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Archived Highlights
Click here for highlights posted in December 2011.
Click here for highlights posted in August 2011.
Additional archived highlights are are arranged alphabetically below with date first listed in parentheses/italics after listing.
B
Dr. Josephine Beoku-Betts, Center for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, received a Fulbright Scholars Award for teaching and research at the University of Sierra Leone for the 2011-12 academic year. Dr. Beoku-Betts will work with the Gender Research and Documentation Center and the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. Her research will focus on women's peace movements and post-war reconstruction in Sierra Leone. She will teach two graduate courses on Women, War, and Peace building and Global Perspectives on Gender. Each year, approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals lecture and research through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. (March 2011)
Dr. Leonard Berry, Director, Center for Environmental Studies, received the South Florida Business Leader of the Year award from the Seafarers' House at their 15th annual luncheon. The award honors individual community leaders who have made significant contributions to support and sustain our communities and oceans. (March 2011)
The Broward Community Design Collaborative, housed within the College for Design and Social Inquiry, is pioneering a transportation planning project designed to develop an alternative planning model that addresses the crucial nexus between transportation, housing and urban redevelopment. The Transit/Housing Oriented Redevelopment (THOR) Pilot Study is an innovative approach involving FAU architecture students in a multi-collaborative method to bring together state, county and municipal agencies to find ways to promote development forms that reduce carbon emissions, improve housing options, and provide transportation alternatives. Dr. Anthony Abate, architecture, was honored with the 2009 Florida/Caribbean Research Award for his work on the THOR Pilot Study. The award is presented each year by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) and represents the region's most prestigious award program for the architectural profession. (Jan. 2011)
C
Dr. Carmen Canete Quesada, Spanish, published a book titled "El exilio espanol ante los programas de identidad cultural en el Caribe insular (1934-1956)." A professor in the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Canete Quesada also recently received an international research grant from the Foundation Max Aub in Spain for a book titled "The Film Scripts Written by Republican Exile Max Aub and Revolutionary Mexican Writer Mauricio Magdaleno." (June 2011)
D
Dr. Raphael Dalleo, English, was featured by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) for responding to a wealth of requests for an informed perspective on the crisis in Haiti. The earthquake in Haiti captures the world's attention and the four ACLS fellows, including Dr. Dalleo, are instrumental in describing how their research can expand our understanding of the disaster. ACLS fellows are scholars of art, literature, political science and linguistics. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Blane De St. Croix, visual arts and art history, was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. Dr. De St. Croix is one of 180 scientists, artists and scholars from the U.S. and Canada to receive this prestigious award. The recipients were selected from over 3,000 applicants, and award amounts averaged $43,000. Dr. De St. Croix's recent body of work explores the geopolitical landscape through drawing and sculptural installation. His work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Monica DeTure, eLearning, has been accepted into the 2011 Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning offered through Penn State and the Sloan Consortium. The institute is a four-step leadership development program in the rapidly expanding field of online learning. (June 2011)
Dr. Adam Dobrin, criminology and criminal justice, was recently invited to serve as the Field Administrator of the Justice Health Field, a new Cochrane Collaboration entity. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, independent, not-for-profit organization with more than 28,000 contributors from more than 100 countries, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of health care readily available worldwide. The Justice Health Field is focused on the healthcare of the millions of individuals under the control of various criminal and juvenile justice systems around the world, as well as the health implications for their families, future generations, and the communities from which they come. (March 2011)
Dr. Charles Dukes, exceptional student education, has just been named the Editor of TASH Connections. TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs -- those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. (March 2011)
E
Dr. Isaac Elishakoff, ocean and mechanical engineering, published a titled Optimization and Anti-Optimization of Structures under Uncertainty, (Imperial College Press, London, England). The book is co-authored with Professor Makoto Ohsaki in the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kyoto, Japan. The book was initiated when Dr. Elishakoff served as the Fellow of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science at the renowned University of Kyoto. The society was established by Emperor Showa in 1932 to promote international cooperation. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Isaac Elishakoff, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which serves diverse global communities by advancing, disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life as well as communicating the excitement of engineering. (June 2011)
The Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science joined Florida International University (FIU) as one of only nine National Science Foundation (NSF) supported centers in the U.S. and one of two in the state of Florida in the area of information technology, communication and computing. FAU received a five–year grant from the NSF to create a site for the Center for Advanced Knowledge Enablement (CAKE) to provide a framework for interaction between university faculty and industry to pursue advanced research in these fields. FAU's CAKE is spearheaded by Dr. Borko Furht, computer and electrical engineering and computer science. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, Visual Planning Technology Lab, and Dr. Alka Sapat, public administration, received a $40,000 RAPID research grant from the National Science Foundation for their study titled, "Haitian-Americans as Critical 'Bridges' and 'Lifelines' for Recovery and Rebuilding in Haiti." Their research focuses on understanding the role of the Haitian–American community in relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts because of the Haiti earthquake; documenting the trends and profiles of displacee influx to South Florida; and collecting and analyzing policies and plans that have been created in the U.S. at the federal, state and local level in response to this potential (or perceived) displacee influx. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, urban and regional planning, was honored by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance as the organization's World Class Faculty honoree for 2011 at their Mid-Year Meeting, held May 5 in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Esnard's research centers on disaster mitigation for cities along the southeastern United States coastline. (June 2011)
F
Dr. George V. Frick, ocean and mechanical engineering, was awarded the Pioneers of Underwater Acoustics Medal by the Acoustical Society of America at the Second Pan-American/Iberian Meeting on Acoustics in Cancun, Mexico, last November. He received this award for his numerous contributions to quantifying acoustic interactions with the seabed. Dr. Frisk is also the President of the Acoustical Society of America for 2010-11. The Pioneers of Underwater Acoustics Medal is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the science of underwater acoustics, as evidenced by publication of research results in professional journals or by other accomplishments in the field. (March 2011)
G
Nine teachers from St. Lucie County schools, led by Dr. Rose Gatens, Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education, traveled to Washington D.C., during spring break to conduct research on teaching about the Holocaust, genocides and human rights. Accompanying the teachers is Peter Feigl, a Palm City resident who is also a Holocaust survivor. The study group works on their understanding of the Holocaust during working sessions leading up to the three days at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. These teachers are sharing their lessons with other teachers throughout the St. Lucie County School District. (Jan. 2011)
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board awarded Dr. Dale Gawlik, biological sciences, and his colleagues $1 million for continuing support of a unique study that is helping scientists protect and restore wading bird colonies in the Everglades. This study is helping the District to meet an objective of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which calls for restoring nesting colonies of wading birds in the Everglades. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Lucy Guglielmino, adult and community educationn, recently received the 2010 Career Achievement Award by the Commission of Professors of Adult Education (CPAE). Dr. Guglielmino, who has served on FAU's Treasure Coast campus for 10 years, received the honor at the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education 2010 Conference in Clearwater Beach. The Career Achievement Award recognizes the scholarly contributions of individuals who, over the course of their career, have deepened the knowledge base of the field through a solid, sustained, scholarly agenda. (March 2011)
Dr. Esther Guzman, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, received a $375,000 grant from the Bankhead Coley Florida Biomedical Research Program for a research project to identify bioactive marine natural products that inhibit inflammation as potential novel chemo-preventatives of pancreatic cancer. (Jan. 2011)
H
Dr. Taylor Hagood, English, received a prestigious Fulbright award from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich, Germany. Beginning this fall, Dr. Hagood will spend 10 months in Munich as a junior lecturer in the American Studies Program studying and teaching about William Faulkner, African American literature and the United States South in a global context. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Debra Hain, nursing, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Tim Poole Award and will be recognized at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings. She has made significant contributions by advancing nephrology practice, research, education, clinical practice and leadership, all while balancing her professional life with the demands of an active family. Dr. Hain has been active in NKF, participating in multiple KEEP Screenings in Southern Florida and now is the official "travel agent" for Sydney, CAP's kidney mascot. She represents American Nephrology Nurses Association on the Kidney Care Partners Technical and Expert Panel-Patient/Family Engagement. Tim Poole was an exceptional clinician and incredible human being who dedicated his life to the care and well-being of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and their families. The award is given to those who follow in his footsteps and demonstrates the qualities that made him so outstanding. (March 2011)
Dr. Javad Hashemi, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, effective June 1, 2011. Dr. Hashemi comes to FAU with extensive leadership experience, having served as the Associate Dean of Research at Texas Tech University's College of Engineering. His research interests include orthopedic surgery and prosthetics. (June 2011)
Dr. Charles H. Hennekens, the first Sir Richard Doll Research Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, published the results of A Randomized Trial of Aspirin at Clinically Relevant Doses and Nitric Oxide Formation in Humans in the December issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. These are the first data in humans to show that all doses of aspirin used in clinical practice increase nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is released from the blood vessel wall and may decrease the development and progression of plaques leading to heart attacks and strokes. (March 2011)
