CSET NewsSpring 2013 Vol: 6 No. 1 JSU Welcomes New CSET Dean

Dr. Richard Alo` Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology

NSF Grants JSU $3 Million for Chemistry Chair Recognized for Materials Research and Education Advancing Diversity

WeatherVision JSU Grad Receives Awards For Launches At JSU Work In Technology

JSU Welcomes New CSET Dean

150 professional papers, co-authored a graduate text for Cambridge University Press and has delivered more than 200 research presentations. He is the recipient of the Hispanic Engineers National Awards and Achievement Conference 2002 Educator of the Year.

Dr. Aló has served on numerous advisory C and executive boards including the S Mathematical Association of America’s E Committee on Exchange of Information T for Mathematics and Committee for the Undergraduate Program in Mathematical Sciences; the Association of Departments of Computer and Information Science 3 and Engineering at Minority Institutions (ADMI- founding member); Coalition to Diversify Computing (founding member N and 2000- 2002 co Chair); Chair- The E

Richard Tapia 2001 Symposium to W Diversify Computing – Houston, Texas; Co Chair- Education Committee for S Supercomputing 2002 International Conference; The Multi-Sector Crisis Management Center- Washington, DC; the ó, Dean American Mathematical Society Student Dr. Richard Al Advisory Panel; the Center for Education College of Science, Engineering & Technology in International Community (founding Dr. Richard Aló comes to JSU from the Computer and Mathematical Sciences and member); the Houston Independent School National Science Foundation where served as department chair until 1995. From District’s NSF Urban Systemic Initiative he served as a Program Director in the 1995 to 2010, he was executive director for for reform of K through 12 science and Directorate for Education and Human Grants and Contracts for the university’s mathematics education; the NSF Computer Resources and Division of Undergraduate College of Science and Technology. He and Information Science and Engineering Education. He was serving concurrently has previous teaching experience at the Policy Board for Minority Education as the Executive Director of the Center for Pennsylvania State University, Carnegie- Funding; the National Science Board’s US Computational Sciences and Advanced Mellon University, Lamar University, the Government Performance and Results Act Distributed Simulation at the University of Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, Oversight Committee for the National Houston-Downtown. At JSU he also holds India, and the Universita’ degli Studi di Science Foundation; the American Indian the rank of Professor of Computer Science. Siena, the Universita’ degli Studi di Parma Higher Education Consortium, Education and Scuola Normale in Italy. He earned and Outreach Committee; Director of “Aló brings a deep level of teaching, an M.A. and Ph.D. in mathematics with the NSF Minority Serving Institutions research and leadership experience to a minor in computer science from the Cyberinfrastructure Empowerment Jackson State that will help our College of Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. Coalition; Computing Alliance for Science, Engineering and Technology soar in mathematics from Gannon College. Hispanic Serving Institutions (founding to even greater heights,” Meyers said. “He member); co Director of NSF BPC is not only a scholar and innovator, but is Aló’s current research interests include Advancing Females to the Professoriate in a strategic and collaborative leader who artificial intelligence, biomedical and Computing; the Hispanic Association of has been highly effective at cultivating the generalized information systems, Colleges and Universities STEM Advisory next generation of science, engineering, synthetic environments and distributed Board; Engineering for the Americas; Vice technology and mathematics professionals.” simulations, computer science education, President for Finance for Latin American computational science, grid computing, and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Dr. Aló joined the faculty of the University cyber infrastructure, text processing, Institutions (founding member), and of Houston-Downtown in 1982 as a medical applications, and visual President of the Houston International professor and chair of the Department of analytics. He has published more than Dance Coalition. NSF Grants JSU $3 Million for Materials Research and Education

