K-Statement
PROFESSORS NAMED FELLOWSSeveral K-State professors have been elevated to the grade of fellow by their respective professional associations. Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, university distinguished professor of biochemistry, and Barbara Valent, university distinguished professor of plant pathology, have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Ruth Dyer, associate provost and professor of computer and electrical engineering, is among 295 senior members of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to be elevated to the grade of fellow effective Jan. 1. Dyer has belonged to the IEEE since 1986. The American Association for the Advancement of Science cited Muthukrishnan for his contributions to plant and insect molecular biology, particularly for studies on plant pathogenesis proteins and insect chitin metabolism. His laboratories examine the organization and functions of genes involved in the synthesis and turnover of the chitin in the exoskeleton of the red flour beetle. Valent has been named a fellow for her contributions to the understanding of plant-microbe interactions, particularly in defining the mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis. She pioneered and developed rice blast disease as an easily manipulated model system to understand how plants and fungi interact to lead to disease or resistance. She was first to clone and study both fungus and rice genes that determine the outcome of this interaction. As associate provost since 2004, Dyer has overseen K-State’s offices of planning and analysis, assessment, and summer school. She also coordinates the university’s mentoring program for women and minorities in the sciences and engineering, and she coordinates academic initiatives with the Kansas Board of Regents. As investigator for university-wide research projects, Dyer has been involved in numerous ongoing grants and proposals for engagement and outreach.
OH, BY THE WAY
2008 TEACHING RETREAT WILL TAKE PLACE Tuesday, Jan. 15, K-State Student Union. This year’s format will focus on advising for faculty members, advisers and administrators. To help retreat organizers know how many people to plan for, registration is requested. There is no registration fee or charge for the buffet lunch. To register or for a schedule of the retreat’s events, visit http://www.k-state.edu UPCOMING UNIVERSITY HOLIDAYS Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1 are university holidays. The university will be closed. EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION PROGRAM JAN. 14 The Division of Human Resources will sponsor employee orientation from 8:30-10:30 a.m. for classified staff and from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for unclassified staff and faculty on Jan. 14, 103 Edwards Hall. The program is designed to welcome and orient new faculty and staff to K-State. Enrollment is required. Call 532-6277. VAN OPERATOR TRAINING OFFERED The Division of Facilities will offer van operator training from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 213 K-State Student Union. The National Safety Council training is conducted for all operators and potential drivers of motor pool vans operated by K-State staff, faculty and students. The training is required for all operators. To register, fill out the form at http://www.k-state.edu/facilities CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS The Division of Continuing Education will host two workshops starting Jan. 14. A facilitation workshop for the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy will take place Jan. 14-16 at the Alumni Center, and an eight-hour Hazwoper Refresher Course will hone hazardous-waste handling skills Jan. 14. For information, call 532-5569.
ON CAMPUSDecember - January
-Dec. 31 Robert J. Sawyer, a science fiction author whose work has won Hugo and Nebula awards, signs a copy of his book after speaking at the dedication of K-State’s David J. Williams III Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Collection. The collection is on display from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 31 in the fifth-floor gallery of Hale Library. The exhibit has more than 100 items by writers such as H.P. Lovecraft, Isaac Asimov, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Clark Ashton Smith, Jack Vance and L. Sprague de Camp.
Dec. 13 Technology training Dec. 14 Last day for Nelly Don Dec. 16 Dec. 18 Jan. 9 Jan. 13 |
An affirmation of beauty
The oaks and hackberries framing Anderson Hall represent a small fraction of the trees that add character and beauty to K-State’s campus. Although many trees are bare by late November, for the campus facilities staff this is an active time of year. Read more
Professor lends expertise to Kabul
It's unusual to think of a K-State professor wanting to teach at KU, but perhaps it's even more unusual when KU stands for Kabul University in Afghanistan. A faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine recently returned from KU, where he helped train faculty and students in veterinary science.
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UP CLOSE
A slow journey to relaxation
Calming music filters out of the makeshift studio, drowning out the sounds of tennis shoes squeaking on the basketball court below. In the humid little room in Ahearn Gymnasium, about a dozen students bend and stretch, practicing yoga under the direction of Sue Brown, K-State professor of biology. Read more
PLAUDITS
WINSLOW NAMED JARVIS CHAIR
William "Chip" Winslow has been selected as the 2007-2008 Jarvis Chair of Landscape Architecture in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
According to Dan Donelin, professor and head of K-State’s department of landscape architecture and regional and community planning, this is the third year the $10,000 annual stipend has been awarded to a faculty member.
"Tenured faculty members applied for the award by submitting a portfolio that included a syllabus for a course taught during the fall or spring semester of the previous year, the instructor’s student evaluation summary for the course being submitted, evidence of scholarship and a statement as to scholarly contributions to landscape architecture during the previous year," Donelin said.
"The award recipient is selected by a blind jury composed of two faculty members from another nationally accredited landscape architecture program and a faculty member from a non-design background," Donelin said.
COMBATIVES TEAM TURNS K-STATE TRAINING INTO TROPHY
Fort Riley soldiers trained by Kansas State University instructors brought home accolades from the recent All-Army Combatives Championship in Fort Benning, Ga., including an all-Army champion in the 140-pound weight class.
The Fort Riley team finished second overall in competition with 35 other teams representing every major unit in the Army, according to Arthur DeGroat, director of military affairs at K-State. One solider won his weight class, one soldier placed third in his weight class, and two others placed fourth.
The soldiers trained at K-State for eight weeks beforehand, earning two undergraduate credits in the process.
FACULTY, STUDENTS WRITE AWARD-WINNING PAPER
A group of faculty and students from K-State at Salina’s department of engineering technology recently won first place for their interdisciplinary project paper at the American Society for Engineering Education’s midwest regional conference in Wichita.
Students and faculty in electronic and computer engineering technology and mechanical engineering technology partnered to write the paper, "Building the Largest Cantenna in Kansas: An Interdisciplinary Collaboration between Engineering Technology Programs."
The can-shaped antenna was designed by electronic and computer engineering technology students working under the supervision of Saeed Khan, associate professor of engineering technology. Greg Spaulding, associate professor of engineering technology, led mechanical engineering technology students in building the antenna.
POINTS OF PRIDEContinuing education organization honors K-State The Association for Continuing Education awarded its 2007 Distinguished Credit Award to K-State’s comparative food and agriculture systems course, AGEC 710. The class is offered through the K-State department of agricultural economics and the Division of Continuing Education. The association also honored K-State with its Creative Use of Technology Award for the ExpanSIS student information system. ExpanSIS is a multi-institutional student information system developed jointly by the Institute for Academic Alliances and the K-State office of mediated education. |
NOTEWORTHY
Dave Krishock, grain science and industry, presented "Wheat Quality Update from a Baker’s Perspective" at the Lallemand Innovations in Baking Seminar at the International Baking Industry Exposition, Oct. 6, Orlando, Fla.
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. |