INSIDE Chancellor’s Pa. House testimony...... 2 Black History Month...... 3 Teenie Harris program...7 PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle 6OLUME 8))) s .UMBER s &EBRUARY Honoring a Legacy of Building Greatness, Transforming Chancellor Names Lives, and Holding Fast to a Faith in Education Winners of Staff Awards This is the print version of Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg’s Winter 2012 Report &OR %XCELLENCE IN 3ERVICE to Pitt’s Board of Trustees, delivered on By Baindu Saidu Feb. 24. The sainted Mother Teresa said this, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has among many other memorable teachings: announced the winners of the 2012 Chan “What you spend years building, someone cellor’s Awards for Staff for Excellence could destroy overnight. Build anyway.” in Service to the Community and to the !"#$%&'#()$&"*+%&,*(-./01*(&$.23.4/*3/%& University. The honorees were recognized for Pitt today—as we prepare to celebrate a )0(.32&-"%&O3.+%($.-;P$&QK-"&A330*1&R#3#($& long and proud 225year history of building Convocation on Feb. 24. better lives; as we press forward with our The Award for Staff for Excellence in own determined efforts to build further on Service to the Community recognizes staff an already impressive institutional legacy; members whose work in the community and as we continue to contend with serious surpasses the expectations of the organiza threats, through deep and disproportionate tions they serve and whose commitment and budgetary reductions, to a relationship with %55#(-&"*+%&6*)%&*&$.23.4/*3-&.6,*/-&-"%& our home state that has been critical to much community. The two award recipients are of what we have been able to contribute to Peter L. DeNardis, a senior information its people. *3*1;$-&.3&G.--P$&<54/%&-"%&I".%5&S.3*3 On Feb. 28, 1787, the people of Pitts /.*1&<54/%(:&*3)&Penny Semaia, assistant burgh—led by our founder, Hugh Henry athletic director for student life in Pitt’s Brackenridge, and supported by state Department of Athletics. government—began building something HARRY GIGLIO The Chancellor’s Award for Staff very special here. Authorized by an act that Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg Excellence in Service to the University rec began with the simple declaration that “the ognizes staff members who not only exceed education of youth ought to be a primary coped with the ravages of economic disas take us across an extended time line. job standards and expectations in perform object with every government,” they built ter more serious than what we have just B&?3&-"%&CDEF$:&G.--&*$-(#3#6;&,(#5%$$#(:& .32&-"%.(&)0-.%$:&70-&*1$#&6*=%&*&$.23.4/*3-& the wilderness academy that would become %3)0(%)>&?3&-"%&5*/%&)*6*2%&7;&@##)& Allegheny Observatory director, and avia impact on the University through their our worldclass university. They did so *3)&4(%:&-"%;&(%70.1->&&A3)&'"*-&-"%;&70.1-& tion pioneer Samuel Langley launched the commitment and performance. The follow '"%3&$0(+.+*1&'*$&)%43%)&.3&5*(&6#(%&7*$./& and rebuilt, by any measure, was very good. 4($-&,#'%(H)(.+%3:&"%*+.%(H-"*3H*.(&@;.32& ing four Pitt staff members were chosen to terms than balancesheet entries. And they In assessing two centuries of commit 6*/".3%$:&,*+.32&-"%&'*;&5#(&"06*[email protected]"->& receive the award: Natalie Arnold Blais, were driven by a clear commitment to future ment to “the education of youth,” this is Today, the Langley name adorns many recruitment and academic affairs admin generations and by a belief in the power of what our bicentennial historian concluded important Air Force and NASA facilities, istrator within the Graduate School of education. 25 years ago. The story of Pitt is “a happy just as it adorns our own Langley Hall. Public Health; Shawn E. Brooks, associ Those who succeeded our founders chronicle of a sound and worthwhile accom B&?3&-"%&%*(1;&CEFF$:&G.--&%32.3%%(.32& ate dean and director of residence life in kept building as the Pittsburgh Academy plishment. For almost 200 years, there has professor Reginald Fessenden proved that the Division of Student Affairs; Christina became the Western University of Penn been an output of a good product: an annual radio waves could be used to transmit the L. Graham, director of student activities sylvania and, finally, the University of harvest of young people admirably trained "06*3&+#./%>&<3&I"(.$-6*$&J+%&CEFK:&"%& at PittBradford; and J. Andrew Holmes, Pittsburgh. They kept building as our prin to earn a living, to make a contribution to broadcast carols and a violin solo, by radio, machinist supervisor in the Swanson School cipal campus moved from downtown, to the their community, their profession, and their across the Atlantic Ocean. of Engineering. 8#(-"&9.)%:&*3)&43*11;&-#&<*=1*3)&*3)&*$&-"%& country.” B&?3&-"%&CELF$:&G.--&2(*)0*-%&M1*).6.(& Each awardee will receive a $2,500 University expanded to include important But from early times, this Univer N'#(;=.3&.3+%3-%)&*&!M&-(*3$6.--.32&*3)& cash prize and have his or her name added regional campuses in Johnstown, Bradford, sity became something even greater than receiving system employing cathoderay to a plaque displayed in the William Pitt Greensburg, and Titusville. that—a place that changed the shape of lives tubes, an advance that was critical to the Union that is inscribed with the names of They sustained their important work through the transforming power of ideas. all recipients of the Chancellor’s Awards. even when the country was at war. They Let me offer just a few telling examples that Continued on page 4 Staff Excellence in Service to the Community The chancellor praised DeNardis’ commitment and service to the Interna tional Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia !T THE &EB WINTER MEETING OF THE 0ITT "OARD OF 4RUSTEES Foundation (IWMF), a support organization formed for a rare type of blood cancer that T%8*().$&".6$%15&.$&7*--1.32>&?3&".$&S%7>&CK& the following resolution was unanimously adopted: 3#-.4/*-.#3&1%--%(&-#&T%8*().$:&-"%&/"*3/%1 lor wrote that he was “struck by the fact that Resolution of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees you not only are there to provide counsel and comfort to your fellow patients, but also Relating to Commonwealth Support for the University work to improve the IWMF itself through your service on its Board of Trustees, and as a discussion list manager, webmaster, 2%3/,6%$ that the members of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees do hereby express their deep gratitude for past support from the and patient database coordinator …” The Commonwealth and further express their pride in the quality and impact of the work done by the University of Pittsburgh as a public, state-related chancellor also said that DeNardis, in his university; and be it further role as a senior information analyst at Pitt, has “earned the respect and admiration” 2%3/,6%$ that the members of the Board of Trustees do hereby reaffirm their belief that further reductions to the University’s state support, of his Pitt colleagues as well as those as recently proposed, should be eliminated and that the Commonwealth should re-affirm its intention to continue working with the University as an involved with IWMF. In a support letter for important partner in its status as a public, state-related university; and be it further DeNardis’ nomination, Judith May, IWMF 2%3/,6%$ that the members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh hereby commit themselves to advocating for these president, praised his work, saying it has U%3*71%)&-"%&5#03)*-.#3&-#&$.23.4/*3-1;& positions and look forward to joining forces with alumni, faculty, staff, students and other friends of the University in doing so; and be it further improve its outreach.” 2%3/,6%$ that this resolution be made a permanent part of the University’s records, and that it be suitably inscribed and presented to The award selection committee com the Honorable Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the Honorable Joseph B. Scarnati III, President Pro Tempore of the mended Semaia for his “above and beyond” service in the community, the chancellor Pennsylvania Senate; the Honorable Dominic Pileggi, Senate Majority Leader; the Honorable Jay Costa, Senate Minority Leader; the Honorable said in his letter to Semaia. “On campus, Samuel H. Smith, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; the Honorable Mike Turzai, House Majority Leader; and the Honorable #0(&$-0)%3-&*-"1%-%$&/#01)&3#-&*$=&5#(&*&43%(& Frank Dermody, House Minority Leader. role model than to have a former standout
