SORENSEN NAMED COFFMAN CHAIR FOR TEACHING SCHOLARSDuane Nellis, provost and senior vice president, recently named Christopher Sorensen, university distinguished professor of physics, as the 2007-2008 Coffman Chair for University Distinguished Teaching Scholars. The position was created in 1995 to underscore K-State's commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning. The faculty member is appointed to the chair for one academic year. All who are selected to hold the chair retain the title of University Distinguished Teaching Scholar throughout their careers. During the year in residence, the scholar's time and resources will go to advance the interests of undergraduate teaching and learning. "As a faculty member, Chris is truly dynamic and engages students in ways that extends their knowledge in physics as well as helps them understand the usages of physics in our broader world," Nellis said. Sorensen said he will spend his time as Coffman Chair developing an interdisciplinary program in the sciences. WESTMAN TO HEAD ENGLISHThe department of English is working to enhance its emphasis on children's literature, integrate technology and boost diversity, according to the new department head. Westman joined K-State in 2000 as a visiting assistant professor. She became an assistant professor in 2002 and was promoted to associate professor in 2006. Her teaching interests include 20th-century and contemporary British literature, women's literature, the history of the novel, and technology and information literacy. She has received numerous awards at K-State, including a William L. Stamey Excellence in Teaching Award.
OH, BY THE WAY...HOW TO...GET YOUR EVENT ON THE UNIVERSITY CALENDAR Ever wondered how to get your department's or organization's events on the university calendar? We've got your answer right here. To add an event to the university's online calendar, accessible through the K-State homepage, just send an e-mail to calendar@k-state.edu. The typical event listing can include event title; date, time, location; description; and sponsors. The listing can also include a link to a Web site with full details about the event. Mainly K-State events, on-campus or off, are listed, although community events with a clear connection to the university -- such as a sponsoring organization -- are also considered. POSTAL RATE INCREASE IMPACTS UNIVERSITY The new U.S. Postal Service rate increase went into effect May 14. Since then, Central Mail Services has been observing how the new rates and regulations will impact university mail. In some scenarios there could be a 60 percent increase in postage unless alternate ways of configuring mail pieces are identified. To learn more about the rate and regulation changes, as well as postage-saving tips, go to: http://www.k-state.edu/ Now that the impact of the regulations on university mail is known, training sessions will be scheduled with each college to offer additional information and guidance. WASTE DISPOSAL INFORMATION NOW JUST A CLICK AWAY Need to know how to get rid of batteries, broken glass, computers, printer cartridges, refrigerators and other waste and recyclables on campus? Information about who to contact to haul away your used items is now available online by clicking on "Waste & Recyclables Disposal Instructions" at: http://www.k-state.edu/safety/services.htm Costs, if applicable, can be found at:
ON CAMPUS - JUNE
12 -June 27 -July 1 Each year, an artist is selected to produce a limited edition print available exclusively to Friends members. The selected artist then has an exhibition at the museum. "Krueger's work is characterized by an insistence on narrative and line," said Bill North, Beach Museum senior curator. "His imagery reflects a deep interest in American history, the history of art and contemporary American culture." Krueger joined the art department at the University of Kansas in 1995 as an associate professor. He teaches printmaking, drawing and digital art. Krueger's work can be found in many public collections throughout the country, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University and the New York Public Library. |
At the 30th annual Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony May 23 in the K-State Student Union Ballroom, workers were honored for their years of service and their achievements across campus. Read more
Targeting excellence at K-State
The fourth year of awards made under K-State's Targeted Excellence program have been announced by M. Duane Nellis, K-State provost and senior vice president. Read more
To the top
For seven K-State faculty members and alumni, a dream six years in the making recently resulted in a true mountain-top experience. The group flew to Nepal in October 2006 to climb Island Peak, a mountain more than 20,000 feet above sea level and located near Mount Everest. Read more
Elizabeth Turtle, associate professor at K-State Libraries, has received the third annual Brice G. Hobrock Distinguished Library Faculty Award.
As part of the honor, Turtle received a personal plaque, a listing on a permanent plaque in Hale Library, and a $1,000 gift from the Friends of the K-State Libraries.
Turtle, a science librarian, works with the departments of chemistry, biochemistry and chemical engineering. She is the university libraries' liaison to statewide and national consortia, and she chairs the Regents Libraries Database Consortium.
