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Honors & Other Things
March 31, 2009, Volume 55, No. 27

Ms. Durain: VP of ACNM

The Associate Director of Penn Nursing’s Midwifery program, Dawn Durain, was elected vice president of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM).

“I look forward to contributing to continued productivity with the Board of Directors,” said Ms. Durain. “I hope that my work and my presence will result in the continuing productivity of the Board and the continued responsiveness of the ACNM to our members and the women to whom they offer care.”

Ms. Durain has served on the ACNM Board of Directors as Region II Representative since 2007 and will serve as ACNM Vice President through May 2011.

Dr. Gonatas: Pathology Awards

Gonatas

Dr. Nicholas Gonatas, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, will receive two awards: On April 20, he will receive the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Gold Headed Cane Award. The Award is presented in recognition of long-term contributions to pathology, including meritorious research, outstanding teaching, general excellence in the field and leadership in pathology.

During the June meeting in San Antonio, the American Association of Neuropathologists will award Dr. Gonatas this year’s Meritorious Award for his contributions to neuropathology.

Dr. Guyer: VP of ASA

Dr. Paul Guyer, the Florence R.C. Murray Professor in the Humanities in the School of Arts and Sciences, has been elected vice president of the American Society for Aesthetics (ASA). Founded in 1942, the ASA is dedicated to promoting research, discussion and publication in aesthetics—where aesthetics is understood to include all studies of the arts and related types of experience from a philosophical, scientific or other theoretical standpoint. Having taken on the duties of vice president on February 1, Dr. Guyer will serve as the organization’s president from 2011 through 2013, followed by a two-year term as past president.

Dr. Krippendorff: Top Design Educator

Dr. Klaus Krippendorff, the Gregory Bateson Professor of Communication in the Annenberg School, was named one of the hundred most influential design educators of the 20th century in the book Designlehren, byGerman designersK. Buchholz, J. Theinert and S. Ihden-Rothkirch (2008). In the design community, Dr. Krippendorff is known largely for advocating a cultural and communication approach to the design of technology.  He created (with Reinhart Butter of Ohio State University) the now widely accepted concept of “product semantics.”  

Penn-Made President: Dr. Lariviere

The University of Oregon announced Dr. Richard Lariviere as its newest president, effective July 1, 2009. Dr. Lariviere earned his doctorate in Asian studies from Penn in 1979. See Almanac November 18, 2008 for other Penn-Made Presidents.

Dr. Lazar: Korsmeyer Award

Dr. Mitchell Lazar, Sylvan H. Eisman Professor of Medicine & Genetics in the School of Medicine, is the recipient of the 2009 Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award. The American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) recognized Dr. Lazar for his outstanding contributions to understanding the transcriptional regulation of metabolism. In addition, the trainees he has mentored have gone on to successful careers in academia and industry. Dr. Lazar will receive a $10,000 honorarium from the ASCI and will deliver the Korsmeyer Award Lecture on April 26, at the ASCI/AAP Joint Meeting. Dr. Lazar is also the director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism at Penn.

Dr. Pinto-Martin: Distinguished Researcher

Dr. Jennifer Pinto-Martin, Viola MacInnes/Independence Professor of Nursing in the School of Nursing, is the recipient of the 7th Annual Claire M. Fagin Distinguished Researcher Award. The School of Nursing and Dean Afaf Meleis will host an event on April 7 that features a presentation by Dr. Pinto-Martin followed by a reception in her honor. Dr. Pinto-Martin is director of the Master’s in Public Heath Program and serves as a mentor and advisor to a number of graduate and undergraduate students.

Ms. Rush: Board Officer

Rush

Maureen Rush, vice president of public safety, was elected secretary to the Board of University City District (UCD). Established in 1997, UCD is a nonprofit, neighborhood-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the 2.2 square mile area of West Philadelphia, known as University City.

Ms. Rush also has been elected to the board of the Philadelphia Police Foundation as vice president. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to strengthen the Philadelphia Police Department.


