K-Statement

 

LAB LEADERS IN TRAINING Laboratory operators from across the country have been participating in training on robotic "real-time" testing equipment at K-State. The training is sponsored by the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, which was created by two U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies together with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. "When the network first developed in 2002, the U.S. lacked the ability to conduct surveillance testing on the scale many believed would be necessary," said Dick Oberst, director of molecular diagnostics. "The purpose of the network is to promote early detection, rapid response and testing to demonstrate the appropriate level of recovery from animal disease." As a member of the network, K-State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory recently began incorporating "high throughput" technologies such as robotics, said Gary Anderson, lab director. "The training is part of a cooperative agreement to develop and validate standard operating procedures for high-throughput testing of important foreign animal diseases." K-State's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory would be first to diagnose avian flu should it come to Kansas. A total of six two-day courses to "train the trainer" are taking place through July at the Biosecurity Research Institute at Pat Roberts Hall. Instructors will come from K-State's Veterinary Diagnostic Lab; the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Plum Island, N.Y.; and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa.   NOTEWORTHY   Sajid Alavi, grain science and industry, and colleagues published "Barrier and Mechanical Properties of Starch-Clay Nanocomposite Films," Cereal Chemistry, Vol. 85, No. 3. More Noteworthy   On Campus - June   June 7 Beach museum workshop Learn to explore art with children during a workshop for parents, teachers and home-school providers, "Young Children and the Art Museum," at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Beach Museum. Childcare and a workshop for kids will be provided. Make reservations for the free event by calling 532-7718. June 10 Waste workshop Waste management for universities, Fiedler Hall. For more information, contact the Division of Continuing Education conference registration office, 785-532-5569. June 12 Ladies night Participants will view illustrated letters by noted artists before unleashing their own creativity while making personal journals. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Beach Museum of Art. Admission is $10; register by calling 785-532-7718. June 16-19 Music Symposium Speakers, displays and performances for music educators, McCain Auditorium. For more information, contact the Division of Continuing Education conference registration office 785-532-5569.

Where leaders learn

Major Josh Higgins wanted to pursue a master's degree while attending U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Read more

 

Sustainable wardrobes

People's clothing, homes and furnishings say a lot about their values. Melody LeHew sees a big opportunity to add sustainability to that conversation. Read more

 

UP CLOSE

Always on the go

Most people at K-State know Karen Hunter as a customer services specialist with K-State printing services. But in addition to graphic design work and helping customers, she also works as a server and bartender at Whiskey Creek, as a salesperson for K.O. Beef & Quality Foods with Country Stampede, and somehow finds time to volunteer with the Riley County Police Department and the Riley County Fire Department. Read more

 

PLAUDITS

 

GOETSCH TO HEAD U.S. COLLEGE LIBRARIES GROUP

Lori A. Goetsch, dean of libraries, has been elected vice president/president-elect of the Association of College and Research Libraries. She will become president-elect after the 2008 American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif, and will assume the presidency in July 2009 for a one-year term.

"I plan to use my presidential year to give special focus to exploring issues and opportunities for library workforce development and the changing skill sets we need in our libraries," Goetsch said. "Our ability to recruit and retain talented staff for this ‘new work' is clearly an issue of growing interest in the profession and is now part of the association's strategic plan."

Goetsch has held numerous positions in the association, including serving as director-at-large on its board and as a member of the 2005 National Conference Invited Papers Committee.
"Lori's knowledge of the board's work over the last few years will be invaluable as the association continues to reinvent its structure and systems to meet member needs," said Mary Ellen Davis, executive director.

ROTARY NAMES KOZAR A WORLD PEACE FELLOW

David Kozar, a program assistant in the Division of Continuing Education and a student in K-State's graduate certificate program in conflict resolution, has been named a World Peace Fellow by Rotary International.

Seventy fellows from 33 countries were selected for their leadership potential in government, business, education, media and other professional areas.

The Rotary fellowship will fund Kozar's studies toward a master's in peace and conflict resolution at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

"The selection process was very demanding and lasted for more than a year," said Kozar.

After graduating from K-State in 2002 in Spanish and international studies, Kozar, of Manhattan, founded Devolver Films Co. He spent months in Bosnia and Herzegovina working on a feature-length documentary, "Decade from Destruction." The film, which focuses on the struggles of life in post-conflict society, is in postproduction.

Kozar is on the advisory board of Training Workshops International for the Children. He works with a team of international volunteers to develop inter-ethnic children's programs and adult education seminars to promote community reconciliation across the Balkans.

His other responsibilities include developing and implementing summer-abroad volunteer programs to Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro for university students; coordinating language training; meeting with government and education professionals to develop future programs; and monitoring programs in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro.

 

 

POINTS OF PRIDE Jones honored for airline air quality work Byron Jones, associate dean for research and graduate programs and director of the Engineering Experiment Station, will receive the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standards Achievement Award June 21 at the society's 2008 annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jones is being recognized for his work in chairing the committee responsible for the society's new Standard 161, Air Quality Within Commercial Aircraft. The standard, which covers issues such as temperature, cabin pressure, air contaminants and ventilation rates, can be voluntarily adopted by individual airlines or the Federal Aviation Administration. "Compliance with this standard will go a long way toward ensuring good air quality for passengers and crews," said Jones, who has chaired the committee since 1999.

 

 

OH, BY THE WAY

 

GAYLE DOLL TO DIRECT CENTER ON AGING

Gayle Appel Doll has been named director of the Center on Aging in the College of Human Ecology. The appointment becomes effective June 15.

Doll had previously served as the center's interim director and was appointed to the director's position after a nationally competitive search.

As director, she will coordinate and develop educational and training programs in aging, stimulate aging research, coordinate outreach activities and guide the center to become the top referral center for information on aging resources in Kansas.

"I'm more excited about the field now than the day I started," Doll said. "I get to be a teacher, a connector, a communicator, a leader. I get to teach students to change their perceptions about aging processes. I get to see awe-inspiring examples of successful aging."

2+2 PROGRAMS EXPANDED IN MANHATTAN

K-State signed two 2+2 agreements with Manhattan Area Technical College May 8 on the school's campus, pushing the number of such programs over 40.

The agreements allow students to obtain an associate of applied science degree from the technical college and then complete a bachelor's degree from K-State through distance education.

The signing included the following agreements: associate of applied science in computer-aided drafting technology and bachelor's degree in technology management; and associate of applied science in information and network technology and bachelor's degree in technology management. The bachelor's programs are offered through K-State at Salina.

K-State representatives at the signing included Dennis Kuhlman, dean of K-State at Salina; Betty Stevens, associate dean of continuing education and associate vice provost for information technology partnerships; and David Stewart, assistant dean of continuing education.

 

OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED • A recording of classified job opportunities is available 24 hours a day on the Employment Information Line, 785-532-6271. • A list of employment opportunities is posted at www.k-state.edu/hr/ • For additional information, call 785-532-6277 or come to the Division of Human Resources in 103 Edwards Hall. Applications are accepted 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. UNCLASSIFIED • A complete listing of vacancies can be seen at www.k-state.edu/affact/ • For additional information, call the office of affirmative action at 785-532-6220 or come by 214 Anderson Hall.