Interim co-directors named to helm University Center for International Studies
Pitt has named two interim co-directors for the University Center for International Studies (UCIS).
Allyson Delnore, who currently serves as the executive director of academic affairs in UCIS, has agreed to serve as interim executive director of UCIS. Jeff Whitehead, currently executive director of global engagement in UCIS, will serve as interim executive director of Pitt Global. They will begin effective Oct. 15.
Delnore previously served as associate director for the European Studies Center for 10 years, including three terms as interim director of that center. She now oversees the seven global, area and thematic academic centers under UCIS, as well as the Global Hub. Prior to coming to Pitt, she was an assistant professor of history at Mississippi State University. Her research interests revolve around 19th century French imperial and penal policies and practices. Her recent work examines the creation and evolution of European and Area Studies in higher education. She holds a PhD from the University of Virginia.
Whitehead previously served as director of the Study Abroad, then the Global Experiences Office, for 13 years. He currently oversees the units within global engagement, including the Global Experiences Office, the Office of International Services, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Global Risk and more. Whitehead is a three-time Pitt graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history as well as two master’s degrees in public and international affairs and business administration.
The leaders and their expertise will ensure seamless continuity after the departure of Ariel C. Armony, who was named provost and executive vice president at Babson College in July. Armony’s leadership shaped and elevated Pitt’s global character and status. To continue to build on that momentum, Office of the Provost and Faculty Senate leadership will establish a search advisory committee to consider the current structure of Pitt’s global efforts and programming and make a recommendation about the most appropriate structure for the center’s continued leadership, as well as to support achieving Pitt’s global aspirations as articulated within the Plan for Pitt 2028.
Ian Flynn’s research on Mars’ lava buildup highlighted by the journal Icarus
Pitt researchers have for the first time identified a pattern of lava buildup on Mars that mirrors those found on some Earth volcanoes. These findings landed them the cover story of the December 2024 issue of the journal Icarus. The lava patterns found on Mars, known as spatter cones, are the result of lava that was ejected in an eruption, then landed on the ground and cooled. As more lava is ejected, it continues to pile up in the telltale shape.
“You know at the beach, when you have a handful of wet sand and you let it dribble down to the ground? It kind of looks like that,” said lead author Ian Flynn, a research assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
With Erika Rader at the University of Idaho, Flynn (A&S ’22G) compared the patterns found from a volcano that erupted on Mars in the Amazonian Period — about 2.9 billion years ago — to the aftermath of the 2021 Fagradalsfjall eruption in Iceland, confirming the structures were indeed spatter cones.
A different pattern, called scoria cones, have been spotted on Mars previously. The different patterns indicate different conditions within the volcano and in the atmosphere at the time of eruption. Finding spatter cones for the first time gives researchers new insights into the magma and gasses released from Martian volcanoes. They also tell researchers about relative temperatures at the time of each eruption.
[Read more about Flynn’s volcanic research.]
For spatter cones to form, the rate of cooling must have been between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius per minute. Had the lava cooled too slowly, it would not have solidified and would instead have flowed farther along the landscape. Had it cooled too quickly, scoria cones would have formed instead.
“Historically, we thought these features on Mars were similar to what we see in Hawaii,” where magma bubbles up to the surface and flows across the landscape, Flynn said. “This shows us we’re actually seeing something more similar to Iceland: hybrid eruptions,” which involve magma slowly making its way to the surface and explosive eruptions with high gas content.
This work will do more than clarify questions about volcanism on Mars. Flynn’s co-author Rader knew that spatter cones could only be found in a narrow range of cooling rates. “That made me think about the significance of this volcanic feature in the bigger narrative of the mars environment,” Flynn said.
Now that he’s found the spatter cones, his colleagues can use this new information and relate it to questions of climate on Mars
“You’ve got to do baby steps first before you can start to determine how these things are related.”
7 Pitt faculty win Black Excellence in the Academy awards
Each year, Pitt’s Office of the Provost hosts the Larry E. Davis Black Excellence in the Academy Award Dinner to honor Black faculty members’ outstanding achievements, contributions, and leadership. Named after the late trailblazer Larry E. Davis, who served as dean of Pitt’s School of Social Work from 2001-2018 and founding director of the Center on Race and Social Problems, the initiative is part of the office’s commitment to bolstering faculty diversity and development.
