Akron Update - May 1, 2002

The Online Newsletter for Faculty, Staff and Retirees of The University of Akron - May 1, 2002


Alan Newman Alan Newman, law, wrote “The Rights of Creditors of Beneficiaries Under the Uniform Trust Code: An Examination of the Compromise” for the University of Tennessee Law Review. Top Alexei Sokolov Alexei Sokolov, polymer science, received $19,945 from the National Science Foundation for “Interna-tional Cooperative Research: Influence of Pressure, Aging and Molecular Achitecture on Polymer Dynamics.” Top Ali Dhinojwala Ali Dhinojwala, polymer science, received grants of $74,000 and $5,000 from the National Science Foundation for “CAREER: Nonlinear Optical Spectro-scopy to Study Structure and Dynamics at Polymeric Surfaces and Interfaces.” Top Allen Noble Allen Noble, distinguished professor emeritus of geography and planning, presented “Orientation, Ceremony and Decoration: Elements of India Vernac-ular Architecture” at the 98th annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, held in Los Angeles from March 19-23. Top Amy Mast Amy Mast, Wayne College Dean’s Office, received Targeted Industries Training Grants in the amounts of $7,142 and $18,208 from the Ohio Board of Regents for Burner Systems International, Inc., and Michael Day Enterprises, Inc., respectively. Top Frank Costa and Ashok Dutt Ashok Dutt and Frank Costa, geography and planning, were among the co-presenters of “Pullman, Illinois and Baberton, Ohio: Two Late 19th Century Industrial New Towns;” at the 98th annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, held March 19-23 in Los Angeles. Top Ashok Dutt Ashok Dutt, geography and planning, wrote a mono-graph titled “Global Urbanization: Tends, Form and Density Gradients,” which was published the Professor R.N. Dubey Memorial Lecture Series in Allahabad, India. Top Bruce Keillor, Dale Lewison and Sebastian Vaduva Bruce Keillor, Dale Lewison and Sebastian Vaduva, marketing, were awarded $99,777 by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultrual Affairs for “Business Education for Romania Program.” Top Bruce Taylor Bruce Taylor, biomedical engineering, received $17,600 from BIOMEC, Inc., for “Neural Network-based Bioimpedance Cardiac Output Monitor.” Top Chang Han Chang Han, polymer engineering, received $87,921 from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research for “Nanostruc-tured High-performance Materials Consisting of Bismaleimide and Functional Liquid Crystal Monomers.” Top Marlene Huff and Cheryl Sadler Cheryl Sadler and Marlene Huff, nursing, received a $3,525 Community Invest-ment Grant from the American Cancer Society for “Healthy Breast, Healthy Me.” Top Cheryl Sadler Cheryl Sadler, nursing, received $2,000 from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health for “Heart to Heart Minority Health Month SFY 2002.” Top Dana Cole Dana Cole, law, has had an article titled “Psychodrama and the Training of Trial Lawyers: Finding the Story,” reprinted and distributed with permission as conference materials by the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. It was originally published in the Northern Illinois University Law Review in 2001. Top Daniel McCarthy Daniel McCarthy, music, was nominated for the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Music (Composition) for the commissioned work, “Chamber Symphony No. 2 for Bassoon and Winds,” premiered by Cleveland Orchestra bassoonist Barrick Stees and the Michigan State University Wind Symphony on Nov. 2 in Lansing, Mich. The same piece was nominated for the Grawemeyer Award in Composition, sponsored by the University of Louisville. McCarthy served as director of the American New Arts Festival, which hosted the Society of Composers, Inc. 36th National Conference at UA from April 18-20. He will return to the Interlochen Center for the Arts for a 10th summer, serving in his new position as conductor of the Interlochen Festival Orchestra and teacher of music composition. Top Daniel Smith Daniel Smith, chemistry, received $50,000 for CathNet Sciences Research Support from The University of Akron Research Foundation (three-party agreement). Top David Cohen David Cohen, political science, co-authored the article “Debunking the Myth: Carter, Congress and the Politics of Airline Deregulation,” for White House Studies, Volume 1, Number 2. Top Dianne Brown Wright Dianne Brown Wright, education, received grants in the amounts of $62,500 and $58,824 from the Ohio Department of