Faculty/Staff
News & Notes
•
Edwards wins Manager
of Year Award
• Bittner,
professor of journalism, dies April 9
•
Faculty members
named Kenan Distinguished Professors
• Campus
Awards
•
Star
Heels
•
Staff
Promotions/Reclassifications
Edwards
wins Manager of Year Award
The University Managers Association (UMA) has presented its
top honor, the 2002 Manager of the Year Award, to Ann Edwards,
director of the Human Resources office in the medical school.
The presentation was made at the group's annual meeting April
16.
Edwards has been with the School of Medicine -- the largest
single academic unit at Carolina -- for the past 17 years. She
investigates, problem solves and mediates all levels of disputes
and grievances, and, as her nominating materials pointed out,
she does it all diplomatically and professionally, regardless
of how difficult or unfavorable her decisions may be.
Edwards was praised for providing a working environment "that
is flexible and conducive to career growth and autonomous working
styles, as well as giving the opportunity for personal growth."
It was said that she is uniquely able to make assessments of
employees' skills and abilities, and is able to modify positions
to suit an individual's ability "while maintaining balance to
meet organization needs."
Much of what Edwards does is sensitive and confidential, and
so her nominators felt that many of her "numerous, meritorious
acts" have gone unnoticed and unmentioned," and for that reason
they wanted her "many years of devotion and hard work" to be
recognized.
Edwards was also praised for her pioneering work in the decentralization
of position classifications: "She has demonstrated exemplary
management of the transition of position classification from
the University to the School of Medicine."
Founded in 1983, the UMA has about 200 members. Its purpose
is to provide a forum for the exchange of information relevant
to management in the University setting and to encourage productive
interaction among members.
Selection of the Manager of the Year is based on University
career accomplishments or a significant accomplishment made
within the past 12 months.
Only UMA members are eligible to receive the award, but any
Carolina employee may make a nomination. For more information
about the UMA, refer to www.unc.edu/staff/univmgr
Bittner,
professor of journalism, dies April 9
Editor's
note: Bittner's faculty colleagues in the School of Journalism
and Mass Communication reported and wrote this obituary.
John Robert Bittner, a journalism professor of broadcasting
who wrote eight college textbooks about mass communication,
was the author of a seminal work about law and ethics, won excellence-in-teaching
awards, was a widely traveled lecturer on Ernest Hemingway and
was an activist for humane treatment of animals, died April
9 at home after a long illness. He was 58.
Bittner was the James H. Shumaker term professor in the School
of Journalism and Mass Communication. The professorship is awarded
on the basis of teaching excellence. His position as head of
the school's electronic communication sequence was appointed
solely on the basis of a distinguished career.
"John
Bittner was a remarkable man," said Richard Cole, school dean.
"He had a diversity of interests from broadcasting to literature
and excelled in all of them."
The author of 16 books, book chapters and articles in Journalism
Quarterly, Journal of Broadcasting and the International Journal
of Instructional Media, Bittner continually crafted materials
with all the force of a relentless whirlwind.
He often insisted that "hard work eventually pays off" and referred
to his textbook Mass Communication, which has gone through six
printings; a translation into Arabic; and use in Europe, Asia,
the Middle East and Australia.
"John
was a wonderful award-winning humanistic scholar," said Donald
Shaw, Kenan professor in the school. "He had the ability to
use primary sources with a skill that brought alive such literary
figures as Ernest Hemingway."
Citing former students' frequent visits to Bittner's office,
Shaw said, "He was a gentleman who spent enormous time working
with students in class and long after as they pursued their
careers."
Those visits recaptured Bittner's lively classroom lectures,
models of scholarship and fondness for students.
"He
would yell at me and made me read The Wall Street Journal, which
I hated," said former student Lindsay Berra, who works for ESPN
The Magazine. "But I learned, because he was fun. You could
sit in his office and talk with him. He always smiled."
"That's
one of the many things I loved about him," said Chuck Stone,
Walter Spearman professor in the school. "That impish smile.
We called each other `Bro.' He had a commitment early in his
life to racial equality."
Before joining the school as a professor, Bittner was chairman
of the Department of Radio, Television and Motion Pictures (RTVMP).
During his five years as chairman, from 1982 to 1987, the number
of majors doubled, a master's degree was approved and the N.C.
