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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: Ron Trewyn, 785-532-5110, trewyn@k-state.edu; Beth Montelone, 785-532-1333, bethmont@k-state.edu
Pronouncer: MAWN-TEL-OWN
Editor's note: For an electronic photo, call 785-532-6415, or e-mail media@k-state.edu. Montelone is the daughter of Louis and Betty Montelone, formerly of Ravena, N.Y.
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu

Friday, July 25, 2008

BETH MONTELONE NAMED INTERIM DIRECTOR OF K-STATE'S BIOSECURITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN PAT ROBERTS HALL

MANHATTAN -- Beth A. Montelone has been named interim director of Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute in Pat Roberts Hall. She also becomes Peine professor of biosecurity. The appointment was announced today by Ron Trewyn, vice president for research.

"Beth Montelone is an outstanding scientist, researcher and teacher who has exceptional talents for creative and innovative thinking. I am confident that Beth is going to move the BRI programs forward this next year," Trewyn said. "We are fortunate she has accepted the half- time appointment of interim director of the BRI."

Montelone is a professor of biology who currently serves as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She will continue her responsibilities as associate dean on a half-time basis.

As associate dean, Montelone supervises space planning, facilities renovation, safety, instructional equipment needs and technology issues for the college and represents the college in matters pertaining to research, including research core facilities issues and research compliance. She also coordinates the college's participation in the Women in Engineering and Science Program and the K-State ADVANCE Project.

"I am very excited about the chance to be involved on the ground floor of getting research and education programs started in the BRI," Montelone said. "It is a fantastic resource for scientists at K-State and across the country. My goal for this interim appointment is to showcase our capabilities at the BRI and to encourage K-State researchers to design studies that make use of them."

A K-State faculty member since 1988, Montelone served as associate director of the Division of Biology and associate director of the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research from 2002 to 2004, when she was named associate dean.

Her research work in genetics, molecular genetics, molecular biology, and science outreach has been funded by several agencies, including the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

She is a co-principal investigator of a five-year, $3.5 million National Science Foundation grant K-State received for the ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant to improve the recruitment, retention, and success of women faculty members in the sciences and engineering. She also was the principal investigator for the National Science Foundation grants which helped establish the GROW, Girls Researching Our World, program at K-State, which encourages girls' interest in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.

Montelone is principal investigator of the Targeted Excellence project CORES, the Collaborative for Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -- STEM. CORES brings together the leaders of STEM outreach and education programs at K-State to enhance recruitment and tracking of participants in each program and share best practices.

She has served on various National Science Foundation committees, including its review panels for the National Science Digital Library. At K-State, she serves on the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Science Education Program Executive Committee's Undergraduate Research Committee; Faculty Senate, Associate Deans’ Council, and is chair of the Sensitive/Confidential Research Committee.

Montelone also has served as a faculty mentor to more than 20 students involved with K- State's Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research Student Cancer Research Award program and the university's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars program.

Montelone earned a bachelor's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and a master's and a doctorate from the University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. Prior to joining K-State, she served as a postdoctoral fellow and visiting instructor in the department of biology at the University of Iowa.