Other June 2010 Board Actions:
Promotions
Budget

Several personnel actions were approved during the Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents meeting FridayFriday reviews on the OSU-Oklahoma City campus.

Dr. Jorge H. Atiles was appointed associate dean and professor for extension and engagement in the College of Human Environmental Sciences. Atiles has served as associate dean for outreach and extension in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia, where he also had served as the Family and Consumer Sciences State Program Leader for Cooperative Extension and was a leader in Latino outreach for UGA Extension.

He received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena in the Dominican Republic, his master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and his Ph.D. in housing, interior design and resource management.

Dr. Donald R. Herrmann, associate professor and Arthur Andersen Professor of Accounting, has been named head of the School of Accounting and Anadarko Petroleum Chair in Accounting. He joined the OSU accounting faculty in 2005 after serving on faculties at Oregon State University and Baylor University. He received his B.S. in business administration from John Brown, his master’s degree in accounting from Kansas State University, and his Ph.D. in finance accounting from OSU.

APPOINTMENTS: John L. Abernathy, assistant professor, accounting; Rubindhiran Pillay, Daniel White Jordan Clinical Professor in Entrepreneurship and Creativity, entrepreneurship;  Mihyun Kang, assistant professor, design, housing and merchandising; Julia T. Atiles, associate professor, human development and family science; Kevin R. Fite, associate athletic director, NCAA compliance; Troy A. Levings, director, physical plant administration.

TITLE CHANGES: Don R. Hansen, Regents Service Professor, accounting, adds title of Arthur Andersen Professor; Mark Weiser, associate dean, professor, Fleming Professor and director, management science and information systems, to professor, Fleming Professor and director; James G. Hromas, associate professor, marketing, returning to faculty position, removing director title, appointment to Lawrence L. Boger Chair; Sue C. Jacobs, associate professor, applied health and educational psychology, appointment to Ledbetter Lemon Endowed Diversity Professorship. 

SABBATICALS: Guolong Zhang, animal science, 50 percent sabbatical to study the host immune response to infections with influenza viruses using genomic, protemic and lipidomic techniques at the Washington National Primate Research Center in Seattle, Wash., from Sept. 1, 2010, to Aug. 31, 2011; Ramamurthy Mahalingam, biochemistry and molecular biology; 100 percent sabbatical to collaborate with Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., on the genetic mechanisms of dehydration and drought tolerance, particularly stress signaling mechanisms, from July 1-Dec. 31;  Xiang Fang, marketing, 100 percent sabbatical to serve as a visiting scholar at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics to collaborate on research of consumer responses to cross-border brand acquisitions, Jan. 1-June 30, 2011.

RETIREMENTS: Kim B. Anderson and Joseph E. Williams, both agricultural economics, June 30; Glenn E. Selk, animal science, June 30; Ronald L. Elliott, Michael A. Kizer, Michael D. Smolen, all biosystems and agricultural engineering, June 30; John B. Solie, biosystems and agricultural engineering, June 10; Kenneth E. Conway and Jim T. Criswell, both entomology and plant pathology, June 30; John C. Banks, Bjorn Martin and Thomas F. Peeper, all plant and soil sciences, June 30; Linda C. Leavell, English, Aug. 1; Robert B. Garner, journalism and broadcasting, June 1; Pat D. Brock, engineering technology, Aug. 31; Jim L. Hanson, engineering technology, July 1; Patricia M. Knaub, human development and family science, June 30.

For OSU-Oklahoma City, appointments were approved for Jennifer R. Poynter, instructor and head, arts and sciences; and for RebeccaRebecca reviews J. Pruitt, department head, early care education. Scott C. Lovett, instructor of health sciences, was named head of health sciences. A title change was approved for Sally Henderson, veterinary technology, from professor and head to professor; and for David A. Morales, veterinary technology, from assistant professor to assistant professor and head.

For the OSU Center for Health Sciences, appointments were approved for KatherineKatherine reviews D. CookCook reviews and David M. Wilkett, clinical assistant professors, medicine; Mark H. Thai, clinical assistant professor, osteopathic manipulative medicine; and Travis Campbell and William A. See III, clinical assistant professors, pediatrics. A title change was approved for Sarah M. Hall from clinical assistant professor to assistant professor, family medicine; and for HarrietHarriet reviews A. Shaw, from clinical professor to professor, osteopathic manipulative medicine.

