University Speaker Bios
France Belanger
Associate Professor - Accounting and Information
Systems
Ph.D., University of South Florida
Presentation Research Matter:
- Managing and Working in Distributed Environments
- Creating Consumer Trust in E-Commerce
- Developing Successful Telework Programs (or teleworking successfully)
- Evaluating Citizen Adoption of E-government Services
- Designing Successful Websites
- The future of Internet Voting
- Privacy of Children Online
Fred Benfield
Professor - Ecology
Associate Department Head - Biology
Presentation Subject Matter:
Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology and the history of streams
in the Appalachian region.
Rosemary Blieszner
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Human Development
Associate Director - Center for Gerontology
Adjunct Professor - Department of Sociology
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Primary Academic Interests
Adult Development and Aging
Family Studies
Current Research
Family and Friend Relationships and Well Being in Old Age
Use of Community Services by Rural Elders and Their Families
Support for Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Their Families
Bob Bodnar
University Distinguished Professor and C.C. Garvin Professor of Geochemistry
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State, 1985
Co-Chair of the Geosciences Department and C. C. Garvin Professor of Geochemistry.
Topic: Mount St. Helen and Other Volcanoes
I have lots of good pictures and stories of my travel around the world to study volcanoes. I have also visited Italy and the Etna volcano which is currently erupting.
Charles W. Bostian
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Electrical and Computing Engineering
Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1967
Teaching Interests:
Satellite communications
Research Interests:
Satellite and wireless telecommunications, RF design, Technology and business interactions
Ezra "Bud" Brown
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Mathematics
Ph.D., LSU, 1969
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Mathematics of Entertainment: The Entertainment of Mathematics is a public lecture I gave last year for Math Awareness Month.
Love Letters, M&Ms, and Circe's Cave is a talk (have given on over 20 occasions) on the mathematics of computer security; it uses ordinary examples and includes audience participation. Think DaVinci Code!
Virginia Buechner-Maxwell
Associate Professor - Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
D.V.M., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1987
MS Veterinary Clinical Medicine VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine;
MS Cell and Molecular Biology,
Department of Biology,
University of Pennsylvania;
BA Biology and Secondary Education, Goucher College;
Board Certification - Diplomate, Large Animal Internal Medicine
Membership in Professional Associations
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 1991
- ACVIM Credentials Review Board: Review of Case Reports 1997-2000
- ACVIM Credentials Review Board: Sub-committee Chair 1998, 1999
- ACVIM Speaker Committee Member, Equine Internal Medicine, 2001- 2002
- ACVIM Equine Forum, Speaker Chairperson, 2002-present
- ACVIM Examination Question Submission, Qualifying and Certifying Examinations, 1996-1998
Comparative Respiratory Society since 1995, Board of Directors, 2002- present
American Association of Equine Practitioners since 1998
American Veterinary Medical Association since 1996
American Thoracic Society since 1993
Phi Zeta Honor Society since 1991
Research Interests:
Equine Airway Disease and Immunology
Equine Neonatology
Equine Nutrition
Honors and Awards:
Sigma Xi Research Award, 1980.
Graduate Student Scientific Presentation Award VMRCVM Research Day, 1990, 1991
Arthur L. Buikema Jr.
Professor of Ecology, Environmental Science, Evolution and Systematics
Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture
Ph.D., The University of Kansas, 1970
Major Areas of Research Interest:
Experimental methods in teaching introductory biology
Resistance to change in teaching - issues for faculty Zooplankton ecology
Teaching strategies of GTAs and their effect on students.
Physiological effects of stress to aquatic invertebrate species and communities
Aquatic ecotoxicology
Environmental Impact Assessment
John Burns
Professor - Mathematics
Director - Center for Optimal Design And Control
Ph.D., The University of Oklahoma, 1973
Presentation Subject Matter:
How one group of mathematicians at Virginia Tech are working on the following problems:
- Control of SARs epidemics
- Micro sized airplanes
- Understanding how cancer cells grow
- Designing wind tunnels and jet engines
- Growing new materials that are only 5 or 6 molecules thick
The idea is to describe these problems in a form that anyone can understand and then to tell how research in mathematics has lead to big improvements in current technologies and their applications to aerospace, biology, defense and medicine.
Kevin D. Carlson
Associate Professor - Department of Management
Ph.D., University of Iowa
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
Bill Carstensen
Professor - Geography
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1979
Professor of Geography at Virginia Tech, Dr. Carstensen teaches courses in cartography and Geographic Information systems. These courses include map reading, map production and design, programming of cartographic software, and Geographic Information Systems.
