People

Two Boulder faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences

Hynes	Ye

James Hynes, a professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department, and Jun Ye, an adjoint professor in the physics department, are the only Colorado scientists elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2011. Ye also is a fellow of JILA, a joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and a fellow at NIST.

The CU-Boulder professors are among 72 new members and 18 foreign associates from 15 countries elected in 2011. They will be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences during the 149th annual meeting in April 2012 in Washington, D.C.

"The greatness of a university is measured by its faculty," said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. "This is one of the highest honors for an American scientist or engineer. The fact that we now have 24 active or retired National Academy of Sciences members speaks volumes about our university. This kind of recognition underscores the quality of our faculty and our national reputation."

Hynes is well-known in his field for contributions to the theory of chemical reaction rates and mechanisms, and of vibrational dynamics in solution. He also is known for research on the heterogeneous chemical reactions important in stratospheric ozone depletion. Hynes was honored with the Hirschfelder Prize in Theoretical Chemistry in 2004, the largest award in the field carrying a stipend of $10,000.

Ye's research on the physics of precision measurement based on strontium atoms has improved the potential for accuracy in optical atomic clocks. He also conducted pioneering experiments on the behavior and chemistry of cold and ultracold molecules. Ye and his research group also pioneered the application of frequency combs to spectroscopy, making possible human breath analysis for disease detection.

The National Academy of Sciences has more than 2,000 active members. Since the academy's establishment in 1863, luminaries have included Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Thomas Edison, Orville Wright and Alexander Graham Bell.

For more information on the National Academy of Sciences and to view member lists visit www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer.

Colorado School of Public Health has new director of finance

Theresa Fox has been appointed director of finance for the Colorado School of Public Health.

Fox will oversee the school's financial affairs and staff. She holds a master of business administration in accounting and finance and a bachelor of science in business administration-accounting.

Fox's previous experience includes serving as vice president of finance and administration at Clovis Community College in New Mexico, chief financial officer of the Colorado Office of Attorney General, and budget and policy analyst at Colorado State University, among other financial management positions. Fox succeeds interim finance director Kay Spencer Carpenter and previous director Brian Davis.

Boulder Campus Staff Council elects new representatives

The Boulder Campus Staff Council has elected new area representatives who will serve three-year terms representing constituents from their geographical area of campus. The representatives and the areas they represent:

Aaron Siegel, Area I; Randi Viola and Dana Kusjanovic, Area II; Dominique De Vangel and Tatevik Madoyan, Area III; Kathleen McGovern, Area IV; Erin Foster, Area V; Tanya Marquart Patzer and Lauren Miremont, Area VI; Aljoana Gillmore, Area VII; Suzanne Haveman, Area VIII; and Vonda Maki and Alex Acosta, at-large.

For more information on the Boulder Campus Staff Council or to determine constituent areas, visit www.colorado.edu/staffcouncil

Director of counseling center named UCCS employee of the quarter

Altayli

Altayli's duties at the counseling center include supervising interns, conducting one-on-one counseling sessions with students and being on call for crisis situations, as well as directing operations. Altayli, the interns, and one part-time counselor take on duties usually performed by seven or more full-time employees at most institutions the size of UCCS, said Stephanie Hanenberg, director of the Student Health Center, in her nomination letter.

Altayli also teaches courses, is a member of the Student Response Team, serves on the Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee, and the Committee for Alcohol Awareness. She coordinates counseling center activities with the Student Health Center, Disability Services and Public Safety.

She is a powerful advocate for outreach activities. Altayli speaks on domestic violence, brings individuals from outside agencies to UCCS to educate the campus community on mental health issues and has helped implement a program for counseling firefighters. Through the program, area firefighters get help dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and coping with their high-risk occupation.

Hanenberg nominated Altayli with high praise for taking initiative, working diligently, and stretching limited resources to do more than meet minimum requirements.

"I cannot think of another individual who has provided more service to this campus," Hanenberg said. "She is a true role model for what a strong work ethic is, and the campus would not be the same without her."

Altayli attributed her success to teamwork and a community spirit.

"It is a true honor to be selected for this award by people whom I admire and respect," she said. "We, as the UCCS community, are a hard-working, close-knit group of people who have formed an incredible team to do what needs to be done for the best education and training, best research, and best services possible.

"Despite challenges, none of us are willing to sacrifice excellence in whatever we do, and this is a big part of who we are as a team."

UCCS Employee of the Quarter recipients are classified or professional exempt employees who are recognized for exceptional service to the university. Award winners receive a certificate of recognition, a $100 stipend, three months of free campus parking and a day of administrative leave.

— Ron Fitz

Dropping names ...

Amadei

Dabelea

Bernard Amadei, professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder and faculty director of the Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing Communities, recently was awarded an honorary degree from Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. Amadei is founding president of Engineers Without Borders-USA and co-founder of Engineers Without Borders-International. He was honored for his "remarkable vision and his pioneering approach to educating globally responsible engineers for the future and his passionate commitment to sustainability and steadfast belief in the use of technology to improve and serve humanity; and for his scholarly achievements in the fields of rock mechanics and engineering geology." ... Dana Dabelea, associate professor and assistant dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, recently was profiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Dabelea is one of six national principal investigators of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, and also serves as the study's national Co-Chair. The report highlights Dabelea's commitment to gaining new insights into childhood diabetes and the ways in which she translates the SEARCH infrastructure into the study of heart disease among children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. ... Andrea Herrera, professor in the department of women's and ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, recently received a certificate of appreciation from the Colorado Latino Forum in recognition of her contributions to Latino communities in the area of education.

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