Jackson State University has recipients include the California been awarded one of six Partners State University, Howard for Research and Education in University, Norfolk State University, Materials (PREM) awards from Texas State University – San Marcos C the National Science Foundation and the University of Texas at El S as a result of the 2012 PREM Paso. E T competition. The new partnerships will The PREM award, which amounts impact a wide range of materials research and education, including 4 to $3 million over five years, will help fund JSU’s research in the area nanomaterials and nanotechnology, of multifunctional nanomaterial. biomaterials and biotechnology, electronics, spintronics, soft N materials, polymers and materials E JSU chemistry and biochemistry for renewable energy. W professor Paresh Ray “We are

S aiming to make nanosensors, which can be used in the purification of The objective of the PREM water and cleaning contaminants program is to broaden participation from food samples,” said chemistry of underrepresented minorities cooperative materials science Ph.D. and biochemistry professor Paresh and enhance diversity in materials program in partnership with the Ray, who is the project’s principal research and education. This is University of California at Santa investigator. accomplished by stimulating the Barbara MRSEC. development of formal, long-term,

The funds also will help JSU multi-investigator, collaborative The PREM award is the second researchers develop new materials research and education received by JSU. In 2006, the including multifunctional hybrid partnerships between minority- university received a $2.75 million nanomaterials made from gold and serving colleges and universities PREM award, which Rays said carbon nanotubes. and NSF’s Division of Materials helped bolster the success of Research (DMR)-supported the Center for Nanoscience and “This helps Jackson State continue centers, institutes and facilities. Nanotechnology. materials research,” said Ray, who

leads JSU’s Center for Nanoscience These awards were made possible Over the last five years, center and Nanotechnology. “Before through partnership with DMR; researchers have published 78 PREM, we really didn’t have any the EPSCoR program in NSF’s papers in top-quality journals, Ray materials research.” Office of Integrated Activities; and said, and high school and college the Historically Black Colleges students trained at the center The Jackson State University and Universities Undergraduate have gone on to study at leading PREM also will fund educational Program and Research in universities including Rice, Purdue and outreach activities including Disabilities Education program and the University of California, NanoDay events at local high in NSF’s Education and Human Berkeley. schools, the Mississippi Museum of Resources directorate. Natural Science and the Memphis Zoo, and the development of a The other 2012 PREM award Female Faculty Work to Under- stand Gender Bias in the Acade- my Female faculty members from organized the workshop. Jackson State University’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Funded by a $3.5 million C Mathematics (STEM) and grant from the National Social and Behavioral Sciences Science Foundation, S E (SBS) disciplines gathered at the JSUAdvance is a five-year project issues that impact women faculty T Mississippi e-Center @ JSU on designed to advance the careers in the STEM and SBS disciplines Dec. 10 to offer insight into the of STEM and SBS women faculty and promote strategies that JSU perceptions and realities of gender and transform the institutional and other Historically Black 5 bias toward single and married/ climate of Jackson State University. Colleges and Universities can partnered academic women in adopt. It is also expected to foster the STEM and SBS areas. Many of University of Alabama at Huntsville a culture that seeks the inclusion N the partnered women were joined communication arts professor of faculty regardless of gender, race E by their spouses/partners, who Eletra S. Gilcrist facilitated a session and other target characteristics. W also participated in the workshop. during the Dec. 10 JSUAdvance S workshop. Gilcrist is the editor of Spouses and partners of JSU female JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers "Experiences of Single African- faculty took part in a focus group (left) participated in the JSUAdvance American Women Professors: to help understand the unique workshop, "The Academic Woman: With this Ph.D., I Thee Wed." challenges facing academic women Balancing Responsibilities, in the STEM and SBS disciplines, Expectations and Biases." Also Close to 40 people participated particularly women of color. Pictured pictured are JSUAdvance principal in the Dec. 10 seminar including are chemistry professor John Watts investigator Loretta Moore JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers, (left), Reginald Buckley, Mississippi (standing), psychology professor the majority of JSU’s STEM and e-Center @JSU executive director Debra Pate (next to Meyers), biology SBS female faculty members, William McHenry and facilitator professor Jacqueline Stevens, most of their spouses/partners Anthony L. DePass, assistance vice Mississippi College law professor and national experts on issues president for research development Angela Kupenda, psychology that face women in the academy. at Long Island University. professor Kaye Sly and political science professor Lenice Davis. “It was great that Dr. Meyers came “The majority of married female out and supported the event,” faculty in STEM and SBS at Jackson “Two of the things we wanted to Moore said. “It means a lot to the State have spouses who work outside look at was the impact of marital women faculty who where there.” of the university,” Moore said. status on advancement in the “We had some great suggestions academy and the impact of a Although women faculty serve in coming out of the event that will woman’s degree or the professoriate leadership positions at JSU and other help support the women in their on her marital status,” said Loretta universities, those in the STEM advancement. For example, the men Moore, who is the interim associate and SBS disciplines are notably at the workshop said they would dean of JSU’s College of Science, less visible in administration levels. like to continue to meet to build a Engineering and Technology community of spouses of STEM and and principal investigator of the The JSUAdvance project is expected SBS faculty.” JSUAdvance program, which to add an understanding of the Chemistry Chair Recognized for Advancing Diversity