For the OSU Institute of Technology, the retirement of Mary A. Dickson, visual communications, July 2, was accepted.

Other June 2010 Board Actions:
Personnel
Budget

The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents approved promotions in academic rank for faculty members on the campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, effective July 1, during its meeting today at OSU-Oklahoma City.

On the Stillwater campus, receiving promotions from professor to the honorary title of Regents Professor were Janet Cole, horticulture and landscape architecture; Subhash Kak, computer science; Ibrahim Ahmad, statistics; Loren Smith, zoology; Lowell Caneday, applied health and educational psychology; Laura Hubbs-Tait, human development and family science; and Robert Fulton, pathobiology.

Receiving promotions from associate professor to professor were Peter Muriana, animal science; Jose Soulages, biochemistry and molecular biology; Nathan Walker, entomology and plant pathology; William McGlynn, horticulture and landscape architecture; Edward Jones, English; Carol Moder, English; Laura Belmonte, history; Jason Lavery, history; Anthony Kable, mathematics; Rebekah Herrick, political science; Douglas Hershey, psychology; Melanie Page, psychology; Margaret White, management; Carrie Winterowd, applied health and educational psychology; William Ryan, hotel and restaurant administration; David Oberhelman, library; Tanya Finchum, library; Douglas Step, veterinary clinical sciences. Robert Larzelere, human development and family science, was promoted to professor, action granting tenure.

Faculty receiving reappointments as associate professor, action granting tenure, were Rodney Will Jr., natural resource ecology and management; Tony Kang, accounting; David Barney, applied health and educational psychology; Jeffrey Hawkins, teaching and curriculum leadership; Imadeddine Abouzahr, engineering technology; Murat Hancer, hotel and restaurant administration; Karen Neurohr, library; and Victor Baeza, library.

Faculty receiving promotions from assistant professor to associate professor, action granting tenure, were Cindy Blackwell, agricultural education, communication and leadership; Tracy Boyer, agricultural economics; Deborah Van Overbeke, animal science; Patricia Ayoubi, biochemistry and molecular biology; Ning Wang, biosystems and agricultural engineering; Michael Holmes, horticulture and landscape architecture; Charles Weinert, chemistry; Cheryl Giddens, communication sciences and disorders; Xiaolin Li, computer science; Brian Price, English; Tonia Nash, history; Mahdi Asgari, mathematics; Douglas Droste, music; Laura Talbott, music; Flera Rizatdinova, physics; Mark Wolfgram, political science; Tamara Mix, sociology; Lloyd Caldwell, theatre; W. Matthew Bowler, management; Bridget Miller, applied health and educational psychology; Matthew O’Brien, applied health and educational psychology; Bernita Krumm, educational studies; Paolo Sanza, architecture; Heather Yates, engineering technology; Brandt Gardner, human development and family science; Mary Leech, library; Robin Allison, pathobiology; Diane McFarlane, physiological sciences. Dan Chaney, library, received a promotion to associate professor.

On the OSU-Oklahoma City campus, Teri Ferguson, general studies, was promoted from associate professor to professor.

Faculty receiving promotions from assistant professor to associate professor, actions granting tenure, were Diana Wolfe, computer information systems/technology communications; Tracy Edwards, Saundra Medrano, Anna Nguyen, health sciences; Karen Jobe, humanities; Larry Robinson, public safety; and Dean Scherer, science.

Receiving promotions from instructor to assistant professor were Petra Hutchison, early care education; Michael Goldman, fire protection; Nada Cain, Dawn Hemphill, Nicole Pascher and Lora Winchester, health sciences; Haldor Howard, horticulture; Kent Studnicka, human services; Jerald Rice and Jason Stone, humanities; Gary Davis, interpreter training; and Bob Linville, management studies.

For the OSU Center for Health Sciences, Kayse Donnelley received a promotion from associate professor to professor and chair, pediatrics; and Randall Davis was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor, action granting tenure.

