A publication for UH faculty and staff n Fall 2013 n Volume 19, Number 1
HOUSTONNEWS
The University of Houston celebrated the topping out of the new football stadium. The last beam — painted Cougar red and signed by students, alumni, athletes and officials — was lifted and placed at the southeast corner of the stadium at a recent ceremony. The stadium is scheduled to open in August 2014. Photo: Thomas Campbell
UH, UH System Reach New Fundraising Milestones By Richard Bonnin
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he University of Houston System raised a record-setting $117.8 million in private support in 2012-2013, the largest total in the institution’s history. At the University of Houston, fundraising exceeded $110.3 million, also a record. These totals tell an encouraging story of fundraising success, as they surpass last year’s record-setting figures of $112.5 million for the UH System and $109 million for UH. The milestones coincide with the
arrival two years ago of chief external affairs officer Eloise Stuhr. “We’re very grateful to our donors and friends, and look forward to ensuring that their gifts — which are so crucial to maintaining excellence in our programs — help shape the University for generations to come,” said Stuhr, vice president for advancement at UH and vice chancellor for advancement for the UH System. Among the significant gifts to UH in the past year are a $2.3 million gift from Schlumberger to advance the University’s Energy
Research Park and $2 million from the Huffington Foundation and Ronald and Mariette Woestemeyer to support research for early diagnosis and treatment of disease. More than 26,000 alumni, friends, foundations and corporations contributed to UH, advancing the University’s student success initiatives through their support for academic enhancements such as the renovation and modernization of laboratories and the establishment of electronic classrooms. The fundraising success comes at a crucial time for the UH System
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and its four universities, as they seek to further improve educational experiences by allocating money toward current and future scholarships, programs and faculty development opportunities. Among the UH System components, UH-Clear Lake raised more than $2.6 million, UH-Downtown raised $2.5 million and UH-Victoria received gifts totaling more than $1.8 million. “These generous gifts are visionary, and they will shape our future and transform the lives of our students,” Stuhr said. -
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Administrative News
UH Receives $4 Million to Launch New Chemistry Initiative
ACB Elects Officers for the Board of Directors
The Association for Community Broadcasting (ACB), a nonprofit organization that focuses on development and outreach projects on behalf of Houston Public Media, recently elected officers for the 2013-2014 board term. Janice Hale-Harris, Waste Management’s senior learning and leadership development manager, was named board chair. Hale-Harris replaces past Chairman John MacFarlane, who passed away while serving as the 2012-2013 ACB board chair. George Connelly, attorney with the firm Chamberlain Hrdlicka, continues to serve as immediate past chair and board development chair. Ron Rand, president and CEO of The Rand Group, was named president. Kimberly Sterling, president of Sterling Associates, was named vice president. Stephen Schwarz, vice president chief operating officer of Nautical Systems at the American Bureau of Shipping, is the secretary/treasurer.
By Jeannie Kever
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he University of Houston has received $4 million from the Welch Foundation to establish the Center of Excellence in Polymer Chemistry. The gift will support start-up packages to recruit the first two of four polymer chemists the University will hire to provide a foundation for a nationally recognized polymer research center. “Throughout the years, the Welch Foundation has been incredibly generous to the University of Houston,” said Dan E. Wells, interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “We are grateful to receive this grant that will advance our Tier One research and generate a uniquely skilled workforce for Houston and Texas.” Chemists develop polymers that can be used to make products for the fiber, communication, packaging and other industries. UH faculty will emphasize fundamental chemistry research, but they also will work with area petrochemical companies seeking to convert natural gas feedstock into advanced materials. Mike Harold, chairman of the Department of
Khators’ Gift Enhances Tier One Scholarship Program By Richard Bonnin
HOUSTON NEWS Volume 19, Number 1 Fall 2013 is a quarterly publication of the Office of University Communication for UH staff and faculty. 129 E. Cullen Building Houston, TX 77204–5017 Fax: 713.743.8199
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Richie Hunter Associate Vice Chancellor/ Associate Vice President Marketing & Communication 713.743.0945 Richard Bonnin Executive Director, Media Relations 713.743.8155 rbonnin@uh.edu Shawn Lindsey Director, Media Relations 713.743.5725 selindsey@uh.edu Francine Parker Writer/Editor 713.743.8193 fparker@central.uh.edu Printing: UH Printing Services Eric Dowding Design and Layout 713.743.5900
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Chemical Engineering, whose faculty will also be involved in the new center, said the gift will speed efforts to develop new polymer products and technologies. “This is especially timely with the domestic energy revolution we are experiencing, since the main feedstocks of polymers are petroleum and natural gas,” Harold said. David Hoffman, chairman of the Department of Chemistry, said the money will do more than simply establish a research center. “The foundation's grant will help the University more rapidly expand and enhance its research on polymers, an area of research important to Texas and, in particular, Houston because of its close proximity and ties to the petrochemical industry," Hoffman said. Eloise Stuhr, vice president for advancement for UH, noted that the Welch Foundation is dedicated to advancing chemistry and improving life – “goals that match perfectly with those of a Carnegie-designated Tier One university such as the University of Houston. I am so pleased that the foundation’s generous support will help bring greater visibility to UH and help us broaden our commitment to overall excellence.” -
said Paula Myrick Short, senior vice chancellor/senior vice president for niversity of Houston President academic affairs and provost. The gift Renu Khator and her husband, from the Khators “provides additional Suresh, associate dean in the cache, boosting recruiting efforts that UH Cullen College of Engineering, could result in even more of the best have contributed more than $100,000 and brightest students choosing UH to establish the Renu and Suresh over other institutions,” she said. Khator UH Tier One Scholarship “I believe this generous gift will Endowment. With matching funding, allow us to really look at the Tier the endowment was augmented to One Scholarship in terms of adding $200,000, giving new energy to the even more value to the students’ colUniversity’s prestigious Tier One lege experience,” Short said. Scholarship Program. The Tier One Scholarship The extraordinary program will Program’s benefits extend far beyond allow the University to offer as many financial assistance, which includes as 200 new merit-based scholarships all tuition and mandatory fees for up for outstanding freshmen each year to four years of study. Being a Tier Renu and Suresh Khator – fulfilling Khator’s commitment One Scholar brings with it a sense to devote UH’s premier educational of pride and prestige. Scholars know resources to student success initiatives. they are among the top students of their class, and scholEstablished through an anonymous $7 million doarship sponsors know they are contributing to a program nation, the program was bolstered by a challenge Khator that supports future community leaders. issued to the UH community, in which new scholarship “Great universities are built by engaged and supcontributions of $25,000 or more are matched dollar-forportive communities,” Khator said. “The generosity of the dollar. Creation of a $14 million scholarship endowment UH community has brought us to the threshold of fully is well within reach, as donors have helped move the funding this match opportunity. I know we can count on University within $500,000 of achieving the match goal. continued support so we can help an even greater number The University’s Tier One Scholars, upon learning of top-flight freshmen, which also will help elevate our of the Khators’ donation, say it provides additional motioverall student profile. vation to grow academically and personally. “The University proudly graduated its first Tier One “President Khator’s generous donation only proves Scholar in 2011. As the program continues to grow and her commitment to the students and to building this evolve, more scholars will have the opportunity to reach University,” said Roya Zamani, a biochemistry senior. “To their educational goals, more graduates will enter the know that we have a chancellor and president who is so workforce practice-ready and poised to succeed. UH will supportive of this Tier One class of students is a strong establish itself further as one of the finest and most accomsource of motivation for us to do our best and to make plished universities in the nation. Suresh and I are proud her proud.” to contribute in this way to ensure that our talented and Each donor gift to date was vital in helping the driven students are well-prepared leaders who will meet the University attract the 181 Tier One Scholars on campus, needs of an increasingly competitive global economy." -
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Fall 2013
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ADMINISTRATIVE
Gov. Rick Perry Appoints Three to Serve on Board of Regents By Mike Emery
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hree new regents have joined the University of Houston System (UHS) Board of Regents. Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently appointed Durga D. Agrawal, Paula Mendoza and Peter Taaffe. They will serve as regents through Aug. 31, 2019. “Each of the three appointees brings a unique set of valuable skills to the board, but they also share a common commitment to community engagement and higher education,” said UHS Chancellor and UH President Renu Khator. “We are fortunate to have such accomplished and dedicated indiDurga D. Agrawal viduals helping
guide the future of the UH System.” commissioner of the Texas EthA UH alumnus, Agrawal is ics Commission. She also serves as president and CEO of Piping Techa board member for the East End nology and Products. He also directs Chamber of Commerce Foundation. the Agrawal Association of America. Previously, she chaired the Texas EthAgrawal earned master’s and doctoral ics Commission, the Texas Associadegrees in industrial engition of Mexican-American neering from UH’s Cullen Chambers of Commerce College of Engineering. He and its education founserves on the college’s indusdation, and the M.D. trial engineering advisory Anderson Family YMCA. board, alumni board and Mendoza also is a past leadership board. Agrawal board member of such orgaalso serves on the India nizations as the Association Cultural Community and for the Advancement of Industry Trade Advisory Mexican-Americans and the Committee. He previously Houston Hispanic Chamserved on the Texas Higher Paula Mendoza ber of Commerce. She holds Education Coordinating a bachelor’s degree from Board. He is a member and past UH-Downtown. president of the Indo-American An attorney with Buzbee Law Chamber of Commerce of Greater Firm, Taaffe is a member of the State Houston and India House Houston. Bar of Texas and the University Mendoza is president and of Houston Center for U.S. and CEO of Possible Missions and is a Mexican Law Advisory Board. He is