Radio-TV High School Institute quadrupled.
Kay Phillips, former director of the N.C. Media Scholastic Association,
said Bittner re-created a successful summer broadcast program
for high school students.
"He
was a wizard at finding the means to make expensive programs
work," Phillips said.
Besides Bittner's respected teaching and research skills, he
was a proficient administrator. As executive director of the
Radio-Television Association of the Carolinas, he helped nurture
the organization into becoming one of the largest regional news
directors associations in the United States.
Holding three professorships at three different universities,
he also held administrative appointments as director of the
Center for Media Research at the University of Oregon, director
of Broadcast Communication at DePauw University and chairman
of the RTVMP department at Carolina.
But something within drove him to professional explorations
beyond broadcast journalism.
"Dr.
Bittner had a keen interest in literature, especially the writings
of Ernest Hemingway and Thomas Wolfe," said Joseph M. Flora,
a professor in the English department. "His knowledge of journalism
led him to new discoveries about both authors. His presentations
were warmly received by literary scholars."
One prestigious presentation was Bittner's paper two years ago
about Hemingway at the U.S. Air Force Academy, "Fascism and
the Censorship of War in Frank Borzage's Production of Ernest
Hemingway's Novel, A Farewell to Arms."
Flora revealed that Bittner's developing illness could not shackle
an incessant intellectual curiosity.
"He
had embarked on a major project on the relationship between
Wolfe and Jonathan Daniels when his illness intervened. But
even in illness, he continued to write about Hemingway and Wolfe,"
he said.
Richard Simpson, Bittner's colleague in the electronic communication
sequence, called him "a passionate man with a lot of heart --
my boss, my colleague and my friend. He brought me to the journalism
school."
A native of Greensburg, Pa., Bittner graduated from Dakota Wesleyan
University, which awarded him its Outstanding Alumni Educator
of the Year Award. He later received both his master's and doctoral
degrees from Purdue University.
In addition to his wife, Denise Alexander Bittner, whom many
friends praised as an academic team, he leaves two sons, John
P. Bittner of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Donald B. Redmond of Charlottesville,
Va.; a granddaughter, Annie, of Flagstaff; a brother, George
W. Bittner, of Mitchell, S.D.; and in-laws, James and Dorothy
Alexander of Fearrington Village.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent
to the John R. Bittner Fund in the School of Journalism and
Mass Communication.
Bittner's ashes will be buried in Ketchum, Idaho, where Hemingway's
ashes are buried.
"Ketchum
is right next to Sun Valley, where John and I went skiing many
wonderful times," his wife said.
Faculty
members named
Kenan Distinguished Professors
Three faculty members have been named Kenan distinguished professors
effective July 1, 2002. They are:
• Jack Griffith, professor of microbiology and immunology;
• William F. Marzluff, professor of biochemistry and biophysics;
and
• Thomas D. Petes, professor of biology.
Griffith
Jack
Griffith, a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center,
has won numerous awards for outstanding contributions to biochemical
and molecular biology research. He has been lauded as the world's
most outstanding electron microscopist working with DNA. Griffith's
melding of electron microscopy methods with biochemical tools
has revealed important insights into genetic diseases.
His recent discovery with Rockefeller University colleague Titia
de Lange that the ends of chromosomes, telomeres, are tied in
firmly knotted loops was heralded worldwide as important for
gaining insights into cancer and aging.
Marzluff
William
F. Marzluff, the School of Medicine's executive associate dean
for research and director of the program in molecular biology
and biotechnology, studies the regulation of gene activity --
namely, the system of biochemical switches that turn genes on
and off during the mammalian cell cycle and during early development.
His pioneering research is often at the edge of life's very
beginnings, each experiment moving a step closer to unraveling
the biochemical mystery of embryogenesis, the process by which
an egg transforms into an embryo. At the heart of this research
is a unique cellular protein that Marzluff's laboratory discovered
and cloned in 1996. This "stem-loop binding protein," may be
a fundamental regulator of histone genes, which are essential
for chromosome replication.
Petes
Thomas
D. Petes, a member of the School of Medicine's program in molecular
biology and biotechnology, is a member of the National Academy
of Sciences and is president of the Genetics Society of America.
