Torchbearer: Summer 1998

Faculty / Staff News And Honors

Thomas C. Galligan Jr. is the new dean of the College of Law. He succeeds Richard Wirtz, who will remain at the university as a professor of law. In addition to his professorship in the Paul Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, Galligan was executive director of the Louisiana Judicial College that plans and conducts judicial education seminars for the state's judges. He had been on the LSU faculty since 1986 and was appointed the Dale Bennett Professor of Law last year.

Dr. Don Dessart, professor of mathematics and mathematics education, is the 1998 Macebearer, UTK's highest faculty honor. He will carry the mace, symbol of the faculty's commitment to serve students and the greater society, at commencement exercises. Dessart also recently received an alumni achievement award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. Dessart has been a faculty member in the UTK College of Education for 36 years. He has served as director of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics, president of the Tennessee Mathematics Teachers' Association, and chair of the editorial board of the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Edward Howley is this year's recipient of the Alexander Prize, created by former Gov. and UT President Lamar Alexander and his wife, Honey. Howley is professor of exercise science in the College of Education. He has won numerous teaching and research awards and authored widely used textbooks.

Recipient of the Hesler Award is Dr. Jack Reese, professor of English and head of the College Scholars Program. Reese was chancellor of UTK for 16 years. The award, named for Dr. L.R. Hesler, former dean of liberal arts, recognizes teaching, research, interest in students, and campus involvement.

Drs. Jeffrey Berejikian, Marianne Custer, Ilona Leki, and Susan Martin are winners of the 1998 Jefferson Prize, which honors the principles of the third president of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson. Berejikian is assistant professor of political science. Custer is professor of theatre. Leki is professor of English, and Martin is professor and head of the Department of Classics.

Recognized for excellence in teaching by Chancellor Bill Snyder, the Teaching Council, and the Student Government Association are Dr. Robert Bodenheimer, professor of electrical engineering; Dr. Allen Dunn, associate professor of English; Dr. Lee Magid, professor of chemistry; Valerie Cates, instructor of English; and Stanley McDaniel, instructor in speech communication. Honored for excellence in advising were Beth Barret, director of advising in the College of Nursing; Katherine Proctor, educational coordinator in the School of Architecture; and Dr. Frederick Symonds, professor and associate head of electrical engineering.

Professors receiving Chancellor Snyder's research and creative achievement awards are Drs. Arun Chatterjee, civil and environmental engineering; Robert Compton, chemistry; Greer Fox, child and family studies; Larry Taylor, geological sciences; Belle Upadhyaya, nuclear engineering; Bennie Ward, physics; Olga Welch, rehabilitation and deafness; and Allen Wier, English.

Dr. Elizabeth Haiken, assistant professor of history, is the 1998 recipient of the Angie Warren Perkins award for excellence in teaching and scholarship.

Progressive Farmer magazine honored Dr. D.M. "Pete" Gossett, who retired in June from his position as vice president of the UT Institute of Agriculture, as its 1998 man of the year in Tennessee agriculture.

Dr. Paul Ashdown received the Robert F. Cherry award from Baylor University in recognition of his teaching ability, impact on students, and professional accomplishments. Cherry, a Baylor alumnus, established the awards to honor outstanding teachers and bring them to Baylor for lectures. Ashdown is a former UT National Alumni Association outstanding teacher and a chancellor's teacher-scholar.

Mark Schimmenti, associate professor of architecture, spent last semester in Italy as a Rome Prize winner. He studied 20th century Italian urbanism. The American Academy in Rome received more than 1,000 applications, from which 26 scholars were selected.

UTK-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distinguished Scientist Dr. Peter Cummings received the 1998 research achievement award of the Knoxville chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Dr. Clifton Campbell, professor of human resource development, received a grant for research in workforce education and training from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The research, involving joint venture partnerships in the U.S. and Germany, is the first of its kind supported by NATO.

In the College of Veterinary Medicine, several faculty have won awards. Dr. Becky Gompf, associate professor, received the outstanding faculty award from the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, and Dr. Al Legendre, professor, was selected for Auburn University's distinguished alumnus award. Dr. Hildegard Schuller, professor, was recognized with a regional award as part of the 1997 YWCA Tribute to Women. Dr. Carla Sommardahl, assistant professor, won a clinical investigator award from the National Institutes of Health.

Return to Summer 1998 table of contents.





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