Dr. Schuyler: J. C. Harrington Medal

Dr. Robert L. Schuyler, associate professor of anthropology and associate curator-in-charge, Historical Archaeology Section, Penn Museum, has been awarded the 2009 J. C. Harrington Medal in Historical Archaeology by the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA). The award is given for a lifetime of contributions to the discipline of historical archaeology centered on scholarship. Dr. Schuyler was honored for his research and his activities as an educator and builder of the discipline.

Dr. Zaoutis: Pediatric Award

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) selected Dr. Theokolis Zaoutis, assistant professor of epidemiology and pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, as the recipient of the SHEA Pediatric Investigator Award. This award is intended to recognize the work of investigators in infection control and healthcare epidemiology whose contributions in their field have been exemplary.

Model Supervisor Award Finalists

Penn’s success as a world-renowned institution is reflective of the talent, creativity and dedication of all who work here. Because staff members play an important role in this process, the Models of Excellence Program is held annually to honor and recognize those individuals who embody the University’s standards for model staff members and supervisors.

The Model Supervisor Award is given annually to an outstanding Penn supervisor who demonstrates exemplary supervisor behaviors and serves as an outstanding role model for others to emulate.

The Division of Human Resources announced the finalists for the 2009 Model Supervisor Award. They are:

• Patricia Brennan, director of Special Services, Public Safety

• John Gustafson, assistant manager, Transportation Services, Transportation and Parking, Business Services

• Melissa von Stade, director of Development, Morris Arboretum, Alumni & Development Relations

The Model Supervisor Award winner will be announced live by President Gutmann at the Models of Excellence Awards Ceremony. For information about the Models of Excellence Program see www.hr.upenn.edu/Quality/Models. The ceremony and reception will be held on April 16 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at the Annenberg Center. For more information or an invitation to the ceremony, contact Human Resources at QOWL@hr.upenn.edu or (215) 898-1012.

Penn Alexander School Honors

Regional Spelling Bee Championship

Sowsan Salaam, 6th grade, is the winner of this year’s Philadelphia Tribune/Scripps Howard Regional Spelling Bee Championship. The student will compete in the national competition in Washington, DC in May. This is the third straight year a student from PAS has won.

Physician Scientist Training

Jalisa Smith and Tsion Habtamu, 7th grade, were 2 of 60 students nationwide accepted into the 2009 Physician Scientist Training Program run by Temple University.

George Washington Carver Science Fair

The following PAS students, took home awards from the citywide 2009 Carver Science Fair:

First Place:

Hannah Hanson, 4th grade—Life Science

Mitchell Berven-Stotz, 5th grade—Physical Science

Ella Comberg, 5th grade—Consumer Project

Camille Coleman, Ruby Johnston and Isaiah McQueen, 5th grade—Team Project

Ella Serpell, 5th grade—Human Science Award

Second Place:

Dylan Yachyshen, 4th grade—Physical Science

Honorable Mention:

Ella Peterson, 4th grade—Earth Science

Paul Lorec, 5th grade—Earth Science

Cordelia Ilton, 6th grade—Earth Science

Special Awards:

Ella Comberg, 5th grade—Women in Science & Engineering Award

Camille Coleman, Ruby Johnston and Isaiah McQueen, 5th grade—Educational Advancement Alliance for Excellence in Science

Cordelia Ilton, 6th grade—The Academy of Natural Sciences Environmental Award

Dylan Yachyshen, 4th grade—Naval Science Award and Vince Russo Award for Excellence in Data Presentation

Women of Color Day at Penn Awards

For the 22nd consecutive year, Penn and UPHS presented Women of Color Day at Penn, an effort to increase awareness of the concerns, talents and achievements of women of color. The accomplishments of these women were recognized at the Annual Women of Color at Penn Awards Luncheon on March 6.

Faculty/Staff Honoree

Hudson

Karen Maxwell Hudson is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Policy & Practice. She provides exceptional direction as the program manager of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Homeless Health Initiative. She is a graduate of Penn’s School of Social Work and Insights, a minority leadership training program at CHOP. Besides being a full-time employee at CHOP, Ms. Hudson is a PhD candidate in public health at Walden University. A dedicated community worker, she is a board member of Cradles to Crayons, a volunteer for Cub Scout Pack 54 and a block captain in her Yeadon neighborhood.

