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Spring 1995 Alumni Newsletter
College of Science
MacMahon's Musings We are having a pseudo-spring the last few days in Logan. I am sure many of you will Dean James A. remember such days in March or MacMahon early April when, as students, your spirits were buoyed by the warmth and the sun, only to be snowed upon yet a few more times before the real spring arrived. In contrast to the weather, I am buoyed, permanently by the fact that the College of Science has, for the first time in its history, hired a development director. After a national search, we were fortunate to attract Ms. Katherine Angelos to join us. Katherine has done development work in association with two schools in Salt Lake City and so she comes to us with good experience and a very pleasant per onality. I am sure you will get to know and enjoy her. I need to chastise many of you who receive this newsletter. On the back page we ask you to send information about what you are doing now and have been doing since leaving Utah State. Barely two hundred of you, out of over 4,000 potential respondents, have let us bear from you. We need your input. People tell us they love reading about former friends and acquaintances, in addition to current news about the College. Please take some time and drop us a note. A sad event occurred recently. One of our finest, most dedicated professors died unexpectedly. Harry Otteson of the Physics Department passed away. Given the enormous number of students who have taken Harry's classes, I know many will join me in my sorrow. The positive side of this is the wonderful legacy that Harry leaves in the form of well-educated students whose lives he touched in more ways than just knowledge.
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Vol. 3 Issue 2
Insect Collection Used for Research and Service
Wilford J. Hanson categorizes insects for future placement in the USU Collectio11.
According to Wilford J. Hanson, USU professor of biology, many people don't understand the purposes for an insect collection. As curator of the largest and most complete source of identified insect species in the Intermountain Region, Hanson realizes that the function of the USU Insect Collection are more than just for looks. Hanson feels the collection, which is housed in rows of tall gray cabinets in the Biology and Natural Resources Building on the USU campus, has three main functions-first, as the basis for identification of insects that people find; second, as a source for taxonomic research; and third, as a place to study and enjoy the various species . When county agents or the public discover an insect they are unable to identify, they often send it to USU. "With the collection as a guide, most species can be identified. If we can't identify them, we send them to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, for identification," Hanson said . In addition, researchers in entomology, agriculture, and ecology use the collection as a species-identification reference point. "Many people on campus do research Inside Insights that has to do with insects, and they have to Alumnet Responses ................... /0 make reference to the collection to get the Alumni Highlight ......... .............. 4 species identified." Athletic/Academic Awards .......... 2 The second function of the collection deals Faculty & Student Awards ......... 8 with basic taxonomic research to identify and Expanding Your Horizons .......... 3 name species. "We have more than two million Golden Aggies ............................ .4 specimens. We have so many loaned out, /995 Graduation Activities ......... 2 though, that if they all returned at once, we'd New Development Director ........ 5 Tribute to Harry Oneson .......... .. 5
INSECT COLLECTION continued on page I I
College of Science
Conference All-Acadelllic Tea01 USU Takes Top Honors in Big West Nineteen Utah State University students were nominated to the Big West Conference All-Academic teams for spring sports, and fourteen students for fall sports. USU lead the ten other Big West Conference schools in student nominations . "This is quite an honor for each, of these student athletes and an important recognition for Utah State University," said Michael Parent, Professor and NCAA faculty athletics representative. Athletes are nominated by the institution's faculty athletic representatives. To be considered, students must have earned an athletic letter and an overall GPA of 3.2. Big West Conference members then choose All-Academic teams from a pool of nominees from the ten conference schools. The award notes the commitment it takes to excel in both sports and chool. Windy Hutchins, a math major nominated for excellence in track and cross-country events, said, "It is easy to strike a balance between education and athletics because running cuts down on the stress of school." She feels that sports relax the body and teach her how to work with other people, skills which transfer to her studie . "The benefits of participating in sports spread to all areas of my life," Hutchins said. Kevin Comer, a pre-medical major nominated for football, didn't find it as easy to strike the balance between sport and school. "I find myself focusing on one or the other , and then I have to refocus on the area that gets neglected ," Corner said. As he continues his education, Corner's goal is, "to live life and get the most out of it." "I started here as an aeronautical engineer, but then I took a career test and realized that I was more interested in young people. I changed my major [to pre-medicine] to be more involved with others' lives."
