PULLMAN, Wash. — The Washington State University College of Engineering and Architecture announced the names of its outstanding faculty, students and staff members at its annual convocation ceremony last week.
Award winners include the following:
Juming Tang, professor and scientist in biological systems engineering, has been named the 2008 Anjan Bose Outstanding Researcher.
A WSU faculty member since 1995, Tang is an international leader in the areas of advanced thermal food processing techniques, non-chemical post harvest pest control and value-added processes for Washington crops.
Tang has developed supporting technologies for modeling coupled electromagnetic fields and heat transfer, and developed a chemical marker technique to identify cold spots in treated food packets. He founded the WSU Microwave Sterilization Consortium, a leading organization in microwave sterilization. He also leads a multi-discipline international research consortium in the development of testing and analyzing methods in the study of heat shock induced death of insects.
For more information about Tang, visit http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=7217, http://www.bsyse.wsu.edu/tang/ and http://impact.wsu.edu/people/tang.htm.
David G. Pollock
, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering received the
Reid Miller
Outstanding Teaching
Faculty Award.
At WSU since 2003, Pollock has taught 10 different civil engineering courses, developed the course content for two new courses and significantly updated the content for three others. Pollock’s success and innovation as a teacher are due in part to his teaching method. The material presented in his classes prepares students to solve real world problems.
In addition to teaching, Pollock is also highly regarded as a mentor and advisor for curricular advising and as the academic advisor for the American Society of Civil Engineers Club.
He currently advises 30 undergraduate civil engineering students.
For more information about Pollock, visit http://www.wmel.wsu.edu/facultypages/fac_pollock.html, http://eerc.wsu.edu/community/faculty/David-Pollock.shtml, or http://www.ce.wsu.edu/Faculty_Staff/Profiles/pollock.htm
The Outstanding
Student awards went to Whitney Patterson, Outstanding Sophomore; Andrew Whitaker, Outstanding Junior; and Dan Pederson, Outstanding Senior.
Patterson, who grew up in the US Air Force and currently calls Japan home, is studying materials science and engineering with a minor in mechanical engineering. She has received many honors for her academic success, including President’s Honor Roll. Patterson is a member of AIST, ACerS, TMS, ASM, and Material Advantage clubs. In addition, she donates her time to activities such as Relay for Life and Bowling for a Cure. Patterson currently serves as the CEACC representative for Material Advantage and has represented WSU/MME at national conferences.
She works for Grant Norton as a research assistant analyzing materials for ultracapacitors and hopes to continue her studies in graduate school focusing on renewable energies.
Originally from Ellensburg, Wash., Whitaker is majoring in electrical engineering with a second major in Chinese language and literature. He has received many scholarships and honors, including the Boren National Security Education Program Scholarship, which allowed him to study abroad in China for one year. Whitaker also received a Crimson Regent’s Scholarship from 2003 to 2005 and he has been the language student of the year for the past two years. He plans on using his study of Chinese language and culture to better understand foreign colleagues.
In his spare time, he enjoys participating in intramural sports.
Originally from Pomeroy, Wash., Pederson is double-majoring in bio-engineering and computer engineering. He currently works as an instructional assistant for two classes and has worked as an EECS assistant lab technician since 2003. Pederson was named a Distinguished Regent’s Scholar and has been on the President’s Honor Roll since his first semester at WSU. He was named the Outstanding Computer Engineering sophomore in 2004 and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Tau Beta Pi.
He is active in the WSU marching band, pep band and trombone choir. He is also active in the WSU Bioengineering Club and served as the club’s president from 2006 to 2007. Pederson plans on entering the work force upon graduation.
Devlin Montfort received the
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. A native of Blaine, Wash., Montfort has been a TA for an introductory class to surveying and AutoCAD and a TA for Engineering 120, innovation in design, for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In his two years as a TA, Devlin has written, in collaboration with the instructor, a complete set of CAD and surveying labs for the surveying course and led a group of eight teaching assistants in the implementation of these labs. His role in the surveying course has been described by Department Chair Dave McLean as essential to the success of the course. To top it off, his teaching evaluations are among the best in the department. Montfort is working toward a doctoral degree in civil engineering. He aspires to a career in research and teaching.
The Staff Excellence awards went to Vicki Ruddick, principal assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Howard P. Davis, instructional laboratory supervisor, School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering.
Ruddick is known for being organized, knowledgeable and diligent in providing support to a wide variety of activities. She is able to meet short deadlines and completes work accurately and with a positive attitude. “Vicki’s service to WSU and the community is exemplary,’’ wrote her nominator. “Her genuine desire to excel at her job and serve the department is evident on a daily basis.”
Davis is responsible for overseeing all the chemical and bioengineering laboratory course assignments. He has also developed these laboratories into a showcase for the Bioengineering program. As someone with a business background, Davis brings great insight into the selection and use of equipment for the greatest achievement of the school’s educational objectives.
Annette Cavalieri, was named
Employee of the Year. She has worked as the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering undergraduate program coordinator since 1999, where she recruits and helps ensure students are able to meet the requirements for graduation, in addition to making sure students are informed about opportunities that might be to their benefit. Cavalieri is always an excellent resource who is willing to provide whatever is necessary to solve the problem at hand.
