Faculty/Staff News & Notes

•   Regina Carelli receives presidential award July 12
•   Kunihiko Suzuki honored by Japanese emperor
•   Three named to W. R. Kenan Jr. distinguished professorships
•   Richard Cole named Kerr professor
•   White named Human Resources facilitator of year
•   Outstanding managers earn awards
•   Vacancies filled by interim appointees
•   Bland Simpson named chair of creative writing program
•   Staff Promotions/Reclassifications
•   Star Heels
•   Decorations & Distinctions
•   Campus Awards

Regina Carelli receives
presidential award July 12

President George W. Bush honored a young University scientist July 12 as one of the Presidential Early Career Award winners for 2002.
Regina Carelli, associate professor of psychology, received the award during special ceremonies in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. Bush was scheduled to speak at the event.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held. The National Institutes of Health also hosted a reception for recipients July 11 on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md.

The Presidential Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding young scientists and engineers beginning independent careers and goes to about 60 people a year. In 1996, former President Bill Clinton directed the National Science and Technology Council to create the award program to recognize and support promising professionals doing research in science and technology.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse funds Carelli's work, which focuses on the biological basis of motivated behaviors such as cocaine addiction.

Numerous investigations have demonstrated that abused drugs' reinforcing properties and those of natural reinforcers such as food and water are controlled within the brain's "reward" system. Carelli uses microelectrodes to record the activity of many neurons simultaneously in that system to help explain underlying cellular processes, which control drug-taking behaviors.

A common view is that drugs of abuse exert their reinforcing actions by tapping into a neural circuit that normally processes information about natural rewards. Carelli's research, however, comparing neuronal responses when animals work to obtain a natural reward, such as food or water versus cocaine, showed that individual neurons clearly distinguish between the two types of reward.

In addition, she has demonstrated that neurons have specific responses to stimuli associated with cocaine reward. Her work shows how neural activity is altered by drug-taking behavior and will help identify brain processes and systems that can be targeted for drug addiction treatment.

Kunihiko Suzuki honored by Japanese emperor

The emperor and the prime minister of Japan honored Kunihiko Suzuki, professor of neurology and psychiatry at the School of Medicine, and five other scholars of Japanese ancestry, at a special ceremony in Tokyo June 10.

The six received this year's Academy Award, the most prestigious recognition in higher education in Japan. Recipients were selected from all scholastic endeavors and branches of science. A lunch at the Imperial Palace followed.

The academy consists of 150 members, only 20 of whom come from the health sciences. Seats are newly filled following the deaths of current members.

Director emeritus of Carolina's Neuroscience Center, Suzuki received his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy of science and his medical degree from Tokyo University. After an internship, he trained as a clinical neurologist in the United States before committing his life to research into the genetic basis of neurological diseases.

For the past 40 years, Suzuki has remained at the forefront of neuroscience, in part because he and his laboratory quickly adapted to and expanded on innovations in the field.

"It would be difficult to describe progress in research in neurogenetic diseases, particularly sphingolipidoses, during the second half of the 20th century without extensive references to Dr. Suzuki's contributions," the academy's citation read.

Among his contributions was determining the genetic basis of globoid cell leukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease, which affects the fatty sheath surrounding nerve cells. That work gave specialists for the first time the ability to diagnose the illness before death, and subsequently, even before birth. Another was identifying that the illness was essentially the same genetically in humans and in dogs, which boosted research on the human form.

Still another was proposing in 1972 a theory known as the "psychosine hypothesis," that was at first received skeptically but increasingly has become accepted and now is thought to be relevant to other brain diseases as well. Since then, he and colleagues have done extensive work with both naturally occurring and genetically manipulated mouse models for currently incurable neurological disorders and have generated much useful new information about them, according to the citation.

Suzuki has served as president of both the International Society for Neurochemistry and the American Society for Neurochemistry and as editor of the Journal of Neurochemistry. He also is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
For the past 40 years, he has continued to train young Japanese researchers in his laboratory, as well as Americans and other nationalities. Many of his 30 former students have played important roles in advancing the field after they returned to Japan.

Three named to W. R. Kenan Jr.
distinguished professorships

Three faculty members have been appointed W.R. Kenan Jr. distinguished professors, effective July 1, 2002. They are:

Donald B. Bailey Jr., Frank Porter Graham Development Institute and School of Education;

Rachel Ann Rosenfeld, sociology; and

Alan Shapiro, English.

