Focus on Folks, 12/8/2006

Presentations & Accomplishments

Jack A. Bradley (educational leadership and counseling), Karen S. Bradley and Shirley Ermis (curriculum and instruction) gave presentations and attended professional development sessions at the College Reading Association Conference in Pittsburgh, Oct. 26-29.

Renee Brown (financial aid) gave a presentation on dependency over-rides and special conditions concerning the foster youth population and retention for students who have “aged out” of foster care in Texas at the 2nd National Convening of Postsecondary Education for Former Foster Youth in Anaheim, Calif., Nov. 6-7.

Rajab Challoo (electrical engineering & computer science), Shuhui Li (electrical and computer engineering, University of Alabama) and Selahattin Ozcelik (mechanical & industrial engineering) published two papers in November in the ASME Press book, Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks.

Amit Cholkar (mechanical & industrial engineering) presented the paper, “Improving Shear Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Members Using Externally Bonded Fiber Reinforced Polymers: A Modified Design Approach,” at the SAMPE Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition Nov. 6-7 in Dallas.

Rebecca Davis (educational leadership and counseling) gave a presentation on “Emotional Intelligence in the Adult Education Classroom” at the 4th annual El Paso Adult Language and Literacy Conference Oct. 28. In addition, she was invited to serve on the State Advisory Committee for the Adult Education Credential Project.

Farzad Deyhim (human sciences), Heriberto Esquivel, Duane Gardiner and Shad Nelson (agronomy & resource sciences) attended and presented research at the 2006 American Society of Agronomy-Crop Science Society of America-Soil Science Society of America International Meeting in Indianapolis, Ind. Nov. 12-16. Co-authors not present included Choi Har Kwan (human sciences), Jamie C. Laurenz (academic affairs) and Rammohan Uckoo (agronomy & resource sciences). In another accomplishment, Deyhim presented a poster at the 28th annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Philadelphia, Sept. 18-19.

Randall DeYoung and Alfonso Ortega (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) spoke at the Simposio de Venado Cola Blanca in Lampasos, Mexico, Nov. 16-17.

Barry Dunn (King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management) served as a writer for the new publication from South Dakota State University (SDSU) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville, SDSU Extension Circular 922, “Using the Balanced Scorecard for Ranch Planning and Management: Setting Strategy and Measuring Performance.”

Tim E. Fulbright (animal & wildlife sciences) presented two posters and Michael J. Rader (animal & wildlife sciences) presented a scientific paper at The Wildlife Society 13th Annual Conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 23-30.

Farzin Heidari (industrial technology) presented the paper, “Manufacturing Mastercam X Update and Demonstration,” at the annual National Association of Industrial Technology Convention, Nov. 14-18 in Cleveland.

Doctoral student Annette Hernandez and faculty member Venkatesh Uddameri (environmental engineering) presented the papers, “A Dynamic Programming Model for Design and Operation of Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) Systems,” “Water Resources Management Along the South Texas-Mexico Border Region” and “Best Management Practices Ranking and Selection Methodology for the Conservation and Enhancement of Agricultural Water Resources Under Uncertainty” at the annual conference of the American Water Resources Association Annual Meeting Nov. 5-10 in Baltimore. In addition, Uddameri presented the paper, “Freshwater Inflow Studies for Coastal Bays and Estuaries in South Texas,” at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Environmental Partnership Program Fourth Education and Science Forum, Oct. 29-Nov. 2 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Marco Íñiguez-Alba (language and literature) was co-editor of the book, Conversations with Durito: Stories of the Zapatistas and Neoliberalism, by Subcomandante Marcos. In addition, he presented the paper, “El español impreso en Kingsville: Spanish Language Use in Print Media,” and was a part of the panel presentation, “Teacher Perspectives of TexMex/Spanglish on the Border,” at the Linguistic Association of the Southwest 35th Annual Conference at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Sept. 30.

