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Colombo to lead Life Span Institute

John Colombo, associate director for cognitive neuroscience at the Life Span Institute and professor of psychology, has been named interim director of the institute.

A veteran administrator, faculty member and researcher, Colombo will lead the one of the nation's largest research programs on human development and developmental disabilities. He assumes the position held by Steve Warren, who became vice provost for research and graduate studies on March 1.

Colombo came to KU in 1982 as a research associate and then principal investigator for the institute. As associate director for cognitive neuroscience, he has led KU's multidisciplinary efforts to study the neural process that underlies behavior, thought, language and learning.

Klaasen lauded for drug metabolism

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics will honor a KU Medical Center professor with the 2008 Bernard B. Brodie Award in Drug Metabolism.

Curtis Klaassen, University Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics at the medical center, will receive the biennial award for his pioneering work in drug uptake, drug metabolism and drug excretion by the liver.

The award recognizes Klaassen's contributions not only to drug development and its accompanying fields but also to environmental concerns. Klaassen joined the faculty in 1968 and has published more than 400 peer-reviewed articles.

The award will be presented April 5 at the society's annual meeting in San Diego.

Matthew Burke

Burke chosen for three art residencies

Matthew Burke, assistant professor of sculpture, was accepted to attend three artist residencies in 2008. Burke will attend the Ragdale Foundation artist residency this month, the Salina Art Center Residency Program in July and the Vermont Studio Center Residency in the fall.

Burke's first residency will take place at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Ill.

In July, Burke will attend the Salina Art Residency Program, a four-week residency that aims at creating increased opportunities for in-depth community interaction with artists.

Burke will then attend a fall program at the Vermont Studio Center Residency in Johnson, Vt., the largest artists' and writers' residency program in the United States.

Continuing Ed announces changes

Fred Pawlicki, executive director of Continuing Education, has announced several organizational changes in the division's academic and professional programs.

Jim Peters

Jim Peters, director of marketing, has been named director of professional programs and communications. He will succeed Marvin Hunt, who is leaving KU. As director, Peters will oversee noncredit professional development programs and academic conferences. He will retain responsibility for marketing, but a search for a new marketing manager will take place.

Peters joined Continuing Education in 2005. Before joining KU, he was marketing director at Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. in Dubuque, Iowa. He holds a bachelor's from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and a law degree from the New England School of Law in Boston.

David Wilson will become director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Kevin Curry has been promoted to senior program manager. They will report to Peters.

Soma Chakrabarti has been named director of the Aerospace Engineering Short Course program. Chakrabarti, who had previously been the program's manager, will now report to Pawlicki. All changes take effect April 1.

White appointed to council by governor

Glen White, director of the Research and Training Center for Independent Living, has been appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to a three-year term on the State Rehabilitation Council, which provides advice and support to Kansas Rehabilitation Services.

Members represent stakeholders in employment-related services for people with disabilities, current and former consumers of vocational rehabilitation services, advocacy organizations, service providers, parents, business/industry and special education. Individuals with disabilities constitute nearly 60 percent of the council's membership.

Angie Loving

Loving joins HR/EO in liaison capacity

Angie Loving joined Human Resources and Equal Opportunity March 10 as a special projects manager and research liaison. In addition to the liaison role, Loving will serve as an HR/EO resource on international employment topics; coordinate development of HR/EO topic-specific training activities; interpret policies and assist with personnel actions for unclassified professional staff and graduate student employees; and coordinate special projects. Loving has worked at KU for six years in Research and Graduate Studies.

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NOTABLE ALUMS:

Liliana Mayo recently received the Peruvian government's highest decoration for outstanding service. Mayo earned a master's in human development and family life in 1986 and a doctorate in developmental and child psychology in 1996, both from KU. Mayo is founder and director of the Life Span Institute affiliate Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru. Located in Lima, Peru, the institute works with children and adults with developmental disabilities. Mayo has been an honorary associate professor in the Department of Applied Behavioral Sciences since 1996 and received the Distinguished Service Citation in 2003, the highest honor given by KU.