University of Houston to Participate in National Project on Excellence
By Richard Bonnin
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he University of Houston was selected by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education to participate in a national higher education project known as Foundations of Excellence®. Throughout the 2013-2014 academic year, UH faculty, staff and students have been collaborating with the Gardner Institute using a model of excellence for the first college year to develop and refine the University’s overall approach to educating first-year students. Since February 2003, the Foundations of Excellence project
has involved more than 300 two- and fouryear colleges and universities across the country in developing the standards (Foundational Dimensions®) that constitute a model first year. Working with both the Gardner Institute and educational survey partner, Educational Benchmarking Inc., member institutions will measure their effectiveness in recruiting, admitting, orienting, supporting, advising and teaching new students. They will then be able to make programmatic improvements that will increase student learning, success and persistence. Provost Paula Myrick Short stated, “Our selection and the work that we will do as a part of the Foundations of Excellence initiative will enable UH to plan and implement a cutting-edge first-year experience program based on research, campus engagement in the process and specific outcome measures to promote student success.” -
a past member of the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono College and the Robert W. Calvert American Inn of Court. Taaffe also previously served Peter Taaffe on the UH Law Center Alumni Association’s board. Taaffe holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the UH Law Center, where he later taught as an adjunct faculty member. “Gov. Perry has selected three energetic leaders to help lead the UH System,” said Jarvis Hollingsworth, chair of the UHS Board of Regents. “As alumni, they are familiar with the system’s universities and will provide invaluable insight to the board." -
Professor Michael Economides Remembered as International Expert By Jeannie Kever
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ichael Economides, an internationally known authority on petroleum engineering and adjunct professor at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, died recently on an international flight to South America. Economides’ research focused on techniques to increase production, from reservoir stimulation theory and advanced reservoir exploitation strategies to offshore technology development. But he also took geopolitical considerations into account, realizing that technical considerations alone could not determine the success of hydrocarbon development. “He is a globally recognized expert in hydraulic fracturing, in production techniques, generally,” said Tom Holley, director of the petroleum engineering program at UH, where Economides taught a master's-level class. After 15 years on the faculty in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Economides had become an adjunct faculty member, usually teaching one master's class a semester and devoting much of his time to serving as an adviser for companies globally, as well as writing and research. He was known for his outspoken
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views. “Very outspoken, but well-reasoned,” Holley said. Dean Joseph Tedesco said news of Economides’ sudden death came as a blow to the Cullen College of Engineering community. “We are mourning not only the loss of an invaluable source of knowledge and leadership for our petroleum engineering program, but of a dearly respected professor, friend and outspoken ally of the Cullen College and the University of Houston,” he said. “He is deeply missed, and our hearts go out to his family and his loved ones.” Ramanan Krishnamoorti, chief energy officer at UH, said Economides’ work had a significant impact on production stimulation. “He got into the whole space of horizontal drilling. How do you effectively stimulate horizontal drilling? He was a strong proponent of hydraulic fracturing,” Krishnamoorti said. “He put a lot of science behind it. He would go into the field, and things would start to happen.” Economides, though, wasn’t just interested in the technical aspects of extracting hydrocarbons. He didn’t shy away from controversial positions. “He made you think,” Krishnamoorti said. “His emotions were on his sleeve. His students absolutely loved him.” -
Fall 2013
Richie Hunter Selected as AVC/AVP for Marketing and Communication
Richie Hunter
By Richard Bonnin
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ichie Hunter, a well-recognized leader in strategic marketing, brand development, integrated communications and business strategy, has joined the University of Houston as associate vice president/associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication for the University and the UH System.
Hunter brings a wealth of corporate and higher education experience to the position. She most recently served as vice president of government programs for Coventry Health Care. In that role she was responsible for the full articulation, development and implementation of all member experience, engagement, satisfaction and retention strategies. She is also the former chief marketing officer for Health Net Inc., where she developed and implemented an enterprise-wide strategic marketing and brand vision for the commercial, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business. Prior to joining Health Net, Hunter was the staff vice president of marketing management for WellPoint, the nation’s largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership, providing health care benefits for more than 36 million people. Hunter’s higher education experience includes positions early in her career as an assistant director of Continued on p.5
National Service Group Recognizes UH for its Civic Engagement By Marisa Ramirez
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he University of Houston is among an elite group of higher education institutions honored for its dedication to volunteering and community engagement. The Corporation for National and Community Service announced its 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to civic engagement. The University of Houston earned recognition on the organization’s Honor Roll with Distinction list, which included 113 institutions. UH was the only public institution in the state to receive the accolade. Other Texas recipients are Dallas Baptist University, Southwestern University and Texas Lutheran University. “We are humbled by this designation, as it is through service learning that we enhance the lives of others,” said UH President Renu Khator. At UH students have given many hours of service to enhance the lives of many around the Houston
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area. For example, the UH Mobile Eye Institute, administered by the College of Optometry, provides treatment to residents in neighboring communities. The People’s Law School is a free program UH offers that is focused on sharing information with the public about their legal rights. More than 400 student organizations are registered with the UH Center for Student Involvement and are connected to various opportunities to get involved in the city in which they live. The spectrum of groups include those with interests in pharmacy, law, writing, architecture, optometry and mental health, to name just a few. Community engagement has been a priority for the university. In 2008, the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded UH its highest designation for community-engaged institutions in the nation. The foundation’s classification for community engagement measures an array of criteria that indicate the breadth and depth of a university’s service to the community and students’ curricular involvement in community issues. -
Making a Positive Difference a Top Priority to UH’s Police Chief By Francine Parker
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fter less than two years on the job, University of Houston Police Chief Ceaser Moore Jr. has made quite an impact at UH. His accomplishments on campus include hiring additional police officers, significantly increasing the number of security officers on campus and seeking accreditation for the department by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Moore discussed his vision for the police department and his reasons for coming to UH. Why did you decide to pursue a career in law enforcement?
I embrace variety in the workplace. I do not want to come to work and do the exact same thing each and every day. Also, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others each and every day is extremely important to me. For me, being a police officer is the perfect job. Why did you leave the Houston Police Department to accept the position of police chief at UH?
Coming to UH was akin to going home. I started as a patrol officer in the beat that includes UH. I was married across the street at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church by the Rev. William Lawson. My dad and my oldest daughter graduated from UH. I am a UH-Downtown alumnus. I have ties to UH. Once the position became available, it was a natural transition for me to seek to rejoin the UH community. What are some of the challenges you face as police chief?
Whenever a new chief assumes command, there is a challenge of sharing his message with the troops. This has been my greatest challenge. Once expectations are set and the vision clear, it makes the job easier for all. Once efforts are coordinated, great accomplishments are soon to follow. What are the department’s shortterm and/or long-term goals?
Our vision is to be the best police agency in the nation, where its community is safe and its employees are professional, happy and proud. Our guiding principles are to promote/preserve a safe environment, to identify and implement efficiencies, and to provide great customer service. Effort and respect are our core values.
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Ceaser Moore Jr.
A few of our short-term goals are to vigorously focus on crime prevention, achieve accreditation, increase visibility on campus, streamline the hiring process and improve employee work environment. A few of our long-term goals, which support my Tier 1 policing initiative, are to keep crime rates consistently below the national average, keep our crime solution rate amongst the best in the country, retain valuable employees and use technology as much as possible as a force multiplier. Why was the CougarSafe campaign created? What has been the impact of the campaign?
The campaign was created to ensure that information relevant to safety on campus could be shared in timely manner. Topics deemed appropriate are selected and the appropriate message crafted. I cannot take credit for this endeavor; other members of the UH community do a fine job of sharing safety information. The program does have an impact. I am approached about the information shared in the campaign, so I believe that it is having a positive impact by getting individuals to discuss safety issues and techniques. If you could deliver a message to Houstonians about UH, what would you say?