Multi-million dollar energy savings over the last year through Oklahoma State University’s conservation program have enabled the university to open five new buildings on the Stillwater campus without increasing the overall maintenance and operation budget. 

“This is a testimony to the school’s priority to contain costs while still moving forward with significant new facility construction on the campus,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. 

The new buildings are the North Classroom Building, the Multimodal Facility, Murray Hall, Old Central and the Henry Bellmon Research Center.

“Our energy conservation program is a tremendous example of our cost containment priorities at OSU,” stated Hargis.  “The $3.3 million in energy savings we have realized over the first nine months of our fiscal year have allowed us to open these facilities – over 320,000 square feet – without increasing our monthly utility budget a single penny. In simple terms, the monthly savings from our energy program offset the additional monthly utility costs of these new buildings.”

Since 2007 OSU has partnered with Energy Education, recipient of the 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to reduce energy consumption on the OSU campuses in Stillwater, Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Okmulgee.  As a result, OSU has saved over $10.6 million in energy costs and reduced carbon emissions by 86,000 metric tons of CO2, which is the equivalent to planting 2.2 million trees.  Plus, for the second year in a row the General University utilities budget has not increased as a result of savings from the energy conservation program.

OSU’s energy conservation program was also selected as the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities Grand Finalist Best Practice for 2008-2009.

Due to extensive renovation and construction in Oklahoma State University’s Student Union, OSU and the City of Stillwater have temporarily removed the facility from the list of available public storm shelters. 

“Construction in the Student Union is making it impossible to accommodate people during severe storm events; there are simply too many hazards in what is now a construction site in the Student Union’s lower levels to allow people in those restricted areas,” according to Ron Hill, OSU Emergency Operations and Preparedness Manager.

The OSU Student Union is one of three public storm shelters in Stillwater.   The other two, which are also on the OSU campus, are Agriculture (Ag) Hall (southwest corner of Farm Road and Monroe) and Engineering South (located just southeast of the Edmon Low Library). They will remain open to the public as storm shelters. 

“OSU will continue to work with the City of Stillwater to try and identify other locations that could be used during this period.  OSU will also work to help inform the community on how to prepare and keep themselves safe during severe weather events,” said Hill. 

The Student Union is expected to reopen as a public storm shelter in the spring of 2012.

Workers have started installing underground pipe that will provide irrigation to Oklahoma State University’s Stillwater campus through a system that will eventually be fed by raw or untreated water from Lake Carl Blackwell.

“Initially, these new irrigation systems will cover the entire central campus, and be connected to the domestic water supply. However, later this year, we will begin work on a raw water supply system to campus,” said Monty Karns, assistant director of Construction Services at OSU.

This raw water supply system for irrigation will consist of a new pump station near the existing water treatment plant on campus and piping to Theta Pond. OSU has contracted with Lippert Brothers Inc. to install the system.

“The irrigation system will be connected to the new raw water supply once it is completed next summer,” said Karns. “Using raw water from Lake Carl Blackwell has environmental benefits including reducing the amount of chemicals being used by our water treatment plant.”

The initial installation of the irrigation system started last week in the areas surrounding Life Sciences East and West and, once completed, the entire central campus will have an irrigation system, according to Karns.

A total of 153 undergraduate and graduate students were inducted this spring into the Oklahoma State University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi national honor society.

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s largest honor society. To be invited to join, a student must be among the top 10 percent of his or her college, according to grade point average, and be within two semesters of graduation. This is the oldest and largest collegiate honor society to initiate people from every academic discipline. The main objective of Phi Kappa Phi is to promote academic excellence and achievement through encouragement and recognition.

New inductees include:

ARCADIAArcadia reviews: Kimberly Snyder, veterinary medicine.

BARTLESVILLE: Nicole P. Bryant, microbiology/cell and molecular biology; Eric Schubert, computer engineering.

BILLINGS: Haley Hayton, agribusiness.

BLANCHARD: Stephanie Bowen, agricultural communications.

BLUEJACKET: Cameron Wilkins, economics.

