KU people

BUSINESS: Guthrie, Poppo win Guy O. and Rosa Lee Mabry Best Paper Awards

Each year, the School of Business awards two Guy O. and Rosa Lee Mabry Best Paper Award. The awards, which include a $1,500 prize, are given annually to recognize and encourage outstanding research by faculty members. This year, James Guthrie and Laura Poppo were selected from 12 entries to receive the award. Guthrie, the William and Judy Docking Professor of Business, submitted his article, “Dumb and Dumber: The Impact of Downsizing on Firm Performance as Moderated by Industry Conditions,” (with Deepak Datta) published in Organization Science in January 2008. Poppo, associate professor and Fred Ball Faculty Fellow in Business, submitted her article, “Alternative Origins to Interorganizational Trust: An Interdependence Perspective on the Shadow of the Past and the Shadow of the Future,” (with Kevin Zhou and Sungmin Ryu) also published in Organization Science in January 2008. The awards are funded by an endowed gift from School of Business alumnus Guy Mabry.

LIBRARIES: Whittaker to lead Spencer Research Library

KU alumna Beth M. Whittaker will become the next head of KU’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library, effective Nov. 1.

Whittaker is head of special collections cataloging at Ohio State University, a position she has held since 2000. She has also been a librarian for original cataloging of special collections, manuscripts and archives at Cushing Memorial Library at Texas A&M University.

Whittaker was appointed editor of RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Cultural Heritage, the premier journal in the field, in 2008. Additionally, she is active in the rare books and manuscripts section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from KU, as well as master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Texas-Austin.

Sheryl Williams, who has been serving as interim head of Spencer Research Library, will become the first curator for collections at the library, also effective Nov. 1. Williams also will continue as curator of the library’s Kansas Collection.

PHARMACY: Howard to help develop guidelines for chest physicians

Patricia Howard, professor and vice chair of pharmacy practice in the KU School of Pharmacy, has been selected to help write recommendations that will guide physicians who treat a common cardiac disorder.

Howard was chosen by the American College of Chest Physicians to help write a chapter of guidelines dealing with antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy. She specializes in atrial fibrillation, the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia. It affects an estimated 2.5 million people in the United States, and its prevalence increases with advancing age. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in the heart, which can travel to the brain and cause strokes. Howard will research the benefits and risks associated with the antithrombotic medications that are commonly used to prevent the formation of blood clots and reduce the risk of stroke.

Howard will review and grade existing literature and recent clinical trials dealing with stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and team with colleagues to write recommendations for practitioners to prevent the condition. Her chapter will be included in “Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines 9th edition.” The recommendations are highly regarded by practicing physicians.

Howard has more than 25 years’ experience in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and has practiced at the KU Medical Center since 1981. She has a secondary joint appointment as professor of internal medicine-cardiology at the KU School of Medicine and is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist with qualifications in cardiology.

JOURNALISM: Ward receives award for creativity

Doug Ward, assistant professor of journalism at KU has received the 2009 John Katich Award for Creativity from the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The $1,000 award is named in honor of John Katich, a dedicated teacher who loved students and inspired them to excel. He was on the journalism faculty from 1986 until his death in October 2001. Among his achievements were the establishment of the sales curriculum, the enhancement of the professionalism of KJHK radio and the creation of KUJH-TV. Katich’s commitment to students and accomplishments as a teacher inspired the school, his family and his friends to establish the award.

Ward has been at the school of journalism since 2004. He is a former staff editor for the New York Times, where he worked on the business, national and metropolitan desks and contributed to the New York Times Book Review. He earned his master’s degree in journalism, with honors, from KU in 1991 and his doctorate in mass communication with a minor in American cultural history from the University of Maryland in 1996.

BUSINESS: Curless appointed to American Italian Pasta Co. board

American Italian Pasta Co. has appointed Cathleen Curless, lecturer in business, as a director. Curless will serve in the role through the company's 2012 annual meeting.

The move increases the company's board membership to 10, including nine outside directors. Curless is an expert in strategic planning and information technology systems integration and implementation. She served as chief information officer of Payless Shoesource Worldwide from 2001 to 2007, overseeing the company's global IT systems portfolio.

LIFESPAN: Williams promoted to senior scientist at LSI Parsons

Dean Williams was promoted to the rank of senior scientist at Life Span Institute at Parsons by Chancellor Robert Hemenway, effective with his 2009-10 appointment. Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, in his congratulatory letter, said, “Promotion in rank, coming as it does as a result of evaluation and recommendation by one’s peers, is the most visible way the university has to recognize achievement and merit.”

RESEARCH: Heppert named associate vice provost for research, graduate studies

Joseph Heppert, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, will assume new duties in the fall as an associate vice provost for research and graduate studies and a vice president of the KU Center for Research Inc.

He will initially serve part time in that role, becoming full time on Jan. 1, and will report to Steve Warren, vice provost for research and graduate studies.

