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Transcript of EngineeringWV Fall 2012
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F A L L 2 0 1 1
THE NEW COOLWOMEN IN STEM
WVU Col lege o f Eng ineer ing and Minera l Resources
InsideCENTER DEVELOPS WRAP TREATMENT TO REMEDY MOUNTAIN STATE BRIDGE DEFICIENCIES4
18HONORARY DEGREES, ORDER OF VANDALIA AWARDED COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND
22WVU/NETL TEAM RECEIVES “OSCAR OF INNOVATION” FOR FUEL CELL WORK
WVU FINISHES THIRD IN ITS FIRST LUNABOTICS COMPETITION24
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
The mission of the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is to prepare students to practice their profession and to contribute to the well-being of society through academic study, research, extension, and service.
In late August, as I was making my usual morning walk through the atrium of the Mineral Resources Building on the way to my office, the tables were occupied by a number of students doing some early morning studying prior to classes. While this is a typical sight during the semester, it occurred to me that there was one thing that has become more typical in recent years: many of the students studying on that particular morning were women.
In 2008, female freshman enrollment in the College stood at 9 percent. In 2010, that number increased to 14 percent. Across the College, the percentage of women enrolled stands at about 13 percent. This past spring two of those women, Alicia Harmon of Independence, W.Va., and Chloe Snyder, of Pigeon, W.Va., both biometric systems majors, were awarded $5,000 scholarships by Lockheed Martin in a White Paper Challenge. They are among the many worthy students who receive scholarships annually in the College.
The same positive trend is seen in the number of women on our College faculty. Currently, that number stands at 21, several times what it was less than a decade ago. But like many of our peer institutions, West Virginia University strives to recruit more female faculty in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Two exciting initiatives are currently in place to help support this recruitment and success of faculty.
The University, under the leadership of Provost Michele Wheatly, recently secured an NSF ADVANCE grant. This grant is special because, unlike other NSF grants that focus on advancing the research agenda of a particular faculty member or group of faculty, it focuses on transforming the institutional culture to be more supportive and nurturing of faculty to ensure they reach their full potential. In this issue, you will read how the research of four of our female faculty members will benefit from the support of this ADVANCE grant.
The Women in Science and Engineering, or WiSE Giving Circle, brings together WVU alumnae and friends who want to impact the field of science by encouraging and mentoring young women in their pursuit of professional careers within the STEM disciplines. Jennifer Weidhaas, an assistant professor of civil engineering, was one of four inaugural WiSE award winners.
A perfect example of how our alumni are playing a role in mentoring those seeking careers in the STEM disciplines comes from Sarah (Lovell) Soliman ’07. Sarah returned to campus recently to announce the creation of a $25,000 endowment, named in honor of her mentor, Dr. Wils Cooley, professor emeritus in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. This endowment will provide scholarships to engineering students studying abroad.
These are just a few examples of the outstanding accomplishments and positive trends we are seeing in the College. While we all agree there is much work still to be done in all areas of diversity, we are delighted about the progress being made in moving the College forward in the right direction.
Eugene V. Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean and Professor
Dear Friends:
EUGENE V. CILENTO
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
PAGE 26
News from the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
CONTENTS6 DOE AWARDS $1.5 MILLION TO WVU INDUSTRIAL
ASSESSMENT CENTER
9 THE NEW COOL: WOMEN IN STEM
16 NEW FACULTY
20 POWER-UP! WVU TO INTRODUCE CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM IN INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND
SERIOUS GAMING
IN EVERY ISSUEDEAN’S MESSAGE
FACULTY/RESEARCH NEWS
ACCOLADES
COLLEGE NEWS
STUDENT NEWS
ALUMNI NEWS
SUPPORT
FEATURES
FALL 2011
Dean and Publisher / Eugene V. [email protected] / 304.293.4157
Editor / Mary C. Dillon / [email protected]
Contributing Writers / Steve Alford / Scott Gillespie / Gerry Griffith / Diana Mazzella / Cate Mihelic / Debra Richardson / Nicole Riggleman / Dan Shrensky / Jake Stump / William Nevin
Magazine Design Coordinator / J. Paige Nesbit
AddressWVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Development Office / PO Box 6070 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6070 www.cemr.wvu.edu
Change of AddressWVU Foundation / PO Box 1650 Morgantown, WV 26504-1650 Fax: 304.284.4001 / e-mail: [email protected] www.mountaineerconnection.com
Engineering West Virginia is published twice each year, in spring and fall, for the alumni, friends, and other supporters of the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
Copyright ©2011 by the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Brief excerpts of articles in this publication may be reprinted without a request for permission if Engineering West Virginia is acknowledged in print as the source. Contact the Editor for permission to reprint entire articles.
West Virginia University is governed by the WVU Board of Governors and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. WVU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
ON COVER / Pictured: College of Engineering and Mineral Resources student Meghan Mills. West Virginia University has been working diligently on multiple fronts to increase the recruitment, retention, and success of women in the STEM academy at all levels in the educational pipeline.
PAGE 19
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FACULTY RESEARCH
WVU RESEARCHER TEAMS WITH NETL TO ADVANCE CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGIES
Coal is an abundant and low-cost natural
resource used around the world to generate
electricity. But emissions of carbon dioxide
and various pollutants remain a challenge for
the industry to overcome.
The new generation of low-emission integrated
gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power
plants with carbon capture turn coal into gas,
removing impurities from the coal gas before
it is burned, turning pollutants into reusable
byproducts in some cases, and capturing
carbon dioxide for subsequent sequestration.
Chemical engineering Professor Richard
Turton has been at the forefront of the
development of an advanced virtual energy
simulation training and research center to
promote the adoption of these new clean-coal
power plants. He and his colleague, Stephen
E. Zitney of the U.S. Department of Energy’s
(DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL), are leading the first-of-its-kind
advanced virtual energy simulation training
and research effort that they call the
AVESTAR™ Center.
Funded by the DOE, through NETL, the
AVESTAR™ Center will operate two identical
simulator facilities, one at the WVU National
Research Center for Coal and Energy and
another at NETL’s Morgantown, W.Va., site.
The real-time dynamic simulator, much like
the simulator that an airplane pilot trains on, is
designed to teach power plant personnel how
to operate the clean coal power plant. On May
3, the Center launched a training program to
demonstrate the newly commissioned operator
training system, or OTS. Training scenarios
include normal IGCC plant operation, startup,
and shutdown, as well as fuel switchovers and
power demand load following.
Later this year, the real-time OTS will be
combined with a three-dimensional virtual
reality environment. The immersive training
system, or ITS, will enable trainees to interact
with the simulated 3-D facility to study and
learn various aspects of plant operation,
control, and safety.
WVU’s Turton and NETL’s Zitney have been
collaborating for five years and along with
other industrial collaborators have been
working to develop, test, and deploy the
simulator for about two and a half years. Zitney
and Turton, along with Professor Debangsu
Bhattacharyya of WVU, other NETL personnel,
and personnel from Fossil Consulting Services
(FCS) provided technical oversight and
guidance to Invensys Operations Management,
the company contracted to develop the
simulator. FCS also provided the training
curriculum. Funding for this collaborative
work was through the NETL-Regional
University Alliance.
“These types of power plants are relatively
rare,” said Turton. “There are less than 10
similar plants operating or being constructed
in the states, with several more in China
and Europe. The simulator gives the DOE
and WVU an opportunity to showcase this
technology and, because so few of these
BY MARY C. DILLON
The simulator gives the DOE and WVU an opportunity to showcase this technology
RICHARD TURTON
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
plants have been built, allow engineers,
technology managers, and operators to obtain
experience in the operation of these plants prior
to actual construction.”
The Center features eight operator workstations
with 16 flat-panel monitors, two instructor
workstations, two simulator server computers,
and two engineering workstations. Together,
they simulate power plant operation in real time,
allowing students to process variable changes
in the plant.
“We can simulate a full plant startup or
shutdown, and program malfunctions within the
plant,” said Turton. “It provides an environment
that is as close to the real plant as possible.
The operator has complete control over several
areas of the plant including gasification, CO2
capture, and combined cycle.”
Turton explained that there is an alarm structure
built into the system that allows students to
react to issues as they develop within the plant.
“Because it is a model, we can freeze the time
and replay what happened to teach operators
what they did when mistakes are made, and
how to correct them,” Turton said.
When operational, the virtual reality simulator
will allow trainees to enter the power plant
and move freely throughout the facility using a
joystick to control their avatar, seeing exactly
what they would see if they were in an
actual plant.
“Every unit in the plant will be represented in the
virtual work world,” Turton said. “Operators will
be able to go anywhere in the plant, allowing
them to do a virtual tour of the power plant
without leaving the confines of the classroom.
Moreover, valves can be opened and pumps
started in the virtual environment and this
information will be relayed back to the simulator
so that control room operator trainees can
communicate and interact with the operators
out in the virtual plant.”
The main deterrent to building these plants
is their high capital cost. “A conventional
pulverized coal plant can be built for about $500
million, while an IGCC plant of equivalent output
might cost between $2-3 billion,” Turton said.
“But while the initial capital investment is very
high, the IGCC plants operate more efficiently
and can be a wise investment over the life of
the plant, especially when capturing CO2.”
“Working under the auspices of the NETL-
Regional University Alliance, our close
collaboration with WVU professors Turton
and Bhattacharyya, as well as their students,
has been highly productive and rewarding,”
said Zitney. “Their modeling contributions
have added significant value to the fidelity and
efficiency of the IGCC dynamic simulator. We
are looking forward to continued collaborative
research in the areas of dynamic modeling,
advanced process control, sensor placement,
and optimal operational strategies for IGCC
systems with CO2 capture.”
“It is our hope that this simulator will excite the
coal industry,” Turton added. “It is a technically
feasible way to support future electrical
generation demand and simultaneously reduce
significantly the emissions of environmental
pollutants and greenhouse gases.” •
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FACULTY RESEARCH
West Virginia has more than 6,700 bridges – from its 17 historically
registered wooden covered versions, to engineering marvels like the
New River Gorge Bridge.
But many of the state’s bridges are in trouble, in need of repair or
replacement at a time when funding for such projects is severely
limited. West Virginia ranks among the top 25 percent of U.S. states
with significant bridge deficiencies.
Which means Hota GangaRao, professor of civil and environmental
engineering at West Virginia University, is a busy man these days.
The founder and director of WVU’s Constructed Facilities Center
(CFC), GangaRao has spent his career becoming a leading
researcher and voice in the study of structural deterioration and
rehabilitation, while perfecting a process that preserves existing
bridges and buildings.
Over the past two decades, CFC has developed a process that has
led to the rehabilitation of nearly 30 bridges across the state, keeping
them safe and operable. It has done so at a fraction of the cost
it takes to replace a bridge, typically around 20-25 percent of the
bridge’s original price.
Now CFC is working closely with the West Virginia Division of
Highways on a project with the potential to rehabilitate 400 to 500
concrete bridges across the state over the next five years.
“West Virginia is among the leading states with bridge deficiencies for
a couple of reasons,” GangaRao said. “Number one, the state does
not have the funds to rehabilitate all its old bridges. Number two,
traffic intensity and load capacities have increased significantly since
these bridges were built.”
CFC’s method allows West Virginia to preserve as many bridges as
possible, rehabilitating and maintaining them at minimal cost.
The figures GangaRao cites on what deficient roadway infrastructure,
including bridges, costs the U.S. economy are staggering.
“Because of the simple fact of the country’s failure to sufficiently
invest in our transportation infrastructure, including bridges, it has
been estimated our economy has lost 870,000 jobs and $3.1
trillion in declined growth of our national gross domestic product,”
GangaRao said, citing August 2011 numbers from the American
Society for Civil Engineering.
“In addition, U.S. business would not be expending an extra
$430 billion by 2020—almost half a trillion dollars—in terms of
transportation costs, if our roads and bridges were in better shape,”
he said. “Deficient highways and bridges led to an additional cost
of more than $129 billion alone in 2010 to U.S. households and
businesses. That’s why we should be concerned.”
So how does a bridge go through rehab?
“First of all, we evaluate the bridge in situ – meaning we look at how
much it has corroded, how much the concrete has spalled, and
other aspects. These evaluations can be based on very complex
instrumentation or based on visual inspection,” GangaRao said.
“Then we strip the bridge down to a solid portion of its original
concrete or steel.”
At this point, the structure is covered with a two-inch outer mortar
cover and wrapped tightly with a material made from either glass
fabric or carbon fabric and resin; the fabric gives the wrapping
material strength, while the resin binds with the structure’s
original substrate.
CENTER DEVELOPS WRAP TREATMENT TO REMEDY MOUNTAIN STATE BRIDGE DEFICIENCIESBY SCOTT GILLESPIE
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
“Not only does it hold things together, but the wrap also enhances the strength of
the overall structure,” he said.
The Constructed Facilities Center trains workers from the state’s highway department
and private contractors on proper wrapping procedures, and those workers do most
of the labor on bridges whose time has come to be refurbished.
“Most of these hundreds of bridges across West Virginia are being rehabilitated by
private contractors using the process we developed here,” GangaRao said.
With modern materials, properties, and design, a new bridge’s lifetime is considerably
longer than a bridge built a few decades ago.
“In the past, bridges were designed to last about 50 years. Today, we’re designing
bridges for 75 to 100 years,” GangaRao said.
Is America doing enough today to improve its infrastructure?
“No, we are not. I think our infrastructure is going to deteriorate even more in the
next five or 10 years simply because we just do not have the money to keep pace
with the rate of deterioration that’s taking place,” said GangaRao.
GangaRao’s focus today is on West Virginia’s bridges—and it’s a project likely to
keep him busy for the foreseeable future.
“Right now, I’m focusing on the rehabilitation of several hundred bridges across
the state. It’s a challenge, but it is something I tremendously enjoy doing,” he said.
“In this whole exercise, I am not alone doing the work. Fortunately, many faculty,
research engineers, and graduate students help me out on a daily basis. I am only
a cheerleader.” •
GangaRao Named First Wadsworth Distinguished Professor BY DEBRA RICHARDSON
Dr. Hota GangaRao has been named the inaugural Maurice A. and Jo Ann Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at West Virginia University. The professorship honors GangaRao’s commitment to teaching, research, and service to his profession while reflecting on the loyalty and generosity of the Wadsworths.
“I am honored to be appointed the first Wadsworth professor at West Virginia University,” said GangaRao. “This professorship will provide access to leading industry and government personnel to bridge my College and Center research and development activities, which will result in vast opportunities for potential field implementation of my research.”
The professorship means even more, GangaRao said, because Maurice Wadsworth is the foremost authority in the industry.
A Clarksburg, W.Va., native, Wadsworth earned a degree in civil engineering from WVU in 1951. After a two-year stint in the Air Force, he spent his entire career at Gannett Fleming, Inc., in Harrisburg, Pa. Wadsworth served as a bridge design engineer, chief computer engineer for the transportation division, senior vice president for administration, and president and chairman of the board. At the time of his retirement in 1996, the firm employed approximately 1,500 employees in 25 offices. Wadsworth was a professional engineer in 23 states and authored numerous papers.
“The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is grateful to Maurice and Jo Ann Wadsworth for the establishment of this named professorship in civil and environmental engineering,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the College. “Gifts of this nature allow us to recognize the best of our faculty, in this instance, Dr. Hota GangaRao, and further their research and scholarship in their respective areas of interest.”
GangaRao becomes the fourth faculty member in the Department to hold a named professorship.
HOTA GANGARAO
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West Virginia University’s College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources will receive $1.5 million over the next five years as part
of the Department of Energy’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC)
program. The grant, a renewal of a program that has been at WVU
since 1992, places emphasis on students gaining practical training on
core energy efficiency and management concepts.
The IAC program provides undergraduate and graduate engineering
students with the opportunity to conduct energy assessments in a
broad range of manufacturing facilities, which will prepare them to
compete in today’s economy, while helping local companies and
factories reduce energy consumption and emissions, save money,
and become more economically competitive.
“The desired end result is to create the next generation of energy
engineers,” said Dr. Bhaskaran Gopalakrishnan, director of the IAC
and professor of industrial and management systems engineering.
“They will have sound technical knowledge of hands-on energy
assessment methods, ISO 50001 energy management certification,
in-depth understanding of management systems and business sense,
corporate culture, industrial supply chains, and sustainability issues so
they can hit the road running.”
The grant stipulates that at least 10 to 15 students a year must be
trained. The program must also conduct approximately 25 energy
assessments annually, while performing extensive follow-up reporting
and tracking activities.
In addition to site visits, WVU IAC will also be responsible for
promoting interaction with private-sector partners that can provide
valuable workforce development support, such as scholarship and
internship opportunities.
“We have developed excellent contacts over the years with
manufacturing facilities in the state and throughout the region,
primarily through relationships with our partners, such as the
Industries of the Future-West Virginia program and the state’s
divisions of Energy, Environmental Protection, and Manufacturing
Extension Partnership,” said
Gopalakrishnan. “With rising
energy costs, there will not be a
problem finding clients for energy
assessments or site visits.
“The relationships with these
companies will pave the way for
growth in student knowledge and
skills through realization of implemented energy efficiency projects,”
explained Gopalakrishnan.
The focus on energy efficiency not only provides students with
invaluable training, but also results in economic development in
the region as companies reduce costs through energy savings and
increase their global competitiveness. This project also helps reduce
environmental emissions.
“The ultimate objective is to introduce companies, throughout the
United States, to proper procedures for energy management and
efficiency, and to help them in reducing their energy consumption,”
said Dr. Wafik Iskander, assistant director of the IAC and chair of the
Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering. “In
this project, we partially accomplish this goal through the performance
of energy assessments for companies in West Virginia and other
neighboring states, but more importantly we work on training and
producing energy engineers, who can then work on achieving the
main objective.”
“To be considered for this award along with several other leading
universities across the nation is a great honor,” said Gopalakrishnan.
“It is important for WVU to receive grants such as these because they
contribute to economic development, enhanced student training and
act as an incubator for research ideas that can result in significant
impact to industrial growth and positive climate change. Some
of my best research ideas have come when I have been inside a
manufacturing facility.” •
BHASKARAN GOPALAKRISHNAN
DOE AWARDS $1.5 MILLION TO WVU INDUSTRIAL ASSESSMENT CENTERBY DEBRA RICHARDSON
“The ultimate objective is to introduce companies, throughout the United States, to proper procedures for energy management and efficiency, and to help them in reducing their energy consumption,” - Dr. Wafik Iskander
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
Pennsylvaniannsylvan
b
nnPennPePittsburgh
Pittsburgh and the surrounding region may
be at the epicenter of the nation’s new
energy economy. According to a report
issued by the Center for Industrial Research
Applications at West Virginia University, the
region’s proximity to shale gas reserves
coupled with its access to a variety of assets
and potential partners, point to the potential
for the region to respond to this energy
opportunity.
The report’s authors, Dr. James E. Smith,
director of the Center and professor of
mechanical and aerospace engineering at
West Virginia University, and Emily Pertl,
former program coordinator for the Center,
assert that “Regional Pittsburgh” finds itself in a unique position, one
that has not been available for more than a century.
The report contends, “The advent of the recent gas finds of the
Marcellus shale coupled with the two developing technologies of
directional drilling and hydro-fracturing has provided the region with
the potential to displace our current dependence on non-domestically
produced energy and to open a new era in energy self-sufficiency.”
They propose that the initial use of these gas reserves should be in
the transportation sector to decrease off-shore expenditures in crude
oil purchases. “Regional Pittsburgh used about 7.7 percent of the
total U.S. consumption of petroleum. This offset of non-domestic
petroleum with natural gas, if performed system-wide for just the three
state region (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio), could result in a
re-infusion of more than $77 million per day ($28 billion per year) into
the region’s economy.” Additional savings would come in the form of
fuel costs, estimated to be about 50 percent of the cost of petroleum,
and the service life and cost for emissions cleanup.