Research:
Dr. Carstensen's current research interests lie mainly in the application of Geographic Information Systems to design and layout of Wireless Telecommunications Systems. He is an affiliate of the Center for Wireless Telecommunications and was PI on the GETWEBS project (Geographic Engineering Tool for Wireless: Evaluation of Broadband Systems) that has recently completed with a truly innovative course co-taught by a geographer, an Electrical Engineer (Charles Bostian), and a Finance Professor (George Morgan). His specialization is propagation modeling via GIS software application development. His more general interests include all aspects of GIS modeling.
Eloise Coupey Jones
Associate Professor - Marketing
Ph.D., Duke University, 1990
Presentation Subject Matter:
Living in a Digital World
Being Material in a Digital World
Presentation Research Matter:
Half Full, or Half Empty? Influences on the Decisions We Make
Understanding judgment and choice; how we make decisions, and the factors that affect the quality of the decisions we make. This is an engaging topic, simply because there are so many examples of really odd strategies and reasons for people's choices.
Paul Antonie Distler
Alumni Distinguished Professor - School of the Arts
Director - School of the Arts
Ph.D., Tulane University, 1963
Teaching Areas:
Arts Administration, Directing, History of Drama, American Popular Entertainment
Harry Dorn
Professor - Physical Chemistry
Director - Virginia Tech Center for Self-Assembled Nano-Devices
Ph.D., University of California - Davis, 1974
Presentation Subject Matter:
I have given talks on buckyballs, nanotubes, and nanotechnology to several lay groups. Congress just passed the new nanotechnology bill (3.7 billion dollars), but many people do not know about this new nanotechnology area (and what VT is doing).
Mike Ellerbrock
Professor - Agricultural Policy and Trade
Ph.D., Clemson University, 1980
M.R.P.A. Clemson University, 1975;
B.S. Texas A&M University, 1974;
Assistant Professor, University of Florida, 1980-83;
Professor, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences,
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas A&M - Commerce (formerly East Texas State University), 1983-92
Presentation Subject Matter:
Environmental and macro economics, agricultural and economic ethics, natural resources conflict resolution, educational philosophy, science and religion, K-12 social studies curricula.
Publications:
19 refereed journal articles, 2 book chapters, 73 conference papers/proceedings and extension reports, lead author of Commonwealth Governor's Report on Environmental Education, 2 CD ROM tutorials, and 6 theological articles.
Professional Service:
SAEA Secretary-Treasurer, 1988-90; Teaching Award Selection Committee, 1992 and 2002; AAEA Newsletter Editor, 1990-93; Teaching Award Selection Committee, 1988-90; Resident Instruction Workshop presenter, 1989 & 1992; Chair of Economic Education Committee, 1995-97.
Other:
Undergraduate Advisor, UF, ETSU, Virginia Tech; Kellogg Leadership Program on Environmental Conflict Resolution; Chaplain to Virginia Tech Football Team; USDA 4-H National Task Force on Youth Entrepreneurship; Economic Analyst, U.S. Water Pollution Control Federation.
Asim Esen
Professor - Genetics
Presentation Subject Matter:
Plant molecular biology and how genes translate into function.
Joe Falkinham
Professor - Biology
Presentation Subject Matter:
Organisms in our water
Rick Fell
Professor - Entomology
Ph.D., Cornell University
Member of the University Academy of Teaching Excellence, Dr. Fell obtained his M.S. and PhD. degrees from Cornell University and specializes in honey bee biology, insect behavior, and forensic entomology.
He teaches a number of different courses including insect biology, bees and beekeeping, insect behavior, and insects and human society, as well as a study abroad course in South Africa.
His current research involves the reproductive physiology of honey bees, the feeding and foraging behavior of ants, and forensic entomology. He is willing to speak on a variety of topics, including the social organization of the honey bee colony, forensic entomology, insects in the Civil War, and "Insex - the lighter side of insect mating behavior".
E. Scott Geller
Alumni Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Director, Center for Applied Behavior Systems -
Clinical Psychology Program
Ph.D. Southern Illinois University, 1969
Research and Teaching Interests:
Development and evaluation of behavior change strategies to improve quality of life.
Behavioral community interventions for litter control, resource recovery, energy conservation, crime prevention, transportation management, safety belt promotion, the reduction of alcohol impaired driving, injury control, and child survival in underdeveloped countries.
Industrial performance science for occupational health and safety.
Ellington Graves
Assistant Professor - Sociology
Associate Director - Race and Social Policy Research Center
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Graves currently teach classes on sociological theory, social inequality and race and ethnic relations.