BROKEN ARROW: Calvert R. McMahon, finance; Kyle Reedy, environmental science; Christopher W. Reneau, business administration graduate student; Tyler Ward, animal science.

CHANDLER: EricEric reviews C. Freeman, aerospace administration and operations; Grant Leatherwood, agricultural communications.

CLAREMORE: Julie A. Cagle, accounting; Hayden T. Hamby, biochemistry; Sonia Eckert Hart, teaching, learning and leadership graduate student; Kristin M. Nevels, mechanical engineering; Ryan Siemens, general business.

COLLINSVILLE: Angela Colwell, secondary education.

COWETA: Jennifer Jaycox, veterinary medicine.

CUSHING: Martin Jones III, management information systems.

DEL CITY: Angela Burden, applied educational studies doctoral student.

DUNCAN: Jenna K. Bethany, journalism and broadcasting.

DURANT: RebeccaRebecca reviews D. Robertson, psychology.

EDMOND: Blaine Bertrem, psychology; Anna E. Davis, accounting; Amaziah A. Dominic, applied educational studies doctoral student; John J. Ford, civil engineering; Danielle Goldbeck, chemical engineering; Adele Conahan Hanlon, education doctoral student; Cameron Jones, agricultural education; Logan McAlister, accounting; Nathan J. Muschinske, chemical engineering; Karlyse Thomas, athletic training; Kayla B. Willis, design, housing and merchandising; Elisabeth L. WinterWinter reviews, elementary education.

EL RENO: Jared J. Krittenbrink, civil engineering.

EUFAULA: Paula O. Fitzer, human environmental sciences graduate student.

GLENPOOL: Virginia B. Cannon, English.

GUTHRIE: Susan Hood, applied educational studies doctoral student; Kelly McCorkle, physiology; John M. Wilson III, finance.

HARDESTY: Melyssa Gilbert, economics.

HODGEN: Krystal L. Richie, art.

HOMINY: Melinda Carter, political science.

JENKS: Bryan Berky, secondary education.

KINGFISHER: Katie Gruntmeir, agricultural education.

MANNFORD: Alesha Winburn, elementary education.

MIDWEST CITY: Jamie Beckel, marketing.

MORRISON: Natalie Keith, veterinary medicine.

MOUNDS: Christopher Gilliland, natural resource ecology and management.

MUSKOGEE: Allyson Dickmann, management.

NORMAN: Justin Little Jim, veterinary medicine; Debra Srite, applied educational studies doctoral student.

OCHELATA: Kayla Swanson, animal science.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Steven Cain, biochemistry and molecular biology (73151); Megan Caudill, nutritional sciences (73134); Dena M. Dewhirst, human development and family science (73119); Ryan Kubat, microbiology/cell and molecular biology (73131); Colby Loud, finance (73162); Kristy K. Reed, natural and applied sciences graduate student (73132); Andre Ruhlmann, physiology (73162); Emma Rupert, animal science (73118); Brady Selig, biochemistry senior (73170).

OKMULGEE: Laura Sanford, leisure studies.

OWASSO: Ellen McElrath, mechanical engineering; Megan Muse, elementary education.

PERRY: Kaitlyn Armstrong, communication sciences and disorders.

PONCA CITY: Katrina Kirsch, zoology graduate student.

RINGWOOD: Alyssa Davidson, management.

SAPULPA: Terrisa A. Hardy, management.

SHAWNEE: Christopher S. Copeland, accounting; Nicholas Copeland, civil engineering; Derick R. Winsett, management.

STILLWATER: Angela K. Bearden, sociology; Suzanne Deveny, psychology; Robert Gamble, educational leadership studies graduate student; Kaleb S. Harting, fire protection and safety technology; Jessica Holt, agricultural communications graduate student; Sarah Johnson, accounting; Joe Nelson, Stillwater hospitality administration graduate student; Kaila S. Reeder, industrial engineering and management; Molly Ridgway, design, housing and merchandising junior; Erik W. Shoopman, accounting; Joseph M. Simpson, sociology doctoral student; Amanda J. Smith, veterinary medicine; Sarah A. Wanger, history; Whitney M. White, animal science; Sora Yang, biological science.