Continued on page 8 2 s Pitt Chronicle s &EBRUARY h$RAMATICALLY $ISPROPORTIONATEv 0ROPOSED Cynthia Miller, Director of University Budget Cuts Will Hurt Pitt’s Mission and Of Pittsburgh Press, to Retire in 2013 Cynthia Miller, direc tor of the University of Pitts )MPACT AS %CONOMIC %NGINE #HANCELLOR 3AYS 70(2"&G(%$$&$.3/%&CEEY:&'.11& retire from the University, effective February 2013, Pitt Provost and Senior M./%&I"*3/%11#(&G*-(./.*& E. Beeson announced to the University community. “Under Cynthia’s lead ership, the University of Pittsburgh Press has grown and thrived,” said Beeson. “She has overseen the pub lication of more than 850 titles, the sustenance of eight longstanding series, and the founding of six more, including world renowned series in English composition, Latin Ameri can studies, creative writ ing, and the philosophy of science. “Cynthia also has served as steward to many important technological developments,” Beeson added, “including the COURTESY OF PA HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE establishment of an ebooks Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg (right) and Penn State President Rodney Erickson listen intently during a Feb. 22 hearing on program and the introduc proposed budget cuts for higher education, held before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Appropriations Committee tion of the Espresso Book in Harrisburg. Temple University and Lincoln University presidents Ann Weaver Hart and Robert Jennings, respectively, also Machine in the Pitt Book testified during the hearing on the proposed funding cuts for Pitt, Penn State, and Temple. Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed no Center for printondemand RIC EVANS change in Lincoln’s state funding for 2012-13. titles, one of the first of its kind among university Cynthia Miller presses.” &OR MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES 0ITT HAS ADVANCED THE LONG ACCEPTED VALUES In 2007, the Press launched the Univer and the Press published The Pittsburgh sity of Pittsburgh Press Digital Editions in Reader: Seventy-five Years of Books About that access to higher education is a key to individual pursuit of the Ameri collaboration with Pitt’s University Library Pittsburgh to commemorate the occasion. System. This database of electronic schol The book, which contains selections from CAN DREAM AND THAT A WELL EDUCATED POPULACE IS ESSENTIAL FOR NATIONAL AND arship now includes more than 750 open books published throughout the Press’ his access and fully searchable titles, facilitating tory, illustrates the progress of the Press regional prominence and prosperity. Pitt researchers and the broader academic through the years and serves as a landmark community. text illustrating the progress of a major During the Press’ 75th anniversary cel (This is Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nor- *)V0$-%)& 5#(& .3@*-.#3:& -#& -"%& 1#'%$-& 1%+%1& ebration in 2011, Miller compiled and edited Continued on page 8 denberg’s written testimony that was sub- since Pitt became a staterelated university. mitted to the state House of Representatives’ In terms of proportionality, perhaps Appropriation Committee on Feb. 22, 2012. nothing is more telling than the proposed He will address the state Senate Appropria- general fund budget’s bottom line. Overall 225 Stories to Celebrate tions Committee on Feb. 29, 2012.) state funding would be reduced by less than Because of the hard work done by so #3%H-%3-"&C&,%(/%3-:&#(&WLL>XYK&6.11.#3>& many, the University of Pittsburgh is moving The cuts proposed just for Pitt are more than through what should be double that amount. another banner year, Fo r m o r e t h a n Pitt Leads the Way in Research on Aging building on its envi Because of the hard work two centuries, Pitt has able record of impact advanced the long and accomplishment in done by so many, the accepted values that Extensive resources for geriatric research combined with Pittsburgh’s education, research, and University of Pittsburgh access to higher educa senior-heavy demographic make Pitt a national model for aging science public service. Pitt also tion is a key to individual and clinical programs. Charles Reynolds, director of the Pitt is moving through an is moving through what pursuit of the American Aging Institute, calls Pitt’s opportunity to be a leader in the field historically important dream and that a well “second to none.” year, with next week should be another banner educated populace is bringing the 225th anni essential for national and As part of his research, Neil Resnick, Pitt's Thomas Detre versary of our founding, year, building on its envi regional prominence and Professor of Medicine and chief of UPMC's Division of Geriatric as a logcabin academy able record of impact and prosperity. These twin Medicine and Gerontology, works to dispel myths surrounding situated at the edge of beliefs drove the conver one of the most common syndromes affecting older adults— the frontier. Unfortu sion of Pitt and Temple, nately, what almost cer accomplishment in educa two wellregarded pri incontinence. Resnick’s research has shown that incontinence tainly will prove to be tion, research, and public vate universities, to is not part of normal aging or dementia and has uncovered more most memorable about staterelated status in effective ways to treat it. 2012 is that an already service. ... Unfortunately, -"%& 6.)HCEKF$:& *& ,071./& The gerontology program in Pitt’s University Center for brutal budget year has status already claimed by Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) focuses on social effects of been made far worse what almost certainly will Penn State. In effecting by another proposal for this change, there was aging. In a recent study of 1,330 older married couples, UCSUR deep and disproportion prove to be most memo a desire both to meet found that husbands whose wives reported high levels of suffer- ate cuts. To put that pro RABLE ABOUT IS THAT the growing demand ing were nearly twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease and posal in perspective: from Pennsylvanians depression compared with those whose B&?-&'#01)&-*=%�(& an already brutal budget for reasonably priced, wives did not report suffering. cumulative twoyear but highquality, uni In Pitt's School of Social Work, cuts in state support to year has been made far versity experiences and well in excess of $100 to invest in anchor insti initiatives llike the Hartford Partnership million; worse by another proposal tutions that could help Program for Aging Education help to B&?-&'#01)&(%)0/%�(& for deep and dispropor fuel both social vibrancy train social work professionals to serve state support, in absolute and economic growth in older adults. dollars, to levels that we Pennsylvania’s two major have not seen since the tionate cuts. urban areas, a role that 6.)HCEDF$:&6#(%&-"*3& has become increasingly For more stories about Pitt's legacy of a quarter century ago and when the state’s important in the innovationdriven global achievement or to share your own stories own budget was about onethird its current economy of the 21st century. about the University, visit www.225.pitt.edu. size; and B&?-&'#01)&(%)0/%�(&$-*-%&$0,,#(-:&.5& Continued on page 6 &EBRUARY s 5NIVERSITY OF 0ITTSBURGH s 3 BlackHistoryMonth