Seven faculty members will be recognized at the Heinz History Center on Nov. 7.
Below is the list of winners.
Larry Glasco: Glasco is an associate professor in the Department of History and the recipient of the Larry E. Davis Academic Icon Award. His interests include race and ethnicity and urban history. His research focus has included the history of Black Pittsburgh, August Wilson’s Hill District, Teenie Harris’ visual imagery and more.
Dara D. Méndez: Méndez is the recipient of the Larry E. Davis Academic Excellence Award. The associate director of the Center for Health Equity and epidemiology associate professor focuses on equity, anti-racism, anti-oppression praxis, critical race theory and more to understand and address racial and socioeconomic inequity.
Ron Idoko: Idoko will receive the Larry E. Davis Emerging Scholar Award for his work as the founding director of the Racial Equity Consciousness Institute, associate director of the Center on Race and Social Problems and research assistant professor in the School of Social Work.
D. Kojo Hamilton: Hamilton is the Larry E. Davis Excellence in Leadership Award recipient. Recognized as a leader in scoliosis, adult spinal deformity and trauma, he has received national renown for neurological surgery education and mentoring. Hamilton is a professor of neurological surgery at the School of Medicine, director of the UPMC Neurosurgical Spine Services and Residency Training Program and co-director of the Spine Fellowship Program.
Martina Anto-Ocrah: This Larry E. Davis Excellence in Mentorship Award recipient runs the Anto-Ocrah Lab, which focuses on reproductive epidemiology, social media and digital health and global health research. Its mission is to combat sex and gender disparities and champion women’s health. Anto-Ocrah is also an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine.
Leonora Anyango: Anyango will receive the Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award. The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences teaching professor teaches composition and professional courses in the Department of English. She recently received the Derek Bok Public Service Prize from Harvard University for her work with refugees in Pittsburgh, blind youth in Kenya and college student mentoring.
Tony Gaskew: U.S. Air Force veteran and recipient of the Larry E. Davis Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship Award, Gaskew is a criminal justice professor and associate dean of academic affairs at Pitt-Bradford. He is also a faculty affiliate in Africana Studies and specializes in counterinsurgency and Black male studies. He is the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative and founding director of the nationally recognized UPB Prison Education Program.
Marc Coutanche elected as board secretary of the Federation of Associations in Brain and Behavior Sciences
Marc Coutanche, associate professor of psychology in Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and research scientist in the Learning Research and Development Center, has been elected as board secretary to the Federation of Associations in Behavior and Brain Sciences (FABBS).
FABBS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing scientists in Washington, D.C., and in the federal policymaking process. The group is a coalition of scientific societies, academic departments and organizations that advances behavioral and brain sciences for the benefit of humanity. As part of the Board of Directors, the research scientist in the Learning Research and Development Center will help oversee FABBS’ activities and interact regularly with the Washington, D.C., office to create an agenda for advancing the nonprofit’s disciplines.
Coutanche’s lab, the Cognitive Neuroimaging and Memory Lab, works at the intersection of neuroscience and psychology and uses cognitive experiments, neuroimaging and newly developed computational tools to understand cognition, memory and perception. He is also an elected member of the Memory Disorders Research Society and an elected fellow of the Psychonomic Society.
Quoc-Dien Trinh named Department of Urology chair
Quoc-Dien Trinh has been named the new chair of the Department of Urology in Pitt's School of Medicine, and chair of urology at UPMC, effective Dec. 1. A globally recognized urological surgeon-scientist, physician leader and health equity advocate, Trinh will also be recommended for appointment as the Dr. Frederic N. Schwentker Endowed Chair.
“Dr. Trinh’s career has been marked by continual innovation, clinical, research and administrative excellence, and a profound commitment to health equity — all pillars of the UPMC and Pitt School of Medicine missions,” said Robert Friedlander, search committee chair and Dr. Walter E. Dandy Distinguished Professor and chair of neurological surgery. “His dedication to empowering faculty, staff and trainees, driving initiatives that marry groundbreaking research with clinical superiority, and prioritizing the enhancement of outcomes for diverse patient demographics will help take an already premier urology program to even greater heights of achievement.”