The Hobrock Award was established by the Friends of the K-State Libraries to honor Dean Brice Hobrock at his retirement in June 2004. The award recognizes outstanding librarianship and superior accomplishments among library faculty.
Dan Deines is earning recognition for excellence in teaching and innovation in curriculum development from a world-renowned accounting organization that is the largest in the United States.
Deines, the Ralph Crouch KMPG Professor of Accounting at K-State's College of Business Administration, received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award at the association's spring council meeting.
The annual award offers professional recognition and promotes role models in academe.
A specialist in equine medicine and a microbiologist whose work combats a virus in pigs have been singled out for honors by students and colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Beth Davis, an assistant professor of clinical sciences who leads the college's equine medicine and surgery section, has received the 2007 Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award. Given annually at each veterinary college in the United States, Norden awards go to outstanding teachers who advance the veterinary profession by inspiring students to their highest levels of achievement and professionalism. The honoree is selected by veterinary students.
Bob Rowland, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, has won the Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence. Rowland's research concentrates on infectious diseases caused by persistent RNA viruses, particularly the virus that causes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome.
Gary Coates, professor of architecture, has been selected as the inaugural Regnier Distinguished Faculty Chair at the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
During his three-year term, Coates will complete a study of Kronsberg, Germany, a model sustainable urban district designed and built as part of EXPO 2000, the World's Fair in the host city of Hannover. He was selected for the honor based on the recommendations of a blind review committee from a distinguished peer institution.
The Regnier Distinguished Faculty Chair was established by a gift from Victor A. Regnier, Robert D. Regnier and Catherine M. Regnier to honor their father, Victor L. Regnier.
POINTS OF PRIDEK-State works to help Afghan university Representatives from K-State and Kabul University in Afghanistan have signed two three-year contracts worth $5.5 million to improve the College of Engineering and the department of English at Kabul University. Funds are provided by World Bank. "The signing of these agreements marked an historic moment in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Kabul University, following more than 25 years of war in Afghanistan," said Kenneth M. Holland, associate provost for international programs at K-State. In May, the U.S. Army and Varney's Book Store in Manhattan helped K-State collect and send 2,000 books in the program-related areas of engineering, architecture, languages and literature to Kabul University. |
Michele Janette, English, presented "A City, Not This City: Parallax Urbanity in Monique Truong's 'The Book of Salt,'" Association for Asian American Studies, April 7, New York, N.Y.
The College of Business Administration and the office of diversity and dual career development have received funding for a project that will benefit business students in Nigeria.
K-State received $500,000 in grant money and $468,000 in cost share from the U.S. Agency for International Development that will go to strengthen graduate and undergraduate business programs at the University of Lagos in Nigeria. The American Council on Education and Higher Education for Development coordinated the grant application process.
K-State's Ike Ehie, associate dean and director of undergraduate programs at the College of Business Administration, and Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity and dual career development, serve as the principal investigators of this grant.
"In Africa, Nigeria was a pioneer in the development of a higher business education program, but over the years the quality of the business program has not kept up with the needs of the changing business environment," Ehie said. "Business education in today's society needs not only to be rigorous but current and relevant to international business needs."
The three-year grant award will fund faculty and curriculum development for the University of Lagos. Yar M. Ebadi, dean of K-State's College of Business Administration, will join Roger McHaney, professor of management, and Amir Tavakkol, associate professor of finance, in traveling to the Nigerian university to assess the curriculum and realign it with private sector needs. They also will assist in linking University of Lagos graduates with employment opportunities.
In addition, faculty members from the University of Lagos School of Business will have the opportunity to travel to K-State for conferences, workshops and seminars.
"Globalization of our programs is a College of Business Administration priority," Ebadi said. "In our increasingly global business world, educational alliances like this one offer the ability to learn from the respective strengths of diverse institutions. The cumulative knowledge gained will enhance the educational experience of all students and help prepare them to be thriving members of the international business community."
The University of Lagos School of Business has about 4,000 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students currently enrolled.
OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED • A recording of classified job opportunities is available 24 hours a day on the Employment Information Line, 785-532-6271. • A list of employment opportunities is posted at www.k-state.edu/hr/ • For additional information, call 785-532-6277 or come to the Division of Human Resources in 103 Edwards Hall. Applications are accepted 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. UNCLASSIFIED • A complete listing of vacancies can be seen at www.k-state.edu/affact/ • For additional information, call the office of affirmative action at 785-532-6220 or come by 214 Anderson Hall. |