3/22/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Aaron Podolefsky, UNI provost and vice president for academic affairs, (319) 273-2517
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
Note to editors/news directors: A 200 dpi JPEG image is available at http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/newsroom/photos/yang.jpeg
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A new dean of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa has been named, following approval Thursday, March 22, by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, at its monthly meeting in Cedar Falls.
Kichoon Yang, assistant vice president for undergraduate studies at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas, has been named to the UNI post, effective July 1. He will replace Gerald Intemann, who left last year to become dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Towson University in Towson, Md., and Joel Haack, UNI head and professor of mathematics, who has served as interim dean.
Yang previously served as chair and professor of mathematics at UT-Pan American, and was program director for the Geometric Analysis Program, Division of Mathematical Sciences, at the National Science Foundation for three years, from 1994 to 1997. As a Fellow of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in 1996, he conducted a comparative study of how the Japanese government funds science and technology, and how cultural differences affect science and technology policy. An official report of his findings was filed with the Japanese government.
Early in his career, Yang served 12 years on the mathematics faculty at Arkansas State University. He has been active with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He is working on his eighth book and has written 18 refereed papers and more than 100 reviews. Since 1996, he has been editor of Korean-American Science and Technology News, and from 1997-2000, was editor of the Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society.
He earned a B.S. degree from the University of North Carolina, and a Ph.D. degree from Washington University, both in mathematics.
"We look forward to Dr. Yang's arrival at UNI," said Aaron Podolefsky, UNI provost and vice president for academic affairs. "We think his experience and background will help advance the College. His diverse experience at the National Science Foundation, and at different levels within a university setting, give him an excellent background for serving as dean of our College of Natural Sciences."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Paul Siddens, associate professor, Department of Communication Studies, (319) 273-5898
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Interpreters Theatre will present two one-act plays by graduate student Brian Davis, Thursday-Friday, March 22-24, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 108 of the Communication Arts Center.
According to Paul Siddens, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies and technical director and designer for the shows, Davis is using these performances as a "warm-up" for a one-person show that he will write, direct and perform next year as part of his graduate thesis.
The two one-act plays deal with gender identity and sexual orientation. The first to be performed is "Stepping On My Face," a play about a man and a woman who switch bodies. The second show is "Ornaments," the story of a homosexual brother and sister who spend every Christmas together because their family has disowned them.
The UNI Interpreters Theatre has existed on campus for approximately 30 years, with the primary goal of providing students the opportunity to explore how text functions in performance.
The cast and crew of both shows are comprised of undergraduate students from UNI.
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3/22/01
Contact:
Lou Honary, director and UNI professor, ABIL, (319) 352-5218
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa The University of Northern Iowa's Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants (ABIL) Research Program is hosting its annual Farmers' Day from 1 to 4 p.m., Friday, March 30, at the ABIL facility, 400 Technology Place, Waverly.
Lou Honory, director of the ABIL program, said the event will give area farmers and others interested in the new ag-economy a chance to tour the facility and see the latest in research and development of high-tech biobased lubricants, specifically soybean-based greases.
Farmers' Day is free and open to the public. For more information, call ABIL at (319) 352-5218.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jennifer Cooley, Department of Modern Languages, (319) 273-2529
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- "Is Writing Still Important?: A Third World Perspective" will be discussed in a 7 p.m. lecture Thursday, March 29, at the University of Northern Iowa, by Mario Roberto Morales, novelist, columnist and UNI assistant professor, in the Great Reading Room of Seerley Hall. It is free and open to the public.
Morales, from Guatemala, holds a Ph.D. in Latin American literature and culture from the University of Pittsburgh, and has published extensively on Latin American literature, ethnicity and cultural issues in academic media. He has published several novels, written short stories, is a bi-weekly columnist for the Guatemalan daily newspaper, "Siglo Veintiuno," and is a poet.
Morales' novel, "Los demonios salvjes (The Wild Demon)" won the Central American Award for Novel in 1976. His book, "El esplendor de la piramide" won the EDUCA Latin American Award for Narrative in Costa Rica in 1985. Although the manuscript for his first novel, "Obraje," was lost during the years of war in Guatemala, it ultimately won the Central American Award for Novel in 1971. His other books include: "La Debacle," "Senores bajo los arboles," "El angel de la retaguardia" and "Los que se fueron por la libre."
Morales' lecture is being sponsored by the UNI Department of Modern Languages. A reception, book sale and book signing will follow the lecture.
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3/22/01
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Kathy Oakland, instructor, Department of Teaching, (319) 273-2591
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS -- More than 300 students admitted into the teacher education program at the University of Northern Iowa will attend the annual Fall Teacher Education Convocation, Wednesday, March 28. The event is taking place in Great Hall of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, at 3:30 p.m.
Kathy Oakland, an instructor in the Department of Teaching, said the ceremony is the official induction of students into that field of study. Only those students who have met a rigorous set of requirements are inducted.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this event is looking out into the audience and seeing the pride on the faces of parents and grandparents, said Oakland. It is an especially moving ceremony that celebrates not only the College of Education, but the accomplishments of the entire university.
Keynote speaker for the event will be Susan Koch, associate vice president for academic affairs.
The convocation is free and open to the public.
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