College of Science Winners The following students, with their major and their event, were named from the College of Science for Spring 1994 sports:
Justin Burt. Pre-Medicine Golf Ron Kehl, Pre-Medicine Track and Field Windy Hutchins, Math Track and Field Dennis Larson, Public Health Golf David Perry. Biology Track and Field J'Dee Wilson, Biology Track and Field For Fall 1994 sports. the following students were named:
Kevin Corner. Pre-Medicine Football Toby Conley. Pre-Medicine Men's Cross Country J'Dee Wilson, Biology Men's Cross Country Windy Hutchins, Math Women's Cross Country Janeen Jensen, PubTic Health Women's Cross Country
MUSINGS
Friday June 9 College of Science Open House 3:30-4:30 pm
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Let me end on a more positive note. Graduation is coming. Each of you is invited to join the faculty, the graduating students, and their parents for the College of Science Open House at 3:30 pm on the Friday, June 9. This is a joyous occasion that should bring back wonderful memories for most of you. Each year I am thrilled to see the e young people as they get ready to face the myriad of new challenges ahead of them. They fear not. Until fall quarter, I hope you will prosper and enjoy the benefits of your USU education.
SER Patio
Satunla_r,June 10 Main to D. Glen Smith Spectrum 8:30-9:30am Utah State Commencement Exerct. es Q. Glen Smith Spectrum 9:30-11:00am College of Science GrluJuation 12 noon Taggart Student Center Ballioom
Procession-Old
GraduationPicnic .HPER.Field 11:00 am-2:30 pm
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Expanding Your Horizons Conference Teaching Young Women About Science The eighth annual Expanding Your Horizons conference for the northern Utah area was held November 12, 1994, on the USU campus. The conference was a resounding success, as over 390 junior high and high school young women and their parents were in attendance. Expanding Your Horizons is a nationwide program encouraging young women in grade 6-12 to develop strong interests and skills in math and science. According to Sue Morgan, EYH coordinator and USU Geology Department lecturer, the program was initially started in California in the 1970s after statistical studies began showing that young women take less math and science than their male counterparts. The conference opened with BYU Chemistry Professor Julianna Boerio-Goates emphasizing the importance of education for today's young women. Three hands-on sessions stressing "doing science" was next on the girls' schedule, while their parents attended a group panel discussion on teen stress led by school counselors. Following thi di cussion, parents took part in various workshops, ranging from financing a college education to teen peer pressure. Also featured were booths and displays with hands-on activitie from different departments and colleges within the University. The Physics Department, for example, displayed its entry from the Get Away Special Program (GASP), a project that was on board the space shuttle Discovery during a September J994 flight. Touching on the conference's purposes, Morgan says it opens students' eyes to the educational backgrounds needed for different careers, as well as what kinds of careers are available for them. "Opportunities are out there," she says, "but we often don't know about them. So, we hope it's increasing an awareness of options. "My feeling is that we don't need to make scientists out of everyone ... it's just showing the opportunitie that are available for careers and how some careers actually require a certain amount of science and/or math ... and seeing women who are doing those careers, too, because role modeling really is useful and important for all of us." The main afternoon activity was a science Jeopardy-style game, with middle school and high school ages playing separately. This year's winners were Box Elder High School and Mt. Logan Middle School. Both schools have been presented an engraved plaque and a large photograph of their young women in attendance. All area schools attending next year's conference will be battling for the right to the title and yearlong possession of the plaque. Through a wide range of activities, EYH increases many young women's awareness of math and science. And, thanks to the continuing sponsorship provided by the College of Science and the USU Provost's Office, EYH will provide this service for years to come.
EYH participallls enjoy the educa1io11albooths and displays presented by various departmell/s and colleges at USU.
After a full morning of actil'ities, EYH particpants relax before lunch. Our next conference will be held early November, 1995. lfyou would like registration i11for111ation, contact Sue Morgan, USU Department a/Geology, Logan, UT 84322-4505, or call (801) 797-2176.