Education for the Summer Institute for Gifted Students. Top Elaine Nichols Elaine Nichols, nursing, received $6,352 from the Summit-Portage Area Health Education Network for “Future Nurse Club at Garfield High School.” Top Elizabeth Kinion Elizabeth Kinion, nursing, received $30,040 from the Summit-Portage Area Health Education Network for “Multidisciplinary Practicum: Serving Minorities in Underserved Area Community Clinic.” Top Forrest Smith Forrest Smith, Wayne College-biology, received $17,951 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for “Wetland 101: Using Plants and Soils to Take a Deep Look at Nature.” Top Frank Harris Frank Harris, polymer science, received $58,286 by NASA Langley for “Polyimide/Carbon Nano-composites.” He also received a $16,653 Ohio Board of Regents’ Challenge Grant. Top Gangbing Song Gangbing Song, mechanical engineering, received a $20,000 Ohio Board of Regents’ Challenge Grant for “Research in Innovative Use of Smart Materials in Propulsion Systems Components — Control and Experiment.” He also received $2,500 from the Ohio Space Grant Consortium for “Develop-ment of a New Graduate Course — Control of Smart Structures.” Top George Chase and Darrell Reneker George Chase, chemical engineering, and Darrell Reneker, polymer science, received $51,000 from Fleetguard, Inc., for MPEC Consortium (Years 1-4 dues). Top George Chase George Chase, chemical engineering, received $2,000 from the Produced Water Society for “Filtra-tion Research Support.” Top George Newkome George Newkome, polymer science, was awarded $240,000 by the National Science Foundation for “Spherical Hydrophilic Polymers; Synthesis, Characterization and Applications (Two-year Special Creativity Extension).” He also received a $20,000 Ohio Board of Regents Chal-lenge Grant for the project. Top Ghazi Falah Ghazi Falah, geography and planning, presented “Blaming the Victim: Representation of the Palestinian Intifada in Selected Daily Newspapers in North America” at the 98th annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, held March 19-23 in Los Angeles. Top Gustavo Carri Gustavo Carri, polymer science, was awarded $102,000 by the National Science Foundation for “CAREER: Semiflexible Macromolecules with Secondary Structure. A Theoretical Approach Based on the Edwards’ Hamiltonian.” Carri also received two $80,000 Ohio Board of Regents’ Action Fund Awards. Top Harvey Sterns Harvey Sterns, Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology, received $7,000 from the Ohio Department of Health for the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference, titled “Falls Prevention in the Elderly.” Top Gary Bays, Bill Clark, Jack Kristofco and Paulette Popovich Jack Kristofco, Paulette Popovich and Bill Clark, Wayne College Dean’s Office; and Gary Bays, English-Wayne College; conducted a session titled “Initiating the Self-Study Process: A Mentor Group for Steering Committees” at the Pre-Conference Workshop on Self-Study in Chicago on March 23. The workshop was part of the 107th annual meeting of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Top				James Sperling James Sperling, political science, presented a paper titled “Future Directions in World Affairs?” at the Global Issues in the German-American Partnership: Changing Relations with Russia and China Conference at the University of California at San Diego on March 16. He also presented a paper titled “Is Germany a ‘Good European’? An Empirical Test of Compliance with EU Law” at the Interna-tional Studies Association Meeting in New Orleans, La., on March 27. Top James White James White, polymer engineering, received $10,000 from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. for research support. Top Jeffrey Lucas Jeffrey Lucas, sociology, received $17,974 from the National Science Foundation for “Status Processes and Gender Differences in Self-handicapping Social and Economic Sciences.” He also received a $4,500 Ohio Board of Regents’ Challenge Grant for “Experimental Analysis of Status Processes and Self-Handicapping.” Top Jeffrey Samuels Jeffrey Samuels, law, spoke before the Florida State Bar Association on domain name disputes on March 1. Top Peter Leahy and Jesse Marquette Jesse Marquette, Center for Policy Studies, and Peter Leahy, public adminis-tration and urban studies, received $66,300 from United Way of Summit County/Akron Community Foundation for a “Cooper-ative Community Needs Assessment.” Top Jesse Marquette Jesse Marquette, Center for Policy