2005 A Year in Review
I am very fortunate to be here at an especially exciting time for the college and for Oklahoma State University. In addition to our dedicated personnel, approximately $100 million of state-appropriated funds will come to Arts and Sciences to refurbish Murray Hall and construct a new interdisciplinary science building. Nearly all of our departments will benefit from improved space. Additionally, the university recognized our music program through the provision of $1 million for instruments, a sound system and marching band uniforms. The general theme of our 2005 Arts & Sciences magazine, “reaching out,” shows how core Arts and Sciences disciplines provide a foundation preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities in the world outside the university. In these pages, you will discover a few of the real-world connections we see every day. Through the support received from alumni, foundations and corporate donors, we continue our dedication to educational innovation. Suzy Thompson, senior development officer, has done an outstanding job, and we now have a second development officer and added support for A&S development. Most exciting this year is Devon Energy’s vision of an undergraduate teaching laboratory linking our students with their geologists in the field. The Devon partnership, funded at $2.3 million, is a prime example of “reaching out” that ensures our students the best connections between the corporate and academic worlds. We thank you for your support and for your excitement about our future. You are key partners with us as we reach beyond the university walls and seek to ensure the college’s role in effectively serving Oklahoma, as we invest in our future. Peter Sherwood, Dean College of Arts & Sciences Reaching June 30, 2005, marked the end of my first year as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. This exciting time brought my wife, Gillian, and me a very warm welcome from the Stillwater community, a significant wardrobe of orange garments (Gillian even has an orange watch!) and lessons in OSU’s wonderful traditions and history. Getting to know the faculty, staff and students of our 24 departments is a joy. Our student body consists of a quality found in the very best universities. This year, OSU fostered two of the 35 national Gates scholars, one of whom, Joel Halcomb, is an Arts and Sciences student. Dr. Bob Graalman, director of scholar development, inspires and connects our outstanding students with opportunities through such prestigious scholarships. Further impressive is the quality of our faculty and the potential for further growth and development with nearly 50 new faculty members expected for fall. It is an equal pleasure to work with and recognize an excellent group of associate deans and support staff. Out DEAN’S MESSAGE pPeter Sherwood, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is pictured at center in this photograph of the May 2005 graduation processional. Keely James
2–9 Faculty 10–11 Programs 12–13 Alumni 14–23 Students 24–25 Development 26–28 College Briefs ARTS & SCIENCES Magazine is a publication of the Oklahoma State University College of Arts and Sciences designed to provide information on college issues and concerns while fostering communication among OSU alumni and friends. Please contact A&S with information and suggestions for the magazine. College of Arts & Sciences Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-3015 405-744-7547 missy.wikle@okstate.edu Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision of services of benefits offered by the University based on gender. Any person (student, faculty or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based upon gender may discuss their concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with the OSU Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Carolyn Hernandez, Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, 405-744-5371 or 405-744-5576 (fax). This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the College of Arts & Sciences, was printed by Heritage Press at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. #1118 01/06 © 2006 Oklahoma State University qCover The illustration featured on the cover, titled Spring of the Soul, is the art of Bri Hermanson, who graduated in May 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Her work is already receiving national recognition with winning entries in the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles competition and the Dallas Society of Visual Communicators National Show. Read about Hermanson on page 29, and log onto www.brihermanson.com to see more of her work. t a b l e o f departments Suzanne Thompson Senior Director of Development Missy Wikle Coordinator of Career Services & Alumni relations Eileen Mustain Editor Paul V. Fleming Art Director Janet Varnum Associate Editor Phil Shockley Photography Erika Contreras Assistant Photographer Kyle Wray Director, OSU Marketing 2 Savoring Success Faculty members across the Arts and Sciences spectrum produce outstanding work ranging from detoxifying TNT-contaminated water to writing an authorized biography to eradicating sexism and racism. 10 Through the Lens Faculty determination and dedication give astronomy and history programs a clearer view of time. 12 In-Step Experience Activities at OSU provide the impetus and foundation for students’ future success. 14 The Best of Both Worlds Faculty members who teach and practice their disciplines blend experience and theory to prepare students for the move from the classroom to the workplace. 16 Experience May Not Be the Best Teacher, but … Off-campus learning opportunities help students excel academically and initiate productive careers. 24 The Deal Maker Gifts from corporate partners and individual donors provide the means and the encouragement for students to pursue education. 26Taking Flight The college saw the launch of successful new programs and faculty publications in 2005. contents 2005 / Volume 9 8 13 18 23 24 www.cas.okstate.edu
