Honors and Other Things

Fung Award: Dr. Meaney

Dr. David F. Meaney, an associate professor of bioengineering, has been named the 2001 recipient of the Y.C. Fung Young Investigator Award, one of his field's top honors for young researchers.

Dr. Meaney's research into injury biomechanics focuses on how brain cells respond to mechanical forces. Scientists don't currently know how much force is needed to harm the brain, nor do they understand how to help the brain repair itself after injury.

Dr. Meaney joined the Penn faculty in 1993. A member of Penn's Institute for Medicine and Engineering and the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation, he holds a B.S.E. from RPI and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Penn.

The Fung Award goes to a bioengineering researcher younger than 36 who demonstrate the potential to make substantial contributions to the discipline. It has been awarded annually by the Bioengineering Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since 1985.

Arcadia University Honor: Dr. Rodin

In a ceremony on Monday, President Judith Rodin received the first honorary degree bestowed by the newly renamed Arcadia University .

Honorary Degree: Dr. Hughes

Dr. Thomas Hughes, professor emeritus of history and sociology of science, received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Northwestern University.

Alumni Award: Dr. Shils

Dr. Edward Shils, G.W. Taylor Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurial Studies, will receive the Alumni Award of Merit at a Gala in November. The Alumni Award of Merit is the highest award the Alumni Society gives to one of its own members. Dr. Shils is a longtime member of the Faculty Club Board.

Service Award: Dr. Danien

Dr. Elin Danien, the founder of the Bread Upon the Waters Scholarship Fund, was honored with the 2001 Service Award from CGS at their graduation ceremony on May 21. Dr. Danien began her studies at Penn at the age of 46 and received her Ph.D. in Mayan Anthropology from Penn in 1998. She founded the Bread Upon the Waters Fund to celebrate and commemorate the positive experience she had as an older, non-traditional student. The fund currently funds more than 25 non-traditional students annually. Dr. Danien is still actively involved in working with the Bread Upon the Waters Program.

HUP on Honor Roll

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has once again made the honor roll of hospitals as reported by U.S. News & World Report in its July 23 issue. HUP was the only hospital in the Delaware Valley to be recognizied for its exceptional performance in many specialty areas. The hospital's excellence was noted in 15 medical specialities: cancer; digestive disorders; ear, nose, and throat; eyes; geriatrics; gynecology; hormonal disorders; kidney disease; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; rehabilitation; respiratory disorders; rheumatology; urology; and psychiatry.

Nursing Awards

Dr. Susan Gennaro, professor of nursing and director of the International Center of Research for Women, Children and Families, has received the 2001 Distinguished Professional Service Award from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses for her "lifelong commitment to nursing and her significant contributions to improving the health of women and children."

Dr. Freida Outlaw, associate professor of psychiatric mental health, received the 2001 Nursing Practice Award from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association. In nominating her, Interim Dean Neville Strumpf said Dr. Outlaw's "practive-based research has had a significant impact on the African-American community, in particular the study of prayer by African-Americans with cancer."

Interim Dean Neville Strumpf and Dr. Lois Evans, the Viola MacInnes/Independence Chair and Director of Academic Nursing Practices are the co-winners of the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award. The Gerontological Society of America and The Hartford Foundation honored Drs. Strumpf and Evans for their "outstanding and sustained contributions to geriatric nursing research."

Academy of Education Fellow: Dr. Neild

Dr. Ruth Curran Neild, GSE, has been chosen a 2001-2002 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Neild received the award for her project Moving On, Falling Behind: Urban Students and the Ninth Grade Transition. She is one of 30 fellows selected from a pool of more than 200 scholars of education at the postdoctoral stage. The National Academy of Education administers the fellowships.

U.S. Delegation: Dr. Davies and Dr. Cines

Dr. Peter F. Davies, professor of pathology and Director for Institute for Medicine and Engineering, and Dr. Douglas B. Cines, professor of pathology and co-vice chair of laboratory medicine, have been appointed to the U.S. delegation to the Joint U.S.-Russia Symposium on Basic Research in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of NIH appointed Dr. Davies and Dr. Cines. The purpose of the symposium is to develop and improve contacts between U.S. and Russian scientists, and create opportunities for further joint research areas of mutual interests and benefit. The symposium will take place from September 9-12 in Moscow.

Alumni Achievement: Mr. Chamberlin

Bruce Chamberlin, the regional director of undergraduate admissions, has received the Young Alumni Achievement Award for Service from Gettysburg College. Mr. Chamberlin has served Gettysburg College as a member of the Alumni Executive Board, class reunion committees, the Commission on the Future of Gettysburg College, Key Alumni Resource Effort and as a class agent. Mr. Chamberlin is also working on his doctorate in GSE here at Penn.

Clay Prize Fellow: Dr. Borodin

Dr. Alexei Borodin, a recent Ph.D. in mathematics and M.S. in computer science from Penn, has received a four-year appointment to the Clay Mathematics Institute (CMI). Dr. Borodin was one of four Long-Term Prize Fellows this year. The recipients must be 30 years or younger, and are required to have already contributed profound ideas and major achievements to the discipline of mathematics. "These are the very top, most exciting young people in mathematics today--these are the people to watch," said Professor William Fulton of the University of Michigan. Professor David Eisenbud of the University of California agreed, saying: "The Clay Institute has gathered together a group without parallel. The Fellows are the most brilliant people in their field, and these awards will give them the freedom to expand their talents."

Dr. Borodin will spend his first year of the fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

4th Annual Faculty/Staff Appreciation Picnic

Nearly 5,000 Penn people joined Ben on College Green to participate in the 4th Annual Faculty/Staff Appreciation Picnic sponsored by Human Resources. Music was provided by Glenn Bryan's jazz band Friends.

Click on the thumbnails below to view more photos from the picnic:

FUNG AWARD | ARCADIA U. HONOR | HON. DEGREE | ALUMNI AWARD | SERVICE AWARD | HUP HONOR ROLL | NURSING AWARDS | ACAD. OF EDUCATION FELLOW | U.S. DELEGATION | ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT | CLAY PRIZE FELLOW | FACULTY/STAFF APPRECIATION PICNIC

Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 1, July 17, 2001

| FRONT PAGE | CONTENTS | JOB-OPS | CRIMESTATS | OF RECORD: Postdoctoral Stipend Levels AND Research Foundation Guidelines | GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE | TALK ABOUT TEACHING ARCHIVE | BETWEEN ISSUES | SUMMER at PENN |