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College of Science
Alu01ni Highlight Larry ' s adviser, Dr. Datus Hammond, was particularly important to the young graduate couple . Dr. Hammond, then head of the zoology department, became more than just a teacher to the young couple-he became a mentor and a friend. Dr. Hammond and his wife, Emily, took the young Anderson couple into their care, to the point of teaching them the art of breadmaking . After Larry finished his PhD in 1971, he received an offer to teach microbiology and anatomy at the University of Detroit. He had a background in microbiology, but not in anatomy. When he expre ssed doubts about this lack of training, "the people at the University said, 'don't worry about not knowing anatomy-we'll train you,"' Larry remembers. He had to become, in his own words, "a self-made anatomist." He has taught himself well. He has been at University of Detroit for the past 25 years and now teaches only anatomy . He has received many teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year for the past three years for his work with pre-clinical dental school freshmen . He also serves as a consultant for the oral surgery residency program in metropolitan Detroit, and he completed a post-graduate visiting fellowship at the University of Otago School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand, during a sabbatical in the spring and summer of 1994. Vivian began her current position at University of Michigan-Dearborn eight years ago. She is particularly happy with the quality of students at that school, calling them "the best students I have ever had" in 24 years of teaching college. "The University of Michigan-Dearborn is very selective in whom they will accept," she says. "I've heard that the University has more applicant than any other state school in the country." She i al o happy that she and her family have been able to make a good life in Michigan: they have positions at universities, they live in a nice neighborhood, and they have two wonderful children. Janeece, their older daughter, attends John Carroll University, and their younger daughter, Leah, is a freshman in high school. "We've been blessed," she says. Both, however, still look at USU with fondness, and they visit Logan whenever they travel west to visit family. "It's a wonderful place," Larry says.
Only a few days after Vivian Telford Anderson began her graduate work at USU in animal behavior, she met Larry Anderson , a graduate student in parasitology. Good thing , too . She was not particularly impressed at first by her new surroundings in Logan, but Larry was able to change her mind. "l arrived in Logan by bus in the middle of the night, sol didn't see what there was outside of Cache Valley ," Vivian says. Fortunately, Larry asked her if he would like to take a drive through Logan Canyon , and she accepted the invitation. After seeing the grandeur of the canyon, her opinion of Logan improved immensely. "Now I think, how parochial I was!" The invitation Larry made to Vivian to see the canyon was the beginning of a relationship that has continued for almost three decades. They now live in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, where he teaches gross and head and neck anatomy at the Univer ity of Detroit School of Dentistry, and she teaches and coordinates an introductory biology course at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Although they left USU for Michigan in 1971, Vivian and Larry still have fond memories of life as USU graduate students. "It was a wonderful time," Vivian says . "I received so much personal attention. I loved the fact that I could really talk to the teachers." The Andersons have kind word for many of the professors they studied under at USU-Donald Sisson, Thomas Bahler , and Datus Hammond are a few of the professors who the couple say made their time at USU pleasurable .
Golden Aggies Clajjo/'4s 1946." McNeil finished his dentistry degree at the University of Chicago. He also met his wife, Elaine, during this time. From 1948 through I 988, McNeil practiced dentistry in the Chicago area . Even though he is now retired, he continues to work one day per month. He and his wife have 4 children and 10 grandchildren. They live in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin, where they farm and rai e cattle in their free time.
Dean McNeil left his home city of Chicago, Illinois, in I 941 to attend USU, a school in a town he says was "loaded with relatives. My father was from Logan, and my mother was from Salt Lake City," said McNeil. From 1941 through 1943, McNeil studied pre-dental at USU. In 1943, McNeil enlisted in the United States Army, as did many other USU students. "I was in the army seven years," said McNeil, "and I was in still the army when I went back to dental school in Chicago in
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Insights
A Tribute to Harry Otteson 0. fiarry
OtLeJon In March, 1995, 0 . Harry Otteson pa ssed away. In honor of his memory, longtim e fri end, Professor V. Gordon Lind, wrote the following tribute.