Trinh serves as section chief of urology at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Prostate Cancer Program at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In this latter role, he was able to launch several initiatives that have significantly advanced the hospital’s standing as the foremost prostate cancer program in New England.
An impassioned health equity researcher, Trinh focuses his research on disparities and outcomes in cancer care delivery. He serves as a core faculty and advisory board member at the Center for Surgery and Public Health, a joint program of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. He has authored more than 600 peer-reviewed articles, editorials and book chapters.
He also established the Prostate Cancer Outreach Clinic, supported by Mass General Brigham’s United Against Racism initiative. The clinic has significantly improved access to prostate cancer care for vulnerable populations throughout Massachusetts by collaborating closely with communities of color and leveraging technology to identify patients in need.
Trinh’s many honors include the 2021 Outstanding Citizenship Award from Brigham and Women’s Hospital; the 2022 American Urological Association Young Urologist of the Year Award for New England; and recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.
A native of Montreal, he earned his MD at Université de Montréal, where he also completed his urology residency. He then completed a fellowship in minimally invasive urologic oncology at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, where he was recognized with the Roger F. Smith MD Award for Outstanding Fellow. Trinh also holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris, where he was awarded for the best capstone memoir by the HEC Foundation.
Trinh succeeds Joel B. Nelson, who gave 25 years of exceptional service as chair of urology at Pitt and UPMC. Nelson will continue as executive vice president, chief clinical officer and president of the international division at UPMC and as a professor at Pitt.
Pitt team will host the journal JCI Insight as editorial board for next 5 years
A team of physician-scientists at the University of Pittsburgh will serve as the editorial board of an American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) research journal for the next five years.
Leading Pitt’s JCI Insight team is Oliver Eickelberg, Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Professor of Pulmonary Research and executive vice chair for academic affairs in the Department of Medicine. He brings 20 years of editorial experience, including serving as associate editor of the prestigious American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine since 2010.
“Our constituency is the physician-scientists across the world. I think we want to serve that community very well,” Eickelberg (pictured) said.
“We’re honored to be chosen for this role, which reflects our standing in the research community, affirming Pitt’s reputation for research excellence,” said Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine.
Benjamin Humphreys, the 2023-24 ASCI president, served as the chair of the committee that recommended the selection of Eickelberg. "He presented a compelling vision for leading JCI Insight, and he assembled a great team to implement it," Humphreys said.
JCI Insight is known for its high-quality, high-impact research that contributes to the understanding of the biology and/or treatment of disease, with an emphasis on clinically relevant basic and translational research. It is a sister journal to the Journal of Clinical Investigation, or JCI.
Both are owned and published by ASCI, a nonprofit honorary scientific society of which about 75% of the scientists on Pitt’s editorial board are members.
“ASCI holds, in the field of medicine, around the world but particularly in the U.S., a huge reputation,” Eickelberg said. “Many Nobel laureates are ASCI members. It is the preeminent honorific scientific society of our day, in medicine.”
The online journal publishes twice a month with about 20 articles in each issue, though Eickelberg said the journal typically receives about 2,400 submissions per year. Those are evaluated through the peer-review process, he said.
Pitt has assembled a deep bench of about 30 editors who will meet regularly to work on the journal, and each issue will go through a detailed review by the executive team, he said.
Deputy editors will be G. Nicholas Beckwith III and Dorothy B. Beckwith Professor of Translational Medicine Toren Finkel, UPMC Professor of Translational Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Alison Morris, Professor and Department of Medicine Chair Anne Marie Lennon, and Vitalant Professor of Vascular Medicine Stephen Chan.
The journal, initially hosted at Duke University, has been hosted at the University of Michigan for the past five years.
ASCI Executive Director John Hawley said he and the rest of the ASCI team are excited for the start of Eickelberg’s tenure. “Like other academic societies, ASCI changes journal leadership on a regular basis — in our case, every five years. It’s an opportunity for new ideas and directions, and we’re currently working on a number of changes to be ready when the board begins.”
Pitt will take over the journal’s operation as of Sept. 1.
Jie Liu named Aging Institute’s director of scientific operations
Jie Liu was recently appointed director of scientific operations of the Aging Institute, a recognition that reflects the integral part she plays in the center’s daily functioning.
