totaling $1.7 million
from the Department of Defense to research the psychophysiology
of stress with emphasis on its facial manifestations.
Jeremy Pettit, assistant professor of psychology,
received a $525,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental
Health to study factors that predict depression in teenagers and
the transmission of parental depression to children.
Augustina Reyes, professor of educational leadership
and cultural studies, received a National Museum of Mexican Art
Women of Achievement Award.
Lynn Simpson, clinical associate professor of
pharmacy and executive vice chair of pharmacy practice, received
the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists
Outstanding Chapter Adviser Award.
Staff
Richard H. Dickerson, university archivist in
the M.D. Anderson Library Special Collections, was appointed to
the Houston History Association board of directors.
Sara Haynes, manager of donor and alumni records
in the Division of University Advancement, was named president
of the Texas Gulf Coast Affiliate of the Y-ME National Breast
Cancer Organization board of directors.
Students
Gary Bryant, doctoral student in history, received
a Mellon Research Fellowship to conduct research at the Virginia
Historical Society. Bryant’s research focuses on the increase
in wage labor among women in the Confederate South.
Kelly Love, graduate music student, placed second
in the Texas Music Educators Association’s graduate division
essay contest on music education. Her essay is titled “Concepts
in Music Education.”
Julita Rincon, undergraduate student, received
the National Museum of Mexican Art Young Visionary Award.
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UH-Downtown
and North Harris Montgomery Community College District have signed
an agreement to offer a teacher education partnership between UHD
and Kingwood College. Under the agreement, community college students
can complete their Associate of Arts degree in teaching, then continue
their studies toward teacher certification while completing their
bachelor’s degree from UHD.
UH-Downtown
received a $900,000 grant from the Brown Foundation Inc. of Houston
to support the College of Sciences and Technology Scholars Academy.
The academy is a nationally recognized program in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics that focuses on providing undergraduate
mentoring, tutoring, research and scholarships. The grant will fund
program enhancements and assist in establishing a Poland international
exchange program in geosciences and biotechnology. Vicky
Estrera is the academy’s director and a lecturer
in biology.
Alumni
Araceli Garcia (’05) is an intern in the
Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership Program of the Mexican American
Legislative Caucus.
Shannon Starkweather (’04)) graduated
at the top of her class from the Houston Police Department Basic
Academy. She received the Highest Accomplished Award for overall
academics, driving and shooting — only the second time a
woman has taken the honor.
Faculty
UH-Downtown presented its 2007 UHD Faculty Awards to Leigh
Van Horn, associate professor of education, for excellence
in teaching; Lisa Morano, assistant professor
of biology, for excellence in scholarship/creativity; and Yvonne
Kendall, associate professor of music, for excellence
in professional/institutional service.
Robin Davidson, assistant professor of English,
is a new board member for Writers in the Schools, a program engaging
children in the pleasure and power of reading and writing.
Anisul Islam, professor of economics, was honored
for his outstanding service as president of the Academy of International
Business-U.S. Southwest Chapter. Islam also served as co-editor
for the organization’s publication “Southwest Review
of International Business Research.”
Chynette Nealy, assistant professor of business,
received a UHD Image Award in honor of her dedication and meritorious
service to the university and the community. Willie Mae
Dawson, accounts payable technician 2, and Ashlynn
Williams, accounts payable manager, also received image
awards.
Students
This year’s Red Rose Scholars are David Adeyi,
Michelle Aiello, Adolfo Aranzales,
Damaris Chavez, Lauren Gracia,
Maria G. Garcia, Emily De La Garza,
Nicholaus Gaytan, Christopher Graves,
Maria G. Hernandez, Nguyen Lam,
Andrea Lewis, Sadia Lunsford,
Jimmy Mai, Janna McKeehan, Megan
Murray, Shafeeq Noorudeen, Nathaniel
Nouri, Kristi Pennington, Alvin
Pieper, Juan Razo, Angelia Sheppard,
Nicolas Spampinato, Antonio Tito
and Anabel Vallejo.
Jeff Watts, Brandy Hinojosa
and Antonio Hernandez were elected national officers
for the Criminal Justice Honor Society. They were elected president,
secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Sadia Lunsford received the Women’s Professionals
in Government Beverly Kaufman Scholarship.
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Houston Endowment Inc. awarded a $190,000, two-year grant for UHCL’s
Environmental Institute of Houston’s air
quality monitoring programs in high schools.
UHCL was named one of the top five state agencies
in 2006 for Historically Underutilized Business spending in the
state.
Naveed Saleem, professor of management information
systems, and alumna Marilyn Lunney (’93)
received UHCL President’s Cabinet Leadership Awards. Alumna
Kathy Tamer (’77) received a UHCL President’s
Cabinet Philanthropy Award.