Presentation Research Matter:
Racial inequality and racism, racial identity, and the role of culture and ideology in representations of inequality.
Terry Herdman
Professor - Mathematics Department
Director - Interdisciplinary Center For Applied Mathematics
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1974
Presentation Subject Matter:
I could talk about research computing at Virginia Tech including:
Why we need a 2200 processor G5 cluster research computing applications (layman's terms)
Need for Interdisciplinary teams to address problem of interest in 2004.
Janine Hiller
Professor of Business Law - Department of Finance, Insurance and Business Law
J.D., University of Richmond, 1981
Presentation Subject Matter:
Internet Law and current issues in this area
Barbara Hoopes
Associate Professor - Department of Business Information Technology
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bio information is available at http://mba.nvc.vt.edu/mba/Hoopes.aspx.
For research see the article from Spring 2002 in the MBA Newsletter at http://www.mba.vt.edu/news/spring02/dea.html which is a talk about measuring operational efficiency and performance in a variety of settings.
Presentation Subject Matter:
My experience with the part-time MBA program in Northern Virginia
"Why should you consider getting an MBA?"
Professional seminars in quantitative business decision making and life-cycle cost analysis around the world.
John Husser
Professor - Bassoon, Saxophone
Department Head - Music Department
M.M., Ohio State University
Presentation Subject Matter:
State of Music in the Digital Age
New Performing Arts Center
Responsibilities of arts teachers in public schools in the current times
Tom Inzana
Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Professor of Bacteriology - Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, 1982
Dr. Inzana is the Tyler J. and Frances F. Young Professor of Bacteriology in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, and formerly Director of The Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases in the Veterinary School. Dr. Inzana is also Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Inzana is a diplomat of The American Board of Medical Microbiology and a Fellow of The American Academy for Microbiology. He received his Ph.D. from The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Inzana's research interests focus on the molecular basis of bacterial capsules and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in virulence and pathogenesis, and the host response to bacterial pathogens. Dr. Inzana's current research focus is on bacteria in the family Pasteurellaceae and on Francisella tularensis.
Robert Jones
Professor & Department Head - Plant Ecology
Ph.D., Forest Ecology, SUNY-ESF Syracuse, 1986
Presentation Subject Matter:
Ecology and importance of forests.
Greg Justice
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator - Theatre Arts
M.F.A., The Pennsylvania State University
B.F.A., University of Utah
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Art of Business:
Using Acting Techniques in Training, Sales and Corporate Communication.
Using Acting Techniques to Improve Teaching and Learning
Greg Kadlec
Finance Professor
"Stale Pricing" of mutual fund shares that creates opportunities for exploitation by some investors at the expense of others.
With growing interest in reforming the mutual fund industry, Kadlec's work has begun to reach a wider audience. His research on fund trading costs was cited in the testimony of SEC and industry officials before the House of Representatives subcommittee on the Mutual Funds Integrity and Fee Transparency Act. He had also served as an expert source for the media, including reporters from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press.
Michael Karmis
Stonie Barker Professor
Director, Virginia Center for Coal & Energy Research
Ph.D., Strathclyde, 1974
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Future of Coal
David Kohl
Professor Emeritus - Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management
Ph.D., Cornell University, 1978
Dr. Kohl received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University in 1976 and 1978, respectively. From August 1978 through June 2003, Kohl was Professor of Agricultural Finance and Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, Virginia. From June 1999 through May 2001, Dave was on special leave working on cutting-edge initiatives that will strategically position the Royal Bank of Canada in the marketplace. Afterwards, he resumed his academic duties at Virginia Tech. Kohl is currently Professor Emeritus in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech.
Kohl has traveled over 5.1 million miles throughout his professional career! He has conducted more than 3,000 workshops and seminars for agricultural groups such as bankers, Farm Credit, FSA, and regulators, as well as producer and agribusiness groups. He has published four books and over 400 articles on financial and business-related topics in journals, extension, and other popular publications. Kohl regularly writes for Farm Journal, Top Producer, Ag Lender, Journal of Agricultural Lending, and Soybean Digest.
He has received 11 major teaching awards while teaching over 10,000 students, and 8 major Extension and Public Service awards from Virginia Tech, Cornell University, and state and national organizations. Kohl is a two-time recipient of the prestigious American Agricultural Economics Association's Outstanding Teaching Award. Kohl is only one of five professors in the 85-year history of the Association to receive the award twice. He received the Governor's award for his distinguished service to Virginia agriculture, the youngest recipient to receive this award.