He is also a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
His studies include the regulation of genome stability, regulation
of mutation rates and chromosome aberrations. He has identified
in yeast the gene TEL1, which is required for normal telomere
replication. This gene is related to the human gene that is
defective in people with the genetic disease of multi-systems,
ataxia telangiectasia.
Created in 1917 through the bequest of Mary Lily Kenan Flagler
Bingham, the Kenan professorships were among the University's
earliest endowments. Collectively, the four groups of Kenan
professorships constitute the largest number of endowed professorships
available to the University. They have been credited with attracting
or retaining a large number of outstanding faculty members for
the University and adding substantially to the University's
high academic standing.
Campus
Awards
Edward
Kidder Graham Awards
Advisor
Awards
Outstanding advisors to student organizations were selected
by seniors on the basis of counsel, service/dedication, transition/continuity
and impact on the student organization. Recipients are: Jean
Desaix, Episcopal Campus Ministry; Richard Forbis, Alpha Chi
Sigma; Greg Kable, Lab! Theatre; and Bland Simpson, Dialectic
and Philanthropic Societies.
Faculty
Awards
Presented by seniors to those faculty members who have made
a significant impact on undergraduate studies by contributing
to student learning both inside and outside the classroom. Recipients
are: Deb Aikat, journalism and mass communication; Janice Bardsley,
Asian studies; Thomas Clegg, physics and astronomy; Jean Desaix,
biology; Paul Ferguson, communication studies; Boka Hadzija,
pharmacy; Sherryl Kleinman, sociology; John Nadas, music; Yee
Jack Ng, physics and astronomy; Joy Renner, medicine; C.A. Tuggle,
journalism and mass communication; Dave Vandermast, biology;
James White, political science; and Emily Williamson, American
studies.
Awards
for Superlative Contributions
Superlative designations in the preceding categories were determined
by a committee of student leaders and staff from nominations
submitted by members of the Class of 2002, faculty and staff.
Recipients are: Deb Aikat, Boka Hadzija, John Nadas, Yee Jack
Ng, C.A. Tuggle, and advisor Greg Kable.
Albert
Guckes
Department of Prosthodontics associate professor, Guckes was
selected by students to receive the dental school's most prestigious
teaching award, the Richard F. Hunt Excellence in Pre Doctoral
Teaching Award.
Freda
McClain
Health Sciences Library human resources facilitator, McClain
received the library's Award of Excellence for "dedication,
competence, communication skills and initiative."
Diane
McKenzie
Health Sciences Library Collection Development librarian, McKenzie
received the library's Award for Distinguished Service "for
significant achievements on behalf of the [library] and its
patrons."
Student
Health Service
The following employees received Peer Recognition Awards: Rita
Proctor of Pharmacy and Kathy Roberts of the X-Ray Department,
Commitment Award; Mario Ciocca, a clinic physician, Excellence
in Service; Director Bob Wirag, Leadership Award; Kim McCown,
Teamwork Award; Shanna Fleenor, Human Resources manager, Unsung
Hero Award; Beverly Yuhasz of Women's Health, Collaboration
Award.
Star
Heels
Brenda
Barnes, Friday Center for Continuing Education
Barnes
was nominated for "her professional demeanor, dedication to
her job, and positive attitude [that] are evident in her everyday
work."
Travis
Baston, Bobby Jourdan, Vern King, Facilities Services - Cogeneration
Baston,
Jourdan and King were nominated for their "excellent service
and dedication and for exhibiting the qualities of reliability,
teamwork and creativity in [their] day-to-day work."
Carolyn
Cooper, School of Nursing
Cooper
was nominated for being "an outstanding teacher and mentor."
Carol
Durham, School of Nursing
Durham
was nominated for working "extremely hard to get Stan the Man
[patient simulator] at the School of Nursing - a great accomplishment
for us."
Terry
Dutton, TEACCH Division
Dutton
was nominated for his "demonstrated sensitivity toward people
with autism and their families. He places high priority on his
own professional development, staff development and the importance
of team work."
Velma
Ellis, School of Nursing
Ellis
was nominated for being "a pleasure to work with and very dedicated
to her job."
Ruth
Fuller, TEACCH Division
Fuller
was nominated for her "dedicated service to the TEACCH program."
Suellen
McCauley, Clinical Services
McCauley
was nominated for playing "a key role in the improvement of
the patient admissions process. Because of her contributions
to this project, the change was well thought out and successful."