faculty excellence An OSU research team working with the United States Army Defense Ammunition Center (DAC) in McAlester, Okla., has developed a functional prototype that uses only sunlight and a proprietary catalyst to detoxify water containing the dissolved explosives created during the manufacture of TNT and the salvaging of obsolete or unserviceable munitions. ‘Green’ Solution for Pink and Red Water Selling America Phil Shockley The device provides a simple, low-cost, but very effective way to deal with a global environmental challenge and has the potential to save the military millions of dollars. DAC officials say the technology comes at a critical time because America and other nations face severe environmental challenges due to the de-commissioning of huge stockpiles of excess, obsolete or unserviceable munitions. “America currently has a stockpile of more than 400,000 tons that must be destroyed,” says James Q. Wheeler, DAC director. “The military services add another 50,000 tons every year, and almost every industrialized nation in the world has the same challenge.” Munitions can currently be destroyed in an environmentally sound way, but the process is expensive, says Solim S.W. Kwak, DAC’s science and technology advisor. Under its Resource Recovery and Recycling (R3) program, the U.S. military has sought ways to recycle munitions components. However, some demilitarization processes produce a substance called “pink water,” which is water contaminated with TNT. Treating and de-toxifying pink water using current chemical and biologically based methods is slow, cumbersome and expensive. DAC contracted with physics professor Jim Harmon and his team to investigate alternative methods. The team developed a photo-catalytic method in which material within the device is coated with a catalyst developed at OSU. When exposed to sunlight, the catalyst neutralizes pink and red water, which is another highly toxic liquid produced during the manufacture of TNT. “The best way to describe it is reverse photosynthesis,” Harmon says. “The sunlight and catalyst create a reaction that turns nitro compounds into compounds such as ammonia.” The process works in ambient temperatures in any sunlit location, and special lights can be used on cloudy days, he says. “The device will also be very useful as the U.S. again begins producing TNT at a facility in Virginia,” Kwak says. America has not produced TNT since the 1980s due to excess stocks and the red water challenge. Since then, the U.S. has purchased TNT from international sources. “A large device could handle as much as 15,000 gallons of contaminated liquid per day, about the same amount of red water produced when making 10,000 pounds of TNT. The next step is to conduct tests on a larger scale and work with an Oklahoma company that will mass-produce the devices,” Harmon says. “We’re also working to arrange tests to see if the same system will destroy nerve agents like VX that were incorporated into some shells. According to a recent article in C&E News, some 250,000 gallons of the stuff awaits destruction, but the planned procedure has been aborted because of serious fire hazards.” Nestor Gonzales “The principles of advertising that help sell goods and services can also be applied to promoting ideals and changing attitudes about America,” she says. “A focused, concentrated, consistent ad campaign could help set the stage for America’s diplomatic efforts by telling America’s story to the world.” Fullerton is currently conducting experimental research to measure the effectiveness Erika Contreras pPhysics professor Jim Harmon, top left, led the team of researchers and students that developed a device to detoxify water containing dissolved explosives. Harmon uses a smaller, labsized version to demonstrate the process but says it can easily be “ramped up” to handle much larger quantities of TNT-contaminated liquids. tJami Fullerton, associate professor of advertising, says her research indicates effective advertising can change international attitudes toward America and open dialogue. As U.S. diplomats continue international efforts to shore up old alliances and build new ones, Jami Fullerton, associate professor of advertising, says effective advertising could be a powerful tool to change attitudes and open dialogues with diverse peoples. College of Arts and Sciences
When he reached his mid-life crisis, research mathematician John Wolfe didn’t follow a stereotypic path. “I got interested in education,” he says. Initiative. The commercials aired in several Muslim countries throughout the Middle East and Asia for two months, but the campaign was discontinued prematurely, Fullerton says. “The campaign was stopped before research could show it had actually achieved its goal to create an international dialogue,” she says. “The results of my research have verified that the commercials, in fact, were effective.” In studies performed in London and Singapore, participants were asked for their attitudes toward the U.S. government and its people before and after the commercials. The results revealed a significant attitude shift post viewing. Currently, a Hong Kong study is being planned. “These findings are really exciting because I feel this kind of research could impact public diplomacy by opening the lines of international communication,” Fullerton says. “I think the evidence suggests advertising can and should be one of many tools America uses in a longrange plan to build friendships and alliances.” Alanna Bradley Although Wolfe, a recipient of the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award, says there are no easy answers as to what makes a good teacher, he does believe the teacher’s attitude is critical. “Teaching becomes more and more mysterious and magical the more I teach,” he says. “It’s hard to put my finger on what and how it is, but teachers have a powerful influence on students, both positively and negatively. “I love math. It’s a beautiful, exciting and engaging subject. If kids are to have a positive attitude about math, a sense of adventure, it sure helps if the teacher has it,” he says. “I believe as a teacher I need to model and stimulate in my students the art of staying in touch with our sense of curiosity.” Weekly Reader magazine surveys show mathematics, such as counting and shapes, to be the favorite subject in the first few grades, but something happens to kill that interest, Wolfe says. The geometric structures course is designed to help teachers rekindle their own sense of adventure and teach them how to nurture their students’ curiosity. “This course is an expression of my teaching philosophy based on assuming people, by nature, have a desire to learn