University Times

John A. Barnard has been appointed chair of Pitt's Department of Material Science and Engineering (MSE).

Barnard, who also is an MSE professor, joined the University this fall. He had been a professor and director of a National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at the University of Alabama.

He earned a B.A. in engineering and applied science at Harvard, and M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in metallurgical engineering and material science from Carnegie Mellon.

Barnard studies structure/property relationships in thin film materials, including those used for data storage and protective coatings. He is interested in surface and interface characterization, nanostructured materials, and tribology — the study of interactions such as lubrication, wear, and friction between surfaces.

In 1991, Barnard was named a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator.

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Lucy Fischer, professor of English and film studies and director of Pitt's film studies program, has been named president of the international Society for Cinema Studies. Her term extends to June 2003.

The society is a professional organization composed of college and university educators, filmmakers, historians, critics, scholars and others concerned with the study of the moving image. The society is the major academic film organization in the country.

As president, Fischer will play a large role nationally, assuming responsibility for, among other things, staging the society's annual conference.

Her honors include an Art Critics Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Pitt Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Carol Carter has been honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Western Pennsylvania Chapter, as the 2001 Outstanding Fund Raising Executive.

Her name will be included in the program for the 16th Annual National Philanthropy Day in Western Pennsylvania luncheon Nov. 14, and she will receive the award at the 2002 Spring Fund Raising Day and annual meeting of AFP.

Carter, who assumed her current position with the University in January 1997, directs Pitt's development and alumni relations programs. Under her leadership, Pitt launched its largest-ever capital campaign last October, with the goal of raising $500 million by July 2003. To date, the campaign has raised $432 million.

Carter began her development career at Western Maryland College. She moved to Pittsburgh in 1982, working for Carnegie Mellon University for 11 years in various development positions, ultimately serving as associate vice president for development.

She was director of development at Pitt's School of Law during Chancellor Mark Nordenberg's tenure as law school dean.