Adam Hodges, assistant professor of history, published
multiple works in several publications, including a review in “The
Journal of American History” of The Way We Worked exhibition.
“Planning Perspectives: An International Journal of History,
Planning and the Environment” printed Hodges’ article
“Roping the Wild Jitney: The Jitney Bus Craze and the Rise
of Urban Autobus Systems.” His entry on “Housework”
appeared in the Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working Class History.
Alumni
Daniel Holt (’77, ’82) was named
Blinn College vice president for business services.
Shibli Khan (’98, ’05) was appointed
head of the Department of English at Bangladesh’s Presidency
University.
Brazoria County Judge E.J. King (’77)
was named a 2007 Alvin Community College Alumni Association Outstanding
Alumni.
Michael McEachern (’86) was appointed
president and chief executive officer of St. Vincent Mercy Medical
Center in Toledo, Ohio.
James Houston Turner’s novel “The
Identity Factor” was published recently. Turner graduated
in 1976.
Faculty
UHCL recently presented top faculty honors. Vance Etnyre,
associate professor of management, received the 2007 Distinguished
Teaching Award. The 2007 Distinguished Research Award was presented
to Gretchen Mieszkowski, professor of literature,
and the 2007 Distinguished Service Award was given to Judith
Marquez, associate professor of bilingual and multicultural
education.
George Guillen, executive director of the Environmental
Institute of Houston and associate professor of biology and environmental
science, received a second-year award for about $30,000 from the
Harris County Soil and Water Conservation District for the Greens
Bayou Wetland Mitigation Bank Project.
Staff
Michelle Dotter, vice president for administration
and
finance, was named E.A. Smith YMCA Volunteer of the Year.
David Rachita, assistant dean of student life,
was named the American College Personnel Association’s chair-elect
for the Commission for Student Involvement.
Students
UHCL students Tamarie Carmack, Kim Sherry
Holmes, James R. Hood, Kimberly
Marie Kissell and Madhumanti Mukherjee
were inducted into the university’s chapter of Omicron Delta
Kappa, Atrium Circle.
UHCL undergraduate student Wendy Leleux and
graduate student Glenda Nicholson received the
Dr. Patricia Potter Wilson School of Education Outstanding Undergraduate
and Graduate Student scholarships.
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In
the 2007 edition of its Best 282 Business Schools, the Princeton
Review rated the School of Business Administration
second overall among the nation’s 500 accredited business
schools in terms of providing opportunities for minority students.
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UH-Victoria, in partnership
with the American Productivity and Quality Center, received
a $3 million grant to develop a school leadership pilot program
to assist principals in underperforming schools. The program
will provide business and management training to school administrators.
Charles Bullock (left), dean of the School
of Business Administration, and John Stansell
(right), dean of the School of Education and Human Development,
will lead the program. |
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Alumni
Christine Hollinden (’85) received an
American Marketing Association Houston chapter Crystal Award,
given annually in recognition of innovative, effective marketing
campaigns.
Theodore L. Whidden (’04) wrote the book
“The Solomon Series: Great Pyramid Mystery Resolved.”
Faculty
UHV presented the Enron Teaching Excellence Award to Sandy
Venneman, associate professor in the School of Arts and
Sciences, and the Research and Scholarly Activities Award to Harold
Smith, professor in the School of Arts and Science. Hsin-Hui
Lin, assistant professor in the School of Education and
Human Development, received the Distinguished Service Award.
Dennis R. Riedesel, associate professor of education,
was re-elected the Texas Computer Education Association Area 3
director.
Staff
UHV received several ADDY awards from the Victoria Advertising
Federation. Staff members Sarah Gardner and Darin
Kazmir won a silver ADDY for university’s annual
report “Learn Local. Go Global.” Employees Eric
Ramirez and Marci Wallace were awarded
a bronze ADDY for the online newsletter “NewsWire.”
Jane Mims received a bronze ADDY for the School
of Business Administration’s Web site. Tammy Neeley
received a bronze ADDY for the university’s nursing program
recruitment postcard.
Mary Mahan, lead custodian in facility services,
was recognized as UHV 2006 Employee of the Year.
Students
Miranda Medina, education student, received
a Richard A. Brown Scholarship at the Texas Computer Education
Association for her work with the integration of technology into
the classroom curriculum.
Two students received ADDY awards from the Victoria Advertising
Federation. Abraham Mendoza received a bronze
ADDY for the promotional video “Latina Forum.” Melody
Rivera received a silver ADDY and the Student Best of
Show Award for a logo she designed for the Black History Steering
Committee.
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