Personal Mention
Sheldon Cohen has been named the American Psychosomatic Society's 2018 Distinguished Scientist for his sustained career contributions to our understanding of the role of behavior in physical health. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty University Professor of Psychology in the Dietrich College, investigates the effects of behavioral factors in immunity and physical disease. His work includes pioneering research on the impact of psychological stress, social networks and socioeconomic status on infections, cardiovascular disease and asthma. Cohen was the first to provide scientific evidence that stress increases susceptibility to the common cold. His systematic work in this area has demonstrated that the longer a stressful event lasts, the greater the risk for illness and that enduring interpersonal conflicts and stress at work are especially potent risks. Find out more.
Amy Burkert has been reappointed vice provost for education. In an email to faculty and staff, Interim Provost Laurie Weingart praised Burkert for being a “highly dedicated, collaborative and deeply impactful leader” and a “trusted partner, advocate and adviser to many students and faculty.” She noted Burkert has played a critical role in many university-wide and educational initiatives, including the Strategic Plan 2025, the establishment of the new Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion, and re-envisioning the core education programs in the College of Engineering, Dietrich College and Mellon College of Science. Weingart said Burkert is a recognized national leader, having participated in many efforts of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the National Science Foundation, particularly those related to science teaching. Burkert was appointed vice provost for education in 2010 after serving in the Mellon College of Science as assistant dean and associate head of the Biological Sciences Department.
Heinz College Professor Robert Strauss gave invited testimony this morning, Jan. 18, before the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His written testimony, "Financing Pennsylvania's Public Sector after the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017," examines Pennsylvania's state and local tax structure in comparison with other states, and examines the likely impact of the new federal tax law on Pennsylvania's personal and business taxes. Read the written testimony.
Ayana Ledford has been selected as a Lead Now Pittsburgh Fellow. Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. launched the major new initiative, Lead Now, to develop and cultivate the region’s ranks of transformational community leaders to help meet the social and economic opportunities and challenges arising from the region’s ongoing resurgence. Ledford is director of diversity and inclusion in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and founding executive director of Heinz College’s Program for Research & Outreach on Gender Equality in Society (PROGRESS). Learn more.
Dokyun Lee, an assistant professor of business analytics and the Xerox Junior Faculty Chair at the Tepper School of Business, received the Best Track Paper in IT and Social Change and the Best Conference Paper at the 2017 International Conference on Information Systems. Lee’s paper, which he co-authored with colleagues at the University of Maryland and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, was titled “Micro-Giving: On the Use of Mobile Devices and Monetary Subsidies in Charitable Giving.” Lee and his co-authors found that companies offering monetary rewards for giving rather than matching gifts get a better response and that push notifications from mobile apps are more effective than other methods of contact. Lee conducts research related to social influences on consumers, the sharing economy and the use of machine learning in business.
John Dolan has joined Carnegie Mellon as associate vice president and treasurer, responsible for the management of external and internal debt portfolios, treasury operations and merchant services. Dolan also will direct the use of appropriate financing and funding options to meet the university’s financial goals and enhance CMU’s financial resources through effective liquidity and financial risk management. Prior to joining the university, Dolan was deputy director for the Office of Debt Management, where he was responsible for the funding strategies and new debt securities for the U.S. Treasury Department, managed a $14 trillion debt portfolio, and represented the Treasury internationally with investment banks, credit rating agencies and global investors.