Alaine Allen Is Investing in the Future of Youth By Audrey M. Marks As a student, Alaine Allen excelled in math and science, all the way from elementary school through college. As a student, Alaine Allen A3)&.3&"%(&4($-&V#7&*$&*&,";$./$&-%*/"%(& in the Woodland Hills School District, EXCELLED IN MATH AND SCIENCE ALL $"%&'*$&/#34)%3-&-"*-&$"%&/#01)&%32*2%& the way from elementary school her students in the sciences. Early on in her career, Allen realized that her true through college. And in her first passion was more in connecting with and guiding students than in teaching job as a physics teacher in the science. One particular incident brought this 7OODLAND (ILLS 3CHOOL $ISTRICT (%*1.Z*-.#3&-#&-"%&5#(%[&T0(.32&*&45-"H period physics class, a student burst into she was confident that she could Allen’s classroom in tears. The student, engage her students in the sci a teen mother, told Allen that her boy friend had been shot and hospitalized the ENCES %ARLY ON IN HER CAREER night before. Following school protocol, Allen walked with the student to the Allen realized that her true pas 9-0)%3-&A$$.$-*3/%&G(#2(*66/%> U!"%&'#6*3&.3&-"%6/%&\0./=1;& sion was more in connecting with returned the student to my room and offered to cover [my] class while I talked and guiding students than in to the student,” Allen recalled, adding, teaching science. “I could teach physics well, and I could engage the students. But I realized that I was more excited and passionate about in the precollege program INROADS, making a personal connection with the where she attended summer classes at students.” Duquesne University and even a class in 9#:&.3&CEEX:&A11%3&1%5-&-"%&/1*$$(##6& Pitt’s Benedum Hall. The math, science, to work fulltime for the University and writing courses helped to strengthen #5& G.--$70(2"P$& ?8MJ9!?8]& 8<^:& *& Allen’s academic skills and introduced program that encourages high school her to STEM careers. students from underrepresented popu U?&'*$&*--(*/-%)&-#&-"%&9!J`&4%1)& lations to choose careers in the science, through the interaction with teachers technology, engineering, and math and other adults who encouraged me to _9!J`a&4%1)$>& pursue a career in science,” Allen said. Today, she is the director of the “No one I was connected to personally at Swanson School of Engineering’s Pitt the time could help me navigate a career Engineering Career Access Program and future in math and science. I was (PECAP), which helps open the STEM attracted to these precollege programs 4%1)$&-#&$-0)%3-$&5(#6&03)%((%,(%$%3-%)& because of the interaction and guidance.” populations. PECAP comprises both In addition to reaching students ?8MJ9!?8]&8<^&*3)&G.--&JbIJc:&*& years before they enter college, Allen program for Pitt students enrolled in the also works with enrolled students at Pitt Swanson School of Engineering. -"(#02"&-"%&G.--&JbIJc&,(#2(*6>&!"%&
Allen, who earned bachelor’s JIM BURKE/CIDDE comprehensive initiative aims to bolster degrees in physics and secondary edu Alaine Allen the recruitment, retention, and gradua /*-.#3&.3&CEEC&5(#6&c.3/#13&O3.+%($.-;:& tion rates of engineering students from received her master’s degree in educa underrepresented populations. tion from Pitt’s School of Education in A1063.&I#03/.1&,(%$%3-%)&G.--&JbIJc&'.-"& noncredit math, science, and writing classes A11%3&)%$/(.7%$&-"%&G.--&JbIJc& CEEQ> -"%&LFCF&?-&!*=%$&*&M.11*2%&9*3=#5*&A'*():& in the morning followed by an afternoon Summer Engineering Academy as an Since returning to Pitt, Allen has recognizing the program’s efforts to sup class involving them in a handson engi academic boot camp for Pitt freshmen, made her mark on campus. In 2011, she port the academic success of Pitt’s African neering project. With a total of 150 students with the students taking math, physics, received the Chan American students. .3&-"%&,(#2(*6&-#)*;:&?8MJ9!?8]&8<^& chemistry, and engineering problem /%11#(P$& A54(6*-.+%& While Allen said works with students as they progress through solving classes. They also learn about Action Award, given Today, she is the director of the accolades are high school, offering academic enrichment campus resources and career develop annually to an out encouraging, one of her as well as advising, tutoring, handson sci ment. The sessions include community standing University THE 3WANSON 3CHOOL OF %NGI biggest career rewards ence and engineering seminars, and other building and “mandatory fun time,” program area or indi is watching students opportunities designed to help them make Allen said, which includes game night, a vidual that has made NEERINGS 0ITT %NGINEERING succeed. She said she informed college choices. trip to Kennywood, and a Pirates game. *&$.23.4/*3-&/#3-(. and Darryl Wiley, the U9#6%&$-0)%3-$&*(%&-"%&4($-&.3&-"%.(& In addition to the Summer Engineer 70-.#3&.3&*54(6*-.#3& Career Access Program, which ?8MJ9!?8]& 8<^& families to attend college and don’t know .32&A/*)%6;:&G.--&JbIJc7%($&,*( action. In his letter assistant director, hope how to navigate the process,” Allen said. “In ticipants academic counseling, tutoring, to Allen informing HELPS OPEN THE 34%- lELDS to expand the reach other instances, parents may not know the peer mentoring and professional develop her of the award, to students from underrepre of the precollege pro [STEM] profession or the college admissions ment. “The rigor of the engineering pro Nordenberg said the gram by increasing requirements to enter those majors. We are gram requires a support network,” Allen selection committee sented populations. the number of students here to offer students support and to encour said. “Students need to understand that “lauded you as an involved and discover age parent involvement.” they will have a better chance of being ideal administrator ing new opportunities !"%&?8MJ9!?8]&8<^&,(#2(*6&"*$& successful if they enter it knowing about whose experience with the range of ser to engage high school students in math and .6,(%$$.+%&(%$01-$[&EX&,%(/%3-&-"%&6#$-& these supports.” vices provided by the Swanson School science. recent class, the Class of 2011, enrolled in As a former science major, Allen of Engineering and the University brings !"%&?8MJ9!?8]&8<^&,(#2(*6:& /#11%2%:&'.-"&KX&,%(/%3-&,0($0.32&9!J`H said she remembers the stress of the the continuity of commitment and vision %$-*71.$"%)&.3&CEDD:&*//%,-$&7%-'%%3&YF& (%1*-%)&4%1)$>&<5&-"#$%&$-0)%3-$:&CQ&,%(/%3-& academics: “At Lincoln, I had a program necessary to maintain both the reach *3)&KF&3%'&%.2"-"H2(*)%&$-0)%3-$&%*/"&;%*(>& enrolled at Pitt. $.6.1*(&-#&G.--&JbIJc&*3)&-%*/"%($&'"#& *3)&-"%&)%,-"&GJIAGP$&*54(6*-.+%& Successful applicants must have an aca Allen said she understands the value helped me through the stress and pres action mission.” Nordenberg also noted demic grade point average of 3.0 or higher, of teacher encouragement for teens. When sure of being a STEM student,” Allen that he was “particularly impressed” that the recommendation of a teacher, healthy she was in middle school, a teacher encour said. “We know Pitt is a large university Allen’s nomination was supported by standardized test scores, and an interest in aged her to explore her passion for math and and students are adults, but it is important two former PECAP participants. *&9!J`&4%1)> science through a similar program. As an to help guide our students through this In 2010, Pitt’s African American Participating students take summer Allderdice High School student, she enrolled process.” 4 s Pitt Chronicle s &EBRUARY Honoring a Legacy of Building Greatness, Transforming Lives, and Holding Fast to a Faith in Education
Continued from page 1 tive spring break with Habitat for Humanity )N THE S 0ITT ASTRONOMY )N THE S 0ITT CHEMISTRY PROFES and spent summers studying in Mongolia )N THE S THE RECOMBINANT and Tanzania. PROFESSOR !LLEGHENY /BSERVATORY sor Charles King synthesized vita Cory is the fourth Pitt undergradu $.! GENE SPLICING WORK DONE BY min C, which prevents scurvy, one ate in the past seven years to be named a director, and aviation pioneer Rhodes Scholar, a record equaled by only Pitt graduate and former Trustee 3AMUEL ,ANGLEY LAUNCHED THE of humankind’s oldest diseases. one other public university, the University Herb Boyer opened up what had of North Carolina. He also represents the lRST POWER DRIVEN large number of Pitt students who compete been unimaginable possibilities for successfully each year with the very best HEAVIER THAN AIR students from the country’s strongest uni dealing with disease. That work versities for the highest national honors. flying machines, Since we last met, Pitt also was again was said by Time magazine to have recognized as one of the country’s top paving the way for producers of student Fulbright award “forever changed the course of human flight. winners. CIVILIZATIONv )T ALSO LED TO (ERBS In terms of alumni achievement, let me again offer just a single example. And founding of Genen development of the tele in this case, I look right into the heart of vision industry. It is said this group at Trustee Bill Strickland, who tech, marking the -"*-&T(>&N'#(;=.3&1*-%(&.)%3-.4%)&".$&5*+#(.-%& recently traveled to Japan to receive the Goi part of a television set as “the switch, to turn in the last 25 years, as you all know, Pitt has Peace Award. Past recipients have included beginning of the damn thing off.” just exploded—as an educational institu Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill B&?3&-"%&CEQF$:&G.