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January 22, 2003 Media Contacts:
Jan Jennings (858) 822-1684 The event, given by Chancellor’s Associates, also will include presentation of faculty awards for excellence in research, teaching, and community service. Recipients of the annual Chancellor’s Associates Faculty Excellence Awards are Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, professor of psychology, excellence in research in arts, humanities, and social sciences; J. Andrew McCammon, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, excellence in research in science and engineering; Kim Griest, professor of physics, excellence in undergraduate teaching; Joseph W. Esherick and Paul G. Pickowicz, professors of history, excellence in graduate teaching, and Ross Frank, associate professor of ethnic studies, excellence in community service. The Chancellor’s Medal will be presented to Shiley by UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes, with special remarks by Jack O’Brien, artistic director of The Globe Theatres. Shiley is being honored for her commitment to enhance the quality of lives for San Diegans through involvements at UCSD, the University of San Diego, Scripps Clinic, KPBS, the Old Globe Theatre, and Salk Institute. At UCSD, Shiley chaired the Chancellor’s Associates. Shiley’s honors include the San Diego Press Club’s Community Activist Headliner of the Year; UCSD’s Distinguished Service Medal; the Association of Fundraising Executives Philanthropist of the Year; George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Center’s Spirit of Discovery and Caring Award; the National Conference for Community and Justice Human Unity Award, and San Diego Magazine’s Art of Giving: Philanthropist Award. She also was named KPBS’ first Woman of the Year and one of the Girl Scouts’ 10 Coolest Women in San Diego. Shiley is a cum laude graduate of San Jose State University and is married to medical inventor Donald Shiley. Marsha A. Chandler, senior vice chancellor, Academic Affairs, and Samuel C. Knight, chair of the awards selection committee, will present the Chancellor’s Associates Awards. Ramachandran is being honored for international contributions to the field of cognitive neuroscience and brain research; for shedding new light on such diverse phenomena as visual perception, neurological disorders, the universal appeal of art forms, and the part of the brain that experiences religious sensations, and for creative and distinctive accomplishments which cross and link interdisciplinary boundaries. James A. Kulik, chair of the Department of Psychology, says Ramachandran is “one of the true super-stars of the Department of Psychology – and of the campus – and is one of the top four or five researchers in the country in the field of cognitive neuroscience or brain research. He is known worldwide for his originality, extraordinary breadth of interests and for a distinctive research style that draws heavily on his knowledge of evolution and the workings of animal brains to design new pivotal tests of human brain function.” McCammon is being recognized for groundbreaking accomplishments in computational biology and theoretical chemistry; for pioneering efforts in utilizing powerful modern computational methods to gain insight into the way biochemistry really operates, and for leading the way in probing how proteins evolve and fold. Cliff Kubiak, chair of the Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, says “McCammon has brought intellectual
order to the study of the dynamics of biological molecules and also shown
how the dynamics of proteins can be used to make practical contributions
to the design of pharmaceuticals. His brilliant scientific accomplishments
and collegial dedication have brought Griest is being recognized for outstanding contributions as a physics professor, for an engaging and interactive teaching style that inspires students to overcome technical and mathematical barriers and to pursue and find stimulating courses in complex scientific disciplines, and for seminal contributions to astrophysics in the fields of dark matter and gravitational lensing. “Professor Griest’s overwhelming approval among his students clearly bespeaks a remarkable effectiveness in the classroom” says Department of Physics vice chair Daniel P. Arovas, who praises Griest for his extraordinary broad, deep, and effective commitment to education, coupled with an international stature as a leading researcher in astrophysics. “He truly reflects the very highest ideals of a University of California professor, excelling brilliantly in teaching, research, and service.” History professors Esherick and Pickowicz are being honored for creating and building the graduate program in Chinese history into one of the top-ranked programs worldwide, for passion and excellence in teaching and mentoring students who have made remarkable accomplishments, and for inspired leadership and dedication to the campus. “Joe Esherick and Paul Pickowicz have worked together, for over a decade, to create one of the nation’s leading graduate programs in Chinese history,” say Eric Van Young, History Department chair, and history professor Michael A. Bernstein in posing the joint nomination. “The fruits of their labors are obvious in the record of accomplishments of their students – and the fact that UCSD now enjoys a reputation in the Chinese history field that matches more than favorably with some of the finest (and oldest) institutions of higher learning and research in the world … To recognize one of these colleagues with respect to teaching excellence is clearly and obviously to recognize both.” Frank is being recognized for educational and outreach efforts to Native American communities in San Diego County; for ensuring that UCSD’s resources reach Native American youth in profound, personal and sustainable ways, and for his role in creating the Tribal Digital Village which links 18 Indian reservations with educational partners and has a reputation as one of the most significant digital educational projects in the United States. Ethnic Studies professor Ramon Gutiérrez, speaking on behalf of his Ethnic Studies colleagues, describes Frank as “catalytic in rethinking UCSD’s approach to Native American student outreach, proposing ways to reform our institutional practices, developing fellowship support for Indian students, significantly increasing the number of K-12 Indian students that visit UCSD and ultimately become UC eligible, and creating one of the most nationally significant digital education projects in the United States, the Tribal Digital Village.” Gutiérrez praises Frank as a “tireless educator, splendidly undertaking his research, teaching and service responsibilities.” The Chancellor’s Associates
award recipients are nominated by their academic peers, with final selection
by a committee of Chancellor’s Associates members. In addition to
recognizing their accomplishments, the awards include a $2,500 honorarium.
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