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About K-State

2011 Human Ecology Achievements

* Tonatiuh Melgarejo, an associate professor of human nutrition; Frank Blecha, distinguished professor of immunophysiology; and Yongming Sang and Maria Ortega, former postdoctoral fellows, isolated and characterized a natural antimicrobial peptide that helps dogs to better fight pathogens -- including different bacteria, viruses and fungi. The peptide's characteristics and production method was recently issued as a patent titled "Antimicrobial Cathelicidin Peptides." November 2011.

* K-State's personal financial planning program was named one of the best in the nation by Financial Planning, an e-newsletter. The K-State program is among those listed in the article, "Financial planning education 101: 10 Standout Schools." The university is one of only three institutions on the list offering four or more Certified Financial Planning Board-registered programs. November 2011

* James Kale Monk, master's student in marriage and family therapy, has been awarded the Eileen C. Maddex Fellowship, a $2,000 grant from Kappa Omicron Nu, a national honor society in family and consumer science. The fellowship recognizes high quality of scholarship and potential for leadership. June 2011

* John Grable, professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services in the College of Human Ecology, received the Mid-career Award from the American Council on Consumer Interests at its recent annual conference in Washington, D.C. The award honors significant contributions to the field of consumer economics and consumer affairs. May 2011

* Kevin Sauer, assistant professor of hospitality management and dietetics, is the new chair of the examination panel for the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The panel, which includes five registered dietitians and a registered dietetic technician, makes sure the registered dietitian and registered dietetic technician exams are administered, processed and analyzed professionally. The exam panel also determines new exam content domains and exam outlines to reflect current practice and competencies to essentially protect the public. May 2011

* Elizabeth McCullough, professor of textiles and co-director of the Institute for Environmental Research, and Ruth Douglas Miller, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, were added to the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative's list of top 150 scientists. The list -- part of the yearlong celebration of the Kansas sesquicentennial -- is comprised of researchers and innovators who have made or are making major contributions to their field, positively affecting Kansans and residents around the country. May 2011

* Virginia Moxley, dean of the College of Human Ecology, has been honored with the 2011 Friends of Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance -- or IDEA -- award, created to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development and/or operation of the program. April 2011

* Audrianna Stowe, junior in interior design, is receiving a $1,000 scholarship from NEWH, an international network of the hospitality industry. Stowe, St. Charles, Mo., wants to work in the hospitality design field. April 2011

* The University Professional and Continuing Education Association recognized the Division of Continuing Education and several K-State faculty members for excellence in distance education programs, teaching and marketing efforts. The association's Distance Learning Community of Practice Exemplary Program Award was presented to the Big 12 Engineering Consortium's nuclear engineering program. The program provides, with assistance from the Division of Continuing Education, online undergraduate courses in nuclear engineering to Big 12 engineering students. The Research and Scholarship Award went to Royce Ann Collins, assistant professor in educational leadership, for her research on adult learning, accelerated programs, cognitive development and faculty development. The Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Terrie McCants, instructor of family studies and human services. McCants was instrumental in the development of K-State's online conflict resolution undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, facilitated by the Division of Continuing Education. The division also received two gold awards, one silver award and five bronze awards for marketing efforts. April 2011

* Denis Medeiros, associate dean of the College of Human Ecology and professor and head of the department of human nutrition, is the co-author of two recently released college textbooks on human nutrition, "Nutrition: Real People, Real Choices, Second Edition" and "Advanced Human Nutrition, Second Edition." April 2011

2010 Human Ecology

2009 Human Ecology

College of Human Ecology