Dr. Sameer Hinduja, criminology and criminal justice and the Cyberbullying Research Center, served as the keynote speaker in the Anti-Defamation League's regional Cyberbullying Conference in Philadelphia, Penn. A renowned expert in this field, Dr. Hinduja was also interviewed on FOX TV 29's "Good Day" morning show in Philadelphia to discuss this timely topic. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Walter Hnatysh, visual arts and art history, recently received a South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC) Visual and Media Artists Fellowship. Twelve people received fellowships, and Hnatysh is the only one from Palm Beach County. The fellowship comes with a $15,000 award. The 2011 fellowship was awarded for paintings and drawings. (June 2011)
J
Dr. Laura Joella, music, will be on the faculty for the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine for the summer of 2011 as the conductor for the Concert Orchestra. (June 2011)
K
Dr. Marc Kantorow, biomedical sciences - medicine, received a RO1 grant renewal of $1.6 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate natural eye repair systems that could be used to treat age-related eye diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts. (Jan. 2011)
L
Dr. David J. Lewkowicz, psychology, and his colleagues published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on their hypothesis that younger infants may actually be better at integrating facial speech gestures and vocalizations than older infants and that the developmental decline in this ability may be due to increasing specialization for native–language phonology as infants learn their own speech and language. Their research is funded by the National Science Foundation. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. John Lowe, nursing, was awarded a grant titled "Testing a Substance Abuse Prevention for Cherokee Early Adolescents" by the the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse. The grant totals more than $600,000 over two years. (June 2011)
M
Dr. Hassan Mahfuz, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. ASME promotes the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe. Dr. Mahfuz has the privilege of being one of more than 3,000 fellows out of more than 120,000 members. The College of Engineering and Computer Science has three other ASME fellows: Dean Karl Stevens, Sue Skemp and Dr. Leif Carlsson. (March 2011)
Dr. Rosario Medina-Shepherd, nursing, has been invited to participate in Todos Juntos por la Salud, a national forum of experts convened to discuss best practices for engaging the Latino community in health-related research. (March 2011)
Dr. Chandra Mishra, Office Depot Eminent Scholar Chair, business, has been named Co-Editor of a new scholarly journal, Entrepreneurship Research Journal. It includes both theoretical and empirical articles, with priority being given to high-quality theoretical and empirical papers that have managerial or public policy orientation as well as ramifications for entrepreneurship research overall. The inaugural issue of the journal was launched in early January and will be published four times a year by the Berkley Electronic PressTM and can be accessed via the ERJ website at www.bepress.com/erj. (March 2011)
N
The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing's doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program receives accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the national accreditation agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. The program received the maximum accreditation of five years with no deficiencies. The FAU DNP program prepares advanced practice nurses and nurse administrators with a doctoral degree that focuses on practice leadership. (Jan. 2011)
P
Dr. JuYong Park, social work, was named a Hartford Faculty Scholar, which is a prestigious two-year award given to researchers who improve health care practices for older adults. She received the award to honor her work on non-pharmacological pain management in ethnically diverse older adults throughout South Florida. (June 2011)
Pine Jog Environmental Education Center in the College of Education was recognized by Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock with the clerk's "2010 Best Practices Award" for innovation in a nonprofit organization. The award is presented at the Florida Nonprofit Conference. Pine Jog is recognized for its innovative Green Schools Recognition Program, which encourages school communities to develop cultures of sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Best Practices Award honors a nonprofit organization that strives for continuous improvement and excellence. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. John Pisapia, educational leadership and research methodology, was named a Fulbright Scholar to China in 2012. He will also be presenting a paper on "Creating a culture for strategic thinking" at the 15th annual Conference on Thinking in Belfast, Northern Ireland in June 2011. (June 2011)
R
Dr. Daniel Raviv, computer and electrical engineering and computer science, published "Everyone Loves Speed Bumps, Don't You?: A Guide to Innovative Thinking." The book discusses his methodology for innovative thinking in a humorous and bold style. (June 2011)
Dr. Nancy Romance, teaching and learning, has been invited to serve as a principal member for the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences panel. In this capacity, Dr. Romance will review grants for Mathematics and Science, Teacher Quality-Mathematics and Science, and Technology. The term of her appointment began in 2010 and will run through 2012. By creating standing panels, which began in 2006, the Institute has taken an important step in the establishment of a rigorous and mature scientific peer review process. In addition to this prestigious invitation, Dr. Romance was invited to serve on the National Science Foundation's 2010 National Selection Committee for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's highest honor for mathematics and science teachers. (March 2011)