With passion, dedication and humility, Ms. Hudson encourages others to serve children and families in shelters. She has forged bridges with shelters across West Philadelphia and the region. She motivates and inspires trust in volunteers, shelter staff and families. Ms. Hudson has provided hope and inspiration to some of Philadelphia’s most disenfranchised populations. She guides families towards change by sharing resources and helping them to navigate the medical system. She has been a compassionate champion for marginalized populations. Ms. Hudson believes empowering families through education and awareness is the means for positive change.

Ms. Hudson models racial equality and harmony as she unifies and inspires volunteer of various creeds and faiths. It is because of her tireless service to families and children that we recognize Karen Maxwell Hudson as the 2009 Women of Color Staff/Faculty Honoree.

 

Graduate Student Honoree

Heward

Christa Heyward is a PhD student in biomedical graduate studies in the School of Medicine. In addition to being an outstanding student, Ms. Heyward has held a number of leadership positions as a student at Penn. She has contributed to the enhancement of student cultural and academic life through her involvement in the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) and in the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGAPSA). She has served as the BGAPSA Events Planning Chair (2005-2006), BGAPSA Treasurer (2006-2007), and she served as GAPSA’s first Pluralism Chair (2007-2008). She is currently GAPSA’s Vice Chair for Finance, where her integrity and attention to detail is serving all graduate students at Penn.

Ms. Heyward  has been a strong advocate for women and was a founding member of the Penn Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (PGWISE). She has also improved the University’s policies and resources for students with children by advocating for funding for a family Resource Center and the creation of a University-Wide Family Leave Policy for PhD students. Ms. Heyward  was an invited participant at the Ivy Summit meeting of graduate and professional student leaders where she represented all Penn graduate and professional students (2007-2009). She has also served for two years on the University Council Committee on Diversity and Equity (2007-2009).

Ms. Heyward is an outstanding graduate individual who takes pleasure in public service. She seeks out ways to effect positive change and brings a natural ability to interact well in both diverse and like-minded groups of people. She has excelled as a researcher, an elected government leader, an advocate for minority voices and a single mother. It is for these contributions that we recognize Christa Y. Heyward as the 2009 Women of Color Graduate Student Honoree.

 

Undergraduate Student Honoree

Medina

Sheyla Medina is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is an extraordinary student who works hard academically but is also an outstanding Penn citizen. Ms. Medina has worked to address a number of major issues at Penn and in the community. As a member of the Allies, the gay straight alliance, she worked to address issues impacting the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities on campus and in Philadelphia. She was a student volunteer for “A Day Without an Immigrant,” a program to demonstrate the importance of immigrant work to our lives and our economy, and to advocate for immigration reform. She also helped start the Latino Ivy League conference at Penn which works towards a goal for greater representation of Latinos in higher education.

As a McNair fellow, Ms. Medina conducted research on global food markets and their connection to obesity in female adolescents in Lima, Peru. She worked with the Women’s Campaign International to assist in documenting women’s leadership development in Colombia and Sri Lanka and she worked closely with the Mexican consulate in Philadelphia using her Spanish skills to assist with outreach to Latina immigrants. In addition, Ms. Medina worked as a translator with Latino camp workers in New Jersey to examine the effects of pesticides on laborers.

Many students focus on campus activities but Sheyla has made an effort to outreach into the communities that surround and support Penn. She works to empower her peers and is also deeply concerned about the needs of workers and minorities in the Delaware Valley. It is because of her sense of community and commitment to improving the quality of life for all people that we recognize Sheyla Medina as the 2009 Women of Color Undergraduate Honoree.

—2009 Women of Color Committee

SAS 2009 Dean’s Scholars

The School of Arts and Sciences has named 20 students from the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Liberal and Professional Studies, and the Graduate Division as 2009 Dean’s Scholars. This honor is presented annually to SAS students who exhibit exceptional academic performance and intellectual promise. The 2009 Dean’s Scholars will be formally recognized as part of the Levin Family Dean’s Forum, which will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, in the Penn Museum’s Harrison Auditorium (Almanac March 24, 2009).

