Torchbearer: Spring 1997

Faculty/Staff News And Honors

Dr. Lorayne Lester is the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a professor of speech communication and served as interim dean before being named dean. The first woman to head UTK's largest college, Lester has been a faculty member since 1960.

The Office of Human Resources has a new executive director, Dr. Alan Chesney. He came to UTK from the University of Texas-El Paso, where he had been human resources director since 1992. Chesney holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Hope College.

Dr. Gordon Burghardt has been named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Burghardt, professor of psychology and zoology, is one of 238 scientists honored by the AAAS for helping advance and foster social applications of science.

Named a fellow of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers is Dr. Don Bouldin. He was recognized for his work in designing high-speed, ultra-efficient computer processors. Bouldin, professor of electrical engineering, has been on the UTK faculty since 1975.

Dr. Jane Smith Redmond is the new assistant vice chancellor for administration and student affairs. She continues as director of the Office of Minority Student Affairs. She joined UTK in 1978.

Mary Ziegler has become director of the Center for Literacy Studies after 10 months as associate director. The center, part of the College of Education, bridges theory and practice in the field of adult learning and literacy. Ziegler holds degrees from the College of St. Teresa, University of South Florida, and Columbia University.

The head of physics, Dr. Lee Riedinger, is chairing the American Physical Society's division of nuclear physics. He has served on the society's executive committee since 1991 and was senior science adviser to Sen. Howard Baker in 1983-84.

Dr. Dhyana Ziegler, professor of broadcasting, co-authored a national report recommending changes in the way broadcast journalists are trained. Jane Pauley, NBC reporter and news anchor, provided funding for the study by the Society of Professional Journalists.

The acting director of dining services is Jamesena Miller, associate director since 1979. She succeeds Norman Hill, who retired. Miller joined dining services in 1966.

Dr. Glen Hall, dean emeritus of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received the 1996 Berea College distinguished alumnus award. The award recognizes his contributions to higher education as scholar, teacher, and administrator. Hall was dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources from 1967 to 1995.

The Korean Society for Molecular Biology has honored Dr. Kwang Jeon, UTK professor of cell biology, as its Ilchun Lecturer. Jeon received a gold medal and an invitation to lecture at the society's annual meeting in Seoul.

Dr. Keith Stanga, head of the accounting department and Arthur Andersen Professor of Accounting, is treasurer of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy. FSA, with 165 member organizations, including colleges, accounting firms, and professional groups, promotes development of accredited education programs leading to the master's degree.

The College of Arts and Sciences recognized faculty with the following 1996 awards: Faculty Public Service Award, Dr. James Black, sociology, Dr. Susan Martin, classics; Faculty Advising Award, Dr. William Calhoun, psychology, Dr. James Caponetti, botany; Junior Faculty Teaching Award, Dr. LaVinia Jennings, English; Senior Faculty Teaching Award, Dr. William Dunne, geology; Junior Faculty Research and Creative Achievement Award, Dr. Ziling Xue, chemistry; Senior Faculty Research and Creative Achievement Award, Dr. Susan Metros, art; Scholars in the Schools Award, Dr. Ed Clark, mathematics, Dr. Gerald Vaughan, ecology.

Henry A. Fribourg, professor of plant and soil sciences, has been elected a fellow of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). He has served on the board of CSSA and the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and as an associate editor of Crop Science and the Journal of Production Agriculture. He is a fellow of ASA.