Bailey
Bailey is director of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and professor of education. The institute is a multidisciplinary organization, with a mission to cultivate and share knowledge that enhances the development of young children, improves childcare and other services for young children and increases support for families.

His research and publications have addressed a variety of issues related to early intervention for children with disabilities and their families, with a particular focus on family support, inclusion, early identification and program evaluation.

Currently Bailey directs a study of children with fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of mental retardation, and their families. Based on this research, he is now planning a study to screen a large number of newborns for the syndrome. The study will serve as a prototype for how society might address questions that will arise as the Human Genome Project identifies an increasingly large number of genetic disorders for which we have the capacity to screen but no medical cure.

Bailey received the 2002 Research Award from the American Association on Mental Retardation.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, running, golf, reading novels and going to the beach.
After receiving a B.A. in psychology from Davidson College, Bailey earned an M.Ed. in early childhood special education from Carolina and a Ph.D. in early childhood special education from the University of Washington.

Rosenfeld

Rosenfeld, who came to Carolina in 1981, is chair of the Department of Sociology and a fellow of the Carolina Population Center. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on social inequality, the labor force, gender and statistics.

Her research interests include early adult work and family lives in advanced industrialized countries (including comparisons of the former East and West Germanies), higher education and the contemporary U.S. women's movement.

Rosenfeld's publications include Farm Women: Work, Farm, and Family in the United States and Reconstructing the Academy, which she co-authored.

The first recipient of the Katherine Jocher-Belle Boone Beard Award for distinguished scholarship on gender from the Southern Sociological Society, she is a recipient of the Sociologists for Women in Society Award for Outstanding Mentoring. At Carolina, Rosenfeld received the first Department of Sociology graduate student mentoring award.

She has served on many editorial boards, including deputy editor of American Sociological Review. She just ended her term as president of the Southern Sociological Society and recently was elected to the American Sociological Association Publications Committee. From 1993-99, she held the Lara G. Hoggard Term Chair for distinguished mid-career faculty. Her web site is www.unc.edu/~rfeld
Rosenfeld received her B.A. from Carleton College and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Shapiro

Shapiro, a professor in the Department of English, teaches creative writing classes in poetry and nonfiction to undergraduates.
He writes poetry and essays and does some translating. In addition to his own writing projects, Shapiro is co-editor of Greek Tragedy in New Translation.

His most significant collections of poetry include Song and Dance, published this year; The Dead Alive and Busy, which won the 2001 Kingsley Tufts Award; and Mixed Company, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in poetry. In 1996, he published a memoir, The Last Happy Occasion, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

This year, Shapiro received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Writer's Award. Other recent awards include the O.B. Hardison Jr. Poetry Award from the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Artist Fellowship from The Open Society Institute's Project on Death in America. Twice he received poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Shapiro held a Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Writer's Award from 1991 to 1994 and was honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship in poetry in 1985.

He received his B.A. from Brandeis University.

The W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professorships, the largest group of professorships bearing the Kenan name, was established in 1965 by a bequest from William R. Kenan Jr.

An 1894 alumnus, Kenan became an internationally known chemical and engineering adviser. In 1926, Kenan gave Kenan Memorial Stadium to the University in memory of his parents. Following his death in 1965, part of his estate became the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. Upon receipt of a gift from the trust, the University named the business school the Kenan-Flagler Business. He also endowed the University with significant gifts.

Richard Cole named Kerr professor

The University recently recognized Dean Richard Cole for his 31 years of service to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, including 23 years as dean, by naming him the John Thomas Kerr Jr. distinguished professor, effective July 1.

John T. Kerr III of Durham contributed $666,000 last year to establish the professorship in the school in honor of his father. His contribution and a $334,000 matching grant from the state created the $1 million endowment to fund the professorship.

"It's richly deserved and long overdue," said Tom Bowers, senior associate dean. Bowers said members of the school's faculty had encouraged Cole to allow himself to be considered for a professorship for some time. They unanimously recommended that Cole be awarded this professorship.

Cole received the Freedom Forum Medal for Distinguished Accomplishments in Journalism and Mass Communication Administration in 1992. Recognizing lifetime achievements, it had been given only three times previously. Cole, then 50, was the youngest person to have received it.

Cole was the national president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) in 1982-83. He was national president the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1986-87.

He holds a University-wide teaching excellence award and has been a member of many national and international boards and task forces. He chaired the Freedom Forum's national Scholarship Committee for years and is chair of the National Steering Committee of the Hearst Foundation's journalism awards program. He was vice president of the national Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications from 1987 to 1995 and has chaired or been a member of national accrediting teams to more than 40 mass communication schools. He has been a consultant to several state governments and more than 45 universities worldwide. For eight years, he was a vice president of the worldwide International Association for Mass Communication Research.