Liu came to Pittsburgh and became a research associate professor at Pitt in September 2017, when the Aging Institute had just moved into its new location and the facility was beginning its extensive renovation. Prior to that, she worked at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 12 years as part of the Intramural Research Program in Bethesda, Maryland. During that time, Liu made important discoveries, including a deeper understanding between mitochondrial function and stem cell activity, covered in a 2009 Nature paper.
Since joining the Aging Institute, Liu has been instrumental in making day-to-day operations of the entire institute run smoothly while continuing to engage in cutting-edge scientific research and mentoring several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Recently, she described an entirely new approach to understanding tissue-specific protein secretion that was published by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Michael Munin earns American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine research award
The American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) will honor Pitt School of Medicine Professor Michael Munin with its 2024 Distinguished Researcher Award. Munin teaches in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), which did not exist as a standalone department when he arrived at Pitt in 1992 but was a division within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
“When I came to Pittsburgh, I think I was only the third PM&R attending in the division,” said Munin. “One of our goals was to build a nationally recognized PM&R department, and we were very successful in that work.”
Munin’s early research helped reshape clinical thinking around rehabilitation and mobility after joint replacement surgery. He and colleagues found patients had better outcomes when they started rehabilitation sooner after surgery than was commonly practiced at the time.
The professor has also made significant contributions to the field of laryngeal electromyography, a procedure that measures the electrical activity produced by the muscles of the voice box to help clinicians diagnose and treat voice disorders. His current research also includes assessing the effectiveness of using ultrasound to guide botulinum toxin injections in patients with spasticity.
“The AANEM’s Distinguished Researcher Award is a great honor to receive,” said Munin. “I always had an interest in research because there is much in medicine we don’t fully understand. Performing research that answers pertinent clinical questions was very important to me and was instilled by an early mentor and past AANEM member, Gerald J. Herbison.”
In addition to this research and teaching work, Munin serves as the vice chair for strategic planning and program development in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Pitt, and he is co-director of the EMG Labs at UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside and Mercy hospitals.
Pitt-Bradford recognized as College of Distinction 10th straight year
For the 10th consecutive year, Pitt-Bradford has been named a College of Distinction for helping its students learn, grow and succeed. The campus was also recognized in seven individual areas.
Colleges of Distinction is an online guide for college-bound students that recognizes student-centered schools traditional rankings may often overlook.
In addition to the general 2024-25 recognition, Pitt-Bradford was honored among public colleges and Pennsylvania colleges and recognized for its programs in business, education, nursing, career development and equity and inclusion.
Based on in-depth research and detailed interviews, Colleges of Distinction said the University’s programs excel at graduating students into the workforce with solid, well-developed critical-thinking skills as well as the ability to adapt in an ever-changing society.
The career development badge recognizes schools with comprehensive four-year plans, advising and more. At Pitt-Bradford, that includes the Academic Advising Center, Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center, TRIO Student Support Services and Career Services.
In the last year, Pitt-Bradford was named a Military Friendly School at the gold level; ranked 20th overall among regional colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report; recognized on Washington Monthly’s list of Best Bang for the Buck schools in the Northeast; and named to The Princeton Review’s Best Regional Colleges.
— Kimberly Marcott Weinberg
Pitt recognized with NACUBO Excellence in Sustainability Award
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) has awarded Pitt the 2024 Excellence in Sustainability Award, distinguishing the University as the sole university honored this year. Aurora Sharrard, assistant vice chancellor for sustainability, accepted the award at the NACUBO Annual Meeting in Chicago on July 21.
The award is based on the first Pitt Climate Action Plan and its progress toward achieving carbon neutrality for the University by 2037. This unique, comprehensive roadmap outlines annual and 2037 targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across 15 sources and three scopes that connect the goal of carbon neutrality with the University’s academic mission, further its commitment to equitable outcomes and economic resilience, and support a culture of sustainability that actively involves students, faculty and staff.
Significant strides include the Pitt Sustainability Challenge, an open competition for innovative GHG reduction solutions, and a partnership with Vesper Energy on Southwestern Pennsylvania’s largest solar farm, supplying 18% of campus electricity (more than 35,700 megawatt-hours annually).
