UHS - August 2009 System Success Stories

UH System Success Stories

AUGUST 2010


	UH received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish the National Wind Energy Center, which will be the site for development and testing of composite materials and components for large off shore wind turbines. Gov. Rick Perry selected UH to be part of the Gulf Project Coalition, a coalition of energy and environmental scientists, policy experts, academic researchers, private sector research scientists state officials and others. The coalition will focus on preventing future oil spill disasters in the Gulf of Mexico. The University of Houston received a $2.4 million grant to fund the most promising young cancer researchers who are engaged in a pioneering new multidisciplinary approach to fighting cancer. The award is part of the latest round of grant disbursements from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which oversees the state’s new billion-dollar war on cancer. It is UH’s second CPRIT grant, and the first in the science and engineering fields. B. Montgomery Pettitt, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor, is the director of UH’s CPRIT training program. Alumni Donn C. Fullenweider (’69) and Charles W. Matthews (’70)) are featured in the anniversary edition of the Texas Lawyer as two of the greatest 25 Texas attorneys over the past quarter century. Karen Whitney (’90, ’82) was appointed president of Clarion University in Pennsylvania. Faculty UH recently honored outstanding faculty. Larry Pinsky, chair and professor of physics, and Richard Willson, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, were named John and Rebecca Moores Professors. Excellence in Research & Scholarship Awards were given to Vincent Donnelly, chemical engineering professor; Praveen Kumar, fi nance chair and professor; Casey Due-Hackney, modern and classical languages associate professor; Tahir Hussain, pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences associate professor; Stanko Brankovic, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Rong Zheng, assistant professor of computer science. Teaching Excellence Awards were presented to Andrew Davis, associate professor of music; Richard DeFrank, associate professor of management; Olaf Daugulis, associate professor of chemistry; Douglas Eikenburg, associate professor of pharmacology; and Alexander Parsons, assistant English professor. Bernard Robin, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, received the Teaching Excellence Award for Innovation in Instructional Technology. Mary Bean, chemistry instructor, and Micky Fleischer, chemical and biomolecular engineering instructor, received the Teaching Excellence Award for Instructor/Clinical. Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Teaching Assistant went to William “Willy” Bolander in marketing and entrepreneurship and Jason Pitruzzello in the English department. UH honored Joel Bloom, health and human performance professor, with the Teaching Excellence Career Award. Rigoberto Advincula, chemistry professor, received the Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research. Bill Dupre, associate professor of geosciences and undergraduate adviser, was presented with the Provost Faculty Advising Award. Yashashree Kulkarni, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a 2010 Young Faculty Award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The award, given annually to junior faculty, recognizes talented researchers whose work will help develop solutions that could enhance security. Cullen Professor of Engineering Dan Luss was presented with the Neal R. Amundson Award for Excellence in Chemical Reaction Engineering at the International Symposium for Chemical Reaction Engineering. One of the highest honors in the field, the award is bestowed every three years to recognize a pioneer in the field. Staff Carol Barr, department of English business administrator, is the 2010 recipient of the Charles F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, the university’s highest staff honor. The award includes a $3,000 stipend. UH also presented Staff Excellence Awards to Donald Delano, maintenance mechanic, Calhoun Lofts; Kathy Ermgodts, speech-language pathologist; Linda Guerrero, business administrator, accountancy and taxation department; Andrea Johnson, office coordinator, School of Art; Gerry Mathisen, executive administrator, UH System Board of Regents office; Esteban Mendoza, journey painter, Plant Operations; Patricia Sayles, college administrator, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; and Jessica Torres, advising assistant, English department. UH also presented the George Magner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising to Trang Phan, assistant dean in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, and its New Professional Advising Award to Audri Villalon, academic adviser in the psychology department. Football head coach Kevin Sumlin was named the Fritz Pollard BCA Male Coach of the Year by the Black Coaches and Administrators. Students Business student Justin Boyar was one of 19 students across the state to receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Texas Business Hall of Fame. The award recognizes students who may become future entrepreneurs and leaders of Texas’s business community. Charlissa Foster, a thrower on the track and field team, is one of 12 recipients of the Conference USA Spirit of Service Award. The award recognizes the community service efforts of the league’s student-athletes. Business students Andrew Jobe and James Wilson won first place in the University of Nebraska’s 23rd Annual New Ventures World Competition and second place in the University of Evansville’s Second Annual Evansville New Venture Creation Competition for their business, Satellite Connect. At the annual Texas Young Lawyers Association Moot Court Competition, law students Randy Macchi, Erin Stanley and Emily Ziemba were recognized for writing the best brief, while Macchi claimed the top speaker award.

