Dialog, UA Faculty and Staff News

Outstanding Graduate Students Honored
Wright to Retire June 30

UA graduate students (L-R) Jennifer Myer, Andrea Porter and Baker Lawley are among the recipients of the 2003 UA Outstanding Graduate Student Awards.

by Laura Medders

The UA Graduate School has announced the recipients of the 2003 Outstanding Graduate Student awards to be presented during Honors Week. The award categories are Outstanding Dissertation, Outstanding Thesis, Outstanding Teaching by a Master's Student, Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student, Outstanding Research by a Master's Student, and Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student.

Three separate committees reviewed the nominations from the divisions for the UA graduate awards. Committees of faculty emeriti selected the thesis and dissertation winners. The Graduate Council's Committee on Teaching and Research Awards evaluated the nominations for the four awards for excellence in teaching and excellence in research.

The committees have selected the following students as recipients of the 2003 UA Graduate School awards:

Yongjun Chu, chemistry, received the Outstanding Thesis Award for "Synthesis and Characterization of Nonnatural DNA with Novel Nucleosides." His adviser is Dr. Stephen Woski, associate professor of chemistry.
Baker Lawley, English and creative writing, received the Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Master's Student. Lawley taught five different English courses while maintaining a perfect academic record and publishing fiction pieces. The nominating committee said he is a focused, innovative and mature instructor who has an ability to excite and motivate his students to appreciate their own writing and that of others.
Jennifer Myer, anthropology, received the Award for Outstanding Research by a Master's Student. Myer conducted the Black Warrior Survey anthropological project with virtual independence. The nominating committee said her research in determining the constraints on settlement location is innovative and her findings have already caught the attention of scholars at several universities.
Andrea Porter, English, received the Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student. A member of the nominating committee said Porter is among the best graduate instructors he has worked with during his long career. In Porter's statement of goals in teaching, she said that she developed her method of teaching by learning both from teachers who have challenged her and those who have not met her expectations.
Dr. Susan Thompson, mass communication, received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for "The Antebellum Penny Press." Her adviser was Dr. David Sloan, professor of journalism.
Ann Visser, chemistry, received the Award for Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student. Her research has focused on the use of metal ion extractants, designed for use in traditional solvent extraction, applied successfully in Aqueous Biphasic Systems and Ionic Liquid systems. Visser currently has more than 20 papers in print or in press. Visser's work has led to increased UA collaborations with Argonne National Laboratory and other national laboratories.

Wright to Retire June 30

Robert A. Wright

Robert A. Wright, UA vice president for financial affairs and treasurer, has announced his plans to retire on June 30. Wright has served 23 years in this position. He began his career at the University in 1968 when he left Ernst and Ernst in Atlanta to become UA's chief accountant. He served the University as assistant vice president for financial affairs from 1976-80, and earlier as comptroller and associate comptroller.

"Bob Wright has served The University of Alabama with great dedication and ability for 35 years," said UA President Robert E. Witt. "In the short time I have been with the University, I have come to rely on his knowledge, experience and judgment."

Last year, Wright delayed his planned retirement to support Interim President Barry Mason. He again delayed his retirement plans this spring to assist Witt. "I am pleased he agreed to assist me as I work through my first budget cycle at the University," Witt said. "We are in Bob Wright's debt for his outstanding service."

Witt said Reba Essary, UA associate vice president for finance, has agreed to serve as interim vice president for financial affairs while a search is conducted. The interim appointment is effective July 1.