--&/"%6.$-(;&,(#5%$$#(& tionofchoice for ambitious, hardworking Gates; former Costa Rican President and this country’s Charles King synthesized vitamin C, which students across almost every discipline; as Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias; social biotechnology prevents scurvy, one of humankind’s oldest one of the world’s most respected centers for entrepreneur Bill Drayton; and Indian physi diseases. pioneering research; and as one of the insti cian and author Deepak Chopra. industry. B&?3&-"%&CEYF$:&*&G.--&-%*6&1%)&7;&-"%& tutional anchors that helped Southwestern Bill was recognized for his visionary late Jonas Salk and including current Pitt Pennsylvania move successfully through work in helping “the underserved transform faculty member Julius Youngner developed one of the most wrenching economic trans their lives” and in “inspiring others to dream the base of human knowledge by building the vaccine that won America’s long war formations ever experienced by any region. bigger.” The selection committee stated, against the dread disease of polio. This has In today’s Pitt, our principal responsibil -"%.(&4%1)$>&<0(&5*/01-;&6%67%($&/#3-.30%& “By offering innovative educational and to build an enviable record of doing just that, been widely hailed as one of the greatest ity can be seen as doing honor to the legacy cultural opportunities with emphasis on the accomplishments of the 20th century. of those who came before us by advancing across wideranging disciplines. arts, beauty, and respect, Mr. Strickland has <5-%3:&.3&5*/-:&'%&)#6.3*-%&=%;&4%1)$>&& B&?3&-"%&%*(1;&CEKF$:&*&G.--&-%*6&1%)&7;& their work through our own efforts to effec empowered thousands of youth and adults Panayotis Katsoyannis synthesized insulin. tively build upon it. In that pursuit, we have But I am not sure that I ever have seen such a to restore hope and dignity and become stark example as the one I am about to share. Until this time, insulin for human treatment continued to build momentum on all fronts. creative contributors to their communities.” was obtained from sheep and cows through Let me rely on just a few examples which At its annual meeting in Houston earlier this Bill, we proudly claim you—as graduate, month, the Society of Critical Care Medicine a process that was messy, complicated, and have arisen just since our fall meeting. Trustee, and friend. expensive. I#(;&g#)2%($:&-"%&4($-&03.+%($.-;&$-0 selected 20 worldrenowned intensivists to And today, Bill really stands as one 7%&-"%&4($-&-#&(%/%.+%&.-$&".2"%$-&"#3#(h&& B&d0.1).32&".$&G.--&2(*)0*-%&$-0).%$&.3& dent in a fourgeneration family of bricklay among many inspiring examples of all the -"%&1*-%&CEYF$&*3)&%*(1;&CEKF$&*3)&-"(#02"& ers from Somerset was one of 32 students designation as a Master in Critical Care good that can be done with a Pitt education. Medicine. Seven of the 20 members of that '#(=&%e-%3).32&.3-#&-"%&CEfF$:&*10630$&G*01& nationally to be named a 2012 Rhodes As you all know, just since the dawn of this Lauterbur developed the science upon which Scholar. Cory will graduate with a triple inaugural class of honorees came from Pitt, new century, our graduates have captured which is just extraordinary. magnetic resonance imaging was built. For major—in Africana studies, the biological such high honors as the Nobel Peace Prize, this contribution, he was awarded the Nobel sciences, and the history and philosophy of Three of the seven no longer are in the Nobel Prize in Medicine, the Pulitzer active service with us—the late Peter Safar, Prize in Medicine. science—and with a minor in chemistry. Prize for Fiction, the National Book Award B&d%2.33.32&.3&-"%&CEKF$&*3)&%e-%3).32& He also studied Swahili. In addition to the father of CPR, a great human being, and a for Poetry, the National Medal of Science, person who belongs on any list of legendary -"(#02"&-"%&CEfF$:&G.--&,(#5%$$#(&_*3)&)#071%& pursuing his academic work, he tutored a the Fritz Medal for Engineering, and the Pitt graduate) Bernie Fisher led studies SomaliBantu refugee family; served as a Pitt faculty members; Professor Emeritus Shaw and Albany Prizes in Medicine. That A=%&](%3+.=:&*1$#&*&2.*3-&.3&".$&4%1):&*& concluding that breast cancer is a systemic hospice volunteer; and worked in UPMC’s record would be the envy of virtually any and not a local disease, which resulted in patient transport division. He did an alterna beloved member of this community and, university. along with John Swanson and John Petersen, )(*6*-./&*3)&"02%1;&7%3%4 Within the faculty, it is hard to know cial changes in its treatment. surely among the most important Scan where to begin and end, because so many dinavians in the Pitt family; and Mitchell There are those who believe )N THE S A 0ITT TEAM LED BY THE LATE important forms of recognition have been that Dr. Fisher has done more Fink, the founding chair of our critical care earned just in the past few weeks. Let me, medicine department, who left academia to to advance women’s health Jonas Salk and including current Pitt faculty then, rely on a group example. than any other person in start a company based on technology that he As you know, Pitt faculty members are had developed. history. member Julius Youngner developed the vac expected to impart knowledge about their B&?3&-"%&CEfF$:&-"%&(%/#6 S#0(&-"%&LF:&'"./"&$-.11&.$%H45-"& 4%1)$:&*$&*11&-%*/"%($&)#>&&d0-&-"%;&*1$#&*(%& the entire group, continue to work among us. binant DNA, genesplicing cine that won America’s long war against the expected to be at the forefront of expanding work done by Pitt graduate dread disease of polio. This has been widely They are Derek Angus, the current depart and former Trustee Herb ment chair; Pat Kochanek, the director of Boyer opened up what had hailed as one of the greatest accomplish the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research; been unimaginable possi "EGINNING IN THE S AND Ann Thompson, the associate dean for bilities for dealing with dis MENTS OF THE TH CENTURY faculty affairs in the School of Medicine; ease. That work was said EXTENDING THROUGH THE S 0ITT and Michael Pinsky, who also serves as the president of the University Senate. by Time magazine to have professor (and double Pitt gradu “forever changed the course Much of our faculty research, par of civilization.” It also led to ATE "ERNIE &ISHER LED STUD ticularly in the sciences and Herb’s founding of Genen health sciences, is supported tech, marking the beginning ies concluding that breast by outside funding. We con of this country’s biotechnol tinue to rank among the top ogy industry. cancer is a systemic and American universities, both B&?3&-"%&CEDF$:&G.--&,(# in funding from the National fessors Henry Bahnson and not a local disease, which Institutes of Health and in Thomas Starzl performed resulted in dramatic and overall federal science and -"%&'#(1)P$&4($-&)#071%H#(2*3& engineering research and transplant. During that same hugely beneficial changes development support. Our period, most of the surgical research expenditures last techniques and drug therapies in its treatment. There are year exceeded $800 mil lion—an amount that is a that made human organ trans Panayotis Katsoyannis plantation a widely available THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT $R widely accepted measure of treatment option were devel institutional strength, that advances pio oped here. &ISHER HAS DONE MORE TO ADVANCE neering work, and that supports, directly That essentially takes women’s health than any other and indirectly, some 28,000 local jobs. This 0$&0,&-#&-"%&-.6%�(&CEDf& is one reason that the education and health bicentennial celebration. And Jonas Salk (left) and Julius Youngner person in history. Continued on page 5 &EBRUARY s 5NIVERSITY OF 0ITTSBURGH s 5