Studies, received $44,750 from the city of Fairlawn for a “Joint Recreation Center Survey.” Top Jianping Zhu Jianping Zhu, theoretical and applied mathematics, received $43,447 from Mississippi State University as a subgrant of the National Science Founda-tion for “Computational Mathematics, Biochem-istry, and Molecular Biology,” as well as an Ohio Board of Regents Individual Research Challenge Grant for $10,862. Top John Green John Green, political science, co-edited a book titled “Multiparty Politics in America,” recently published by Rowman & Littlefield. Top John Troche John Troche, engineering and science technology, received $77,000 from the Ohio Department of Education, in cooperation with the Ohio Board of Regents, for “Tech Prep Expanded Enrollment: Engineering and Manufacturing FY 02.” Top Julia Beckett Julia Beckett, public administration and urban studies, presented “Trust But Verify: Availability of Budget Information on the Internet” at the American Society for Public Administration National Conference on March 25, and “Real Time Learning: Professors’ Roles in Internships and Field Experiences” at the 25th Annual Teaching Public Administration National Conference at the Univer-sity of Tennessee on Feb. 8. Top Kay Billions, Colleen Teague and Phyllis Wiebe Kay Billions, commun-ication-Wayne College; Colleen Teague, office administration-Wayne College; and Phyllis Wiebe, Wayne College Dean’s Office; presented “An Innovative Self-Study: A Systems Model Using Shared Governance” at the 107th annual meeting of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in Chicago in March. Top Kwadwo Knoadu-Agyemang Kwadwo Konadu-Agyemang, geography and planning, presented “Ur-banization and Changing Urban Land Values in Ghana: Some Spatial and Socio-economic Implica-tions” at the 98th annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, held March 19-23 in Los Angeles. Top Lathardus Goggins Lathardus Goggins, Graduate School, received two $18,040 grants from OMNOVA Solutions Inc., for student assistantships. Top Lloyd Goettler Lloyd Goettler, polymer engineering, received $57,330 for International Paper Research Support from The University of Akron Research Foundation. Top Lu-Kwang Ju Lu-Kwang Ju, chemical engineering, received $74,213 from Enviroquip, Incorporated for “Novel Single-tank Symbio Process: Biological Nutri-ent Removal Activites and Subsequent Sludge Digestion.” Top Lucinda Deason-Howell Lucinda Deason-Howell, public administration and urban studies, co-authored a paper titled “End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: The Interface of Policy, Research and Practice,” which will be published in Behavioral Sciences and the Law. She also presented a paper titled “Charitable Choice, Welfare Reform: An Exploration of African-American Church-sponsored Nursing Homes” at the 60th annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, held April 25-28. Top Lynn Leslie Lynn Leslie, public administration and urban studies, was awarded a 2002 Award for Outstand-ing Achievement for Adjunct Faculty Service by the department chair. Top Margaret Wineman Margaret Wineman, nursing, received $1,000 from the Brain Injury Association for IRB Services. Top Marguerite DiMarco Marguerite DiMarco, nursing, received $1,500 from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners for “Access to Care for Homeless Children/Families.” Top Mary Agnes Kendra Mary Agnes Kendra, nursing, received $2,000 from the Summit-Portage Area Health Education Network for “Pre-Nursing Club: Inner City Elemen-tary/Middle School Children.” Top Maryhelen Kreidler Maryhelen Kreidler, nursing, was named in April to the 21-member commission formed by Bishop Anthony Pilla to review the Cleveland Diocese’s policy on sexual abuse. Kreidler specializes in psychiatric nursing and has worked with survivors of childhood sexual abuse since 1986. Top George Hruby and Melinda Newman Melinda Newman and George Hruby, finance, were featured in an article in the April 4 edition of the Sun Banner Pride news-paper, along with four of their students. Under the direction of Newman and Hruby, the UA students are doing a service learning project with the city of Wadsworth. Top Michael Carley and Amy Marie Petersen Michael Carley and Amy Marie Petersen, University Press, received $500 from the Ohio Humanities Coun-cil for Poetry Festival 2002. Top Minel Braun Minel Braun and Fred Choy, mechanical engineering, were awarded $100,000 by NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field for Non-contacting, Passive-adaptive Turbine Finger Seal Development: Numerical Modeland Experimental Validation.” Top Molly O'Brien Molly O’Brien, law, presented a work-in-progress, “Back to Business As Usual: the Southeastern Legal Foundation and the Re-segregation of Southern Schools,” at the Southern History of Education annual meeting at the University of Alabama in Birmingham on March 15. Top Nada Allender and Susan Thomas Frank Nada Allender and Susan Thomas Frank, speech-language pathology and audiology, received funding in the amounts of $6,376 and $7,500 from Lighthouse Academy for “Speech-Language Pathology Services (Continuation).” Top Nancy Grant Nancy Grant, public administration and urban studies, served as moderator for a panel discussion at the 25th Annual Teaching Public Administration National Conference, held Feb. 8-9. Top Nancy Marion Nancy Marion, political science, wrote a book titled “Criminal Justice in America: The Politics Behind the System,” recently published by Carolina Academic Press. Top				RaJade Berry and Peter Leahy Peter Leahy and RaJade Berry, public adminis-tration and urban studies, received $53,451 from the Community Drug Board dba Community Health Center for “Evaluation Plan: Comprehensive Treatment Services for Homeless Mothers Transitioning from Welfare to Work.” Top Peter Rinaldi Peter Rinaldi, chemistry, received $10,000 from Ricerca Inc., for an Experimental Technical Agreement, 2001, and $5,000 from Bridgestone/Firestone Company for “NMR Studies of Polymeric Materials Experimental Technical Agreement.” Top RaJade Berry and Lucinda Deason-Howell RaJade Berry and Lucinda Deason-Howell, public administration and urban studies, co-authored a paper titled “Implementing Affirmative Action: The Effect of Race, Staff Size and Institutional Factors on Program Efficacy,” which they presented at the 2002 Global Trends Academy of Business Administration Conference, held in Aruba, Dec. 18-23. Top RaJade Berry RaJade Berry, public administration and urban studies, presented a paper co-authored with Peter Leahy, public adminis-tration and urban studies, titled “Managing for Performance: A Case Study of Practical Program Evaluation in Akron, Ohio,” at the 23rd National Conference of the American Society for Public Administration, in March. In addition, she was elected as the ASPA District II national council representative, serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan for the 2002-2003 term. Berry was program track chair at the annual Conference of Minority Public Administrators in February and served as chair of its awards and scholarship committee in 2001-2002. Top Ralph Hummel Ralph Hummel, public administration and urban studies, presented research from his forthcoming book, “Pyramids of Knowledge/Pyramids of Power,” as the invited speaker in the Campbell Conversations series at the Maxwell School of Public Administration and Citizenship at Syracuse University on March 7. He co-presented a paper titled “What Is Deliberation?” at the annual convention of the American Society for Public Administration on March 23. He co-presented a symposium titled “Invitation to Phenomen-ology” at Dennison University on April 11. Hummel published “Critique of ‘Public Space’” and “Openness” in the journal, Administration and Society, and his review of Charles Goodsell’s “The American Statehouse,” titled “Architectonics of Public Space,” is in the March/April issue of Public Administration Review. Top Julia Beckett, RaJade Berry, Raymond Cox and Lucinda Deason-Howell Raymond Cox, Julia Beckett, RaJade Berry and Lucinda Deason-Howell, public administration and urban studies, were awarded $120,530 by Summit County for a “Compensation Study — Summit County Executive.” Top Raymond Cox Raymond Cox, public administration and urban studies, was recognized for 25 years of membership in the American Society for Public Administration at the national conference in March. He serves on the executive committee of the ethics section. Top Raymond Rody Raymond Rody, marketing, wrote the recently published textbook, “International Business Negotiations: Strategies, Tactics and Practices.” Top Richard Stephens Richard Stephens, Institute for Health and Social Policy, received $77,462 from the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Cuyahoga County for software support for the “Comprehensive Intake and Assessment Instrument—Cleveland.” Top Janice Eley and Robert Eley Robert