warm, friendly, kind, and of high personal integrity. He was universally respected. When he had something to say, those to whom he spoke listened and took heed. Harry served as assistant department head under four department heads and was acting department head for one year. He knew the ropes of getting things done right and everyone depended on him . He always filled his assignments well and filled many tasks behind the scenes for which there was no recognition . He never shirked the extra responsibilities given him, but filled them effectively and took the time needed to do them right. He was an adviser of undergraduates by assignment, but many graduate students and others consulted with him. A few days before his passing, he was chosen as the I 995 Co11ege of Science Adviser of the Year and is currently the College 's nominee for the University Adviser of the Year. Although much of his concentration centered on teaching , advising, and administrative work, he found the time for research. He worked with Eastman Hatch, Robert McAdams, Daines Lund, myself, and several students on nuclear physics research on the huge meson factory (atom smasher) at Los Alamos, conducting several experiments and reporting the results at many national conferences . He was an enormous help setting up the electronics and timing between all of the detectors on our elaborate experiments . Above all, be was a good father and husband. He was gentle and kind and set an example of behavior for his children to follow. He was also a man of deep faith and conviction. His spirituality was part of what be gave to everyone because his love for God made him treat students and his associates with such care and concern. Harry served his church and community well and contributed much to the University and its students. His contributions will be remembered and appreciated for many years to come . We will miss him greatly. He was a great professor and individual to know.
Harry joined the faculty at USU in 1966 as an assistant professor. He served the University in many ways, but teaching was his favorite activity . He always did a good job of teaching and was enjoyed by his students. I remember when Harry received the award as "College of Science Teacher of the Year" in 1982, his teaching evaluations showed that 80% of his students rated him as a 10, the best teacher they ever had. I have never seen a more favorable evaluation. Harry was not flashy as a teacher , but he did give good demonstrations and he put the material across in a nononsense manner, i.e., like everything else, he got down to business, used bis time effectively , and showed the students what they needed to know. They liked this. He liked his students. His affection for the profession showed and the students reflected his interest and concern for them with a caring and concern of depth. ¡ Harry was a lively person . He was a person of action, and thus he liked to get things done and out of the way. He also had little patience for things drawn out, especially meetings. "Let's get to the point and let's get things done ..." was his modus operandi. Everyone who knew Harry liked him, from students to colleagues to administrators. Thus, he had many friends. He was
College of Science Developinent Director Katherine Angelos has been selected as the new College of Science Development Director. She has over five years experience raising funds for education and the arts. Previously, she worked at Salt Lake Community College, University of Utah, and the Utah Symphony. She received a BS degree in mass communications from the University of Utah. She is creative, spirited, and an entrepreneur. Her
success in fund-raising is built around her sensitivity to people of diverse nationalities and educational backgrounds. Katherine says she is "pleased to be part of the College of Science-its quality of instruction and innovative research projects. 11 She says that the college has a great reputation, both in the scientific and local communities. She will help to improve the quality of the College of Science, too. She is looking forward to raising funds for the USU insect collection and the physics observatory and, especially , to implementing a "Science Excellence Campaign" of endowed chairs and fellowships. "These [endowed chairs and fellowships] bring up the level of a college," she says . Katherine enjoys music, nature, biking, and various outdoor sports.
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College of Science
Insi hts
Science Week and Awards Presentation Progra01
a photo album
Photos by Eugene Underwood and Kevin Peaslee
Associate Dean Bri11gh11rst, Assistant Pro1•ostAhlstrom, and Jared 811nch, the new Science Sena/or, have a discussion al 1/JeAwards Program.
To celebrate Science Week, a College of Science st11dent da~zles an onlooker with a dry ice demonstratio,1.
Dean MacMahon presenls Gradua/e S1uden1 Researcher of/he Year award 10 Shaun M. Obom.
Scie11ce Week also sported f11n activities, such as !his barbeque 011 the Quad.
Dea11MacMahon presems Teacher of /he Year award lo Mike Windham.
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Dean MacMahon presents award to Valedictorian Rene Hunter.
