- Alexandra Navrotsky, director of the NEAT nanotechnology center at UC Davis, visited Norway recently at the invitation of the Norwegian Chemical Society and the University of Oslo to give the prestigious Hassel Lecture. The lecture, given annually in by a distinguished scholar, commemorates Odd Hassel, winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
- Alex McCalla, professor emeritus of agricultural and resource economics at UC Davis, has been named to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Alberta, Canada. McCalla, an authority on agricultural policy and international trade, received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Alberta in 1961 and 1963, respectively. He went on to earn his doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota.
- Mikal Saltveit, a professor of vegetable crops and director of the Mann Laboratory at UC Davis, was recently awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2003 Technology Transfer Award for his work on updating the agriculture handbook "The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Crops." He is the first non-USDA scientist to serve as an editor of the handbook -- the primary repository of information about the storage of horticultural crops.
- UC Davis nutrition professor Judith Stern is the recipient of a 2004 Secretary's Honor Award, the most prestigious award presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The award honors contributions to agriculture, consumers and the ability of the USDA to serve rural America. It was presented June 25 in Washington, D.C. Stern earned the award in the category of "Improving the Nation's Nutrition and Health." Her efforts have led to new health policy, particularly in the area of obesity and public awareness of nutrition's importance.
- UC Davis animal science professor Anita Oberbauer has earned the 2004 Corbin Companion Animal Biology Award from the American Society of Animal Science. The national honor is presented annually to one researcher. Oberbauer's research has focused on genetic disorders in dogs. When animal science added companion animals to its curriculum, Oberbauer stepped forward to develop coursework that has become a model used by other universities. In 2002, Oberbauer received UC Davis' Distinguished Teaching Award.
- George Tchobanoglous, emeritus professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Davis, is the first recipient of an outstanding academic achievement award from the Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council, a partnership between universities and industry. Tchobanoglous, a professor from 1971-94, has authored or co-authored more than 350 publications on environmental engineering, wastewater treatment and solid waste processing. The government and industry consultant is known for bridging the gap between academia and day-to-day engineering.
- UC Davis' Academic Peer Advising program has earned a 2004 Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Certificate from the National Academic Advising Association. Established in 1983, the awards program honors individuals and institutions making significant contributions to academic advising.
- Joy Mench, a professor of animal science at UC Davis, has received the 2004 Poultry Welfare Research Award, presented by the Poultry Science Association. Mench is a national leader in teaching, research and policy concerning agricultural animal welfare. She is particularly interested in environmental enrichment strategies for small lab animals and for captive or domesticated birds. Mench is the only non-veterinarian to sit on the Council for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, the national organization that provides oversight for animals used in teaching, research and outreach.
- UC Davis English professor Scott Simmon's book, "The Invention of the Western Film," has earned the 2004 Theatre Library Association Award, regarded as perhaps the most prestigious award in the media-studies field. It is given annually, since 1973, for the best English-language book about recorded or broadcast performance, including motion pictures, television and radio.
- Bruce Gates of chemical engineering and materials science at UC Davis is the 2004 recipient of the Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis from the American Chemical Society. The $5,000 award recognizes outstanding research that advances the understanding or application of catalysis.
- Kevin Johnson, professor of law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis, has received the Clyde Ferguson Jr. Award for public service, teaching, scholarship and mentoring. The national honor is presented by the Minority Groups Section of the Association of American Law Schools. A specialist in civil rights and immigration law, Johnson has taught at the law school since 1989 and serves as associate dean of academic affairs.
- Emil Rodolfa, director of the UC Davis Counseling Center, has earned the 2004 Distinguished Contributions in Applications of Psychology to Education and Training Award by the American Psychological Association. Among other things, the APA acknowledged Rodolfa's contributions through his work involving multicultural and professional boundary issues.
- Sivanarulselvan Sachidanandam (Sivan Sachs), a lecturer in computer science and the Graduate Group in Medical Informatics at UC Davis, has won a one-year biomedical informatics fellowship from the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, to work on the joint program in health informatics at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Sachs will research human-computer interaction, systems for managing clinical information and "virtual rehabilitation" and "tele-virtual rehabilitation," using virtual reality systems.
- UC Davis Cooperative Extension Specialist David Campbell has received $2,000 and the annual Editors' Prize for the best scholarly paper in the journal Nonprofit Management and Leadership for his article "Outcomes Assessment and the Paradox of Nonprofit Accountability." A political scientist, Campbell is a faculty member in human and community development and is the director of the California Communities Program.
- Deborah Luthi, director for UC Davis Risk Management Services, was recently elected vice president of professional development for the Risk and Insurance Management Society's Executive Council. The society, founded in 1950, represents nearly 4,800 industrial, service, nonprofit and government agencies, serving 8,400 risk management professionals worldwide. Luthi will help coordinate credentialing and certification programs and will provide in-company and online risk management training.
- San Diego Opera's recent production of "Don Carlo," features lighting design by Thomas Munn, an assistant professor in theatre and dance at UC Davis. Munn's "subtle but daring lighting design" was lauded as a "major factor" in the success of the production. Munn also served as lighting director/designer for the San Francisco Opera from 1976 through 2000, creating designs and special effects for more than 190 productions. He joined theatre and dance in 2003.
- Karen Roth, coordinator for the diversity education program and chair of the Campus Community Book Project at UC Davis, has been named a recipient of the Davis Human Relations Commission's 2004 Thong Huynh Awards. Roth earned the Community Education and Awareness Award, which honors efforts to increase appreciation for differences in the community.
- Robert Thayer, emeritus professor of landscape architecture, has earned the Mother Lode Chapter of the Sierra Club's Environmental Book Award for his 2003 book "LifePlace: Bioregional Thought and Practice." He also was recently named the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects' first Education Foundation scholar and will speak in nine New Zealand cities June 14 to July 9. Thayer is a 30-year advocate for sustainable planning. In "LifePlace" he says people should learn how the place they live functions so they can accommodate these environmental processes. The about 19,000-member Mother Lode Chapter serves 24 counties in Northern and Central California.
- R. Steven Tharratt, a professor of medicine and anesthesiology and chief of clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology at the medical center, was honored June 12 as the recipient of UC Davis' Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award recognizes medical achievement and contributions to society. Tharratt is an expert in planning medical response to emergencies and terrorist acts and was among the physicians on hand in New York City after the Sept. 11 attacks. He is an adviser to the governor's Office of Emergency Services and medical director for Sacramento County Emergency Medical Services. He has published widely on biodefense issues and is a member of the State Standing Committee on Terrorism, the Northern California FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the California State Threat Assessment Team.
- UC Davis' head coaches of women's and men's polo, respectively, Jamey Wright and Steve Doten, have been selected as 2003 Elite Award recipients for the Central California Zone in women's and men's water polo, by the USA Water Polo Coaches Committee.
- UC Davis School of Law student Sam Paneno recently received a University of Southern California-based Physically Challenged Athletes Scholarship Fund award. In 24 years the award has never before gone to a student outside USC. It helps students who have overcome life-challenging accidents or illnesses. Paneno was a running back for the Aggies when his knee was severely dislocated in 1999 and circulation problems forced doctors to amputate.
Media Resources
Amy Agronis, Dateline, (530) 752-1932, abagronis@ucdavis.edu