Dr. Stacie Rossow, music, will be a guest facilitator at the first Anuna Choral School in Dublin, Ireland, in July 2011. This school is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and the National Concert Hall Dublin, Ireland's premiere classical and acoustic performance venue. (June 2011)
S
Alejandro Sanchez-Samper, commercial music, was recently awarded a travel research grant from the FAU Asian Studies Certificate Program. He will be traveling to Nepal in August, 2011, for three weeks to record an album of traditional and contemporary Nepalese music. (June 2011)
Dr. John Scarpa, Harbor Branch, was awarded the 2011 Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Aquaculture Society (USAS) at its annual conference in New Orleans, La. He was singled out for work on behalf of USAS and his scientific output. As chair of the USAS Rules and Regulations Committee, he provides guidance to the organization's board and was responsible for assembling a Policy and Procedures Manual. Dr. Scarpa also regularly volunteers to judge student presentations at USAS conferences. He was also cited for his $1.9 million in grant funding, nine publications in peer-reviewed journals, five popular articles and 77 presentations at scientific meetings over the past five years. His research and publication focus has included shellfish culture, fish nutrition, shrimp culture in low salinities, and developing culture technology for aquatic species that contain pharmaceutical compounds. (March 2011)
Dr. Richard Shusterman, Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Humanities and Director of the Center for Body, Mind, and Culture, presented a keynote address titled "The Body and the Arts" which took place at Kyung-Hee University in Korea in November. His visit to Korea also included lectures at Seoul National University and at Yonsei University. During his keynote presentation, Dr. Shusterman focused on the somatic style in the transmission of philosophical ideas, and in the expression and development of ethical character. He also participated in a television interview to discuss his book "Body Consciousness," which was published in Korean translation in October. (March 2011)
Dr. Loudes Diaz Soto, curriculum, culture and education inquiry, published a book titled "Latina/o Hope." The book explores migration theories from an immigrant's perspective, using case studies ranging from missing young female immigrants to educational journeys, ultimately discussing the impact of neoliberal policies and global capitalization on the daily lives of latino/a immigrants. (June 2011)
Dr. Jeanne Stinchcomb, criminology and criminal justice, published a book titled "Corrections: Foundations for the Future," which is based on years of researching the components of the "correctional conglomerate" and hands-on experience working in a local jail. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the correctional system for both students and practioners. (June 2011)
W
Dr. Yuan Wang, mathematical sciences, gave a 45-minute invited talk at the 5th International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM 2010) held in Beijing in December. The ICCM is a triennial event which brings together Chinese and overseas mathematicians to discuss the latest research developments in pure and applied mathematics. ICCM 2010 was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of L-G Hua and 99th anniversary of S.S. Chern. There were 30 one-hour talks and 150 45-minute talks, all by invitation only, that covered a full range of subjects in the mathematical sciences, from number theory and geometry, to statistics and applied mathematics. (March 2011)
Dr. Herbert Weissbach, science, was reappointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) for a term to run through Jan. 1, 2012. Dr. Weissbach is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and director of the Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at FAU's Jupiter campus. The 11-member BRAC advises the state surgeon general on the direction and scope of biomedical research programs and is also charged with developing the strategic objectives and priorities of the programs. Four of the BRAC members are appointed by the governor. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Amy Wright, Center for Marine Biomedical and Biotechnology Research at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, receives a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand a unique collection of marine organisms, which Harbor Branch has gathered from around the world. These marine organisms produce chemically diverse compounds that have potential for biotechnological applications and drug discovery. This project will help to support the NIH's Molecular Roadmap Program aimed at discovering new probes of biological mechanisms as well as compounds with unique biological activities relative to human health. Also, Dr. Wright directs a program -- supported by a generous $40,000 grant from the Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation -- in which students conduct research in the marine biomedical sciences related to drug discovery at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. The gift supports two types of projects: a student internship for undergraduate or graduate students working in the field of marine natural products drug discovery; and support of graduate students working towards a M.S. or Ph.D. related to marine natural products research. (Jan. 2011)
Z
Michael Zager, commercial music, will be a visiting professor in July and August 2011, at Payap University in Chaing Mai, Thailand. He will be producing an album and lecturing on all aspects of the commercial music industry. This will be Zager's fourth appointment at Payap. During his past visits, Zager helped the university to build a recording studio, where he assisted on recording the CDs "Tales from the River" and "We Learn to Care," an album that commemorated the 60th anniversary of the program. (June 2011)
FAU faculty and staff members are invited to submit recent activities, accolades and honors -- such as conference presentations, election to officer positions in professional organizations or the publishing of a paper, chapter or book. The one- or two-sentence blurbs should include your name, your department/college and a succinct description of the highlight. Send submissions to highlights@fau.edu.
Click here for highlights posted in August 2011.