The College of Arts and Sciences

Phillip Benedetti, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Economics
Thomas Dreisbach, Germanic Languages and Literatures
Farhaan Hafeez, Biochemistry & Biophysics
Kendall Hoechst, English and Psychology
Sumeet Khetarpal, Biochemistry & Biophysics
Benjamin Laitman, Biological Basis of Behavior and Anthropology
Alexander Lessie, Classical Studies
Stefan Sabo, Mathematics
Hayley Walker, Biological Basis of Behavior

The Graduate Division

Carolyn Baugh, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Roger Grant, Music
Justin Leidwanger, Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World
Edward Lybeer, Comparative Literature
Neil Mehta, Demography
Jean-Francois Mondon, Linguistics
Barbara Jane Morgan, Chemistry
Karen Tani, History and Law
Keren Yarhi-Milo, Political Science

College of Liberal and Professional Studies–Undergraduate Program

Justin Alexander, Philosophy

Professional Master's Programs

Gregory Kelder, Environmental Studies

RealArts@PENN Interns 2009

RealArts is a program for all Penn students sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences. It was created in 2007 to integrate art-world practice into the intellectual life of the University. The interns for this summer are:

Elizabeth J. Baker, junior English major  with a concentration in cinema studies and a minor in political science—MTV Networks.

Steven Waye, a creative writing student, double minoring in psychology and jazz & popular music—Rolling Stone magazine.

Jillian Dent, junior English major—Brooklyn Films in LA with producer/director Jon Avnet (Risky Business, Uprising, etc.), a Penn alumnus and overseer in SAS.

Sara Estela, junior majoring in comparative literature—Women Make Movies.

Lucia della Paolera, English major with a minor in music—At Shore Fire Media in NYC, a standard-setting public relations and marketing group.

Ilana Millner, junior English major with a concentration in creative writing and a fine arts minor—Grand Central Publishing (former Warner Books).

Benjy Brooks, a fine arts major with a concentration in animation—will write along-side two screen and stage writers, David Stern and Stuart Gibbs, both Penn alumni.

Dr. Bowles: NQF Steering Committee

Bowles

Dr. Kathy H. Bowles, associate professor in the School of Nursing, was appointed to the National Quality Forum Steering Committee on Care Coordination.

The National Quality Forum is a not-for-profit organization created to develop and implement a national strategy for health care quality measurement and reporting. In 2008, the NQF deemed Care Coordination one of six national priorities for the improvement of health care in the United States. The Steering Committee will work to develop, endorse, and devise measurements for a list of preferred practices in care coordination.

Penn Leads in Radiological Security Upgrades

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Thomas D’Agostino delivered remarks on US radiological security at the University of Pennsylvania on March 27 along with Penn’s Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli. Penn, along with the City of Philadelphia, was recognized for their national security leadership in being the first civilian site in the United States to complete comprehensive radiological security upgrades and emergency response training under NNSA’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative and NNSA’s federal partners. Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the US Department of Energy.

Penn Vet World Leadership Award

Dr. Frederick A. Murphy has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the Penn Vet World Leadership Award. Dr. Murphy is the James W. McLaughlin Professor in Residence at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Murphy has made significant contributions that benefit society and advance the veterinary profession through his research work on viruses impacting animals and humans.

The award, to be presented on April 20 at Penn, provides the recipient with $100,000 in unrestricted funding, the largest monetary award in veterinary medicine, underwritten by the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation.

Wharton: BusinessWeek Rankings

The Wharton School’s undergraduate program is ranked #3 in the country in BusinessWeek’s fourth annual ranking of the “The Top Undergraduate Business Programs.” Wharton was recognized for outstanding faculty and high-caliber students and alumni as well as rating high among recruiters and maintaining a high median starting salary range for graduates.

Fencing Champs

For the first time since 2001, the Penn Men’s Fencing Team won the Ivy League Championship, beating both Harvard and Yale and the second round robin. This is the 16th Ivy championship they’ve won in the program’s history.

The team also won the six-weapon championship at the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championships for the first time in program history.

 

Almanac - March 31, 2009 Volume 55, No. 27