Kohl has addressed the American Bankers Agricultural Conference for 25 consecutive years, and has appeared before numerous state bankers' schools and conferences throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the world.
As facilitator of the United States Farm Financial Standards Task Force and member of the Canadian Agricultural Financial Standards Task Force, Dr. Kohl was one of the leaders in establishing guidelines for the standardized reporting and analysis of agricultural producers' financial information on a national and international basis. If you would like to keep up with Kohl's information and perspectives, you can find his weekly columns on the following websites:
- Ag Globe Trotter: www.farm-credit.com
- Ag Globe Trotter: www.agstar.com (Member Services)
- Road Warrior of Agriculture: www.cornandsoybeandigest.com
On a more personal note, Dave enjoys playing and coaching basketball and likes most sports, farms, dogs, and covered bridges; he dislikes lazy students, administrative bureaucracies, and paperwork!
Reinhard Laudenbacher
Professor - Mathematics
Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1985
Presentation Subject Matter:
Mathematical modeling and computer simulation in biology, biomedicine, epidemiology, and national infrastructure, such as road systems. Aside from scientific issues I am very interested in issues pertaining to the inclusion of women and minorities in the scientific enterprise.
Jack Lesko
Professor - Engineering Science & Mechanics
Ph.D., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1994
M.S., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1991
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 1987
Presentation Subject Matter:
Materials are Getting Smarter and Smarter
James E. Littlefield
Professor - Marketing
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1967
Presentation Subject Matter:
Study Abroad Programs
International Marketing
Brian Love
Professor - Materials Science & Engineering
Ph.D. in Applied Science, Southern Methodist University, 1990
M.S. in Metalllurgical Eng. (Polymers), University of Illinois at Urbana, 1986
B.S. in Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana , 1984
Presentation Subject Matter:
Merging Engineering with Medicine
Joe Marcy
Professor - Food Science and Technology
Ph.D., North Carolina State
Dr. Marcy received his B.S. and M.S. in Food Technology from University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in Food Science. Dr. Marcy joined the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department of the University of Florida in 1979 conducting research on new processing and packaging methods for citrus products. In 1984, Joe joined Rampart Packaging Inc., Williamsburg, Virginia as Senior Food Technologist. He was later promoted to Business Development Manager with responsibilities for North America and Western Europe.
Since joining the Food Science and Technology Department at Virginia Tech in 1989, Joe has continued his research interest into food processing methods, packaging integrity testing, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and aseptic packaging research. Joe teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in food processing and food packaging and is the author of numerous scientific publications in Food Science.
Dave McKee
Director - Marching Virginians
M.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986
Presentation Subject Matter:
Marching Virginians, logistics of designing halftime shows, putting MVs on the road, and much more.
Jim McKenna
Professor - Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988
Dr. McKenna earned his B.S. Degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1964, his M. S. Degree from the University of Maine in 1970, and his Ph.D. in 1988 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. McKenna began teaching as an instructor in the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences in 1984, an assistant professor in 1988, promoted to associate in 1992, and to full professor in 1997.
His primary responsibility is the teaching of six classes and serves as Academic Coordinating Counselor for students in the CSES department, advising all freshmen students in the traditional CSES options and all students in the crops and international options.
Dr. McKenna has received numerous awards locally and nationally including the University's William E. Wine Award, Diggs Teaching Award, Alumni Advising Award, and the American Society of Agronomy's (ASA) Agronomic Resident Education Award. He is past chair of the resident instruction division of ASA, and is the current chair-elect of the Student Division of ASA. He is a member of both the College and University Academy of Teaching Excellence, a charter member of the Academy of Advising Excellence and a member of the University Academy of Faculty Service. He is also a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy and a NACTA Fellow and is currently serving as President of NACTA (National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture).
Joe Merola
Professor and Department Chair - Chemistry
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978
Presentation Subject Matter:
Large variety of Topics. Environmentally friendly chemistry: reality vs scams.
What exactly is chemical-free beef?
We have heard much over the last 20 years about "chemical-free" products and that they are much safer? Is there such a thing?
I will talk about what we should know about chemistry to be informed consumers and to avoid advertising scams.
Air Bags, Computers and Diapers: An alphabet soup of chemistry in every day life.
As we marvel over the latest technological advances that affect our lives, we are often times unaware of the chemistry that is needed to make them work. This talk will explore the fascinating chemistry behind many important products.
Chris Neck
Associate Professor - Department of Management
Ph.D., Arizona State University
M.B.A., Louisiana State University
Dr. Neck is interested in participating in the West and Southwest area.