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College of Science
The College of Science Honors Outstanding Faculty and Student Achievements Adviser of the Year 0. Harry Otteson, former assistant head and associate professor in the Department of Physics, was selected as College of Science Adviser of the year. According to Physics Department Head W. John Raitt, Otteson spent his entire professional career as a faculty member of the USU Physics Department. "He joined the department in 1966 when research was less competitive, and, though still important, was less time-consuming than at present," said Raitt. "Consequently Dr. Otteson started a tradition of having more time to devote to undergraduate students, both in and out of the classroom, that he has adhered to throughout his long career at USU." Not only was he willing to spend extra time advising students, he also took time to know about undergraduate student issues. "Because of his wealth of knowledge," said Raitt, "he (was) able to deal with student questions effectively and quickly, thereby enhancing his student accessibility." Don L. Lind, a physics professor, said Otteson was "unhurried, reassuring, and in every way considerate of the students' best interests. His gracious, gentle, kindly manner could not be better suited for working with students with the stresses, the conflicts, and all the woes that academic flesh is heir to."
Researcher of the Year W. John Raitt, physics department head, was named Researcher of the Year for the College of Science. Dr. Raitt received BS and PhD degrees from the University of London, King's College. After working at the University of London for a short time, he came to USU in 1977. Since then, he has "done it all," in teaching, administration, and research. When asked for his thoughts about teaching and interacting with his students, Raitt replied, "I certainly believe that students should not rely just on what they hear in the classroom; they should expect to have to fill in and expand what they learn by their own efforts outside the classroom. That's partly the background that I come from; in England it's called 'reading for a degree' ... you go into the classroom to kind of get guided as to what are the important aspects of the subject, but then you are expected to do some additional reading yourself." Dr. Raitt's research is in space science. He has been involved with four space shuttle experiments while at USU. His latest project-the world's first tethered satellite system-is actually a reflight of an experiment that flew in 1992. Launch date for this space shuttle and its on-board projects is scheduled for mid-February of 1996. Dr. Raitt's research is part of a professional space science program funded by the NASA scientific research budget, and reflects the very "cutting edge" of space science and space engineering.
Teacher of the Year Mike Windham, professor in the Mathematics and Statistics Department, has been selected Teacher of the Year for the College of Science. Windham received a BA degree in 1966, and a PhD degree in 1970, both from Rice University. After working at USU the summer of 1970 as a visiting assistant professor, he spent one year at the University of Miami. He then returned to USU in 1971 as a faculty member, and has been here since that time. When asked about hls personal philosophy regarding teaching and education, Windham said he believes students are responsible for their own learning; his responsibility as a professor is to point them in the right direction and to help them to go in that direction. This outlook on teaching is much more than just theoretical-his classes demand students' best efforts. Windham has long been known for grading strictly on performance and not inflating students' grades. His high expectations for students and his professional teaching style are reflected in the following comments from senior students exiting the mathematics and statistics program: "[He] put me through the 'refiners' fire I needed at the outset of my education (Math 222), helped me realize my strengths and the ability I had to persevere. He really cared.
TEACHER Continued
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Insights
TEACHER Conrinued from page 8
"Dr. Windham requires students to do more than repeat the information he distributes. We are given the satisfaction of discovery. Dr. Windham ' s ability to allow students to discover on their own is one of his greatest assets." Peers within the department are also quick to comment on Windham 's effectivenes s as a teacher. Qualities mo t often mentioned include being able to relate well with students , taking the time to direct them in their learning, possessing a dry but appreciable sen e of humor, and exhibiting a thorough understanding of all subject matter. Windham feel truly nonored Lohave recei ved this award from the College of Science . He explain s that when a person devotes a good portion of his life to something, there is "no greater honor than to be recognized for that effort. "
Valedictorian The College of Science congratulates Rene Hunter on being selected Valedictorian for the College of Science . She is majoring in Biology and will graduate with a 4.0 grade point average . "I entered my classes with the attitude that I would give one hundred percent and then be happy with whatever grade I received. Achieving this goal took many hours of dedicated studying." Hunter said. To advance her education, Hunter has worked in two labs. "I first worked at Dr. Nabil Youssefs molecular biology lab as a secretary . Then when he found out I was interested in biology, he gave me the opportunity lo work with genetic re earch , cloning DNA . I was very lucky to work with him," Hunter aid. She now works for Frank Messina in the insect ecology lab. While al USU, Hunter bas served as vice president of Alpha Epsilon Delta , a pre-medical and pre-dental honor society, and he is a member of the Mortar Board. On the side, Hunter enjoy snow and waterskiing , dancing, gymnastics, mountain biking, and rollerblading. "Anything outdoor ," Hunter said . Hunter has applied to medical school and plans to attend next fall.
