Finalists for IT dean to visit campus in
November and December
The IT Dean Search Committee has identified
four finalist candidates and forwarded their
names to Provost Tom Sullivan. Each candidate
will visit the Institute of Technology for
two days in mid-November through early December
and will engage in a rigorous, two-day public
interview.
In the interest of preserving the rich pool
of candidates through the conclusion of the
search, Provost Sullivan has indicated that
finalists names will be announced two days
prior to each candidate's campus visit; copies
of the candidate's curriculum vitae will be
circulated.
Please mark your calendar with the interview
dates for the four finalist candidates, as
follows:
IT faculty, staff, and students and other
members of the University community are invited
to attend the public forum on
the second day of each candidate's visit. Candidate
evaluation forms will be available at each
forum; you may also download the
form in PDF format or submit comments via email
to provost@umn.edu.
In memoriam: Robert Dexter
IT
and University community are mourning the
loss of civil engineering associate professor
Robert Dexter, who died November 16 after
a sudden battle with acute leukemia. Dexter,
48, was a leading expert for many industries
—bridges, buildings, shipping, and
others—on fracture and fatigue of
metals. For the past several years he served
as advisor to the University’s ASCE
Student Chapter; he was also long-time member
of the ASCE Minnesota Section Structures
Committee. He is survived by his wife Christine
Dexter, his daughter Melissa (22), and his
son Robert (13). Memorial
services will be held this Friday and
Saturday.
Lanny Schmidt among 'Scientific American
50'
Lanny Schmidt, Regents Professor of Chemical
Engineering and Materials Science, has been
named to the 2004
Scientific American 50—Scientific
American magazine’s annual list recognizing
outstanding acts of leadership in science and
technology from the past year. Schmidt was
cited for inventing the first reactor capable
of producing hydrogen from a renewable fuel,
namely ethanol from corn. The list of 50 winners
appears in the magazine’s December issue,
which will arrive on newsstands November 23.
Legislative Network: U needs you
This is a critical time for the University
community to get involved with the Legislative
Network. The University will be resubmitting
the bonding bill and the biennium requests,
plus Congress will have the opportunity
to reauthorize the higher education act. It's
essential that our voice be heard as we
tell our legislators that we need them to advocate
for the U.
Sign a petition to Governor Pawlenty, host
a constituent meeting, or join a District Team.
Mark your calendars now for the Legislative
Briefing on January 27 and Lobby Day on February
16. If you'd like to advocate for the University
by joining the IT grassroots committee, contact
Sara Beyer at sbeyer@umn.edu or 612-626-8282. Find
out more...
Events
Dinner with the Dean
Tuesday, December 7: The
IT Parents Organization (ITPO) invites all
IT students and their parents to attend the
annual Dinner with the Dean. It's a wonderful
opportunity to meet IT deans, faculty, and
staff—the
people who are guiding your student's education
and setting college policies. The evening begins
with a reception and dinner in a relaxed setting,
followed by a question-and-answer session with
a panel of IT experts. Learn about the current
events and achievements in the college. This
popular ITPO event is always filled to capacity,
so register early. Cost: $35 per person (including
students). Register
online or call 612-626-8282 for more information. 5:30
p.m., Mississippi
Room, Coffman Union.
Donaldson Lecture: The Great Hydrogen Hoax Vijay Vaitheeswaran,
energy and environment correspondent, The
Economist
Thursday, December 9: Through
the prism of the current debate over hydrogen
energy and fuel cells, Vaitheeswaran will explain
why he believes that the world is on the cusp
of a new energy revolution. Along the way he
will debunk various popular misconceptions
and myths, including the quest for “energy
independence” and concerns about imminent
hydrocarbon scarcity, and will explain the
importance of reconciling the genuine aspirations
of the world's poorest for modern energy with
the equally genuine concerns in the rich world
to tackle climate change. The seminar is sponsored
by the Department of Mechanical Engineering,
the Department of Chemistry, and the Department
of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. 4
p.m., 2-470 Phillips
Wangensteen Building.
Dinner with the Dean
Saturday, December 11 : The
IT Parents Organization (ITPO) invites all
IT students and their parents to attend the
annual Dinner with the Dean. It's a wonderful
opportunity to meet IT deans, faculty, and
staff—the
people who are guiding your student's education
and setting college policies. The evening begins
with a reception and dinner in a relaxed setting,
followed by a question-and-answer session with
a panel of IT experts. Learn about the current
events and achievements in the college. This
popular ITPO event is always filled to capacity,
so register early. Cost: $35 per person (including
students). Register
online or call 612-626-8282
for more information. 5:30
p.m., Mississippi
Room, Coffman Union.