The report notes the region’s access to quality research, technology
transfer, global industries, non-profit technical assistance, possible
investors, educational centers, professional organizations, and regional
coalitions would be key to the success of this visionary program.
“This report was inspired by a request from Jan Lauer, director of 3
River Clean Energy, and president of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities,”
said Smith. “Pittsburgh Clean Cities is one of 87 U.S. Department of
Energy-sanctioned and funded coalitions across the country that work
to encourage the adoption of clean, alternative transportation fuels to
replace petroleum-based fuels.
“Through her work with both initiatives, it became clear that there
was an opportunity to establish the greater Pittsburgh region as a
national leader in not only the deployment of alternative-fueled vehicles
and refueling infrastructure, but in the technology and policy that are
needed to fully capitalize on it.”
“Because of the depth of experience at WVU in such areas as natural
gas vehicles, emissions, and engine technology, and the international
perspective on vehicle technology and mobility trends that Jim Smith
gained from his recent role as the president of SAE International, WVU
was approached and asked to explore the extent of the opportunity
that the region might have in establishing this leadership role,” said
Lauer. “The report that has been published is the result of this request.”
The report, “Regional Pittsburgh: The New Energy Economy,” purports
that the use of natural gas will allow the region to reinvest its energy
expenditures back into the region, rebuilding its manufacturing base
and employing and re-employing a large segment of its current and
future labor force.
According to the report, it is estimated that the use of this fuel will
add over a quarter of a million new jobs by the year 2020. This does
not include the service and related jobs that will be created due to the
influx of population, the employment of those currently unemployed,
and the added tax revenue that will provide the public works projects
to keep pace with the increased social infrastructure this growth
will acquire.
“Natural gas is clearly the fuel of choice for mobility and power
production,” Smith said. “The contents of the gas also represent
a resource to re-establish our lagging chemical industry. All of this
will re-energize the workforce and provide future generations with a
positive and predictive vision for the future.” •
REGIONAL PITTSBURGH AT THE CENTER OF NEW ENERGY ECONOMYUse of Natural Gas Reserves in the Transportation Sector Would Infuse Millions into Economy
BY MARY C. DILLON
JAMES E. SMITH
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THE NEW COOL:
COVER FEATURE
In writing this introduction I am struck by the paradox between the
beauty of the resplendent fall colors in Morgantown and the growing
dissonance of the political debate about the state of the national
economy and the need to create jobs and a 21st-century workforce.
Central to global economic competitiveness is promoting interest and
national capacity in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics). As we look to emerging knowledge economies, we
discover that many are building a more robust engineering workforce.
If we look within our own shores for ways to increase STEM capacity,
the answer is obvious: attract and retain more women and other
individuals from underrepresented groups.
Prior to assuming my current role as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, I enjoyed a 30-year
career as a successful life science researcher. As I gained stature as a scholar/educator and subsequently
as a STEM administrator, I became acutely aware of how few women are attracted to these fields and
how attrition exacerbates the gender imbalance in the academy and associated professions. The National
Academies’ publication, “Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science
and Engineering,” published in 2007, focused our institutions of higher education on the overarching
reforms that are urgently needed to ensure the future vitality of the U.S. research
base. Suddenly, my lived experiences became the fodder of national debate.
At West Virginia University we have been working diligently on multiple fronts to
increase the recruitment, retention, and success of women in the STEM academy
at all levels in the educational pipeline. If women are visible and successful in
the STEM classrooms and research labs, then we will attract more women
undergraduates and graduate students. If we can train future teachers to teach
STEM concepts through constructivism in classrooms free of gender bias, we will
inspire more of our youth to study these disciplines. For a nation finding itself in hot
water, STEM is fast becoming the new “cool!”
This issue of EngineeringWV is dedicated to building engineering capacity through
more fully involving women at all levels in the engineering enterprise. In the brief
20 months that I have served at WVU, I have gleefully watched the University
community embrace goal two of the WVU 2020 Strategic Plan: to foster diversity
and an inclusive culture. Multiple efforts have been directed toward women in STEM in the hopes that we
can reach the “tipping point,” the critical mass of women needed (30 percent) to change biases about
gender. In these pages you will find ample evidence of the College’s dedication to inclusive excellence
and learn of a number of ongoing initiatives to recruit women to engineering and to help them succeed in
the field. Not only will these success stories catalyze the entry of other women into engineering, but they
clearly demonstrate that promoting diversity leads to better engineering solutions.
In the same way that we associate the splendid fall foliage with the promise of a better harvest in the years
to come, the College’s efforts now will ensure better economic opportunities for us all in the future.
WOMEN IN STEM
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
DR. MICHELE WHEATLY PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT
FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
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COVER FEATURE
Leslie Hopkinson was raised on math and science.
Her parents—a math teacher and an engineer—inspired her to pursue a
career in science. She also liked being outdoors and wanted to preserve it
for everyone else.
She journeyed into ecological engineering with the help of her adviser
and teaching mentors, all three women, and participated at her graduate
institution’s seminars and networking experiences for young female
scientists funded by a National Science Foundation grant called ADVANCE
that is designed to support female faculty.
Now Hopkinson, as an assistant professor of civil and environmental
engineering at West Virginia University, is faced with climbing the faculty
career ladder while building her research team and lab. Once again she is
receiving assistance from the women around her.
She is one of four women in the College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources who received $15,000 grants through WVU’s $3.2 million
National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant. The funds, part of the
WVU ADVANCE Sponsorship Program, will allow them to receive
mentoring from faculty members outside their department and to explore
their science in new ways.
The overall grant is designed to create a network of support and resources
for female faculty in science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
“By ensuring that women scientists consider academia as a viable and
attractive career option, we are contributing to a more diverse science
and engineering workforce,” said Melissa Latimer, director of the WVU
ADVANCE Center. “These role models also help to inspire the next
generation of female faculty and researchers.”
These professors’ interests are far-reaching.
Hopkinson is exploring how to restore riverbanks to allow plant and animal
life to thrive. Yuxin Liu is developing a microvessel model combining
biology and engineering to allow the investigation of human tissue, which
could contribute to cancer research. Jennifer Weidhaas is using bacteria to
clean up pollution. Robin Hissam is researching biological polymers.
All four women got into their fields in different ways. Some, like
Hopkinson, had female scientist and engineering role models guiding them
to the place they are now.
Liu, an assistant professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science
and Electrical Engineering, grew up watching her parents, both electrical
engineering professors, teach and research at universities in China. Seeing
her mother work as a faculty member showed her a direct path to
research, and she didn’t see the difficulties women face in engineering.
But the statistics tell another story.
According to the Society of Women Engineers, women made
up 17 percent of freshman engineering majors earlier in the last
decade, and fewer than 20 percent of those in science, engineering,
technology, and mathematics careers were women. The National
Science Foundation reports that women with science and engineering
doctorates made up 30 percent of full-time faculty in 2006.
“I think as women faculty in the engineering department, we really
need to do something to change that,” Liu said.
Why women in science?
When it comes to the question of why support women in science, for
some the answer is obvious: it’s the science that should be supported
no matter who is practicing it.
But diversity, some note, allows new ideas to flourish.
LESLIE HOPKINSONROBIN HISSAM
FACULTY GROW THEIR RESEARCH THROUGH WVU ADVANCE GRANT BY DIANA MAZZELLA
Jennifer Weidhaas was one of four women selected to win West Virginia University’s first-ever Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Awards. The $3,750 award supports faculty initiatives and student scholarships.
Weidhaas is a member of the environmental/hydrotechnical group in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She has experience working in academia, industry, and governmental agencies. Her research focus includes biological, chemical, and physical environmental engineering approaches, including water/wastewater treatment, hazardous waste and emerging contaminants remediation, water quality modeling, and bacterial source tracking of contaminants. She will use her award to purchase a benchtop, refrigerated microcentrifuge for her research laboratory.
The WiSE Giving Circle brings together alumnae and friends who seek to impact the field of science by encouraging and mentoring young women in their pursuit of professional careers within the National Science Foundation-funded STEM disciplines—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The giving circle is an internal program that was developed simultaneously with WVU’s National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant, which seeks to “increase the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.”
The 2011-2012 WiSE Awards are funded by WiSE annual membership and donations, The Hall-de Graaf Endowment for Women in Science and Engineering, The Research Trust Fund Hall – de Graaf Science and Engineering Fund, and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
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JENNIFER WEIDHAASYUXIN LIU
Weidhaas, who researches and teaches in the Department of Civil
and Environmental Engineering, said that, “Everyone approaches
problems differently.
“Having a diverse faculty in terms of gender and race provides the
multiple lines of thought and disparate approaches that are needed
to solve complex problems in science and engineering.”
Eight women in all were recognized this year. From 2012 to 2015,
ten women a year will be selected to receive the WVU ADVANCE
sponsorships.
To read detailed biographies of the women in science, technology,
engineering and math fields at WVU, go to wisewomen.wvu.edu. •
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INDUSTRY FEATURE
YANG RECEIVES $200,000 NSF RESEARCH GRANT BY DEBRA RICHARDSON
Feng Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering at West Virginia University’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, received a $200,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop statistical methods to improve experimental efficiency in the toxicology studies of nanomaterials.
With the advancement of nanotechnology in a wide range of applications, many nanometersized particles, or nanoparticles, are now commercially available. However, the problem exists between the development of these nanoparticles and risk assessment.
Any substance can be toxic to humans if too much is consumed. It has been found that nanoparticles are more toxic than relatively big particles because they are extremely small.
“Think of nanomaterials as extremely small dust in the air,” explains Yang. “Breathing in too much dust makes people sick. When used by customers, there is no guarantee that their exposure to nanomaterials will be zero. After the product is disposed of, you can imagine the dust may go everywhere.”
The toxicity of nanomaterials is studied in the same manner as the toxicity of food colors or heavy metals, said Yang.
“Some nanomaterials are fed to animals to see how they react,” said Yang. “Such biological experiments are expensive, and I intend to develop statistical methods so that fewer experiments are needed to find out the toxicity effects of nanomaterials.”
Yang is working to develop procedures that will reduce the amount of biological experiments needed for toxicity assessment. This research will substantially reduce the cost of experiments while alleviating the rising concerns for animal ethics. If successful, the method could accelerate the process of understanding the potential environmental hazard and human exposure risk posed by nanomaterials.
Yang plans to recruit females, low-income, and minority students to participate in the proposed research, hoping to attract young talents into the multidisciplinary field.
“As a woman in engineering, I understand the challenges faced by women and minorities and I believe in involving them in higher education and research will benefit society in the long run.”
While the research hopefuls have yet to be determined, Yang hopes to begin her research soon. Yang is collaborating with Dr. Dale Porter at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. •
Being born with diabetes was not something that Kaitlin Stricker, of Charleston, W.Va., was going to let get in her way. In fact, she and her father, Vincent, learned to embrace it.
They started Bag of Hope, a statewide program that reaches out to families of children with newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.
“Serving some 150 families in the past 10 years through Bag of Hope, not only left a deep impression on me of the vulnerability and gratitude people express in times of need, but of my ability, merely through example, to help families through not only a tough time, but through a lifetime,” Stricker wrote in her application.
Stricker, who plans to study chemical and biomedical engineering, was one of 20 Bucklew Scholars in the University’s incoming freshman class. Neil S. Bucklew, the scholarship’s creator, served as WVU’s 20th president from 1986 to 1995. The scholarship, valued at more than $26,000, provides each student with more than $6,600 per year toward educational costs during their four years at WVU.
A graduate of Charleston Catholic High School, Stricker achieved a 4.0 G.P.A. each year of high school career, and was recognized as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of only two from the state. She was also an Advanced Placement Scholar, received the Dorothy Arthur Camp Kno-Koma Leadership Award, and was a Wendy’s West Virginia High School Heisman Award finalist, among other things.
Stricker was also named one of five WVU Foundation Scholars. The award, which provides full tuition and fees, plus room and board and books for four years, is valued at approximately $70,000 when paired with the state’s PROMISE Scholarship. In addition, the scholarship includes a $4,500 stipend for academic enhancement, which is commonly used for study abroad, internships, and other advanced learning opportunities. The scholarships are part of the University’s comprehensive awards program and are supported, in part, by the WVU Foundation, the private non-profit corporation that generates, receives, and administers private gifts for the benefit of WVU. •
Bucklew and Foundation Scholar Uses Personal Experiences to Help Others
COVER FEATURE
KAITLIN STRICKER
FENG YANG
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
DR. SAMUEL AMERI
BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS MAJORS WIN LOCKHEED MARTIN WHITE PAPER CHALLENGE ALICIA HARMON AND CHLOE SNYDER AWARDED $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPSBY MARY C. DILLON
In furnishing Lockheed Martin with white papers that address biometrics challenges in the United States, two West Virginia University students may have helped improve national security. In earning scholarships for their efforts, the students also helped themselves.
Alicia Harmon of Independence, W.Va., and Chloe Snyder of Pigeon, W.Va., biometric systems majors in WVU’s Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Lockheed Martin for papers they submitted as part of a contest.
Their answers to “What steps should America take to foster further adoption of biometrics in addressing our nation’s challenges—and why?,” were evaluated based on relevance to top-level national interests in application of biometrics, creativity, persuasiveness, and credibility of proposed project scope. The students were honored at a ceremony at the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in April.
“While Lockheed Martin has been funding a biometric scholarship program at WVU since 2007, we wanted to do something unique this year,” said John Mears, director of Biometric Solutions for Lockheed Martin. “Right now there’s great opportunity for biometrics to help address some of our nation’s most pressing challenges. It made perfect sense that we inspire the next generation of biometrics talent here at WVU to consider how they can be part of the solution.”
Harmon’s paper, “Biometrics: Securing American Children’s Futures,” focused on the technology available to parents and caregivers to keep children safe and prevent abductions.
“When a child is enrolled in school, parents are asked for several items including immunization records, birth certificate, and social security number,” said Harmon. “Adding a set of up to five approved guardian fingerprints to pair with the child’s at the same time would be very easy.”
“Alicia is a very dedicated student,” said Bojan Cukic, professor and co-director of the Center for Identification Technology Research. “Alicia has been elected by her peers as the president of the Student Association for the Advancement of Biometrics. She spares no effort to popularize biometrics
amongst WVU students, and visits high schools in the region. It has been a true pleasure observing her professional growth over the past couple of years. The Lockheed Martin scholarship could not have been awarded to a more deserving student.”
Snyder discussed the creation of multimodal systems that use a combination of different biometric recognition technologies to identify a person.
“When looking at this multimodal system implemented by BIMA (Biometrics Identity Management Agency), the public perception of this system must be taken into account. Whether or not a person is willing to use the system could introduce some potential problems,” said Snyder. “Many people, around flu season, would be less than willing to place their hand on a hand geometry scanner after numerous other people have placed their hands there. The same applies for a fingerprint scanner. Facial recognition and iris recognition require a less physical relationship. Contact of any sort is not necessary. These are the sorts of issues that are essential when looking at adopting a biometric system.”
“Chloe is a hard-working student who is keen on obtaining hands-on experience in biometrics,” said Arun Ross, Robert C. Byrd associate professor and assistant director, Center for Identification Technology Research. “Her interest is in the area of biometric sensors, and she has assisted the FBI Biometric Center of Excellence with biometric data collection.”
Lockheed Martin’s philanthropic program strives to improve the quality of life in communities where employees live and work. The company has a tradition of involvement that includes philanthropy, leadership, and volunteer support of educational, civic, and cultural initiatives throughout the nation.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion. •
ALICIA HARMON CHLOE SNYDER
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During an awards ceremony her junior year, then-University President David C. Hardesty Jr. planted a seed in the mind of Sarah (Lovell) Soliman, who was majoring in computer engineering and biometric systems.
“He challenged me to start thinking about ways to give back to the University,” Soliman said.
On September 8, that challenge came to fruition when Soliman created a $25,000 endowment in honor of her former mentor, Dr. Wils Cooley, professor emeritus in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. The endowment will provide scholarship assistance to engineering students interested in studying abroad.
“Dr. Cooley helped me say, ‘Yes,’ when others were saying, ‘No,’” Soliman said about her study-abroad experience in Morocco. “He helped me figure out a way to coordinate the strict and lab-intensive engineering curriculum so that I could graduate on time by getting all my study abroad credits to transfer back. He encouraged me, gave me great advice, and didn’t think I was crazy.
“Studying abroad in Morocco as an undergrad is what gave me the confidence to then go on to complete graduate school in England and take my first job out of college in Iraq,” she said. “The life lessons I learned while studying abroad are an integral part of who I am today, and I wanted to be a part of helping to encourage that same self-discovery in others. I only wish I could provide a ‘Dr. Cooley’ for every engineering student who would like to study abroad.”
“I’m overwhelmed,” said Cooley. “I’m always excited when students go abroad to study but I had no idea I had made such an impact on Sarah. I’m sure she would have gone anyway even without my encouragement. I just hope her actions today encourage the next generation of our students to study abroad.”
“Dr. Cooley and I have been colleagues for many years and I always remember him as an early advocate of study abroad programs,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. “To see a young alum give back so generously to support scholarships for future generations of students to study abroad is inspiring. To see such scholarships provided in recognition of Dr. Cooley is most appropriate.”
Soliman works for Makarios Solutions, Inc., a defense intelligence consulting firm headquartered in Vienna, Va. She has spent time in Afghanistan working with aerial surveillance platforms and in Iraq working with the Department of Defense’s Tactical Biometric System. In the fall of 2009, she was chosen as a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow to the National Academy of Sciences and served with the Air Force Studies Board.
While working toward her master’s degree in technology policy at the University of Cambridge in England, Soliman was maxed out on loans and humbled by a gift from a pair of fellow WVU graduates who learned of her situation.
“This was an unforgettable lesson in how the Mountaineer family always takes care of each other and I promised myself to try to do for others as they had done for me.
“During my undergraduate years, I benefited immensely from numerous WVU Foundation scholarships, including the Bucklew, which made my education affordable,” Soliman said. “If I could say one thing to encourage other alumni to make a gift it would be to find a way to make the best better.”
“What you’re seeing here today is the best of higher education,” said Hardesty. “I think the process by which students learn about the greater world and they resolve to help others achieve the same is very inspiring. Sarah, at a very young age, has made a commitment to the future of this university. Hopefully, she will encourage others to do the same.” •
FINDING A WAY TO MAKE THE BEST BETTERENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP HONORS FORMER MENTOR
BY MARY C. DILLON
Sean and Christina Stuber wear many hats as co-founders of Mikini Bikini. In addition to their online business, the couple have “day jobs”; Sean with a large consulting firm and Christina with TJX, the company that owns TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and Marshall’s retail stores. When the couple realized they needed some help, Christina reached out to her alma mater and her mentor, Dr. Jack Byrd.
“From the very beginning of my industrial engineering career at WVU, I was extremely fortunate to have an advisor who helped guide and develop
me,” Christina said. “Dr. Byrd has been an amazing inspiration and driver in my career. When Sean and I considered hiring a summer intern, we of course turned to him to snatch up one of his best students.”
Dr. Byrd recommended Beckley, W.Va., native Shamaya Morris, who enjoyed the creativity behind the designs and ideas for the swimwear line.
“Since Christina and Sean have the same degree I am working toward, I knew this would be an opportunity to learn from the best,” Morris said.
“Working for this company has given me such an insight on what it means to become a successful business owner and developer. Just by shadowing Christina and Sean, I’ve learned that it takes more than motivation to become successful; it takes hard work and determination. This internship experience will not only prepare me for a successful future but also guarantee my success.”