The Committee on MinorityUniversity faculty in 1996 and in Activity with Underrepresented Affairs at the American Chemical 2003 was appointed chair of the Minority Students and/or Society (ACS) has selected Jackson chemistry department, which is Organizations” from the American State University Department of now called the Department of Chemical Society and the C Chemistry and Biochemistry chair Chemistry and Biochemistry. Under Leadership in Doctoral Education Hongtao Yu as the recipient of the S Yu’s leadership, the department has Award from Jackson State E Stanley C. Israel Regional Award become one of the most published University. T for advancing diversity in the chemistry departments in the chemical sciences. The award was be southern United States with more presented at the Southeast Regional than six peer-reviewed articles per 6 Meeting of ACS in Richmond, Va. faculty per year. Yu’s award recognizes his vision As one of the three Ph.D. degree- and dedication in initiating major granting chemistry departments N recruiting efforts, developingamong the nation’s 115 Historically E relationships with high schools and Black Colleges and Universities, JSU W colleges, developing mentorship fosters a culture and environment S programs for junior faculty and conducive for underrepresented students, and working with students monitories, especially African to encourage them to pursue Americans, to become leading advanced degrees. scientists in chemical sciences and “This ACS award is truly for the related fields. According to the department and for JSU,” Yu said. 2011 rankings by Diverse Issues “There are many great programs in Higher Education, JSU ranks at JSU’s College of Science, second in the nation for awarding Engineering and Technology African Americans with master’s initiated by the deans for student degrees in physical sciences, third recruitment, development and for bachelor’s degrees and fourth graduation.” for doctoral degrees in physical Yu credited his department’s sciences. The rankings are largely faculty, staff and students for due to the number of students tripling both undergraduate and earning chemistry degrees. graduate enrollment and doubling Yu earned a bachelor’s degree in Dr. Hongtao Yu, Chair the number of faculty and student chemistry from the University of Department of Chemistry and publications. Science and Technology of China, Biochemistry “My job is easy since I have world- a master’s in chemistry from the class researchers and student Chinese Academy of Sciences and a mentors such as professors Jerzy Ph.D. in organic and biochemistry Leszczynski and Paresh Ray,” Yu from Technical University of said. “It is also easy to do my job Munich, Germany. He is the recipient to have faculty members such as of numerous awards including professor Glake Hill, who has the Mississippi State Legislature the same vision for recruiting and HEADWAE Outstanding Faculty nurturing students.” Honoree Award, the National Yu joined the Jackson State ChemLuminary Award for “Best Research and Federal Relations. Interim Assoc. Dean Appointed “We look forward to having Dr. Assoc. Vice President for Research Moore on our team.” Moore joined JSU’s faculty 14 and Scholarly Engagement years ago as professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science. She has held positions at Auburn University, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Army Research C S Laboratory, NASA Kennedy Space E Center and NASA Marshall T Space Flight Center. Moore’s current research is in the area of computational thinking and in the 7 application of intelligent techniques to cyber security, visual analytics and visualization. She has received N