UH is a very progressive community seeking to make a difference to the city of Houston. Once on campus, there are numerous programs and activities designed to make the campus a better place to live, work and learn. UH is a safe campus. As an experienced law enforcement officer, I chose to have my daughter attend UH and live on campus. I had no issues regarding her safety during her time living on campus. I work very hard so that your child will also be safe here on campus. -
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ADMINISTRATIVE
Four Distinguished Researchers Named to National Academy of Inventors By Jeannie Kever
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our researchers from the University of Houston have been named as fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). The new fellows include Rathindra N. Bose, vice president for research and technology transfer for UH and vice chancellor for research and technology transfer for the UH System; Dmitri Litvinov, interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School and John and Rebecca Moores Professor in the Cullen College of Engineering; Zhifeng Ren, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Physics and principal investigator at the Texas Center for Superconductivity, and Venkat Selvamanickam, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity’s Applied Research Hub. Together, they hold 134 issued and pending U.S. patents, along with a number of international patents. They were among 143 people elected NAI Fellows, representing 94 universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes. All told, the new fellows hold more than 5,600 U.S. patents. Nine are Nobel Laureates. They will be inducted March 7. Rathindra Bose, who holds faculty appointments in the UH departments of C h e m i s t r y, Biology and Biochemistry, and Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, discovered a new class of anti-cancer agents, Phosphaplatins, which have potential to treat metastatic cancers. They have been licensed to a New York-based biotechnology company, Phosplatin Continued from p.4: New AVC/AVP
admissions at the University of Houston, a field representative for student recruitment at Lamar University and a career-planning specialist with American College Testing. “Richie Hunter is an exceptional professional with a strong and unique background in higher education and the corporate community,” said Eloise Stuhr, vice president/vice chancellor
Therapeutics, which is planning to hold clinical trials. He believes organ-based treatment is the strategy of the past, and he concentrated on the design and discovery of anti-cancer drugs that address major signaling pathways to shut down the growth of tumor cells by cutting blood supply and selectively killing cancer cells. He said that Phosphaplatins have been shown to be effective against 96 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s 60 major cancer cell lines, and preclinical data show that Phosplatins are equally effective against ovarian, lung and head and neck cancers. Bose holds five issued and five pending U.S. patents on cancer therapeutics and fuel cell catalysts. He serves as chair of Phosplatin Therapeutics’ science advisory board and also serves on the boards of BioHouston, the Southern Universities Research Association and the Gulf Coast Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization.
He holds appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Chemistry, in addition to his role as the founding dean of the Graduate School. He is also the founding director of the UH Center for Integrated Bio and Nano Systems, founding director of the UH Nanofabrication Facility, founding director of the Nano Engineering Minor at the Cullen College of Engineering and director of the Materials Engineering Program, a graduate program.
"Doing basic research driven by curiosity is very exciting, and necessary for scientists and for society,” he said. “But if they can’t reach people, extend their lives, make people happier, it’s not good enough. My lifetime goal is really to point to something people use daily and say, ‘Yes, that is out of our work,’ instead of, ‘We published a bunch of excellent papers.’ ’’
Dmitri Litvinov’s recognition is an outgrowth of work he started at Seagate Technology, where he championed the development of so-called "perpendicular magnetic recording" technology now commonly used in nearly all computer hard drives. He holds 26 issued U.S. patents and two pending patents. Since arriving at UH in 2003, in addition to leading research on nanoscale materials and devices for information technology and medical diagnostics, Litvinov has focused on innovating teaching and cutting-edge academic programs.
Zhifeng Ren works in different scientific fields, but his goal is similar. He has worked in a wide range of fields, from carbon nanotubes to highte mp e ratu re superconductivity and nanobiophysics. Among his contributions to science, he was the first to grow aligned carbon nanotube arrays in large scale, to make nanostructured bulk thermoelectric materials with much improved properties, and to synthesize hierarchical zinc oxide nanowires. He holds 24 U.S. patents and 20 pending patents, and has founded or co-founded three high-tech companies that attracted venture capital of more than $30 million. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was named recipient of the 2014 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas. Ren said his ultimate goal is to translate research into innovations that improve people’s lives.
Venkat Selvamanickam brings an entrepreneurial flair to his research, co - fo u n d i ng SuperPower, which produces superconducting electrical wire, in 2000, eight years after earning his Ph.D. from UH. At SuperPower, he led the development of technologies to convert a brittle ceramic superconductor into a flexible wire that has 300 times the current-carrying capacity of a comparably-sized copper wire. His team was the first to manufacture thin film superconductor wire, which now is used by more than 200 institutions around the world for applications, including wind generators. He brought the research division of SuperPower with him when he returned to UH in 2008. In 1996, Selvamanickam received the Presidential Early Career Achievement Award. He was named Superconductor Industry Person of the Year in 2004 and has received several R&D 100 awards, along with numerous other awards. He holds 39 U.S. patents and 13 pending U.S. patents. Selvamanickam is now pioneering the development of advanced processing techniques for high-performance materials for energy and electronics applications, including high-temperature superconducting thin film tapes. -
for advancement for the University and the UH System. “She brings a comprehensive skill set in the areas of communication, marketing, organizational branding, public relations and crisis communication.” “Richie is a passionate leader and a well respected professional in her field nationally. She is enthusiastic about the UH community and the opportunity she has to make a difference,” Stuhr said. “We are excited she
has joined our team, and the UH community will embrace her as a highly valued partner.” Hunter was selected after an extensive and competitive national search. Described as a high-energy influential leader with strategic vision and a passion for excellence, Hunter has been tapped to use her entrepreneurial spirit to build high-impact, high-performance and high-value marketing organizations throughout her career.
She received a master of business administration from Lamar University and a bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Southern California. Throughout her life, Hunter has been active in the community and served on the boards of trustees for the Denver South Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, Mile High United Way and Safehouse Denver. -
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Fall 2013
SUCCESS
Cougars Extend Their Season, to Play in the BBVA Compass Bowl
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Staff Reports
Photo courtesy of the Athletics Department
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he University of Houston football team will face Vanderbilt University from the Southeastern Conference in its second bowl appearance since 2012. The BBVA Compass Bowl takes place at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, in Birmingham, Ala. The game will be carried nationally on ESPN and ESPN Radio. The BBVA Compass Bowl will mark the first meeting between UH and Vanderbilt. The Cougars are 40-79-4 all-time vs. SEC opponents and 1-1 in bowl games against the conference. UH defeated Auburn, 36-7, in the 1969 Bluebonnet Bowl while falling to South Carolina, 4436, in the 2006 Liberty Bowl. “We are excited to accept an invitation to the BBVA Compass Bowl and look forward to making the trip to Birmingham. Vanderbilt has had an outstanding season, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach ( James) Franklin and his staff. Playing at Legion Field will provide a great atmosphere for our fans. Our staff and student-athletes look forward to this opportunity,” said UH head football coach Tony Levine. The BBVA Compass Bowl marks UH's 22nd bowl appearance and its eighth bowl game in the last 11 seasons. UH won its last bowl game, Tony Levine’s first game as the head
coach of the Cougars, when it defeated Pennsyvlannia State, 30-14, in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl on Jan. 2, 2012. The Cougars are 9-11-1 all time in their previous 21 bowl appearances. “We are very grateful for the invitation extended to the University of Houston from the BBVA Compass Bowl. We are looking forward to spending time in Birmingham. Bowl games are a great reward and experience for well-deserving student-athletes. We know with
the hospitality the BBVA Compass Bowl and the city of Birmingham provide, this will be no exception,” said University of Houston Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades. “It will be a great challenge to face Vanderbilt, and I look forward to our passionate fan base making an impact in the support of our student-athletes and our program.” UH enters the BBVA Compass Bowl with a record of 8-4 including
a mark of 5-3 in The American Athletic Conference. UH finished fourth in its inaugural season in The American. Vanderbilt enters the game with an 8-4 record and a 4-4 mark in the SEC. Cougar fans can purchase BBVA Compass Bowl tickets for just $50 via the athletics website at www. uhcougars.com. Travel packages for the BBVA Compass Bowl are available through the UH Alumni Association. -
Physicist Zhifeng Ren Honored as Rising Star in Texas Research By Jeannie Kever
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University of Houston physicist has been honored with the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Science from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas (TAMEST). Zhifeng Ren, M.D. Anderson Chair Professor of Physics and principal investigator at the Texas Center for Superconductivity, is one of four Texas researchers selected for the 2014 O’Donnell Awards. The O’Donnell Awards were established in 2005 to recognize Texas’ most promising researchers, whose work is judged by professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness. They will be formally presented on Jan. 16 at TAMEST’s annual conference at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near Austin. Ren was cited for making seminal contributions in five
scientific fields: carbon nanotubes, thermoelectrics, hierarchical zinc oxide nanowires, high temperature superconductivity and molecule delivery/sensing. He was the first to grow aligned carbon nanotubearrays in large scale, to make nanostructured bulk thermoelectric materials with much improved properties, and to synthesize hierarchical zinc oxide nanowires. He also was named as a fellow in the 2013 Class of the National Academy of Inventors. “Dr. Ren’s innovative research serves as an admirable example of what we are striving to do here at the University of Houston,” said UH President Renu Khator. Success in science, Ren said, requires a mix of intelligence and persistence. “You don’t want to be a 100-meter dash person,” he said. “You have to be persistent. Of