Additional archived highlights are are arranged alphabetically below with date first listed in parentheses/italics after listing.
B
Dr. Josephine Beoku-Betts, Center for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, received a Fulbright Scholars Award for teaching and research at the University of Sierra Leone for the 2011-12 academic year. Dr. Beoku-Betts will work with the Gender Research and Documentation Center and the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. Her research will focus on women's peace movements and post-war reconstruction in Sierra Leone. She will teach two graduate courses on Women, War, and Peace building and Global Perspectives on Gender. Each year, approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals lecture and research through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. (March 2011)
Dr. Leonard Berry, Director, Center for Environmental Studies, received the South Florida Business Leader of the Year award from the Seafarers' House at their 15th annual luncheon. The award honors individual community leaders who have made significant contributions to support and sustain our communities and oceans. (March 2011)
The Broward Community Design Collaborative, housed within the College for Design and Social Inquiry, is pioneering a transportation planning project designed to develop an alternative planning model that addresses the crucial nexus between transportation, housing and urban redevelopment. The Transit/Housing Oriented Redevelopment (THOR) Pilot Study is an innovative approach involving FAU architecture students in a multi-collaborative method to bring together state, county and municipal agencies to find ways to promote development forms that reduce carbon emissions, improve housing options, and provide transportation alternatives. Dr. Anthony Abate, architecture, was honored with the 2009 Florida/Caribbean Research Award for his work on the THOR Pilot Study. The award is presented each year by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) and represents the region's most prestigious award program for the architectural profession. (Jan. 2011)
C
Dr. Carmen Canete Quesada, Spanish, published a book titled "El exilio espanol ante los programas de identidad cultural en el Caribe insular (1934-1956)." A professor in the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Canete Quesada also recently received an international research grant from the Foundation Max Aub in Spain for a book titled "The Film Scripts Written by Republican Exile Max Aub and Revolutionary Mexican Writer Mauricio Magdaleno." (June 2011)
D
Dr. Raphael Dalleo, English, was featured by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) for responding to a wealth of requests for an informed perspective on the crisis in Haiti. The earthquake in Haiti captures the world's attention and the four ACLS fellows, including Dr. Dalleo, are instrumental in describing how their research can expand our understanding of the disaster. ACLS fellows are scholars of art, literature, political science and linguistics. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Blane De St. Croix, visual arts and art history, was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. Dr. De St. Croix is one of 180 scientists, artists and scholars from the U.S. and Canada to receive this prestigious award. The recipients were selected from over 3,000 applicants, and award amounts averaged $43,000. Dr. De St. Croix's recent body of work explores the geopolitical landscape through drawing and sculptural installation. His work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Monica DeTure, eLearning, has been accepted into the 2011 Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning offered through Penn State and the Sloan Consortium. The institute is a four-step leadership development program in the rapidly expanding field of online learning. (June 2011)
Dr. Adam Dobrin, criminology and criminal justice, was recently invited to serve as the Field Administrator of the Justice Health Field, a new Cochrane Collaboration entity. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international, independent, not-for-profit organization with more than 28,000 contributors from more than 100 countries, dedicated to making up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of health care readily available worldwide. The Justice Health Field is focused on the healthcare of the millions of individuals under the control of various criminal and juvenile justice systems around the world, as well as the health implications for their families, future generations, and the communities from which they come. (March 2011)
Dr. Charles Dukes, exceptional student education, has just been named the Editor of TASH Connections. TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs -- those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. (March 2011)
E
Dr. Isaac Elishakoff, ocean and mechanical engineering, published a titled Optimization and Anti-Optimization of Structures under Uncertainty, (Imperial College Press, London, England). The book is co-authored with Professor Makoto Ohsaki in the Department of Architecture and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kyoto, Japan. The book was initiated when Dr. Elishakoff served as the Fellow of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science at the renowned University of Kyoto. The society was established by Emperor Showa in 1932 to promote international cooperation. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Isaac Elishakoff, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which serves diverse global communities by advancing, disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life as well as communicating the excitement of engineering. (June 2011)
The Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science joined Florida International University (FIU) as one of only nine National Science Foundation (NSF) supported centers in the U.S. and one of two in the state of Florida in the area of information technology, communication and computing. FAU received a five–year grant from the NSF to create a site for the Center for Advanced Knowledge Enablement (CAKE) to provide a framework for interaction between university faculty and industry to pursue advanced research in these fields. FAU's CAKE is spearheaded by Dr. Borko Furht, computer and electrical engineering and computer science. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, Visual Planning Technology Lab, and Dr. Alka Sapat, public administration, received a $40,000 RAPID research grant from the National Science Foundation for their study titled, "Haitian-Americans as Critical 'Bridges' and 'Lifelines' for Recovery and Rebuilding in Haiti." Their research focuses on understanding the role of the Haitian–American community in relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts because of the Haiti earthquake; documenting the trends and profiles of displacee influx to South Florida; and collecting and analyzing policies and plans that have been created in the U.S. at the federal, state and local level in response to this potential (or perceived) displacee influx. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, urban and regional planning, was honored by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance as the organization's World Class Faculty honoree for 2011 at their Mid-Year Meeting, held May 5 in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Esnard's research centers on disaster mitigation for cities along the southeastern United States coastline. (June 2011)
F
Dr. George V. Frick, ocean and mechanical engineering, was awarded the Pioneers of Underwater Acoustics Medal by the Acoustical Society of America at the Second Pan-American/Iberian Meeting on Acoustics in Cancun, Mexico, last November. He received this award for his numerous contributions to quantifying acoustic interactions with the seabed. Dr. Frisk is also the President of the Acoustical Society of America for 2010-11. The Pioneers of Underwater Acoustics Medal is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the science of underwater acoustics, as evidenced by publication of research results in professional journals or by other accomplishments in the field. (March 2011)
G
Nine teachers from St. Lucie County schools, led by Dr. Rose Gatens, Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education, traveled to Washington D.C., during spring break to conduct research on teaching about the Holocaust, genocides and human rights. Accompanying the teachers is Peter Feigl, a Palm City resident who is also a Holocaust survivor. The study group works on their understanding of the Holocaust during working sessions leading up to the three days at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. These teachers are sharing their lessons with other teachers throughout the St. Lucie County School District. (Jan. 2011)
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board awarded Dr. Dale Gawlik, biological sciences, and his colleagues $1 million for continuing support of a unique study that is helping scientists protect and restore wading bird colonies in the Everglades. This study is helping the District to meet an objective of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which calls for restoring nesting colonies of wading birds in the Everglades. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Lucy Guglielmino, adult and community educationn, recently received the 2010 Career Achievement Award by the Commission of Professors of Adult Education (CPAE). Dr. Guglielmino, who has served on FAU's Treasure Coast campus for 10 years, received the honor at the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education 2010 Conference in Clearwater Beach. The Career Achievement Award recognizes the scholarly contributions of individuals who, over the course of their career, have deepened the knowledge base of the field through a solid, sustained, scholarly agenda. (March 2011)
Dr. Esther Guzman, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, received a $375,000 grant from the Bankhead Coley Florida Biomedical Research Program for a research project to identify bioactive marine natural products that inhibit inflammation as potential novel chemo-preventatives of pancreatic cancer. (Jan. 2011)
H
Dr. Taylor Hagood, English, received a prestigious Fulbright award from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich, Germany. Beginning this fall, Dr. Hagood will spend 10 months in Munich as a junior lecturer in the American Studies Program studying and teaching about William Faulkner, African American literature and the United States South in a global context. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Debra Hain, nursing, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 Tim Poole Award and will be recognized at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings. She has made significant contributions by advancing nephrology practice, research, education, clinical practice and leadership, all while balancing her professional life with the demands of an active family. Dr. Hain has been active in NKF, participating in multiple KEEP Screenings in Southern Florida and now is the official "travel agent" for Sydney, CAP's kidney mascot. She represents American Nephrology Nurses Association on the Kidney Care Partners Technical and Expert Panel-Patient/Family Engagement. Tim Poole was an exceptional clinician and incredible human being who dedicated his life to the care and well-being of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and their families. The award is given to those who follow in his footsteps and demonstrates the qualities that made him so outstanding. (March 2011)
Dr. Javad Hashemi, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, effective June 1, 2011. Dr. Hashemi comes to FAU with extensive leadership experience, having served as the Associate Dean of Research at Texas Tech University's College of Engineering. His research interests include orthopedic surgery and prosthetics. (June 2011)
Dr. Charles H. Hennekens, the first Sir Richard Doll Research Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, published the results of A Randomized Trial of Aspirin at Clinically Relevant Doses and Nitric Oxide Formation in Humans in the December issue of the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. These are the first data in humans to show that all doses of aspirin used in clinical practice increase nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is released from the blood vessel wall and may decrease the development and progression of plaques leading to heart attacks and strokes. (March 2011)