Morris, a senior, plans to pursue a career in consulting, hoping to one day
own her own consulting firm. •
CO
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SHAMAYA MORRIS
DAVID HARDESTY JR. SARAH SOLIMAN WILS COOLEY
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Most people know or at least have an idea of what certain types of engineers do. In simple terms, electrical engineers are concerned with electrical systems and
designing circuits while mechanical engineers are concerned with mechanical systems and building devices. Chemical engineers are concerned with chemical systems and explore chemical processes and civil engineers are concerned with physical systems and building structures.
So what do industrial engineers do? Using knowledge of engineering, mathematics, business administration, and management, industrial and manufacturing systems engineers focus on the way products and services are made and performed. In addition to manufacturing, industrial engineers work and consult in every industry, including hospitals, communications, e-commerce, entertainment, government, finance, food, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, sports, insurance, sales, accounting, banking, travel, and transportation.
Thanks to West Virginia University industrial engineering graduate Christina (Iaquinta) Stuber ’07, they are also found in the bikini business.
Stuber, a native of Bridgeport, W.Va., and her husband, Sean, a 2004 industrial engineering graduate of Penn State University, are the owners of Mikini Bikini, a swimwear retailer which sells online at www.mikinibikini.com. The company, which was formed in 2010, has garnered the attention of the fashion world, with mentions in the May edition of InStyle magazine, which included Mikini Bikini in its “Fail-Safe Guide to Summer’s Hottest Swimsuits,” a note in Seventeen magazine’s fashion blog in March, and stories in WV Living Magazine and the Charleston Daily Mail this past summer.
The name Mikini evolved from the uniqueness and individuality of the offering itself; quite literally, “my bikini.”
“I found it extremely difficult to find a bikini that I really loved, was well-made, and above all fit my style,” said Christina. “I want my swimwear to be a reflection of my personal tastes, just like the clothes in my closet. Furthermore, I want the ability to truly mix and match my tops and bottoms. That requires colors and patterns that can work together or separately. Until now, there have been limited options out there like that.
“Fashion design and retail apparel products in general are so often thought to be developed purely by artfulness and inspiration,” Christina continued. “And while we’ll be the first to say our bikinis are all about inspiration, as engineers we’re great at distilling these designs down to their basic components: product and process.”
Whether you’re working for a Fortune 500 company or a small company like Mikini Bikini, the Stubers agree that translating what you’ve learned into action is what matters.
“Be action oriented,” Sean said. “Everyone knows grades are important. But the real world cares more about application than grades. So think every day about how you can apply what you are studying. Industrial engineering classes refine your thought process and teach skills that you can use to solve problems.”
According to Christina, having an understanding of product design, manufacturing process, sourcing, and operations research has also profoundly impacted product development. The company offers four style options for bikini tops and three for bottoms, with more than 60 different body and trim fabrics and about 20 linings. Each custom-ordered suit is handmade in the United States.
“Whether you’re talking about existing products or new product development, an intimate understanding of the products’ fabrication process is critical,” Sean said. “From a manufacturing perspective, establishing repeatable processes and work templates ensures consistent quality. In problem-solving mode, it can help us determine if we need to make an adjustment to a design or source another component that adds value and maintains quality. Having standards helps us better understand product cost. And methodical order processing and inventory control help keep orders straight and customers happy.
“There are endless indirect and intangible ways that our engineering backgrounds have supported the work we do,” Christina continued. “One of the main reasons I chose to pursue industrial engineering was because it was so broad. I knew I wouldn’t feel limited in my career and I could focus my efforts in literally any industry: manufacturing, consulting, technical sales, retail. My degree provided the skill set and confidence to tackle any business operation … even string bikinis!” •
IE ALUM MAKES A SPLASH IN CUSTOM BIKINI BUSINESSBY MARY C. DILLON
CHRISTINA AND SEAN STUBER
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FACULTY NEWS
Gyungsu Byun Assistant Professor Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Education:Ph.D. - University of California, Los Angeles, ’10 M.S. - Poghan University of Science and Technology, Korea, ’99 B.S. - Chonbuk National University, South Korea, ’97
Teaching Interests: advanced digital integrated circuit and microelectronics
Research Interests: digital electronics, computer engineering
Yaser FallahAssistant Professor Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Education: Ph.D. - University of British Columbia, Canada, ’07 M.S. - University of British Columbia, ’01 B.S. - Sharif University of Technology, Iran, ’98
Teaching Interests: computer engineering and systems
Research Interests: cyberphysical systems, computer networks
Todd HamrickTeaching Assistant Professor Freshman Engineering Program
Education:Ph.D. - West Virginia University, ’11 M.S. - West Virginia University, ’08 B.S. - West Virginia University, ’87
Teaching Interests: thermal and fluids laboratory, dynamics, statistics
NEW FACULTYMelissa MorrisTeaching Assistant Professor Freshman Engineering Program
Education:Ph.D. - West Virginia University, ’11 M.S. - West Virginia University, ’08 B.S. - West Virginia University, ’06
Teaching Interests: thermodynamics, thermal fluids laboratory, guided missile systems
Research Interests: energy- and thermodynamic-related topics,engineering education
Xiaopeng NingAssistant Professor Industrial and Management Systems Engineering
Education: Ph.D. - Iowa State University, ’11 M.S. - Iowa State University, ’08 B.S. - Beijing Institute of Technology, China, ’05
Teaching Interests: ergonomics, human factors, safety engineering
Research Interests: biomechanics, low back injury, ergonomics
Yong YangAssistant Professor Chemical Engineering
Education:Ph.D. - Ohio State University, ’05 M.S. - Zhejiang University, China, ’98 B.S. - Zhejiang University, China, ’93
Teaching Interests: biomedical engineering, including biomedical nanotechnology and polymer nanoengineering
Research Interests: regenerative medicine
TWO PROMOTED TO RANK OF PROFESSOR EMERITUSTwo members of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
faculty have been granted emeritus status, effective 2011.
Alfred H. Stiller was promoted to the rank of professor emeritus in
the Department of Chemical Engineering. Stiller earned his Ph.D. from
the University of Cincinnati in 1972 and his bachelor’s degree from
Chemistry Eastern College in 1967. He joined the WVU faculty in 1980.
Stiller’s research is primarily in the area of carbon materials from coal
and coal conversion. Prior to joining the faculty he worked for the
West Virginia Geological Survey. Stiller holds several patents on a
variety of technologies.
Darrell R. Dean, Jr. was promoted to the rank of professor emeritus
in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dean earned
both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WVU in 1966 and 1968,
respectively. He completed his Ph.D. at Purdue University in 1979. His
teaching career began in 1969 at Glenville State College, where he was
instrumental in starting the college’s surveying program. Since 1977, he
has taught surveying at WVU. He has served as president of the West
Virginia Association of Land Surveyors and as chairman of the West
Virginia State Board of Examiners of Land Surveyors, now the West Virginia
Board of Professional Surveyors. •
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
Two members of our College faculty recently
reached milestones in their careers. Join us in
congratulating those who have been promoted:
Darran CairnsAssociate Professor
Darran Cairns earned both
his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees
in materials sciences and
engineering from the University
of Birmingham in the United
Kingdom. Prior to joining the
Department of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering in 2006,
he served as a research specialist
with the Optical Systems Division
of 3M Touch Systems in Methuen, Mass. His research focuses
on liquid crystalline composite materials and structures for
display and sensor applications, including flexible displays. He
has published 29 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters,
and holds seven patents with several more pending.
Xingbo Liu Associate Professor
Xingbo Liu earned his bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctoral degrees
in materials science from the
University of Science and
Technology in Beijing, China.
A prolific researcher, Liu did
his postdoctoral work in the
Department of Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering at WVU
and was named New Researcher
of the Year in 2004-2005. He
joined the staff as an assistant professor in 2006 and has been
Outstanding Researcher in the College twice, in 2007-2008 and
2008-2009. In 2010, he went on to win the Minerals, Metals
& Materials Society Faculty Early Career Fellow Award and in
2011, he received the “Oscar of Innovation” from R&D Magazine
for his work with fuel cells. Liu has filed two patent applications,
published 33 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and presented
40 papers at international conferences. •
PROMOTION AND TENURE
Following a national search,
Dr. Jacky Prucz was named
chair of the Department of
Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering in the College
of Engineering and Mineral
Resources.
Prucz joined the West
Virginia University faculty
in 1985 after earning his
doctorate in aerospace
engineering from Georgia
Institute of Technology. He
earned both his bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in
aeronautical engineering
from the Technion, Israel
Institute of Technology.
During his tenure at WVU, Prucz has served as the assistant
director of the Concurrent Engineering Research Center, and
associate chair and interim chair of the MAE Department.
He managed multi-million dollar research programs in close
collaboration with major industrial partners, such as GE/Aircraft
Engines, 3M, and Boeing Aerospace.
He brings extensive multi-disciplinary experience to the position,
ranging from analysis and design of aircraft and airborne
systems, to passive vibration control, parametric modeling for
concurrent engineering, mechanics of composite materials and
their applications to lightweight structures. Prucz is the author or
co-author of four book chapters and more than 100 publications
in these areas, as well as numerous articles and reports on
various aspects of engineering education. He has developed
new instructional materials and has taught a variety of courses at
both the undergraduate and graduate levels, including laboratory
classes and capstone design projects.
Prior to starting a career in academia, Prucz performed an
extended military service in the Israeli Air Force, where he was
assigned a variety of duties related to engineering design,
operations research, performance analysis and flight testing of
combat aircraft. •
PRUCZ NAMED CHAIR OF MAE
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Commencement weekend is filled with pomp
and circumstance not just for our students
but for our alumni as well. The College of
Engineering and Mineral Resources featured
two of West Virginia University’s three
honorary degree recipients, with a third
alumnus being recognized earlier in the day
with the Order of Vandalia.
George Bennett, B.S., industrial engineering
’67, Henry T. Yang, M.S., industrial
engineering ’65, and Verl Purdy, B.S.,
chemical engineering ’64 were recognized
for their advances in their respective fields
and their commitment to the University.
Bennett, who has been a leading visionary
and entrepreneur for the past 35 years,
offered a simple charge to the graduates:
“take initiative.”
He relayed two stories, one from his own
experience and one a fictionalized account,
to illustrate the importance of recognizing
opportunities and taking advantage of them.
He talked about two bricklayers who were
asked to describe their jobs. One replied
“bricklayer” while the other said he was
“helping to build a magnificent skyscraper.”
The second response indicates a better
vision and world view than merely offering
a job description.
“You are launching into a world that is
convulsing with opportunity,” Bennett said.
“Math and science and engineering are once
again recognized as key ingredients for a
thriving economy. The pace of change is
breathtaking. My advice to you is to advance
into the chaos. Be fearless. Take initiative
and have fun.
“… there is no place that is more dear to
me than West Virginia University,” Bennett
continued. “This is where I learned how
to think and how to approach complex
problems. I had some great professors, and
through them I was able to assemble some
problem-solving skills that have served me
throughout my career. I am sure that you
will find the same to be true as you move
on to graduate school or as you launch
your career.”
Henry T. Yang, an accomplished leader in
higher education and the field of aeronautical
engineering, repeated several visionary
quotes about science and engineering,
including one from Theodore von Karman, an
aerospace engineer who was responsible for
many key advances in aerodynamics.
“The famous aerospace engineer Theodore
von Karman once said, ‘Scientists discover
the world that exists; engineers create the
world that never was.’
“So you, our engineering graduates, will now
go out to create the world that never was.”
Yang also recognized Charles Vest, MIT
president emeritus and a member of
WVU’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni,
who attended the ceremony. Vest was
the recipient of the National Science
Board’s 2011 Vannevar Bush Award for his
distinguished public service leadership in
science and technology.
ORDER OF VANDALIA
Prior to
commencement,
the University
awarded the
Order of Vandalia
to Purdy. The
Order of Vandalia
represents the
highest honor
awarded for
extraordinary
service to the
University.
Purdy’s career led him to become the
vice president and general manager of the
Intermediate Chemicals Group at BASF and
later the CEO for Rio Tinto Zinc Chemicals
for North America.
He founded a group of companies, the
AGDATA Group, which would become a
leading provider of agricultural information
in the United States and Canada. His health
care information subsidiary became one of
the largest providers of eligibility verification
in the country.
After selling both companies, Purdy
continues to purchase and operate health
care information and analytics companies in
the United States.
Purdy is chairman of the board for the WVU
Foundation. •
HONORARY DEGREES, ORDER OF VANDALIA AWARDED COMMENCEMENT WEEKEND
COLLEGE NEWS
GEORGE BENNETT PRESIDENT JAMES P. CLEMENTS HENRY T. YANG
VERL PURDY
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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West Virginia University is embarking on an
ambitious building project that will remake the
Evansdale campus.
A multi-year, $159.5 million building plan has
been approved by the Board of Governors that
will give the College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources a new advanced engineering
research building, the College of Physical
Activity and Sport Sciences its own space,
and Agricultural Sciences a new building and
greenhouse.
When coupled with a previously announced
Student Wellness center and upgraded
recreation fields nearby, as well as a new art
museum, the Evansdale campus will change
dramatically in the next few years.
The new buildings will feature state-of-the-art
facilities and additional classrooms, and enable
more general education classes to be held on
Evansdale, cutting down traffic to and from the
downtown campus.
It’s no accident that this capital improvement
plan represents the largest financial investment
in recent school history. WVU announced the
2020 Strategic Framework for the Future earlier
this year, and each new facility is designed to
support the goals.
Vice President of Administration and Finance
Narvel Weese said the University has been
exploring many of the individual projects for the
last few years. The selected capital projects
were submitted to the Board for funding
because they are fundamental to the success
of the strategic plan’s priorities.
PRODUCTIVE RESEARCHERS
The College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources has experienced significant growth
in the last decade. Its faculty members are
among the most productive researchers
on campus. A new engineering building is
necessary to support continued growth in
both enrollment and research.
This new building (A&E sketch below), called
the Advanced Engineering Research building
or AERB, will have 74,000 assignable square
feet. Two departments will be relocated into
this building freeing space in the existing
Engineering buildings to accommodate growth
of all CEMR departments. The new building
will add 22,000 square feet of flexible research
laboratory space, as well as a 15,000 square
foot clean room to meet the needs of high-
technology learning and discovery in the new
millennium. Offices, classrooms, computer
classrooms, a learning center, and graduate
student space will use 29,000 square feet
in the new building. The building will also
provide 15,000 square feet of shell space,
which will be allocated and built-out according
to future space needs. The building will be
fully integrated into the utility infrastructure for
the Evansdale campus and will have energy-
efficient systems.
The estimated cost of the building is
$41.4 million, with completion scheduled
for June 2014. •
EVANSDALE CAMPUS REMAKE INCLUDES NEW ENGINEERING RESEARCH BUILDING
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COLLEGE NEWS
West Virginia University has unlocked its entry
to the magical level of gaming with a new
graduate certificate program that debuted
this fall.
Graduate students in computer science
are able to earn a certificate in interactive
technologies and serious gaming, a potential
gateway to working in the ever-growing
game industry.
The program is a collaborative effort between
the Lane Department of Computer Science
and Electrical Engineering and the Department
of English.
“Notice it’s called serious gaming,” said Tim
Menzies, associate professor in computer
science and electrical engineering. “We’re
serious. This is the future of human interaction
of all societies.”
From “Pong” to “Halo,” the dynamics of games
have changed from blips and bleeps to a vast
paradise of multidimensional visuals, characters
and storylines. Gamers no longer sit in front of
wood-cased tube TV sets fiddling with one-
button joysticks in isolation.
Nowadays, gamers worldwide engage in
online communities where they strategize
with or against one another in seeking their
virtual goals.
It’s an ideal time for game-centric students to
delve into the industry, say the brains behind
the certificate program.
The initiative aims to fill a need in the industry
for simulation systems, scientific visualization,
and other techniques and tools. Professors
believe exposure to current research in the
fields of computer graphics and artificial
intelligence will enable students to develop
next-generation technologies within those
fields.
“The economics of games have changed,”
Menzies said. “The gaming industry is now
bigger than the movie industry.”
To bolster Menzies’ claim, sales of “Call of
Duty: Black Ops” reached $650 million within
five days of its November 2010 release. The
first-person shooter by Activision set a five-day
global record for any movie, book, or video
game. It soon became the best-selling game of
all-time in the United States, selling 13.7 million
copies and surpassing “Wii Play.”
Earning this certificate in interactive
technologies and serious gaming will take
more effort than eluding enemy combatants or
slaying dragons.
Students will take courses in graphics,
databases, and artificial intelligence. As a
capstone project, students must also produce
a game for their portfolio.
“The skills you need to work in the gaming
industry are hardcore math and computer
science,” Menzies said. “If you can’t write
scales or algorithms, you’re not going to get a
job with these companies.”
Menzies’ colleague, Frances Van Scoy,
associate professor of computer science and
electrical engineering, further emphasized the
hard work and know-how needed to complete
the certificate program.
“You have to be good at physics if you want
to model how hair moves or how a piece of
fabric moves in a game,” she said. “You need
to know partial differential equations. Students
who develop games come out with solid skills
applicable in a lot of areas.”
Within the past decade, Van Scoy has
adamantly pushed for the development of
a gaming program at WVU. She cites her
students’ passion for gaming as a driving
force. Even without a focus or concentration
on gaming, some students have gone on to
make a name for themselves in the industry.
Chiam Gingold, for example, studied computer
science and English as an undergraduate at
WVU. Gingold worked on the successful life-
simulation computer game “The Sims” and is
also recognized for designing the multi-genre,
artificial life game “Spore.” Both titles were
published by Electronic Arts, known for its
highly popular “Madden” NFL games, as well
as “Rock Band.”
Gingold’s areas of study—computer science
and English—illustrate that would-be game
developers need more than just technical
engineering skills. In addition to being a math
and computer wizard, an aspiring game
designer/programmer/creator needs to tell a
good story. Enter the English Department for
this part of the program.
POWER-UP! WVU TO INTRODUCE CERTIFIINTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIESBY JAKE STUMP
Do you want to play a game? Or, maybe, create one?
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“If you look at who designs computer
games, there are just as many people who
have backgrounds in creative or humanities
fields,” said Charles (Sandy) Baldwin,
associate professor of English and director
of the Center for Literary Computing.
The English Department offers courses
including multimedia writing and digital
humanities, which are applicable to game
development. The storytelling aspect of
games is equally as important as their
visual and auditory onslaught.
Without having to rescue a kidnapped
Princess Toadstool from the clutches of
the evil Bowser, a gamer’s escapades
through pipes and fire-pitted castles as the
protagonist plumber Mario would be for nil.
“If you describe your experience with a
computer game, you’ll describe things like
characters, stories, reading, writing, and
dialogue,” Baldwin said. “These are things
people deal with in English departments.
We talk about how to tell a story and
develop characters.
“Writing for a computer game can mean
a lot of different things. There’s ‘Halo’ and
then there’s ‘Angry Birds.’ There’s ‘World
of Warcraft’ but there’s also ‘Tetris.’ It’s
really diverse.”
It’s no longer just a simple beginning and
end for today’s gamers. Many best-selling
titles contain nonlinear storylines and
subplots.
Baldwin identified “The Sims,” “Zelda,”
and “Half-Life” as games that changed
the landscape of the industry with their
engaging, narrative force. Baldwin’s
students study these games and their
impact in his courses. He called “Half-
Life” an “achievement in combining good
storytelling with sci-fi monster-killing
action.”
His students dig even deeper into the
meanings and implications of games.
“They read cultural and theoretical analyses
of how games tell stories,” he said, “and
the relationship between games and
certain historical issues like race, gender
and society.”
Baldwin added that the cross-departmental
involvement on the new certificate program
fits the University’s mission of educating
beyond boundaries. The program,
however, is centrally located in the
computer science department and is open
only to its graduate students.
But both computer science and English
departments hope this joint effort ultimately
leads to a full-fledged degree-granting
program for undergraduate and graduate
students.