course, you have to have intelligence. If you aren’t smart enough, it doesn’t matter how persistent you are.” Ren, who was recruited to UH from Boston College in 2012, has displayed a persistence that has allowed him to flourish in a wide range of fields, reflecting a curiosity that Paul Chu, founding director of the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH, said is common to all scientists who make a lasting impact. “It’s his curiosity and his energy, and the out-of-the-box thinking,” Chu said. “He’s an excellent entrepreneur and a humanist.” Ren’s current interests include energy efficiency and nanomedicine. He has received wide recognition for his work in thermoelectric materials; a paper published earlier this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported an innovation using non-toxic
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materials – tin telluride, with the addition of a tiny amount of the chemical element indium – to build a device for waste heat recovery that could boost vehicle mileage as much as 5 percent, and power plant and industrial processing performance as much as 10 percent. He also is working on a project to use nanosensors to detect the level of immunosuppressant medications in a patient’s bloodstream, allowing post-transplant patients to personalize, and potentially lower, the amount of medications they are required to take. Ren said the O’Donnell Award offers both recognition of his work and an incentive to continue pressing for more results. “I really appreciate it,” he said. “It’s very important to me. Every time you get something, it puts more pressure on you. I feel I have to work harder now.” -
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Fall 2013
2013 Faculty Awards University of Houston President Renu Khator honored distinguished faculty members from across the campus for their remarkable achievements in teaching, research, scholarship and advising. UH also named Steven C. Pennings and Peter G. Vekilov as John and Rebecca Moores professors. John and Rebecca Moores Professors
Steven C. Pennings
Steven Pennings becomes the fifth professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry to hold a John and Rebecca Moores professorship. With publications in leading journals, a sustained record of grants and respect from prominent scientists, Pennings ranks in the highest echelon of wetlands ecologists in the world. As one nominator said, “Steve is one of the most important scientists in his discipline and continually enhances the University’s reputation, providing a shining example of what it means to be an outstanding professor.” — Lisa Merkl
academic challenges. They also leave his class with a smile. “Students pay attention better if humor is used when teaching,” he said. “I try to use this when I teach; I want my students to be watching and listening all the time.” — Mike Emery
Teaching Excellence
Richard H. Armstrong
Richard Armstrong, associate professor of classical studies, looks to the past for academic inspiration. Armstrong’s teaching methods, however, are rooted in contemporary technology. For his Human Situation course in the Honors College, he has used a website, blog and podcast. “His efforts have energized and modernized the already very successful course,” commented one of his nominators. — Mike Emery
Peter G. Vekilov
Peter Vekilov, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, has earned a John and Rebecca Moores professorship. With his groundbreaking research and state-of-the-art experimental work, he is one of the pre-eminent experts in the area of protein solutions. His research, which focuses on understanding the aggregation and crystallization of proteins, has had far-reaching impact with applications in drug manufacturing and understanding diseases. One supporter characterizes him as “a scholar comparable to the best in his field, destined to become a world leader in crystal science.” — Lisa Merkl
Teaching Excellence
Teaching is more than lecturing. Learning is more than class time. Joseph Pratt, professor of history and business, consistently receives high marks from students who benefit from his classes as well as from opportunities to expand their knowledge through his Houston History magazine, special classes that assist struggling students and mentoring projects that have yielded new faculty professionals. One colleague noted, “He demonstrates his creativity in developing new ways of teaching, new structures to enhance student success and new arenas for students to learn and develop.” — Marisa Ramirez
Career Award
David P. Shattuck
David Shattuck disproves the myth that students seek out “easy” teachers. Shattuck, an associate professor in the Cullen College of Engineering, isn’t known for handing out As. “Dr. Dave,” however, is popular because he effectively prepares his pupils for future
Ann Christensen is an associate professor in UH’s Department of English, but she spreads her passion for literature on and off campus. She has shared her expertise at the School of Theatre & Dance, Honors College, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, Women’s Resource Center and the Athletics Department. Her enthusiasm for her subject matter has earned her praise from colleagues and students alike. “Ann is the epitome of what a teacher can and should be,” commented a student nominator. — Mike Emery
Thomas J. George
Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence
Joseph Pratt
Ann C. Christensen
Thomas George invests heavily in his students, providing them with an opportunity to manage the Bauer College of Business’ $7 million Cougar Investment Fund (CIF). George, finance professor and director of the AIM Center for Investment Management and chief investment officer of CIF, joined the college’s faculty in 2002. In their nominating letter, former students praise his ability to establish strong rapport with his pupils and to deliver lectures that are effective and easily understood. — Francine Parker
Sapna Kumar
Law professor Sapna Kumar says teaching future professionals is nothing short of an honor, one that students appreciate. Joining the faculty in 2009, Kumar teaches classes in patent law, administrative law and property. Students quickly responded to her. "Having the chance to teach such fantastic students is an honor in itself," Kumar said. "I am thankful that the University of Houston Law Center has given me the opportunity to play a small role in these students' future careers." — Marisa Ramirez
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Thomas William Lowder
Undergraduate students agree. Thomas Lowder’s class on kinesiology is hard, not necessarily because of the challenging subject, but because of the criticalthinking skills Lowder teaches. “My role is to show them how they can apply that knowledge — and make it their own.” Teaching up to seven courses a year, Lowder instills critical thinking in his assignments and exams, presentations and mentoring. “I chose UH because I wanted to work with students, to teach in and out of the classroom. I try to give my students a direction to follow. From there, it’s up to them,” he said. — Marisa Ramirez
Provost’s Core
Francesca D'Alessandro Behr
Italy conjures images of great works of art and literature — and a language just as beautiful. For students to feel this, their instructor must be more than a lecturer. Francesca D’Alessandro Behr, associate professor of Italian and classical studies, encourages a visceral and intellectual response to her courses. Behr likens knowledge to a ladder. “A committed educator gives her students the tools to proceed in this ascent by themselves with their own legs and, above all, propelled by their own desire to explore and facilitated by the skills they have acquired.” — Marisa Ramirez
Innovation in Instructional Technology
Gangbing Song
During his 10 years at UH, engineering professor Gangbing Song has built a reputation as being a “pioneer in instructional technology innovations,” his nominator noted. One of Song’s most novel teaching methods is the Remote Experiment Technology, which enables students to perform real-time labs by remotely operating actual experiments. Other innovations include Remote Laboratory and Labsto-Go Technology, which allows students to conduct experiments at home. For his innovation in teaching, Song received the 2012 Excellence in Education Award from the International Society of Automation. — Francine Parker
Instructor/Clinical
Bret J. Detillier
As a lecturer in the sociology department, Patricia Dorsey draws students into the learning experience
Paige K. Evans
Clinical associate professor Paige Evans came to UH with sterling references and an unbelievable reputation as a physics teacher, and according to her nominator, “exceeded those expectations by quite a considerable margin.” Evans has continually been the top-rated instructor in the teachHOUSTON program, which trains high school math and science teachers. During her tenure with this science, technology, engineering and math development program, she has established strong relationships with teachers, supervisors and principals in UH’s partner school districts. — Lisa Merkl
Kelly Y. Hopkins
Employing a variety of new technologies and introducing students to a range of topics make Kelly Hopkins, instructional assistant history professor, a master teacher. “Dr. Hopkins’ commitment to undergraduate teaching, her teaching style and her teaching effectiveness have generated thousands of positive student evaluations that have consistently placed her above the average scores of colleagues not only in the history department, but in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences as a whole,” wrote one colleague. — Melissa Carroll
Aditi Marwaha
A lecturer in the College of Pharmacy, Aditi Marwaha plays a critical role in the teaching efforts of the college. Marwaha demonstrates a remarkable range of teaching abilities, from instructing non-science undergraduates to advanced, second-year professional students. Her nominator said, “Aditi’s ability to teach effectively in areas as diverse as medicinal chemistry, physiology and pharmacology is remarkable.” Marwaha consistently receives high scores in student evaluations. Peers have noted her ability to engage a diverse audience by using real-world examples and lucid explanations of difficult concepts. — Lisa Merkl
Iain Morrison
Brett Detillier applies the lessons he has learned from more than 25 years of work in the information technology industry into every class he teaches. The results are impressive. Detillier consistently receives the highest ratings in student evaluations in the College of Technology, which have earned him two Teaching Excellence Awards from the college. He was named the 2011 UH Center for Student Involvement Outstanding Faculty Adviser of the Year. “His students are influenced by his drive and motivation to succeed,” his nominator commented. — Francine Parker
Patricia Dorsey
by allowing them to appreciate its relevance to their everyday lives. By using a variety of instructional methods to address multiple learning styles, Dorsey illustrates concepts — including art, music, short video clips, guiding questions, discussion points and news articles — to make sociology current. As students maintain, she is not only “approachable,” “caring” and “helpful,” but her classes are “very informative,” “very interesting” and “very engaging.” — Melissa Carroll
For Iain Morrison, academic leadership begins in the classroom. Outside of his lectures, he continues to guide students in several ways. Morrison, instructional assistant professor of philosophy in the Honors College, makes himself available as an adviser and often serves as a thesis committee director. He also is present at recruiting events and serves on committees aimed at facilitating student engagement. “Iain Morrison is integral in shaping the Honors College into a vibrant academic community,” commented one of Morrison’s nominators. — Mike Emery