	UHD has been named by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School for 2011. This honor puts UHD in the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide for serving those now enrolled in the armed forces and veterans. UHD ranks 33rd in the nation for graduating Hispanic students with bachelor’s degrees, according to an annual study released by Hispanic Outlook Magazine. Some 729 Hispanic students earned bachelor’s degrees at UHD in 2009, putting UHD in the top 100 nationally. Johanna Wolfe has been appointed the first vice president for advancement and external relations at the university. Previously, Wolfe was the assistant vice president for major gifts at the University of Houston. She brings more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and development to the newly created position designed to expand private support for UHD. Alumni Charles McClelland (’98) was appointed as chief of the Houston Police Department. John Wolf (’10) has won the Texas Student Teacher of the Year Award. Wolf is a science teacher in Carmichael Elementary School in Aldine Independent School District. Faculty UHD honored its 2009-2010 top faculty members. Lisa Morano, associate professor of biology and microbiology, received the teaching award. Marvin Williams, professor of accounting, was presented with the service award, and David Ryden, associate professor of history, with the scholarship/ creative activity award. Carolyn Ashe, professor of management, marketing and business administration, was one of 27 international scholars invited to participate in the Oxford Round Table at Oxford University in England. The international session focused on “Ethical Sentiments and the World Financial Crisis.” Mark Cervenka, director of UHD’s O’Kane Gallery and associate professor, curated the international exhibit titled “Substantialis Corporis Mixti,” or “Substantial Form of the Blended Body” for the U.N. art exhibit in New York City. Cervenka also selected artists from around the world to participate including Floyd Newsum, UHD professor and artist. Merrilee Cunningham, associate professor of English, is representing the U.S. State Department in Macedonia this summer, working with the “Writers in the Schools” program. David Ryden’s book “West Indian Slavery and British Abolition, 1783-1807,” is one of Choice Magazine’s outstanding academic titles for 2009. Ryden is associate professor of history. Staff This year staff awards recipients are Cindy Evans, administrative assistant II in the College of Natural Sciences, Office & Clerical Merit Award; Heather Davis, department business administrator II in the College of Natural Sciences, Professional Staff Merit Award; and Ricardo Reyna, police officer, President’s Choice Award. Students The Psi Chi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Spanish Honor Society, inducted eight active members and three honorary members in the first such ceremony at UHD in May. The new student members are Michael Byrne, Alinee Castrejon, Patricia Guerra, Marco Graniel, Alba Herrera, Gustavo Jacobo, Maria Mather and Mary Jane Smith. Science students Audrey Gonzales, Mustafa Mehmood, Stephanie Omage and Johnny Ramos participated in the International Biotechnology Undergraduate Research Program in Poland.

	UHCL’s summer 2009 community outreach event, Fly Me To The Moon: A Community Celebration of the First Lunar Landing, received a Gold Award of Excellence in the Specialty Advertising Project category and a Pewter Special Award in the Alumni Program, Project or Special Event category from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV. UHCL was recognized by the Sallie Mae Fund as a committed partner of the Kids2College program. George Guillen, associate professor of biology and environmental science and executive director of the Environmental Institute of Houston, received an increase in funding of more than $1 million from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the umbrella contract “Central and Southeast Texas Recreational Use Attainability Analyses Project.” Other grants he received include a $137,745 award from TCEQ for “Texas Nutrient Criteria Development Support Project” and a $150,000 continuation grant from the Harris County Flood Control District for “Academic Research Related to Environmental and Water Quality.” Alumni The UHCL Alumni Association named its 2010 award honorees. Distinguished Alumni Award honorees include professor of biology and environmental science Cindy Howard (’81); astronaut Lee M. Morin (’09); attorney Rebecca L. (Becky) Reitz (’90); attorney Marilyn Sims (’98); Clear Creek Independent School District superintendent Gregory R. Smith (’84); and Hospital Corporation of America Gulf Coast Division President Maura Walsh (’83). The Early Achievement Award recipient is JGS Advisory Services LLC President and CEO James G. Springfield (’91). The Leadership Service Award honoree is Joyce Delores Taylor (’08, ’06,’04), city of Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care senior human resources specialist. The recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award is Denise McDonald, associate professor and program coordinator of teacher education. Mary Sue Anton (’89) had her book, “New Madrid: A Mississippi River Town in History and Legend” published. Guion Bluford Jr. (’87) was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Kristina M. Cox (’08) was awarded National Association of Professional Women’s VIP Woman of the Year 2009-2010. Charles McClelland (’00) has been named chief of police for the city of Houston. Bill Rankin (’80, ’76) has been named city manager of Eagle Lake, Texas. Melinda Stephenson (’93) has been appointed CEO of Kingwood Medical Center. Heather Green Wooten (’86) received the 2009 T. R. Fehrenbach Book Award from the Texas Historical Commission for her first published book, “The Polio Years in Texas: Battling a Terrifying Unknown.” Faculty Distinguished faculty awards were presented recently. Associate professor of legal studies James Benson received the President’s Distinguished Service Award. Lillian Benavente-McEnery, associate professor of reading and language arts, received the President’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Lawrence Kajs, professor and chair of educational leadership, was presented with the President’s Distinguished Research Award. The Outstanding Lecturer Award went to mathematics lecturer Judy Bergman. The Outstanding Adjunct Award was presented to family therapy adjunct George Pulliam. University Faculty Fellowships were given to associate professor of social work Stephen Erich, associate professor of communication Ashley Packard, associate professor of biology, biotechnology and environmental science Richard Puzdrowski, professor of philosophy and educational foundations Paul Wagner and associate professor of marketing Jean Walker. Kim Case, assistant professor of women’s studies and psychology, was elected to serve a three-year term on the Council for the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, American Psychological Association Division 9. Anne Coppenhaver, clinical associate professor in educational leadership and director of UHCL’s Center for Educational Programs, received a $65,205 award from the Texas Workforce Commission for her proposal “2010 Summer Merit Program.” Dorothea Lerman, professor of psychology and director of the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, received $40,000 from the Fondren Foundation to implement a 12-week pilot training program for parents/caregivers of children with autism. Staff Presidential staff awards were presented recently. David Rachita, assistant dean of students, received the Hugh P. Avery Prize, the President’s Distinguished Staff Service Award. The President’s Staff Merit Awards went to Karen Barbier, assistant director of media relations, Jennifer Clark, assistant director of student life, and Sharon Klein, School of Education secretary. Cindy Cook, associate director of counseling, was elected president-elect of the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Centers Clinical Services. Debbie McFadden, executive secretary, was elected to serve as the 2010-2011 first vice president of the Texas Educational Support Association. Summer Russo, senior coordinator of publications, received a Bronze Achievement Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV for general feature writing. Mary Ann Shallberg, executive associate to the president, was elected secretary of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education. Students UHCL’s student-produced newspaper, The Signal, and literary art magazine, Bayousphere, received 24 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s state competition. Ten awards were presented in print newspaper categories including firstplace honors for Ruth Gary in the headline category. Seven awards in the online newspaper categories included first-place honors for best video by Justin Joseph and Frank Lemus and best slide show by Mary Ann Wangler. Six awards in the literary art magazine categories included first-place honors for a feature photo by Jorge De La Garza.