Anne
McGuire, TEACCH Division
McGuire
was nominated for her "outstanding service and dedication to
the department."
Doris
Murrell, TEACCH Division
Murrell
was nominated for her "outstanding service to the TEACCH Division."
Ann
Palmer, TEACCH Division
Palmer
was nominated for her development of the parent mentor program
and the Home Teaching Kit, and for being a "great role model
and support for families."
Terry
Rollins, Academic Affairs Library
Rollins
was nominated for being "an effective, caring supervisor to
our student employees" and for providing "helpful service to
our library users."
Veronica
Sanchez, Clinical Services
Sanchez
was nominated for demonstrating "exceptional skills in the performance
of her assisting duties" and for her willingness "to go the
extra mile to help the patients, students and faculty."
Patti
Sharp-Webb, TEACCH Division
Sharp-Webb
was nominated for carrying "an autistic client out of the building
at the time of a fire."
Lynnette
Thacker, School of Nursing
Thacker
was nominated for being a "creative thinker," and for putting
"together a wonderful scrapbook for a retiring staff person."
Suzanne
Walker, School of Nursing
Walker
was nominated for her "patience and understanding at all times
... With a smile she is willing to assist at any time."
Editor's
note: The Star Heels Award Program is sponsored by TIAA-CREF.
Winners each receive a $20 gift certificate. Employee Services
coordinates the program. Because of space constraints, the Gazette
is able to print only a highlight of most recipients' nominating
material.
Staff
Promotions/Reclassifications
Information
provided by Human Resources with employees' permission.
Amber
M. Allen, Student Services Assistant V, Graduate School
Christine
B. Anderson, Administrative Assistant I, Student Health
Service
Timothy
A. Bell, Research Technician II, Dept. of Genetics
Maureen
O. Craun, Accountant I, Academic Technology & Networking
Lynn
M. Davis, Information & Communications Specialist, Div.
of Cont. Education--Receipts
Barry
M. Fagan, Research Technician III, Neuroscience Center
Eric
N. Fischer, Research Technician II, Environmental Sciences
& Engineering
William
Geschwind, Computing Consultant III, Housing
Laura
E. Gilbert, Administrative Assistant II, Kenan-Flagler Business
School
Linda
R. Goldston, Administrative Officer III, School of Medicine
Administration
Wei
Jin, Application Analyst Programmer I, Frank P. Graham Child
Development Institute
Catherine
S. Johnson, Help Desk Assistant II, Academic Technology
& Networking
Paula
K. Joyner, Administrative Assistant II, Office of Provost
Health Affairs
Donna
P. Knighten, Administrative Secretary II, Construction Management
Kelly
K. Kress, Library Technical Assistant I, Academic Affairs
Library
Sara
K. Latta, Information & Communications Specialist II,
Highway Safety Research
Stephanie
N. Lowther, University Industrial Hygienist, Environment,
Health & Safety
Michelle
C. MacFadden, Accounting Technician II, Kenan-Flagler Business
School
Johnny
R. McLamb, Computing Consultant V, Emergency Medicine
Melanie
A. Miller, Information & Communications Specialist I,
Environmental Sciences & Engineering
Dwayne
E. Muhammad, Research Technician III, Microbiology &
Immunology
Linda
A. Naylor, Administrative Assistant III, Office of Provost
Academic Affairs
Bessie
M. Neville, Office Assistant IV, Sheps Center for Health
Services Res
David
A. Penuel, Computing Consultant I, Kenan-Flagler Business
School
Carly A. Perin, Systems Accountant I, Facilities Services Division
Lisa H. Phillippie, Administrative Assistant II, Biochemistry
Abby
D. Pinnix, Program Assistant V, Maternal & Child Health
Gabriele
M. Riggsbee, Administrative Assistant I, Medicine
Amy
L. Rives, Accounting Technician III, Study Abroad
Nathan
S. Shafar, Processing Assistant IV, Auxiliary Enterprises--Gen
Adm
Sandra
H. Void, Administrative Officer I, School of Medicine Administration
Jennifer
S. Whaley, Administrative Assistant I, Environmental Sciences
& Engineering
Bonnie
F. Wilson, Accounting Technician V,
Accounting Services
Adam
F. Wright, Psychoeducational Prog. Consul., TEACCH Division
University
Gazette