Scholar of the Year David Stevenson has been selected Scholar of the Year in the College of Science. He is a biology major, working on a research project with the Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Team, as well. "We are looking for P-65, the gene segment N-F Kappa B, in various species," Stevenson said . "We feel that alterations in this gene might cause tumor genesis, or formation of tumors. This gene is found in humans, and if it is located in other species it could serve a big physiological role. If not, the gene probably serves a haverous role. I enjoy learning the research techniques, and I feel that what I am learning is both helpful and interesting." As well as excelling in academics, David is involved in many extracurricular activities at USU. He is the Arts and Lectures Vice President and has worked this year to bring a variety of people like Dan Quayle and the King Singers to USU. He is also an adviser for the Mortar Board. "The Mortar Board focuses on developing leadership in students and performing service for the community," Stevenson said . As hobbies, Stevenson likes to paint, sing, and golf. He has also been in the plays Sweeny Todd, Evita, Myste,y of Edwin Drew, and Midsummer Night's Dream. "I like to be busy with things," he said. "I just plan my time carefully in order to fit it all in."
Graduate Student Researcher of the Year Shaun M. Oborn was named College of Science Graduate Student Researcher of the Year. Oborn is a computer science major. Oborn chose to create a terrain flyby called "Utah the Movie" for his thesis. Using an immense amount of information collected by the College of Natural Resources, Oborn, in his pare time, created the software used to design the flyby and did the animation for it, as well . According to Oborn's major professor, Larre H. Egbert, the animation alone on similar projects is usually produced by teams of IO to 20 people. The result of Oborn's labor, however, is a tour-de-force-the viewer of "Utah the Movie" is whisked through a stunning three-dimensional rendering of Utah. Many organizations have shown interest in Oborn's work. The Utah Olympic Committee, for example , uses a version of the Utah flyby , and the government of Nepal is interested in the oftware as a means of visually exploring pos ible sites for water management purposes. Upon graduation, Oborn plans to stay at USU and continue working on his many projects at the Space Dynamics Laboratory.
AWARDS Continued on page I I
College of Science
Alumnet
Responses
Allan Andrew (PhD 1974, Bacteriology) has been teaching microbiology and immunology at Indiana Univer sity of Penn sylvania since 1974. He was chair of the Biology Department from 1990 to 1993, and since 1994 has been the associate dean for the College Natural Sciences and Math. Ronald R. Bauer (BS 1967, Statistics) received an MBA from Virginia Tech. in 1972. He now is principle for RRBauer t & Associate s, Inc. , a health care information systems con ulting ~ firm located in Savannah , Georgia . He and his wife, Linda, have two sons . His interests include water sports and jogging. His jogging objective is to log 24,900 miles (once around the world) in his lifetime-he has already accumulated over 17,900 miles. Kevin J. Bolland (BS 1986, Medical Technology) received a Physician Assi stant MS from Baylor College of Medicine in 1993. He is currently working in a community health clinic for the underserved population in Yakima, Washington, and he also teaches a course for a physician assistant program based in that community. He andhis wife, Jana , have four children. Joseph E. Borondy (BS J 984 , Medical Technology) wen,t on to get a BS from University of Texas in PerFu ion Technology in 1986. He currently works as a PerFusionist. He runs heart-lung machines during open-heart surgery. He has three children , enjoy golf, and Likes Living in the Mid'we t-though he does miss the mountains. Allison M. Christensen (formerly Goodwin) (BS 1987 , Chemi try) obtained an MA and PhD from Washington University , St. Louis, Missouri . She is currently a po t-doctoral fellow in the Chemistry Department at University of Utah. She is involved in the determination of three-dimen ional retroviral protein structures using NMR. She i married to Shane Chri