	Geteducated.com, a national organization that rates online college programs, recently ranked two UHV Master of Business Administration programs as national Best Buys. This was the second time the Global M.B.A. was recognized and the fourth time for the Strategic M.B.A. Kathryn Tart, founding dean of the School of Nursing, was selected from 646 nursing deans across the nation to receive the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Advocate of the Year Award for her work on behalf of the nursing profession. She was named the 2009 AACN Advocate of the Year at the association’s spring meeting in Washington, D.C. The award was given based on the visits she made to legislators during the association’s spring and fall meetings, and the nursing advocacy messages she sent to legislators during the year. Alumni Kristen Lindley (’09) is the recipient of a $25,000 2011- 2012 Rotary Foundation Academic-Year Ambassadori Hong Kong and learn how to run environmentally friendly businesses. Faculty Vera Adamchik, associate professor of business administration, is the recipient of UHV’s 2009-2010 Enron Teaching Excellence Award. The university also presented its Distinguished Faculty Service Award to marketing professor Joseph Ben-Ur and its Research and Scholarly Activity Excellence Award to associate biology professor Richard Gunasekera. Dagoberto Gilb, executive director of UHV’s Centro Victoria and writer-in-residence, was named one of four new associate editors of the American Book Review literary journal. Staff The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District IV recognized UHV’s annual employee giving program All for One – One for All with a grand award, the top honor. The program also won in the Annual Giving – Most Improved Award Category. Robin Cadle is coordinator of the All for One program and director of stewardship and planned giving. Kayla Sappington, a systems specialist in the information technology department, won Best of Show and placed first in the color photography category in the On My Own Time Employee Art Show at UHV. Her piece, “Bellagio Hand- Blown Glass,” went on to win first place in color photography in the citywide show. Robin Cadle, director of stewardship and planned giving; Bev Hoerig, multimedia specialist in the provost’s office; and Judy Lucas, admissions analyst in the Office of Admissions and Records; were selected as employees of the month for March, April and May, respectively. Students Outstanding undergraduate students for the spring were Moatez Adham, School of Arts and Sciences; Sarah Daggs and Maureen Tinc, School of Business Administration; Nicole Garcia King, School of Education and Human Development; and Priscilla Layton, School of Nursing. Outstanding graduate students were David Phillips, School of Arts and Sciences; Lisa Barr, School of Business Administration; Karie Wimberly, School of Education and Human Development; and Patricia Goehring, School of Nursing. Brandon McElveen was awarded the School Psychology Distinguished Student Award at the Psychology Student Conference. He received the award in part for his work to create the UHV School Psychology Association and serve as its first president. Jaguars third baseman Allison Hinton was selected to the 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA NAIA All-American second team. The Jaguars baseball team won its second straight Association of Independent Institutions Conference Baseball Tournament, and left fielder Austin Kent was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Other Jaguars receiving alltournament honors were center fielder Ryan Gilbert, relief pitcher Pete Ontiveros and designated hitter David Baker.