Dr. Sameer Hinduja, criminology and criminal justice and the Cyberbullying Research Center, served as the keynote speaker in the Anti-Defamation League's regional Cyberbullying Conference in Philadelphia, Penn. A renowned expert in this field, Dr. Hinduja was also interviewed on FOX TV 29's "Good Day" morning show in Philadelphia to discuss this timely topic. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Walter Hnatysh, visual arts and art history, recently received a South Florida Cultural Consortium (SFCC) Visual and Media Artists Fellowship. Twelve people received fellowships, and Hnatysh is the only one from Palm Beach County. The fellowship comes with a $15,000 award. The 2011 fellowship was awarded for paintings and drawings. (June 2011)
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Dr. Laura Joella, music, will be on the faculty for the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine for the summer of 2011 as the conductor for the Concert Orchestra. (June 2011)
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Dr. Marc Kantorow, biomedical sciences - medicine, received a RO1 grant renewal of $1.6 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate natural eye repair systems that could be used to treat age-related eye diseases including macular degeneration and cataracts. (Jan. 2011)
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Dr. David J. Lewkowicz, psychology, and his colleagues published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on their hypothesis that younger infants may actually be better at integrating facial speech gestures and vocalizations than older infants and that the developmental decline in this ability may be due to increasing specialization for native–language phonology as infants learn their own speech and language. Their research is funded by the National Science Foundation. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. John Lowe, nursing, was awarded a grant titled "Testing a Substance Abuse Prevention for Cherokee Early Adolescents" by the the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse. The grant totals more than $600,000 over two years. (June 2011)
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Dr. Hassan Mahfuz, ocean and mechanical engineering, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. ASME promotes the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe. Dr. Mahfuz has the privilege of being one of more than 3,000 fellows out of more than 120,000 members. The College of Engineering and Computer Science has three other ASME fellows: Dean Karl Stevens, Sue Skemp and Dr. Leif Carlsson. (March 2011)
Dr. Rosario Medina-Shepherd, nursing, has been invited to participate in Todos Juntos por la Salud, a national forum of experts convened to discuss best practices for engaging the Latino community in health-related research. (March 2011)
Dr. Chandra Mishra, Office Depot Eminent Scholar Chair, business, has been named Co-Editor of a new scholarly journal, Entrepreneurship Research Journal. It includes both theoretical and empirical articles, with priority being given to high-quality theoretical and empirical papers that have managerial or public policy orientation as well as ramifications for entrepreneurship research overall. The inaugural issue of the journal was launched in early January and will be published four times a year by the Berkley Electronic PressTM and can be accessed via the ERJ website at www.bepress.com/erj. (March 2011)
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The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing's doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program receives accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), the national accreditation agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. The program received the maximum accreditation of five years with no deficiencies. The FAU DNP program prepares advanced practice nurses and nurse administrators with a doctoral degree that focuses on practice leadership. (Jan. 2011)
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Dr. JuYong Park, social work, was named a Hartford Faculty Scholar, which is a prestigious two-year award given to researchers who improve health care practices for older adults. She received the award to honor her work on non-pharmacological pain management in ethnically diverse older adults throughout South Florida. (June 2011)
Pine Jog Environmental Education Center in the College of Education was recognized by Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock with the clerk's "2010 Best Practices Award" for innovation in a nonprofit organization. The award is presented at the Florida Nonprofit Conference. Pine Jog is recognized for its innovative Green Schools Recognition Program, which encourages school communities to develop cultures of sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Best Practices Award honors a nonprofit organization that strives for continuous improvement and excellence. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. John Pisapia, educational leadership and research methodology, was named a Fulbright Scholar to China in 2012. He will also be presenting a paper on "Creating a culture for strategic thinking" at the 15th annual Conference on Thinking in Belfast, Northern Ireland in June 2011. (June 2011)
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Dr. Daniel Raviv, computer and electrical engineering and computer science, published "Everyone Loves Speed Bumps, Don't You?: A Guide to Innovative Thinking." The book discusses his methodology for innovative thinking in a humorous and bold style. (June 2011)
Dr. Nancy Romance, teaching and learning, has been invited to serve as a principal member for the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences panel. In this capacity, Dr. Romance will review grants for Mathematics and Science, Teacher Quality-Mathematics and Science, and Technology. The term of her appointment began in 2010 and will run through 2012. By creating standing panels, which began in 2006, the Institute has taken an important step in the establishment of a rigorous and mature scientific peer review process. In addition to this prestigious invitation, Dr. Romance was invited to serve on the National Science Foundation's 2010 National Selection Committee for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation's highest honor for mathematics and science teachers. (March 2011)
