May 15, 2003

Vol. 13, No. 42

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the Department of Public Relations. News of campus interest should be sent to
Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu) or Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu). The newsletter is available on the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards.

2001 Editions are available online.

2002 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

Teresa Heinz, chair of the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Heinz Family Philanthropies, will be the keynote speaker at the university's 106th commencement. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 18, in Gesling Stadium. Heinz, who earned an honorary doctorate from Carnegie Mellon in 2000, is recognized as one of the nation's premier environmental leaders. She is active in organizations dedicated to human rights and to educating the public on how the environment impacts the health of both women and children.

—Joining Heinz on the commencement platform will be four honorary degree recipients. George Armitage Miller, the James S. McConnell Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, emeritus, at Princeton University, will receive an honorary doctorate in humane letters for his pioneering contributions to the field of cognitive psychology. Paul H. O'Neill, former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and past CEO of Alcoa, will be awarded an honorary doctorate of public policy for his commitment to advancements in technical innovation, management and public service. Ivan E. Sutherland (E'59), vice president and fellow of Sun Microsystems, will receive an honorary doctorate in science and technology for his groundbreaking work in computer graphics, robotics, virtual reality and computer architecture. James M. Walton, former director of Gulf Oil and past president of the Carnegie Institute and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, will be awarded an honorary doctorate in humane letters for his distinguished career in business and community service in the Pittsburgh area. Walton is chair of the Vira I. Heinz Endowment and a trustee emeritus of Carnegie Mellon.

—The student speaker at the main commencement ceremony is Theresa Nguyen, who is receiving her bachelor of science degree in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry.

—The main ceremony, as well as Saturday's doctor's hooding ceremony, will be broadcast live on the Web at www.cmu.edu/commencement. Further information on commencement, including diploma ceremonies and receptions, is also available at that Web address.

MELLON COLLEGE OF SCIENCE NAMES STAFF AWARD WINNERS

At its recent staff recognition awards ceremony, the Mellon College of Science (MCS) honored staff for outstanding achievements. Awardees were chosen based on their job performance, commitment, attitude, teamwork and achievement.

—Cynthia Davis, business manager in the Department of Biological Sciences, received the $1,000 Merit Award, given to an MCS staff member or team for outstanding service. Nicole Pavetti, student program assistant in Biological Sciences, received the $200 MCS Rookie Award, given to a staff member employed three years or less at MCS. Margie Zamborsky, financial assistant in the Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, and Kenneth Hackworth, senior computational science consultant with the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, both received the $250 MCS Outstanding Achievement Award.

NEW RACE FOR COLLEGE-AGE DRIVERS WILL TAKE PLACE JULY 19

Carnegie Mellon and the Vintage Grand Prix introduced a new race for college-age drivers at a recent press event. The new Richard M. Caliguiri Collegiate Invitational Race, named in honor of the late Pittsburgh mayor, will be held July 19 in Schenley Park. The collegiate race is part of the annual Vintage Grand Prix race event, which supports programs and services of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Valley School.

—Carnegie Mellon mechanical engineering students will lead a field of racing competitors from a handful of universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University. Students will compete in homemade racecars designed to reach speeds of 120 mph.

NEWS BRIEFS

—The Allegheny Conference on Community Development, the League of Women Voters and the Education Policy and Issues Center has developed an online regional voters' guide for school board elections across the 11-county region at www.pa.lwv.org/schoolboards. The guide enables the more than 1,000 regional school board candidates to state their positions on key education issues. "As members of an institution of higher education, we have a special responsibility to do all we can to shape the future direction of education in Western Pennsylvania," said President Jared L. Cohon. "I urge you to make a difference in one of the most fundamental, but important ways that you can—by voting." The primary election is Tuesday, May 20. For more see "Importance of School Boards" on the official.cmu-news bboard.

—Thomas J. Murrin, former Deputy Secretary of the U. S. Department of Commerce and former dean of Duquesne University's business school, will be the keynote speaker at the Information Networking Institute diploma ceremony, 5 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at the Rodef Shalom Congregation on Fifth Avenue.

—At the 65th Annual Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia last weekend Carnegie Mellon earned a silver medal in the Women's Pair competition (Maria Wilson and Penelope Bigelow) and a bronze medal in the Women's Lightweight 4 division (Laura Vallaincourt, Vanessa Gerber, Shawn Wood, Erin Breen and Emily Mackay). Carnegie Mellon placed fifth in the Women's Novice 4 category (Stephanie Kuga, Darbi Roberts, Emily Bibb, Caitlen McLean and Audria Stubna).

—The schedule of School of Drama productions for the 2003 - 2004 season is available at http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/030424_newseason.html

—In the new public affairs television show, "Homefront," Beth Osborne Daponte, a senior research scientist at the Heinz School, will be the leading national expert on United Nations sanctions. Hosted by Citizens for Independent Public Broadcasting founder Dr. Jerry Starr, the inaugural episode will focus attention on U.S. involvement in Iraq over the decades by presenting a screening of the documentary "Hidden Wars In Iraq." Following the screening, Daponte will be joined by a panel of experts that will debate Middle Eastern affairs and national security with a live studio audience. The two-hour taping for the show starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, in the Warhol Museum auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free.

—The PTC Shuttle's summer schedule is posted on official.cmu-news, May 13.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Suresh Konda, a member of the SEI technical staff, data analysis and reporting, and winner of the 2002 SEI Angel Jordan Award for Innovation, died suddenly on May 12 while on vacation. His most recent work centered on information security for large networks. He used his background in statistics and solid scientific methodology to dramatically increase the SEI's ability to spot new network attacks and safeguard Department of Defense networks. Before coming to the SEI, Konda taught classes in human resources, human resources information systems, human resources planning, research methods, and policy analysis and planning at Purdue University, where he was an assistant professor of management and public policy at the Krannert Graduate School of Management. He also taught at Carnegie Mellon.

—President Cohon and University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark Nordenberg were honored on May 10 by Pittsburgh Vision Services, the agency that serves blind or visually impaired people, for their efforts to involve their institutions and themselves in innovative projects to strengthen our region.

—Paul Eiss, assistant professor of history and anthropology, has received a $50,000 grant from the National Academy of Education to fund his proposal to investigate the history of indigenous education in southeastern Mexico. Eiss is one of 34 scholars nationwide selected this year to be a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. He will study indigenous education in Yucatan from 1880 to 1940 and the role that education played in liberal reforms during Mexico's 20th century revolutionary period.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Wednesday, May 21: The university's annual Staff Picnic, hosted by President Cohon and Provost Mark Kamlet. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., College of Fine Arts lawn. (Rain locations: Wiegand Gym and Rangos Ballroom.) The university will provide shuttles to the picnic for employees who work at off-campus locations. The list of shuttle routes, and pick-up and drop-off times to and from campus, is posted on official.cmu-news, May 12. The event is free, but picnic-goers must present a valid Carnegie Mellon ID.

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