“Every peer university of our size has
some major initiative in computer gaming,”
Baldwin said. “In some cases, they offer
certificate programs like this one. In other
cases, they have major programs. In the
long run, we hope to build this certificate
program into something bigger, perhaps an
actual major.”
The English Department hopes to unveil
a similar gaming certificate program for
undergraduate students by fall 2012,
Baldwin said. •
WVU TO INTRODUCE CERTIFIINTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIESBY JAKE STUMP
CATE PROGRAM IN AND SERIOUS GAMING
WATTS MUSEUM EXHIBITION TO FOCUS ON SAFE AND SUFFICIENT MINE ILLUMINATION
The Royce J. and Caroline
B. Watts Museum in the
College of Engineering
and Mineral Resources is
featuring the exhibition,
Defying the Darkness:
The Struggle for Safe and
Sufficient Mine Illumination.
The exhibition will run
through May 2012.
The exhibition explores the history of mine
illumination, specifically the controversies and
context surrounding developments in mine lighting
technology. Defying the Darkness presents the
interrelated yet often conflicting attitudes towards
mine lighting from the perspectives of mine
operators, miners, and government bodies, as well as
scientists working to advance underground-lighting
technology. For these various groups in the mining
industry, health and safety concerns, economic
interests and technological factors all played a role,
as mine illumination progressed from tallow candles
and oil wick lights to battery-powered cap lamps.
The Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum is
dedicated to preserving and promoting the social,
cultural, and technological history of the coal, oil, and
natural gas industries of the state of West Virginia
through the collection, preservation, research, and
exhibition of objects relevant to these industries. •
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ACCOLADES
Researchers from West Virginia University and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown have earned an award known around the world as the “Oscar of Innovation” for their work on a
technology that could vastly improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells as a new source of clean electricity.
R&D Magazine named the work one of the “100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.” Previous R&D 100 Award winners include such innovations as HDTV and the automated teller machine.
Fuel cells are devices that generate electricity through a chemical reaction. They use hydrogen as fuel and little more than water is produced as a byproduct. NETL and WVU experts have been concentrating on a variation of the fuel cell known as a solid oxide fuel cell in a quest for a coating that can prolong the life of individual components and lower the cost of using fuel cells in large-scale power generation.
WVU is one of five universities that are working on energy research projects as part of NETL’s Regional University Alliance.
“One of the goals of our 2020 Strategic Plan is to excel in research, creativity, and innovation, especially areas that address state and global issues,” said WVU Provost Michele Wheatly. “This new technology around fuel cells as a new source of clean energy is a great example of the type of research that’s going on in our labs and classrooms that could have an important impact on our economy and on our environment.”
Solid oxide fuel cells offer advantages because, unlike a wide range of other fuel cells that operate exclusively on hydrogen, they can also use fossil fuels, butane, methanol, other petroleum products, and gases from biomass or coal and still only produce water and a small amount of carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
However, the stumbling block has been the life expectancy of the solid oxide fuel cells that must be stacked or bundled together to work. High
temperatures and chemical reactions make the process expensive because of the need for frequent replacement of parts. That made the cost of the electricity produced in the process too high to be feasible.
The NETL-WVU team developed a special coating to drastically reduce that wear and tear and thus make the solid oxide fuel cell more feasible for producing large-scale power.
Xingbo Liu, associate professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in WVU’s College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, was the principal investigator and co-developed the technology with NETL colleagues and funding. He was assisted by his Ph.D. student Junwei Wu. Liu explained that the new product could make solid oxide fuel cells viable for the first time by preventing the corrosion of the interconnects that are a critical part of the technology.
“The resulting increase in solid oxide fuel cell stack on-time will decrease the cost of electricity produced, which will ultimately benefit the consumer,” Liu said.
NETL researchers on the project included Christopher Johnson, who was a research scientist in the Energy System and Dynamics Division and now serves as project manager in Vehicle Technologies Division, and Randall Gemmen, who was a group leader and now serves as division director of Energy System and Dynamics Division.
In 2009, WVU teamed with a private-sector company, Faraday Technology, Inc. of Clayton, Ohio, and received U.S. Department of Energy technology transfer funding to improve the coating performance
and to scale-up the coating for industrial-size interconnects making it available for commercial use. Faraday team members included principal scientists Heather McGrabb and Timothy Hall.
“WVU and NETL are working together to help America’s effort to gain energy independence,” Curt Peterson, WVU’s vice president for Research and Economic Development said. “This award is solid confirmation of the progress being made on that front.”
Cynthia Powell, director of NETL’s Office of Research and Development, said, “This award illustrates the power generated when you combine the innovation and excitement present at the University with the knowledge and capabilities resident at a National Laboratory.
“Clearly you get more than the sum of the parts, and jointly winning this award is a fine example of how the universities and labs can achieve greater things when working together.”
“We are delighted to see the impact of CEMR collaborative research by one of our faculty with NETL and the potential for continued economic development in West Virginia,” said Gene Cilento, dean of the College. “This research supports the important needs of the energy industry and can reduce dependence on imported oil.”
Winners of the awards are selected by an independent judging panel and the editors of R&D Magazine and will be recognized at the R&D 100 Awards Banquet in October in Orlando, Fla. •
WVU/NETL TEAM RECEIVES “OSCAR OF INNOVATION” FOR FUEL CELL WORKBY GERRY GRIFFITH
XINGBO LIU
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Arun Ross, an associate professor in West Virginia University’s Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering in the College of Mineral Resources, helps make the nation safer.
Ross is one of the key faculty members conducting research for the WVU Center for Identification Technology Research, an industry/university cooperative research center that provides a method to leverage biometrics research conducted in academia into industry and a key academic partner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This past spring, Ross was honored for his work when he was named a Robert C. Byrd Professor by the WVU Research Corp. and was the recipient of a WVU Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching.
The FBI has awarded a grant to Ross and his colleagues to research ways to improve fingerprint analysis under a federal initiative known as the Friction Ridge Support Services Project. He has also received support for his biometrics work from NSF, Office of Naval Research, Army Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, National Institute of Justice, and Center for Identification Technology Research.
Ross has received two Outstanding College Teacher Awards, two Outstanding College Researcher Awards, and the Young Researcher of the Year Award. He has mentored several graduate and undergraduate students in biometrics, and has presented biometric tutorials at various international conferences.
He is a recipient of NSF’s CAREER Award and was designated a Kavli Frontiers Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. He is the co-author of the book Handbook of Multibiometrics and co-editor of Handbook of Biometrics. He is also an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Image Processing and the IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security. •
ROSS AWARDED BYRD PROFESSORSHIP, NAMED OUTSTANDING TEACHER BY THE FOUNDATION
ARUN ROSS AND FAMILY WITH GENE CILENTO
The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is made up of many hard working, dedicated professionals who go above and beyond every day in their dedication to our mission of teaching, research, and service. The following faculty and staff members were recognized for their service this past academic year:
TEACHER OF THE YEARBrian Anderson, Department of Chemical Engineering
OUTSTANDING TEACHERSAfzel Noore, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Mario Perhinschi, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Arun Ross, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
ADVISOR OF THE YEARLarry Banta, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
OUTSTANDING ADVISORNithi Sivaneri, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
RESEARCHER OF THE YEARMarcello Napolitano, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
OUTSTANDING RESEARCHERSNigel Clark, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Bojan Cukic, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Hota GangaRao, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Tim Menzies, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
NEW RESEARCHERS OF THE YEARCerasela Dinu, Department of Chemical Engineering Guodong Guo, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBERSMaggie LeMasters, Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering David Solley, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Sarah Stout, Administration
OUTSTANDING ADVISORS, TEACHERS, RESEARCHERS, AND STAFF HONORED
ANDERSON NOORE
PERHINSCHI ROSS
BANTA SIVANERI
NAPOLITANO CLARK
CUKIC GANGARAO
MENZIES DINU
GUO LEMASTERS
SOLLEY STOUT
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STUDENT NEWS
People look to West Virginia for its mining expertise, especially when it comes to coal. Now they can look to West Virginia for its mining expertise … on the moon.
A team of students from the West Virginia University College of Engineering and Mineral Resources recently competed in their first Lunabotics Competition sponsored by NASA. Despite getting a late start in their planning, the team finished third in the mining competition, third in the bandwidth efficiency competition, and earned honorable mention recognition for team spirit and innovative design.
“For us, the competition comprised a semester of design and preparation,” said Powsiri Klinkhachorn, professor of computer science and electrical engineering in the Lane Department, who served as the team’s advisor. “The field of competitors was whittled down through a series of deadlines for documentation submittals, proof of operation and, ultimately, traveling to Kennedy Space Center for the competition.”
The international competition challenged 46 teams of students to design and build a remote controlled or autonomous excavator called a lunabot, to determine which could collect the most simulated lunar soil within 15 minutes. The complexities of the challenge include the abrasive characteristics of the simulant, the weight and size limitations of the lunabot, and the ability to control the lunabot from a remote control center.
The competition included teams from the University of Alabama, Auburn, Colorado School of Mines, Florida State, University of Illinois, Iowa State University, University of North Dakota, and Virginia Tech. Top honors in the competition went to Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada.
“WVU enjoyed the support of many area alumni who stopped by our pit area and observed our competition offering their encouragement,” said Ben Knabensure, student team leader. “Our most notable alum, retired NASA astronaut Captain Jon McBride, supported the team from its inception and stopped by often, taking time from his busy
schedule for team photographs and autographs.” McBride was on campus in late January and offered critiques and advice to the team.
“We are very proud of the effort of our team at this year’s competition,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. “For a first-time effort, the team represented the University very well and exhibited great enthusiasm, spirit, and dedication to the work ethic needed to be successful in the competition.”
WVU’s Lunabotics team was sponsored by the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, and the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. •
Mining the Moon: WVU Finishes Third in its First Lunabotics CompetitionBY MARY C. DILLON
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During a field trip to Washington, D.C., in October 2009, Ken Hite, an electrical engineering major from Summit Point, W.Va., “stumbled upon” an event that would change the direction of his life.
“We got off the Metro at the National Mall and I noticed a bunch of houses sitting there,” Hite said. “I saw a sign that read ‘Solar Decathlon.’”
A call back home to his father provided additional details on the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)-sponsored project. Based on further research, Hite came to one conclusion: “We should do this for our senior design project.”
Fast forward two years and Hite, along with nearly 300 students from across the University, is working diligently to complete a proposal in hopes of earning a slot in the 2013 Solar Decathlon, an event in which student teams design, build and operate an attractive, energy-efficient solar-powered house and display it during a week-long competition.
“The students started working on this more than a year ago and I got involved because of my work in energy-related research,” said Dimitris Korakakis, associate professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. “Our short-term goal is to make the competition. But our long-term goal is to strive to make this a WVU campus-wide project.”
To that end, Korakakis said the students have garnered interest and feedback from their counterparts in a number of colleges, including the College of Creative Arts; the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design; and the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.
“We’re reaching out to the freshman and sophomore class so we can teach them what we know because we may not be here to actually compete in the competition,” said Brian Neff, a senior engineering student from Philippi, W.Va. “Most of us are seniors and will be graduating this spring.
“We need help from the entire University,” Neff said. “We are recruiting students to help with publicity, to edit our proposal, to design the interior of the house, etc.”
With various students from multi-disciplines throughout WVU onboard, the team worked with the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources to create two courses that are being offered this fall, which allow students to receive credit for participating in the project.
This competition is a tremendous undertaking, but the real feat lies in the team’s design plan, which is intended to be feasible for the average West Virginia homeowner. While several top universities surrounding WVU have previously competed, this will be WVU’s first attempt.
“The biggest thing that sets us apart from our competition is the design, which will remain a secret until we know if we earned a slot in the competition,” said Neff. “We hope to show the public that our house is not only practical and native to the state but it can be built entirely from regional resources.”
The DoE first challenged collegiate teams around the world to compete in the Solar Decathlon back in 2002. To win, the teams had to enter their solar-powered homes in 10 contests, which included aspects of affordability, consumer appeal, and design with an emphasis on optimal energy production and maximizing efficiency of their homes.
While the WVU team ultimately hopes to enter the 2013 competition, they have ulterior motives as well.
“We want to educate the Appalachian public about cost-effective homes, renewable energy sources, and construction,” said Neff. “With or without the competition, we still intend to design and build an affordable solar house that is native to the Appalachian region and includes solar panels and smart home technology. Our prototype will be used for state and regional educational purposes.”
The team’s proposal must be submitted by November to determine competition eligibility. But even though the results won’t be released until March, the team will be engrossed in their work, as their choice to build the house regardless of earning a slot in the competition has the entire University waiting in anticipation. •
WVU Hopes for Chance to Shine at Solar Decathlon
BY DEBRA RICHARDSON
More than 300 students from 12 schools in West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., converged in Morgantown, W.Va., in April as West Virginia University hosted the American Society of Civil Engineers annual Virginias’ Conference. The event provided students with the chance to gain hands-on experience by competing in civil and environmental engineering-related competitions. Fairmont State won the concrete canoe event, with Catholic University winning the steel bridge contest. Both advanced to the national competition. The concrete canoe team from WVU won the co-ed sprint race, clocking the fastest race time for the entire competition.
ASCE
COMPETITION
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Engineering Olympic Success
Campriani Works with Pistol Company to Design Custom Air-rifle
BY DEBRA RICHARDSON
STUDENT NEWSMore than 3,000 students roam the halls at the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and nearly 770 of them made the Dean’s list last year. Studying and training in an environment where the best is nearly impossible to distinguish from the rest can make standing out a difficult task. But combine a recent qualification for the Olympics with a personally designed and engineered air-rifle and suddenly, one student becomes an inspiration for all.
Nicco Campriani, originally from Florence, Italy, has more than one reason to be proud of qualifying for the Olympics in 2012. With 10 years of rifle competition experience, he has an endless list of successes, as an Olympian in 2008, European Champion in 2009, and Academic All-American First Team for 2011. With such an extensive list of achievements, it’s no surprise that Campriani is bringing something new to his second attempt at the world’s most recognized competition: a personally designed air-rifle.
After landing an internship with a pistol company, Pardini Firearms in Italy this past summer, Campriani accomplished the impossible and designed an air-rifle that he and fellow shooters have only dreamed of.
“I’ve always talked to other shooters about what rifle we would prefer,” explained Campriani, “but the various adjustments were never made available. I took mental notes of all the changes and adjustments my fellow shooters wanted and combined that with what I personally wished for in an air-rifle for competition purposes.”
When searching for ways to modify his rifle, Campriani looked at the mechanics in everyday products. One such idea struck him when examining the shock absorbers on cars.
“I designed a small magnetic absorber that will prevent the rifle from moving when it’s fired,” Campriani said. “Certain cars use magnetic absorbers in their shocks while others use springs, but the magnet is more appropriate for the rifle as it will make it lighter and it’s an easier fit.”
There are many requirements and rules regarding specific aspects of the air-rifles used in competitions, especially those used during the Olympics. With only a few months to research, design, and convince Pardini Firearms to produce the rifle, Campriani made the most of his limited time and relied heavily on his engineering experience and education.
“Of course engineering interests me and I enjoy learning but my passion is with the rifle,” Campriani said. “Luckily, I haven’t had to choose one over the other yet, because so far they complement each other.”
The prototype should be made available to Campriani this fall; he plans to begin his vigorous training upon its arrival.
“It’s hard to change things a few months before the Olympics but I know this rifle, so of course I prefer to use it,” Campriani said. “If there is a problem during the competition, I can quickly correct it or make the necessary changes because this is my design and exactly what I want.”
While Campriani intends to train at the national training center in Colorado Springs with the U.S. Rifle Team, he will be traveling back to Morgantown to train the last few months with his most recent and consistent advisor, Dr. Edward Etzel. A past Olympic winner, Etzel is a sports psychologist for WVU and his shooter-coach background gives him an interesting perspective; a perspective Campriani believes will give him an edge over other qualifiers.
“Anyone can shoot a 10 in training,” Campriani said, “but the real challenge is maintaining focus and blocking negative thoughts and self-doubt during the two-hour competition. The thrill of the opening ceremony at the Olympics is one I have never received in a classroom or during training, and that excitement and pressure can lead to distractions, something I train to overcome.”
Other top shooters around the world will also be testing the prototype after the 2012 Olympics scheduled to be held in England. If Campriani is successful next summer with his rifle design, the possibilities for mass production are endless. •
NICCO CAMPRIANI
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Students Defy Gravity in NASA Summer ProgramBY JAKE STUMP
STUDENT NEWS
Holed up inside a NASA C-9 aircraft, Anand “Sunny” Narayanan didn’t notice any strange happenings around him.
That is, until he peered down and saw his feet floating off the floor.
For Narayanan and his cohorts in the Microgravity Research Team at West Virginia University, NASA’s “Weightless Wonder” literally swept them off their feet.
The team, composed of 10 undergraduate students in the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, ventured to the Johnson Space Center in Houston last month for NASA’s Microgravity University, an annual program that gives college students a shot at designing, flying, and evaluating a reduced-gravity experiment.
Students tested their experiment aboard the “Weightless Wonder”—offhandedly known as the “Vomit Comet” for its propensity to cause airsickness. The fixed-wing aircraft produces weightlessness 25 seconds at a time by executing a series of about 30 parabolas—a steep climb followed by a free fall—over the Gulf of Mexico.
“You look around and see everyone else floating and things picking up off the ground by themselves,” said Narayanan, a senior double majoring in mechanical engineering and biology. “You don’t feel any different until you see everything floating. It’s amazing—the sensation of microgravity.”
Mark James, an aerospace and mechanical engineering senior from Bruceton Mills, W.Va., described the feeling as “very calm, like being at the top of a roller coaster for a long time, just without the sudden accelerations.”
The WVU Microgravity Research Team was among 20 selected from universities nationwide to participate in the summer flight program. More than 100 teams applied, and it marked WVU’s ninth invite in 10 years. Teams must first submit proposals to NASA, which chooses participants based on the scientific merit and educational outreach potential of their plan.
WVU’s experiment this year involved an electromagnetically enhanced fluidized bed. A fluidized bed occurs when solid particles are placed under certain conditions that cause them to “boil and swirl.” Essentially, they behave as a fluid, James said.
“The problem with a fluidized bed in zero gravity is that the fluid pushes the particles to the top of the container,” he said. “There’s no gravity force to counteract the flow. The particles pack together and don’t fluidize.”
To correct this problem, the Microgravity Research Team tried to simulate gravity in their experiment by using an electromagnetic field, which pulls the particles down to prevent them from packing together.
“Our hope is that this technology can be applied to enhance filtration or combustion in spacecraft,” James said.
He added that the mixing properties of a fluidized bed could help create “moon dust concrete,” which would promote the building of permanent structures on the moon. The mixing of compounds in microgravity environments can also improve recycling resources in space, Narayanan said, or even benefit coal-to-fuel processes on Earth.
Unfortunately, the particles still clumped together during the experiment. Still, the team’s research lays a foundation for future students who want to conduct similar tests.
The team is currently analyzing its data and preparing a report for NASA.
In addition to Narayanan and James, Microgravity Research Team members include Travis Corwell, of Ridgeley, W.Va.; Marc Gramlich, of Hurricane, W.Va.; Jason Hamilton, of Gerrardstown, W.Va.; Nicholas Mariani, of Charleston, W.Va.; Byron Patterson, of Upper Black Eddy, Pa.; Jeremy Pepper, of Lewisburg, W.Va.; Darius Reynolds, of Baltimore, Md.; and Alex Squires, of Martinsburg, W.Va. John Kuhlman, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor, serves as the team’s advisor.