Arthur C. Nelson
Professor - Urban Affairs and Planning
Director - Northern Virginia Urban and Regional Planning Programs
Ph.D., Portland State University, 1984
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Calculus of Smart Growth:
This presentation reviews what smart growth is (and is not), shows what evidence we have demonstrating the benefits of "regional smart growth", and suggests ways in which to advance regional smart growth.
The Canvas Beckons:
This presentation shows that over the next 30 years more than 60 million homes and 200 billion square feet of construction valued at more than $20 trillion will be made in the US. It then suggests where the market would direct that development and how planning can facilitate it.
Doug Nelson
Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D., Arizona State, 1986; P.E.
M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1979
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1978
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Hybrid Vehicle.
Terry Papillon
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures & Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Coordinator - Classical Studies Program
Educated at St. Olaf College and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
Since Dr. Papillon is in Classics, he is interested in the humanities and its role in the academic community in general, our University in particular, and in people's lives in practical terms.
Presentation Subject Matter:
1. The role of myth in society
(I teach myth on a regular basis and also work with local 3rd graders on myth)
2. Why we believe what we believe
(the role of persuasion in life; my research focus is rhetoric and oratory)
3. Why the story of Oedipus the King should scare you
(the role of knowledge and ignorance in life)
4. How and why do we celebrate death
(an odd topic that I present to the Governor's Latin Academy every summer; high school students find funeral oratory fascinating!)
5. "A humanities student in Virginia Tech's court"
(what Humanities students from Virginia Tech are doing during and after Tech - I would use Classics students mostly but not exclusively; role of double majors at Tech: Classics and Comp. Sci., Classics and Math, Classics and Biology, Classics and Psych, Classics and Chem, classics and Animal/Poultry Science, Classics and Business)
Joe Pitt
Professor and Department Head - Philosophy
Ph.D., University of Western Ontario
Presentation Subject Matter:
Teaching engineering students and why the philosophy of technology is important.
R. Scott Pleasant
Associate Professor - Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Chief - Large Animal Surgery
D.V.M., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1984
Research Subject Matter:
Equine lameness
Large Animal Surgery
Wayne D. Purcell
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Marketing, Price Analysis, and Public Policy
Director of the Research Institute on Livestock Pricing
Coordinator of Virginia's Rural Economic Analysis Program
Chairman of the Cross-Cutting Initiative on Food, Nutrition, and Health at Virginia Tech
Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1967
Areas of interest include marketing strategies, demand analysis and consumer behavior, analysis of marketing systems, futures and options, price analysis, price outlook, price risk management.
Charles F. Reinholtz
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D., Florida, 1983
Research Projects
Design of Robotic Manipulators for Hazardous Environments
Calibration and Control of Robotic Manipulators
Design of Mechanisms for Exercise Equipment
Design of Long-Reach Robotic Manipulators
Jesse Richardson
Assistant Professor - Urban Affairs and Planning
J.D., University of Virginia, 1987
Presentation Subject Matter:
Smart Growth
Farmland/forestland/open space protection
Water supply planning
Don Rieley
Director - Undergraduate Programs
M.B.A., Virginia Tech, 1991
Presentation Subject Matter:
- Time Management
- Networking
- Dining Etiquette
- Marketing strategy
- Team building
- Resume and business letter writing
- Executive recruiting/headhunters
- Sales and sales management
James I. Robertson, Jr.
Alumni Distinguished Professor - History
Executive Director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies
Ph.D., Emory University, 1959
Presentation Subject Matter:
As an Alumni Distinguished Professor and the Executive Director of the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, Robertson is a familiar figure on campus, in the Commonwealth, and across the nation. He is perhaps the best-known Civil War historian whether in class, on television, on radio, or traveling across America on speaking engagements. He was chief historical consultant for the movie Gods and Generals and, with artist Mort Künstler, co-authored the companion volume for the movie. His latest book is Soldier of Southwest Virginia: The Civil War Letters of Captain John Preston Sheffey.
Lucinda Roy
Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair - English
Director of Creative Writing
Presentation Subject Matter:
Creative Writing - Poetry and Fiction
African and African American Literature
The Writing of Minorities
Black Studies courses
Genre courses
Stephen Scheckler
Professor - Botony - Department of Biology
Presentation Subject Matter:
Early colonization of land on earth.