Kuruvilla John (Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering), Jamie Laurenz (academic affairs), Susan Roberson (language and literature) and John Slate (educational leadership and counseling) were selected as panelists for the system-wide Texas A&M University Junior Faculty Workshop at Prairie View A&M University, Nov. 9-10.

Sangyong Lee (chemical and natural gas engineering) presented the papers, “Prediction of Hydrogen Hydrates Equilibria under an Organic Compound,” “Prediction of N2 and Co2 Gas Hydrate Equilibria” and “A New Kinetic Model for Gas Hydrates Using Collision Theory” at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers National Meeting, Nov. 13-15 in San Francisco.

Gary Low and Darwin Nelson (educational leadership and counseling) presented the program, “Emotional Intelligence and Academic Leadership and Management,” at the 63rd Annual Meeting for the South Central Modern Language Association in Dallas, Oct. 26-28. In addition, Low presented programs at the College Academic Support Programs State Conference in Austin, Oct. 18-21, the 2006 Fall Teacher Education Conference at Corpus Christi, Oct. 22-24 and the South Texas Leadership Academy at South Padre Island, Nov. 9-10.

Tom Martin (Residence Life) gave the presentation, “We Are All Alike, We Are All Different,” in the Diversity and Leadership Track of the Tenth Annual Student Leadership Conference at the University of Houston-Clear Lake on Nov. 3.

Patrick Mills (Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering) gave a presentation at the Chemical Reaction Engineering Lab 2006 Annual Meeting, hosted at Washington University in St. Louis, Oct. 24-26.

Maria Morales (bilingual education) will have her article, “Teaching History in the Bilingual Elementary School Classroom,” published in The National Social Science Journal in 2007. It also will be featured in their online publications.

Larry Peel (mechanical & industrial engineering) presented the paper, “Characterizations of Thermally Conductive Elastomer/Carbon Composites,” at the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering Conference, Nov. 8-9 in Dallas.

Kathleen Rees (human sciences) presented the research poster presentation, “Public Pressure for Fair Labor Practice Perceived by Top Management of Apparel and Footwear Companies,” served on the panel presentation, “Research Agenda 2010: Forging New Directions & Partnerships” and chaired education committees at the International Textile and Apparel Association and NCCC-65 Regional Research Meeting in San Antonio, Oct. 31-Nov. 5.

Jill Scoggins (public relations) gave a presentation on the publication, Focus on Folks, at the Fall 2006 meeting of the Texas A&M System Communications Council, Nov. 2 in Austin.

Jacqueline Thomas (language and literature) gave the presentation, “Service Learning: Undergraduates Teach 4th and 5th Graders at a French Summer Camp,” at the Fall Conference of the Texas Foreign Language Association, held in Austin, Oct. 12-15.

George Vargas (art) presented “Mexican/Mexican American Stereotypes,” at the New American Talent/20 Exhibition, featuring Kathy Vargas. He also served as a panelist and presenter for Art Talk: Sacred or Stereotype at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center, Sept. 8. Vargas was chosen to be consultant and curator of La Virgen de Guadalupe Project at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He authored the piece, “A Historical Overview/Update on the State of Chicano Art,” to be featured in the January 2007 edition of Chicano Art. In March and April 2007, Vargas will present “A Brief Chronology of Chicano Art History” at the Pintores de Aztlan exhibition in La Casa de Encendida in Madrid, Spain. Finally, the early artwork of Vargas is being documented by The Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, which is working with the Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project and the Documents of 20th Century Latin America and Latino Art: A Digital Archive and Publications Project at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Project.