and to make sense of the world,” he says. “As a teacher I want to spark that fascination as well as give imaginative presentations of material.” Wolfe, who says he teaches “all flavors of math,” is the math department’s undergraduate director and adviser to the math club. During the summers he has often worked with high school students attending summer of television commercials in improving international viewer attitudes toward America. The research attracted national attention last fall when it became part of the Senate Sub-Committee hearing on Public Diplomacy and was published in the prestigious Journal of Advertising Research. She is testing a series of commercials that were developed in 2002 by the U.S. Department of State as part of an unprecedented public diplomacy campaign known as the Shared Values For the past six years, funded by National Science Foundation grants, the 31-year veteran of the OSU math department has channeled his interest in education into the development of a geometry course for prospective kindergarten through eighth grade teachers. Wolfe and colleague Doug Aichele will submit the final manuscript for the text in 2006, but the course is already attracting the attention of their peers. The course, which is taught at OSU, is being used in preliminary form at seven other universities. The math department has also extended the instruction to summer workshops attended by teachers from across the country. “We’ve been using the course in various formats for several years for students who are working on a teaching degree,” he says. “The feedback we receive is generally good.” academies at OSU. This spring, nominated by his colleagues in the professional organization of college math teachers, the Oklahoma-Arkansas Section of the Mathematical Association of America named Wolfe Distinguished Teacher of 2005. Eileen Mustain Reclaiming the Math Adventure pJohn Wolfe, professor of mathematics and recipient of multiple teaching awards, says, “At the heart of it, teaching and learning are still as much mystery as science.” Erika Contreras Oklahoma State University
uLinda Leavell, associate professor of English and official Marianne Moore biographer, rejects the popular perception that taking leave for research detracts from teaching. “I am taking two years away from the classroom for this project, but the work will add to OSU’s reputation and benefit students. Learning new information makes professors more dynamic and engaging,” she says. Exploring the Third Dimension tAlthough mathematics professor William Jaco had previously been invited to China, his visit to lecture to advanced mathematics students at The Institute of Mathematics at Peking University in summer 2004 was his first. “This was an honor and an opportunity I could not miss,” he says. “And it was a terrific experience.” After more than 20 years, Marianne Moore’s poetry still intrigues Linda Leavell. A ‘Moore’ Grounded Biography The OSU associate professor of English and official Moore biographer says she is drawn to Moore’s unexpected combinations of words and images. “I like the way she takes a reader’s expectations and playfully turns them on their heads,” she says. “I find her work to be funny, playful, surprising.” And difficult, which Leavell says may explain why the Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet has not received more attention — an oversight Leavell hopes to remedy with the first authorized Moore biography. Leavell received an American Philosophical Society grant to complete most of the archival research for the project in Philadelphia in 1999-2000. Most recently, she obtained a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship that will enable her to spend the upcoming academic year completing secondary research and writing. Receipt of the very competitive NEH fellowship underscores the significance of Leavell’s work. Although she has written extensively about Moore’s poetry, including a book published in 1995, Leavell says the authorization she received from the poet’s estate in 1999 allows her to quote from Moore’s letters and other unpublished sources, an advantage the earlier unauthorized biographer lacked. Moore scholars will learn new information about this poet whose work was admired by contemporaries T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound. But literary biographies are not written for scholars alone, Leavell says. “Biographies are widely read, not just by scholars but a broad general audience as well. This biography will reach a ‘real’ audience because of general interest in its historical content.” Leavell’s book will explore the culture of This past summer Jaco, the Grayce B. Kerr Professor of Mathematics at OSU, was among a handful of internationally renowned experts invited to Beijing to lecture to advanced mathematics students at The Institute of Mathematics at Peking University. “The organizers of the Summer School at China’s flagship university select individuals recognized as leaders in an area of specialization who are actively engaged in new research,” says Jaco. “The Chinese have quickly become a major force in mathematics,” he says. “Chinese students dominate the application pool of students applying for advanced study in mathematics, and many of the most highly regarded new doctorates in mathematics are Chinese.” Despite the language barrier and an auditorium lacking air-conditioning in 90-degree heat, the 70-plus Chinese students were attentive to Jaco’s lecture. Some have since applied to OSU’s Graduate College to study topology, and one was offered a graduate teaching assistantship at OSU. Early explorers discovered that the flat geometry of Euclid did not explain the shape of the earth, but it took another two millennia for mathematicians to explain the richness and the shape of 2-dimensional objects. Today, mathematics professor William Jaco is studying the geometry and shape of 3-dimensional objects, which includes the shape of our universe. Jaco’s area of expertise is topology, or the mathematical study of the properties of intangible objects that remain unchanged under special correspondences, which include stretching and shrinking but not tearing. “We ask questions such as, ‘What is the shape of space? Or, are two objects positioned the same in space?’” “We are in some sense where our ancestors were in wondering if the earth is flat,” Jaco says. “Is our universe flat? What is the shape of our universe?” Moore’s time, 1887–1972, and include such topics as women in higher education, osteopathic medicine and early kindergarten. “The nature of biography, because lives are complicated, grounds literature in the real world in a very concrete way,” she says. And it’s just that connection Leavell is striving for in this literary biography. “I want to draw readers to Moore and help create a better appreciation for her work. “I feel a great responsibility,” she says. “A biography has the power to shape a reputation.” Eileen Mustain Erika Contreras faculty excellence College of Arts and Sciences