Continued from page 4 Those actively engaged in the energy than it was then. Put )N THE S 0ITT PROFESSORS sector agreed. Steve Tritch—who was not another way, it would our Board Chair when he served as CEO of reduce our state support, Henry Bahnson and Thomas Starzl Westinghouse—reminded everyone that a .5&*)V0$-%)&5#(&.3@*-.#3:& key factor in that major employer’s decision to the lowest level since PERFORMED THE WORLDS lRST DOUBLE to build its new corporate headquarters in Pitt became a state Southwestern Pennsylvania was the pres related university. ORGAN TRANSPLANT $URING THAT ence of Pitt, as a principal educator of its Even that is not the same period, most of the surgical professional workforce and as a partner in complete story, though. energy research. Anthony Cugini, direc In late fall, our annual techniques and drug therapies that tor of the National Energy Technology capital projects support Laboratory, said that his lab “is charged was cut in half, from $40 made human organ transplanta with advancing energy options to fuel our million to $20 million. economy, strengthen our security, and And in January, we were tion a widely available treatment improve our environment” and “Pitt and subjected to a midyear the Center for Energy are among our most cut of 5 percent, or $7 option were developed here. active collaborative partners in this effort.” million. Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Finally, though Conference on Community Development, little public attention added that “Pittsburgh is the new center of has been paid to it, this innovation in American energy. . . . Pitt’s budget proposal would Center for Energy has played a key role in quietly, but completely, these efforts, and we applaud the Richard eliminate the Com King Mellon Foundation’s investment in monwealth Universal enhancing the University’s capabilities.” Research Enhancement With a such a strong record of impact— program—which was in education, in research, and in public established more than service through economic development— a decade ago, during and with testimonials like these, one might the administration of expect that the Commonwealth, too, would Governor Ridge and be stepping forward to say: “We really with the strong sup helped create something special when Pitt port of both houses of 7%/*6%&*&$-*-%H(%1*-%)&03.+%($.-;&.3&CEKKi& the Legislature. The Thomas Starzl there is no place that we are getting a higher CURE program, as it is rate of return on our appropriations; so, let known, was created by services supersector has been this area’s us do the sensible thing and increase our the Tobacco Settlement most consistent source of job growth and investments in Pitt.” Act of 2001, which com 3#'&*//#03-$&5#(&6#(%&-"*3%&.3&4+%&V#7$& That approach would be particularly mitted a portion of the in this region. consistent with a belief in “a future that funds recovered from It also is important to note that federal embraces innovation in emerging frontiers tobacco companies to agencies are not the only organizations of energy, life sciences, and biotechnology,” healthrelated research investing in Pitt’s education and research as described in the Governor’s inaugural with the goal of improv enterprise as an effective means of support address. It also would be consistent with the ing the lives of current ing economic growth. Earlier this month, “certainty” expressed in that same document and future citizens of it was announced that the Richard King “that the best way to embrace innovation— Pennsylvania. Mellon Foundation had awarded a $22 the best way to make us competitive—is to CURE funding has million grant to Pitt’s Center for Energy. make us competitive in education.” supported thousands of Scott Izzo, the executive director of the ?-&'#01)&7%&).54/01-&-#&43)&6*3;&.3$-. goodpaying, knowl foundation, said at the time, “The center has tutions with greater strengths in energy, edgebased Pennsylva tremendous potential to make an impact in life sciences, and biotechnology than the nia jobs focused on the Pittsburgh, as energy will be the major driver University of Pittsburgh. And in Pitt, Penn goal of improving future of our regional economy for years to come.” sylvania can claim, as one of its own public health. Using CURE universities, an institution funds, as the budget pro that already has established posal envisions, to plug a itself as a respected global shortterm hole in senior competitor in both educa care instead of investing tion and research. them in research infra Still, for the second $-(0/-0(%& *3)& $/.%3-.4/& successive year, Pitt, along innovation will simply with Pennsylvania’s other maintain the unsustain public research universities able status quo in health care. tion seems to me one of the most remarkable and public higher education To return to language already cited features of America.” more generally, is being from last year’s inaugural address, it seems Faith in education has been one of the asked to bear far more almost impossible to reconcile such a bud distinguishing features of this country, and than its fair share of the getary action with a vision for our collective it is one of the forces that has helped drive reductions required to bal future that has been tied to “innovation in America’s unparalleled record of sustained ance the Commonwealth’s emerging frontiers of energy, life sciences, success. Certainly, the products of that 70)2%-&5#(&-"%&3%e-&4$/*1& and biotechnology.” faith have helped not only to shape our year. The largest of the pro And it is every bit as hard to reconcile home region since the days of Hugh Henry posed cuts has been rather the more general budgetary approach being Brackenridge but to positively reshape that widely publicized—a 30 employed with what was the most inspiring region in the face of the challenges of the percent cut to our education passage from this year’s budget address— more recent past. and general appropriation, the declaration that “[w]e cannot allow the How tragically ironic it would be to #3&-#,&-"%&CE&,%(/%3-&/0-& debts of today to crowd out the dreams of see that longterm faith undermined by already imposed last year. tomorrow.” budget builders held prisoner to shortterm In addition, the proposed Building the best possible future, of 4$/*1&,(%$$0(%$&.3&-"%&;%*(&-"*-&7(.32$&-"%& budget would reduce our course, depends directly upon two of our 225th birthday of both the structuring of academic medical center principal products—education and innova our national government and the chartering lines by 10 percent, on top tion. An approach to budget balancing built of our University. But what better way to of the 50 percent cut already on recordsetting cuts for public research celebrate those historic anniversaries than imposed last year. 03.+%($.-.%$:&-"%3:&.3%+.-*71;&)#%$&$*/(.4/%& by acting on that faith and working together This would reduce our tomorrow’s dreams. to restore appropriate levels of support for appropriation, in absolute In 1831, during his American travels, public higher education—not mainly for our dollars, to levels that we have Alexis de Tocqueville wrote this to a friend own good, but for the good of all who will 3#-&$%%3&$.3/%&CEDf:&6#(%& in Europe: “The effort made in this country follow . . . in the spirit of 1787. than a quarter century ago. to spread instruction is truly prodigious. Happy Birthday, to Pitt and to all who And today’s overall state The universal and sincere faith that they care about Pitt . . . including, of course, all budget is three times larger ,(#5%$$&"%(%&.3&-"%&%54/*/.#0$3%$$&%)0/* of you. 6 s Pitt Chronicle s &EBRUARY h$RAMATICALLY $ISPROPORTIONATEv 0ROPOSED "UDGET #UTS 7ILL (URT 0ITTS -ISSION AND )MPACT AS %CONOMIC %NGINE #HANCELLOR 3AYS
Continued from page 2