Eley, education; Janice Eley, business technology; and Bonita Williams, University College Dean’s Office; received $15,000 from the Ohio Department of Education for a National Board Teacher Certifi-cation Support Program (year five continuation). Top Robert Kent Robert Kent, geography and planning, received funding for student internships in the following amounts: Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area, $2,280; Summit County Department of Develop-ment, $3,659; Barberton Planning Commission, $3,195; Medina Summit Land Conservancy, $3,641; Northeast Ohio Four County Organization, $3,195; Akron Metro-politan Housing Authority, $4,259; city of Cuyahoga Falls, $2,130; and Summit County Auditor’s Office, $4,259 and $3,659. He also presented “The ‘Boricua’ Landscape of Cleveland” at the 98th annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, held March 19-23 in Los Angeles. Top Lindgren Chyi and Robert Liang Robert Liang and Lindgren Chyi, civil engineering, received $97,408 from the Ohio Department of Transportation for “Blending Proportions of High Skid and Low Skid Aggregate.” Top Robert Liang Robert Liang, civil engineering, was awarded $367,460 by the Ohio Department of Transpor-tation for “Dynamics Pile Testing Technology: Validation and Implementation.” Top Robert Lord Robert Lord, psychology, received $35,000 from Psychological Systems and Research Incorporated for “Novel Assessment Tools for Empirical Determinants of Direct Leadership.” Top Roberta DePompei Roberta DePompei, speech-language pathology and audiology, received $17,000 from the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission for “Grants Manager for Brain Injury Advisory Committee, Grants Manager for Five Projects in Ohio.” Top Roderic Quirk Roderic Quirk, polymer science, received $17,984 from Dynasol Elastomers for research support. Top Roger Durbin Roger Durbin, University Libraries, was awarded two $135,000 grants by Advanced Elastomer Systems for its Library Project, and $25,000 by McDermott Technology, Incorporated for Library Services for McDermott Technology, Inc. Top Ronald Eby Ronald Eby, polymer science, was awarded $205,000 by NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field for “Proton Exchange Membranes for High Temperature Fuel Cells (continuation of High-temp Fuel Cells).” Top Sadhan Jana Sadhan Jana, polymer engineering, was awarded $375,000 by the National Science Foundation for “CAREER: Research and Education on Multi-Scale Structure Development in Chaotic Mixing of Poly-mers.” Jana also received a $20,000 Ohio Board of Regents’ Challenge Grant for the project. Top Sharon Kruse Sharon Kruse, education, received $6,723 from the Summit Education Ini-tiative for an assistantship. Top Shi-Qing Wang Shi-Qing Wang, polymer science, received $30,000 from BP Amoco for “Chemical Prediction of Die Swell from Molecular Characteristics.” Top Sonia Alemagno and Elizabeth Shaffer-King Sonia Alemagno and Elizabeth Shaffer-King, Institute for Health and Social Policy, received $63,352 from the National Opinion Research Center for “Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program: Cuyahoga County, First Quarter 2002.” Top Steven Chuang Steven Chuang, chemical engineering, received $50,000 from the National Science Foundation for “Nanostructured Surfaces for Investigation of Freiction of the Molecular Scale SGER.” Top Surya Patnaik Surya Patnaik, mechanical engineering, received $35,675 from NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field for “Design Optimization of Structural Panels with Analysis Approximators at the Subproblem Level, Supplement to NCC3-831.” Top Susan Hanlon Susan Hanlon, management, was interviewed for an article on UA’s Center for Family Business in the mid-March issue of The Business Journal, Volume 18, Number 16. Top Terri Jo Swim Terri Jo Swim, education, received $750 fro the Ohio Board of Regents for the Northeast Ohio Early Childhood Education Articulation Committee. Top Tirumalai Srivatsan Tirumalai Srivatsan, mechanical engineering, received $3,000 from Materials Modifications, Inc., for “Superplasticity, Deformation and Fracture and Fine-grained Aluminum Alloys.” Top Ward Thomas Ward Thomas, public administration and urban studies, co-authored a paper titled “Latino and African American Noncustodial Fathers: Perceptions of Fatherhood and Child Support,” which will be published in the fall 2002 issue of the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work. Top