The University also has 1.4 million square feet of LEED-certified space across 18 buildings, with more planned, and a new chilled water plant that offers efficient district energy infrastructure and a campuswide rainwater capture and reuse system.
Jennifer Hirsch wins International Association for Relationship Research Teaching Award
Pitt's Jennifer Hirsch has been awarded the International Association for Relationship Research (IARR) Teaching Award. Hirsch is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology.
IARR is an interdisciplinary organization that strives to promote advances in the scientific study of personal and social relationships and encourage collaboration among students, new scholars and experienced scholars. This award is given every other year to recognize excellence in teaching in the field of personal relationships.
Hirsch’s teaching philosophy is centered around demonstrating the value of scientific reasoning and encouraging critical thought. The IARR highlighted that she aims to teach students how to think, rather than what to think.
“Her teaching style engages us to be more creative and curious students,” said one anonymous student testimonial to IARR. “Her obvious care and dedication to her classes makes students willing and able to do their best work.”
— Nick France
Jonathan Chitiyo publishes book about teaching children with disabilities for African educators
Jonathan Chitiyo, associate professor of education at Pitt-Bradford, has published a new book about teaching children with disabilities in Africa.
Chitiyo, who is from Zimbabwe, studied three countries: Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, where he investigated how teachers are taught to support students with special needs.
The book highlights the global issue of teacher shortages, particularly in countries with developing economies, which endure the most of this challenge.
“The first thing schools across Africa need to meet the needs of students with special needs is an adequate supply of well-trained teachers,” Chitiyo said.
Chitiyo said he wrote “Discussions of Inclusive Education within African Contexts” to help current and future teachers learn the best ways to support students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms. These children make up 10% of kids in Eastern and Southern Africa, according to UNICEF, and continue to be marginalized in their education.
“This highlights the urgent need for better teacher training programs and resources to support these children and ensure they receive an inclusive education,” Chitiyo said. “I wrote it as a resource for teachers, parents and policy makers, and it talks about the best practices that can be used in schools to create inclusive and supportive learning environments for all students, particularly for students with special needs.”
Chitiyo is the director of teacher education at Pitt-Bradford. He holds a doctorate in special education and a Master of Science in Education in curriculum and instruction from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Africa University in Zimbabwe.
Jessica Ghilani presented to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Jessica Ghilani, Pitt Cyber affiliate scholar and associate professor of communication at Pitt-Greensburg, joined the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to discuss the National Nanotechnology Initiative and give a presentation: “Science Communication, Misinformation and Trust.”
Ghilani is a well-regarded expert on the ecosystems of misinformation and disinformation and a member of the Pitt Disinformation Lab. Her work as a professor includes research on the histories of technology, digital communication, advertising, recruitment, branding and public relations.
[Watch Ghilani discuss AI and social media on CBS’ “Talk Pittsburgh.”]
The National Nanotechnology Initiative has long emphasized the importance of responsible development, and social scientists have played important roles in the interdisciplinary research that supports fundamental and applied research in nanotechnology.
— Nick France
Princeton Review names Pitt a Best Value College for second straight year
Pitt has been named a Best Value College by the Princeton Review for the second consecutive year. Pitt is listed among 13 other Pennsylvania schools and 57 other AAU institutions, 29 of which were AAU publics.
The Princeton Review chose these schools based on data collected from fall 2023 through spring 2024 via their institutional and student surveys, and on alumni and salary statistics from PayScale.com. They created a return on investment (ROI) rating by weighing more than 40 data points covering academics, costs, financial aid, debt, graduation rates and career and salary data.
3 Pitt leaders named 2024 Men of Excellence
Shawn Ellies, Mark Henderson and Robert Hill have been named as Class of 2024 Men of Excellence Award honorees by the New Pittsburgh Courier. This annual award celebrates African American men in the Pittsburgh region who “inspire others through their vision and leadership, exceptional achievements, and participation in community services.”
The Pitt leaders and the rest of the cohort were recognized at a Sept. 13 ceremony at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh hotel.
Shawn Ellies
A commander and protective security advisor, Ellies started with the Pitt Police Department after graduating from the Police Academy in 1997. Since then, he has served as patrol officer, shift sergeant, shift lieutenant, administrative lieutenant, commander of special emergency response team, commander of operations and director of security. Ellies also teaches several criminal justice and law courses as an adjunct professor at Pitt.
