Purdue Notebook

Purdue Notebook Appointments and promotions: -- Christie L. Sahley, professor of biological sciences, and Nicholas Giordano, professor of physics, have been named half-time assistant deans of the School of Science. Sahley and Giordano will replace Martha Chiscon, who retires July 31. The new assistant deans will combine their administrative duties with their teaching and research programs. Sahley studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of associative learning. Giordano's research interests include electronic conduction in very small metals and the musical acoustics and physics of the piano. -- David J. Asai, professor of biological sciences, has been appointed acting head of Purdue's Department of Biological Sciences. He replaces Biological Sciences Professor Allan Konopka, who has served as acting head since last fall. Lou Sherman, who had served as head of the department since 1989, stepped down last fall to resume full-time teaching and research. * * * * * Faculty and staff honors: -- Sue Aufderheide has been named the new director for the Undergraduate Studies Program, succeeding Dick Grace, who retires from Purdue June 30. Aufderheide will oversee all facets of the program, including services, staff, budget, and advising, teaching and implementing programs for students. She has been with Purdue since 1980 and served in a number of capacities, including academic services director for the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletic Department. She earned both a doctorate and a master's degree in physical education for the handicapped from the University of Texas, Austin, and a bachelor's in physical education and health from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn. * * * * * Alumni honors: -- Donna M. Osborn, West Lafayette, was one of nine Purdue graduates recently honored by the School of Science with a Distinguished Alumni Award. The awards were established in 1990 to recognize graduates' contributions to and achievements in science and related fields. Osborn received a master's degree in mathematics education from Purdue in 1977. She is a mathematics teacher at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, where she has taught for most of the past 15 years. She also has taught at the middle school and college levels and has held two one-year teaching posts abroad. As the recipient of a Department of Energy Albert Einstein Distinguished Teaching Fellowship, Osborn spent the 1999-2000 academic year in Washington, D.C., working with Rep. Peter Visclosky on K-12 education programs in science and mathematics. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the Christa McAuliff Award for Indiana in 1988, the Golden Apple Award from the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in 1990, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching for Indiana in 1996. She also has served as a mathematics consultant for the Indiana Department of Education and for Encyclopedia Brittannica. The other eight award recipients are: Tan-Sun (Mark) Chen, Taiwan, Republic of China; Michael Farmwald, Portola Valley, Calif.; Sundaram (Kris) Krishnamurthy, Rochester, N.Y.; John H. Postlethwait, Eugene, Ore.; Robert G. Potter, St. Louis; David G. Seiler, Montgomery Village, Md.; Jing Y. Shyr, Naperville, Ill.; and Joel Smoller, Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Two Hoosiers were among the five graduates of Purdue's School of Consumer and Family Sciences recently recognized with Distinguished Alumni Awards for long-term leadership in their respective fields and noteworthy professional accomplishments. Peter J. George, Jr., owner of Peter's Restaurant, Indianapolis , opened his restaurant in 1985 and since 1993 has twice won Indianapolis Monthly magazine's Critic's Choice Award for best restaurant. George earned an associate of science degree from the department of Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional and Tourism Management in 1977. Doris Hasler, retired teacher, Indianapolis , taught home economics for more than 40 years and also served as a textbook writer for Macmillian and Mcgraw Hill publishers. Following her retirement in 1986, she turned her attention to family and community issues such as infant mortality and teen pregnancy and has won numerous awards for community service. Hasler earned a master's degree in home economics from Purdue in 1953. The other three award recipients are: Karen Johnson Morgan Elam, senior director of consumer and scientific affairs for Nabisco Inc., East Hanover, N.J.; Ruth Anne Benfiel Fowler, a faculty member and extension coordinator for the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.; and Doris Sleeter Steider, artist, Albuquerque, N.M. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page