Michael R. Newman
Michael Newman has proven to be a great asset for the Bauer College of Business. He founded and leads the college’s accounting programs and serves as a
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faculty adviser. Thanks to his efforts, UH’s internal auditing curriculum and program was awarded the status of Center for Internal Audit Excellence by the Institute of Internal Auditors, a global organization. Only six of the top 45 international academic programs have achieved this status. — Francine Parker
Chad M. Wayne
In Chad Wayne’s classes, students are taught not just facts about biology, but how to study in order to learn. Those lessons on studying and organizational skills, as well as Wayne’s superior teaching skills, have earned him high praise among students. “Although the topics of the class were difficult, I made As in the four biology classes taught by Dr. Wayne. I attribute this to his teaching style,” a former student noted. — Francine Parker
Graduate Teaching Assistants
Zachary Hall
In little more than two years, Zachary Hall has made his mark at UH. The first time Hall, a research/teaching assistant in the marketing department, taught a course at UH he received a perfect evaluation — 5.0 — from his students. Although many of his former pupils described his class as difficult, they also “recognize and enjoy his passion and drive to see them excel,” his nominator commented. — Francine Parker
health courses, going a step further to package them in ways that connect with today’s students. The group (Lisa Alastuey, Charles Layne, Rebecca Lee, Prashant Mutgekar and Anne Ogborn) teaches such classes as obesity, physiology, motor control and nutrition in formats such as traditional, hybrid and virtual reality. — Marisa Ramirez
Computer Science Group
It’s more than just fun and games for students who take the game development coursework created by computer science faculty members Chang H. Yun, Jose Baez-Franceschi, Zhigang Deng and Olin Johnson. The curriculum is as demanding as it is popular. The courses bring together student teams to build interactive video games for PC, console and mobile devices. Teams mentored by this faculty group have taken top honors in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, a national competition for student-created computer games. UH students have won second and third places in 2010; first, second and third places in 2011; and third and fourth places in 2012. — Francine Parker
Excellence in Research and Scholarship Awards Professors
Dmitri Litvinov
William Russey
William (Drew) Russey’s work ethic, commitment to teaching and investment in curriculum development have earned him a stellar reputation in the biology and biochemistry department. It is a reputation well deserved as evidenced by Russey volunteering to conduct review sessions while juggling his teaching duties in the spring of 2010. He also was instrumental in redesigning another biology class that now focuses on small group discussions to promote critical thinking. — Francine Parker
Michelle Washburn
Michelle Washburn says she believes that learning is best “when we are so in the moment that we forget that we are participating in class because it feels like we are participating in life.” Washburn’s teaching philosophy resonates with her students and peers in the Graduate College of Social Work. “I feel blessed when a teacher who is knowledgeable, caring, competent and professional can teach me,” one student noted. — Francine Parker
Electrical and computer engineering professor Dmitri Litvinov adds yet another honor to his growing list of awards, which includes the Cullen College of Engineering Senior Faculty Research Award. Since joining UH, Litvinov has led more than $8.5 million in federal, state and industry-funded projects. He also established UH’s Center for Integrated Bio and Nano Systems and the Clean Room Core Facility. His nominator described Litvinov as “one of the great research leaders at UH, a model team player and an excellent research mentor to junior faculty.” — Francine Parker
Michael Harold
Mike Harold, the M.D. Anderson Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is a two-time recipient of a faculty excellence award this year. Harold also was presented with the 2013 Esther Farfel Award, the highest honor UH bestows on a faculty member. Harold’s comprehensive outlook on education and mentorship, his research excellence and his ability to pay attention to details while keeping the overall picture in perspective were cited as a few of his attributes as an outstanding faculty member. — Staff reports
Associate Professors
Kirill Larin
Group Teaching Awards
Health and Human Performance Group
Teaching future health professionals requires the creativity of a diverse group with diverse perspectives. The team of Department of Health and Human Performance researchers and instructors embraced the Tier One goal for quality
Kirill Larin, who began working at UH in 2010, has garnered attention and praise throughout his biomedical engineering career. In 1997, Larin received one of Russia's prestigious honors — the Presidential Award for Young Scientists — for research into the development of novel methods for drug delivery into cancer cells. “He is an outstanding researcher and professor who is making significant contributions to our department, college and the University of Houston,” according to his nominator. — Francine Parker
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Carla Sharp
A highly innovative and productive researcher, Carla Sharp has achieved international distinction for her work on the social cognitive basis of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Sharp directs UH’s Developmental Psychology Lab and one of the largest comprehensive investigations of psychiatric and social cognitive functioning of adolescents at risk of personality disorder at the Menninger Clinic. “She is one of the clear leaders of developmental psychopathology in the coming decade …,” commented one colleague. — Melissa Carroll
Assistant Professors
Wei-Chuan Shih
Expectations were high for Wei-Chuan Shih even before his first day of work at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2009. “At the time of hiring, it was clear … he had immense potential to become rapidly a major player in his field,” according to his nominator. Since then, Shih has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award. His research focuses on developing a new method to rapidly identify, count and profile bacteria with minimal sample preparation. — Francine Parker
Gila Stein
Gila Stein’s effectiveness not only as a researcher, but also as an educator and mentor, has garnered accolades from her peers in the Cullen College of Engineering. Described by her nominator as a “true intellectual leader,” Stein received a $500,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2012. This award supports her research to characterize and improve polymer-based solar cells. She is the recipient of the college’s 2012 Junior Faculty Research Award. — Francine Parker
Kwan's research establishes her as one of the major figures in scholarly work on the body. “Dr. Kwan not only inspires her colleagues, but her students as well. One of Dr. Kwan’s most impressive talents lies in her ability to make cutting-edge scholarship accessible to students — and indeed, to inspire them in their own research experiences,” wrote a colleague. — Melissa Carroll
Debora Rodrigues
Debora Rodrigues’ growing reputation as a prominent researcher goes well beyond campus. Her nominator describes her as an “invaluable asset to the larger scientific community” due to her “work using green alternatives to reduce environmental impact of heavy metals and pathogens in water systems.” Rodrigues, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, began working at UH in 2010. She is a recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award valued at up to $449,967 and a NSF Research Experience Teachers grant. — Francine Parker
Lifetime Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research
Rakesh Verma
Computer science professor Rakesh Verma’s patience and passion to work with undergraduate students and commitment to creating research opportunities for his pupils equate to an outstanding record in teaching, research and service to the University. Verma has mentored 26 undergraduates. His research has attracted more than $2 million, which includes 13 National Science Foundation awards as principal investigators or co-principal investigator. — Francine Parker
Early Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research
Distinguished Faculty Scholar Awards
Maria Victoria Tejada-Simon
Post-Tenure
Rebecca Lee
Creativity and passion are two important components for researchers. Both are found in professor Rebecca Lee. Since her arrival in 2004, Lee has placed a target on the national epidemic of obesity and worked with students, colleagues and community leaders to combat it. Through the Texas Obesity Research Center, Lee has strived to understand changes in the environment that have allowed obesity to spread. Her efforts have promoted healthy lifestyles with research on group projects for minority women, promotion of exercise through fun activities and policy-changing collaborations. — Marisa Ramirez
Pre-Tenure
Samantha Kwan
A National Science Foundation-funded dissertation on competing cultural meanings about the "overweight" body started associate professor of sociology Samantha Kwan's active research agenda.
Maria Victoria Tejada-Simon, assistant professor of pharmacy, has been igniting an interest and appreciation of research upon her students at UH since 2008. “I always believed that faculty members have the responsibility of raising the next generation of excellent teachers and well-trained health providers and scientists,” she commented. Tejada-Simon takes that responsibility seriously. “She encourages a culture of independence and creativity of thought …,” a former student noted. — Francine Parker
Provost Faculty Advising Award
Helen Kathryn Valier
Helen Valier has her hands full at the University. She helps steer UH’s Medicine and Society Program (MSP) and guides undergraduate students as an academic adviser. It’s quite a balancing act, but Valier, associate director of MSP and assistant instructional professor, handles it effortlessly. “I have never encountered a faculty adviser who cares so much about her students and actually has the knowledge to assist them academically and emotionally,” said one of her nominators. — Mike Emery
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2013 Staff Awards The University of Houston recognized 10 staff members for their outstanding contributions to the campus and hard work. UH also bestowed its highest staff honor, the Charles F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award, to LaSaundra Cotright, business administrator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. — By Kristina Michel Staff Excellence Awards
Shenae Champ
Merriann Bidgood
As curator of the UH School of Art’s Visual Resource Library, Merriann Bidgood has been described as smart, generous, resourceful and level-headed by her colleagues. “She has brought the collection to the digital age and taken the lead in improving the visual resource library and classrooms,” wrote one nominator. “Things work thanks to Merriann.”
Office coordinator Shenae Champ is the first face one sees when walking into UH’s Children’s Learning Centers location on Wheeler Street. “You can count on Shenae for anything,” wrote one nominator. “Shenae’s organization skills have been applauded by not only our staff, but also by multiple state agencies.”
Miguel Fernandez
Miguel Fernandez, skilled trades technician three on the Facilities Management’s minor in-house construction team, is responsible for building and refurbishing offices, labs and study rooms, and various other construction jobs on campus. “Talk about setting the bar. Miguel sets it higher every day he comes to work,” wrote his nominator.