The most thoughtful in a succession of from support for its public research universi state master plans, issued shortly after the ties must be viewed as very problematic by creation of the State System of Higher Edu anyone concerned about the next generation cation, labeled Pitt, Penn State, and Temple of Pennsylvanians or about Pennsylvania’s as the “Commonwealth Universities” and nextgeneration economy. Extending last described their expected contributions in year’s pattern of reductions, these institu the following way: The Commonwealth tions—despite a long record of unique and Universities . . . serve as the state’s major exceptional contributions to the progress of public research universities. Together, these the Commonwealth—once again are being institutions offer a broad range of educa- targeted for dramatically disproportionate tional programs and services and carry budget cuts. special responsibilities S u c c e s s i v e for research, advance Wave s of D e e p graduate instruction, and To be fair, the budget pres Cuts. To be fair, the for education in the pro- budget pressures fessions, including law, sures faced by state govern faced by state govern medicine, engineering, ment are daunting. business, and agriculture. MENT ARE DAUNTING $EALING Dealing with them . . . The scope and quality can involve painful of their programs and with them can involve pain funding decisions, their geographic distribu- ful funding decisions, with with success depend tion permit them to serve ing upon a spirit of the needs of the state and success depending upon a $"*(%)&$*/(.4/%>&A3)& nation in the fields of to be clear, Pitt never undergraduate, gradu- spirit of shared sacrifice. And has resisted doing ate, and first professional its fair share. What education, research, and to be clear, Pitt never has we must resist—not public service. Along with only for ourselves, the major independent resisted doing its fair share. but for the many who universities in the state, What we must resist—not depend upon us— the Commonwealth Uni- are disproportion versities are the principal only for ourselves, but for ately deep cuts that centers for research and threaten Pitt’s ability development in Pennsyl- the many who depend upon to continue making vania. critical contributions, Pitt’s performance us—are disproportionately either to deserving in this assigned role has individuals or to a been nothing short of deep cuts that threaten Pitt’s vibrant, more pro remarkable. The strength ability to continue making ductive region. of our educational pro !".$& 4$/*1& ;%*(& grams at all levels has critical contributions, either began with a 22 per made us a magnet for cent—or $40 mil ambitious, hardworking, to deserving individuals or l i o n — c o m b i n e d highpotential students reduction to our edu from across the country to a vibrant, more produc cation and general and around the world. appropriation and our However, consistent with tive region. academic medical our public mission, we center support lines. have attracted particularly large numbers As another reminder, this 22 percent reduc
of Pennsylvania students, increasing the tion to our state support came during a year JIM BURKE/CIDDE likelihood that, over the longer term, they in which overall state spending decreased by Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg speaks on Feb. 20 to a group of interested students about proposed cuts to Pitt’s state funding will live, work, and contribute here. We also only 4 percent. Late in the fall, we also were have become an internationally respected 3#-.4%)&-"*-�(&*330*1&/*,.-*1&,(#V%/-$&$0, that were announced Feb. 6. The University’s Student Government Board is taking an active stance in providing information center for pioneering research, ranking port would be cut in half, from $40 million to students and assisting in advocacy efforts to reverse the proposed reductions. *6#32&-"%&-#,&4+%&A6%(./*3&03.+%($.-.%$& to $20 million. Then, in January, we were in support attracted from the National directed to put another 5 percent—or $7 mil Institutes of Health and among the top 10 lion—into “budgetary reserve.” To return to In his budget address, the Governor declared, “We cannot allow the American universities in total federal sci the issue of proportionality once again, the ence and engineering research and develop staterelated universities, whose appropria DEBTS OF TODAY TO CROWD OUT THE DREAMS OF TOMORROWv 5NFORTUNATELY IT 6%3-&$0,,#(->&T0(.32&-"%&1*$-&4$/*1&;%*(:�(& tions account for less than 2 percent of the research expenditures exceeded $800 mil state’s budget, were directed to shoulder is hard to look at the cuts proposed for Pitt and Pennsylvania’s other lion—expenditures that 3%*(1;&CK&,%(/%3-:&#(& are an accepted measure about eight times that public research universities without feeling that this is just what has of institutional strength, After a past decade that amount, of this mid happened—that dreams are being sacrificed in an effort to deal with fund important work, and year reduction. support, directly and indi brought cuts to our appro To this point, our current debt. rectly, more than 28,000 accumulated cuts for local jobs. priation almost every year -".$&4$/*1&;%*(&-#-*1& Though our ser WKf& 6.11.#3>& !#& 7%& in the arts and sciences on the Pittsburgh sciences on our regional campuses. And, in vice mission takes many and a past year that brought more contextually campus, that would have been an 18.5 per -"%&$,.(.-&$"*(%)&$*/(.4/%:&'%&6*)%&0,& forms, none has been descriptive, let me cent increase and would have taken tuition to for much of this massive loss of state sup more important than the steepest cuts in our give that very large WCK:KfK&,%(&;%*(>&S#(&*3&.3H$-*-%&03)%(2(*)0 port through budget reductions that either the role that we play as history, this year’s budget number more practi ate student enrolled in the arts and sciences were managed centrally or were distributed an engine for economic cal significance. If on a regional campus, that would have been by senior leaders to the units reporting to growth and as a genera proposal contains reductions we had tried to deal a 23 percent increase and would have taken them. Over the past four years, by impos tor of jobs. We sit at the '.-"&*&WKf&6.11.#3&/0-& *330*1&-0.-.#3&-#&WCQ:DDK>& ing aggressive costcutting efforts, we have heart of the education and that would be even more solely through work We did not adopt either of those removed nearly $200 million in ongoing health services “supersec force reductions, that approaches. Instead, we worked to main operating costs. tor”—by far, Southwest devastating. would have required tain employment levels—consistent with the After a past decade that brought cuts ern Pennsylvania’s largest us to eliminate more stillrising demand for our services—while to our appropriation almost every year and employment sector and a source of what than 1,000 Pitt staff jobs carrying average )%*1.32&'.-"&,*(-�(&)%4/.-&7;&)%1*; a past year that brought the steepest cuts has been substantial and dependable job 1%+%1$&/#6,%3$*-.#3&*3)&7%3%4-$>&<(&.5&'%& ing salary increases for most employees. in our history, this year’s budget proposal growth, even as the nation has struggled to "*)&-(.%)&-#&)%*1&'.-"&*&WKf&6.11.#3&/0-&$#1%1;& We imposed more tempered increases in contains reductions that would be even more move through the “jobless recovery” from through tuition increases, that would have tuition of 8.5 percent, to $15,272, for instate devastating. The Governor has proposed an the Great Recession. required an average tuition increase of about undergraduates in the arts and sciences in additional cut of 30 percent to our education Given this impressive record of suc WL:KFF&5#(&%*/"�(&.3H$-*-%&$-0)%3-$>&S#(& G.--$70(2"&*3)&7;&X>F&,%(/%3-:&-#&WCC:fQK:& cess, the Commonwealth’s current retreat an instate undergraduate student enrolled for instate undergraduates in the arts and Continued on page 7 &EBRUARY s 5NIVERSITY OF 0ITTSBURGH s 7 0ROPOSED &9 "UDGET #UTS
Continued from page 6 ITTSBURGH , P RT A OF
USEUM M ARNEGIE © 2006 C RCHIVE A ARRIS H EENIE T Eartha Kitt leaping through poster to launch a Citizen’s Committee on Hill District Renewal program; photo by Teenie Harris 0ITT TO 3PONSOR &EB "LACK (ISTORY -ONTH 0ROGRAM ,AUNCHING .EW "OOK Teenie Harris, Photographer By Sharon S. Blake The University of Pittsburgh Press and Teenie Harris’ body of work reveals
