Dole Institute names new administrators

Stephen McAllister, dean of law and interim director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, has named Jonathan Earle, assistant professor of history, associate director for academic programming at the institute. Earle started the new position Dec. 1 on a quarter-time basis, with the rest of his appointment in the Department of History. Richard Konzem will serve as interim associate director for administration. His assignment is effective Dec. 22.

KU Medical Center administrator promoted to vice chancellor

The KU Medical Center has promoted Thomas L. Noffsinger to the new post of vice chancellor for research administration. Noffsinger had been associate vice chancellor for research administration since 2000. He will continue as executive director of the University of Kansas Research Institute Inc., a post he has held since 1992.

KUSM-W prof to lead board of American College of Physicians

Donna Sweet, professor of internal medicine, is the chair-elect designee for the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians. She will assume duties as chair-elect in April and will become chairwoman in April 2005. Sweet became a professor at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita’s Department of Internal Medicine in 1993. She is the founder and principal investigator for the Kansas AIDS Education Training Center and serves as the director and principal investigator for the medical school’s Ryan White III Comprehensive AIDS Resources program.

Former ISSS employee returns as associate director

Daphne Johnston recently was named associate director of International Student and Scholar Services, where she will be responsible for directing and coordinating international undergraduate admissions and recruitment activity. Johnston replaces Sandy Gault, who recently left KU to join a private credential evaluation service in Chicago. From 1988 to 1998, Johnston held positions as assistant, associate and interim director of the office. She resumed an interim role as assistant dean in the Graduate School during the fall semester of 2003.

KPR director named chair of broadcast advocacy group

The head of Kansas Public Radio now also is the head of the state’s advocacy group for public broadcasting. Janet Campbell, director of KPR and the Audio-Reader Network, was elected chair of the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council on Nov. 21. The Kansas Public Broadcasting Council comprises the chief executive officers of the 10 public radio stations and TV stations in the state. It keeps the Kansas Legislature advised of issues relating to public broadcasting and distributes state funds to stations.

KU grad hired as KJHK general manager

Andrew Dierks is the new general manager for KJHK. Dierks graduated from KU in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. While at KU, he served as assistant music director and music director of KJHK.
Since graduating, Dierks worked as the assistant to the board of directors for the Lincoln Park Zoo near Chicago. He also has worked as a recruiter for McKinsey & Company, a Chicago-based management consulting firm. Dierks will begin his job Jan. 5, 2004. The creation of this position is the first step in the transition of KJHK from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications to the KU Memorial Unions.

Former faculty member to create indigenous law center in New York

Robert Odawi Porter, former director of KU’s tribal law and government center, returned last month to Syracuse University, his alma mater, where he was hired to develop the College of Law’s new Center for Indigenous Law, Governance & Citizenship. He left KU in 2001to take a law school teaching job at the University of Iowa. Porter’s wife, Odie, who was formerly KU’s budget director and who also is a Seneca Indian, was hired by Syracuse to be the university's assistant provost in charge of planning and analysis.