Heppert will succeed George Wilson, the Higuchi Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, who announced last fall that he would be stepping down as associate vice provost at the end of 2009. The two will work together during the fall semester.

The associate vice provost shares oversight of research administration, strategic planning and other responsibilities. Heppert will have specific oversight of the Higuchi Biosciences Center, Information Telecommunication and Technology Center, Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis, Kansas Geological Survey, Kansas Biological Survey, Animal Care Unit and all University Core Lab Facilities. He will also have primary responsibility for issues related to research space and infrastructure.

Other associate vice provosts in research and graduate studies are Joshua Rosenbloom and Sara Rosen. Both are vice presidents of the KU Center for Research, and Rosen is also dean of graduate studies.

GEO SURVEY: Butler earns pioneer in groundwater award

A groundwater specialist at the Kansas Geological Survey has received a career achievement award from an institute within the nation’s oldest engineering society.

Jim Butler, survey senior scientist and geohydrologist, is the recipient of the 2009 Pioneers in Groundwater Award from the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was presented the award at the annual World Environmental and Water Resources Congress in May in Kansas City, Mo.

Butler’s research includes exploring the interaction between surface water in streams and groundwater in aquifers; ways to measure the permeability of underground rocks; and the impact of water-hungry plants, such as cottonwoods, willows and salt cedar, on water resources.

Butler is author of many scientific papers and the book “The Design, Performance and Analysis of Slug Tests,” which examines a method commonly used during the investigation of ground-water-contamination sites.

BUSINESS: Rana wins Beth Bovee Staff Excellence Award

The School of Business’ 2009 Beth Bovee Staff Excellence Award has been given to Waqas Rana, an administrative associate senior in the management department. School of Business faculty give the award each year to a staff member who has proven to be someone who provides distinguished service, is happy in their work, pleasing to work with and courteous in their interactions with others. The award includes a $5,000 prize.

STUDY ABROAD: Lorenz named permanent director of Office of Study Abroad

Sue Lorenz has been named permanent director of the Office of Study Abroad. She had been interim director since January.

Prior to leading the office in the interim, Lorenz worked for the University Honors Program, most recently as associate director. In her new position, she will oversee the office and its 14 staff members, including two in Costa Rica and one in Spain.

Lorenz said she hopes to continue the office’s success in helping students study outside of the United States and increase collaboration between the office’s staff and KU students and faculty.

Lorenz was an academic adviser at Washburn University in Topeka for seven years before coming to KU. She was also the director of the writing center at Bowling Green University.

FINANCE: Comptroller’s office announces organizational changes

Katrina Yoakum has been named KU comptroller. Yoakum has a master’s in accountancy, is a certified public accountant and has worked in the comptroller’s office for six years as assistant comptroller. The Comptroller Administration, Central Accounting Services, Payroll Services, Bursar, Financial Management Systems and Financial Reporting Services offices all report directly to the comptroller.

Barry Swanson has been named director of Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing. Swanson will report to Diane Hoose Goddard, vice provost for finance, but work closely with Yoakum and other units of the comptroller’s office.

Jeanne Rooney has taken on the role of assistant to the vice provost, and her new responsibilities include designing and implementing a campus financial management training program, assisting with the development of a risk management/compliance function for campus and assisting with various other initiatives for members of the provost’s office.

Swanson was also recently awarded the prestigious David H. Lord Cooperative Purchasing Award at this year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress annual meeting in Providence, R.I.

Swanson was recognized for his leadership career in public procurement and contributions to the cooperative’s membership.

Swanson has been instrumental in re-engineering the higher education landscape and competitive process at KU. He has spearheaded a three-year pilot program on campus, aimed at establishing a streamlined approach to more effectively serve campus departmental needs while making greater use of cooperative contracts. The David H. Lord E&I Cooperative Purchasing Award was created to honor long-time E&I President David Lord. The award recognizes a member who has made exceptional contributions to E&I and its membership over a comprehensive period of time through volunteerism in the area of cooperative purchasing.

STUDENT SUCCESS: Nemeth Tuttle recognized by Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Kathryn Nemeth Tuttle, associate vice provost for student success, was honored recently by the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City at its annual "Celebration of Women" event. Other honorees include former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the women of the Kansas City Mo. City Council, Links Inc. and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, among many other distinguished women of the region.

Nemeth Tuttle will appear in a commemorative journal published annually by the Women’s Foundation to recognize and celebrate area women and girls. Since 1993, it has included more than 2,000 tributes to remarkable women and girls.

HISTORY: Worster wins Ambassador Book Award

The English-Speaking Union of the United States has given its 2009 Ambassador Book Award to Donald Worster for his book “A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir,” in the biography category. The Ambassador Book Awards are given to works that make "an outstanding contribution to interpreting the life and culture of the United States for people abroad." Recent winners of the award include David Levering Lewis, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Nasaw and David McCullough. The awards ceremony will take place June 4 in New York City.