Louisiana State University
Fall 2006 News
Issue VI
OSI QUARTERLY
OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INITATIVES
In this Issue:
Pang & Warner Win Awards
Pang & Warner Win Professor Isiah M. Warner was Awards 1 awarded the 2006 Southern Chemist Award by the Memphis Section of the American Chemical Society. The Message from the Vice-Chancellor 1 Southern Chemist Award recognizes scientists who have spent at least 10 years working in the South and who have HHMI Professors Program 2 established a record of accomplishments. In addition, recipients must have actively A Message from the participated in ACS events and have used Manager 2 their work to bring recognition to the South. Warner’s primary research interests focus on the development and HHMI application of improved separation and Undergraduate spectroscopic methodologies. He has Mentors on the published more than 250 articles and Move-Fall 2006 HHMI Graduates 2 delivered more than 400 oral presentations since 1979. Warner also LA-STEM Research holds five U.S. patents with three additional patents pending. Scholars Program 3
Warner reigns from the South and Outstanding returned home in 1992 after teaching at Scholars-Fall 2006 3 Texas A&M University and Emory University and serving as Program Note From the Officer for Analytical and Surface Program Manager 3 Chemistry for the National Science Foundation. Warner is a Boyd Professor, McNair Research a Philip W. West Professor of analytical Scholars Program 4 and environmental chemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fall 2006 Professor. He has received numerous Graduates 4
awards during his career including the LSU Distinguished Faculty Award; AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award; Who’s Who in the World; and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, Engineering and Mentoring,. In response to his receiving the Southern Chemist Award, Warner said, “It is always a special honor to be recognized by your peers. I also thank the many colleagues in my department who were involved in nominating me for this special honor.” Dr. Su-Seng Pang, one of the most decorated members of LSU’s College of Engineering faculty, returned home recently after being awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree from the University of Macao in China. Due to his busy schedule, he is seldom able to travel back to his homeland. Pang returned to his hometown of Macao on November 4 to receive his honorary degree at a special ceremony in the Macao East Asian Games Dome. The ceremony was part of a celebration of the University’s 25th anniversary. “I feel extremely honored,” Pang said after returning to the town in which he was born and raised. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and the Jack Holmes Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at LSU remarked after being named as a fellow
of the Society of Plastics Engineers, “I was very excited.” Pang was one of thirteen 2006 SPE fellows. The society has more than 22,000 members and has named 252 fellows since the award’s inception in 1984. Members are honored based on their contributions in the field of plastics engineering, science or technology. The honorary degree and fellowship add to an already impressive list of awards for Pang that includes: Selection as a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, approximately 200 published journal papers and conference proceedings, 100 research and educational grants and 32 national and regional awards. Pang has also been honored in two separate White House ceremonies for receiving the Tibbets Award for Small Business Innovation Research Model of Excellence in 1997 and a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring in 1998. Warner and Pang have teamed up to write countless proposals seeking to gain funding from outside sources for LSU. The majority of these proposals have been awarded to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree and prepare for a post-baccalaureate degree.
Stellar Accomplishments 4
Message from the Vice-Chancellor
Completing the Formula
newest program—S-STEM. Mr. Anthony Picado, an LSU graduate, will administer in the development of the new S-STEM program as the Program Coordinator and will also assist in the implementation of HHMI and LASTEM. The S-STEM Program is designed to increase the educational and career opportunities for academically talented, financially disadvantaged students. Thirty students will be selected each year for four years. He was a graduate of the LSU Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars Program currently housed in OSI. McNair Director Connie Stelly highly recommended Anthony for this position because of his many outstanding achievements and contributions to the McNair Program. I look forward to working with both Sandy and Anthony. They help to complete an outstanding staff that is dedicated to the success of all our students and to increasing their achievements at this highly acclaimed University.
In the last few months I was able to hire two very outstanding individuals to complete the OSI staff. Ms. Sandy Bacchus, Administrative Coordinator, comes to us from the University of North Florida where she was the Senior Grants Specialist for the Florida Institute of Education. Ms. Bacchus will assist the LA-STEM and HHMI Program Managers with their continued success in supporting those students aspiring to Mr. Picado acquired his B.S. degree in Psychology and has worked in the LSU acquire a PhD. In addition, she will contribute to the development of our Math Department since his graduation.
HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE PROFESSORS PROGRAM
A Message from the Manager
equally enthused about the upcoming 2007 Selection Weekend to be held It is exciting to see the end of March 2 – 3, 2007. the Fall 2006 semester and the beginning of the Spring 2007 As we embark on a new year, I semester. The past semester would like to take this opportunity to proved challenging and quite issue two challenges to each of you: eventful as the new members 1) take the advantage of a clean slate of the HHMI family, myself and be proactive in all your endeavincluded, learned the ins and ors and 2) be open to new ideas and allow yourself to learn something outs of the program. new. In preparation for the new year, we eagerly anticipate the In closing, I wish you the most excitdesign and implementation of ing and successful semester possible. new concepts to the program. Additionally, we are as
Happy New Year!
Welcome New OSI Staff
Anthony Picado Sandy Bacchus
Ginger Powe, Ph.D. Manager
HHMI Undergraduate Mentors on the Move
Fall 2006 HHMI Graduates
Upcoming Events
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Accepting Applications
Due February 19, 2007
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Selection Weekend
March 2 & 3, 2007
Miriam Smith
Artis Wilson
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Bachelor of Science Chemistry Education Who’s Who Among College Students
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Bachelor of Science Biological Sciences
Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (LA-STEM) Research Scholars Program Outstanding Scholars Fall 2006
Goldwater Scholarship Applicants ♦ Harold Boutte ♦ Claire Kendig ♦ Andy McCullough NOTE FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER
The fall 2006 semester began with all the excitement that marks the beginning of a new semester. LASTEM students continue to excel academically and are receiving recognition for their outstanding accomplishments. Three of the four LSU finalists for the prestigious Goldwater scholarship are LA-STEM students, Harold Boutte, Claire Kendig, and Andrew McCullough. Dione Sibley Rachel Ohlmeyer was selected as one Program Manager of LSU’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges . And, LA-STEM scholar, Rodrigo Farnham, a sophomore, physics major, and a native of Brazil, was awarded a scholarship by the American Physical Society. This year marks the second year Rodrigo has earned this award, and he was honored to have been acknowledged for a second year. In addition, Camille Broome, Shyue Lu, and Amber Fontenot presented at the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Anaheim, California. Our LA-STEM scholars are fully embracing college life and are meeting high educational expectations, in the program, and in their prospective majors. Many are top students in their departments, and several serve in leadership roles in student-led academic organizations. The program eagerly awaits the development of an OSI Student Advisory Board, where students in the Success course can contribute to enhancing program activities. Many students have expressed an interest in implementing an advisory board, so we are looking forward to some exciting events and important developments in the upcoming semester!
Who’s Who Scholar ♦ Rachel Ohlmeyer
ABRCMS Participants ♦ Camille Broome ♦ Amber Fontenot ♦ Shyue Lu
Congratulations to Rodrigo Farnham, recipient of the American Physical Society scholarship for the second year.
Congratulations on your achievements!
McNair Research Scholars Program
Fall 2006 McNair Research Graduates
Rebecca Beacham Mass Communication, Advertising Louisiana State University
Antonette Furman International Studies & Spanish Louisiana State University
Terez Turner Psychology Louisiana State University
Brandy Williams Finance University of New Orleans
Stellar Accomplishments
During the fall of 2006, a number of McNair Research Scholars were recognized for their outstanding leadership, academic, and community service accomplishments. The McNair Staff is happy to report that the following students were singled out by the campus community and chosen to represent LSU because of their remarkable and outstanding contribution to the university. Thirty-one LSU students, including two McNair Research Scholars were selected to the 2006-2007 class of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges from Louisiana State University. Congratulations Terez Turner and Christina Wolfe! All honorees will be recognized during a reception in the spring semester.
ies at Louisiana State University. This program prepares students f o r potential leadership roles in communities and encourages commitment and involvement in academics and organizations. Congratulations!
McNair Research Scholars Jared Avery, Alexis Garner, and Harmony Lyles were selected to participate in the Leadership LSU Program through The Arden O. French Academy for Leadership Stud-