Purdue News

July 22, 2002 Appointments and promotions; faculty and staff honors; alumni honors Appointments and promotions – Pankaj Sharma, who holds a doctoral degree in applied sciences and master's degrees in physics and business administration, has been named intercenter research director of the Purdue Research Park. Sharma previously was associate director of the Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement Laboratory. His responsibilities will include coordinating communication; promoting scientific, technological and entrepreneurial culture and mission; developing policies and conducting general administrative and management duties; engaging stakeholders in developing strategic plans; and facilitating collaboration between management, engineering, science researchers and faculties, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other funding agencies. – Edward A. Howell, who holds degrees in operations research and industrial and aerospace engineering, was appointed managing director of the Purdue Discovery Park's e-enterprise center. Howell will be responsible for directing marketing, coordinating interdisciplinary research projects and strategic planning necessary to achieve the center goals. – William G. Graziano has been named head of the Department of Child Development and Family Studies in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences. He is currently a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University. He also has taught at the University of Georgia and the University of Michigan. Graziano's academic research and writing focus on social psychology, particularly in children and adolescents. Graziano's appointment is effective Aug. 2. – Richard Widdows has been named head of the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences. He is currently professor of consumer economics in the Department of Consumer and Textiles at Ohio State University. Widdows was a professor of consumer economics at Purdue from 1983-96. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of Missouri. He earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Leeds in England. Widdows' academic research and writing center around consumer economics and choices. Widdows' appointment starts on Aug. 2. – Kathleen K. Schichtel has started in her position as of director of advancement communications, which is a new position in university relations. Schichtel comes from the University of Chicago, where she served for more than 10 years in development and communications. She also earned her bachelor's degree in history from the University of Chicago. Faculty and staff honors – Sharon A. DeVaney, associate professor of consumer sciences and retailing, is the recipient of the 2002 Research Award from the Family Economics Resource Management Division of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. The award was presented June 24 at the organization's annual conference in Dallas. DeVaney was commended for her research on retirement planning, her involvement in the Financial Security in Later Life National Extension Initiative, interdisciplinary research on aging, state and federal recognition of policy contributions, and mentoring of graduate students. – Nicholas A. Peppas, the Showalter Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering and a professor of chemical engineering, is being honored with three awards. He will receive the 2002 Dale Wurster Award from the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists during the association's annual meeting and exposition Nov. 10-14 in Toronto, Canada. The award recognizes people who have made significant research contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences in the field of pharmaceutics. Peppas also will receive the Controlled Release Society's Career Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the field of oral drug delivery. That award will be presented July 20 during the society's 29th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials in Seoul, South Korea. The conference will feature a special scientific session, scheduled for July 22, during which highlights of Peppas' career will be presented. In addition to those awards, Peppas will be recognized Aug. 20 as one of the American Chemical Society's "Newsmakers for 2002." That award recognizes researchers whose findings received the most media coverage at the society's national meetings held between August 2001 and July 2002. Stories about his work in print and broadcast media during that time reached a potential audience of more than 54 million people. Peppas will be recognized during the society's 224th national meeting in Boston. Alumni honors – Lt. Jonathan Spaner, who in 1999 earned a master of science in management from the Krannert School of Management, has been appointed to the 2002-03 class of White House Fellows. Spaner is a program reviewer in the U.S. Coast Guard Office of the Chief of Staff in Washington, D.C. As a White House Fellow, Spaner will work as an aide to senior White House staff or as a special assistant to a Cabinet secretary. He also will participate in an education program that includes domestic and international travel and a speaker series of off-the-record talks with prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page