Ellies has earned a doctorate degree in administration and policy studies from the School of Education, a master’s degree in public policy and management from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and a master’s degree in leadership and management from Duquesne University.
As a role model both on and off campus, Ellies serves as president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He is also chair of Pitt’s Veterans and Families Committee, an active member of the Equipoise Leadership Committee and a deacon in the Shalom Apostolic Church. Ellies is the chair for the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security, the largest organization for security professionals, with more than 37,000 members worldwide. He continues to volunteer his time and expertise to families in need and nonprofit organizations wherever the need arises.
Mark Henderson
In his role as vice chancellor and chief information officer, Henderson oversees the development, implementation and delivery of technology across Pitt’s campuses, supporting the academic, business and research missions of the University. He leads more than 300 full-time and 150 student staff members in Pitt IT.
Henderson also serves on the board of directors for the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and the Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research, a collaborative statewide community of more than 135 education, health care, economic development, library, government and public media organizations.
Henderson has more than 40 years of experience comprising both higher education and private sector information technology. Corporate appointments include Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Procter and Gamble and GE, where he worked as a leader in global IT and network operations. Henderson grew up in Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in information systems at Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Robert Hill
During his tenure as Pitt’s vice chancellor of public affairs, Hill oversaw branding and communications support for Pitt’s record-breaking billion-dollar fundraising campaign, led communications planning for the University’s 225th anniversary and launched a Pitt advertising presence at Pittsburgh International Airport. His staff won national and international honors for their work.
Hill also created the popular K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month Program, which still brings scores of people to campus each February. He planned and executed a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of Pitt’s role in the development of the Salk polio vaccine. He was also a contributor to developing the award-winning exhibition “Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh in the 18th and 19th Centuries” at the Heinz History Center in 2008.
Hill’s expertise helped strengthen local community institutions, including Pitt’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and several nonprofits that help Black youth. He also mentored many students, employees and colleagues. Hill earned a certificate in management at Harvard University, a Master of Science in management from Manhattan College and a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
— Nick France and Terry Rowley
Rory Cooper named to U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association Executive Committee
Pitt's own Rory Cooper has been named to the United States Olympians and Paralympians Association’s (USOPA) Executive Committee, a group of Games alumni who aim to inspire all communities and help foster volunteer work.
The distinguished professor in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences won a bronze medal in the 4x400 meter wheelchair relay at the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul, South Korea In addition, he served on the steering committee for the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Scientific Congress in 1996, was the sports scientist for the 2008 U.S. Paralympic team and received the 2013 IPC Scientific Achievement Award. Cooper also served as a member of the U.S. Paralympics staff in 1992 1996 and 2008.
Cooper is the founding director and VA senior research career scientist of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, a VA Rehabilitation R&D Center of Excellence in partnership with Pitt. In October 2023, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Biden and he was inducted into the 50th class of the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
An elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, Cooper has authored or co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed journal publications, has 30 patents awarded or pending, and has written two books. He is also a fellow of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and the Biomedical Engineering Society.
— Nick France
Jamilah Ducar named to City & State PA’s 40 Under 40 list
Jamilah Ducar, assistant vice chancellor of the engaged campus in Pitt’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, was included on City & State PA’s 40 Under 40 list. The magazine highlights young Pennsylvanians who are making an impact across the commonwealth.
As assistant vice chancellor, Ducar works with surrounding communities to build strong relationships and enable Pitt to be a visible, collaborative anchor institution. She was recognized in January with the Nadinne Cruz Community Engagement Professional Award, which Campus Compact awards each year for contributions to the community engagement movement beyond on-campus efforts.
Ducar began her career at Pitt in 2017, bringing a decade of experience as a human services practitioner and nonprofit consultant. She was elected to the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership Advisory Team last year and serves as chair of the Place Based Justice Network.
She received a Doctor of Education degree as part of Pitt’s inaugural urban education cohort as well as a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership from Duquesne University.
Pitt Medicine associates honored at 2024 American Thoracic Society conference
Since 1905, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) conference has highlighted novel research and clinical advances in respiratory science from across the globe. At this year’s event in San Diego, tthe Pitt School of Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (PACCSM) participated in more than 150 posters, workshops and oral presentations, including four by PACCSM fellows Clare Cene-Kush, Kyle Inman, Priya Soni and Anne Yang.
