University of Idaho Colleges Honor Outstanding Faculty Staff
Friday, May 25 2001
May 25, 2001^MOSCOW– Many of the University of Idaho's various colleges and units presented their outstanding faculty and staff with end-of-academic-year awards. They include:^^College of Natural Resources ^^CONTACT: Sue McMurray, CNR Communications, (208) 885-6673, suem@uidaho.edu^UI College of Natural Resources Dean Charles Hatch honored the college's outstanding faculty and staff at its May annual banquet.^PORTLAND, ORE./MOSCOW ^Keith C. Russell, assistant research professor, resource recreation and tourism, received the Outstanding Teaching Award, for an instructor who is approachable, prepared for class, open-minded, puts students first, and participates in student organizations.^WILLIAMSON, W.Va./MOSCOW^James A. Moore, professor of forest resources and director of the Intermountain Tree Nutrition Cooperative, received the Outstanding Research Award, for a person or team who in the last two years has presented research results that demonstrate excellence in conception, design, execution, and reporting. ^FREEPORT, Ill./MOSCOW ^R. Kasten Dumroese, research scientist, Forest Resources, won the Outstanding Continuing Education and Outreach Award for full-time faculty, students, or staff for presenting outstanding educational events during the two previous years that influence a significant number of people, address problems via cooperation with diverse groups. ^TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec/PALOUSE, Wash.:^Dennis L. Murray, assistant professor, Fish and Wildlife Resources, won the Outstanding Advisor Award, for approachability, preparedness, putting students' needs first, being open minded and participating in student organizations. ^PATEROS, Wash./MOSCOW^Karla D. Makus, administrative assistant 2, Fish and Wildlife Resources, received the CNR Outstanding Staff Award, for a staff member who is approachable, willing to help, and participates in student activities. Makus also received a UI Outstanding Employee Award for her outstanding dedication and hard work as a support staffer.^LEWISTON/MOSCOW:^Mary M. Enser, Budget Specialist, Forest Resources, received a UI Outstanding Employee Award in the technical/paraprofessional category.^^College of Education ^^CONTACT: Mary Ann Reese, COE Communications, (208) 885-2841, mreese@uidaho.edu^They brought Russian Cosmonauts to campus, head up millions of dollars in research grants and help revise literacy standards for Idaho teachers. This year's College of Education faculty and staff award winners, chosen by their peers, were honored May 17 at a banquet.^^LEWISTON -- Gary G. Delka, associate professor of educational administration, won the teaching/advising award. In the past decade, he had numerous refereed papers selected for presentation at conferences, served as major professor to 51 graduate students, won a grant to develop classroom multi-media training materials and to support training of educators in strategic planning, developmental counseling, program evaluation and team leadership. He has revised curriculum in his 10 educational administration courses to emphasize processes, communications, interpersonal skills, team building, technology, educational leadership and management research.^Michael R. L. Odell, one of the most productive grant writers in the university, won the research award. This year he directed nine different grants totaling several million dollars. He is an international leader in science education, has worked with 81 schools internationally as part of the GLOBE Program, continues to develop the NOVA model for restructuring science classes, is director of the Idaho Virtual Campus online program, and received a copyright for its interactive design.^MOSCOW -- George F. Canney, a leader in redesigning literacy programs for Idaho teachers, received the service award. Since the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Initiative began in 1997, he has been on the committee, conducted a statewide survey of 934 fourth grade students’ reading performance, crafted the report to the state legislature and helped finalize the format and content of the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy course. He also chaired the Idaho MOST literacy standards subcommittee for the Idaho State Board of Education, and is on the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment committee as it creates the test to be required by June 2002 to certify pre-service elementary and special education students.^Teresa Kennedy, coordinator of the Center for Evaluation, Research and Public Service, won the outstanding staff award. She keeps the faculty current on educational grant opportunities, and also directs the NASA Educator’s Resource Center, giving workshops to promote NASA and the NASA Space Station. Her chance meeting with two Russian Cosmonauts in Texas let to their visits to the UI Moscow campus, her visit to Russia, and the possible establishment of a joint science program with Russia and U.S. schools.