Courses:
Biology and Plant Science Laboratory
Innovation: Macromedia Authorware, Allegiant
Supercard, Daedalus
Research:
Plants: A key to the Arctic's past and the planet's future
Beate Schmittman
Professor - Physics
Ph.D., The University of Edinburgh, 1984
Presentation Subject Matter:
Why You Should Know about Statistical Physics: A general interest talk (power point, lots of bells and whistles) about the many interdisciplinary aspects of the research of my group (statistical physics). Briefly, we know how to model and analyze problems which involve many interacting components and, possibly, some randomness. Typical examples: traffic, stock prices, many problems from biology (e.g., protein synthesis). I have given this talk before to a general audience (mixed, some scientists, some economists, some from the humanities). It was (in all due humility) very well received.
Madeline Schreiber
Assistant Professor - Geological Sciences
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1999
Presentation Subject Matter:
The two topics that would likely be of most interest are
1) Arsenic in Groundwater Systems (similar to what I did for the COS alumni roundtable) or
2) Biodegradation of Contaminants.
John Seiler
Professor - Forestry
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1984
Present Position:
The Honorable and Mrs. Shelton H. Short Jr. Professor of Forestry, College of Natural Resources
Education:
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Tree Physiology, 1984
M.S., Pennsylvania State University, Forest Biology, 1981
B.S., Pennsylvania State University, Forest Science, 1979
B.S., Pennsylvania State University, Environmental Resource Management, 1979
Primary Research Interests:
Environmental stress effects on woody plant physiology, including water and pollutant
stresses; water relations; gas exchange; actinorrhizal nitrogen fixation; physiological responses to silvicultural treatment.
Primary Teaching Interests: Forest biology and dendrology; silviculture; forest ecology; plant physiology;
plant water relations; forest protection.
Professional Experience:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of Forestry:
1995 - present: Professor
April 1990 - 1995: Associate Professor
Jan. 1985 - March 1990: Assistant Professor
June 1984 - Dec 1984: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Sept. 1981 - May 1984: Graduate Research Assistant
The Pennsylvania State University, School of Forest Resources:
Nov. 1979 - Aug. 1981: Graduate Research Assistant
Honors and Awards:
University Diggs Teaching Scholar
University Student Leadership Award - Service Learning Educator Award, 2001
USDA Food and Agriculture Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award, 2001
University Xcaliber Award for Exemplary Contributions to Course Development Using Technology, 2001
Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals Silver Award in Recognition of Outstanding Extension Natural Resources Educational Material, 2000
StudyWeb® Academic Excellence Award for "Best Educational Resources on the Web," 2000
Institute for Distributed and Distance Learning Fellow, 2000
College of Forestry & Wildlife Resources Curriculum Clubs' Outstanding Faculty Award, 1991-92, 1994-95
University Certificate of Teaching Excellence, 1994-95
University William E. Wine Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1996-97 (includes membership in Virginia Tech's Academy of Teaching Excellence)
Carl Alwin Schenck Award for Outstanding Performance in Forestry Education (Society of American Foresters), 1998
Memberships in Professional Organizations:
- Society of American Foresters
- The American Forestry Association
- Association of Southern Tree Physiologists
- National Association of College Teachers of Agriculture
- Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
- Xi Sigma Pi, Natural Resource Honor Society
- Virginia Forestry Association
- International Union of Forestry Research Organizations - Whole Plant Physiology Working Party
Paul Siegel
Active Emeritus Faculty - Poultry Genetics and Behavior
Ph.D., Kansas State University, 1957
Raised on a family farm in Connecticut. He received his B.S. in Poultry Science from the University of Connecticut and M.S. and Ph.D. in Poultry Breeding and Genetics, respectively, from Kansas State University.
In January 1957 he joined the faculty at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where today he is a member of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences and holds the title, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus. His research and teaching interests are in poultry genetics.
He, his colleagues, and graduate students have published extensively on the effects of selection on growth, reproduction, behavior, and immunocompetence of chickens. A Past-President of the Poultry Science Association, Animal Behavior Society, Virginia Academy of Science, and the American Institute of Biological Sciences, he served ten years as Senior Vice-President of The World Poultry Science Association.
George M. Simmons, Jr.
Former Alumni Distinguished Professor - Biology
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute (later Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), 1968
Presentation Subject Matter:
For 34 years Simmons and his students pursued their interests in aquatic ecology/limnology which included lakes in Virginia and other locations as remote as Antarctica. He and his students also studied groundwater discharge into offshore environments of the continental shelf and coastal waters of Chesapeake Bay, VA and Key Largo, FL. More recently, his research focused on non-point sources of fecal coliform bacteria in the Chesapeake Bay. Simmons officially retired in 2003, although he will return to teach and advise students during Spring Semesters for at least the next five years.
