May 6, 2004

Vol. 14, No. 41

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the University Advancement Division. News of campus interest should be sent to one of the following editors:   Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Susan Cribbs, 412-268-7521 (cribbs@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.

2003 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

Three distinguished professionals will be awarded honorary doctorates at Carnegie Mellon's 107th commencement at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 16. The recipients are:

—C. D. Mote Jr., internationally recognized for his research in dynamic systems and biomechanics, will receive an honorary doctorate in science and technology. Mote, who holds patents in the U.S., Norway, Finland and Sweden, is president of the University of Maryland, where he is also the Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering. Under Mote's leadership, the University of Maryland's academic programs have flourished. In 2003, the university was ranked 17th among public research universities by U.S. News & World Report, up 13 positions from its ranking in 1998 when Mote assumed the presidency.

—William D. Ruckelshaus, the first administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, former U.S. assistant attorney general and former acting director of the FBI, will receive an honorary doctorate of public policy for his longstanding commitment to government, business and community service. Ruckelshaus is a strategic director of the Madrona Venture Group and a principal in Madrona Investment Group, L.L.C., a Seattle-based investment company. He directs several other corporations, including Cummins Engine Company; Nordstrom, Inc.; Vykor, Inc.; and Weyerhaeuser Company.

—Richard A. Tapia, an internationally known researcher in computational and mathematical sciences and a national leader in educational outreach programs, will be awarded an honorary doctorate in science and technology. At Rice University, Tapia is the Noah Harding Professor of Computational and Applied Mathematics; associate director of Graduate Studies, Office of Research and Graduate Studies; and director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education. Tapia has led Rice to national prominence for its educational outreach programs and leadership in producing women and under-represented minority Ph.D. recipients in mathematical sciences.

—For more information on commencement, see www.cmu.edu/commencement/

NEW POSNER CENTER OPENS MAY 17; SHOWCASES RARE BOOKS AND ART

On Monday, May 17, the Posner Center, a spectacular new library facility and university meeting venue, will be dedicated by Chairman of the Board of Trustees David Shapira, President Jared Cohon, Dean of University Libraries Gloriana St. Clair, Executive Director of the Posner Fine Arts Foundation Anne Molloy, and Emeritus Life Trustee Henry Posner Jr., in the company of trustees and other invited guests.

—A gift of Henry and Helen Posner Jr. in memory of his parents, Henry and Ida Posner Sr., the Posner Center is located between the College of Fine Arts and the Tepper School of Business. The 11,400 square-foot building, designed by WTW Architects, will house rare and historic books and art objects collected by Mr. and Mrs. Posner Sr. Beginning with a special exhibit designed for the dedication by Rick Landesberg Associates, the Posner Center will feature ongoing exhibits from the collection.

—The center's meeting room has been designed as the primary meeting venue for the Board of Trustees, but will be also available to the Faculty Senate, Staff Council, student government, advisory boards and similar groups, as well as for meetings requiring videoconferencing and sophisticated technology. Requests for use of the Posner Center should be directed to the President's Office.

—The center will be open as a library facility from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Tuesday, June 1. Expanded hours are anticipated by the beginning of the fall term.

STUDY ANALYZES ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN DEVELOPING INDUSTRY CLUSTERS

The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration and Carnegie Mellon's Center for Economic Development at the Heinz School have announced the findings of a study analyzing the role of universities in helping regions develop industry clusters. Industry clusters occur when a number of companies in a geographic region are interconnected by the markets they serve and products they offer.

—"Cluster development has emerged as a leading strategy to spur economic growth," said Jerry Paytas, associate director of the Center for Economic Development. "The task for the university and for regional stakeholders is to identify and support areas of university expertise that align with clusters of opportunity for the region."

—Robert Gradeck and Lena Andrews, policy analysts at the Center for Economic Development, co-authored this study with Paytas. Further information: www.heinz.cmu.edu/whatsnew/industryclusters.html and www.smartpolicy.org/university/

NEWS BRIEFS

—Parking Services Coordinator Debra Hamlin has announced that the East Campus Garage will close at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, May 7, for cleaning and for repainting of directional arrows and signs, symbols, crosswalks and other identifying items. It will reopen at 6 a.m. on Monday, May 10.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Brad Myers, associate research professor in the Human Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), was recently elected to the Association of Computing Machinery's Computer Human Interaction (CHI) Academy as one of the top 25 "principal leaders of the field" in the world. The CHI Academy is an honorary group of individuals whose efforts have shaped the disciplines and led the research in human-computer interaction. Other HCII members of the CHI Academy include professors Sara Kiesler and Robert Kraut. Only Carnegie Mellon and the University of Michigan have three members in this prestigious organization.

—David O'Hallaron, associate professor of computer science and electrical and computer engineering, has won this year's School of Computer Science (SCS) Herbert Simon Award for Teaching Excellence. The selection committee quoted one student who wrote, "The text, the course, the assignments, and Professor O'Hallaron's exemplary work as a professor, together create the most rewarding and interesting class I have taken as a CS student." O'Hallaron will receive his award at the SCS diploma ceremony on May 16.

—David Lewis, distinguished professor in the School of Architecture, has been selected to receive the Henry Hornbostel Teaching Award. The award, which is named after Henry Hornbostel, the first dean of the College of Fine Arts and the architect of the original campus buildings, honors faculty in the College of Fine Arts for excellence in undergraduate teaching and advising.

—Neil McDonald, a graduate student of Professor Sridhar Seetharaman in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has been awarded the Willy Korf Award for Young Excellence for his work on peritectic reactions. The award, which includes 2,500 Euros and travel expenses, will be presented at the American Metal Market/World Steel Dynamics' "Steel Success Strategies" at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, June 21 - 23.

—MBA students Joshua Gerlick, Patrick Hung, Leo Leung, Saveen Pakala and senior computer science major Yogesh Oka recently won Honeywell's Aerospace Electronic Systems Growth Challenge Competition in Phoenix. Their Autonomous Vehicle Efficiency Control platform for the trucking industry is a plan to improve aerodynamics and tire performance, and represents potential industry growth of approximately $18 billion. Honeywell awarded $50,000 to the students and $100,000 to the Tepper School's Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship.

—Glenn Judd has been selected by the Intel Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee to receive an Intel Fellowship for 2004-05. Judd is a fifth-year graduate student working on wireless networking with Professor Peter Steenkiste. The fellowship award covers tuition, books, fees and a stipend for one year.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Through May 16: Regina Gouger Miller Gallery Exhibit. "110%," presented by graduating seniors in the School of Art. Gallery hours: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday. Opening Reception: 5 - 8 p.m., Friday, May 7.

—Sunday, May 16: 107th Commencement Ceremony. 11 a.m., Gesling Stadium.

—Wednesday, May 26: Procurement Services' "Preferred Supplier Show." 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., University Center, Rangos Hall. The list of Preferred Suppliers as of May 3 is on official cmu-news, May 4.

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