Faculty News

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Faculty News

Faculty Promotions and Appointments

KEVIN MAPP

Adam Johnson Promotions

At its May meeting, the Educational Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to promote Adam Johnson (chemistry) to the rank of full professor, effective July 1, 2011. Johnson is the recent recipient of a National Science Foundation grant for “RUI: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydroamination of Aminoallenes by Chiral Tantalum Cyclopentadienyl-amide-alkoxide Com-

plexes” (August 2010).

Faculty members approved for reappointment were David Vosburg (chemistry), Christine Alvarado (computer science), Sarah Harris and Nancy Lape (engineering), Susan Martonosi (mathematics), and Debra Mashek (humanities and social sciences).

Critchell Assistant Professor

Rachel Levy, assistant professor of mathematics, has been selected as the Critchell Assistant Professor.

“Rachel has shown deep commitment to our students in the classroom, in the energetic ways she promotes and supports them in research, and in her commitment to the whole campus,” said Bob Cave, vice president and dean of faculty. “She exemplifies a host of the traits that made the Critchells such an important part of the community.”

The Critchell Professorship is awarded to a junior professor to recognize faculty who, in the early stages of their careers, have exhibited an unusual talent for mentoring and counseling students in all aspects of their lives. These are qualities that were hallmarks of the Critchells’ direction of the Bates program.

New Chairs

Professor of Physics Peter Saeta has been selected to succeed Professor John Townsend as chair of the Department of Physics. Saeta has been a faculty member for 16 years. In the Computer Science Department, Ran LibeskindHadas will succeed Michael Erlinger as chair. LibeskindHadas, an HMC faculty member for 18 years, previously served as associate dean for diversity, research and experiential learning.

Engineering Fellowships

President Klawe made three appointments to open Fellow positions in the Department of Engineering. The three new Fellows are Philip Cha, C. F. Braun and Co. Fellowship in Engineering; David Money Harris, Harvey S. Mudd Engineering Design Fellowship; and, Erik Spjut, Union Oil Company Design Fellowship.

Associate Dean for Diversity

Darryl Yong ’96, associate professor of mathematics and associate chair, Department of Mathematics, has been appointed associate dean for diversity. He will work to further the College’s progress in diversity in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Diversity (OID). Rachel Levy The associate dean for diversity position was first created in 2009 to extend the significant strides made with the creation of the OID, participation in several multi-cultural forums, and diversity training programs for students and faculty. Yong will develop and enhance diversity efforts in the areas of hiring, faculty development, and support of admitted students.

Peter Saeta

Darryl Yong ’96

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Faculty News

Computer Science Pioneer Wins Mudd Prize

MICHAEL ERLINGER LAUDED FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Michael Erlinger, among the first computer scientists at Harvey Mudd College and instrumental in building the Computer Science Department, was recently named the recipient of Harvey Mudd College’s 2011 Henry T. Mudd Prize. “I feel deeply honored to receive this award,” said Erlinger. “The list of previous awardees includes many of those who have served as my mentors. In my dealings with other college department chairs over the last few years, I have come to realize just what a special place HMC is. I feel extremely lucky having come to HMC and having the support of faculty and staff that allowed us to build one of the top computer science programs in the world.”

Erlinger joined HMC 11 years prior to the establishment of the department for which he served as department chair for 10 years. His supportive and energetic leadership and creative thinking led to the recruitment of outstanding computer science faculty, increasing the size and quality of the department. He was successful in increasing the number and diversity of students in the department while offering them new opportunities such as joint majors and research opportunities. Erlinger was also lauded for his active outreach to the community through engagement with local primary and secondary schools.

He is widely recognized for his leadership in undergraduate education and research. In recent years, his research has moved away from networking security and management to ways to infuse computer science into the K–12 education arena. He is co-project director with Elizabeth Sweedyk, associate professor of computer science, of a $580,033 grant from The National Science Foundation to advance a software development model that engages college and middle-school students. The three-year grant for “The Games Network: Games for Students, Games by Students” challenges HMC computer science students to develop educational games based upon learning objectives set by real-world customers: middle-school social studies teachers.

He is also working with computer science Professor Zachary Dodds to develop a computer science course aimed at middle school students. Erlinger, Dodds and Sweedyk hope to shatter stereotypes about the computer science field by introducing younger students to the fun, creative side of software development and computer science.

