Faculty/Staff News of Note
November 2005
Associate Professor of Mathematics Joseph Previte and assistant professors of mathematics Michael Rutter and Scott Stevens recently submitted their proposal, “REU Program in Mathematical Biology: Penn State Erie, The Behrend College” to the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. The amount of the proposal is $160,056 for three years. The REU program has been a highlight of math and science programs at Behrend for several years with students from around the country participating in frontier research in mathematical biology.
Assistant Professor of Biology David Hunnicutt’s proposal, “Pathogenesis of Flavobacteria in Fish,” was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The amount of the proposal is $32,555 for three years. The proposed research involves issues of fish illnesses in Lake Erie and other areas, and the role of bacterial motility.
Assistant Professors of Biology David Hunnicutt and Margaret Voss, and associate professor of biology Michael Campbell submitted their proposal, “The Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Communities in Pre- and Post-Fledge Nest Material from North American Passerines” to the National Science Foundation in the amount of $363,345 for three years. The proposed research involves significant issues of bacterial growth in birds’ nests, about which relatively little is known.
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Blair Tuttle’s proposal, “Microscopic Modeling of Hydrogen Metastability in Silicon Devices,” has been submitted to the National Science Foundation RUI, GOALI program, in the amount of $147,356 for three years. The proposed research involves a continuation of Tuttle’s theoretical studies of hydrogen in silicon.
Amanda Knerr, associate director of Student Affairs, co-presented the paper “Initiating Deep Discussions Through Formative Assessment and Q Methodology” at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Assessment Institute last month. The second of Amanda’s three-part article series “Common Missteps in Assessment Planning and How to Avoid Them” is posted on NetResults, the e-zine of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Sharon Gallagher, instructor in English, recently presented “We Don’t Serve Dogs and We Don’t Serve the Irish: Shaping the Irish Immigrant Experience in Erie, Pennsylvania” at the American Conference for Irish Studies (ACIS) Midwest Regional Meeting hosted by Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, last month.
Instructor in Economics Ed Miseta and Jim Kurre, associate professor of Economics, attended the Midwest Conference on Student Learning in Economics at the University of Akron last Friday to bring back to Behrend effective and innovative new ways to teach economics. Ed presented the poster “Great Gifts That Motivate – Without Breaking the Bank” and Jim presented a poster titled “Dealing with Failure: Creating a New Learning Strategy After the First Exam.”
Tom Noyes, assistant professor of creative writing, has had the story “Here, There, Yonder” published by The Laurel Review. Another story, “The Straightened Arrow,” has been accepted for publication in the winter issue of Ascent. In September Tom read “The Straighted Arrow” and met with creative writing students at Houghton College, Houghton, N.Y.
Carla Torgerson, director of the Center for Teaching and Educational Technologies, Biddy Brooks, director of the Center for Adult Students, and Derek Mace, lecturer in psychology, were awarded their request of $492 to fund the proposal “Online Academic Enhancement Modules for Adult Learners.” The money was received from the University Commission for Adult Learners’ Adult Learner Program/Service Incentive Grant program.
Behrend faculty recently submitted two proposals to the National Science Foundation:
Michelle Previte, assistant professor of mathematics, and Joseph Previte, associate professor of mathematics, propose two years of funding for a total of $120,659 for “RUI Program in Vertex Replacement Rules: Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.”
“TRMS Characterization and Screening of Tomato Mutants with Altered Fertility Under Normal and Elevated Temperature Conditions” was submitted by Yi-Hong Wang, assistant professor of biology. The amount requested for the four-year proposal is $583,952.
Soledad Traverso, associate professor of Spanish, presented the paper “Visual Aspects in the Novel ‘Leccion de Pintura’ by Adolfo Cove” at the international colloquium Art and Literature of Latin America held in early October in Metz, France. The colloquium was organized by Universite Paul Verlaine and Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales.
Russ Warley, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, presented the paper “Effect of Preheat Temperature on the Location of the Minimum State of Cure in a Molded Component” at the 168th technical meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society held last week in Pittsburgh.
Antonella Cupillari, associate professor of mathematics, attended the American Mathematics Teachers of New York State meeting in Buffalo last weekend to present the paper “Old Problems (From Erie, Pa.) Are New Again.”
Dawn Blasko, associate professor of psychology and secretary of the University Faculty Senate, recently attended the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Conference for Faculty Governance. The CIC is a consortium of 12 research universities (the Big 10 Conference plus University of Chicago) devoted to developing collaborations and sharing information across peer institutions. Penn State Faculty Senate leadership will host the meeting next year.
Wen-Li Wang, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, presented two papers co-written with Thomas Hemminger, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, at the Artificial Neural Network in Engineering meeting held this week in St. Louis, Mo. The papers were “Event Driven Reliability Modeling for Distributed Systems” and “Reliability Modeling of Software Using History Dependent Markov Models.” Both men also presented at the 35th Annual ASEE/AIEE Frontiers in Education Conference held in Indianapolis, Ind., in October. Wen-Li’s paper was “An Architecture-Based Software Reliability Modeling Tool and its Support for Teaching;” Tom presented “Understanding Transmission Line Impedance Matching Using Neural Networks and PowerPoint.”
Two members of Behrend’s staff were honored at the Pennsylvania College Personnel Association (PCPA) Conference held October 16-18 in Pittsburgh:
Mary Ellen Bayuk, Registrar, received the Joseph Merkle Award for Outstanding Contribution to PCPA. This award is presented to a PCPA member who has made a significant contribution to PCPA over a period of years. Bayuk has served as recorder, conference chair, and currently as membership chair. She also has served on numerous committees.
Jill Caldwell, assistant director of Residence Life, was presented the Outstanding New Professional Award. This award is presented to a PCPA member who has made significant contribution to PCPA and has been employed in the student personnel field for less than five years.
Sharon Dale, associate professor of art history, has been awarded a stipend by The Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame to study manuscripts housed at the Ambrosiana Library in Milan, Italy. The manuscripts, 14th century political treatises commissioned and collected by the Visconti family, will be the basis of the last chapter of her newest book, a history of the church of San Pietro in Ciel d’oro.
Ido Millet, associate professor of management information systems, presented an invited session titled “Advanced Reporting Insights and Techniques” at the 2005 Business Objects International User Conference held earlier this month in Orlando, Fla.
On November 4, William Lasher, associate professor mechanical engineering, presented the paper “An Analysis of Downwind Sail Trim” at the 26th Symposium on Yacht Design and Construction. The symposium, held in Hamburg, Germany, was sponsored by the German Yacht Manufacturer’s Association. Other presenters were from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Thomas L. Hemminger, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, recently had the paper “Antenna Impedance Matching with Neural Networks” published in the International Journal of Neural Systems. He also presented a paper co-authored by David R. Loker, associate professor of engineering, and Carlos Pomalaza-Raez of Purdue University, at the Artificial Neural Networks in Engineering conference in St. Louis. The paper was titled “A New Method to Determine Transmitter Localization Using Neural Networks.”
Shannon K. Sweeney, assistant professor of engineering, and Kenneth J. Fisher, professor of engineering, presented the paper “Reduction of Rotating Imbalance Measurement Variation Resulting from Test Apparatus Redesign” at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition held last week in Orlando.
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