Kerr sold 65 acres of land to establish the professorship in memory of his father, John T. Kerr Jr., who came to the University in 1918.
The Kerr family has a longstanding history with Carolina. Kerr's great-grandfather and father attended Carolina. Kerr III was desk editor of The Daily Tar Heel in 1943 and managing editor in 1944. He was associate editor of Carolina Magazine in 1943 and a member of the Publications Union Board in 1944. After serving in World War II, he returned to Carolina in 1947 as sports editor of Yackety Yack, the yearbook. Much of his life has been devoted to public relations and mass communication.

White named Human Resources
Facilitator of Year

Sylvia White was named the 2002 Human Resources Facilitator of the Year at a reception held June 7 at Wilson Library.

The award, sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, recognizes excellence in ambassadorship, customer service, knowledge and teamwork as demonstrated by Human Resources Facilitators.

All 38 nominees for this year's award were recognized at the reception, with excerpts from their nominations read aloud. Then, after a longer excerpt from the recipient's nomination was read, White's name was announced.

"I am proud to be a part of this Carolina family, and even now I wouldn't think of working anywhere else," said White, who has worked at the University since 1974. "Carolina has become my home away from home. My life has been blessed by the number of staff, students and faculty that I have worked with and met over the years."

White has been the EPA personnel officer for the College of Arts and Sciences since 1998.

One of her nominators wrote, "Sylvia has been exceptional at finding ways to make systems more efficient and provide departments with the information they need to complete their responsibilities. Many HR facilitators call on Sylvia for advice, which more than likely includes a kind word or two (or three) to put a smile on their face."

White's skill and rapport also have won her the respect of her colleagues. A nomination from another HR facilitator in the college stated, "Her expertise, her efficiency, her kindness, her concern, her attention to every question and inquiry, her remarkable shining personality [and] her joy in her work all add up to a stellar performance."

Another added, "I am my own HR facilitator, and I deserve the moon! But she deserves the sun and the stars as well. What to say? She is extraordinary."

Human Resources Facilitators are employees in University departments who process permanent, temporary and student employee personnel actions; handle leave, benefits or payroll matters for their departments; serve as the primary liaison between the Office of Human Resources and employees; or who supervise a work group that performs these functions.
There are over 350 HR facilitators across campus. The Office of Human Resources relies heavily upon these individuals and established this award program to recognize their service to the University.

The Facilitator of the Year program began in 1996.

Human Resources Facilitator of the Year nominees

Valerie Bernhardt, Germanic Languages
Donna Boggs, Computer Science
Christina Bowman, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Sharon Braxton, Nursing
Mary Brinson, NC Health Careers Access Program
Vanessa Brock, Lineberger Cancer Center
Trish Bunn, Graduate School
Tiffany Clarke, SPH Instructional and Info Systems
Helen Davis, Cell & Molecular Physiology
Sue Devinney, Cell & Developmental Biology
Nancy Edwards, Contracts & Grants
Trevaughn Eubanks, Black Cultural Center
Shanna Fleenor, Student Health Service
Mary Fuller, Office of Minority Affairs
Kim Gardner, FPG Child Development Institute
Cheryl Goodrich, Otolaryngeology/Head & Neck Surgery
Patti Greeson, Printing Services
Howard Hayes, Undergraduate Admissions
Sue Hester, Honors Program
Correnthia Hill, Exercise and Sport Science
Vickie Holland, Anesthesiology
Dee Jacobs, Housing and Residential Education
Carrie Johnston, HPAA
Donnese Laster, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Freda McClain, Health Sciences Library
Lesa McPherson, Epidemiology
Brenda Moore, Research Laboratories - Archaeology
Patriea Neville, Psychology
Carol Payne, Office of Advancement & Development
Cindy Reardon, Public Safety
Sharon Rone, Microbiology and Immunology
Phyllis Rone-Burrell, University Registrar
Debbie Simmons-Cahan, American Studies
Barbara Szilvay, Physics & Astronomy
Joyce Vines, Carolina Population Center
Anita Wright, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Amy Zachary, Financial Planning & Budgets

Outstanding managers earn awards

Linda Cook, student services manager with the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, and Betsy Faulkner, business manager for the School of Education, are recipients of Excellence in Management awards. The awards are presented annually to two University employees in recognition of meritorious and distinguished accomplishments in management.