funding from agencies including E

the National Science Foundation, W

Department of Homeland S Security, Department of Justice, Department of Energy – Lawrence Dr. Loretta A. Moore, who since with all five colleges is very exciting. Livermore National Laboratory, 2011 has served as interim associate It will allow me to use some of my Army Research Laboratory, NASA dean for the College of Science, strengths to help our faculty identify Kennedy Space Center, NASA Engineering and Technology at funding for research and scholarly Marshall Space Flight Center, Jackson State University, has been endeavors.” NASA Headquarters, and Jacobs appointed Associate Vice President Moore’s new role parallels nicely Technology. Moore serves as a for Research and Scholarly with the ongoing efforts of the commissioner for the Computing Engagement. National Science Foundation Accreditation Commission of In this new role, Moore will lead funded JSUAdvance project, for ABET. Dr. Moore is a member JSU’s new Academy for Research which she serves as principal of the Board of the Association and Scholarly Engagement, which investigator. That project focuses of Departments of Computing at will work to enhance the scholarly on advancing the careers of female Minority Institutions (ADMI); she careers of JSU faculty members. As faculty members in the Science, also holds membership in ACM, a part of the academy, she will also Technology, Engineering, and IEEE, and AAUW organizations. lead the Jackson State’s Center for Mathematics (STEM) and Social She previously served as a member University Scholars. and Behavioral Science (SBS) of the U.S. Army Science Board. “The academy will be targeted disciplines. She is active in the recruitment, toward junior faculty members The new academy and the Center retention, and promotion of who have yet to establish a strong for University Scholars will be African-American computer grantmanship record and people housed in the Division of Research scientists. Moore received her at the associate or full professor and Federal Relations. B.S. degree in Computer Science level who are trying to reemerge “We expect this new academy to from Jackson State University and with a new or different research help foster even more research and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in focus,” Moore said. “Having the innovation among our faculty,” said Computer Science from the Illinois opportunity to work campus wide Dr. Felix Okojie, vice president for Institute of Technology. WeatherVision Launches At JSU

practical experience by doing live broadcasts for some of those stations as well as JSU TV. WeatherVision, planning to C S partner on sales and advertising projects with JSU’s mass E T communications and athletic departments, is further expected to increase exposure for the 8 university by “allowing professors to be interviewed by other institutions and, perhaps, include distant learning applications,” N E Jackson State University has WJSU 88.5 FM, JSU TV, TV 22, Saint Pé said. launched a partnership with the JSU Tiger Sports Network and W The importance of exposure is a WeatherVision – which provides JSU Video Streaming. S business tenet for Saint Pé. weathercasts to more than 100 “WeatherVision is a natural fit for stations nationwide – that will When changing technology made Jackson State University because expand JSU’s broadcasting WeatherVision’s use of satellite it will give our students real-world network and help train the next uplink obsolete, he continued experience while expanding our generation of meteorologists. A to make it available to major broadcast capabilities,” said JSU grand opening event was held networks and cable outlets such President Carolyn W. Meyers. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the JSU as CNN and MSNBC when locals “Now JSU can be seen and Digital Media Center at the were booked for guest appearances heard around the world. That’s Mississippi e-Center @JSU. or interviews. innovation.” Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson It gives Jackson a valuable “link to WeatherVision CEO and Jr. and JSU meteorology student the national media,” Saint Pé said. Jessica Foxworth, a senior from meteorologist Edward Saint Pé Belzoni, Miss., spoke at the event. said he had long envisioned In yet another avenue, forming a broadcast meteorology WeatherVision’s trove of nearly 500 “This is a fabulous idea,” Foxworth program at Jackson State. movies will help JSU TV broaden said of the partnership. “Not only its programming. The movie “Students will be able to take can students relay their messages segment of the company is tied to classes that are directly involved to a national audience, but they one of Saint Pé’s personal passions with TV broadcast of on-air can make their own forecasts.” — acting. Saint Pé is the founder meteorology as part of their and director of the Mississippi The custom weathercast company coursework, like a laboratory,” he Film Institute, which produces and its low-power radio station said. the Mississippi International Film WLEZ-FM moved over the Festival each fall at the Russell C. summer into the Mississippi The wide scope of WeatherVision Davis Planetarium. e-Center @JSU, which houses the — more than 100 stations JSU Digital in markets from Miami to Memphis to Rochester, N.Y. Media Center. The center includes — will enable students to gain JSU To Serve As Academic Partner In Radiance Technologies Contract

