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Crawford-Parker wins Hughes award

Doug Crawford-Parker, lecturer in English, has won the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award for poetry.

Parker received his master's in creative writing from Wichita State University and a master's and doctorate in English from KU.

The award is sponsored each year by the Lawrence Arts Center and the Raven Bookstore to recognize achievement of emerging writers in Douglas County. Parker, along with Jean Grant, who won for fiction, was awarded $500 and was invited to read at the Lawrence Arts Center on Feb. 1, Langston Hughes' birthday.

Aaronson elected to nursing board

Lauren Aaronson

Lauren Aaronson, professor of nursing, was recently elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Nursing. Aaronson's two-year appointment runs through November 2008.

Aaronson started with the School of Nursing in 1989 as associate dean for research and oversaw a research program that witnessed a dramatic increase in external research funding. In 2001, she returned to full-time teaching and research. In January 2004, she spent two years at the National Institutes of Health as a senior adviser to the director of the National Institute of Nursing Research.

Humphrey takes post at museum

Jen Humphrey has been hired as the communications officer for the Museum of Natural History and Biodiversity Institute. She will start March 12.

In the position, she will direct internal and external communications for the museum and institute, including promotion of the museum and the institute's research programs. She will also work to increase public participation in the museum and its programs.

Humphrey, a senior editor at KU Endowment, has been with the office nearly eight years. She holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and English, both from KU, and is a candidate for a master's in English.

Williams elected to national academy

Kristine Nordlie Williams, assistant professor of nursing, has been elected a distinguished practitioner-member of the National Academies of Practice.

Williams was installed at a gala membership banquet in Arlington, Va., at which the organization inducted new members from 10 health care professions.

"I am honored to participate in this interdisciplinary organization addressing national health issues and access to care," Williams said.

The National Academies of Practice was founded in 1981 in recognition of the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in health care. It is comprised of distinguished practitioners and scholars from all of the primary health professions: dentistry, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, medicine, psychology, podiatric medicine, social work, veterinary medicine and pharmacy.

Only 150 distinguished members are elected to membership. Each year, the organization sponsors a forum on aspects of interdisciplinary collaboration.

NOTABLE ALUMS

Alumnus George Brown blazed a new trail in American politics. Brown was the first African-American elected lieutenant governor in the United States (1974) and first African-American elected to statewide office in Colorado.