The Houston trip lasted about 10 days and included a behind-the-scenes tour of Johnson Space Center. •
This year, 711 prospective students and their family members attended the College’s annual visitation event, a 43 percent increase from attendance in previous years. Attendees came from more than 20 states including Maine,
Texas, Delaware, Vermont, Georgia, New York, Connecticut, and Kansas.
“As interest in the College continues to grow, so will this event,” said Ryan Sigler, enrollment coordinator at the College.
COLLEGE HOSTS RECORD-BREAKING RECRUITMENT EVENT
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STUDENT NEWSAmy Burt, a double major in mining engineering and agribusiness management and rural development, was awarded a scholarship from the national Fellowship Board of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. The scholarship was awarded based on high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession.
WVU National Rifle Association All-American Nicco Campriani was named a Capital One Academic All-America first team selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Campriani, from Florence, Italy, was one of 15 first-team selections and the third Mountaineer in program history to receive the honor. An industrial engineering major with a 3.87 G.P.A., Campriani capped off his career with the NCAA air-rifle title. He helped guide the Mountaineers toward the discipline’s national title and finished second in smallbore en route to WVU’s overall second-place finish at the national championships.
Jenny Elyard received the Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree this past May, Elyard immediately began work on her master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on transportation and structures.
A paper presented by Ekrem Kocaguneli, a doctoral candidate in computer science and electrical engineering, was featured on the home page of IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. The paper, “Exploiting the Essential Assumptions of Analogy-Based Effort Estimation,” offered novel ways to estimate the effort required to build software systems. It described a tool called “TEAK” that scrubs the data of any confusing information before generating estimates.
Sarah Lazur, a senior in the Department of Chemical Engineering, became only the second intern in Milliken & Company’s history to obtain Six Sigma Greenbelt certification during her summer internship. Zach Mayes ’11, who is now employed with the company, was the first.
Greg Michaelson, a doctoral student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship. His doctoral work focuses on the redundancy evaluation of steel truss bridges.
Rob Murphy, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, was awarded a fellowship through the Department
of Energy’s University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) Program. Murphy was one of only 13 recipients to receive the UTSR fellowship. He spent the summer in San Diego working at Solar Turbines, Inc., a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., which builds medium-sized land-based turbines.
Vaidyanath Ramachandran, a doctoral student in computer science and electrical engineering, won an award in the student paper contest held as part of the IEEE Power Engineering Society Power Systems Conference and Exposition in April. Ramachandran competed with other students from around the world by first writing a paper on his research and then presenting the results as a poster.
Jacob Steele, a computer engineering and computer science dual major, was awarded an Upsilon Pi Epsilon Special Recognition Scholarship. Steele was selected based on his academic record, extra-curricular activities, and the recommendation of his UPE advisor, Cindy Tanner. Steele was one of only 25 winners internationally.
WVU’s student chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers held its Second Annual Night Golf Fundraiser in April. The event, held at Lakeview Golf Resort, raised $5,500 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown. The event was organized by the group’s officers: Zachary Toothman, president; William Earhart, vice president; Chris Bell, secretary; Samuel Ashley, treasurer; and Alexandra Golubovic, information technology.
Jairo Valdes, a doctoral student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, was selected as the winner of the 2011 ASM International Student Paper Contest, for his entry entitled: “On the Formulation of a Freckling Criterion for Ni-Based Superalloy Vacuum Arc Remelting Ingots.”
The WVU Office of Graduate Education and Life awarded scholarships to Jinyu Zuo, electrical engineering, Adi Adumitroaie, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Christopher Griffin, mechanical and aerospace engineering, to attend the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Academy this past August. The one-week workshop, offered through the College of Business and Economics, was designed to help STEM graduate students gain entrepreneurship and management skills.
BOREN SCHOLARSHIP, WVU HELP FRESHMAN BECOME WORLD TRAVELERBY DAN SHRENSKY
Cody White’s freshman year at West Virginia University included a Russian language course in each semester. The engineering major from Charleston had visited the country two summers ago and hoped to return someday.
White’s “someday” turned into “soon” with the awarding of a National Security Education Program’s David L. Boren Scholarship.
“I didn’t expect to get the scholarship,” White said. “I applied but I knew I had three more years to try for it. Once I found out I got it, I started to get excited.”
White had plenty to be excited about. Along with the scholarship, he spent two months in China as part of a WVU nanotechnology research initiative.
The two trips made for a hectic summer for White, who left for Russia in August, about a month after he returned from China. He’ll spend a year there, studying at Moscow State University and spending a few weeks around Christmas at an internship in Astrakhan.
But White’s not complaining. The China tour served as a dry run for his trip to Russia, which isn’t completely uncharted territory. During his previous visit, he stayed with a former Capital High School classmate who had been an exchange student. This time he’ll be involved in academic pursuits along with soaking in the culture and sights.
“I’m looking forward to being immersed in the language—getting a better understanding of it and gaining some fluency,” he said. “It’ll be another adventure. The culture is different; I’ll learn a whole lot while I’m there and meet a lot of different people. I’ll explore Europe if I have time.”
White was WVU’s first freshman Boren winner and its fifth in the last three years. He is one of 151 Boren award winners nationally from 940 applicants.
“This is just wonderful,” said Lisa DeFrank-Cole, director of the ASPIRE office. “It’s especially remarkable that Cody won this award as a freshman. He is an incredible student, and we look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in his upcoming years at WVU.”
DeFrank-Cole said White researched and applied for the Boren scholarship quickly after his arrival on campus. His diligence and the fact he’d spent time in Russia and had a letter of reference from one of his future colleagues in Astrakhan helped him earn the award.
The Boren Scholarship program, which includes awards up to $20,000 for study, focuses on sending students to areas of the world that are critical to U.S. national security interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Scholars are required to study less commonly taught languages, and complete a service requirement within three years after completion of the program. Under the service requirement, each scholar must work in a federal government position with national security responsibilities for at least one year.
DeFrank-Cole also considers the award a win for WVU.
“We have great students applying and clearly the Boren Scholarship committee has recognized that,” she said. •
STUDENT NEWS OF NOTE
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Engineering students juggle many responsibilities, but Aziz Al Shammari has an added responsibility that not many students face. He is responsible for 15 of his cousins who also attend West Virginia University.
The Al Shammari clan, a tribe of Saudi Arabian people, is comprised of thousands of “tribe cousins.” They are one of the largest families in their country.
In December 2006, Aziz Al Shammari was the first “cousin” to come to Morgantown. He had never been to America before, but he decided to enroll at the University because he had other friends who had studied here. Over the course of the next few years, more and more of his tribe cousins began to come to WVU.
Aziz, an industrial engineering student, admits that his parents were nervous to let him study abroad, but after he convinced them, he enrolled in WVU’s Intensive English Program for one year prior to starting the engineering program. In addition to learning a foreign language and adapting to a culture he described as “shocking,” Aziz was responsible for picking up his cousins at the airport and for letting them live with him as they, too, came to Morgantown and had to acclimate to West Virginia.
The degree of familial responsibility felt by the Al Shammari family is illustrated by the celebrations they have each time a new family member arrives. After being greeted at the airport, the newest arrival is brought to Morgantown where the other family members have prepared a communal meal of lamb, rice, and spices that they share to welcome their cousin to Morgantown.
“We are generous and help each other out,” Aziz said. “We’re responsible to each other. It’s how we’re taught to be.”
Another cousin, Mamdouh Al Shammari, is studying civil engineering. Before coming to West Virginia he knew nothing about the state, but now he says he likes Morgantown because it is a small city. Since moving here, he’s traveled to New York City, Daytona Beach, and Washington, D.C.
Mathwad Al Shammari, a business student, also knew no English when he arrived in the United States.
“I wasn’t nervous, too much, because my cousins told me Morgantown was a good city, very safe, and had friendly people,” said Mathwad. “They play soccer, too. So that is good.”
In fact, in 2009, the Al Shammaris had enough soccer-playing family members at WVU to create their own team for WVU’s International Student Organization’s Mini-World Cup; they won first place. Plans to compete in the next Mini-World Cup are under way.
Another organization the cousins are involved in is the Saudi Student Association. Aziz is the president of this student organization; he helps to plan celebrations for their national and religious holidays such as Eid Alfter, Eid Aladha, and Ramadan.
“These events are nice because many of our friends and family are there,” notes Mamdouh. “It’s good because it makes West Virginia feel like home.”
A memorable moment that each cousin mentioned was the first time they saw snow. According to Mathwad, he loved snow at first, but now he isn’t fond of the cold.
“I didn’t know it would be slippery,” said Aziz about his first time driving in winter weather. “Now I’m a good driver in it.”
The other Al Shammari cousins are working toward degrees in various engineering disciplines, accounting, marketing, and international relations. Three cousins who recently arrived are in the Intensive English Program.
Becoming a Mountaineer was a good thing according to the cousins. The transition wasn’t too difficult because the University provided solid English training and English-speaking conversation partners with which they could practice their new skills. Several of the cousins also have host families that helped them with the adjustment to American life.
The most difficult aspect of living in Morgantown is being far from their immediate relatives. They keep in touch with their family members in Saudi Arabia and other members across the United States by using e-mail, Skype, Facebook, and the telephone. Occasionally, they travel to Saudi Arabia.
“I ask my parents to visit, but my mom is nervous to come,” said Aziz. “Maybe next year she will.”
The cousins have various plans for the future. Mamdouh plans to return home to work in the city of Dammam. He will be wed to his fiancée upon his return. Mathwad plans to obtain a master’s degree in a big city such as Miami or Las Vegas, and then he will return to his wife in Saudi Arabia. Aziz plans to stay at WVU for his master’s program in the Industrial Safety and Health program, but his plans are not solidified.
WVU will have a strong base of Al Shammaris for a long time.
“One cousin tells another that WVU is a good place to study, and then that cousin tells the next. We listen to the good advice of our family, and then we come to West Virginia,” concludes Aziz. •
“Good Family Advice” Brings Fifteen Students to WVU BY CATE MIHELIC
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ALUMNI NEWS
BAYER CORP. PRESIDENT, CEO
GREGORY BABE DELIVERS HINER LECTURE
Gregory S. Babe, B.S., M.E. ’80, president and CEO of Bayer Corp. and Bayer MaterialScience LLC, spoke in September as part of the Glen H. Hiner Distinguished Lecture Series in the College. Babe’s lecture was entitled, “Sound Science: Creating an Informed Citizenry.”
Babe, who has worked diligently to promote and support the advancement of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, said that sound science and sound literacy are essential in our increasingly complex world.
“We must apply science wisely,” said Babe. “That requires an informed citizenry. If we want leaders who will make rational policies on these matters, we must be at least moderately informed about the science behind them. Informed decisions based on sound science propel us forward. Decisions based on questionable science hold us back.”
Babe discussed the nation’s dependence on foreign chemical manufacturing and what the country must do to regain its leadership in this area.
“As American manufacturing has moved to other countries, so has the chemical production to meet product requirements,” said Babe. “And so have high-paying jobs.
“The American chemical industry will continue to lose jobs unless we can win the public’s confidence,” added Babe. “And that won’t happen if sound science is trumped by distrust.”
Babe cited examples of innovation, sustainability, world-class operations, and new technology development as items that will play a key role in creating a more robust manufacturing sector. But in order to expand the economy and support manufacturing, Babe drew on examples such as Marcellus shale to explain why some public policy priorities should be re-examined.
“The economic benefits for West Virginia are already being felt,” said Babe. “A WVU study found that Marcellus production here created 7,600 state jobs
and nearly $298 million in wages in 2009 alone. [However], it’s become the subject of much discussion among citizens, state and federal legislators, and regulators. Everyone involved must be aware of their environmental responsibilities and be fully accountable for their operations.”
Babe also cited the current restriction on Bisphenol A or BPA use to explain that legislatures are not scientific bodies and therefore, do not have the responsibility to review and understand scientific research. BPA is an organic compound used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Concerns about this product have been reported in the media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety. To this end, Babe said, the Toxic Substances Control ACT (TSCA) needs to be modernized as it has not been updated since it was originally enacted in 1976.
Ideally, Babe said a modern TSCA should be based on today’s technology and allow for changes that arise as new technologies and scientific advances emerge. He said it should be based on sound science and scientific objectivity and it must protect intellectual property while providing for great transparency so consumers, policy makers and the industry can make sound decisions. •
Glen Hiner, left, and Gene Cilento, right,
present a Mountaineer statue to Greg Babe.
The Glen H. Hiner Distinguished Lecture Series is named in honor of the outstanding alumnus who, in 2005, established an endowment to support the deanship of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University.
Glen H. Hiner graduated from WVU’s Department of Electrical Engineering in 1957, then embarked on an outstanding 35-year career with General Electric. In 1992, he became chief executive officer of Owens Corning. He has served on several College of Engineering and Mineral Resources advisory committees, as a visiting professor in the WVU College of Business and Economics, and as a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors.
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RAYMOND
BRADBURY
DELIVERS
POUNDSTONE
LECTURE
The Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex hosted its third annual Aviation Summer Camp in June. The three-day event provided an opportunity for 45 students selected from a 20-county region in the state to have an all-expenses paid, aviation-focused experience.
Events included engineering design challenges; tours of WVU labs; and visits to the Challenger Learning
Academy in Wheeling, W.Va., and the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Center in Bridgeport, W.Va. WVU alumnus Captain Jon McBride, a retired NASA astronaut, gave an on-campus presentation.
The camp was made possible through a NASA education grant and the support of the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. •
AVIATION CAMP AND WV ASTRONAUT JON MCBRIDE
Raymond A. Bradbury, retired president of Martin County Coal Corporation, spoke in September as part of the Department of Mining Engineering’s William N. Poundstone Lecture Series. The lecture was entitled “My Last and Best 23 Years in Coal.”
During his 42 years in the coal industry, Bradbury held both engineering and management positions with Midwest Utilities Coal Company, Armco Steel’s Mining Division, Princess Elkhorn Coal Company, and Island Creek Coal Company. He spent his last 23 years with Martin County Coal, first as vice president and general manager and then as president for 18 years. Known as an innovator, Bradbury worked diligently to promote mine safety and accident prevention.
He is a 1950 graduate of West Virginia University’s School of Mines and a member of the Emeritus Club.
The Department of Mining Engineering established the William N. Poundstone Lecture Series in 2000 to honor Poundstone, a distinguished alumnus of the Department, and to bring mining industry experts to campus to share their expertise with students and faculty. •
BLAND DELIVERS DISTINGUISHED LECTURE
Geoffrey Bland, a design engineer with the United States Navy, delivered a CEMR Distinguished Lecture this past March entitled, “The Development and Testing of the United States Navy’s Improved Kinetic Energy Electronic Time (IKE-ET) Projectile.”
Bland graduated from West Virginia University in 1999 with bachelor of science degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Before his current employment, he worked for Northrop Grumman as a computer programmer helping to design an Aegis environment simulator. He also worked for Schafer as a systems engineer on the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program.
Bland presented a few videos of a live fire test of the IKE-ET projectile. He also discussed his own experience with attaining an engineering job after graduation, as well as what future employment issues current college students should be aware of while still in school. He offered students advice on how not to hurt their future careers.
“You need to focus on your communication skills,” said Bland. “You can be an awesome engineer and have the best ideas in the world but if you can’t convey them to someone else properly you’re not much better than the next guy down the block.” He also advised students to get down the engineering basics of physics, calculus, statics, and dynamics.
Most importantly, he warned students that what they do today can come back to haunt them tomorrow.
“Since a lot of you are going to end up working in a Department of Defense industry job, you’re going to have to get a clearance. And to get a clearance, you’re going to have to get a background check,” Bland said. “You can easily lose yourself today down the road. Keep your credit debt to a minimum. No drugs. Be responsible with alcohol. Even if you’ve done something stupid, be completely honest about it. If you lie on your form, you never get a second chance. You are done.
“Finally, be trustworthy and responsible,” Bland added. “Now is the time to start internalizing that.” •
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ALUMNI NEWS
ACADEMY OF CHEMICAL
ENGINEERS
Steven W. Alford received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from West Virginia University in 1987. Upon graduation, he was hired by Milliken & Co., a South Carolina-based textile and chemical manufacturing firm. While at
Milliken, Alford has received numerous accolades including the prestigious Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance Excellence Award. His career path has been dominated by positions of process improvement and production management. His reputation for operational excellence and as a turn-around expert has led to challenging assignments, including several at the international level. Alford is currently Floor Covering Director of Manufacturing and Company Director of LEAN, promoting continuous improvement activities throughout Milliken.
Captain Douglas E. Arnold, U.S.N., graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from WVU in 1984 and attended Naval Officer’s Candidate School, where he was commissioned as an ensign. His sea tours include serving as executive officer and
commanding officer of the USS West Virginia. During his command, the submarine completed a six-month extended refit period and four strategic deterrent patrols. His shore assignments include serving as Deputy Directorate of Antiterrorism and Homeland Defense on the Joint Staff as Division Chief for the Antiterrorism Division. He is currently on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division, developing the requirements for the future OHIO replacement ballistic missile submarine.
Louisa A. Nara earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from WVU in 1981. Nara has more than 30 years experience in the chemical industry, having worked for Diamond Shamrock; The PQ
Corporation; SMC Environmental Services Group, Inc.;
Baker Environmental; and the Bayer Corporation. She currently serves as technical director of the Center for Chemical Process Safety, a technology alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is also a contributing author to the book, Guidelines for Process Safety in Batch Reactions.
ACADEMY OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF INDUSTRIAL AND MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Richard M. Kinney started his career working with the Department of Defense on NAVAIR after earning his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1990. In 2003, he was one of four engineers handpicked to develop and
lead a test and evaluation team for the replacement of the presidential helicopter. In 2006, Kinney was promoted to missions systems test and evaluation branch head, leading other senior flight test lead engineers for all Navy and Marine fixed wing, jets, helicopters, and unmanned aircraft development and follow-on test programs. In addition, he became the engineering and science development program coordinator and manager, a five-year training program for engineering college graduates. Kinney has been a college recruiter for NAVAIR over the past 12 years.
Jon (Jay) Rateau graduated from WVU in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering. He is vice president for new energy at the global primary product growth group at Alcoa, Inc. He joined Alcoa Inc. in 1996
and has held a number of executive positions in the areas of energy and global strategic sourcing. In his current role, Rateau is responsible for developing and acquiring growth opportunities in energy and combined energy/manufacturing projects worldwide. He previously served 16 years with National Steel Corporation in various roles including strategic sourcing, operations, engineering, and research and development. Rateau earned an M.B.A. from Michigan State University in 1992.
Mary Beth Wise, BSIE ’84, started her career as a purchasing agent for WVU Hospitals, later transferring to the management engineering department, working on hospital projects for facility planning and materials management information
system implementation. Wise then went to work for a software company implementing materials management information systems at healthcare institutions in the United States and Canada. She returned to WVU Hospitals in 1993, where she provided project management and computer system administration for the supply chain and the operating room. When WVU Hospitals joined the West Virginia United Health System in 2001, Wise became the system administrator for the supply chain information system.
ACADEMY OF THE LANE
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER
SCIENCE AND ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
Ray “Jerry” Fiant earned degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering from WVU in 1953. After completing the General Electric three-year advanced engineering program, Fiant spent 17 years with the
company, working on the cutting edge of technology in a variety of disciplines, before spending time with IT&T and Gulf and Western. Throughout his career, Fiant engaged in crisis management, first with GE and as an independent turnaround expert. In 2006, he published the book, Beyond Buzzwords, to document why organizations drift toward mediocrity and to offer practical ways to achieve ongoing success.
Jon Hammock graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from West Virginia University in 1988. He is president, CEO, and co-founder of KeyLogic Systems, a technology management firm headquartered in Morgantown,
ALUMNI ACADEMIES INDUCT NEW MEMBERS TO HONOR EXEMPLARY GRADUATES AND OTHERS WITH REMARKABLE CAREERS, THE COLLEGE ANNUALLY INDUCTS NEW MEMBERS INTO ITS ACADEMIES.