Maria Peden
Associate Athletic Director Maria Peden’s dedication to student-athlete success is steady and true, her nominators in UH Athletics stressed. Under her direction, the student-athlete cumulative GPA has risen to its highest in program history. “She is the breathing heart of the program she leads,” commented one of her nominators.
Charles Neff
Teeba Rose
Teeba Rose, marketing manager in Student Housing and Residential Life, played a significant role in promoting Calhoun Lofts to students, according to his nominators. Thanks in great part to his work, Calhoun Lofts was 96 percent full by 2012. “Rose’s charisma motivates and inspires everyone around him,” wrote one of his nominators.
Electronics technician Charles Neff ’s dedication to designing and repairing research instruments and providing timely electronics support make him a critical resource to the College of Optometry, according to his co-workers. “He is always looking for ways to make things work,” one nominator wrote.
George Magner Undergraduate Advising Award
Karen Weber
Cheryl Grew-Gillen
Described by her colleagues as “a creative, dynamic force” and “a truly innovative and committed educator,” Karen Weber has accomplished much as program director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. During her tenure, the University has had a Marshall Scholarship recipient, five Goldwater Scholarship recipients and a Truman Scholarship finalist. Weber also coordinates the successful Undergraduate Research Day.
Cheryl Grew-Gillen, director of facilities and operations for the University Centers, was a crucial asset in coordinating the move of offices in the University Center Underground to the second floor for the UC Transformation Project, her nominators noted. “Due to her pinpoint planning, these moves occurred over a weekend and had minimal to no disruption in service to the UH community,” said one of her nominators.
Maria Gonzalez
New Professional Advising Award
Maria Gonzalez, optometry assistant in the College of Optometry, is “an integral bridge in connecting research needs to our patient subjects,” according to her nominators. In addition to processing medical records requests, Gonzalez is the only full-time translator for Spanish-speaking patients in the University Eye Institute.
Carrie Young
Students and colleagues alike have nothing but positive things to say about Carrie Young, academic adviser to the Moores School of Music. “Carrie is as much part of the pulse at the Moores School of Music as President Khator is to the University of Houston,” one graduating student wrote. “She is the reason why I was able to find a job directly out of college.”
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Khator Bestows McElhinney Award to Staff Member LaSaundra Cotright By Francine Parker
Photo: Thomas Campbell
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s a child growing up in a fourroom house without indoor plumbing in Tyrone, La., LaSaundra Cotright never thought she would have a chance to go to college. Her family couldn’t afford to pay tuition for her or her siblings. Cotright’s ambition, hard work and pursuit of excellence, though, have taken her from her modest upbringing to graduating summa cum laude from Loyola University to receiving the University of Houston 2013 Charles F. McElhinney Distinguished Service Award. The award is UH’s highest staff honor and includes a $3,000 stipend. “When I won the Staff Excellence Award in 2011, I felt honored and grateful and didn’t think twice about winning anything beyond that,” said Cotright, business administrator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM). “I am thrilled to be this year’s McElhinney Award recipient.” Cotright began her career at UH as executive secretary in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry in 2000. After several promotions, she now manages NSM’s administrative, financial, budgetary and human resource operations. Cotright is tasked with a range of responsibilities, including budget planning, supervising department business managers
President Renu Khator presented UH’s highest staff honor to business administrator LaSaundra Cotright at the Staff Excellence Awards ceremony.
and office coordinators, and reviewing and approving the reconciliation of accounting records with university reports and financial statements. The diversity of her work keeps Cotright motivated and is one of the many aspects of her job she finds exhilarating.
“There are a lot of things I enjoy about my job: the challenges, the opportunities for growth and development, and the people. One area that I really enjoy is business process improvements through technology,” Cotright said. “The other part of my job that I like is coaching employees.”
Fred McGhee, executive director of college operations at NSM, describes Cotright as the “epitome of staff excellence.” Cotright credits her success on campus to supportive supervisors and, most importantly, her family. “This is truly a family award for us,” Cotright said, referring to her husband, son and daughter. “We sacrificed valuable family time so that I can complete my education and do well in my career.” A career, Cotright says, that was made possible thanks to a scholarship to attend Louisiana State University at Eunice. The scholarship altered her life and led her to pursue a college education. She now holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University, and she is on track to receive a Master of Business Administration in strategic management from UH-Victoria in December. Cotright has come a long way from her small hometown, and, perhaps, her dreams may take her further, but for now, her home is at UH. “I enjoy the energy and spirit of the university community,” Cotright said. “I’m always amazed when the professors we assist with day-to-day business functions are featured in news stories describing amazing research results that have practical applications. It is gratifying to know that the long hours and hard work that the staff and I put in are a critical part of fulfilling their research needs.” -
UH Focuses on Student Success by Creating Graduate School Staff Reports
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he University of Houston has established a graduate school to better serve faculty and students enrolled in certificate, master’s and doctoral programs. The move is another step to solidify UH’s Tier One status. “Overall, our efforts are focused on meeting the goals of student success and national prominence. I am excited and look forward to the larger community input on how the UH Graduate School can be beneficial,” said Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Paula Myrick Short. Providing leadership for this new endeavor will be electrical and computer engineering professor Dmitri Litvinov. Short has appointed Litvinov as interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. H i s t o r i c a l l y, graduate
education at UH has resided within the departments and programs, which altogether offer 43 doctoral and 98 master's-level programs and enroll 1,985 and 5,657 students, respectively. There is a need for an effective graduate school that will not only have a significant impact on Tier One initiatives but also will bring about a paradigm shift in graduate education at the University by strategically leveraging and coordinating existing resources, developing policies and support infrastructures aimed at graduate student success and creating a culture of continuous quality improvement. One of the first steps in instituting the Graduate School was to establish the Graduate Assistant Success Task Force. This group consists of faculty and graduate students working together to provide
recommendations on employment policies, tuition and fees policies, and mentorship and professional development for the 1,947 graduate assistants contributing to teaching and research. The new UH Graduate School will focus on: • expanding student success, including securing adequate resources for student support; • automating online graduate admissions, which will go live for the fall 2014 admissions cycle and will cover more than 70 percent of programs; • creating a larger pool of funds to recruit a higher quality of doctoral students; • expanding competitive fellowship
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programs; and • fostering and supporting strong ties with key stakeholders, including the recently created Graduate Student Organization. -
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SUCCESS
GCSW Receives National Award for International Education
Khator Named Deputy Chair of Dallas Federal Reserve Board
By Melissa Carroll
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he Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) honored the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) with the 2013 Partners in Advancing Education (PIE) for International Social Work Award. The other award recipients for this year are the nonprofit organization Buckner International and professor Uma Segal. The awardees were selected for their national and international contributions to advance social work education, concepts, curricula and programming on a global level. “Any time your program gets recognized, it affirms what you are doing. To receive recognition from one’s peer group is even more satisfying in that they know our program and what it’s achieving and its impact within the global community,” said Ira Colby, dean of the GCSW. “Even without the award, the activities that our
faculty, staff and students are involved in around the world are impressive.” According to Patrick Leung, professor of social work and director of UH’s Office for International Social Work Education, there is a longstanding history of involvement in international social work. Leung notes for nearly 17 years, GCSW has been the certifying agent for the education of child protective service workers in Hong Kong and most recently spearheaded the CSWE China Collaborative project to provide support to 61 master’s of social work (MSW) degree programs in mainland China in order to develop a MSW curricula relevant to their culture and values. In addition to leading the China Collaborative and certification training in Hong Kong, Colby mentions there are many opportunities to collaborate on research with international scholars and study abroad programs. -
By Richard Bonnin enu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston, has been named deputy chair of the Dallas Federal Reserve branch for 2014. She has served on the Dallas Fed’s board since 2011. The Federal Reserve Board in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13 made the appointments for the 12 Federal Reserve Banks nationwide. Each Federal Reserve Bank has a nine-member board, and every year the Fed's board of governors appoints three of the local directors and designates a chair and a deputy chair. J.C. Penney Inc. CEO Mike Ullman was named chair of the Dallas Fed. Khator took the dual position of chancellor and president at UH in 2008, becoming the system’s first woman chancellor, the University’s first foreign-born president and the first Indian immigrant to head a comprehensive research university in the U.S.
Under Khator’s leadership, UH has experienced record-breaking research funding, enrollment and private support and was given Tier One University status by the Carnegie Foundation. Khator holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Kanpur and a master's degree and Ph.D. in political science from Purdue University. She is a noted scholar in the field of global environmental policy and has published numerous books and articles on the subject. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has included her among its Outstanding Americans by Choice awardees, recognizing her achievements as a naturalized citizen. She and her husband, Suresh Khator, associate dean in the UH Cullen College of Engineering, were honored with the prestigious Hind Rattan ( Jewel of India) award, given to nonresident Indians for making outstanding contributions in their field. -
Applause INSTITUTION The C. T. Bauer College of Business Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship is ranked No. 2 on The Princeton Review’s 2013 list of leading undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. for Entrepreneur magazine.
