December 2015 Science Journal

Table of Contents
FEATURE STORIES:
4 Exploring the Nature of Stress
Follow Tracy Langkilde as she looks at how certain animals adapt to stress in
their environments.
12 Transition State
Learn about the change in leadership in the Department of Chemistry.
16 Reinventing Statistics Education
Discover how faculty in the Department of Statistics are transforming the way we
teach statistics.
24 Research in Action
Read short briefs about some of the amazing research projects happening now in
the college.
COLLEGE NEWS:
Doug Cavener Named Verne
M. Willaman Dean
Teaching New Pedagogy
Strategy in China
Transforming Science
Education with Tombros
Fellowships
Intellectual Property Focus
Climate & Diversity Corner
College Welcome Day
Staff Highlight
Faculty Highlight
Years of Service Recognition
DEPARTMENT NEWS
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT:
Faculty Awards and Honors
Faculty Promotions
New Faculty
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
Undergraduate Student Awards
and Honors
Commencement
Summer 2015 Student Marshal
Undergraduate Scientists
Above and Beyond: Focus on
Graduate Students
ALUMNI NEWS:
Weinreb Family Endows Early
Career Professorship
College Welcomes New Director
of Development
Outstanding Alumni
All Science Tailgate
Snapshot of Philanthropy
C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in
Teaching
Millennium Society
Share Your News
Upcoming Events
Editor: Tara Immel
Writers: Barbara Collins, Whittney Gould,
Carley LaVelle, Carrie Lewis, Brenda Lucas,
Joslyn Neiderer, Samantha Schwartz, Sam
Sholtis, and Bill Zimmerman. Special thanks to
all of our other contributors!
Design: Carley LaVelle, Penn State Science
Marketing Office
Printer: Watkins Printing
Dear Friends of the College,
It is with great pleasure that
I welcome you to this issue in
my new role as dean of the
Eberly College of Science.
Over the last few months, I
have had the opportunity to
immerse myself in our college
community and promote
our mission. I am struck by
the passion that our faculty and students have
for learning, discovery, and problem solving; the
dedication of our hard-working staff in keeping the
college running efficiently and in collegial manner;
and the engagement and generosity of our science
alumni.
My transition has not been the only one in recent
months; we have recruited, hired, and also shifted
some of the best faculty and staff into pivotal roles
that will help the college succeed in achieving
its strategic objectives. As you will read in this
issue, Barbara Garrison, the former head of the
Department of Chemistry, has passed the torch to
Tom Mallouk, Evan Pugh University Professor of
Chemistry. Mallouk will continue his research and
teaching while enhancing faculty development,
working on educational improvements, and
managing the daily administrative duties as head.
The college has also hired a director of
undergraduate research, Tomalei Vess. This
newly created position manages the Office of
Science Engagement and will help transform the
science undergraduate experience by providing
students with co-curricular experiences, such as
research, internships, and co-ops, that will enrich
their education by enabling them to apply and
practice what they learn in the classroom.
We also have new leadership in the alumni
relations and development office. Joyce Matthews
has joined our team as the new senior director of
development. Joyce has 15 years of fundraising
experience, most recently in the College of
Information Sciences and Technology. I look
forward to her leadership during the next capital
campaign, which begins in summer 2016.
We have a great foundation on which to build
future success in the college. As the new dean, I
will continue to reach out to our college community
as we build and shape the future of our college.
Please join me in transforming the Eberly College
of Science to achieve its full potential as a vibrant
and diverse scientific and educational community
that is internationally renowned for excellence,
and for improving the world through its discoveries
and solutions to life’s most pressing challenges.
Sincerely,
2
Penn State Eberly College of Science SCIENCE JOURNAL December 2015
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