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W.Va., with employees in six states. Recognized as West Virginia’s Small Business Person of the Year and as a regional winner of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Hammock has led KeyLogic to five years on the Inc. 500/500 list and 12 years of growth averaging 30 percent per year. Before founding KeyLogic, Hammock worked for General Electric, DuPont, and Westinghouse, among others.
ACADEMY OF MECHANICAL AND
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Thomas J. DeWitt earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from WVU in 1970 and 1972, respectively. Upon graduation, DeWitt became the first-ever degreed engineer at Morgantown Machine and Hydraulic (MM&H). He also worked with his father at a
subsidiary of MM&H, the Deron Corporation, where he was active in the invention of numerous devices for the mining industry. The two companies were purchased by National Mine Service Corporation and DeWitt held a number of positions with the company, including manager of operation, general manager, and vice president. He left the company in 1995 and joined Swanson Plating Company as vice president. DeWitt, along with fellow WVU graduates, Frank Dulin (MinE ’84) and Mark Carter (BSIE ’84), went on to purchase the company, forming Swanson Industries in 2001, with DeWitt assuming the role of president and CEO. That same year, the team opened a branch plant in Rural Retreat, Va., and purchased Morgantown Machine Hydraulics. Swanson Industries Group now comprises 11 different companies doing business around the world, employing nearly 800 people with projected sales of $160 million in 2011. DeWitt was inducted into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2010.
After earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from WVU in the early 1970s, Dr. Ojars Skujins entered active duty in the United States Air Force at the aerodynamics and performance branch of Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
During his military career, Skujins developed, modified, and used computational fluids computer codes to support many Air Force projects, including the F-16 and F-17, the X-29, the C-17 cargo/transport plane, and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. He went on to serve as chief engineer for the Saudi Foreign Military sales program, the USAF F-15C/D programs, and the F-15 program office. In 2001, Skujins was promoted to chief of the Flight Mechanics Branch in the Engineering Dictorate at the Aeronautical Systems Center, where he was responsible for supporting all Air Force program offices, encompassing flight controls, stability and control, aerodynamics, air vehicle performance, computational fluid dynamics, and vehicle management systems. •
ORDERS
NAMED TO WVU
FOUNDATION
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS Robert O. (Bob) Orders, Jr., president of Orders Construction Co., Inc., has been named to West Virginia University’s Foundation Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term.
Orders graduated in 1972 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. He is a registered
professional engineer in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland and serves on a number of industry and community boards. Orders Construction Co., Inc. is a highway, utility, and industrial construction company with operations in West Virginia and Virginia.
Private funds donated through the WVU Foundation go to support academic programs, student scholarships, faculty development, and public service initiates at WVU. The Foundation, chartered in 1954, is a private, nonprofit corporation. •
The College of Engineering and Mineral Resources held its annual
Emeritus Club Luncheon on Friday, May 6, at the Erickson Alumni
Center. The event honors those who graduated 50 or more years ago
along with faculty who have achieved emeritus status. Club members
regaled the nearly 60 people in attendance with their reflections on
the College, the University, and their careers.
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The title “West Virginia University Movers and Shakers” is a phrase used to describe the graduates of West Virginia University who have joined Milliken & Company. The graduates are a perfect fit for Milliken & Company’s high-energy leadership team because they possess the right skill set to make an immediate impact. The strong academic training and work ethic, team building through small group projects, and basic respect for those they encounter all prepare the WVU grads for a successful career within Milliken.
These qualities are evident in many WVU grads who have found their home at Milliken & Company, including New Jersey native Dan Busch, a 2004 electrical engineering graduate and former Pride of West Virginia member, and former WVU gymnast Kiersten Spoerke, a 2010 mechanical engineering graduate from Suwanee, Ga. Milliken & Company recruits on campus regularly, looking for talented technical associates who possess strong leadership and communication skills and the desire to work in a results-oriented environment.
A WVU Mover and Shaker is someone who hits the ground running, working hard and smart to get immediate results. Each has worked their way up through the ranks and many hold key positions within one of Milliken’s numerous plants located predominately in the southeast. Currently there are 21 Movers and Shakers who meet on a regular basis to keep in touch and keep our WVU linkage alive. One of the requirements of our dinner get-togethers is that each attendee has to sing out the name of everyone else, including their position, hometown, and current plant. If you can’t fulfill the requirements, you have to pay for your own dinner. Needless to say everyone takes great pride and effort in getting to know each other quickly. A natural bond grows, which results in a mutual support process. Great things start to happen when two WVU grads link up within a supply chain to solve a problem.
The following WVU graduates join me as members of Movers and Shakers:
Jim Rogers, ChE ’86, development manager; Jared Morgan, IE ’03, process improvement; Dan Busch, EE ’04, senior process engineer; Todd Caldwell, ChE ’96, operations planning manager; Lauren Sanders, IE ’00, controller;
Lindsey (Boyd) Hurley, ME ’07, PPI; Ashley “Swiger” Hudek, IE ’08, plant IE/controller; Kris Tingler, IE ’01, senior production manager; Zachary Mayes, ChE ’10, process engineer; Tracy Francis, ChE ’90, market manager, Hospitality Carpets; Kiersten Spoerke, ME ’10, process engineer; Rustyn Goff, IE ’10, process engineer; Ben Trogden, IE ’11, process engineer; Shawn Smith, IE ’05, MPS Consulting Group; and Steve Alford, ChE ’87 U.S. director of Manufacturing for Floor Covering and company director of Continuous Improvement
Joining them are summer interns Sarah Lazur, ChE; Leigh Ann Durham, IE; Andrea Sakla, ChE; and West Virginia natives Ken Daniel, Caren Hull, and Denny Goff.
The retention rate and performances of WVU grads are just two of the reasons that Milliken chose WVU as one of its TIER 1 schools for recruits.
According to Patsy Hammett, director of college relations, there are several reasons Milliken has targeted WVU as a key school for recruiting. “West Virginia graduates continue to have the skill set, both technical and non-technical, to perform successfully in our company. It’s evident that professors and staff take a serious interest in their students. They have also taken the time to understand our company’s culture and core values and our hiring needs and expectations for success. Finally, our recruiting team is led by WVU graduates. They take a passionate interest in the students they are recruiting that begins when the team comes to campus and continues through the hiring process and beyond.
“At Milliken, WVU graduates maintain a close connection,” Hammett added. “It is almost like a fraternity.”
Milliken appreciates the strong recruiting partnership with West Virginia University. Whether it be hiring students as interns and then transitioning them to full time Milliken associates or hiring students full time upon graduation, WVU is an important component of our campus recruiting program. We are building a tradition that grows stronger each year. •
MOVERS AND SHAKERS AT MILLIKEN BY STEVE ALFORD, CHE ‘87U.S. DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING FLOOR COVERING DIVISIONCOMPANY DIRECTOR OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
ALUMNI NEWS
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SUPPORT
Reflecting back on his life recently, West Virginia
University alumnus Gary Christopher experienced an
epiphany that led him to give back to his alma mater.
A highly successful engineer from Atlanta, Ga.,
Christopher came to the realization that the foundation
for many of his life accomplishments is grounded
in the education he received while attending WVU’s
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. As
a way of giving back, Gary and his wife, Lisa, are
establishing a graduate fellowship within the College to
help provide similar opportunities for aspiring students.
“I learned so much at WVU that laid a foundation
for what was to come,” Gary Christopher said. “We
desire to provide a graduate fellowship each year for
an engineering student so each of these students can
have the door to the world opened up for them, as we
have been blessed.”
The $125,000 gift endows the Gary and Lisa
Christopher Graduate Fellowship, and is expected
to qualify for a match from the state Research Trust
Fund (RTF). The Christophers also are providing an
additional $5,000 in non-endowed funds to assist with
graduate fellowships, making their total gift $130,000.
“The College is very appreciative of this major gift to
help support graduate fellowships,” said Gene Cilento,
Glen H. Hiner Dean of the College of Engineering and
Mineral Resources. “This new endowment supports
a major focus area of the CEMR 2020 strategic plan.
It will make the College more competitive with peer
institutions in recruiting and graduating top-quality
students from our master’s and doctoral degree
programs. The matching Research Trust Fund
endowment provides a wonderful opportunity to
double the impact of this private gift.”
Students eligible for the fellowship must be current
WVU graduate students pursuing studies to advance
research in energy and environmental sciences;
nanotechnology and material science; biological,
biotechnological, and biomedical sciences; biometrics,
security, sensing, forensic sciences, or other related
identification technologies consistent with the
requirements of the West Virginia RTF.
Christopher graduated from WVU in 1974. He is
currently president of Jholdas Group of Georgia, a
management consulting firm.
He credits his parents, Catherine Christopher of
Morgantown and the late Bill Christopher, with
providing a strong moral and spiritual foundation. It is
these beliefs which he feels inspired him to provide the
opportunity to WVU students.
“We know that investing in relationships and people
is everlasting and can be passed on to the next
generation. Buildings may last a generation, while
investing in people endures for eternity,” Christopher
said. “A future which I could not have dreamed of in
1974 has provided opportunity and doors to the world
I never knew existed. Our hope is that the students
may use the education that they have been given to
serve others and to pass on what they have learned to
the next generation.” •
ALUMNUS MAKES ‘INVESTMENT’ IN STUDENTS BY CREATING CEMR GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP BY WILLIAM NEVIN
For the following articles: In 2008, the state created the Research Trust Fund with an initial appropriation of $50 million to leverage public and private investments that will transform West Virginia’s economy. WVU is able to tap into the fund to double private gifts that support expansions to research faculty and infrastructure in key areas linked to economic development, healthcare, and job growth. To date, private gifts and pledges approved for RTF match total more than $21.87 million.
The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the private, non-profit corporation that generates, receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of WVU.
GARY AND LISA CHRISTOPHER
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RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP TO AID WOMEN IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
When Martha Hopkins Hashinger first became a student at West
Virginia University, it was her dream to major in chemistry. While
that dream was never fulfilled—she majored in home economics—it
was taken into consideration when she and her husband, William
R. Hashinger, Jr., created an endowment in his alma mater, the
Department of Chemical Engineering.
In honor of his late wife, Hashinger created the Martha Hopkins
Hashinger Research Scholarship in Chemical Engineering in the College
of Engineering and Mineral Resources. The $25,000 endowment
will provide scholarships for undergraduate women participating in
research projects within the Department. The endowment is expected
to qualify for a match from the state’s Research Trust Fund, bringing
the total investment to $50,000.
“My wife and I have planned for some time to do something to help
aspiring engineering students at WVU as an act of appreciation for our
own experience while enrolled as students during the late depression
pre-war years,” said Hashinger. “The endowment enables this to be
done now as a memorial to her.”
“The generosity of our alumni helps us to enrich our program and
enables us to provide new opportunities for our current students,”
said Dr. Rakesh Gupta, chair of chemical engineering. “Each year,
this scholarship will bring the excitement of research to a female
student, talented in subjects such as chemistry and biology, while
simultaneously preparing her for a lifelong career in chemical
engineering.” •
For more than 25 years, the Academy of Chemical Engineers has been
impacting the discipline at WVU. From the Galli Laboratory renovations
to the James Kent Biomedical Engineering Endowment, which helped
launch the biomedical certificate program, the Academy has been
instrumental in moving the Department forward.
This year, the Academy members took their involvement a step further
by creating another endowment, which qualifies for a Research Trust
Fund match. The new fund will support two graduate students for
one semester.
In an effort to change the admissions requirements for the master’s
program and make it easier for non-chemical engineers to obtain
an advanced degree, students entering with a bachelor’s degree
in chemistry will now be required to take only three undergraduate
courses—Reaction Engineering, Thermodynamics, and Transport.
“Each graduate student who is involved in research in chemical
engineering is supported on fellowship or assistantship dollars,” said
Rakesh Gupta, chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering.
“It is difficult to justify using research dollars to provide a stipend to
students who are taking undergraduate classes.
“Our distinguished alumni have once again stepped in to help us in
our time of need,” said Gupta. “This endowment will allow chemical
engineering to make a successful transition to a multi-disciplinary
graduate program of teaching and research.”
“The most important function of the Academy is to assist the
Department in achieving excellence in this rapidly changing world,”
said George B. Taylor, president of the Academy and CEO of Taylor
Holdings, LLC of Oneida, Tenn.
“Our alumni play such an important role in helping us advance the
mission of the College,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. “The Academy has
once again stepped up to help us enhance the opportunities we are
bringing to our future engineers.”
For more information on the endowment and how you can become
involved, contact Nicole Riggleman, CEMR assistant director of
development, at 304.293.4257 or [email protected]. •
ACADEMY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS CONTINUE TO IMPACT DEPARTMENT BY NICOLE RIGGLEMAN
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Volume 7 Issue 2
Graduating seven members of a family from West Virginia University is
an impressive feat. Holding 12 WVU degrees between these seven is
even more impressive. This only begins to show the James Hall family’s
commitment to WVU and higher education.
A decorated engineer and professor, John F. Hall was inspired by
his parents from a young age to pursue a continuing education. With
his father a chemistry professor at WVU, Hall was also taught the
importance of educational research. In honor of his parents, Betty Hall
of Morgantown and the late Dr. James Hall, John and his wife, Nancy
Lan, have established a graduate fellowship to help inspire students to
continue their education at WVU.
“My parents were very supportive of education and always encouraged
us to go far,” Hall said. “We were also encouraged to continue learning
and always take the next step and face the next challenge in our lives.”
The couple has pledged $100,000 to establish the James and Betty
Hall Fellowship. The gift will qualify for a match from the state’s
Research Trust Fund, bringing the total investment to $200,000. The
fellowship will be used for the benefit of a graduate student within the
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. Eligible students will
be advancing research in energy and environmental sciences, and/or
biological, biotechnological, and biomedical sciences.
“We are delighted to add this new graduate research fellowship to
the College to support deserving students,” said Gene Cilento, Glen
H. Hiner Dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.
“We are very appreciative of the generous gift being provided by Dr.
Hall because it will help the College recruit the most qualified students
to engineering graduate studies. Their gift also will be matched by the
West Virginia Research Trust Fund, which doubles the impact of the
fellowship award provided.”
Hall graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
in 1973. He went on to receive a master’s degree in structural
engineering from the University of Illinois and a doctorate degree
in earthquake engineering and seismology from the University of
California-Berkeley.
Other family members with degrees from WVU are Hall’s parents,
both of his brothers, and their wives.
As an engineer specializing in earthquake engineering, Hall is widely
known for his work. He has served as a member of the consulting
boards for the California Division of Safety of Dams and Department
of Transportation, secretary to the Governor’s Board of Inquiry into
the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and managed a $6 million multi-
university Federal Emergency Management Agency research project
to improve the earthquake resistance of wood frame buildings. Lan
holds a doctorate degree in biochemistry. Along with her research
work in various university labs, she co-founded a company in the
pharmaceutical industry.
“It represents my parents because they were such strong advocates
of continuing education, and what better way to do that than to help
a student to attend graduate school,” said Hall, in speaking of the
fellowship. “The fact that it is an endowment also is attractive. It will be
able to provide for students forever with the help of wise investing.”
Hall and Lan currently reside in Altadena, Ca. Married since 1983, the
two are proud parents of a son, Galen Hall, a graduate of UC Berkeley
who plans to begin work toward an MBA at Stanford in the fall. •
HALL FAMILY COMMITMENT TO WVU CONTINUES WITH CREATION OF GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP BY WILLIAM NEVIN
JOB SEARCH WEBSITES FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI MOUNTAINEERTRAK IS WVU’S JOB SEARCH PORTAL FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI. TO GET ACCESS TO MOUNTAINEERTRAK, PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO [email protected].
Another resource is the WVU CEMR Group at LinkedIn www.cemr.wvu.edu/linkedinwvucemr.
If you have any questions, please contact Lloyd Ford at 304.293.4370.
NANCY LAN AND JOHN HALL
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SUPPORT
Arch Coal, Inc. is donating $300,000 to West
Virginia University to fund the Arch Coal,
Inc. Endowment for Mine Health and Safety
Research. The funds, which will be managed
by the College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources Mining and Industrial Extension
Department, will be used to conduct mine
health and safety research with an emphasis
on mine-level application. The gift is expected
to qualify for a match from the state Research
Trust Fund.
“We greatly appreciate the important work that
WVU is doing to educate a new generation of
talented engineers, particularly in the mining
and industrial arenas,” said Steven F. Leer,
chairman and chief executive officer of Arch
Coal, Inc. “We applaud the University’s efforts
to develop a world-class applied coal mine
health and safety research center.”
WVU’s Academy for Mine Training and Energy
Technologies, located in the Mining and
Industrial Extension unit, trained nearly 10,000
miners in 2010. The Academy offers a variety
of courses, including certification courses for
new miners and mine foremen, along with
training in mine rescue, mine fire safety, and
emergency preparedness.
“I want to thank the management and
employees of Arch Coal for their generosity
and support of our efforts to initiate an Applied
Mine Health and Safety Research Center
that will focus on industry-identified health
and safety issues and emphasize research at
the mine level,” said James Dean, director,
Department of Mining and Industrial Extension.
“We hope that other companies will follow their
lead and support this initiative to improve mine
health and safety into the future.”
“Since 1913, the Mining Extension program
has been pursuing the betterment of the
individual miner through a variety of training
programs with an emphasis on health and
safety,” said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean
of the College of Engineering and Mineral
Resources. “Gifts, such as this from Arch Coal,
allow us to not only continue our work to train
the next generation of miners but also focus
our research efforts on the issues that are of
greatest importance to the industry.”
St. Louis-based Arch Coal is a top-five global
coal producer and marketer, with mining
complexes across every major U.S. coal
supply basin. In 2010, Arch’s lost-time incident
rate of 0.46 per 200,000 hours worked was
one-fifth the national coal industry average
of 2.52 per 200,000 hours worked. Arch’s
enthusiasm for education is evident in the $2.8
million contributed by the corporation and its
foundation to schools and education-related
programs in 2009 and 2010. •
ARCH COAL HONORS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY WITH GIFT TO WVU MINING EXTENSION BY MARY C. DILLON
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Volume 7 Issue 2
ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES CONTRIBUTES $300K TO ASSIST ENERGY RESEARCH
BY WILLIAM NEVIN
Energy and environmental sciences research
at West Virginia University will benefit from
a $300,000 donation from Alpha Natural
Resources, Inc.
The gift to the College of Engineering and
Mineral Resources establishes the Alpha
Natural Resources Endowment for Energy
Research, and is expected to qualify for a
match from the state Research Trust Fund,
making the total gift $600,000.
“We value the partnership the College has with
Alpha and its generous support,” said Gene
Cilento, Glen Hiner Dean of the College of
Engineering and Mineral Resources. “We will
use this endowment to build an industry-driven
research center that focuses on all aspects
of energy, from extraction to utilization. The
research conducted will support the safety
needs of the mineral resources industries,
which remain vital to our state and nation.”
Jim Dean, director of WVU’s Department of
Mining and Industrial Extension, added: “Our
department is grateful to the management
and employees of Alpha for their support of
our work. This gift will allow us to continue to
conduct mine health and safety research and
training that will benefit the entire industry. This
work is in support of Alpha’s ‘Running Right’
philosophy, which includes integration of new
mine safety technology.”
WVU’s Mining and Industrial Extension
Department recently trained Alpha’s mine
rescue teams at its Academy for Mine Training
and Energy Technologies, in addition to
other training activities conducted on-site at
Alpha mines.
“A sustainable and uninterrupted energy supply
is critical for promoting economic development
and improving people’s qualify of life,” said
Michael Peelish, executive vice president and
chief sustainability officer for Alpha Natural
Resources.