JIM BURKE/CIDDE G.--P$&<54/%&G071./&A55*.($&'.11&/%1%7(*-%& Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg (left) shakes hands with Pitt Student Government Board (SGB) President James Landreneau the launch of a new book, Teenie Harris, the essence of African American life during a Feb. 20 meeting in Alumni Hall’s Connolly Ballroom. The SGB had arranged the meeting for students to inform them Photographer: Image, Memory, History (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011), at a in Pittsburgh from the closing years about the proposed cuts in Pitt’s state funding for 2012-13. special Black History Month program at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Twentieth Century Club, OF THE 'REAT $EPRESSION THROUGH THE *3)&2%3%(*1&*,,(#,(.*-.#3&5#(&-"%&3%e-&4$/*1& to deal with current debt. 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland. The event is ;%*(&_#3&-#,&-"%&CE&,%(/%3-&(%)0/-.#3&$05 It might be said, in fact, that our basic free and open to the public. Members of the era of the civil rights movement. As fered this year) and a 10 percent reduction activity is the business of building dreams. ,071./&'.$".32&-#&*--%3)&60$-&g9MG&-#&G.--P$& a photographer for The Pittsburgh to our academic medical center line items Pitt does that through the power of higher <54/%&G071./&A55*.($&*-&XCLHKLXHXCXf&#(& (on top of the 50 percent reduction suffered education as we help position tens of thou [email protected]. Courier, Harris captured on film his this year). This would be a blended reduction sands of students, each and every day, to The book—coauthored by Pitt history #5&*7#0-&LE&,%(/%3-&_#3& more effectively pursue the professor Laurence Glasco, who will speak toric events and celebrities coming top of a blended reduc dreams that they have for at the event—reveals the essence of African tion of 22 percent suf their own lives. And we do American life in Pittsburgh from the clos through town, as well as everyday fered last year), totaling It might be said, in fact, it, often more dramatically, ing years of the Great Depression through nearly $42 million. This through our programs of the era of the civil rights movement. As a SCENES AT (ILL $ISTRICT LOCATIONS budget proposal also that our basic activity research. Sixty years ago, photographer for The Pittsburgh Courier, would totally elimi is the business of build all of America was des R*((.$&/*,-0(%)&416&".$-#(./&%+%3-$&*3)& Glasco’s comments and insights have been nate a longstanding perately dreaming about celebrities coming through town, as well as part of a number of documentaries screened and welltargeted pro ing dreams. Pitt does a cure for polio, and that everyday scenes at Hill District locations. as part of Pitt’s K. Leroy Irvis Black History gram that has invested dream became a reality Joe Trotter, who will also speak at the event, Month Program. tobacco settlement that through the power through work done at the and Cheryl Finley are coauthors. Glasco’s publications include August revenues into health University of Pittsburgh. Teenie Harris, Photographer: Image, Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in His Life and related research. The of higher education as Thirty years ago, both Memory, History was recognized at the Plays (Pittsburgh History & Landmarks dollar amounts flow physicians and patients Black Caucus of the American Library Foundation, 2011), The WPA History of the ing to Pitt have varied we help position tens of were dreaming about a Association’s 2012 Literary Awards in Janu Negro in Pittsburgh (University of Pitts from year to year but thousands of students, time when human organ ary, winning the Out burgh Press, 2004), have averaged more transplantation might standing Contribution and A Legacy in Bricks -"*3&WE>L&6.11.#3&*330 each and every day, to become a widely avail to Publishing Citation. and Mortar: African- ally over the course able treatment for a range The evening will American Landmarks of the last 11 years more effectively pursue of deadly diseases. That begin with remarks in Allegheny County and have been vital in dream, too, became a real 7;&G.--&M./%&I"*3/%1 (Pittsburgh History & building the research the dreams that they ity through work done, to a lor for Public Affairs Landmarks Founda facilities that helped large extent, at Pitt. Today, Robert Hill, followed -.#3:&CEEYa>& Pitt researchers attract have for their own lives. when people think of a by remarks by Uni Trotter has served record levels of external And we do it, often more world without Alzheimer’s versity of Pittsburgh as Carnegie Mellon’s funding. disease or cancer or diabe Press Director Cyn Giant Eagle Professor Diminished levels dramatically, through our tes or Parkinson’s disease, thia Miller. Trotter, of History and Social of state support stand they often look to the work Giant Eagle Professor Justice since 2008 and as the primary con programs of research. of Pitt researchers. The of History and Social was the head of the tributor to rising public same also can be said about Justice at Carnegie University’s Depart university tuition and dreams of a world made Mellon University, ment of History from .-$&.6,*/-&*//%$$&*3)&*55#()*7.1.-;>&M.(-0 better by more accessible and less expensive will make a presentation and take questions, 2001 to 2011. He is the founding director ally everyone who has seriously examined energy or by the miracles of nanotechnology followed by a presentation and brief Q&A of Carnegie Mellon’s Center for African these issues has fairly called for colleges and or quantum computing or by any of a number session by Glasco. The evening closes with American Urban Studies and the Economy universities to do even more to control their of other advances. a reception, book sale, and book signing. (CAUSE), an interdisciplinary research costs in these challenging times but also has In a very real sense, the Governor Glasco, a professor of history in Pitt’s institute that focuses on aspects of history, recognized that the key culprit is reduced ,%(5%/-1;&)%43%)�(&/"*11%32%h-#&3#-&1%-& Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and race, and policy. state funding. the debts of today crowd out the dreams of 9/.%3/%$& $.3/%& CEKE:& "*$& 5#(& 6*3;& ;%*($& Trotter is the author of Race and Renais- In his budget address, the Governor tomorrow. However, the deep and dispropor documented the contributions of African sance: African Americans in Pittsburgh declared, “We cannot allow the debts of tionate cuts proposed will not let us travel Americans to Western Pennsylvania. He Since World War II (University of Pittsburgh today to crowd out the dreams of tomor to where we hope to be. In the weeks ahead, was historical director of the Pittproduced Press, 2010), The African American Urban row.” Unfortunately, it is hard to look at the then, we hope to work with members of the exhibition Free at Last? Slavery in Pitts- Experience: Perspectives from the Colonial cuts proposed for Pitt and Pennsylvania’s Legislature, as well as with the Administra burgh in the 18th and 19th Centuries, which Period to the Present (Palgrave Macmillan, other public research universities without -.#3:&-#&43)&7%--%(&'*;$&-#&/#3-.30%&70.1).32& was on display from October 2008 through 2004), and The African American Experi- feeling that this is just what has happened— the foundation for a strong Pennsylvania, A,(.1&LFFE&*-&-"%&9%3*-#(&j#"3&R%.3Z&R.$ ence, Volumes I and II&_R#02"-#3&`[email protected]:& -"*-&)(%*6$&*(%&7%.32&$*/(.4/%)&.3&*3&%55#(-& which should be our shared goal. tory Center, Strip District. Over the years, 2011). 8 s Pitt Chronicle s &EBRUARY Quantum Computing Has Applications in Chancellor Names Winners of Staff Magnetic Imaging, Dutt-Led Research Shows !WARDS FOR %XCELLENCE IN 3ERVICE By B. Rose Huber Quantum computing—considered the #5&4%1)$&5(#6&6#1%/01%$&3%*(&-"%&$%3$#(P$& powerhouse of computational tasks—may resonant frequency, making the imaging have applications in areas outside of pure ,(#/%$$&6#(%&).54/01->& %ACH AWARDEE WILL RECEIVE A CASH PRIZE AND HAVE HIS OR HER NAME electronics, according to a University of “It can be done,” says Dutt, “but it Pittsburgh researcher and his collaborators. requires very sophisticated image process added to a plaque displayed in the William Pitt Union that is inscribed Working at the interface of quantum ing and other techniques to understand with the names of all recipients of the Chancellor’s Awards. measurement and nanotechnology, Gurudev what one is imaging. Essentially, one Dutt, assistant professor in Pitt’s Department 60$-&0$%&$#5-'*(%&-#&4e&-"%&1.6.-*-.#3$& of Physics and Astronomy in the Kenneth P. hardware, and the scans take longer and Continued from page 1 Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and his are harder to interpret.” /#11%*20%$&(%,#(-&-"%.(&43).32$&.3&*&,*,%(& Dutt—working with postdoctoral published online in the Dec. researcher Ummal Momeen Panther assisting them with career planning, sity’s Out of the Classroom Curriculum. 18 Nature Nanotechnol- and PhD student Naufer facilitating the Panther Game Plan Life The chancellor wrote that he was impressed ogy. The paper documents Nusran (A&S’08 G), both in Skills program, promoting personal devel with Brooks’ devotion of his spare time to important progress toward Pitt’s Department of Phys opment, and encouraging the University through his realizing a nanoscale mag ics and Astronomy—has them to participate in com service as an unpaid adjunct netic imager comprising used quantum computing munity service,” Nordenberg professor in the School of single electrons encased in methods to circumvent the wrote. Recently named one Education and as a pro bono a diamond crystal. hardware limitation to view of Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest by advisor to graduate students. “Think of this like a -"%&%3-.