Each winner will receive a monetary award as well as a framed certificate. An awards luncheon is planned for Aug. 14 at the Carolina Inn, at which presentations also will be made to the Chancellor's Award winners.

Cook

Cook was nominated for her creativity, both in "ensuring the equable distribution of department funds to students," and for "her resourceful budgeting solutions." In addition, she was cited for her tenacity "in seeking and capturing external funding sources for incoming students" and perhaps most of all, for her "fierce" advocacy of students.

Her nominator wrote, "Linda is a creative leader who is able to balance fairness with advocacy and who, through these qualities, is able to inspire the loyalty of the department's students, staff and faculty. … She's as committed to her job, and 'her students,' as any person I've ever met."

Faulkner

Even in times of bleak budgets, Faulkner was nominated for her "graceful" navigation of the economy's "rough seas," especially in the midst of the renovation of Peabody Hall and the construction of the School of Education wing at Smith Middle School.

According to her nominating materials, "The pressure Ms. Faulkner has been under over the last year or more would be enough to make most high-level administrative personnel simply snap. And yet she continues to impress me with her determination, resolve and ability to confront and manage the many problems associated with these three major issues: budget cuts, building renovation and large construction project."

All permanent employees serving in a managerial capacity were eligible to be nominated for this award. All permanent University employees, University temporaries, and students were eligible to submit nominations.

Vacancies filled by interim appointees

Chancellor James Moeser has made interim appointments to fill vacancies in two key vice chancellor positions.

Dean Bresciani, who has served as associate vice chancellor for student services, is serving as interim vice chancellor for student affairs. He temporarily replaces Sue Kitchen, who stepped down. Bresciani began his new duties on July 1.

Moeser said he will appoint a search committee to help identify a permanent successor. At the same time, Moeser will organize a committee to study the Division of Student Affairs and make recommendations about its organization and the kind of candidate the campus should seek.

In information technology, Stephen Jarrell has agreed to serve as interim vice chancellor, effective July 26. Jarrell retired last December as associate vice chancellor for information technology and executive director of Administrative Information Services. He will fill in for Marian Moore, who has accepted an offer from Boston College to serve as its vice president for information technology. A search committee for this position will be formed soon, Moeser said.

Bland Simpson named chair
of creative writing program

Author and musician/composer/lyricist Bland Simpson has been named chair of the Creative Writing Program, succeeding Marianne Gingher, who had run the program since 1997. Simpson's appointment was effective July 1.

An assistant professor of English, Bland chairs the 2002 North Carolina Writers Conference and has taught in the Creative Writing Program since 1982.

He wrote Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals: The Mystery of the Carroll A. Deering, a nonfiction novel coming out in October. Also written by Simpson are Heart of the Country, The Great Dismal, The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey and Into the Sound Country: A Carolinian's Coastal Plain.

A member of the Tony Award-winning Red Clay Ramblers, Simpson has collaborated on such musicals as King Mackerel & The Blues Are Running, Kudzu, and Fool Moon.

Staff Promotions/Reclassifications

Information provided by Human Resources with employees' permission. Entries are listed by name, new title and department.

Christopher B. Allen, Computing Consultant I, Athletic Football Office
Connie H. Boyce, Personnel Supervisor I, Human Resources
Ann E. Byassee, Accounting Specialist I, Office of Technology Development
Kari T. Corker, Administrative Assistant I, Head and Neck Surgery
Laura E. Curtis, Social Research Associate I, Community Medical Education
Brenda C. Dennis, Human Services Planner/Evaluator, FPG Child Development Center
Barbara M. Dietsch, Library Technical Assistant II, School of Information & Library Science
Edna L. Edwards-Titus, Research Analyst I, Center for Alcohol Studies
Andrew P. Fogarty, Research Technician III, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Kim V. Gardner, Administrative Assistant III, FPG Child Development Center
Leslie D. Gray, Administrative Assistant II, School of Medicine Administration
Gwendolyn J. Hackney, Administrative Services Assistant V, Biomedical Engineering
Tonya R. Hargett, Laboratory Animal Facilities Manager II, Laboratory Animal Medicine
Patricia L. Hasbrouck, Nursing Education Clinician II, Pediatrician
Jenny L. Holt, Administrative Assistant II, Pathology & Lab Medicine
Kimberli A. Jones, Processing Assistant IV, Athletic Educational Foundation
C. Elaine Lambert, Administrative Assistant I, Center for Digestive Disorders & Nutrition
Casey Liston, Information & Communications Specialist, Continuing Education-Receipts
Wanda J. Mitchell, Social Research Assistant I, Center for Digestive Disorders & Nutrition
Rebecca A. Molinary, Administrative Secretary III, Academic Technology & Networking Service
Doris B. Perry, Paralegal II, Office of Technology Development
Meriam E. Turner-Gnann, Accounting Clerk IV, Printing and Duplicating
Teresa P. Vanderford, Administrative Secretary III, Athletic Football Office
Melissa K. Walker, Administrative Assistant I, School of Public Health
Tearrah M. Wilkins, Administrative Assistant I, Psychiatry