OSU scientist Stacy Benson says research conducted by him and other scientists indicates that certain double-stranded viruses may have evolved from a common ancestor and that such knowledge may lead to new types of anti-viral drugs. Benson, assistant professor of chemistry, recently collaborated with researchers from around the world at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia to discover structural similarities among viruses that infect hosts from each of the three domains of life — plants, animals and other higher-order organisms, bacteria and archaea (microorganisms commonly found in extreme environments such as geysers and alkaline, acidic and salty waters). “Similar viral structures can indicate relationships and common ancestry that will help the medical industry develop new anti-viral drugs,” Benson says. “If we understand their structure then we can develop ways of disabling the virus and, thus, stop it from infecting other cells.” Because viruses live inside their hosts and adopt host traits, Research May Lead to New Anti-Viral Drugs he says examining structural similarities may be the only evidence left to indicate a genetic link. While serving on the Wistar team, Benson found a similarity between the major coat proteins of a bacterial and human virus. “This relationship (major coat proteins) expanded our research to begin looking at which other viruses are related. Current findings indicate that these are structurally related, and presumably evolutionarily related,” he says. Benson, who worked at Wistar as part of his post-doctoral research, is pursuing similar work at OSU. His research focuses on related viruses and the structure of human metabolic enzymes. The team’s research paper, “Does Common Architecture Reveal a Viral Lineage Spanning All Three Domains of Life?” appeared in the Dec. 3, 2004, issue of Molecular Cell. Alanna Bradley pStacy Benson, assistant professor of chemistry, recently collaborated with other researchers to discover structural similarities in viruses. He uses X-ray crystallography to continue the structural study of viral proteins and the mutations in human enzymes that lead to metabolic disorders. Jaco joined OSU in 1982 following postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan and twelve years on the faculty at Rice University. He has held research appointments at The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley and the American Institute of Mathematics in Palo Alto. He served as executive director and CEO of the American Mathematical Society, living in Providence, RI, from 1988 to 1995. This next academic year, Jaco will take a sabbatical from OSU to accept the Gehring Distinguished Visiting Professorship at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where he will conduct research in topology. The Gehring Chair has special meaning to Jaco, who was hired as executive director of the American Mathematical Society by Fred Gehring, who was chair of the board of trustees at the time. Janet Varnum Erika Contreras Erika Contreras Oklahoma State University
Raising Awareness In 1999, Utah Valley State College invited Jean Van Delinder, an expert on the landmark civil rights case Brown vs. Board of Education, to serve as the keynote speaker for its observation of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Impressed by the small institution’s exhaustive itinerary of presentations and seminars, Van Delinder, associate professor of sociology, shared the program with her department head at OSU. When Patricia Bell saw what Utah had done, she showed the program to Earl Mitchell, who was assistant vice president for institutional diversity at the time. “Dr. Mitchell remarked how OSU faculty members were being invited to other schools for Martin Luther King celebrations, and we weren’t doing anything here,” says Van Delinder. “The next year, OSU had a Martin Luther King celebration, and the framework for it was the Utah Valley State program.” A faculty member since 1996, Van Delinder has toiled quietly to improve the status of diversity education at OSU. A one-time coordinator of the AfricanAmerican Studies program, she will serve this fall as inaugural director of Women’s Studies as it makes the transition from certificate to minor degree program. Combining elements of the College of Arts and Sciences’ English, foreign language, history, political science and sociology departments, the program will be headquartered in a new Women’s Studies Center within the sociology department. It has been written that in America, race is never not an issue. The same can be said of gender, according to Van Delinder. “We can’t really talk about women’s issues without talking about race, and we can’t talk about race without considering gender,” she says. “It’s part of our democratic values to believe that we’re all equal, we’re all the same, but the reality is if you’re a person of color or if you’re a woman, you’re going to be treated differently,” Van Delinder says. “The importance of having programs like Women’s Studies and African-American Studies is they remind people — particularly, white people — of their privilege. “We’ve had the civil rights and equal rights movements, legislation, affirmative action, but still, during our day-to-day interactions, racism and sexism are still present, and they’re not going away until people are made aware.” Van Delinder’s interest in minority and women’s issues was stimulated, particularly, during her graduate study at the University of Kansas. While pursuing her master’s, she worked as a freelance researcher for the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. “I did a lot of traveling through the South, and talking to people got me interested in why so many risked their lives for the civil rights movement,” Van Delinder says. She subsequently penned her doctoral dissertation on Brown vs. Board of Education, actually five separate anti-segregation lawsuits brought in South Carolina, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well as Kansas. Her interviews, writings and research on the civil rights struggle in states along the Mason-Dixon Line will be published as a book, Border Campaigns, later this year. Adam Huffer Erika Contreras faculty excellence “We’ve had the civil rights and equal rights movements, legislation, affirmative action, but still, during our day-today interactions, racism and sexism are still present, and they’re not going away until people are made aware.” College of Arts and Sciences
