Faculty and Staff Notes

Army Honors Steer for Roadside Bomb Research

Dr. Michael Steer, engineering professor, will receive the U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Public Service for research that has helped American forces remotely counter roadside bombs, saving hundreds of soldiers’ lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, commanding general of the Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command, will present the award to Steer at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 11, in Engineering Building II, Room 3002.

Steer, the Lampe Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, began with a plan to illuminate electronic communications devices such as mobile phones with electromagnetic energy and measure the response, which he likened to a real-world version of the tricorder scanning device used by characters in Star Trek. Through these measurements, conducted remotely, he was able learn much about the devices, including information about their components and circuits.

Steer’s work, funded by the Army, was extended to applications in electronic warfare and countering improvised explosive devices that have killed U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is being honored not only for his research, but also for his efforts communicating with Army scientists and engineers and moving the research results from the laboratory to the battlefield.

Take time to wish Chancellor Jim Woodward well during a farewell reception on Tuesday, March 23.

Farewell for Chancellor Woodward

Join us in thanking Chancellor Jim Woodward for his service to NC State during a farewell on Tuesday, March 23, beginning at 4 p.m. in the North Gallery of the Talley Student Center.

The program includes official remarks from Woodward and Lawrence Davenport, chair of the Board of Trustees, followed by time for visitors to share their thanks individually with Woodward.

Get Answers about Benefits Changes

Make sure you know what you need to do this spring to keep your current level of insurance benefits. For the latest on new tobacco cessation requirements and other changes, attend a Benefits Office session to have your questions answered. Forty-four college and division sessions are scheduled before the annual enrollment period ends on April 9. In addition, three general sessions are open to everyone:

• Monday, March 22,  noon, Talley Student Center, Walnut Room
• Wednesday, March 31, noon, D.H. Hill Library, Faculty Senate Room
• Thursday, April 1, Talley Student Center, Room 3118

For more information, contact Joe Williams, assistant director of university benefits, at 515-4318 or joe_williams@ncsu.edu.

Watch the Wolfpack Unveiling

In case you missed it, check out the unveiling of NC State’s new wolfpack statues and hear from the artist and Chancellor Jim Woodward. The trio of bronze sculptures was unveiled Tuesday near the south end of the Free Expression Tunnel. All this and more in the YouTube video.

Diversity Awards Nominations Open

The Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the Student Diversity Advisory Council request nominations of students, student organizations, faculty, staff and administrators who have gone the extra mile in celebrating and embracing diversity on campus.

Friday, March 26, is the deadline for diversity award nominations. The nomination form is available online. For more information, contact Jo-Ann Robinson at 513-3222 or joann_robinson@ncsu.edu.

Pennell Commissioned for National Report

Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform has commissioned Dr. Joan Pennell (with Drs. Carol Shapiro and Carol Spigner) to author a report on family and youth engagement in dual-jurisdiction cases of child maltreatment and juvenile offending. This report will serve as a basis for a national symposium on the topic. Pennell is a professor of social work and director of the Center for Family & Community Engagement.

Earthwise Nominations Needed

It’s time to nominate environmentally conscious faculty, staff and students for an Earthwise Award from the Sustainability Office. Fill out a nomination form online at www.ncsu.edu/earthday and e-mail your submission to sustainability@ncsu.edu by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 2. The winner in each category receives a $200 cash award and recycled glass plaque, along with a pair of tickets to a 2010 Wolfpack football game.

Join Efforts to Help Colleagues in Chile

NC State faculty and staff are organizing to help colleagues at Universidad de Concepción, a partner institution that suffered severe earthquake damage, including complete destruction of the chemistry labs in a fire triggered by the quake. Concepción is located near the epicenter of the earthquake. NC State and the Chilean university have a formal agreement that includes faculty exchanges, study abroad programs and collaborative projects. To find out how you can get involved, join the Facebook group, NC State solidarity with Universidad de Concepción. For more information, contact Steve Wiley, Department of Communication, at steve_wiley@ncsu.edu or 302-6418, or Chantell LaPan, Office of International Affairs, at chantell_lapan@ncsu.edu or 513-2926.

Student Speaker Sought for Spring Commencement

The Department of Registration and Records is seeking a student speaker for spring commencement. Any interested graduating senior can apply. Faculty and staff are asked to encourage qualified students to complete the application form, which is available in Harris Hall, Room 1008, or online.

Nominate an Interesting Graduate

Faculty and staff are invited to nominate interesting graduates for recognition during spring commencement.  If you know an undergraduate student (or two) with an interesting story or background, please e-mail the names to emily_brooks@ncsu.edu. The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 22. Students who are selected will be profiled during the chancellor's speech on Saturday, May 15.

AllCampus Card Changes Under Way

The AllCampus card is getting an upgrade. New features will enable door access, advanced credentialing and assignable expiration dates, along with an extra stripe for Wolf Copy machines.

Starting this spring, new cards will be available to EPA and SPA employees. “To make this easy for employees, we will set up re-carding events in various areas of the campus. Employees will be notified by postcard when we will be in their area,” said Mike Smith, director of University Card Operations. “There will be no charge to either the department or the employees for the new card.”

Incoming freshman will be next to receive the new card when they arrive on campus during summer orientation.