ALUMNI College of Pharmacy alumnus Ed Horton, owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Tanglewood Pharmacy in Stephenville, Texas, was honored as the Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year by the National Community Pharmacists. David M. McClanahan, president and CEO of CenterPoint Energy, has been honored with the 2013 Distinguished Service Award from the American Gas Association.
FACULTY/STAFF Architecture professor Leonard Bachman was one of 16 participants from across the nation invited to the American Institute of Architects annual 2013 research summit. Alumnus Carlo Deason, academic adviser for the College of Technology, competed in the 2013 worldOutgames in Antwerp, Belgium. He won bronze medals in the track and field 800m and 1500m competitions. William Epling, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor, has been named president of the Greater Houston Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance, a group formed to promote greater awareCarlo Deason ness of the potential for natural gas-powered vehicles. Priyanko Guchait’s paper titled "The Mediating Effect of Team Psychological Safety Between Transactive Memory Systems and Team Outcomes in Service-Management Teams" has been named best paper in the healthcare management/hospitality/public administration track for 2013 by the Southern Management Association. Guchait is an assistant professor of hotel and restaurant management.
Deniz Gurkan, associate professor of engineering technology, was awarded a $900,000 Campus Cyberinfrastructure – Network Infrastructure and Engineering grant from the National Science Foundation. Dan Johnson, senior library specialist, has been selected as a 2013-2015 Association of Research Libraries/Society of American Archivists Mosaic Program Fellow. The program promotes emerging leaders from underrepresented groups to advanced positions in archival work in academic research libraries.
Deniz Gurkan
Andrea Malone, foreign language and ethnic studies librarian, was recently selected as a 2013-2014 Fellow of the Association of Research Libraries Leadership and Career Development Program.The program prepares mid-career librarians from underrepresented groups to advance into leadership roles in research and academic libraries. Kelly K. Nichols, professor of optometry, was recently awarded the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Norma Olvera, associate professor of health education, has been recognized by the American Public Health Association’s Latino Caucus for Public Health with the 2013 Distinguished Nationally Known Health Professional Award. Patrick Peters, professor of architecture and director of UH’s Graduate Design/ Build Studio, was recognized as American Institute of Architects – Houston Chapter’s Educator of the Year. Latha Ramchand, dean of the C. T. Bauer College of Business, was named 2013 Educator of the Year by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. Paula Myrick Short, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH System, and senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UH, has been awarded the prestigious Master Professor Award by the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). The award is given to an individual faculty member whose record is so distinguished that the UCEA must recognize this individual in a significant and timely manner.
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Fall 2013
RESEARCH
New Diagnostics, Treatments for Breast Cancer Investigated at UH
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est known for its association with the BRCA gene mutations, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the only type of breast cancer for which there has yet to be a specific therapy. This type of cancer generally occurs in younger women, is highly metastatic and has a very poor prognosis. Researchers at the University of Houston are taking on TNBC, hoping their work will lead to new therapies for this devastating disease. About 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer sometime during their lives. Of those who inherit the harmful BRCA1 mutation, 55 to 65 percent will develop breast cancer, while 45 percent of those with the BRCA2 gene will get it. Such inherited BRCA mutations account for approximately 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers. While both genes are linked to inheritable breast cancer, the BRCA1 mutation is strongly associated with development of the TNBC subtype. Working with the protein Maternal Embryonic LeucineZipper Kinase (MELK), which has been found to play a role in cancer, the UH research team is working to inactivate MELK in breast cancer cells in order to observe the effects it has on TNBC cells. By identifying changed functions and affected proteins, they recently have come to some conclusions about how MELK affects cells. “It’s been shown that MELK is in its highest concentrations during cell division,” said UH biology senior Marisa Simon, who received an undergraduate research fellowship this summer to work on this project. “My hypothesis is that MELK safeguards
cellular division by blocking the possibility of cell death. This blocking of cell death also can contribute to the longevity of cells. This gives researchers a potential target for cancer therapy. If MELK is essential to the division of cancer cells, then inhibiting it could inhibit and decrease tumor formation. Knowing what is
many of which relate to the death of cells and the cell cycle. The team is currently working on confirming these findings. “Marisa has collected impressive amounts of interesting data,” Williams said. “The microarray analysis she performed, whereby she analyzed the effect MELK has on every single
cancer. The researchers say MELK concentrations are high in stem cells and appear to protect them from dying. If MELK turns out to be a desirable target for cancer treatment, then inactivating it could be less hazardous to patients than conventional chemotherapy and radiation, which have pervasive effects on the body
Photo: Thomas Campbell
By Lisa Merkl
14
Assistant professor Cecilia Williams’ research projects relate to designing better treatments for breast cancer.
affected by inactivating MELK will help researchers identify not only whether inhibiting it is effective, but also if it is safe.” Collaborating with graduate student Fahmi Mesmar and led by assistant professor Cecilia Williams in UH’s Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling (CNRCS), Simon says they have defined which other proteins and pathways MELK affects in TNBC cells,
gene in our genome’s approximately 23,000 genes, has given us data for the impact of MELK on a global genome level. We are now working to decipher its impact to get a wide and complete understanding of what MELK does in TNBC cells, as well as how we can best use MELK to design better treatments.” Found in both men and women, the MELK protein also may play a role in other cancers, such as prostate
since they not only target cancer cells, but also other cells within the range of treatment. Since MELK inhibition would only be targeting the growth of stem cells, it would decrease these negative impacts. “Through professor Williams’ mentorship and my own research, I have become interested and motivated to pursue finding a genetic therapy for poor-prognosis breast cancer,” Simon said. -
Company Co-Founded by Physics Researcher Wins Nanomedicine Award By Jeannie Kever
E
ndomagnetics, the company cofounded in the United Kingdom by a University of Houston researcher to develop products to improve the standard of breast cancer care, has been named one of two winners of an inaugural Nanomedicine Award in the European Union. Endomagnetics was founded to develop and distribute products based on technology created by Audrius
Brazdeikis, research associate professor of physics in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, with colleagues at the University College of London to detect the spread of breast cancer and allow physicians to better plan interventions. The award was organized by the European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine (ETPN), together with the EU-funded consortium NANOMED 2020, to honor the best international
nanomedicine innovations. Endomagnetics, based in Cambridge, was formed to bring the technology developed by Brazdeikis and researchers from University College of London, physicist Quentin Pankhurst and systems engineer Simon Hattersley, to the marketplace. The technology includes the SentiMag, an intraoperative probe that allows surgeons to more easily locate the sentinel lymph node — the first lymph node to which a tumor’s
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metastasizing cancer cells drain — by using nanotechnology and advanced magnetic sensors. The technology already is used in eight European countries, and the company is seeking regulatory approval in other countries, including the U.S., of its SentiMag system, which eliminates the need for the radioactive isotopes in use today, said Brazdeikis, who heads the Biomedical Imaging Group at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at UH. -
Fall 2013
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FEATURE
Famous Musicians Jammed with Guitars Created by Students
Photos: James LaCombe
another teacher, Collings Guitars founder, Bill Collings. According to Kimbrough, Collings took these students under his wing and offered his insight on the art of craft-
Twelve students unveiled guitars they designed during a recent performance at Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. The students and their professor, Mark Kimbrough, partnered with Collings Guitars founder, Bill Collings (center), on the project.
By Mike Emery
W
hen music fans think of the electric guitar, a number of names come to mind. These typically include artists Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page (to name a few). Die hard aficionados may also think of the masterminds who actually designed the instruments used by these artists — Leo Fender, Les Paul, Paul Reed Smith, Bill Collings and many others. Twelve University of Houston students may soon find their names alongside those legends. This semester, a class of industrial design stu-
dents in UH’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture created electric guitars for rock, blues and jazz players.