Hanks Offers Solutions to Conflict Caught between Iraq’s instability and China’s mounting political tensions, Central Asia has erupted as a source of political unrest. Now, one OSU researcher has a chance to do something about it. Reuel Hanks, associate professor of geography, was chosen to offer solutions to the U.S. Department of State to resolve conflicts in Central Asia. Honored with a Policy Seminar on Conflict in Eurasia fellowship, Hanks is one of only 10 fellows in the nation who traveled to Washington, D.C., in May to present his research. According to Hanks, Central Asia is an important region to examine because of its status as an emerging geo-political region marred with ongoing political tension. “This is a unique region because it is surrounded by large markets in China, Russia and the Middle East that will not tolerate an unstable border. “Central Asia is a crossroads for a number of major political players and is forced to become involved, whether it wishes to or not,” Hanks says. “We need to be proactive and try to maintain its stability.” One goal is to encourage the U.S. Department of State to implement academic centers in Central Asia similar to the Institute for Conflict Analysis Research in South America and Armenia. Another goal is to influence Central Asian universities to provide public education on how to effectively resolve current and future conflicts, Hanks says. Aiming to influence American policy, Hanks says he hopes the research will also lead to meetings in Europe with European scholars adding their efforts. “Our ultimate goal is to see democracy and a civil society,” Hanks says. “The sooner we start working toward those goals, the sooner we can achieve them.” Sheila Dohmann Chemists Work to Solve World Problem A $1 million prize may be a substantial incentive to solve the problem of arsenic-contaminated drinking water, but the environmental chemists at OSU say the seriousness of the problem motivates their work. “One-quarter of the Bangladeshi population drinks water that contains up to 50 times the amount of arsenic the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe, but it’s not just developing countries,” says Allen Apblett, associate professor of chemistry. “Arsenic, which is naturally occurring, is also a big problem in the U.S.” Millions drink arsenic-tainted well water in the U.S., China, Mexico, Peru, India and many other countries. Although the symptoms of chronic arsenic exposure — skin lesions, kidney and liver failure, loss of limb movement and cancer — may not appear for a decade or more, the illnesses are debilitating and can be fatal, Apblett says. “We have always heard, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ But that’s not the case with arsenic.” Underdeveloped countries are not equipped to handle the problem, which is Erika Contreras Arsenic and Nanoparticles why the National Academy of Engineering is offering the $1 million Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability to the individual or team that designs a practical, economical and sustainable point-of-use water treatment system for arsenic-contaminated groundwater in developing countries. While OSU scientists don’t have a practical solution yet, they could have one soon. Doctoral student Abdulaziz Bagabas and Apblett have developed an adsorption technique using zinc oxide and other transition metal oxide nanoparticulate materials to remove arsenic from water. “We succeeded in the fabrication of new metal complexes that possess low thermal stability,” Bagabas says. “These complexes serve as excellent sources for the production of nanocrystalline metal oxide ceramics that show promising results for arsenate removal from water at room temperature and at the natural pH of water.” “A large chunk of zinc oxide in its basic form doesn’t work,” Apblett says, “but breaking it down into extremely small particles changes its chemical properties and creates high surface area. Arsenic binds to the surface of the material and is effectively removed.” Apblett’s lab is currently licensing the technology and is working on application in a more condensed form. “Right now, one of the problems is the particles are so fine it’s hard to keep them in one place,” he says. “Remediation of arsenic by adsorption technique is cheap and highly effective,” Bagabas says. “The technique has many attractive features, including simplicity of operation, feasibility for small-scale requirements and low maintenance.” Eileen Mustain qThe American Chemical Society, Division of Environmental Chemistry, awarded Abdulaziz Bagabas, left, a certificate of merit recognizing “outstanding material content and manner of presentation” when he presented his research using zinc oxide nanoparticulate materials to remove arsenic from water at the society’s annual meeting in March. Bagabas works with associate professor of chemistry Allen Apblett, right. pReuel Hanks, associate professor of geography, is one of only 10 fellows in the nation selected to offer conflict resolutions for Central Asia to the U.S. Department of State in May. Oklahoma State University