TULSA: Hannah Bohan, journalism and broadcasting; Patrick Buchanan, osteopathic medicine; Samuel D. Dester, history graduate student; Rania El Ghazi, finance; Abbie Field, accounting and Spanish; Molly Franks, zoology; Robin Hudson, counseling graduate student; Jane Huggins, human development and family science; Patrice Lott, counseling graduate student; Brenna O’Toole, elementary education; Dana Pentecost, nutritional sciences; Raina Popp, psychology; Gina Quirarte, human development and family science; Teresa Richert, nutritional sciences; Kelsey D. Smith, design, housing and merchandising; Kyle L. Stanley, nutritional sciences; John Knox Taylor, international business; Jason S. Ting, natural and applied sciences graduate student; Ashley D. Whitmire, counseling graduate student; Nick Wilcox, accounting; Heather Young, international studies graduate student.

TURPIN: Kyle B. Goodwin, civil engineering.

WATSON: Bradley Youngblood, veterinary medicine.

WEATHERFORD: Stacey Brandhorst, journalism and broadcasting.

YUKON: Hannah Payne, human development and family science; Nathaniel D. Phillips, mechanical engineering.

FORT SMITH, AR: Nicole Stec, veterinary medicine.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA: Amy Coble, teaching, learning and leadership graduate student.

FORT COLLINS, CO: Leah Gonzales, leisure studies.

MAILI, HI: Chelsea E. Deever, psychology.

TALLULA, IL: Gretchen Frost, animal science.

FISHERS, IN: Jacklyn Barber, agricultural communications.

WICHITA, KS: Esther S. Bruce, chemical engineering.

WILCOX, NE: John Harms, animal science.

NASHUA, NH: John P. Mahoney, fire protection and safety engineering technology.

CHARLOTTE, NC: KatherineKatherine reviews E. Dreger, management.

POTTSTOWN, PA: Stephanie E. Hullman, psychology doctoral student.

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC: Jamie Nix, journalism and broadcasting.

AUSTIN, TX: Mary M. Schott, aerospace administration and operations.

CARROLLTON, TX: Kyle Grau, accounting; Maggie Hamouch, chemical engineering; Stacy Marron, elementary education; Megan C. Reichert, secondary education. 

DALLAS, TX: James M. Dryden Jr., geography graduate student.

FORT WORTH, TX: Kirstin Keany, veterinary medicine.

FRISCO, TX: Erin E. Brown, physical education.

HOUSTON, TX: Kevin Wheeler, animal science.

MOUNT VERNON, TX: Cecily D. Hooper, accounting.

PERRYTON, TX: Gregory A. File, political science.

ROWLETT, TX: Erin Rogers, animal science.

SPRING, TX: Valerie Vinyard Sharon, education doctoral student.

WYLIE, TX: Taylor C. Buddin, psychology.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Lizhi Chen, mathematics doctoral student, China; Francisco J. Flores, entomology and plant pathology graduate student, Ecuador; Ronny S. Lim, electrical engineering graduate student, Indonesia; Jintao Ma, hospitality administration graduate student, China; Karen Martinez, higher education doctoral student, Dangriga; Sovanlal Mukherjee, electrical engineering doctoral student, India; Ek C. Ngwe, mechanical and aerospace engineering graduate student, Malaysia; Mpinane P. Phoofolo, economics, Lesotho; Sowjanya Ranganathan, electrical engineering graduate student, India; Subuola M. Sofolahan, chemical engineering graduate student, Nigeria; Arinjina Shrestha, horticulture graduate student, Nepal; Emurode Ziregbe, economics senior, Nigeria.

Jill Bowman, a native of Hutchinson, Kan., and a 2010 graduate of Oklahoma State University, will appear on the hit game show Wheel of Fortune on FridayFriday reviews, June 4.

Bowman graduated from OSU with a bachelor’s in elementary education and served on the executive committee of “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” her junior and senior years. She is also a member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“I had always loved watching Wheel of Fortune with my family,” Bowman said. “I actually went to an open audition in Harrah last October as a stress reliever before Homecoming!”

After the open audition, Bowman and one hundred others were called back to Oklahoma City to participate in several more mock rounds of the game, which Bowman performed well in. In late December, she received the call she’d been waiting for.

