UWF PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Cheryl Allen, Research and Sponsored Programs, has successfully obtained the designation of Certified Research Administrator (CRA). This distinguished national certification is administered by the Research Administrators Certification Council and attests that the individual has demonstrated a high level of knowledge necessary for success as a professional research or sponsored programs administrator. **** Carl Aronson, Michael Huggins, Jerome Gurst, Glenroy Martin, Amy Meyers and Pam Vaughan, Chemistry Department, had the pleasure of continuing its working relationship with the International Baccalaureate Program at Pensacola High School on Feb 29. Thirty-six students from the senior IB chemistry course, under the direction of Dana Nagel, '69, were treated to a full-day workshop on organic chemistry, stereochemistry and spectroscopy. Throughout the day of workshops and lectures, students conducted a two-hour laboratory experiment under the guidance of Larry Smith, chemistry, and Patrick Ward, undergraduate student. Students also experienced a sequence of four 30-minute lectures and demonstrations from several UWF chemistry faculty members on various instrumental techniques used to characterize organic molecules. This is the eighth year that the UWF Chemistry Department has conducted these workshops for the IB program. The workshops are a vital component to the chemistry curriculum at Pensacola High School which allows the course to be eligible for IB credit. The junior IB chemistry class will visit UWF in April to conduct a series of laboratory experiments. *** Janice Cooper Holmes, Marketing Communications, has been invited to serve on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Advisory Council on Communications and Public Affairs. The mission statement of the organization lists as one of the association's four fundamental purposes "to promote broad public understanding of the essential role of public higher education in our society and of the specific responsibilities and contributions of its member institutions." In the summer of 2000, AASCU leadership approved several strategic initiatives in support of the purposes, one of which is "developing and promoting a clearer, proactive image of and message about AASCU member institutions." **** Jane Halonen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, had two recent significant publications. She co-authored an article on "the characteristics of distinctive psychology departments" that appeared in the American Psychologist. She was also profiled in the Teaching of Psychology for her contributions to education. She also served as the inaugural keynote speaker for the first cyberspace conference sponsored by the Society for the Teaching of Psychology hosted by Ball State University. The title of her invited presentation was "The Practically Perfect Design for Intro Psychology." **** Bill Huth and Ash Morgan, Marketing and Economics, have a research working paper at the U.S. EPA National Center for Environmental Research. The paper describes the economic aspects associated with the sinking of the ex USS Oriskany aircraft carrier off of Pensacola to become the world's largest artificial reef. **** Laura Koppes, Psychology, has been appointed to serve a two-year position on American Psychological Association (APA) History Oversight Committee. The History Oversight Committee (HOC) was established by the APA Board of Directors in 1993 to serve as an advisory committee to the Board on historical matters relevant to APA and the psychological community at large. HOC committee members work with Wade Pickren, APA historian, to initiate and pursue projects that further historical awareness within the APA and beyond. **** Klaus Meyer-Arendt, Environmental Studies, and Chris Houser, Texas A&M University Department of Geography, have received an award of $15,000 from the Escambia County Neighborhood and Environmental Services Department for a project titled "A Spatial Hazard Index of Semi-Permanent Rip Currents in Northwest Florida." This project will continue development of a model of the role of offshore bathymetry on rip current formation along Perdido Key and to develop a spatial map of the rip current hazard for a range of incident wave activity based on bathymetry. This map will allow for real-time updates on the rip current hazard in general and specific areas of the island where rip currents are expected to assist safety officers in the placement of infrastructure, staffing decisions and issuing public alerts. **** Mary Rogers, Sociology, has been awarded the First Annual Women's Studies Faculty Award. As recipient of this award, Rogers will receive a $500 honorarium and plaque. Along with those honors, she will give the keynote address at the luncheon meeting during the Seventh Annual Women's Studies Conference to be held March 28. **** Matthew Schwartz, Environmental Studies, and Wade Jeffrey, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, have received an award of $3,500 from the Florida Sea Grant for a project titled "Preliminary Data Analysis to Test Land-Use Influence on Red Tide in Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida." This project will analyze estuarine water samples to quantify the red tide populations from two neighboring Northwest Florida bayous from an outbreak in October-December 2007. **** Larry Strain, Small Business Development Center, has been elected president of the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce for 2008. He officially took office at the chamber's 71st Annual Awards Banquet and Officer Installation held at Whiting Field Naval Air Station. ****

Archiveto:clan/162/newsrelease