Purdue Notebook

October 8, 2004

Appointments and promotions

– The Office of the Dean of Students recently announced the addition of two new assistant deans of students. Jason Casares has been appointed to work with the leaders and advisers of the more than 700 student organizations. Casares also will advise the cooperative housing community, the historically African-American sororities and fraternities, and multicultural Greek letter organizations. He previously worked at Texas Tech University as assistant area coordinator in housing and residence life. Diane W. Blackwelder has been appointed to fill a new position to assist in advising Purdue's Greek organizations. She has held numerous leadership positions on the local and national level in her sorority and Panhellenic organizations. She also has served on the boards of numerous Purdue and community organizations.

Faculty and staff honors

– A retirement reception to honor Donna Hall will take place from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 15) at the Black Cultural Center. Hall, who retired July 30, served as facility and program service supervisor for the Black Cultural Center since 1983. In her career, Hall spearheaded student workshops, served as building deputy and designated trainer for hazardous materials, and was adviser to the Women of Vision and National Association of Colored Women's Clubs Inc. She also worked in the community with the Minority Health Coalition of Tippecanoe County and Second Baptist Church. In April 2003 she received Purdue's One Brick Higher Award, which recognizes faculty and staff for excellence.

– Three Purdue faculty won Fulbright Scholar grants that will allow them to extend their educational reach overseas in 2005. The faculty are:

• Andrew R. Gillespie, professor of forestry and natural resources and associate dean of international programs, who will lecture on "Integrating Disciplines in Agriculture and Environmental Science – Teaching and Outreach in Agroforestry and Energy" at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden, between March and July.

• Abdelfattah Y. Nour, associate professor in basic medical sciences and director of international studies for the School of Veterinary Medicine, who will lecture on "Interactive Teaching to Improve Learning of Basic Medical Sciences" at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan, between February and July.

• A. Whitney Walton, professor of history, who will conduct research on "Foreign Relations: A History of Study Abroad Between the United States and France, 1890-1970" at the Higher School of Education in Paris.

Nearly 800 U.S. faculty and professionals travel abroad as Fulbright Scholars every year. Grants are typically from two months to an academic year. The Fulbright Scholar program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with additional funding from participating governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad. The Council for International Exchange of Scholars is a private, nonprofit organization that manages Fulbright Scholar exchanges.

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