stensen (see below). They have a on. Shane Christensen (BS 1987, Chell}i try) mar:ried Allison Chri stensen after graduating from USU and moved to St. Louis to study medicine . He received an MD in 1991from St. Louis University , and finished his family practice residency though Utah Affiliated Hospitals in 1994. Currently he performs family practice medicine with the Foothill Famify Practice Group in Salt Lake City, Utah . DeVon W. Griffin (BA 1986, Physics received a PhD in optical sciences from the University of Arizona io 1990. Currently , he is employed by NASA at the Lew¡ Research Center , Cleveland, Ohio . He develops novel opticalmea urement techniques for microgravity combustion experiment and conducts research in soot generation and structure in microgravity . The group with which he work a recognized by NASA for outstanding contributions tQ microgravity combu tion dynamics . He and his wife , MicbeUe,enjoy ........,. gardening and outdoor activities with their three children. 0. Robert Gurgener (BS 1953, Microbiology/ Public Health ) received an MS in Public Health from the Univer sity of California-Berkeley in 1964 and a PhD io environmental
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biology from the University of Utah in 1972. He retired in 1994 after 30 years in the Department of Health Science s at Brigham Young University. While at BYU , he establi shed and supervi sed programs in community health, environmental health science , industrial hygiene , and occupation safety , and he taught cour ses in epidemiology , toxicology, indu strial hygiene , community health, and school health. He received an Outstanding Profes sor Award from Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society . Ervin P. Guymon (BS 1957, Animal Husbandry; PhD 1965,Chemistry) has been a professor at Weber State University, Ogden , tah, for 30 years. He has patents for removal of oil from tar sands , oil from clay , hydrocarbon s from soil, and the washing and cru hing of oil filter . Re J. Prosser (BS 1972, Secondary Education; MS 1973, Botany) received an MSPh from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1982. He entered the US Coast Guard in 1973 . While in the Coa t Guard, he worked in variou positions related to maritime safety and pollution response in New York , Virginia, and Texas. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1993 as a commander. He worked for a marine terminal company in 1993-94, and he now works for Hess Oil as manager of dock operations. He and his wife, Annie, have been married for 26 years. They have two daughters and one grandson. Jack E. Staub (BS 1971, Botany; MS 1973, Botany) worked in the pharmaceutical industry , studying carcinogens and rheir effect on animals , after graduating from USU . He returned to school and received a PhD in horticulture from Penn tate University in 1980. He is now a research horticulturi st and a professor of horticulture at University of WisconsinMadi on. He studie genetics and breeding of cucumbers and melon . He recently published a book on computer-aided instruction of enetic • breeding, and evolution. He and his wife, Frances, have ~daughter. Edward K. Stauffer (BS 1964, Zoology/Pre-Med; MS 1969, Zoology/Physiology) received a PhD in physiology from the University of Arizona in 1974. He has taught neurophy siology at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine for 20 year . He has also performed research in spinal cord regulation of mu cle contraction and neuromodulation of membrane ion chann ls in cultured neurons. He has four children . Thomas J. Suchoski (BS 1977, Geology) received a degree in watershed management from the University of Arizona in 1979. He now lives in Draper, Utah , with his wife , Janice (Grad 1977, Journali sm) , and their five children . He is a member of the Draper City Planning Commission and works for Earthfax Engineering. Ralph G. Willie (BS 1953, Microbiology/Chemistry) obtained a DDS from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1957. He recently retired from denti stry and spend s his pare time taking photograph s of western landscapes , swimming, biking , reading , and writing. He and his wife , Beverly Morrill (Grad 1950), expect to move to Utah in 1995, probably to St. George.