Peelish continued, “West Virginia University
has a long tradition of technologies research
in general and energy studies in particular,
including its recent work in the areas of
reducing power plant emissions, capturing
and storing carbon dioxide in un-mineable
coal seams, and liquefying coal for fueling
vehicles. We are proud to help build on this
strong foundation and we are hopeful that
our contribution will inspire others to support
the University’s important work in energy
research.”
Alpha Natural Resources is one of America’s
premier coal suppliers with coal production
capacity of greater than 90 million tons a
year. Among U.S. producers, Alpha is a
leading supplier and exporter of metallurgical
coal used in the steel-making process and
is a major supplier of thermal coal to electric
utilities and manufacturing industries across the
country. The company, through its affiliates,
employs approximately 6,500 people and
operates approximately 60 mines and 13 coal
preparation facilities in Appalachia and the
Powder River Basin. More information about
Alpha can be found on the company’s
website at www.alphanr.com. •
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Honor Roll of DonorsWe would like to thank our benefactors who have generously contributed to the programs and departments of our College.
We are grateful for your support, as we could not accomplish what we do without your help. Listed below are individuals
and organizations who contributed to a program or department in our College from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011.
$50,000 and up
Mr. Forrest D. L. Coontz
Drs. Syd S. & Felicia F. Peng
Mr. & Mrs. Darrell W. Williams
$25,000 to $49,999
Mr. Ray M. Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. Dean D. Dubbe
Mr. W. R. Hashinger, Jr.
Dr. L. Zane Shuck
$10,000 to $24,999
Mr. James O. Bunn
Dr. & Mrs. William L. Fourney
Mr. Tommy L. Stuchell
Mrs. Joy M. Teske
Mr. & Mrs. Maurice A. Wadsworth
Mr. & Mrs. Royce J. Watts
$5,000 to $9,999
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory S. Babe
Mr. David W. Baker
Mr. & Mrs. George B. Bennett
Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. DiPaolo
Mr. & Mrs. Walter R. Haddad
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Messmore
Dr. & Mrs. James E. Mitchell
Ms. Rhonda L. Radcliff & Mr. Robert Mullenger
Mr. John P. Smith
$1,000 to $4,999
Mr. & Mrs. Bart A. Aitken
Mr. & Mrs. Tony A. Angelelli
Mr. & Mrs. Larry J. Argiro, Sr.
Mr. Christopher J. Bise
Mr. & Mrs. William S. Britt
Mr. & Mrs. Jackson B. Browning, Sr.
Mr. Paul D. Browning
Dr. & Mrs. Robert C. Burchett
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Burlas
Mr. John W. Campbell
Ms. Anesa T. Chaibi
Ms. Lenore M. Coberly
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Conklin
Mr. Jean B. Cropley
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Dado
Dr. & Mrs. J. Reginald Dietz
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Dunn
Mr. Kenneth M. Dunn
Ms. Marsha H. Fanucci
Mr. Thomas A. Ferris
Mr. Barton R. Field
Mr. Walter J. Fitzgerald
Mr. & Mrs. Philip M. Formica
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas K. Gosnell
Mr. & Mrs. James B. Haines
Donal S. & Amy J. Hall
Mr. Larry D. Hall
Mr. & Mrs. G. Thomas Harrick
Mr. & Mrs. Dean W. Harvey
Mr. & Mrs. R. David Haynes
Mr. John C. Hill
Mr. & Mrs. Donald R. Holstine
Mr. & Mrs. Charles I. Homan
Dr. & Mrs. Edwin C. Jones
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Jones
Dr. & Mrs. George E. Keller II
Dr. & Mrs. James A. Kent
Mrs. Sally B. Kline
Mr. & Mrs. James H. Laughlin, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Floyd E. Leaseburg II
Mr. Richard W. Lee
Mr. & Mrs. Porter A. Lyon
Mr. E. Ronald McHenry
Ms. Betty L. Miller
Mr. Stephen R. Montagna
Mr. Kenneth C. Mundell
Ms. Louisa N. Nara
Mr. & Mrs. Robert O. Orders, Jr.
Mrs. Glenna R. Pack
Dr. Suryanarayana R. Pakalapati
Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Palmer
Drs. Peter L. & Cheryl L. Perrotta
Mr. & Mrs. Harold L. Phillippi
Mr. John Raine II
Mr. & Mrs. R. Michael Ruppert
Mr. & Mrs. Richard N. Smith
Dr. & Mrs. Charter D. Stinespring
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas P. Terry
Mr. Steven E. Trail
Dr. & Mrs. Charles M. Vest
Mr. & Mrs. Maurice A. Wadsworth
Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Walter
Mr. Brian D. Woerner
Mr. Suyoun Won
$500 to $999
Mr. & Mrs. Mark K. Angelelli
Mr. & Mrs. C. Ben Arney
Mr. James L. Bero
Mr. & Mrs. Charles C. Bibbee
Mr. & Mrs. W. Douglas Blackburn, Jr.
Mr. Jason C. Blaylock
Mr. & Mrs. George E. Booth, Sr.
Mr. Joseph A. Bush, Jr.
Mrs. Mary W. Caldwell
Dr. & Mrs. Wils L. Cooley III
Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Corsi, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald F. Davoli
Ms. Kathryn H. de Graaf
Mr. & Mrs. Dale W. Dodrill
Dr. Dianne Dorland
Mr. & Mrs. Herbert P. Dripps
Dr. & Mrs. Liang T. Fan
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Farina
Mr. Richard E. Fletcher
Mrs. Sheila K. Gorgonio
Mr. Kenneth R. Gosnell
Ms. Emer O. Gunter
Mr. & Mrs. J. Richard Haden, Jr.
Mr. John F. Halterman
Ms. Linda S. Heery
Mr. & Mrs. John S. Hill
Mrs. Jennifer L. Hornsby-Myers
Mr. & Mrs. David A. Horvath
Mr. Ryan S. Hunter
Mr. Patrick A. Jackson & Ms. Dayna L. Doricich
Mr. & Mrs. Jimmie L. Justice
Mr. Richard J. Kacik
Dr. James A. Keenan
Dr. & Mrs. Abdul W. Khair
Mr. & Mrs. Oren E. Kitts
Mr. & Mrs. Gregory A. Kozera
Mr. & Mrs. James A. Kutsch, Jr.
Mr. Junior H. Landes II
Mr. Jens H. Lange
Mr. Kristopher C. Lilly & Mrs. Carrie J. Daugherty Lilly
Mrs. Dana McGrath
Dr. & Mrs. Ronald B. McPherson
Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Mills
Mack Timothy Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Alan P. Moran
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Mullett
Mr. John Olashuk
Mr. & Mrs. Marion Parsons, Jr.
Mr. Gregory D. Patterson
Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Poling
Dr. & Mrs. Michael E. Prudich
Dr. & Mrs. J. Mark Pullen
Mr. & Mrs. Alan S. Pyle
Ms. Toni Rakow-Lester
Mr. Anand Ravipati
Ms. Melissa G. Richey
Mr. Richard C. Rockenstein
Mr. & Mrs. Roy H. Rogerson
Mr. & Ms. Nicholas Sands
Mr. & Mrs. Barrett L. Shrout
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Sirk, Jr.
Mrs. Ann S. Smith
Ms. Jennifer L. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald W. Staib
Dr. James B. Stenger
Ms. Heather A. Stephan
Mr. John A. Strohmeyer
Mr. Jay J. Turner
Mr. & Mrs. Ken P. Vitaya-Udom
Dr. Richard E. Walters
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth A. Ward
Dr. John W. Zondlo
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene M. Zvolensky
$100 to $499
Mr. Michael J. Akers, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. George C. Alex
Mr. James V. Alford II
Mr. & Mrs. Steven W. Alford
Mr. & Mrs. Chester L. Allen
Mr. Randy L. Allison
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew M. Altman
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Alvarez
Mr. & Ms. Samuel Ameri
Mr. Jeffrey L. Andrews
Mr. & Mrs. Larry J. Andrews
Dr. Clement I. Anekwe
Mr. Ajith Antony
Mr. Francisco H. Antunez & Ms. Meredith R. Roche
Mr. & Mrs. C. Edward Ashby, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Richard A. Bajura
Mr. & Mrs. Steven C. Ball
Dr. & Mrs. Jimmy P. Balsara
Mr. Bradley R. Bane & Dr. Danielle J. D. Bane
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Barnes
Mr. Charles R. Bartlett
Mr. & Mrs. James A. Beach
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher R. Bearce
Mr. & Mrs. Scott M. Becker
Mr. William E. Beckers
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey W. Bell
Lt. Col. (Ret.) & Mrs. Paul G. Bellia
Mr. & Mrs. Duane T. Bernard
Mr. David A. Bernemann
Dr. & Mrs. Navinchandra B. Bhatt
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis E. Bibbee
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen M. Billcheck, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Harold E. Bishop, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. G. Lansing Blackshaw
Mr. & Mrs. John L. Blair, Jr.
Mrs. Jackalie L. Blue
Mr. Jerry D. Blue
Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Boggs
Mrs. Irene F. Bohuslavsky
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel D. Bonar
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen E. Borkowski
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Botts
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Bourne
Mr. John D. Bowers
Gregory & Shelly Bowles
Mr. & Mrs. William E. Bowling
Mr. John W. Boyle
Mr. Raymond A. Bradbury
Mr. Michael E. Brennan
Mr. & Mrs. Francis S. Brezny
Maj. Gregory D. Brown
Mrs. Barbara H. Brygider
Mr. & Mrs. Donald L. Bunch
Ms. Kendra L. Burch
Mr. Gregory S. Burdette
Mr. Wallace M. Cackowski
Mrs. Wendy A. Cain
Maj. & Mrs. Jason A. Camilletti
Mr. & Mrs. Donald F. Campbell
Mr. John A. Campbell
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Campbell
Mr. & Mrs. Overton H. Caperton
Mr. & Mrs. Larry K. Carpenter
Mrs. Shelia B. Carr
Mr. Michael J. Carter
Mr. Anthony J. Castronovo
Mr. & Mrs. William C. Cavage
Mr. & Mrs. William M. Cavage
Mr. Ryan D. Cavallo
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cerminara
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis C. Chambers
Mr. Dashan Chang
Mr. Burdell D. Chapman III
Mr. Edward J. Chehovin
Dr. Long-Huie Chen
Mr. & Mrs. Henry E. Cicci
Dr. Eugene V. Cilento
James M. Clark
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Clark
WVU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES
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Mr. & Mrs. Richard E. Cline
Mr. Robert A. Clise
Mr. August D. Coby
Mr. David W. Coffman
Mrs. Teresa A. Cole
Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Collins
Mr. & Mrs. Mike G. Collins
Mr. & Mrs. Rodney A. Collins
Mr. & Mrs. H. Ward Conaway
Mr. & Mrs. Bernard C. Corker
Mr. Charlie L. Cornett
Mrs. Sara B. Correll
Mr. & Mrs. Russell V. Costanza
Mr. & Mrs. Mark W. Cottrill
Mr. Bruce A. Cox
Mr. Ted B. Cranmer
Mr. & Mrs. William Crise
Mr. & Mrs. Donald R. Culp
Ms. Amanda L. Cunningham
Miss Cassie A. Cunningham
Mr. Brian J. Cyphert
Mr. Patrick A. Cyphert
Mr. & Mrs. Barry Dangerfield
Mr. & Mrs. Steven K. Darnell
Ms. Dianne C. Davidson
Mr. & Mrs. James P. Davidson, Jr.
Dr. Paul C. Davis
Mr. & Mrs. Dale T. Deem
Mr. Leonard J. DeCarlo
Mr. Joseph R. Depond
Mr. Gilbert W. DeVine
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. DeWitt
Dr. Gianfranco Doretto
Ms. Arlene T. Dorow
Mr. & Mrs. Donald W. Dougherty
Mr. Wayne R. Doverspike
Mr. Brian J. Downie
Mr. John S. Doyle, Jr.
Mr. Steven E. Easley
Mr. Rehan Ehsan
Mr. & Mrs. Allen O. Elkins
Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Ellis
Mr. & Mrs. Clifford W. Essig
Dr. John R. Etherton
Mr. & Mrs. Philip L. Evans
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Faini
Mr. Richard L. Falkenstein
Mr. & Mrs. James G. Faller
Mr. & Mrs. Lionel R. Farr
Mr. Richard P. Filiaggi
Mr. & Mrs. Earl M. Fisher
Mr. Harold G. Fisher
Mr. & Mrs. John A. Fleek
Mr. George B. Flegal, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Charles J. Fleischer
Mr. Timothy K. Fleming
Judge & Mrs. Edwin F. Flowers
Mrs. Amy E. Floyd
Mrs. Wendy Fluharty
Mr. William G. Fockler
Mr. & Mrs. B. Kenneth Fouts
Mr. Eric S. Fridley
Mr. Manning Frymier
Mrs. Marie R. Fumich
Mrs. & Mr. Shelley L. Gager
Mr. & Mrs. John P. Gay
Dr. & Mrs. Zack J. George, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy M. Gessner
Mr. & Mrs. Alexander H. Ghiz, Jr.
Ms. Sheree L. Gibson
Mr. & Mrs. David J. Gingerich
Mr. David R. Glass
Dr. & Mrs. William M. Glazier
Mr. Gus Glyptis
Mr. & Mrs. Theodore G. Glyptis
Mr. & Mrs. Matthew G. Goff
Mr. Paul A. Good
Mr. & Mrs. Barry A. Goodwin
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Gore
Mr. & Mrs. F. Gail Gray
Mr. & Mrs. Garret W. Green
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Gribschaw
Mr. Curtis M. Griffith, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Griffith
Mr. Paul Guarneri
Mr. Joseph E. Hadersbeck
Mr. Ronald A. Hahn
Mr. & Mrs. Scott A. Hair
Dr. & Mrs. George A. Hall
Mrs. Margaret M. Hall
Mr. & Mrs. Edward Halloran
Mr. Robert L. Halstead
Mr. & Mrs. Francis J. Halterman, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Dan P. Hamrick
Dr. Bachel Han
Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Hanko
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin A. Hardesty
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Hardy
Mr. James C. Hare
Mr. & Mrs. James H. Harless
Mr. Gordon P. Harlow
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel L. Harman
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel R. Harman
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Harris
Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Harris
Maj. Gerhard B. Hartig
Mr. Richard F. Hashinger
Dr. & Mrs. M. Masood Hassan
Mr. & Mrs. Howard M. Hatala
Mr. Joseph H. Hatcher
Mr. & Ms. David L. Hawkins
Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Haynes
Mr. & Mrs. William R. Heathcote
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Heffner
Mr. William D. Hegener
Mr. Roy A. Heidelbach
Dr. Judy H. Helm
Mr. Wayne M. Henshaw & Ms. Deborah S. Joyce
Mr. Christopher Herbert
Mrs. Constance S. Herbert
Mr. Michael E. Hershberger
Dr. Garry C. Hess
Mr. Douglas E. Hilemn & Mrs. Tracy Campbell-Hilemn
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Hill
Mr. & Mrs. Henry R. Hofmann
Mr. & Mrs. David K. Hollen
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Holliday
Mr. & Mrs. John A. Holmes
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald E. Hoover
Mr. & Mrs. William H. Hoover
Ms. Barbara Hopkins
Mrs. Sharon W. Horne
Mr. Virgil Horton
Mr. & Mrs. Victor W. Huang
Mr. & Mrs. Jay W. Huffman
Mr. & Mrs. Hugh B. Humbert, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Ervin J. Hunter
Mr. & Mrs. Elmo J. Hurst
Mr. & Mrs. Jan C. Hutwelker, Sr.
Mr. Jeffrey P. Ice
Mrs. Judith B. Iszauk
Mr. & Mrs. Munther T. Jabbur
Mr. Jay K. Jackson
Mr. John B. James
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Jamison II
Col. Michael A. Janovicz
Mr. Brian E. Johnson
Mr. Roderick N. Johnson
Mr. William M. Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Donald G. Jones
Mr. H. Eckess Jones, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Russell Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Denver A. Jordan
Dr. Guosheng Kang & Ms. Qing Luo
Dr. & Mrs. Gary Keefer
Mr. & Mrs. W. Lee Kelvington
Mr. Mark D. Kessinger
Dr. Mohamad A. Khalil
Mr. Harry G. Kienzle
Mr. Garry R. Kilmer
Mr. & Mrs. Allen W. Kincaid
Ms. Staci R. King
Ms. Bonnie C. Kington
Mr. John J. Klim III
Mr. & Mrs. Evans L. Kline
Ms. Stephanie R. Kline
Drs. Michael J. & Lesley A. Klishis
Mr. Daniel A. Kniska, Jr.
Mr. Smith & Ms. Kniska
Mr. & Mrs. Eugene F. Kopyar
Mr. George J. Kostelnik
Dr. & Mrs. Don L. Koubek
Mr. Demetrios T. Kourpas
Dr. Ellen M. Kraft
Mr. Arvind R. Krishnappa
Dr. & Mrs. John M. Kuhlman
Mr. John A. Kulmoski, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph A. R. Larry
Mr. Loren L. Lazear
Mr. & Mrs. Michael F. Lechnar
Mr. Howard L. Leckey
Mr. Gregory T. Lee
Mr. Andrew B. Leimer
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas M. Lengyel
Dr. Barbara T. Leonard
Mr. Edward G. Lewis
Mr. Richard L. Lewis II
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen C. Lewis
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas R. Long
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph S. Luchini
Ms. Susan A. Luerich & Mr. Lawrence E. Leise
Mr. E. Daniel Lynch, Jr.
Ms. Margaret R. Lyon
Dr. & Mrs. Peter S. Maa
Ms. Sara S. Mahood
Mr. & Mrs. A. Edward Maloy, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel L. Manack
Ms. Nancy H. Marsh
Mr. & Mrs. Peter M. Martin
Dr. David R. Martinelli
Mr. & Mrs. Louis J. Martinez
Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Marushi
Ms. Rebecca S. Mattern
Mr. Christopher T. Mayo
Mrs. Gina M. McCann
Mr. Jack C. McCauley
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur M. McClain
Mr. William McColl
Prof. & Mrs. John E. McCray, Jr.
Mr. George T. McCulley
Mr. Dennis W. McDaniels
Mr. & Mrs. S. Fenton McDonald
Mr. Joseph K. McFadden
Ms. Jennifer R. McGee
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel J. McKiernan
Mr. Philip R. McMahon
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. McPheters
Dr. Kenneth H. Means & Dr. Carol D. Means
Mr. & Mrs. W. Scott Mease
Mr. & Mrs. Russell B. Mechling, Jr.
Ms. Annamaria Medvid
Dr. & Mrs. Paul G. Migliore
CDR J. Larry Miles, Jr.
Mr. Nicholas A. Milinovich
Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Miller II
Mr. C. Douglas Miller
Mr. Jonathan L. Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Mills
Mr. & Mrs. J. Richard Mitchell
Dr. Chinnarao Mokkapati
Mr. & Mrs. Guy E. Mongold, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Ian R. Moore
Mrs. Kim M. Morgan
Col. (Ret.) & Mrs. Philip S. Morris
Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Morris
Mr. Cleveland G. Mosby, Jr.
Mr. Ralph D. Mullenax
Mr. & Mrs. David E. Mullett
Mr. & Mrs. Vicente S. Munoz, Jr.