C S

E T

9

N E

W

S

Radiance Technologies Inc., an- ment of Marine Resources, the dent. “Cyberspace is the unknown nounced that it has been awarded Department of Homeland Securi- battleground of the 21st century, a $300 million ID/IQ contract for ty, the U.S. Army Space and Mis- and the ability of our war fighters Agile Cyber Technology through sile Defense Command and the to dominate this environment is the Air Force Research Lab U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. dependent on cutting edge tech- (AFRL). Jackson State University The expert blending of univer- nologies being developed by in- will be the academic partner in sity research expertise and real dustry leaders and academia.” this important effort, which will world industry engineering has develop cutting-edge cyber hard- provided the necessary capability Headquartered in Huntsville, ware and software tools, support- to transition application research Ala., Radiance Technologies is a ing the Air Force in the cyber do- into operational use. systems engineering, technolo- main. gy development and prototyping Jackson State University has out- company that for eight years has “Jackson State University’s intel- standing faculty and staff who are maintained a growing office in lectual capital and research capa- on the cutting edge of robotics, cy- Jackson, Miss. Core competencies bilities played an important role in ber security, cyber forensics, high of the Jackson office include soft- the award of this ID/IQ contract,” performance computing and data ware development, geospatial ap- said Felix Okojie, JSU Vice Presi- mining. Research divisions man- plications development, software dent for Research and Federal Re- aged under the College of Science, engineering, numerical analysis lations. “This is a demonstration Engineering and Technology will and intelligence analysis. Radi- of our value-added proposition to support this cyber contract. ance and Jackson State are very the economic development of our excited about their continued state.” “This is a major win for our Mis- partnership on this cyber contract sissippi team and highlights our and the opportunities it will bring. Radiance and JSU have worked ability to provide innovative cyber together for more than five years solutions for our customers,” said supporting NASA, the Depart- Tom Strange, Radiance Vice Presi- Union Pacific Railroad Presents JSU With $40K Gift

C S

E T

10

N E

W

S Representatives from Union Pa- neering and Technology dean Dr. close coordination, qualified stu- cific Railroad visited Jackson State Richard Aló, College of Business dents were identified, interviewed University on Oct. 4 to present a dean Dr. Glenda Glover and JSU and hired by Union Pacific. Addi- $40,000 contribution as part of President Carolyn W. Meyers join tionally, the College of Business’ the company’s long-standing rela- Union Pacific recruitment team Career Management and Place- tionship with the university. members Kate Betsworth, Kay ment Center is named after Union Ward and Lovell Cox, also a JSU Pacific Railroad. “Education is an investment in alum. our future,” said JSU President Due to the strength of the rela- Carolyn W. Meyers. “We believe Jackson State 2001 graduate Lovell tionship between JSU and Union this is the right kind of partner- Cox joined Union Pacific after Pacific, the company has named ship. When we do the business of graduation and today works as the university a Tier 1 school for education well, the whole society Director of Sales-Industrial Prod- recruiting. The Tier 1 status pro- benefits.” ucts for the company’s Marketing vides scholarships, supports cur- & Sales division. He returned to riculum development and enables Over the last decade, Union Pa- campus Oct. 4 to help deliver the funding for recruitment at JSU. cific has contributed more than contribution and meet with JSU $440,000 to JSU for scholarships students interested in working for Union Pacific offers employment and curriculum development and the company. opportunities to JSU graduates in has recruited dozens of JSU stu- a variety of disciplines including dents and graduates to work as “We’re very proud of the pipeline finance, information technology, interns and in full-time positions. of students we’ve recruited,” he marketing and sales, operations Currently, 38 JSU graduates work said of JSU students. supply and distribution services. in various capacities throughout the company. Union Pacific and Jackson State “When JSU graduates come into began formulating a strategy in our company, it really is another Union Pacific college recruiter 2001 to increase student interest family they’re joining,” said Kate and JSU grad John McPherson Jr. in career opportunities with the Betsworth, Union Pacific Execu- (left), College of Science, Engi- railroad company. Working in tive Sponsor. State Farm Presents $50K Grant to Fund JSU Mobile Application Lab

