Faculty and Staff Notes

Employees Safe Following Incident

As has been widely reported in the local media, an armed man entered building space leased by NC State early Wednesday afternoon and ordered employees to leave the building at gunpoint. 

Once the employees left the building, the man began a standoff with Raleigh police and was eventually taken into custody.

The incident occurred at 628 Hutton Street, an off-campus site near the intersection of Western Boulevard and Blue Ridge Road, where the university leases a portion of the building for communication technology activities. Fourteen employees work at the site; six were in the building when the armed man entered. All six left the building safely and all 14 employees have been accounted for. While Raleigh police responded to the incident, campus police dispatched officers to nearby university facilities.

Counseling is available for the employees involved. Raleigh police have cordoned off the facility. It is unclear when it will be reopened. 

To sign up for NC State's WolfAlert system, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/emergency-information/textsignup.php.

Wireless Access Expands

Wireless Internet access is available at 10 new campus buildings and adjacent outdoor areas.

New wireless locations include the 1911 Building, Daniels Hall, Ricks Hall, Schaub Hall, the Carmichael Gymnasium, Burlington Labs, Polk Hall, Kilgore Hall, South Gardner Hall and Reynolds Coliseum. To view other wireless locations on campus, go to the Wireless Coverage Map.

The expansion is part of the ongoing Wireless Nomad Project by OIT-Communication Technologies, an effort to enhance connectivity to the campus data network using nomadic (wireless) computing devices. The ultimate project goal is to provide wireless access for users in all campus buildings and public outdoor spaces. 

Enter to Win Allman Brothers Tickets

Register to win tickets to see The Allman Brothers Band and Widespread Panic at Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, courtesy of the University Sustainability Office via their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ncstatesustainability.

One lucky winner will get a chance to interview John Bell, lead singer for Widespread Panic.

Sumner Presents Lecture to Bridge Experts

Dr. Emmett A. Sumner III,  assistant professor of civil engineering and technical director of the Constructed Facilities Laboratory, delivered the 2009 Robert J. Dexter Memorial Lecture. The program allows an early career researcher in structural engineering to present a lecture on steel bridge activities to a group of the nation’s leading experts and to participate in the steel bridge task force’s semiannual three-day meeting.

Sumner’s presentation was titled “Lateral Flange Bending Research of Skewed Steel Bridge Girders.” His research is focused on the analysis, design, construction and performance of steel bridge and building structures. He has particular interest in the analysis and design of steel connections, behavior and design of cold-formed steel structures, strengthening and repair of steel structures with fiber-reinforced polymer materials, behavior and design of steel bridge structures, and  analysis and design of temporary falsework systems for bridge construction. The award is presented by the AISI Steel Market Institute steel bridge task force and the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials for Structural Design.  

Rudershausen at the North Carolina border with his camping gear.

Rudershausen Pedals for Wildlife

Biologist Paul Rudershausen, a research assistant in the zoology lab at CMAST, put his devotion to wildlife in motion during a 36-day cross-country bicycle trek from the Oregon coast to the North Carolina coast. By the time Rudershausen rolled in to Pine Knolls, N.C., he had logged 3,525 miles to raise funds for the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter and Education Center (OWLS), a nonprofit wildlife hospital where injured, sick, and orphaned native wildlife are cared for until strong enough to be released back into the wild.

A day rider, runner and hiker for many years, Rudershausen worked up to his first solo ride last summer, a 5,000-mile trip across Canada. That trek inspired this year’s “Pedal 4 Wildlife” charity ride. Rudershausen pedaled for 32 of the 36 days on the road, camping most nights. All of his supplies had to be packed on his bike. Camping gear, lights, locks, sports drinks and more added about 45 pounds to his bike. He endured heat, headwinds, hills, mountains, tractor-trailers and rain along the way.

Rudershausen has raised 90 percent of the funds need to reach his $10,000 goal and is still accepting donations. Visit his blog at http://www.pedal4wildlife.org for an account of his journey.

De los Reyes Named TED Fellow

Dr. Francis de los Reyes III, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has been chosen as a 2009 TED Fellow. TED, a nonprofit organization, supports those with world-changing ideas. De los Reyes will attend the TEDGlobal conference in Mysore, India, in November.

De los Reyes, a teacher and researcher, is coordinator a nonprofit organization helping to lift developing countries out of poverty. His research and teaching focuses on wastewater treatment, engineering and microbiology of contaminant removal from solid and liquid wastes, and water and sanitation for developing countries. He has coordinated efforts to establish three villages in the Philippines, helping to rebuild the lives of 90 families.

He has received national and international awards for research, including the NSF Career Award. He has worked with municipalities and research institutions in the U.S., China, Montenegro and the Philippines as consultant and visiting scientist.

Student Speaker Sought for Fall Graduation

The Department of Registration and Records is seeking a student speaker for the 2009 fall graduation exercise. The selection process is open to any interested senior graduating this fall. Faculty and staff are asked to encourage qualified students to apply by completing the application form available in 1008 Harris Hall or online at http://www.ncsu.edu/registrar/graduation/index.html.

Applications are due by Thursday, Oct. 22, and qualified applicants will be required to audition on Monday, Oct. 26. Questions regarding the selection process may be directed to Louis Hunt, vice provost and university registrar, at 515-1428 or Martha O'Donnell, director of commencement, at 515-1427.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Honored

Biological and agricultural engineering faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences received a number of awards from professional associations.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) gave three of its top awards to current and emeritus faculty members. Dr. Robert Evans, department head, received the Hancor Soil and Water Engineering Award for contributions in that field. Dr. Wayne Skaggs, William Neal Reynolds Professor and Distinguished University Professor, received the Massey-Ferguson Educational Gold Medal for advancement of agricultural engineering knowledge and practice. Dr. Ronald Sneed, professor emeritus, was honored with the Heermann Sprinkler Irrigation Award for contributions to efficient and effective sprinkler irrigation. Dr. Larry Stikeleather, professor, was among the 2009 class of ASABE Fellows.

Another professional association, the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), recognized Dr. Gary Roberson, associate professor and extension specialist, with its Teacher Fellow Award.