Led by industrial design professor Mark Kimbrough, these students partnered with Collings Guitars in Austin, Texas. Each student was tasked with fabricating a guitar for rock, blues or jazz
artists. In doing so, they researched these musical styles, as well as pioneering
artists from these –
genres Clapton, Page, King, Beck, Stanley Jordan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Wes Montgomery and others. The students worked hard at finishing their instruments, which included traveling between their UH studio and the Collings factory in Austin. Their final products were put to the test during a recent performance in the atrium of the College of Architecture. Veteran virtuosos Van Wilks and Michael Wheeler (who teaches jazz guitar at UH’s Moores School of Music) delivered a free performance. Students designed the instruments at UH and received hands-on experience building them at the Collings factory. The construction process was quite extensive and required meticulous craftsmanship, Kimbrough said. “One student spent several days just sanding her guitar,” he said. “There is innovation that isn’t noticeable on the surface. Students learned lamination techniques and chambering within solid-body models to replicate certain sounds.” Kimbrough oversaw the course, but students also benefitted from
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ing guitars. “Collings’ factory offered the students the best of the best tools,” Kimbrough said. “They also had Collings and his craftsmen guiding them, but their work was held to the factory’s high standards. It was quite a spectacular experience for everyone involved.” Students learned more about guitars and what artists look for in these instruments through extensive research. Several of the UH designers consulted with local musicians to find out how design is integral to a guitar’s functionality. They also learned more about artists with whom they weren’t previously familiar. Student Liza Morris found herself listening to Larry Carlton’s music on Pandora quite a bit. Her assignment was to construct a solid-bodied jazz guitar that could produce the sound of a hollow-bodied instrument. “It’s probably the most complicated object I’ve designed here at UH,” she said. “As a designer, I had theories about how it would ultimately sound. We produced the shape right now, but it was also about the sound.” Her classmate Lindsay Lahaug also was tasked with producing a jazz guitar and used artist Joe Pass as her inspiration. It also helped that her boyfriend is a guitarist, so he offered valuable insight regarding appropriate ergonomics for the instrument. “I listened to a lot of music by Joe Pass, but I also looked at photos of him and how he held his guitar. I looked at photos of other guitarists too,” Lahaug said. “I also researched what is taught as the traditional playing position. My guitar is very light and has a lot of curves, so a guitarist doesn’t have to struggle to keep it in position and can also play by resting on his or her leg.” o
Fall 2013
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PROFILES
FACULTY FOCUS By Francine Parker
T
homas DeGregori feels just as comfortable speaking to heads of state as he does in front of the classroom teaching to students at the University of Houston about his life’s work — economic development. “I live, eat and sleep development both at home and when I travel,” said professor DeGregori. “It is my passion. I am obsessed.” DeGregori’s passion has led him to tour, lecture and study poverty in over 50 nations. He has spent time working with farmers in “the rice patties of Asia, maize fields of Africa and sugar cane fields in the Caribbean” to determine their needs as a starting point to create agricultural projects with a goal of reducing poverty, hunger and malnutrition. “My largest field project was heading the evaluation of both five- and 25-year programs of agricultural education, training and extension in Indonesia,” DeGregori said. “My team designed the framework for a $311 million, five- to six-year continuation of the programs.” At 78 and with only one leg, DeGregori is no longer in the fields with farmers, but he remains active in economic development. He is a Fellow of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (part of the Commonwealth of Nations), which promotes technology management as key to economic development and wealth creation. Growing up in Albuquerque, N.M., DeGregori never imagined that he would travel the world
Thomas DeGregori, professor of economics
much less advise and meet regularly with heads of state and other senior policymakers, but an economics class at the University of New Mexico (UNM) changed his career path. “I had a truly inspirational economics teacher as an undergraduate major in philosophy and government,” DeGregori said. “I completed both majors. I switched to economics for my graduate work with a minor in anthropology.” DeGregori went on to receive his master’s degree from UNM in 1960 and a doctorate in economics from The University of Texas at Austin in 1965. Higher education not only shaped his career, DeGregori says, but also altered his perspective on race and race relations so much that he became active in the civil rights movement in the United States and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
“I grew up in an environment that was bigoted, but I didn’t know how bigoted it was,” DeGregori said. His activism would continue throughout his life. “Among the books and articles that I published in peer-reviewed journals was one on the infant and child mortality costs of apartheid,” DeGregori said. “I also did a study, titled The U.S. Dependence on Southern African Minerals, for the Joint-Economic Committee of Congress, refuting the Cold War claim that the U.S. was dependent on South African minerals.” DeGregori conducted those studies and many others during his tenure at UH, where he began teaching in 1967. After nearly 50 years as a faculty member, DeGregori still teaches despite losing a leg due to an infection in 2010. He incorporates lessons he learned from his “real-world” experiences into the classroom. He hopes to continue teaching and working on economic development activities for as long as he has something extra to give. Off campus, DeGregori’s activities revolve around his wife, three children — one of whom is a UH Law Center graduate — six grandchildren and economic development. “I am active on campus and off in my agbiotech newsgroups, researching the Internet on economic development issues, interacting with colleagues around the globe,” DeGregori said. “I am driven by a passion to use every moment in and away from Houston to expand my understanding of development.”
Photo: Thomas Campbell
DeGregori Brings Real-World Experiences into Classroom
By Kristina Michel
A
sk Jacqueline Boulavsky about her typical day as an administrative assistant at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TcSUH), and she may take some time to answer. That’s only because there’s not much typical about her position. “I often feel there is no job description,” Boulavsky said. “That would make it hard for some people, but not for me. I like the variety.” In addition to coordinating events and making travel arrangements, Boulavsky helps welcome international visitors to TcSUH by conducting demonstrations of projects under way at the center. She is also part of TcSUH’s efforts to encourage young students to become more involved in science, technology, engineering and math subjects. She and UH professor Angela Moeller routinely visit elementary school science classes in Houston and perform
hands-on lessons in conjunction with the teachers’ curricula. Boulavsky’s roots with TcSUH run deep. She began working at UH as a secretary at KUHF radio in 1981. From there, she worked her way up to director of special events in the Office of the President. She was in that office when Paul Chu, physics professor and founder of TcSUH, and his colleagues made their breakthrough discovery of superconductivity above liquid nitrogen. She was planning the groundbreaking for the center, but she left Houston with her husband, then a NASA mission control worker, in the wake of the 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster. A year later, Boulavsky and her husband returned to Houston. In 1994, when her daughters grew old enough to attend school, Boulavsky formed a private school in Clear Lake, where she taught English. In 2007, Sue Butler, Boulavsky‘s colleague from UH, contacted her and convinced
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Photo: Jessie Villarreal
COUGARS AT WORK
her to join the staff at TcSUH. “I still remember the chatter about Paul Chu and the superconductivity discovery, “ Boulavsky said. “Now, to be back and see how TcSUH’s come to fruition is emotional.”
Fall 2013
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EVENTS
School of Theatre & Dance Earns Theater Award From Local Newspaper By Mike Emery udiences have long applauded the passionate performances delivered by the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance. From classics to contemporary works, UH’s creative minds keep fans and critics coming back for more. For the second year in a row, the UH School of Theatre & Dance has been named Best College Theater in the Houston Press’ Theater Awards. “The award is well earned for distinguished successes, for providing a wealth of theatrical variety and for gracing the Houston theater scene with the UH theater department’s towering presence,” wrote the Houston Press staff in its awards roundup. UH professor Kevin Rigdon also earned honors for Best Set Design for his contributions to the Alley Theatre’s “Clybourne Park.” The school’s 2013-2014 season continues with “Our Country’s Good” (Feb. 21 – March 2), the UH Ensemble Dance Works (March 28 – 30) and “The Philadelphia Story” (April 18 – 27). Additional productions include
Photo: Jessie Villarreal
A
The popular production of “Paradise Hotel” helped earn UH’s School of Theatre & Dance a Houston Press Theater Award.
the “Brick Wall” (Nov. 15 – 17) and the New Play Festival (April 4 – 6).
Opera Season Continues with Classics, Contemporary Works By Mike Emery
F
rom familiar favorites to contemporary masterpieces, the University of Houston’s Moores Opera Center is serving up another season of show-stopping performances. Next year, the center will explore Cold War espionage with award winner “The Consul,” revisit Rossini’s classic “The Barber of Seville” and celebrate former UH
Photo: Jessie Villarreal
The Moores Opera Center opened its season this year with composer Nino Rota’s “The Italian Straw Hat.”
faculty member Carlisle Floyd with “Cold Sassy Tree.” Since 1986, the award-winning Moores Opera Center — directed by Buck Ross — has groomed rising singing stars and delivered a mix of new and classic works to Houston audiences. All operas are performed in UH’s Moores Opera House. For additional details, call the box office at 713.743.3313 or visit www. uh.edu/class/music/opera/. -
For additional details, call 713.743.2929 or visit www.uh.edu/
class/theatre-and-dance/buy-tickets/index.php. -
Fall Commencement Set for Dec. 20 By Mike Emery
T
he holidays are around the corner, but Cougars soon will celebrate another special day in December — fall commencement. On Dec. 20, the University of Houston will host its fall commencement ceremonies in Hofheinz Pavilion. A schedule of the day’s events is as follows: • 9 – 11 a.m.: College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) • 3 – 5 p.m.: Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Education and College of Technology • 7 – 9 p.m.: Cullen College of Engineering and C. T. Bauer College of Business During this year’s ceremonies, the President’s Medallion will be awarded to Inprint, Joan and Herman Suit, and the Charles T. Bauer Foundation. The award recognizes an individual or an organization for exceptional contributions to UH. A longtime supporter of UH’s Creative Writing Program, Inprint hosts a number of programs, including
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readings and workshops, aimed at sharing the written word with Houston audiences. Representatives from Inprint will accept its medallion during the CLASS commencement. Herman Suit earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from UH in 1948. He and wife Joan are supporters of several College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics initiatives. They also were instrumental in establishing the Eby Nell McElrath Fellowship in Chemistry and have contributed to the John L. Bear Presidential Fellowship in Chemistry. The Suits will accept their medallion during the college’s commencement ceremony. Named for Charles T.“Ted” Bauer (namesake of UH’s Bauer College of Business), the C. T. Bauer Foundation supports a number of educational initiatives on campus and across the country. Representatives from the foundation will accept the medallion during the C. T. Bauer College of Business’ commencement ceremony. Ceremonies will be streamed live at www.uh.edu/commencement/ commencement-live/ and will be available for later viewing on the UH website. For more details, visit www. uh.edu/commencement/. -