^MOSCOW-- Judy E. Milton, program advisor for Division of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, also received an outstanding staff award. She juggles multiple scheduling duties, reconciles 34 division budgets, completes meeting minutes, takes care of student and faculty drop ins, resolves problems with grace and humor, and skillfully assists college programs in times of need. ^^College of Engineering^^CONTACT: Mary Ann Kellogg, administrative assistant, mkellogg@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-6479^The following College of Engineering faculty members were honored at the May 19 Commencement: ^MOSCOW/ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA -- Wudneh Admassu, associate professor and chair, chemical engineering, won the Outstanding Faculty Award for his outstanding teaching and research. His innovative teaching techniques and student engagement result in high evaluations each year. In his lectures, he demonstrates with equipment that he designs and builds, combining his skills and knowledge in environmental design and engineering and biotechnology. A strong proponent for interdisciplinary work, he has advised over 50 students from a variety of technical departments. His students have competed in the International Environmental Design Contest for the past six years under his leadership. Against more than 30 universities, UI teams have placed many times. Admassu received the UI Annual Alumni for Faculty Excellence award eight years in a row (1993 - 2000), and won the engineering college's Outstanding Young Faculty Award in 1994. His research deals with electrodialysis, using membranes to separate gases and polymeric materials to remove heavy metals and other noxious compounds from water. His work with DOW Chemical sparked an innovative process for gas separation membrane production, resulting in four patents listing Admassu as the inventor.^^BOISE -- Outstanding Young Faculty Award went to Judi Steciak, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, for her demonstrated excellence in effective teaching, scholarship and service at a UI instructional center. Steciak has been at the UI-Boise Center since 1995, specializing in education, industrial outreach and professional programs. She teaches live to students in Boise, over compressed video to students in Moscow, Idaho Falls and Coeur d'Alene, and to students all over the world by video tape. Her websites are rich in resources and unify students in different locations. She provides leadership on service projects to the professional community and to K-12 as a member in the Treasure Valley sections of American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, & Air-conditioning Engineers. She works with Hewlett-Packard on "Expanding Your Horizons," a high school outreach program that cultivates women in technical careers. For three years, she also assisted the UI Engineering Science Camp, a one-week adventure into science and engineering.^^College of Law^^CONTACT: Leann Phillips, leann@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-5817^^Special presentations were made to the following at the May 19 Commencement:^^BOISE -- Judge Patricia Gay Young, who graduated from UI in 1977, received the Faculty Award of Legal Merit. She has been a magistrate judge in Ada and Boise Counties since 1981, and chaired or belonged to several influential Idaho Supreme Court Committees dealing with children’s issues. She chaired the Court’s Child Support Guidelines Committee from 1985-1989, which developed the first child support guidelines adopted in the state. She belonged to Court’s Committee on Mediation Services in Child Custody and Visitation from 1988-1992, which led to revising Idaho Civil Rule 16, about mediation in child custody cases in Idaho. She co-chaired the Idaho Supreme Court/Idaho State Bar Association Committee on Protecting Children in High Conflict Divorce. Young also founded Ada County Friends of the Court, which developed the first divorce orientation program in Idaho. She strives for peaceful settlements and reducing conflict for children. Most recently, Young helped develop a community justice program in Boise County. It includes victim-offender mediation, home detention, community service, a Healthy Families program for first-time teen mom, home visits by a Parents as Teacher educator, and universal preschool. The program received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Justice and is funded through a grant from the Albertson Foundation.^^POST FALLS/BOISE -- Suzanne Perker, who just received her JD in law, summa cum laude, received the Faculty Award of Legal Achievement as the student with the highest grade point average of all the graduating class. Perker now will clerk for Judge Stephen Trott, the 9th circuit court appeal judge in Boise, who also received an honorary degree from UI at Commencement.^MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL/CHICAGO, Ill./MOSCOW -- Mark D. Anderson, law professor who formerly was with the law firm of Oppenheimer, Wolff, Foster Shepard & Donnelly in Minneapolis-St. Paul, won the Peter E. Heiser Award for Excellence in Teaching. He earned his JD from University of Chicago, and has received the Peter Heiser award more than five times before. The honorary awardee is selected by a vote of the graduating class.^^College of Business and Economics^^CONTACT: Cheryl Wallace, 208 885-6071, cheryl@uidaho.edu^^MOSCOW -- S. M. Ghazanfar, professor of economics; Joseph Geiger, professor of finance; John Lawrence, associate professor of production/operations management; and John Morris, professor of production/operations management received the A. Darius Davis Faculty Fellowships, cash awards given annually to CBE faculty in recognition of recent contributions in teaching and research. ^MOSCOW-- Jeffrey Bailey, associate professor of management and human resources won the First Security Faculty Fellowship, which recognizes faculty members with an established record of excellence in teaching and research and who bring research into the classroom.^MOSCOW -- C. Randall Byers, professor of information systems, received the Bill McGowan Fellowship, which recognizes a faculty member whose teaching and research focuses on private and public enterprises and brings research programs into the classroom.^MOSCOW -- Hugh Pforsich, assistant professor of accounting, won the Roderick M. Steele Accounting Fellowship, established through an endowment from the Potlatch Corporation. ^MOSCOW-- Linda Morris, professor of marketing, won the Dean D. Thornton Faculty Fellowship, for faculty members who have an established record of excellence in teaching and research in public and private enterprise, bring that into the classroom environment and engage other colleagues.^MOSCOW-- Glen Utzman, who has been at UI since 1974, teaches tax law, received the Outstanding Accounting Faculty Award. He was chosen by the graduating accounting seniors and has twice before been the outstanding teacher choice of the senior class.^MOSCOW-- Michael DiNoto, for teaching, and Michael McCollough, (UPPER ARLINGTON, OHIO, as well), for advising, won First Interstate Bank Student Excellence in Teaching and Advising Awards, that recognize outstanding teachers and advisors in the college. They were selected from nominations and a letter of support from senior students. ^^College of Agriculture^^CONTACT: Bill Loftus, Ag communications, bloftus@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-7694^ Honored at the college's April 23 spring banquet were:^LEWISTON -- Gregory A. Bohach, professor of microbiology and head of the Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department, as the outstanding academic advisor. Bohach joined the UI faculty in 1988. He also directs the UI Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, which the National Institutes of Health funded with a $9.4 million grant, the largest single research grant in UI history. He was also honored earlier in April as one of the university's top researchers.^^MOSCOW -- Charles L. Peterson, professor of agricultural engineering, won the college's R.M. Wade Excellence in Teaching Award. His research includes studies of the production and use of biodiesel as an alternate energy source. The U.S. Department of Energy also recognized him for his research, and he previously won the university's research award. Peterson joined the UI faculty in 1973.^MOSCOW -- Shelley Bull, secretarial and clerical management, received an outstanding staff member award for her exemplary assistance in the microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry department. She has worked for UI since 1990.^MOSCOW -- Claudia Deobald, technical and paraprofessional, works in Bohach's lab in the MMBB Department and has served as a UI research associate since 1991. In 1989, she was honored as an outstanding employee of the university.^MOSCOW -- Danny Hood, technical and paraprofessional, managed the Martin Engineering Laboratory for the Biological and Engineering Department until his retirement in January. He joined the department's staff in 1990.^^Physics Department^^CONTACT: Chair Rex Gandy, (208) 885-7822, rfgandy@uidaho.edu^MOSCOW-- Physics professors Wei Jiang Yeh and David McIlroy were the choice of students with disabilities for this year's outstanding teacher awards. They were chosen from 40 nominations, and helped students with sight impairments to sit up front, have copies of the lecture, take exams at the accommodated testing center, and overcome other learning difficulties. UI's goal is to help students with disabilities successfully complete their educations.^^CONTACT: Nancy Hilliard, UI Communications, (208) 885-6567, hilliard@uidaho.edu^^-30-^NH-5/25/01-HOM^
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