His colleagues and students say he practices his philosophy. They credit Finchum’s hardware, software and networking improvements for giving the department one of the best educational setups in the country. They also say his emphasis on the applied use of GIS (geographic information systems) technologies and problem solving enlarges student understanding of geography. His office, they say, is a meeting ground for undergraduate and graduate students where technical problems are solved on a one-on-one and small-group basis. Former student Jeffrey Amos says he recently found himself explaining the geographic importance of urban areas to a friend. “That knowledge came directly from Dr. Finchum’s lectures,” Amos says. “He presents materials in a way the student can easily understand and apply to real-world situations.” This is just what Finchum hopes to achieve. “The student needs to be shown how the topic can be used in everyday application,” he says, “and how the continued development of knowledge in the subject can aid in furthering their goals and providing them a better understanding of the world around them.” Janet Varnum Erika Contreras Dr. Peter Shull, professor of physics and astronomy and 2004 Regents Distinguished Teacher, has turned his lifelong fascination with space into an astronomy program with the goal to teach his students to appreciate the process of science. Exploring the Universe Applying Knowledge to the Real-World Geography professor Allen Finchum, recipient of the 2004 Regents Distinguished Teaching Award, believes teaching is more than simply conveying information to a student. faculty excellence qCarlos Cordova, below right, collects samples in Qa’ Abu Nukhayla in the Wadi Rum Region of southern Jordan as part of two international programs investigating the prehistory of Jordan. The associate professor of geography is working with Regina Kalchgruber of the physics department. Cordova is obtaining proxy data for reconstructing effects of the northwestward enhancement of the Indian Ocean monsoon approximately 7,000 to 9,000 years ago. The project, led by anthropologist Donald Henry of the University of Tulsa and funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to obtain paleoecological and geomorphological information that may link human activities with climatic conditions. The other project focuses on the alleged coexistence of Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans in the area. This project, which is directed by archaeologists from the University of Victoria, British Columbia, and McGill University, Montreal, is part of an effort to understand hominid migration pathways from Africa into Asia and Europe. College of Arts and Sciences
The Regents professor of chemistry has received numerous honors for his research and has been named Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Academy of Science and Oklahoma Chemist of the Year by the Oklahoma Section of the American Chemical Society, but this student honor is Ford’s first teaching award. And it is particularly gratifying because the students who nominated him were in his rigorous 3000-level organic chemistry class. “I use a no-nonsense approach,” he says, explaining that he designed the course to challenge his students, 280 of them per class on the average. “I set high standards. My aim is to help them prepare for their professions and to meet their career aspirations.” Ford, who has been an OSU faculty member for 27 years, coordinates the Oklahoma Network for Nanostructured Materials project (NanoNet) and directs OSU’s nanotechnology portion of a statewide program funded by the National Science Foundation and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. He says a well-organized class helps his students learn as does providing incentives. “I treat my students as the professionals they are becoming,” he says. “Some will do better than I, and I’m pleased to help along their development.” Eileen Mustain Materer says he tries to modify surfaces so they do something interesting and useful. “I want to control chemistry on very small surfaces, particularly at interfaces. It’s structure and functionality at the nanoscale.” This year the Arts and Sciences Faculty Council awarded the assistant professor of chemistry its Junior Faculty Award for Scholarly Excellence, and the OSU Chapter of Sigma Xi named him the 2005 Young Investigator of the Year, an award given to a scientist who has already established a national reputation for research within 10 years of receiving his or her highest degree. Materer’s research includes the development of a process that senses explosives, particularly triacetonetriperoxide (TATP), a favored explosive of terrorists, and neutralizes them by chemical neutralization rather than exploding them. His research also involves modifying the silicon surfaces of computer chips to make smaller devices that can do more. “Chemical reactions occurring at surfaces play a critical role in the manufacturing of electronic devices,” he says. “Dr. Materer works in the area of surface science that addresses critical issues in the development of semiconductors, sensors, catalysts and homeland security,” physiological sciences professor Jerry Malayer said when presenting Materer the Sigma Xi Award. “His research has a huge impact in paving the way for a whole new generation of sensors and devices that combine organic and silicon-based electronics.” Eileen Mustain A New Feather in His Cap “Dr. Shull is OSU’s astronomy program,” says Smith Holt, former director of OSU’s Center for Science Literacy. “Peter has long sponsored the Astronomy Club, and in 1998 he began a major effort to establish an observatory for the university, which became a reality in 2002.” Shull developed and teaches two astronomy courses at OSU and is coauthor of a book of weekly astronomy exercises for the Voyager solar-system simulator program, which allows students to grasp astronomical concepts while watching the 3-D movement of stars, planets, eclipses and other phenomena on a computer screen. His students use the new H.S. Mendenhall Observatory, located southwest of Stillwater, during special evening sessions, and juniors and seniors also process data gathered at the observatory for further study. Shull uses these observations and analyses to teach freshman-level courses the importance of the observatory and student participation in its operational use. “I want my introductory classes to understand how scientists figured out answers to questions in the past and how they continue to do it today,” he says. “I also try to prepare students to become scientifically literate students who will use their knowledge to benefit both society and themselves.” Janet Varnum On the Surface of Things Warren Ford says he was both gratified and surprised when the Arts and Sciences student council named him the college’s Outstanding Professor for 2005. courtesy Erika Contreras Erika Contreras When talking about Nicholas Materer’s work, surface does not mean superficial. Erika Contreras Oklahoma State University