William E. Snizek
Alumni Distinguished Professor - Sociology
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies - College of Liberal Arts and Human Science
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University, 1969
Additional bio details: http://www.sociology.vt.edu/profiles/Snizek.html
During his 35 years at Virginia Tech, Professor Snizek has won over 25 departmental, college, university, state, national, and international teaching awards; and is past chair of Tech’s Academy of Teaching Excellence. Professor Snizek’s teaching awards include 10 Certificates of Teaching Excellence from the College of Arts and Sciences; the university’s W.E. Wine Award, Alumni Teaching Award, Sporn Award; the Diggs Teaching Scholar Award, Mortar Board’s Polished Apple Award and the G. Burke Johnston Award. Professor Snizek also has received the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award; and the Delta Gamma Foundation Award of University Excellence in Teaching.
Professor Snizek continually has developed innovative teaching and learning techniques, which help personalize even those large, often impersonal lecture-based introductory classes of 600-plus students. His “Kezins (last name spelled backwards) Sociological I.Q. Test” has been adopted by McGraw-Hill for use in several introductory texts, and helps students recognize the inaccuracy of stereotypes. Snizek also has recruited Honors students to be tutors, establishing a successful peer-mentoring program to help at-risk students in his large classes. Charles Dudley, Director of the University Honors Program, said that Snizek “is a true master of the art of teaching.” Many colleagues, as well as students, chare the view of the introductory student who in her evaluation of Snizek’s teaching simply wrote “Now I understand much more of what I see.”
Professor Snizek is a Founding Fellow in the Center of Human and Computer Interaction and currently is the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Widely published in a variety of prestigious professional journals, Professor Snizek has been both a Visiting Professor and Senior Research Fulbright Fellow at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands. Professor Snizek’s current research interests involve corporate downsizing, virtual offices, telework and the impact of technology transfer.
His Advisees are: Dell Curry and Bruce Smith.
Current Teaching Interests:
Work, Occupations and Organizational Behavior
Sociology of Science
Metasociology
Current Research Interests:
Gender, Work Values and Job Satisfaction
Technology Transfer and Impact
Norrine Bailey Spencer
Associate Dean - Undergraduate programs
Presentation Subject Matter:
Research on the new student generation "The New Millennials"
Phil Sponenburg
Professor - Pathology/Genetics - Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
Ph.D., Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 1979
D.V.M., Texas A&M University, 1976
Dr. Sponenburg is a Professor of Pathology and Genetics at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.
He teaches pathology, reproduction, genetic resource issues, and small ruminant medicine. His interest in coat color genetics includes horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, dogs, and other species, and has resulted in publications in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and books.
He is active in rare breed conservation, and serves as the technical coordinator for the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. He maintains a herd of Tennessee Myotonic Goats in a wide variety of colors and also owns a Choctaw stallion.
Jay Stipes
Professor (Retired) - Horticulture
Ph.D., North Carolina State University, 1965
The principal activities of Dr. Stipes' research and extension programs were to address the identification, biology and management of diseases of landscape trees and ornamental plants. His projects included refinement of tree injection technology, using the newer systemic fungicides, with primary emphasis on Dutch elm disease; also, dogwood anthracnose biology and control; shiitake production log short-life; diseases of ornamentals; evaluation and management of wind/snow/ice storm damage to trees; stress effects on tree growth. He lectured in a broad spectrum of international, national, regional, and state tree biology conferences, workshops, and short courses.
Teaching activities included the development of new courses, Plants, Plagues, and People, and Principles of Agricultural Chemistry; team-teaching in Pesticide Usage, and guest lectured in courses in urban forestry, horticulture, and biology, as well as independent studies for undergraduate and graduate students. He co-developed a new undergraduate course, Pest and Stress Management of Trees. He was a consultant in the tree biology and diseases, and in forensic tree pathology. Dr. Stipes advised undergraduate and graduate students.
William S. "Terry" Swecker
Associate Professor - Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Production Management Medicine / Clinical Nutrition
Ph.D., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1990
D.V.M., Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, 1984
Research Subject Matter:
Trace elements and immune function in cattle.
Tatsu Takeuchi
Associate Professor - Physics
Ph.D., Yale University, 1989
Presentation Subject Matter:
What do the discovery of Neptune and Particle Physics have in common? The importance of not letting small discrepancies go unnoticed. I use the history of the discovery of the planet Neptune as an analogy to the type of research that I do.
Presentation:
Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity called "Special Relativity without ANY equations".
I explain the theory without using any equations, only pictures called "spacetime diagrams". Given that the 100th anniversary of the birth or relativity was in 2005, it may of interest to some audiences to try to understand it properly.
