Faculty and staff accolades for April 2013

Mark French, associate professor of mechanical engineering technology, spoke at the recent Center for Instructional Excellence conference about IMPACT.

Michael Kane, associate professor of computer and information technology, is one of four authors of a new textbook titled Pharmacogenetics, Kinetics, and Dynamics Personalized Medicine. The book is available from Jones and Bartlett Learning.

Alejandra Magana, assistant professor of computer and information technology, and Eric Nauman, director of the College of Engineering Honors Program and associate professor of mechanical engineering, have been awarded a $40,000 grant from MathWorks for a project titled “Integrating Computation into Mechanical Engineering Core.”  They will create undergraduate honors course -- open to juniors and seniors in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer and information technology -- to the increase their disciplinary computational literacy by developing computational simulation tools for an undergraduate statics course.

Vahid Motevalli, professor of mechanical engineering technology, has been reappointed to the National Academies, Transportation Research Board committee. In January he served as Session Chair for the board's 92nd annual meeting, which focused on Checkpoint of the Future, an international initiative led by the International Air Transport Association. He serves as a member of the Checkpoint of the Future's Technology Expert Group, and he was an invited panelist for AVSEC World Conference in March where he discussed "Technologies for the Checkpoint for the Future." He also was a panel member for mechanical engineering for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program in January.

Karl Perusich, associate professor of electrical engineering technology in South Bend, has been named a reviewer for the IEEE 2012/2013 President’s Change the World competition. The IEEE Presidents’ Change the World Competition recognizes and rewards students who identify a real-world problem and apply engineering, science, computing, and leadership skills to solve it. Perusich evaluated papers on originality, quantitative aspects and qualitative aspects to produce a pool of finalists.

Rodney Vandeveer, professor of technology leadership & innovation, will be the featured instructor for the Society of Broadcast Engineers three-day 2013 Leadership Development Course in August. It is the fourth year he has led the course.

Several College of Technology faculty and staff have written or edited books available in the 2013 catalog of Purdue University Press:

  • Understanding the Global Energy Crisis, Eugene D. Coyle and Melissa J. Dark, editors. Coyle, a professor at Dublin Institute of Technology, was a Fulbright Scholar in the college in 2012-13; Dark is the Furnas Professor of Technology in the Department of Computer and Information Technology.
  • Manufacturing Facilities Design and Material Handling, fifth edition, Matthew P. Stephens, professor of technology leadership & innovation, co-editor
  • Methods of IT Project Management, second edition, Jeffrey L. Brewer and Kevin C. Dittman, both associate professors of computer and information technology
  • Project and Program Management, A Competency-Based Approach, second edition, Mitchell L. Springer, executive director for operations and strategic initiatives and of the Center for Professional Studies in Technology and Research
  • Construction Site Planning and Logistical Operations, Site-Focused Management for Builders, Randy R. Rapp, associate professor, and Bradley L. Benhart, clinical assistant professor, both in the Department of Building Construction Management, editors

Faculty in the news:

  • Jeffrey Griffin, director of the College of Technology at Kokomo, talks about how his location will help education new Chrysler employees in Kokomo with Fox 59 news.
  • Robert Moser, contenting lecturer of aviation technology, and the Department of Aviation Technology's simulatetor center was featured in a Purdue feature titled "Did you Know?: Holleman-Niswonger Simulator Center."
  • Vahid Motevalli, professor of mechanical engineering technology, talks about the Hoosier Heavy Hybrid for a story posted by the College of Engineering.
  • Motevalli was also quoted in the Feb. 26 edition of Air Cargo World in a story about a diamond heist in the Brussels Airport.