Faculty and Staff Notes

Warren, a former reporter, will edit the national magazine Academe.

Warren to Edit National Magazine

Dr. Cat Warren, associate professor of English, has been named editor of Academe, the national magazine published by the American Association of University Professors. Association President Cary Nelson acknowledged Warren's,  “wide experience as a journalist and as a media-savvy AAUP activist. ... She will dramatically increase our Web presence and push Academe in the direction of investigative journalism. We are delighted to have her aboard.”

Before returning to academia to get her doctorate in 1990, Warren was a reporter for several newspapers, including the Hartford Courant. In 1995, she joined the faculty at NC State, where she has taught a wide range of courses in journalism, media and gender studies. She has written for academic and mainstream publications on issues such as media criticism, cultural studies and higher education.

“This is a huge challenge, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun,” Warren said. “We’re living in such interesting times in higher education, and I can’t think of a better place to be than helping frame some stories that might not only help us understand where we are, but help us change where we’re going.”

Biologist Selected as ESA Fellow

Dr. Charles S. Apperson, a vector biologist with research and extension responsibilities, was recently selected as a fellow of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). The selection acknowledges outstanding contributions in one or more of the following: research, teaching, extension and administration. The 2009 fellows will be recognized during the annual ESA meeting Dec. 13-16 in Indianapolis.

Apperson joined the faculty in 1976. He  was awarded the William Neal Reynolds Professorship by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2005 for achievements in public health biology. Apperson has published 110 articles in refereed research publications, numerous conference proceedings and book chapters, and 50 extension publications. His entomological interests include the behavior, biology and control of vector arthropods, especially mosquitoes and ticks. He is recognized as an expert on host-feeding habits of mosquitoes and the biotic cues mediating oviposition by container-inhabiting Aedes mosquitoes.

Hice To Lead University Communications

Joseph Hice will fill the position of chief communications officer and associate vice chancellor of University Communications, which includes Creative Services, News Services and Web Communications. Vice Chancellor of Advancement Nevin Kessler announced the move Wednesday.

Hice joins NC State after a long career in private industry and higher education. As associate vice president of public relations and marketing at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Hice was the architect of the award-winning Gator Nation marketing campaign. Prior to joining Florida, he was chief marketing officer of Segway LLC in Bedford, N.H. He also served as director of corporate communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee, Wisc., and as director of marketing communications for Bombardier Inc.’s Marine Products Division.

Prior to entering the corporate world, Hice was co-owner of his own public relations and marketing firm in Tampa. He was also business editor of the Tampa Times Newspaper and a staff writer with Florida Trend Magazine and Tampa Bay Business Journal. He is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America and recognized as a Certified Public Relations Counselor by the Florida Public Relations Association. Hice has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from the University of Florida, and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Smith-McKoy Joins Board

Sheila Smith-McKoy, director for Africana Studies, has been appointed to the board of the North Carolina Writers Network.

Phased Retirement Plan Offered

NC State is offering a phased retirement program that allows faculty who are eligible for retirement to work half-time for three years, beginning in 2010. The application period opens Thursday, Sept. 17.

This week, Provost Warwick Arden sent a memo spelling out the program requirements to faculty who appear to meet age and eligibility requirements. Full-time, tenured faculty members with at least five years of NC State service who participate in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) or Optional Retirement Program (ORP) are eligible to apply if they:

• Will be at least 62 (TSERS) or 59 1/2 (ORP) when beginning phased retirement
• Are eligible to receive retirement benefits under either plan

Details about the Phased Retirement Program are available online and through upcoming seminars. Enrollment ends Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. Questions? Contact Shauna Stackhouse, program coordinator, shauna_stackhouse@ncsu.edu, or your benefits consultant.

Nominees Sought for Service to Environment and Society Award

Nominations are being sought for the annual College of Natural Resources and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Joint Award for Service to Environment and Society. The award, which recognizes scholarly work to improve human and natural world conditions, is presented each year to a tenure-track faculty member from any of the colleges.

The award will be presented Oct. 5 at the Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment. Award nominations can originate from individual faculty members on their own behalf or on behalf of colleagues or from any level of university administration. Nomination packets must include:

• Nominee’s complete resume.
• A letter of support from nominee’s department head, dean, associate or assistant dean and/or university officer (writer must submit the nomination packet).
• Statement from the nominee about the impact of his or her work and future plans.
• Two letters of support from outside of NC State, attesting to the impact of the nominee’s effort.

Nomination packets must be submitted no later than Monday, Sept. 28, to the office of CNR Dean Robert Brown (robin_hughes@ncsu.edu or 513-0152), Campus Box 8001. For more information, contact Paul Mueller, paul_mueller@ncsu.edu or 919-515-2665, or Dan Robison, dan_robison@ncsu.edu or 919-515-2890.

Booths Available at Wellness Expo

Campus departments and units are invited to register as vendors for the 2009 Benefits and Wellness Expo. The expo will be held at the McKimmon Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. This is a great opportunity for campus and external providers to showcase their services to campus employees. The registration fee for campus departments is $50 for a single booth (10 by 8 feet) or $100 for a double booth (20 by 8 feet). There is an additional charge of $25 for electricity. A limited number of vendor booths are available. Registration is on a first come/first served basis.

Register online at http://www.ncsu.edu/hr/eaw/register/ or contact Rob Stevenson at rob_stevenson@ncsu.edu.