June 1, 2010

THIS IS THE LAST ISSUE of Currently for the 2009-2010 academic year. The newsletter will be published electronically once in midsummer and will resume weekly publication in the fall.

Faculty receive Sigma Xi awards

The Columbia Willamette chapter of Sigma Xi, the International Scientific Research Society, presented to five PSU faculty members its annual Outstanding Science Researcher Award on May 20. Nominations came from departments, and the executive committee of the Sigma Xi chapter selected winners. President Linda Mantel and Vice President Scott Burns made the awards of $500 each and an engraved plaque to:

Behavioral and Social Sciences: Cynthia Mohr, Psychology; Earth and Environmental Sciences: Martin Streck, Geology; Engineering: James Pankow, Chemistry and Civil and Environmental Engineering; Mathematics and Statistics: Dacian Daescu, Mathematics and Statistics; and Physical Sciences: Aslam Khalil, Physics.

Buildings earn new awards

Shattuck Hall has earned LEED Gold certification, a rating already secured by the Academic Student Recreation Center, which was named a first place winner in DJC Magazine's 2010 Top Projects. The sustainable, efficient, and healthy design of the buildings earned them gold status from the U.S. Green Building Council. These qualities also led an independent panel of judges to award the ASRC with first place in Public Buildings, $50.1 to $100 million.

Shattuck Hall is PSU's third LEED Gold certified building. In addition to the Academic Student Recreation Center, the Engineering Building also has a gold rating. The Broadway, Steven Epler Hall, and the Biology Research Greenhouses complex are LEED Silver certified.

Edelman to speak at commencement

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund and a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Americans, will deliver the Spring 2010 Commencement address and receive an honorary degree from the University on Sunday, June 13, at 2 p.m. in Portland's Rose Garden Arena. This graduating class is the largest in PSU's history. Read more >

Student Affairs honors its own

The Division of Student Affairs recently presented five employees with its first-ever service awards. Alicia Printemps-Herget, Jeffrey Smith, Gaby Sysyn, Cindy Baccar, and Joelle Kenney were recognized for extraordinary service to students, commitment to colleagues, and contributions to the campus community. They were chosen from more than 20 nominees. Read more >

Music of Ernest Bloch celebrated

The University's Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will perform Ernest Bloch's choral masterpiece, Sacred Service, with special guest Richard Zeller, Sunday, June 6, 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Academy, 1615 SW Fifth Ave., free with PSU ID. The concert represents the culmination of PSU's yearlong celebration of the music of Bloch, who wrote some of his best works while living in Oregon.

Swiss-born Bloch lived in Agate Beach from 1941 until 1959. His work encompasses string and piano solos as well as orchestral and chamber ensembles-much of it influenced by his Jewish faith. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bloch composed music that is considered romantic and reminiscent of Wagner, Mahler, and Strauss.

Charles Gibson to headline Benson awards dinner

ABC News veteran Charles Gibson will give the keynote address at the University's Simon Benson Awards Dinner Oct. 5 at the Oregon Convention Center. Portland philanthropists Mark and Ann Edlen and Jim and Shirley Rippey will receive Simon Benson Awards at the 11th annual event, which is co-chaired by Peter Stott and Mark Miller. For information about table and ticket reservations, contact Danielle Cox at 5-5246 or danielle@cecs.pdx.edu.

University Relations vice president named

Following a national search, the University has appointed Françoise Aylmer as vice president for University Relations. Aylmer, currently the vice president for University Advancement at California State University, San Bernardino, will oversee all fundraising, donor relations, alumni relations, and campus stewardships, and coordinate and collaborate with the PSU Foundation. She starts Sept. 1. Read more >

Finalists for partnerships vice president coming to campus

The University has chosen finalists for the position of vice president for Research and Strategic Partnerships. The search committee wanted to accommodate faculty schedules and conclude the visits by June 15, said Provost Roy Koch, search chair, but due to candidates' availability that was not possible. "We hope the campus community will participate as fully as possible in this important search," said Koch. Finalists' names and campus schedules will be sent to staff and faculty this week.

For June  2010

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