Honors and Achievements

Peter Kolchin, Henry Reed Clay Professor of History, has been elected to the Society of American Historians. Membership, by invitation only, is limited to 250 academic historians and 16 publishers of American history and is based on a demonstrated commitment to literary distinction in the writing and publishing of history and biography.

Martha Corrozi, policy specialist with UD’s Institute for Public Administration, received the 2007 American Water Resources Association’s A. Ivan Johnson Outstanding Young Professional Award, which recognizes outstanding achievements, talents and leadership potential throughout the recipient’s professional activities related to water resources.

In recognition of his significant research achievements relating to supercomputers, Guang Gao, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been named a fellow by two international professional societies, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery.

Frank Murray, H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Educational Studies and Psychology, was awarded a Crystal Apple Award from the College of Education at Michigan State University, honoring educators who have made a difference through excellence and commitment and whose “impact is of immeasurable value and significance.”

Michelle O’Malley, a doctoral student in chemical engineering, won a student travel award to attend the joint meeting of the Biophysical Society and the International Biophysics Congress in February. Fifty-four students representing universities worldwide were selected by the Biophysical Society to receive the competitive award, which is based on scientific merit.

The National Reading Conference (NRC) awarded Sharon Walpole, associate professor of education, its Early Career Achievement Award for contributions to literacy research and education. NRC is the professional organization for those sharing an interest in research and dissemination of information about literacy and literacy instruction. Walpole received the award for her teaching, service and publications in the literacy field.

Kenneth Miller, director of the School of Nursing, has won the 2007 American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) Leadership Award, selected from a pool of more than 35,000 distinguished candidates. He also was elected to serve a three-year term on the selection committee for the American Academy of Nursing and was appointed to the Research Committee for the Southern Regional Educational Board.

Arno Loessner, associate professor emeritus of urban affairs and public policy and faculty fellow emeritus of the Center for International Studies, has been awarded an honorary degree by Bobes-Bolyai University in Romania. Since 2002, Loessner has been to Bobes-Bolyai six times, including a January visit with 11 UD public policy graduate students.

Donald L. Sparks, S. Hallock du Pont Chair of Plant and Soil Sciences and chairperson of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, has received three recent honors. He became the only American to be made an honorary member of the Polish Society of Soil Science and received alumni awards from both the University of Kentucky and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Tsu-Wei Chou, Pierre S. du Pont Chair of Engineering, has been elected a fellow of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society for his influential contributions to the mechanics of nanocomposites and anisotropic heterogeneous materials. The designation of fellow, the highest honor bestowed by the society, was established in 1962 and recognizes eminent authorities and contributors within the broad field of materials. The maximum number of living fellows is 100.

A book by Daniel Royot and published by the University of Delaware Press, Divided Loyalties in a Doomed Empire: The French in the West from New France to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, has been selected by Choice magazine as an “Outstanding Academic Title” for 2007. Royot is professor emeritus at the Sorbonne in Paris. Choice is the official review publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

Ed Kee, a Cooperative Extension specialist for vegetable crops, has been honored by the Bean Improvement Cooperative for his achievements in supporting the lima bean industry in Delaware. Historically, lima beans have been Delaware’s most widely planted vegetable crop, and they continue to be the No. 1 crop today, in part because of Kee’s efforts encouraging vegetable processors to remain in the state.