Star Heels

Jennifer Albright, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Albright was nominated for organizing "noon time escapes," which "brings employees together" and "encourages a feeling of community."

Sharon Baker, Psychiatry
Baker "has worked harder and put in more overtime than anyone should have to in an effort to get the department's accounting office on track."

Kia Barbee, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
"The department would like to give this award to Kia for consistently helping others without being asked."

Terry Barker, Dentistry, Dean Academic Affairs
Barker was nominated for her leadership. "She completes her tasks with great enthusiasm, care and efficiency."

Kalo Baron, Med. School Admin
Baron "has learned an extremely difficult and complex job in a short period of time."

Cathy Blake, Contracts & Grants
Blake "is extremely dependable, always cheerful and makes being at work a pleasure."

Brett Bowers, School of Government
Bowers "enthusiastically agrees to undertake any task - from the most mundane to more complicated new tasks requiring him to learn new skills."

Sharon Bowers, Maternal and Child Health

Stephanie Brewington, School of Pharmacy
"She does and knows everything. Never, ever complains. How lucky we are to work with her!"

Pat Brooks, School of Pharmacy
"She is efficient, very kind with everybody, helpful, knowledgeable, finishes all requests on time and in a perfect and superb way."

Teresa Brooks, Family Medicine
Brooks was nominated in particular for her "initiative" and "remarkable extra efforts" during the department's training for the Immigrant Health Initiative.

Patricia Burnette, Maternal and Child Health

Ramona Byrkit, Med. School Admin
"During the past year, Byrkit's contributions to Intrah and PRIME II have far exceeded the requirements of her position."

Lori Carter, Medical School Admin - Center for Maternal & Infant Health
Carter was nominated "for the leadership skills that she has exhibited by taking on the role of interim perinatal care coordinator for the center."

Janet Cates, Materials Management & Distribution
Cates was nominated for her "excellence in service."

Elizabeth Davis, Slavic Languages & Literatures
Davis "is very resourceful and willing to tackle any new project without hesitation."

Andrew "Andy" Chrismon, School of Social Work
Chrismon was nominated for his conscientious management of classroom equipment and set ups and for his budget-cutting ability.

Renee Clark, FPG Child Development Institute
Clark "maintains a high sense of responsibility, accountability, and ambassadorship."

Brenda Coleman, FPG Child Development Institute
Coleman "has endured major changes processes at both the department and University levels since her employment. Her ability to learn and adapt quickly to new systems is impressive."

Linda Cook, Health Behavior and Health Education
Cook "has the ability to initiate and complete all her work, solving numerous problems along the way, with almost no input or day-to-day supervision from others."

Cyndie Cowan, Academic Affairs Library
Cowan "is an invaluable resource not only for her department but for the library as she manages a very complex and difficult area of specialization with many challenges."

Gisele Crawford,
FPG Child Development Institute
Crawford "has gone above and beyond in providing leadership to her research team of data collectors and their successful completion of data collection at 80 sites across Georgia and Kentucky."

Amity Crowther, Center for Developmental Science
Crowther was nominated as "a real asset to the center community. She is witty and fun. She is cooperative and attentive to detail."

Robert Dalton, Academic Affairs Library
Dalton "has done a great job, managing with compassion, good humor and understanding."

Nancy Dooly, School of Government
Dooly "epitomizes the word 'service' by responding positively and practically to faculty and staff needs. She handles projects with care, skill, and diplomacy."

Tracy Eldred, Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research & Treatment Center
"Her work is of consistently high quality, and she maintains outstanding rapport with investigators and staff. She is a dedicated professional and an asset to the center."

Tammy Elliott, Pediatrics
Elliott "is an outstanding employee. She has a very positive approach in all things asked of her and is always enthusiastic and supportive."