“They told me I’d be on sometime in the next eighteen months,” Bowman said. “In February, they called again and said I had two weeks to get to L.A. to tape. The entire experience was amazing!”

Wheel of Fortune airs weekday nights at 6:30 p.m. on KOCO-5 in Oklahoma City, KJRH-2 in Tulsa and KAUZ-6 in Lawton. Tune in Friday to see how Bowman did spinning the big wheel.

OSU-UML. The group also received the Journal Record’s Creativity Award at the newspaper’s Innovator of the Year event in April and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Economic Development Grant through the Partnership Recognition Program in May.

“We are thrilled and honored by the recognition we’ve received in recent months,” said Dr. Stephen McKeever, OSU’s VP for research and technology transfer and executive director of the UML. “We appreciate the acknowledgement that OSU-UML is uniquely positioned as a national resource to handle some of the most important research of our time while advancing Oklahoma’s economy.”

The OSU-UML, which is located in Ponca City, is focused on sensor technology, including the test, evaluation and implementation of defense, homeland security, energy, and intelligence systems.

The laboratories are wholly owned by OSU and operated by Triton Scientific LLC with essential support from the Ponca City Development Authority and ConocoPhillips. An Oklahoma business, OSU-UML brings researchers together with government and industry to rapidly and efficiently advance new technologies and capabilities to the end user.

OSU-UML also won the 2007 International Economic Development Council’s award for the most innovative partnership in economic development in the nation.

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association is welcoming more than 200 OSU legacies and their grandparents to the first session of Grandparent University 2010 June 9-11.

The three-day summer camp is a fun-filled experience that actively engages kids in academics at OSU while creating memories for grandparents and their grandchildren.

“Grandparent University or GPU is a wonderful opportunity for OSU legacies to learn in a college environment and get acquainted with OSU,” says Melisa Parkerson, director of student programs for the OSU Alumni Association. “It’s also a great time for them to meet other legacies and strengthen the bond with their grandparents.”

The Association has hosted this unique intergenerational learning experience for legacies ages 7 to 14 and their grandparents since 2003. A legacy is a child registered under a parent or grandparent who is an active member in the OSU Alumni Association.

While on campus, participants attend classes taught by OSU faculty, stay in student housing, dine on campus and enjoy the life of average college students. Under the instruction of OSU professors, the students learn about their “major” and participate in a variety of activities.

Depending on their chosen major, students have the opportunity take part in designing a city, planning and carrying out a flight plan, creating and editing a movie, touring dairy and equine facilities, and learning drawing techniques.

Upon completing their assignments, the participants received a graduation certificate for all their hard work as college students during their stay at GPU. Along with the activities in the classroom, there is time to socialize while swimming at the Colvin Center or cheering at an OSU Tailgate.

Because of high enrollment and enthusiasm surrounding GPU, two sessions were created last year to accommodate more attendees. This year, the second session of GPU will be held June 23-25. Majors still open for enrollment include agribusiness management, English in Oklahoma, entomology and the world of entrepreneurship. Those interested in enrolling may contact the OSU Alumni Association at 405.744.5368 or 800.433.4678 – the deadline to enroll is June 11.

GPU is just one of the many benefits of being a member of the OSU Alumni Association. For more information on GPU, visit http://orangeconnection.org/GPU.

Oklahoma State University is now one of the first universities in the world to fully automate captions on all of its lecture videos. OSU this month successfully integrated its automated Docsoft caption server to work with the universities’ VBrick video capture and internet distribution system.

Oklahoma law requires every state agency to caption all videos. OSU now can automatically record and caption all lectures, with no expensive and time-consuming manual labor involved.

“Avoiding manual processes allows us to provide better service and address today’s budget challenges,” said Wade Price, manager of instructional technology. “ Now that the process is automated, the technology does the work at a fraction of the time and cost. Through automation, we have accomplished the impossible.”

Price says the new system is improving OSU’s ability to serve the hearing impaired. He hopes YouTubeYouTube and other major InternetInternet video sites will look at what is being done and improve the accessibility of their videos.