enlarging opportunities As a result of the students’ demonstrated capability to observe and photograph these objects with their existing 14inch telescope, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded more than $230,000 to OSU to purchase a 24-inch telescope. When OSU’s new telescope arrives next summer, it will be the biggest and most advanced in Oklahoma, says Dr. Peter Shull, astronomer and physics professor who developed and teaches OSU’s two astronomy courses. New Telescope Brings Astronomy Program into View “This will be a real observatory-grade telescope,” he says. The remote-control function will enable Shull and his research students to collect data from the H.S. Mendenhall Observatory located southwest of Stillwater without leaving campus — a feature that will be especially welcome on cold, clear nights when observations run for hours at a time. Pre-programmable robotics will automatically open and close the retractable opening of the observatory’s dome, rotate the telescope to a specific object in the sky, and operate the electronic camera for routine observations during normal sleeping hours. The new telescope’s adaptive optics will cancel the blurring effect caused by the atmosphere. “Adaptive optics is particularly of interest to the Air Force,” Shull says, “and familiarity with this technology will give our students an edge in Air Forcerelated jobs and careers.” Shull says the Air Force is also interested in near-Earth asteroids. These are asteroids that have been knocked off their normal orbit by a collision with another asteroid in the asteroid belt. Because this happens all the time, OSU students will often use the telescope to map the asteroids’ altered orbits. “We will be able to precisely nail down their new orbits to see if they are a threat and then forward the information to a national database,” Shull says. Shull believes the new telescope and additional astronomy options will attract more students, particularly undergraduates and women, to OSU’s physics department. Statistics show higher percentages of women enroll in physics programs that have an astronomy component. The new telescope also offers OSU researchers the ability to discover exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system orbiting their own stars. “We’re starting to see a lot of journal articles about how to detect transiting exoplanets and what you need to do the job,” Shull says. “This field is very exciting, and the scientific skills OSU students will master in the process are highly regarded by the Air Force as well as science and engineering employers. “We hope the addition of this observatory-grade telescope will attract more students to the physics program and lead to phase two, the expansion of our astronomy facilities as well as the addition of a second astronomy professor and astronomy minor.” Phase two will fund an observer support building next to the OSU observatory that will provide a restroom, kitchenette, shelter from the heat or cold, a storage facility and a telescope control room. “This will allow us to host open houses, improve image quality by moving computers and observers out of the observatory, and give students the same comfort level they have when they’re working in other labs on campus,” Shull says. “While taking a long series of exposures, students want to be comfortable and maybe even finish homework or take a nap while they’re waiting!” Janet Varnum OSU sky-gazers have captured remarkable images of Earth’s celestial neighbors such as the Moon and nearby planets as well as the remote Andromeda Galaxy and Crab Nebula. courtesy College of Arts and Sciences 10
Support the Heart of OSU … join the A&S Associates. Don & Sue Adams Wilton Anderson & Jacqueline Adair Theodore Agnew Stephen & Patricia Armbruster Glenda Balint Grace E. Berlin Clinton Bissell Joseph & Hazel Bowers Gladys T. Burris Gerald & Mary Burson Douglas Aichele & Kathryn Castle Shu-Tsing Cheng Bob & Barbara Chitwood Jan R. Cloyde Michael R. Cummings David & Gina Dabney Jerry & Judy Davis John & Cynthia Dobson Jonathan & LeAnn Drummond Albert & Anna Lynn Durr Richard & Judith Edmonson Peter & Kimberly Erdoes Raymond & Teresa Estep Alpha Fiegel Dick Fischer & Malinda Berry Fischer Bob & Lucy Fite Kathryn Fleming Chip & Shannon Fudge Edwin E. Glover George & Mary Gries James & Ann Halligan Pamela Harkema Steve L. & Teresa Harrison Mary Hazeldine George & Beth Hixon Kevin & Peggy Huston Thomas D. Isern Stuart & Julie Jackson Linda Jamison Richard & Issy Jennings Steve & Mary Jennings John & Caryl Jobe Jenk & Jerri Jones Tony L. & Beth Kroll Theodore & Alfreda Legg William & Penny Long Chris & Jamie Loomis Robert & Pauline Maddox Patricia Ross Robert F. Mahnken Richard & Sandra Marlin Richard & Mary Marquardt Theresa M. McClure Katherine McCollom Keith & Sammy McGlamery Julia McHale Charles Mehr John H. & Lori Meinders Richard Melot Glen & Carmel Mitchell Jeff & Jane M. Mitchell Susan Mitchell Leone L. Monroe James Morrison Dale & Connie Osborn Brad & Anne Patton Donald & June Peters Boone & Madeleine Pickens Carolyn & Ronald Poe Richard & Karyl Price Carl & Grace Provence Robert & Priscilla Rives Pauline Sampson David & Mary Scheidt Carson Scott M.B. Seretean Milo & Lucy Shedeck Peter & Gillian Sherwood Billy Joe Smith Gary & Soon Smith Mary M. Smith James R. & Erma Steele Marlene Strathe Michelle A. Strabala Dean & Carol Stringer Charles & Barbara Swinton Betty J. Synar Kevin & Lesa Talley Robert & Betty Tippeconnie Evan Tonsing Kenneth & Myr-Lou Rollins-Wade Orville & Jeanne Webb William & Peggy Welch Jerry & Winona Wilhm Lynn Wilson Richard G. & Janet Wood Stuart & Teresa Yelton Bringing History into the Present Norbert Mahnken had already retired when William Bryans joined OSU’s history department in 1987. But the emeritus professor of history and the former head of the history department crossed paths in the public realm where they taught Elderhostel classes and worked together in local and state historical societies. The two shared an affinity for public history. As researchers and interpreters of history, public historians are educators, Bryans says, but instead of the