Dr. Harapanhalli S. Muralidhara & Dr. Ponnamma K. Kurian
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan M. Murray
Mr. & Mrs. Clyde B. Musick
Mr. Patrick C. Myers, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Warren R. Myers
Mr. & Mrs. Richard S. Napier
Mrs. Jane H. Nicholson
Mr. Leonard S. Nicholson
Mr. & Mrs. Randy A. Nicholson
Mr. Nathan J. Nicol
Mr. Robert A. Novotny
Dr. & Mrs. Roy S. Nutter, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. George J. Oberlick
Dr. & Mrs. James B. Ogundele
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Mr. & Mrs. Daniel R. Olds
Mr. & Mrs. Art Oliver, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Larry E. Oliver
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Oliveto
Mr. Roderick J. Olson
Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Ott
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph F. Pagendarm
Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Pannell II
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D. Parriott
Mr. & Mrs. Terrence L. Parsons
Mr. Thomas H. Parsons
Mr. & Mrs. Vijendrakumar C. Patel
Mr. George S. Paul
Mr. C. Lorn Paxton
Mr. & Mrs. Harold R. Payne
Mr. Richard B. Pellegrino
Mr. Richard J. Perin
Mr. & Mrs. Edward L. Perry
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Pevarnik
Mr. & Mrs. Jon K. Phillips
Paul & Kathy Phillips
Ms. Kerri B. Phillips
Mr. & Mrs. W. Scot Phillips
Mr. Basil Phipps
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew D. Pickens, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Mark M. Piper
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy J. Pizatella
Mr. & Mrs. Danny B. Platt
Ms. Sara M. Pletcher
Dr. & Mrs. Ralph W. Plummer
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Poland
Mr. Trevor M. Poquette
Mr. Martin Potts
Mr. David A. Price
Mr. & Mrs. Victor D. Proietti
Dr. Jacky C. Prucz
Mr. & Mrs. David R. Prunty
Mr. & Mrs. Donald R. Prunty, Jr.
Mr. Albert W. Radabaugh & Ms. Deena M. Krafft
Mr. Walter J. Ramsey
Mr. & Mrs. William W. Ramsey III
Mr. Jon H. Rateau
Mr. Herbert S. Rawlings
Mr. Bradley R. Reed
Mr. & Mrs. Mark F. Reeder
Mr. James B. Reese
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph E. Reger
Mr. & Mrs. Leroy C. Reid, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Rentschler, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. John A. Reynolds
Mr. Boyd W. Rhodes
Mr. & Mrs. William S. Rice
Mr. & Mrs. Peter B. Rich
Mr. & Mrs. Jon M. Ridgway
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew R. Riehl
Dr. & Mrs. Billy M. Riggleman
Mr. & Dr. Terry D. Rings
Mr. & Mrs. Carl T. Ripberger III
Mr. & Mrs. David J. Ritz
Mr. & Mrs. Brad J. Roberts
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph S. Robertson
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Robertson
Mr. Benjamin J. Robinson
Mr. & Mrs. James P. Robison
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew J. Rosenlieb
Mr. Anthony D. Rossetti
Mr. Thomas C. Rowan
Mr. Meredith B. Royce, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Rupar
Mr. & Mrs. James J. Rusenko
Mr. Phillip M. Sabree
Mr. & Mrs. William A. Savage
Mr. Steven R. Sawyer
Dr. Marshalla M. Schile
Mr. & Mrs. Frank W. Schneider
Mr. James W. Schumacher
Mr. & Mrs. Gary J. Schweitzer
Mrs. Tracie L. Seivertson
Mr. & Mrs. John E. Seknicka
Mr. S. Thomas Serpento
Mrs. Grace W. Sharpenberg
Mr. Charles A. Shaver
Mr. David E. Sheets
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Shehab
Mr. Jeffrey D. Shields
Mr. W. David Shinn
Mr. & Mrs. Morris M. Shor
Mr. Frank J. Shuler
Mrs. Susan K. Siebken
Mr. & Mrs. Mark J. Sikora
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher B. Simms
Mr. & Mrs. William A. Simms
Mr. Kenneth K. Sitar
Mr. & Mrs. George D. Six
Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Skelton
Ms. Linda Slonksnes
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas C. Smillie II
Mr. & Mrs. David J. Smith
Dr. Jason R. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey D. Smith
Mr. John C. Smith
Mr. Perry Smith, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. John E. Sneckenberger
Mr. & Mrs. George A. Snider, Jr.
Mr. Harold J. Snyder, Jr.
Mr. Michael G. Sonnefeld
Dr. & Mrs. Wen-Yan Soung
Dr. & Mrs. James E. Spearman
Mr. Peter L. Spence
Dr. & Mrs. Michael G. Spencer
Dr. James L. Spenik
Mr. Phillip L. Stalnaker
Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Steele
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel E. Steerman
Mr. Harry L. Stemple
Mr. & Mrs. John B. Stevens
Dr. Larry E. Stewart
Mr. John M. Stickler
Mr. & Mrs. Vincent J. Stricker
Mr. Charles E. Stricklin
Dr. Richard J. Stock
Mr. & Mrs. J. Robert Stockner
Brian & Jessica Stolarik
Mr. & Mrs. Lester W. Stone
Mr. John R. Sutler
Mr. John M. Svedman
Mr. T. Tyson Swain
Mr. & Mrs. David L. Swearingen
Mr. & Dr. Kevin D. Swisher
Mr. & Mrs. Caleb A. Tarleton
Mr. Adam M. Tarovisky
Mr. & Mrs. James E. Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Charles O. Thayer IV
Capt. Charles H. Tilton USN (Ret.)
Dr. Douglas L. Timmons
Mr. & Mrs. Leonard J. Timms, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert K. Tinney
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen W. Tippett
Mr. Fred R. Toothman
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis P. Townsend
Mr. Frederick D. Truban
Mr. & Mrs. Brian A. Truman
Mr. & Mrs. Charles E. Tupes
Mr. William C. Turley, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Turner
Mr. & Mrs. Roy M. Turner
Mr. & Mrs. Lionel J. Updyke
Mr. Thomas E. Urquhart
Mr. & Mrs. David R. Vaughn
Mr. & Mrs. David A. Velegol, Sr.
Mr. Kelles L. Veneri
Mrs. Patricia W. Vetter
Mr. Leslie A. Viegas
Mr. Shashikanth Vittal
Mrs. Kari A. Walker
Mr. Kermit H. Walker, Jr.
Mr. William D. Walko
Mr. Douglas L. Walton
Mr. & Mrs. Gary W. Wamsley
Dr. & Mrs. Shih-Chung Wang
Dr. Yajie Wang
Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Ward
Dr. & Mr. Karen E. Warden
Mr. & Mrs. Julian W. Ware
Mr. George A. Waters
Mr. Daniel A. Weber
Mr. & Mrs. Earl K. West
Ms. & Mr. Janie West
Mr. & Mrs. William H. West
Mr. & Mrs. Harry L. Westerman
Mr. Duane E. Westfall
Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Westfall
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald C. Whigham
Mr. & Mrs. Glenn L. White
Mr. John L. White
Mr. Norman W. White
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas H. White
Mr. Chester L. Whitehair
Mr. & Mrs. David M. Wiebking
Mr. Stephen C. Wilhelm
Mr. & Mrs. Cyril H. Williams, Jr.
Mr. J. Eldon Williams
Mr. George A. Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Jason D. Williams
Mr. & Mrs. Alan R. Williamson, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher J. Williamson
Dr. & Mrs. F. David Wilkin
Mr. & Mrs. Donald P. Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. George N. Wilson
Dr. & Mrs. James D. Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. Steven F. Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. W. Eugene Wimer
Mrs. Mary Beth Wise
Mr. & Mrs. Howard V. Withrow II
Mr. Kenneth J. Witt
Mr. C. H. Woodford II
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey T. Woods
Mr. Henry M. Word
Mrs. Kathi S. Workman
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen A. Yano
Mr. & Mrs. Otis R. Yeater
Mr. & Mrs. David A. Young, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Richard W. Young
Mr. Richard Yungwirth
Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Zachar
Mr. & Mrs. Rafi M. Zeinalpour
Mrs. Hao Zhang
Mr. & Mrs. George T. Zimmerman
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Volume 7 Issue 2
$100,000 and up
Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.
Murray Energy Corporation
Nason P. Pritchard Trust
Research Trust Fund
$50,000 to $99,999
Bayer USA Foundation
CONSOL Energy Inc.
Exxon Mobil Foundation
Massey Foundation
MEPCO, Inc.
University of Toledo Foundation
Virginia Oil and Gas LLC POP
WV Coal Mining Institute
$25,000 to $49,999
Air Products Foundation, Inc.
Chesapeake Operating, Inc.
Michael Baker Corporation
$10,000 to $24,999
John L. Kirkland Trust
Pearson Education
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Chevron Products Company
The Cliffs Foundation
Dominion Foundation
General Electric Company
Halliburton
Hayhurst Co.
ICG, LLC
James Romano Charitable Remainder Trust
North Carolina Coal Institute, Inc.
NuStar Foundation Matching Gift Program
Patriot Coal Corporation
Peabody Investments Corp.
Peter’s Creek Coal Association
Tunnel Radio of America, Inc.
Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program
$5,000 to $9,999
AADE Appalachian Basin
Appalachian Underground Corrosion Short Course
Ayco Charitable Foundation-Cerminara Foundation
Datha Gene Foundation
DirecTV
Gimme Foundation Inc.
The Hershey Company Matching Gift Program
Lockheed Martin
Parkersburg Area Community Foundation
Penn Virginia Operating Co. LLC
PPG Industries
Triad Engineering, Inc.
$1,000 to $4,999
American Association of Drilling Engineers
Bechtel Matching Gift Program
Boeing Company Matching Gift Program
Cedar Point
Central Appalachian Section of SME
Chevron Humankind Employee Funds
Dow Chemical Company
Duke Energy Corporation
E.l. Dupont De Nemours & Company
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund - Larry Joe Lilly
Guidestream Charitable Gift Fund
Halliburton Foundation, Inc.
Joy Mining Machinery
Keith Asset Management LLLP
Lemac Mine Service, Inc.
Marathon Oil Company Foundation
Mon Valley Integration LLC
Mylan, Inc.
Northern WV Section of SPE
Parsons
Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Schwab Charitable Fund-R.J. & Maureen W Watts
Southeastern Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials
Southern Coals Conference
Tennessee Valley Section of The American Industrial Hygiene Association
WV Coal Association, Inc.
WVU Alumni Association - Mineral Resources
$500 to $999
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
Chevron Corporation Matching Grants Program
Deloitte Foundation
Dow Chemical Company Foundation
EQT Corporation (Matching Gifts)
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund - James Faller
H.J. Heinz Company Foundation
Monsanto Fund
Mountaineer Mine Safety & Training, Inc.
P&G Fund
Reliant Energy Charitable Giving
Shell Oil Company Foundation
$100 to $499
AeroJet
Alcoa Foundation
Almes Enterprises LLC
American Electric Power Matching Gift Program
Bank of America
Book Mart Corp.
Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund
Bucyrus Foundation, Inc.
ConocoPhillips
Dominion Foundation Matching Gift Program
Eaton Corporation Matching Gift Program
Employees Charity Organization
Environmental Science Applications, Inc.
FMC Corporation
Gannon International
Harris Foundation
IBM International Foundation Matching Gift Program
Johnson Controls Foundation
Juniper Networks’ Company
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Landmarks Design Associates, Inc.
Lockheed Martin Corporation Foundation
Lubrizol Foundation Matching Gift Program
Lutheran Community Foundation
Marathon Oil Company Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Merck Partnership for Giving
Northrop Grumman Corporation
Olashuk Environmental, Inc.
Oracle
Pennsylvania Power & Light Company Matching Gifts
Raytheon
SAIC, Inc.
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Siemens US - Matching Contributions Program for Employees
Smith Water Technologies, LLC
Southern Company Services
Tahoe Management One
Textron, Inc.
United Technologies
Verizon Foundation
Verizon Foundation
WVU Student Chapter of Alpha Pi Mu
Xerox Corporation, Inc.
Xerox Corporation U.S.A.
Corporate, Associations, and Trusts
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LOWELL T. HARMISON, PH.D.
Lowell T. Harmison, Ph.D., 74, passed away on March 30, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Va.
A native of North River Mills, W.Va., Dr. Harmison earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University in 1960 and his master’s in 1961. He received his doctorate from the University of Maryland and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan. A member of WVU’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni of Mechanical Engineering, he followed a career in health sciences; pioneered an artificial heart; and was internationally recognized for his research, government service, and humanitarian achievements.
Dr. Harmison is survived by his wife, Sally; his three sons, Christopher, Brian, and Craig; and seven grandchildren.
CHRISTOPHER STEVEN LANTZ
Christopher Steven Lantz, 25, of Oakland, Md., died of injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident on December 29, 2010.
Lantz graduated first in his class from West Virginia University in December 2007 with bachelor of science
degrees in both electrical and computer engineering. He was awarded the University’s Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, as well as a Blue and Gold Scholarship, and a WVU Academic Grant. He served as an Engineering 101 teaching assistant, was named the 2007 WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior, and was inducted into three academic honors organizations.
He was a third-year student at Vanderbilt University Law School at the time of his passing.
Lantz is survived by his parents, Steven and Mary Lantz of Oakland; a brother, Evan Michael Lantz; and his fiancée, Jillian Mazur.
ALLISON ROSE NEVILLE
Allison Rose Neville, 23, of Barrackville, W.Va., passed away on March 31, following a five-month battle with cancer.
Neville earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from West Virginia University in 2009. She was employed at Mylan Pharmaceuticals in Morgantown as a project engineer in the manufacturing department.
Neville is survived by her parents, Alex and Lora Neville of Barrackville; a brother, Lance Cpl. Alex P. Neville, Jr.; and a sister, Sophia.
IN MEMORIAM
Below you will find a list of thoughtful and generous alumni and friends who have become members of the Irving Stewart Society by including our College in their estate plans. These individuals are helping students of the future through gift provisions in their wills, life income gifts, testamentary retirement accounts, life insurance, or gifts of real estate with a retained life state. We are forever grateful to them.
Irvin Stewart Society: Making a Difference for Years to Come
Robert D. Bewick ’52
Stanley Browning ’57
Frank Cerminara ’70
Susan Cerminara
Vudara Chuop ’80
Irene V. Desmond
Robert M. Desmond, Ph.D.
Kathleen J. DuBois
Walter J. Fitzgerald ’58
Beatrice Galli
Margaret M. Hall ’81
Lawrence C. Hays ’41
Glen H. Hiner, Ph.D. ’57
Genevieve C. Koepfinger
Joseph L. Koepfinger
Anthony E. Licata ’70
Allan S. May ’39
James R. McQuay ’77
Jean H. Orders
Robert O. Orders ’51
William N. Poundstone ’49
Lora V. Richards
Jacqulyn Smith Sample
Paul E. Sample, Ph.D. ’57
Barrett L. Shrout ’62
Nancy S. Shrout
Kathryn A. Simms
R. Patrick Simms ’66
William A. Simms ’64
J. Robert Stockner ’50
Tommy L. Stuchell, JD ’87
W. David Teter ’64
Jo Ann Wadsworth
Maurice A. Wadsworth ’51
Frank T. Wheby ’56
Erna F. Wilkin
F. David Wilkin, EdD ’69
Donald W. Worlledge ’55
Mary S. Worlledge
Eugene M. Zvolensky ’70
Please consider joining the Irvin Stewart Society by including our College in your estate plans. For more information, contact Garth Lindley at 304-293-4156 or [email protected] or Robert Bragg at 304-293-4036 or [email protected].
SUPPORT
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ALUMNI
Robert Brandenburg, MSSM ’05, was awarded the credential of certified safety professional from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the credential of certified safety and health manager from the Institute of Safety and Health Management. The National Science Foundation presented Brandenburg with the Antarctica Service Medal of the United States for service in Antarctica and recognition of valuable contributions to exploration and scientific achievement under the U.S. Antarctic Research Program.
Dennis Chambers, BSCE ’68, MSCE ’74, former senior vice president of Triad Engineering, was recently inducted into the West Virginia Academy of Civil Engineers. Chambers was recognized for his commitment to engineering work around the state, his role in the founding and growth of Triad Engineering, and his ongoing community involvement. Though retired, Chambers is still a registered professional engineering in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. He continues to perform select projects through Chambers Association of Morgantown, W.Va.
Sampa Das Ostrem, BSBA ’95, was awarded the Kusnetz Award, which honors certified hygienists that have worked to provide the highest standards of health and safety protection for the employees for whom they are responsible by exhibiting high ethical standards and technical abilities. The award was presented at the annual American Industrial Hygiene Association Conference. She is the owner of D.A.S. Consulting Services, LLC in Springfield, Ill.
Scott Fouts, MSSM ’00, and Justin Walker, MSSM ’06, were recognized by The Hartford for excellence in loss control. Fouts, who works in Las Vegas, Nev., won the award for the sixth straight year. Walker works in Washington, D.C., and was recently promoted to senior loss control consultant. Only eight employees were honored by the company.
Gary Schubert, MSCS ’80, was awarded senior membership status in the Association for Computer Machinery. The award recognizes ACM members with at least 10 years of professional experience and five years of continuous professional membership who have demonstrated performance that sets them apart from their peers. Schubert is an associate professor in computer science and art at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va.
FACULTY AND STAFF
Sam Ameri, professor and chair of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, was named the Outstanding Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Professor by the West Virginia Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Student Chapter. The award was presented at the annual Mineral Resources Recognition Banquet held this past spring.
Karl Barth, the Jack H. Samples Distinguished Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, presented a seminar on “The Development of Design Standards for Short Span Steel Bridges” at the Sixth European Conference on Steel and Composite Structures, held at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Budapest, Hungary.
Daniel Della-Giustina, professor of safety management, has been awarded the credential of certified healthcare safety professional by the International Board for Certification of Safety Managers.
Shahab Mohaghegh, professor of petroleum and natural gas engineering, was invited to participate in a panel discussion during the Middle East Oil Show in Bahrain to discuss the speed of technology development and its impact on the exploration and production industry. He was also asked to teach a two-day short course on oilfield data mining at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ annual technical conference, held in Denver in late October. Total S.A., one of six “supermajor” oil companies in the world, invited Mohaghegh to deliver two lectures on artificial intelligence-based reservoir simulations and modeling at their offices in Paris and Pau, France.
James E. Smith, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, was a distinguished guest lecturer at the University of Toledo this past spring. His talk, “Leadership-Driven Innovation: The Role of the Engineer in our Future,” focused on the roles leadership and innovation play in the maturation process of a new company or technology.
NEWS OF NOTE
A replica of Fenix II, the mine rescue capsule used in the Chilean mine rescue of 2010, was displayed on the front lawn of the Mineral Resources Building on West Virginia University’s Evansdale campus in early May. The 15-foot high capsule is 21-inches in diameter and weighs 2,800 pounds and was manufactured at Center Rock, Inc. of Berlin, Pa. The 33 miners were rescued after spending 68 days underground.
CHILEAN MINE RESCUE REPLICA DISPLAYED
Ryan Sigler was a recipient of a Nicholas Evans Advising Award. The awards—given annually to a graduate assistant, a professional, and faculty member—honor Dr. Nicholas Evans, a lifelong proponent and exemplar of excellent undergraduate advising.
Sigler advises many transfer and international students in addition to his normal advising load. He also helps to train future advisors, both full-time and graduate. He helped create the Nick Evans Award and served on the first selection committee. He has also served on the WVU Advising Workgroup, which has helped to develop advising policies and best practices throughout the University.
Sigler received $2,500 in his departmental budget for travel and scholarship.
SIGLER HONORED WITH EVANS AWARD FOR ADVISING
WVU College of Engineering and Mineral ResourcesPO Box 6070, Morgantown, WV 26506-6070
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Save the DatesDecember Convocation ReceptionDecember 11, 2011
Capitol ClassicJanuary 18, 2012
Engineering Open HouseMarch 1, 2012
Civil and Environmental Engineering AcademyApril 19-21, 2012
Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering AcademyApril 20-21, 2012
Honors DayApril 20, 2012
Chemical Engineering AcademyApril 26-27, 2012
CommencementMay 12, 2012
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