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1. Archaeological Work in New York Recognized Again |
by John Gagnon, promotional writer
Michigan Tech's archaeological work at the West Point Foundry in Cold Spring, N.Y., continues to get good ink in the media.
The website of the Journal News, which serves the Lower Hudson Valley, carried a story on a Family Fun Festival held at the site, where Tech researchers have been working for nearly a decade.
A local historical society and museum helped sponsor the festival to build interest in the foundry's history and in Tech's industrial archaeology work.
Two Tech researchers participated if the event: Timothy Scarlett, assistant professor in social sciences, conducted tours; and Elizabeth Norris, research associate in social sciences, gave lectures.
The foundry operated from 1817 to 1911. It turned out 2,000 cannons during the Civil War. After it closed, it was a dump site for years. Scenic Hudson, a conservation group, bought the land in 1996.
The effort to unearth the site's past has previously drawn the attention of the New York Times and National Public Radio. |
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2. Kampe Appointed Chair of Engineering Fundamentals |
The College of Engineering has announced that Jean-Celeste Malzahn Kampe has accepted a three-year appointment as chair of the Department of Engineering Fundamentals, which will begin July 1.
Most recently, Kampe was an associate professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She received a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1987, an MChE from the University of Delaware in 1984, and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1980.
At Virginia Tech, Kampe was the PI on a $2-million STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Talent Expansion Program grant from the National Science Foundation. This grant spanned five years, and the work focused on first-year intervention to improve first-to-second-year retention in the College of Engineering. In addition to teaching full time and researching, she has also served as academic advisor for first-year general engineering students. She has experience in educational research and outreach as well as in serving on departmental, college and university committees.
Prior to her work in academe, Kampe was a research engineer at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
Kampe is currently a member of the Presidential Council of Alumnae at Michigan Tech, Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Honor Society, ASM International (formerly American Society for Metals), and the American Society for Engineering Education.
"Jean has an excellent record of accomplishment in the development of distinctive academic programs," said Tim Schulz, dean of engineering. "Her leadership will be a substantial asset to the Department of Engineering Fundamentals, the College of Engineering, and the University." |
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3. Notice for Instructors: Spring 2008 Student Rating of Instruction Results |
The results of the spring 2008 Student Rating of Instruction Instruments were sent via campus mail to academic departments for distribution.
If you have not received an envelope for each section you taught in the spring, please see your departmental coordinator. |
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4. Mary Ann Beckwith Receives Award in Watercolor USA 2008 Exhibition |
Professor Mary Ann Beckwith (Visual and Performing Arts) has received the Jack Richeson & Co. Inc. Award in the Watercolor USA 2008 competition for her watermedia painting "Best of Intentions."
Watercolor USA, which opens June 7 and continues through Aug. 3 this year, is an annual exhibition of aqueous media painting staged by the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri. Watercolor USA is a public show that began in 1962 to represent watercolor works of the nation.
The judge of the exhibition selects artwork from slides and digital files submitted by artists. Awards, however, are selected from the actual works.
The judge for Watercolor USA 2008 was Associate Curator of Fine Art Debra Loomis Tayes, of the art gallery at Illinois State Museum.
"My criterion for selecting the paintings to be awarded was simple," said Tayes. "Was the painting engaging, dynamic or even magnetic? Did I find myself going back to the piece again and again, even intuitively? Were the visual complexities articulated well? Was there a curiosity in the content? Were the techniques used eclipsed by the beauty of the medium?"
The Watercolor USA 2008 exhibition received 674 entries by 369 artists from 42 states; 121 works by 109 artists from 33 states were selected. |
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5. Metz Earns Academic Award |
by Ian Marks, assistant director of athletic communications
Michigan Tech senior Andrea Metz was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for cross country and track and field.
"Andrea embodies what a student-athlete should be," said Director of Athletics Suzanne Sanregret. "This award represents all the hard work she puts in both athletics and academics."
Metz, a 3.99 student in chemical engineering, won the 1,500-meter run at the GLIAC Championships in a school record time of 4:38.33. Her time also provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Track and Field Championships. The Marathon, Wis., native also ranks fifth in school history in the 3,000-meter run (10:31.20) and eighth in the 5,000-meter run (18:35.86).
Metz joins Rachelle Malette of Wayne State as the only athletes (men or women) to be named to the first team for cross country and track and field.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Athletes are not eligible until they have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing. |
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6. Information Technology to be Reorganized |
by Walt Milligan, chief information officer
After five months of study, discussion and spirited debate, the Office of Information Technology will be reorganized this month. The reorganization is designed to improve communication, collaboration, customer service and efficiency.
Several major changes will take place. The organization will be streamlined by eliminating the Department of Information Technology Services and the director of IT services position. Jarrod Karau, the director of IT services, will take over a new role directing a group of three departments that serve users outside academic units. Several departments will be renamed to better reflect their activities, several will be combined, and several people will move from one department to another. Finally, System Administration Services will join the Office of Information Technology.
Details of the changes may be found at http://oit.mtu.edu . |
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7. Michigan Tech Alum Named Dean at Mississippi State |
Sarah A. Rajala, who received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1974, has been named dean of Mississippi State University's Bagley College of Engineering.
She has been chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Mississippi State since 2006. Prior to that, Rajala was associate dean for research and graduate programs at North Carolina State University, where she taught and worked in administration for more than two decades.
Rajala earned a Master of Science and a PhD in Electrical Engineering at Rice University. Her research focuses on digital image processing, color image processing and digital signal processing. |
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8. Reminder: Still Time to Join Weight Watchers, Lunch and Learn Tomorrow |
submitted by Renee Hiller, Benefits Office
After just four weeks, the Weight Watchers on-campus group has proven successful. The group has cumulatively lost almost 250 pounds. This is great progress.
If you are interested in joining, it's not too late. Feel free to visit a weekly meeting and talk to the Weight Watchers leader to learn more about the group. The membership fee will be prorated if you start late. Weight Watcher meetings take place on Wednesdays at noon, with weigh-in starting at 11:30 a.m., in the Peninsula Room of the Memorial Union.
One important factor in weight-loss success is physical activity. A great way to start is to attend the next Lunch and Learn, to be held today, Tuesday, June 10, noon-1 p.m. in Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A. Caleb Wendell from The Bike Shop will lead a discussion on riding your bike to work. Bring your lunch, and drinks will be provided. By attending, you'll have a chance to win one of three gift cards to The Bike Shop. |
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9. In Print |
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Research Assistant Professor Qingli Dai (MEEM, CEE) and Assistant Professor Zhanping You (CEE), director of the Transportation Materials Research Center, have published a paper, "Micromechanical Finite Element Framework for Predicting Viscoelastic Properties of Asphalt Mixtures," in Materials and Structures, Springer, Netherlands, Volume 41, No. 6, 2008—available online at www.springerlink.com/content/6272035711512866 . |
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