The Henry T. Mudd Prize is awarded each year at commencement to a member of the College community whose service to the College and its mission is exemplary. Henry T. Mudd (1913–1990), the son of Harvey S. Mudd, was instrumental in the creation and early development of the college named for his father. He served as a founding trustee and chair of the board for 23 years.

Michael Erlinger

Baumgaertner Retires from HMC

Carl Baumgaertner, who received a Silver Star for heroic service during World War II, retired this year from his position as clinical professor of engineering at Harvey Mudd College.

Baumgaertner came to HMC from Honeywell, a manufacturer of civil and military avionics and other aerospace products. As chief engineer at Honeywell, he spent 17 years at the company’s plant in Minneapolis, Minn., before he was transferred to its West Covina, Calif., plant, where he was director of engineering for another 17 years.

He soon became involved in the College’s engineering Clinic Program, first sponsoring a computer software project and then 11 more projects over the years.

Upon retiring from Honeywell in early 1985, Baumgaertner’s colleagues at HMC suggested he come and work at the College. During the fall of 1985, he began working with the development office, selling Clinics to companies. After a year, he began teaching a Clinic and later an electronics class—the two things he continued until his retirement this year.

“I absolutely love the students and the College,” said Baumgaertner. “The most rewarding thing I’ve done has been here at Mudd because I’m in a position to help others.”

Baumgaertner received the Silver Star—the third highest military decoration awarded for gallantry in action—in 2008 after being awarded the medal in 1945 but never receiving it. He was a company commander, leading an infantry company of 187 onto Utah Beach in June 1944 under the command of General George Patton. Baumgaertner returned from the war in 1946 and then attended St. Thomas College (mathematics and physics) and University of Minnesota (master’s degree in electrical engineering) before beginning his Honeywell career.

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Faculty News

Wang Secures Global Opportunity for HMC Students

NEW EIGHT-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM

KEVIN MAPP Through on-campus support and key relationships developed during his fall sabbatical in China, engineering Professor Ruye Wang secured an opportunity and helped launch a new study abroad program in Beijing, China. Participants in the eight-week summer program will study Chinese language, history and culture at Peking University. They will also attend an introductory engineering course taught by Wang. Offered in collaboration with the China Studies Institute (CSI), all courses will be taught in English and course credits can be officially transferred back to HMC.

Wang first became acquainted with staff and faculty at the China Studies Institute at Peking University while on sabbatical. His conversations with CSI Director Dr. Youli Sun inspired the idea for the collaborative program.

“We agreed to try to set up a new program for students at HMC and elsewhere to take courses of interest in English, while staying on the Peking University campus in the summer,” Wang said. “Also, since most HMC students cannot afford to study

abroad without earning credits in technical courses, we decided to have a balanced curriculum consisting of a technical course (Introduction to Electrical Engineering), a social science course (Modern History of China), and a language course (Chinese).” Returning from sabbatical, Wang shared his vision with President Maria Klawe and Dean of Faculty Bob Cave, who expressed their support. He discussed the program specifics with Study Abroad Director Rhonda Chiles, who worked diligently with CSI staff to bring the idea to fruition and set the program in place in time for Summer 2011. Professors Chang Tan and Richard Olson in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts Department encouraged students Ruye Wang to participate in the program. The HSA Department voted to allow credits from the program’s Chinese history and language courses to be transferrable to HMC. Officially launched, Wang hopes the new summer Chinese Studies program will grow so more HMC students can experience Chinese culture and language and prepare themselves for future careers in a progressively globalized environment.

—Koren Wetmore

REMEMBERING TWO BELOVED FACULTY MEMBERS

J’nan Morse Sellery

Professor of Literature Emerita J’nan Morse Sellery died April 27. The first tenured female professor at HMC (1980) and mentor to many female faculty and students, she arrived at HMC in 1970, was chair for one year of the Department of Humanities and Social

Sciences and was a faculty member until her retirement in 2005. In addition to her love of English, she pioneered HMC’s Media Studies program, which resulted in student-made, multi-screen image and sound projections that inspired critical thinking and creative expression. The course, now entirely digital, is taught by Rachel Mayeri, associate professor of media studies. Sellery was also a driving force behind the development of the Women’s Studies Program at The Claremont Colleges and served as its coordinator. She presented at meetings around the world on literature and women’s studies topics. She served on the editorial board and was senior editor of Psychological Perspectives, an international journal of analytical psychology. For several years, Sellery worked at the research affiliate Institute for Research on Women and Gender at Stanford University where she studied the “Gendered Voices” of Western Canadian writers Aritha van Herk and Robert Kroetsch.