Charles Wissinger (art) was a guest artist at the Jingdezhen Pottery Workshop Experimental Factor in Jingdezhen City, China in June. While there, he produced a body of work, experimented with porcelain working processes, lectured and had work included in the workshop’s permanent collection. Wissinger’s work was then featured in the October Jingdezhen International Ceramic Trade Fair exhibition. In other accomplishments, Wissinger and a group of his students were part of the Colores del Muerto exhibit at the Museum of Port Isabel. The students were Camille M. Bahn, Brenda L. Barrera, Lisa J. Bluntzer, Ramon P. Gonzalez, Starr L. Renteria, Wendell J. Thomas, Ana C. Cardenas, Ramon P. Gonzalez, Diana M. Enter Kawamura, Tina M. Morales, Eliseo Moreno, Verónica Moreno, Catherine Myers, Glenda C. Berrones, Jessica M. Cuellar, Christina I. Garcia, Celeste Y. Trevino, Erica V. Trevino, Erika D. Verduzco and Charlyn Saenz. In October, Wissinger had his work exhibited at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Richardson Art Gallery in Brownsville. He also collaborated on a piece with adjunct art professor Fulden-Sara Wissinger for the Invitational Retablo Exhibition at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, held Oct. 23-Nov. 11. The two also had their work exhibited at the 3rd ASNA Clay Triennial Ceramics Exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan.

Fulden-Sara Wissinger (art) is showing her art work in the John E. Conner Museum through Dec. 13, in the special exhibit An Arabesque Tango II.

Twelve resident advisers participated in the Southwest Association of College and University Housing Officers Resident Advisor Conference at the University of Texas at Dallas. They were Jason Smith, Lisa Marie Gonzales and B. Mankani from Lewis Hall; Melinda Trevino, Veronica Hall and Veronica Munoz from Lynch Hall; Roberto Dominguez and Eric Escobedo from Turner Hall; and Lexi Viertel, Rosy Fernandez, Safia Ktiri-Idrissi and Aida Vasquez from Bishop Hall. The group was accompanied by Gina Smith and Shea Smith (residence life). While there, they contributed a banner, performed in a conference skit and were in a spirit competition.

Thirty-eight graduate students and 22 undergraduate students presented posters at the 4th Annual Texas A&M University System Pathways Student Research Symposium, held at Prairie View A&M University, Nov. 10-11. Undergraduate Katie Smith (psychology and sociology) tied for second place in the overall Pathways Poster Competition; her mentors are Donald Daughtry and William E. Kelly (psychology and sociology). Three honorable mentions were awarded to other A&M-Kingsville students, including Kirsan Kelley (range and wildlife management), mentored by David G. Hewitt (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) in the agriculture category; undergraduate primary author Vanessa Garcia and co-authors Celina Garcia and Juan Garcia (chemistry), mentored by Xiaoliu Chi, who competed in the physical sciences category; and graduate student Nicole Burdick (animal science), mentored by Jamie Laurenz (academic affairs). Accompanying the students was Alberto Olivarez (graduate studies), who was assisted by the staff of the Ronald McNair Scholars Program.

Grants

Bart Ballard (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) was awarded $15,500 through a memorandum of agreement for cooperative investigation with Ducks Unlimited Inc. for “Survival of Western Gulf Coast Mottled Ducks.” In addition, Ballard, Randall DeYoung (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) Michelle Garcia (animal and wildlife sciences) and William Kuvlesky (Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute) were awarded $100,000 through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services for the proposal “Detection and Prevalence of Avian Influenza in Feral Swine from Southern Texas.”

Xiaoliu Chi (chemistry) was awarded $36,990 through a sub-award agreement with the University of California-Riverside for the proposal “Organic Semiconductors Spintronics.” In addition, Chi was awarded a two-year grant in the amount of $35,958 from the Research Corp. for the proposal, “Enhancing Charge Transport in Organic Semiconductors by pi-Stacking of Rubrene Derivatives.”

Rebecca Davis (educational leadership and counseling) and Tadeo Reyna (distance learning and continuing education) were awarded $384,000 for the continuation of the South Region GREAT Center adult education professional development project.

Jamie Laurenz (academic affairs) was awarded $203,874 through a sub-recipient agreement with Texas A&M Research Foundation for “Bridges to the Doctorate at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in Life Sciences.”

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