C S

E T

11

N E

W

S State Farm presented a $50,000 check to the Jackson assist in their learning. The program integrates the State University Department of Computer Science. device into the curriculum and is tracking students’ learning through an intensive two-year study. The State Farm grant stems from JSU’s long- standing partnership with the insurance company. State Farm’s support of JSU is part of the company’s For more than a decade, JSU’s Computer Science effort to help lure more students into high-tech Department has supplied State Farm with careers. Despite the growing demand for computer qualified recruits, and the insurance company has programmers and software engineers, the number of supported the department with numerous grants. people graduating with computer science or computer engineering degrees has declined nearly 40 percent This year’s grant will be used to set up a mobile application over the past decade. And while the number of students development lab equipped with Apple equipment. enrolling in programs is starting to pick up, the need for programmers keeps outpacing the supply. According to “We will also be able to hire students as researchers in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for computer that lab,” said Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, assistant professor programmers and software engineers are projected to in the Department of Computer Science. “We’re increase by 21 percent through 2018, which is much tying our research to the university’s iPad initiative.” faster than the average for all occupations.

Through a Mississippi e-Center Foundation program called the iPad Technology Advantage Scholarship Initiative, JSU freshmen this year received iPads to • Scholarships/Financial Assistance • Faculty Mentored Research • Dedicated Faculty • Peer Tutoring/Mentoring • Nurturing Environment • Research Apprenticeships/Internships • Modern Facilities School of Engineering Degrees (School of Science & Technology Degrees -continued) B.S. Civil Engineering • Environmental Track Dr. Richard Alo`, Dean • Pre-Health Careers (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry) • General Civil Engineering Track • Teacher Certification Phone: (601) 979-2153 B.S. Computer Engineering B.S. Earth Systems Science (601) 979-3473 B.S. Computer Science B.S. Industrial Technology B.S. Electrical Engineering • Computer Technology [email protected] • Biomedical Engineering • Electronics • General Electrical Engineering Track • Emergency Management • Power Systems • Manufacturing & Design Technology B.S. Telecommunications Engineering • Technology Management M.S. Computer Science B.S. Mathematics Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou M.S. Engineering B.S. Meteorology Assoc. Dean • Civil Engineering B.S. Physics B.S. Science Education School of Science & Technology • Computer Engineering • Computational Engineering B.S. Technology Education Phone: (601) 979-0777 • Electrical Engineering B.S. Ed. Mathematics Education [email protected] • Environmental Engineering M.S. Biology • Geological Engineering M.S. Chemistry • Telecommunications Engineering M.S. Environmental Science M.S. Hazardous Materials Management School of Science & Technology M.S. Industrial Technology Degrees M.S. Mathematics College of Science, Engineering M.S. Technology Education B.S. Biology and Technology • Biomedical Science M.S.T. Mathematics & Science Teaching • Environmental Science 1400 John R. Lynch St. • Biology • Forensic Science • Chemistry Jackson, MS 39217 • Marine Biology • Mathematics • Pre-Chemical Engineering • Science • Pre-Health Careers (Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry) B.S. Chemistry Ph. D. Chemistry (Analytical, Biochemistry, • Biomedical Science Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry) • Environmental Science Materials Science • Forensic Science Ph. D. Environmental Science • Pre-Chemical Engineering