Fellows were honored with numerous awards, including an Academic Sleep and Pulmonary Integrated Research/Clinical Fellowship awarded to Catherine Tarantine, a BWF Physician Scientist Incubator Program Scholarship awarded to Tina Okereke, and a first-place win in the ATS Teaching Competition by Rachel Wojcik. Kassandra Allbright received a travel award and a Clinical Problems abstract scholarship; ATS also awarded abstract scholarships to Muhtadi Alnababteh (Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology), Hiam Naiditch (Critical Care) and Peter Nauka (Thoracic Oncology).
The following PACCSM faculty were honored for excellence in pulmonary research and commitment to mentoring:
- Anuradha Ray, professor of medicine and UPMC Endowed Chair in Lung Immunology, was inducted as an ATS Fellow. ATS Fellows are recognized for their contributions to the society and for their achievements and dedication to pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.
- Melanie Königshoff, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Lung Aging and Regeneration, was awarded the Andrew Tager Mentoring Award by the Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly.
- Georgios Kitsios, assistant professor of medicine, received the Jo Rae Wright Award for Scientific Achievement for his work in the human microbiome, mechanical ventilation and infection diagnostics as well as for treating patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe pneumonia.
- Assistant Professors Corrine Kliment and Ioannis Konstantinidis received Rising Star Awards from the Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Assembly and Pulmonary Infections and Tuberculosis Assembly, respectively.
- Eleanor Valenzi, assistant professor of medicine, received the Assembly on Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Recognition of Early Academic Achievement Award (REAAch) for her research on interstitial lung disease.
Pitt staff and publications win several 2024 Robert L. Vann Media Awards
Several Pitt staffers were honored with 2024 Robert L. Vann Media Awards by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation. The Vann Awards of Excellence were presented at a dinner at the O’Hara Student Center on the University’s Pittsburgh campus.
Pitt Magazine won several awards, with Senior Writer and Editor Ervin Dyer and Creative Director Zachary Beresh recognized for “August Wilson’s World” in the categories of magazine writing and page design, respectively. (A self-portrait of Wilson, above, leads the piece.) Former Pitt communications manager Deborah Todd also won in writing for her piece, “Compassion in Action,” about a Pitt alumna’s work supporting people with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. George Schill and Nate Guidry also earned honors in the illustration and personality/profile photo categories, respectively, for their Pitt Magazine work.
Three Office of University Communications and Marketing staffers took home a win in the documentary category for “Remembering the first Black provost at Pitt,” a film on the life of the late Donald M. Henderson. It was produced by Jumoke Davis, director of video production, and Kara Elyse Henderson, content manager, with video editing by Adam Kilburn.
Henderson also won in the non-daily news service category for her Pittwire story on Kakenya Ntaiya, a Pitt alumna who supports the health of women and girls through her nonprofit. The story focuses on Ntaiya’s mission to prevent female genital mutilation and child marriage in Kenya.
— Nick France
Chemistry professor David H. Waldeck awarded 2024 Edward W. Morley Medal
David Waldeck, professor of chemistry and director of the Gertrude E. and John M. Petersen Institute of Nanoscience and Engineering, was awarded the 2024 Edward W. Morley Medal by the Cleveland, Ohio, section of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The medal recognizes significant contributions to chemistry in the region of roughly a 250-mile radius of Cleveland, including through achievements in research, teaching, engineering, research administration and public service or outstanding service to humanity or industrial progress.
Waldeck began his career at Pitt in 1985, rising through the ranks and serving as department chair for more than a decade. Waldeck has made foundational contributions across a range of chemistry fields, including chemical physics and chemical education.
Along with Ron Naaman of the Weizmann Institute, Waldeck discovered the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect (CISS) in 1999. The findings were published in Science and have become a leading new theme in physical chemistry, growing in prominence in the fields of redox biochemistry, electrochemical synthesis, condensed matter physics and prebiotic chemistry.
He has published over 260 papers and holds two patents. Waldeck has also been engaged in professional societies, especially in the Pittsburgh area, including the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, the Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and the ACS Pittsburgh section.