Insights INSECT COLLECTION co11ti11uedfrom page 1
be so swamped we wouldn't know where to put them all." Taxonomists at other institutions borrow specimens from the USU collection for use in basic research. "Since our collection is the largest between Kansas and California, people write to us all the time, and we loan out specimens. Many shipment are ent all over the world. Right now, we have specimens in museums in Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and Slovenia." Hanson said that the University's collection of bees, wasps, aphids, soldier flies, and grasshoppers are particularly outstanding. In addition to these local species, however, is a rapidly growing collection of tropical species. "People take trips around the world, collect insects, and bring them back to USU. These exotic specimens increase the value of the collection as a source of taxonomic research because of the large number of rare and undescribed species in tropical areas. The study of exotic insects also allows for the identification of crop pests that are introduced from
other regions-such as the apple maggot or cherry fruit fly. "When I go to Brazil," Hanson said, "I collect thousands of insects. I always find new ones that have never been discovered. It's exciting to find something new to science." The third purpose of the collection is less research based. Classes, both on and off the USU campus, view the collection to see examples of species. Grade schoo ls, high schools, scouts, and the public come to view the collection-to study and enjoy the species. "Last year alone we had 74 tours," said Hanson. As for origin , the collection has a history of its own. "We don't know the exact date the collection was started, but we can tell an approximation by each tag on the collected data," said Hanson. Insects in the collection have always been tagged according to the date they were found, where they were found, and who collected them. Some insects date to 1894. "We're pretty sure it's at least I00 years old, and it was probably started as a collection of insect pest ." According to Hanson, building the collection has taken years of work. "People don't realize. It's not just catching and pinning bugs. A lot goes on before the insects reach the final display box."
GOLDEN AGGIES continuedfro111 page 4
Dr. James Newey received a pre-med BS degree from USU, a school with which he was quite familiar, having grown only three blocks from campu . Be ides the closenes to campus, he had another connection to the University-his father was a professor in the Mechanical Arts Department from 1920 to 1948, at which time he retired as professor emeritus. After graduating from USU, he attended the University of Utah Medical School for four years. receiving his MD. Afterwards, he performed an internship at the US Public Health Hospital in San Francisco, California. He fulfilled his residency duties at Kaiser Hospital, also located in the Bay Area, and at the Veteran's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Upon finishing his residency, he served in the US Air Force as chief of medical services in Spokane, Washington, until 1954. He then returned to Kaiser Hospital, where he
worked until his retirement in 1980. He specialized in cardiology and internal medicine. He now live in San Rafael, California, with his wife, Elaine, and spends much of his free time in his garden or his woodworking shop. He also enjoys tennis and golf. Dean 0. Porter received a BS degree in Arts and Sciences from USU. While here, he married Eleanor Parkinson (Class of 1941). In 1947, after a 32-month stint as a staff sergeant in the US Army Medical Corps, he completed a DDS degree at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. Following graduation, he and his wife moved back to Logan, where he opened a private practice. He continued his practice for 37 years, until his retirement in 1984. During this time, he was involved with professional study groups and the Utah Dental Association, and he chaired the State Peer Review Committee for two years. Since retirement, Porter has been involved with, among other things, the Lions Club of Logan and the USU Alumni Council.
1995AWARDS Continued from page 9
Graduate Student Teacher of the Year Huey Yan has been selected as Graduate Student Teacher of the Year in the College of Science. Since winter of 1993, she has had a full teaching assistantship for every quarter. During that time, she has received many honors from students and faculty alike. For example, she ha received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and has the highest evaluation score from a class of Math 101 students ever recorded by a teacher at USU. She has has accomplished these accolades by hard work, spending many long nights preparing wellorganized and compelling lecture . Furthermore, she often practices lectures one or two times before actually presenting them to a class. In addition to presenting effective lectures, Yan also pays particular attention to what each student in her clas needs. "Paying attention to students' responses and considering their needs allows me to build their confidence so I can bring out their best performances in the subjects," she says. Yan comes from a family of teachers and she plans a teaching career after graduating from USU, she hopes at Fu-Jen Catholic University, TaiPei, Taiwan.
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Dear College of Science Alumni and Friends, There have been numerous changes in the College since the last edition of this newsletter. We have a new development director, some new professors, and an influx of new students. There is, however, one thing that has not changed--our interest in you! Please return the form below and let us know what you are doing. This information not only reacquaints us, but it also gives us an idea of areas of interest for future issues. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Name USU Degree(s) (year) Other Degrees (year, school) Address About Yourself
Insights was produced by English Department interns Laura Clark, Alan Leavitt, Julie Lundell, and Kevin Peaslee. Special thanks
to: Jim MacMahon, Wilford J. Hanson, Michael Parent, Sue Morgan, and V. Gordon Lind. Project Coordinator and Editor: Colette Yates. Intern Coordinator and Editor: Kevin Peaslee. Editorial Services: Linda Keith. Photography: Eugene Underwood and Kevin Peaslee.
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