(%&6*23%-./&4%1)>&d;& the Cystic Fibrosis Founda H e l p i n g s t u d e n t s typical medical procedure— %e-%3).32&-"%&4%1):&-"%&G.--& tion, Semaia also is involved clean their rooms after a Magnetic Resonance researchers have improved in a number of community displacement owing to a Imaging (MRI)—but on the ratio between maximum service programs, includ @##)&.$&V0$-%&%e*6,1%& single molecules or groups detectable field strength ing The Polite Way, which Graham’s sense of responsi of molecules inside cells and field precision by a assists single mothers, Big bility toward PittBradford’s instead of the entire body. factor of 10 compared to Brothers and Sisters, and Get students, according to the Gurudev Dutt Peter L. DeNardis Traditional MRI techniques the standard technique used Involved, for which he serves awards selection committee don’t work well with such small volumes, so previously. This puts them one step closer as president. Writing in sup and Chancellor Nordenberg an instrument must be built to accommodate toward a future nanoscale MRI instrument port of Semaia’s nomination, .3&".$&3#-.4/*-.#3&1%--%(>&<3%& such highprecision work,” says Dutt. that could study properties of molecules, Tom Baker, founder of Get former student, who is now R#'%+%(:&*&$.23.4/*3-&/"*11%32%&*(#$%& materials, and cells in a noninvasive way, Involved, noted that he found the coordinator of special for researchers working on the problem of displaying where atoms are located with Semaia’s leadership skills events at the University of building such an instrument: How does one out destroying them; current methods and positive message to be South Carolina, wrote in 6%*$0(%&*&6*23%-./&4%1)&*//0(*-%1;&0$.32& employed for this kind of study inevitably “second to none in Western support of Graham’s award the resonance of the single electrons within destroy the samples. PA.” application that Graham -"%&).*6#3)&/(;$-*1k&g%$#3*3/%&.$&)%43%)&*$& “This would have an immediate “worked 12 hours a day and an object’s tendency to oscillate with higher impact on our understanding of these Staff Excellence in most weekends; she lived to energy at a particular frequency and occurs molecules, materials, or living cells and Service to the help her students succeed in naturally all around us: for example, with potentially allow us to create better tech University Penny Semaia life, and that is exactly what musical instruments, children on swings, nologies,” says Dutt. Nordenberg, in his noti she did for me.” Nordenberg and pendulum clocks. Dutt says that reso These are only the initial results, says 4/*-.#3&1%--%(&-#&Blais, wrote, also cited Graham’s handling nances are particularly powerful because Dutt, and he expects further improvements “the committee was par of a flooding incident that they allow physicists to make sensitive to be made with additional research: “Our ticularly impressed by the required PittBradford to measurements of quantities like force, mass, work shows that quantum computing meth many ways in which you 43)& *1-%(3*-.+%& "#0$.32& 5#(& *3)&%1%/-(./&*3)&6*23%-./&4%1)$>&Ud0-&-"%;& ods reach beyond pure electronic technolo contribute to the success of 370 students. The chancellor *1$#&(%$-(./-&-"%&6*e.606&4%1)&-"*-%&/*3& gies and can solve problems that, earlier, others, including mentoring wrote that Graham “not only measure accurately.” seemed to be fundamental roadblocks colleagues who do not report relocated the students, but In magnetic imaging, this means that to making progress with highprecision to you; helping GSPH students also stayed with them over physicists can only detect a narrow range measurements.” even after they graduate; help night and assisted them in ing new faculty; attending cleaning their rooms the next doctoral committee meet Natalie Arnold Blais day. I should add that not only ings; and volunteering for was the committee impressed numerous activities.” Blais with your dedication, but so Cynthia Miller, Director of University was also commended for her too, was this Chancellor.” significant contributions to Holmes was selected for Of Pittsburgh Press, to Retire in 2013 the Staff Association Coun the award because he rou cil (SAC), particularly her tinely goes the extra mile for Continued from page 2 service as chair of the SAC the Swanson School and its Benefits Committee. The engineering students, Nor American university press. Among Miller’s many honors is the awards committee also noted denberg told Holmes in his During Miller’s tenure, University prestigious Women’s National Book Asso Blais’ initiative, commit 3#-.4/*-.#3&1%--%(>&!"%&/"*3 of Pittsburgh Press ciation Book Women ment, and ultimate success cellor recounted Holmes’ books have received Award on the occa in establishing a lactation nomination from U.S. Steel 88 awards from 15 sion of the associa room in the Graduate School Shawn E. Brooks Dean of Engineering Gerald academic societies as “Under Cynthia’s leadership, the tion’s 70th anniver of Public Health—a facility D. Holder, who stated that well as from library University of Pittsburgh Press sary recognizing top now used by faculty and staff Holmes’ “contributions and publishing asso women in publishing, across campus. Her efforts have enhanced efficiency ciations and 11 major has grown and thrived. She library science, lit led the Allegheny County in the workplace, have been design awards. Two eracy, and booksell Health Department to present innovative and impacted Pitt Poetry Series has overseen the publication of ing “who have made a the Graduate School with its productivity, and have poets, Billy Collins difference” and being Breastfeeding Friendly Place resulted in costsavings. He and Ted Kooser, MORE THAN TITLES THE SUS selected as one of only Award in August 2011. has demonstrated excellent have been selected 10 university press Brooks was commended customer service to a wide as U.S. Poets Laure TENANCE OF EIGHT LONG STANDING representatives to be by Nordenberg and the awards constituency, has extremely ate during Miller’s SERIES AND THE FOUNDING OF SIX part of a 100member committee for his commit positive interpersonal skills, tenure, and a third, United States Infor ment to Pitt students and for Christina L. Graham has reached out to the local Pitt professor of Eng MORE INCLUDING WORLD RENOWNED mation Agency del consistently going “above and community in significant lish Toi Derricotte, egation to Moscow’s beyond his job requirements ways, [and] has supported a has been elected a SERIES IN %NGLISH COMPOSITION International Book because of the amount of time, teamoriented environment Chancellor of the S*.(&.3&CEDf> degree of enthusiasm, mag in the workplace …” Nor Academy of Ameri ,ATIN !MERICAN STUDIES CREATIVE Miller received nitude of involvement, and denberg also said a number can Poets. her Bachelor of Arts depth of personal connection of students wrote in support Before join writing, and the philosophy of degree in history from he brings to his position.” The of Holmes’ nomination, one ing the University SCIENCEv M.(2.3.*& G#1;-%/"3./& /"*3/%11#(:&.3&".$&S%7>&CK&3#-. of whom said that Holmes of Pittsburgh Press, Institute and State 4/*-.#3&1%--%(:&3#-%)&d(##=$P& knows “how to make a part Miller served as edi —Patricia E. Beeson O3.+%($.-;& .3& CEfQ& willingness to work late in the from the designing phase all torinchief of the and her Master of Arts evenings, overnight, and on the way to testing it, dozens University Press of degree in U.S. history weekends. Nordenberg also of prototyping methods, J. Andrew Holmes Kansas. She also has held leadership posi 5(#6&T0=%&O3.+%($.-;&.3&CEfYi&$"%&(%/%.+%)& cited Brooks for his work on [and] the machining speed tions in publishing at the Brookings Insti a Managing Marketing Certificate from projects that go well beyond and feed for every metal I tution, the Catholic University of America Catholic University’s Graduate School of his duties, such as revamping the Univer have ever dealt with … .” Press, and Wesleyan University Press. d0$.3%$$&.3&CEDK>&