Bernetta Evans, Law Library
Evans "performs her duties with exceptional accuracy and timeliness while always demonstrating willingness to help others."

Amber Fewell, NC Health Careers Access Program
"Fewell made significant contributions in keeping the tasks/duties associated with [a vacant position] moving smoothly. She has gone beyond the call of duty to coordinate the program and services."

Mark Fraser, School of Social Work
Among his skills, Fraser "is a superb teacher … a key member of the doctoral program committee, a national figure in research and writing, a well-published author, and a generally excellent citizen of the school."

Carie Freeman, Associate Vice Chancellor, Finance
Freeman was nominated for her loyalty and dedication. "There have been numerous occasions when I will stop to assign a task and she has already realized its need and taken care of it."

Rachel Frew, Academic Affairs Library
Frew's "'can-do' creativity is exemplary. Her dedication to her work is a commitment that goes well beyond her job description."

David Gellatly, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology & Disease
Gellatly was nominated for his work on a "difficult research project, one requiring an unusual degree of resourcefulness and perseverance."

Esther Glenn, Kenan-Flagler Business School
Glenn "is very creative and conducts her duties in a professional manner. Her performance in terms of handling the faculty in her area is truly exceptional."

Diane Godwin, Psychiatry
Godwin "always presents a professional, courteous and caring manner whether dealing with physicians, patients or staff."

Cassandra Greene-Hines, Radiology
Greene-Hines was nominated for "her hard work, dedication and length of service. She goes beyond the call of duty and has earned the respect of her co-workers, employees and management."

George Guthrie,
FPG Child Development Institute
Guthrie "has introduced and implemented new technology, methods and processes to ensure accurate and sound fiscal accountability to our institute."

Jamie Hah, Med. School Admin
Hah "shows a tremendous desire to be both helpful and patient. … Her calm and confident demeanor provides a productive and congenial atmosphere for the whole office."

Jay Hargrove, FPG Child Development Institute
Hargrove "is the 'go-to' resource for our many needs in the Sheryl May Building. … He is definitely a joy to work with."

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.

Decorations & Distinctions

Larry Alford
Deputy university librarian in the Academic Affairs Library, Alford has been elected to the board of trustees of the Online Computer Library Center, a nonprofit organization that provides computer-based services to 41,000 libraries worldwide.

Nancy DeMore
Assistant professor of surgery in the School of Medicine, DeMore has been awarded a three-year Career Development Award by the American Society of Clinical Oncology for her research project "Molecular Characterization of Human Breast Cancer Micrometastases."

Ridley Kessler Jr.
Federal documents librarian in the Academic Affairs Library, Kessler has received the James Bennett Childs Award of the American Library Association - a tribute to an individual who has made a lifetime and significant contribution to the field of government documents librarianship.

Rebecca Laudicina
Associate professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences' Division of Clinical Laboratory Science, Laudicina has been chosen to receive the Joseph J. Kleiner Memorial Award of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science for an article published in the society's research journal.

Joanne Gard Marshall
Dean of the School of Information and Library Science, Marshall has been named a fellow of the Medical Library Association in recognition of her outstanding contributions and commitment to health sciences information.

Harold C. Pillsbury III
Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery, Pillsbury has been elected vice president/president-elect of the American Board of Otolaryngology.

William L. Roper
Dean of the School of Public Health, Roper has been chosen to serve on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, the group of advisers that selects participants for the White House Fellows Program.

John Sowter
Adjunct professor in the Department of Prosthodontics, Sowter received the 2002 Outstanding Faculty Award from the Carolinas Section of the American College of Dentistry for demonstrating excellence in professionalism and ethics throughout the year. The award is given by the graduating dental class.

Campus Awards

School of Government
Staff Excellence Awards
Janet W. Edwards,
Jennifer "Jen" Condry Muller
Program coordinator for the Municipal and County Administration Courses, Edwards "is regarded by her colleagues as a role model."
Human Resources assistant Muller "is highly regarded for her dedication, thoroughness, flexibility, discretion [and] cheerfulness."

School of Information
and Library Science
Outstanding Teacher of the Year
Brian Sturm
Assistant Professor Sturm received the award based on nominations and class evaluations from students and submissions from faculty members outlining their teaching philosophies.

School of Public Health
Bernard G. Greenberg Alumni
Endowment Award
Mark D. Sobsey
Professor of Environmental Sciences and Engineering Sobsey will use the award, given for excellence in teaching, research and service, to support his research on water and food supply pathogens.

University Gazette