For the Record
October 16, 2020
University community reports recent appointments, publications, honors, grants
For the Record provides information about recent professional activities and honors of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Recent appointments, publications, honors and grants include the following:
New leadership
College of Arts and Sciences Dean John A. Pelesko has announced new leadership in the College. In the dean’s office, Suzanne L. Burton, professor of music education, was named associate dean for the arts, and Lauren Hackworth Petersen, professor of art history, was named associate dean for the humanities. Both had been serving in those associate dean roles in an interim capacity. Pelesko also welcomed new department chairs and school directors: Peter Benson, Anthropology; Mark Gockenbach, Mathematical Sciences; and Mark Clodfelter, School of Music.
Publications
Ken Cohen, director of the Museum Studies Program and associate professor of history, has a blog post, “Don’t Be Surprised, Be an Ally: Better Security Planning for Virtual Programs,” published by the American Alliance of Museums, the largest museum association in the United States.
Rudi Matthee, John and Dorothy Munroe Distinguished Professor of History, had his article “The Decline of Safavid Iran in Comparative Perspective,” Journal of Persianate Studies 8 (2015), pp. 276-308, translated into Turkish by İlker Külbilge, under the title, “Mukayeseli perspektif zaveyesinden Safevî İranı’nın inkirazı (Safavîler, Osmanlılar ve Babürlüler)” Cihannüma Tarih ve Coğrafya Araştırmaları Dergisi Sayı V/2 - Aralık (2019), pp. 171-208.
Honors
Douglas Doren, who is retiring after 32 years as a professor and administrator, was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award at a celebration honoring him on Monday, Oct. 12. A professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Doren most recently was UD’s interim vice provost for graduate and professional education and previously was deputy dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Ben Yagoda, professor emeritus of English, served as one of the judges for the New York University Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute’s 10 best works of journalism of the decade of the 2010s. Other judges included journalists and authors Madeleine Blais, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, Greil Marcus, Dan Rather, Frank Rich, David Remnick and Sarah Stillman. The top honor went to an article by Ta-Nehisi Coates, “The Case for Reparations,” in The Atlantic.
The doctoral program in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology (KAAP) is ranked fifth in the United States, based on a 2020 review and evaluation by the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK). UD KAAP’s ranking is up eight spots from the previous ranking announced in 2015. The rankings reflect data collected about the program’s faculty and students, taking into account productivity, funding and visibility. This is the fourth review conducted by the NAK, each representing five years of data. The calendar years of 2015-2019 are included in this year’s review. To learn more about the rankings, visit here.
Peter Williams, professor of painting in the Department of Art and Design, has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 Artist Award from the The Artists’ Legacy Foundation of Oakland, California. The Artist Award is an unrestricted merit award of $25,000 given annually to a painter or sculptor who has made significant contributions to their field and whose work shows evidence of the hand.
Janice Selekman, professor emerita for the School of Nursing, received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence from the University of Pittsburgh. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Association of School Nurses, Selekman was recognized for her ongoing contributions to move the specialty of school nursing forward. Selekman previously served as director of the UD School of Nursing and also was one of the early leaders of the fledgling Society of Pediatric Nurses, now one of the most well-known and respected names in school nursing. In honoring her, school officials recognized Selekman as always ahead of the curve. She led the way in introducing important topics to school nurses, including sexuality education, HIV/AIDS, learning disabilities, cutting, vaping, mental health in children, transgender youth, and body piercing and tattooing. She also developed the first and only comprehensive textbook for the National Association of School Nurses that has served as an everyday resource for many nursing specialties.
Facilities staff received special recognition at the Facilities, Real Estate and Auxiliary Services Safety Committee meeting on Oct. 15. The department received the Safety Award for Outstanding Achievement in Safety, in recognition of the fact that there were no injuries in the department during the month of September. Each staff member received a blue and gold face mask featuring the University’s logo and YoUDee.
Grants
The Nurse Managed Primary Care Center is expanding its mental health services to patients living with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, thanks to a community grant provided by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Through its 2020 Community Grants program, the foundation is providing more than $1.5 million in funding nationally for 117 programs supporting local health, education and wellness for people with Parkinson’s disease. With the funding, UD’s Nurse Managed Primary Clinic, located on the STAR Campus, will provide mental health services via telehealth for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.
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