classroom, they work in archives, museums, historic preservation organizations, historic sites and government agencies. “An academic historian’s research and writing is usually aimed at other historians whereas a public historian has a wider audience and the potential of having a greater impact on the perception of history,” he says. Mahnken, who taught history at OSU from 1947 until he retired in 1983, certainly helped shape the history department and record the state’s history. His research and writings focused on Oklahoma history, and he had numerous articles published in the Chronicles of Oklahoma. But he also accomplished a great deal as a public historian, Bryans says, especially in recording the area’s social history and documenting historic sites such as Pleasant Valley School in Payne County. “Norbert Mahnken was a gracious, intelligent and thoughtful man. He was knowledgeable and always willing to share his knowledge with others.” And that thoughtfulness and willingness to share is part of the legacy Mahnken, who died in 2004, and his predeceased wife, Anita, leave to the OSU history department. Their planned gift, the Dr. Norbert and Anita Mahnken Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, will fund internships in the study of applied history, also known as public history. OSU’s program, which offers emphases in historic preservation and museum studies, requires a six-credit- hour internship. “Sometimes the internship is a paid position and sometimes not,” says Bryans, noting that tuition is also an expense on top of the internship. “I can’t envision doing this program without the internship. It’s essential for students to apply the theories they’ve studied. Their education is not complete until they actually practice,” he says. “The Mahnkens’ gift boosts the competitiveness and adds value to the program. It will help us recruit top students and find the best internship placements we can, which will increase employment opportunities for our graduates. “We are very appreciative.” Eileen Mustain see related story on page 26 For information on becoming a member of the A&S Associates, contact Jana Duffy at 405-744-8214, jduffy@osuf.org. (reflects membership from July 1, 2004 – October 30, 2005) Membership in the A&S Associates is open to alumni and friends dedicating $1,000 in annual gifts or planned giving commitment. Oklahoma State University 11
Alumni success Within the living laboratory of the O’Colly, he found his niche experimenting with the complexities and responsibilities of the First Amendment right to a free press. Since then Moffeit has received numerous journalism awards and his articles have appeared in more than 50 newspapers and magazines. Last spring he returned to OSU to discuss “Justice Through Journalism” as the featured speaker of the 2005 Paul Miller Lecture Series. Moffeit, a news/editorial major from 1982-87, says he has mixed feelings about his college writings. “Though I did some good work, such as examining how badly the Stillwater jails handled a string of suicides, I wrote too many opinions for the editorial page that were based on thin research or were simply knee-jerk reactions to an issue,” he says. “It’s a much better use of my time and readers’ time to thoroughly investigate an issue, sometimes for months, and then let them know what I’ve found,” says the former Fort Worth StarTelegram and Dallas Times-Herald reporter. “That’s public service.” Moffeit’s articles on social justice and corruption have led to government reform and criminal prosecutions. In 2001, his Star-Telegram series on Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport’s mishandling of industrial waste helped trigger public expenditures of more than $20 million in pollution controls to protect public waters. In 2003, his three-part series “Betrayal in the Ranks” for the Denver Post exposed how the U.S. military fails victims of sexual and domestic violence. The series, nominated by the Post for the Pulitzer in investigative journalism, helped bring a murder suspect to trial and prompted Congress to pass a series of legislative reforms dealing with sexual assault cases. In 2004, Moffeit’s coverage of prisoner abuse in Iraq triggered changes in how the military investigates deaths of detainees. “There’s no better feeling than to help achieve some semblance of justice through journalism, whether it’s helping correct an environmental problem or helping bring a killer to trial — and a sense of closure to the victim’s family — as we did through our ‘Betrayal in the Ranks’ series,” he says. “The free press is the great leveler of society’s playing field. Reporters’ questions, unfettered by bonds to government, can give voice to the voiceless while holding government accountable. “The best press is a watchdog for the underdog.” Besides working full-time for the Denver Post, Moffeit is the senior Dart Center Ochberg Fellow through the University of Washington, studying the psychological effects of trauma on victims and the journalists who witness and report it. “Through this program, I’m constantly learning new ways to take more sensitive and proper approaches to covering victims of violence and, hopefully, I’m helping other journalists become more compassionate and ethical reporters,” he says. Moffeit says building relationships with the courageous people at the center of his stories gives him personal satisfaction, but being a catalyst for change is even more satisfying. “The impact of a story is what it’s all about for me,” Moffeit says. “If I write a story that barely registers a whisper, it’s very depressing. “I try to tell myself that raising awareness about a problem is important. But the projects that result in governmental actions or reform give me a special feeling that is rather difficult to describe. It’s the knowledge you’ve done a good deed, and it’s incredibly empowering.” Janet Varnum “There’s no better feeling than to help achieve some semblance of justice through journalism, whether it’s helping correct an environmental problem or helping bring a killer to trial ….” Finding Truth Denver Post investigative reporter Miles Moffeit, a 1987 alumnus, first experienced the power of the press while writing evocative editorials and columns for the Daily O’Collegian in the mid-1980s. courtesy College of Arts and Sciences 12
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