Purdue News

Purdue faculty and staff receive honors

• Dr. Robert L. Bill, associate professor of clinical pharmacology and assistant director of the Veterinary Technology Program, received the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine's Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award of $1,000 and a plaque. The award is voted on by veterinary students.

• Minou Bina, professor of chemistry, was awarded the 1996 Lions Club Award for Outstanding Achievements in Cancer Research. The award is based on her achievements during the past 17 years as an active cancer researcher at Purdue. Bina is a pioneer in establishing how proteins called histones control the folding of DNA into chromosomal structures and how other proteins, called transcription factors, bind to DNA targets and activate gene expression. She also has begun assembling a database of all known transcription factors that will aid cancer researchers worldwide.

• Dr. James C. Blakemore, professor of small animal medicine and dermatology, received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award of $1,000 and a plaque from Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. The award is voted on by veterinary students for outstanding teaching.

• Dr. Terry L. Bowersock, associate professor of veterinary bacteriology, received the School of Veterinary Medicine's Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence of $1,000 and a plaque. Members of the veterinary school's voting faculty and Research Advisory Board choose the recipient for fostering excellence in veterinary research.

• Nikolas I. Christensen, professor of earth science, will receive the 1996 George P. Woollard Award from the Geological Society of America. The annual award is given to recognize outstanding contributions to geology through the applications of the principles and techniques of geophysics. The award will be presented at the organization's annual meeting in October.

• Jane Z. Daniels, director of the Women in Engineering Programs, received the President's Award from the Women in Engineering Program Advocates Network, a national organization of programs that encourage and support women who want to pursue careers in engineering and science. The award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to WEPAN and whose efforts have advanced the goals of the organization in service, fundraising, outreach and collaboration. Daniels is co-founder of WEPAN and in 1990 was its first president.

• Dr. Karin Kooreman, visiting instructor of large animal surgery, received the Weedon Faculty Recognition Award of $700 and a plaque from Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. Senior veterinary students choose the faculty member who has helped them the most in achieving their degree.

• Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury, associate professor of veterinary clinical science, received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Service of $500 and a plaque. The award goes to the faculty member chosen by peers in Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine and by Indiana veterinarians for distinguished efforts in service.

• Gene Spafford, associate professor of computer sciences, was named a charter member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society's Golden Core group. The honor was established this year as part of the organization's 50th-anniversary celebration to recognize members who have made significant contributions to the mission of the society during the past five decades.

• Marlin U. Thomas, head of the School of Industrial Engineering, received the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

• Emily M. Wadsworth, assistant director of the Women in Engineering Programs, received the Research Award from the Women in Engineering Program Advocates Network. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in research related to women in engineering and science.

• Fifteen faculty and staff members received a Superior Service Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their Safe Food for the Hungry program. The team produced two interactive videoconference workshops that addressed food handling, nutrition and volunteer management concerns faced by food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries and other nonprofit food assistance organizations. The group also created companion lesson plans, poster sets, fact sheets and a board game. Members of the winning team are April Mason, professor and associate dean for Extension, School of Consumer and Family Sciences; Extension specialists Wilella Burgess and William Evers (food and nutrition ), Maribeth Cousin and Richard Linton (food science), Douglas Steele (4-H Youth development), and Thomas Luba (distance education information technology); Barbara Almanza and William Jaffe, associate professors of restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management; visual designers Sharon Katz and Pam Lassiter; graphic designer Russell Merzdorf; video producers Joan Crow and Randall Spears; and visual media assistant Roxie Hartman.

• Purdue's News Service and Agricultural Communication Service have received a Grand Gold Award for Excellence in News Writing from Newsweek magazine. The award, which includes a $1,000 prize, will be presented at a special grand gold reception and ceremony Monday (7/8) in San Francisco during the annual meeting of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award recognizes the work of science writers Susan Gaidos and Amanda Siegfried of the News Service, Rebecca Goetz of Agricultural Communication Service, and Steven Tally, who writes for both offices, along with Frank Koontz, News Service senior editor, and David Umberger, News Service associate director and photographer.

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