Dr. Stacie Rossow, music, will be a guest facilitator at the first Anuna Choral School in Dublin, Ireland, in July 2011. This school is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and the National Concert Hall Dublin, Ireland's premiere classical and acoustic performance venue. (June 2011)
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Alejandro Sanchez-Samper, commercial music, was recently awarded a travel research grant from the FAU Asian Studies Certificate Program. He will be traveling to Nepal in August, 2011, for three weeks to record an album of traditional and contemporary Nepalese music. (June 2011)
Dr. John Scarpa, Harbor Branch, was awarded the 2011 Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Aquaculture Society (USAS) at its annual conference in New Orleans, La. He was singled out for work on behalf of USAS and his scientific output. As chair of the USAS Rules and Regulations Committee, he provides guidance to the organization's board and was responsible for assembling a Policy and Procedures Manual. Dr. Scarpa also regularly volunteers to judge student presentations at USAS conferences. He was also cited for his $1.9 million in grant funding, nine publications in peer-reviewed journals, five popular articles and 77 presentations at scientific meetings over the past five years. His research and publication focus has included shellfish culture, fish nutrition, shrimp culture in low salinities, and developing culture technology for aquatic species that contain pharmaceutical compounds. (March 2011)
Dr. Richard Shusterman, Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Humanities and Director of the Center for Body, Mind, and Culture, presented a keynote address titled "The Body and the Arts" which took place at Kyung-Hee University in Korea in November. His visit to Korea also included lectures at Seoul National University and at Yonsei University. During his keynote presentation, Dr. Shusterman focused on the somatic style in the transmission of philosophical ideas, and in the expression and development of ethical character. He also participated in a television interview to discuss his book "Body Consciousness," which was published in Korean translation in October. (March 2011)
Dr. Loudes Diaz Soto, curriculum, culture and education inquiry, published a book titled "Latina/o Hope." The book explores migration theories from an immigrant's perspective, using case studies ranging from missing young female immigrants to educational journeys, ultimately discussing the impact of neoliberal policies and global capitalization on the daily lives of latino/a immigrants. (June 2011)
Dr. Jeanne Stinchcomb, criminology and criminal justice, published a book titled "Corrections: Foundations for the Future," which is based on years of researching the components of the "correctional conglomerate" and hands-on experience working in a local jail. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the correctional system for both students and practioners. (June 2011)
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Dr. Yuan Wang, mathematical sciences, gave a 45-minute invited talk at the 5th International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM 2010) held in Beijing in December. The ICCM is a triennial event which brings together Chinese and overseas mathematicians to discuss the latest research developments in pure and applied mathematics. ICCM 2010 was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of L-G Hua and 99th anniversary of S.S. Chern. There were 30 one-hour talks and 150 45-minute talks, all by invitation only, that covered a full range of subjects in the mathematical sciences, from number theory and geometry, to statistics and applied mathematics. (March 2011)
Dr. Herbert Weissbach, science, was reappointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) for a term to run through Jan. 1, 2012. Dr. Weissbach is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and director of the Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at FAU's Jupiter campus. The 11-member BRAC advises the state surgeon general on the direction and scope of biomedical research programs and is also charged with developing the strategic objectives and priorities of the programs. Four of the BRAC members are appointed by the governor. (Jan. 2011)
Dr. Amy Wright, Center for Marine Biomedical and Biotechnology Research at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, receives a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to expand a unique collection of marine organisms, which Harbor Branch has gathered from around the world. These marine organisms produce chemically diverse compounds that have potential for biotechnological applications and drug discovery. This project will help to support the NIH's Molecular Roadmap Program aimed at discovering new probes of biological mechanisms as well as compounds with unique biological activities relative to human health. Also, Dr. Wright directs a program -- supported by a generous $40,000 grant from the Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation -- in which students conduct research in the marine biomedical sciences related to drug discovery at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. The gift supports two types of projects: a student internship for undergraduate or graduate students working in the field of marine natural products drug discovery; and support of graduate students working towards a M.S. or Ph.D. related to marine natural products research. (Jan. 2011)
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Michael Zager, commercial music, will be a visiting professor in July and August 2011, at Payap University in Chaing Mai, Thailand. He will be producing an album and lecturing on all aspects of the commercial music industry. This will be Zager's fourth appointment at Payap. During his past visits, Zager helped the university to build a recording studio, where he assisted on recording the CDs "Tales from the River" and "We Learn to Care," an album that commemorated the 60th anniversary of the program. (June 2011)
FAU faculty and staff members are invited to submit recent activities, accolades and honors -- such as conference presentations, election to officer positions in professional organizations or the publishing of a paper, chapter or book. The one- or two-sentence blurbs should include your name, your department/college and a succinct description of the highlight. Send submissions to highlights@fau.edu.
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