Kris Tilley-Lubbs
Departments of Foreign Languages and Literatures / Teaching and Learning
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2003
Presentation Subject Matter:
Crossing the Border through Service-Learning in which students partner with families in the local Latino community.
Many interesting stories have emerged, ranging from providing emergency interpretation for an EMT squad, to assisting a family with purchasing a house, to helping a family establish a Mexican bakery.
Thomas Toth
Professor - Virology - Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology
Ph.D., Major: Immunology, Minors: Virology and Pathology, Cornell University, Ithica, NY, 1975
D.V.M., cum laude, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary, 1960
Dr. Toth is interested in providing educational presentations to people in the Alumni Association. Currently he has two, one-hour Power Point presentations that he has already used as Continuing Education units.
Presentation Subject Matter:
Small Pox: Agent, Disease, Bio-Terrorism and Bio-Terrorism: Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Marburg, Ebola Viruses.
In addition, he could develop presentations on virtually any virus (his specialty) that might be of interest.
Geoff Vining
Professor and Department Head - Statistics
Presentation Subject Matter:
Six Sigma and how the VT Statistics Department is saving our biggest corporations millions of dollars. I also can talk at length about the new college.
Peter Wallenstein
Associate Professor - History
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1973
Dr. Wallenstein has written a number of books (lesser things too of course) on the history of the South in particular and the nation in general.
Presentation Subject Matter:
Virginia history (including the blue laws; the Richmond sit-ins; or women in the professions)
History of Virginia Tech, including my book (due in June) on the transforming years of the Marshall Hahn presidency (1962-74),
Beginnings of enrollment at Tech by white women (I tend to tailor my talks such as this to the area I am speaking in)
Black undergraduates (1993 marked the 50th anniversary of black enrollment at tech, and the dedication of Peddrew-Yates residence Hall last spring highlighted that commemoration)
Jeff Walters
Avian Ecology Lab
Department of Biology
Presentation Subject Matter:
Animal behavior and conservation of rare species.
James P. Wightman
Former Alumni Distinguished Professor and Professor Emeritus - Physical Chemistry
Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1960
Research Interests
Research in surface chemistry focuses on the interaction of liquids with sold surfaces and on the analysis of those surfaces. Basic thermodynamic parameters such as heats of immersion and contact angles are coupled with the kinetics of the process to support the mechanism of the surface interaction. A variety of experimental techniques including high resolution scanning electron microscopy/(SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and ellipsometry are used in further definition of the interaction mechanism. Specific research projects are in metal/polymer interfaces, carbon fiber/polymer matrix adhesion, and composite/composite bonding.
Popular Presentation Subject Matter:
The Science of Beer
Craig Woolsey
Professor - Aerospace & Ocean Engineering
Ph.D. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, January 2001.
M.A. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, June 1997.
B.M.E., Georgia Institute of Technology, March 1995.
Presentation Subject Matter:
The Coming of the Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles
Royce Zia
Professor and Department Chair - Physics
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1968
Presentation Subject Matter:
Cooperative Behavior of Many Interacting Constituents.
The underlying theme is "Given some external control parameters, how do complex patterns (physical or behavioral) at the macroscopic level arise from simple constituents (building blocks, how they interact, 'rules of the game,' etc.) at the microscopic level." Let me give you two simple examples: (1) Tic-tac-toe has simple constituents (x and o, trivial rules) and boring patterns. (2) GO also has similarly simple "microscopics" (black/white stones, relatively easy rules), but develops fantastic "patterns." If you change the external parameters - like the size of the board in these examples, or if you make the boards 'wraparound' - how do these patterns change? Incidentally, Chess is like GO, except the "miscroscopics" are more complicated (many different pieces, messy rules). Much more interesting - and unpredictable!! - is human behavior. I usually get women's eyes light up when I talk about "many, interacting kids". Not only can they can imagine the complex patterns that emerge when you put, say, 30 kids in a room, they can also easily appreciate the importance of "external parameters" like the size of the room, or if it's replaced by a football field! In physics, we deal with something in between these two extremes. The"constituents" can be exotic elementary particles or just day-to-day molecules (like water), with well established rules of interaction. Under certain external conditions (e.g., constant temperature or pressure), we have a pretty good idea what the patterns are. Under others - that's where the "non-equilibrium" bit comes in - we have NO idea what will emerge in general. In particular, NO ONE can predict that, if you put a bunch of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, etc. atoms together and put them under the conditions of our planet, you'd get trees, lions, mosquitoes, people, etc.