Valerie Kinloch, the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the School of Education, has been elected vice president of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

According to its website, the NCTE “amplifies the voice of educators through personal connection, collaboration and a shared mission to improve the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels.”

“It is my honor to have been elected as NCTE’s next vice president,” said Kinloch. “Being a member of NCTE for more than 20 years has allowed me to partner with, learn from and be inspired by dedicated educators from around the world who have an unwavering commitment to language and literacy teaching, learning, practice and research.”

Kinloch will take office during NCTE’s annual convention in Baltimore this November.

Two researchers at the University of Pittsburgh recently received a National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant for $175,000 to study the environmental effects of new anti-corrosion treatments currently being used on Pittsburgh’s lead pipes.

Sarah Haig, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering with a secondary appointment in environmental and occupational health at the Graduate School of Public Health, and Emily Elliott, associate professor of geology and environmental science in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and director of the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory, will evaluate water samples provided by the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.

They will assess and monitor changes in the microbial ecology, water chemistry and nutrient availability in the water collected from pipes and urban streams connected to the system.

Two researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering recently received a National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant for $175,000 to study the environmental effects of new anti-corrosion treatments currently being used on Pittsburgh’s lead pipes.

Sarah Haig, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering with a secondary appointment in environmental and occupational health at the Graduate School of Public Health, and Emily Elliott, associate professor of geology and environmental science in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and director of the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory, will evaluate water samples provided by the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.

They will assess and monitor changes in the microbial ecology, water chemistry and nutrient availability in the water collected from pipes and urban streams connected to the system.

Rob Rutenbar, senior vice chancellor for research at the University of Pittsburgh, was recently in Washington, D.C., as part of the White House Academic Roundtable on Innovation in Quantum Information Science.

Rutenbar, along with other U.S. academic leaders and scientists, discussed ideas with federal agency representatives and government officials on ways research institutions can encourage and integrate innovation ecosystems. The goal of the National Quantum Initiative is to promote quantum information sciences for researchers and students — a field that involves both computational and physics research. 

“Pitt has been aggressively working on quantum science and technology for several years,” said Rutenbar. “Our Pittsburgh Quantum Institute includes nearly 100 quantum faculty from universities across the region, working on topics ranging from fundamental physics to computer science, all focused on advancing the field to practical applications in computing, communication and sensing.”

Victoria Hornyak, assistant professor of physical therapy in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, recently received the 2019 Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society — Western Division.

Hornyak is recognized for her work at Pitt, which includes coordinating and serving as the primary instructor for courses related to patient management and geriatrics in Pitt’s Department of Physical Therapy program. She also serves as the faculty mentor for the students’ Geriatrics Special Interest Group and is an SHRS representative for Pitt’s Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education.

Her research addresses advancing dementia care competency and preparedness across disciplines through a grant as part of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. The project’s goal is to adapt existing communication skills programs to better interact with patients who have dementia.

Tony Gaskew, professor of criminal justice at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, has been appointed to a three-year term on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, effective September 2019.

The 18-member committee is responsible for reviewing issues and promoting NCAA programs and policies related to student athletes, coaches and administrators who are ethnic minorities, LGBTQ or who have disabilities. It was established in 1991 to enhance commitment to foster racial equality and diversity in collegiate athletics.

Gaskew is professor of criminal justice, director of the criminal justice program, and founding director of the Prison Education Program at Pitt-Bradford. He is the senior faculty advisor to the Pitt-Bradford Office of the President in the area of athletics.

He is a graduate of the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative Fellows Institute and since 2016, Gaskew has served as the campus’ faculty athletics representative to the NCAA. As such, he  plays a vital strategic and tactical role in overseeing its institutional responsibilities in the NCAA’s three broad areas of academic integrity (including academic reform initiatives), institutional control and student-athlete well-being.

Ipsita Banerjee, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, is the recipient of the School’s 2019 Faculty Diversity Award. 

“It would be an understatement to say that Ipsita earnestly strives each year to improve the academic environment fostering the success of under-represented minority students at the graduate, undergraduate and high school levels,” says Steven Little, department chair of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the Swanson School. Read more at the Swanson School’s website.

Tenecia Ross, director of employee and labor relations in the Office of Human Resources, has been named one of New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 Class of 2019 honorees.

Fab 40 recognizes African-Americans under the age of 40 who make a positive difference in the Pittsburgh area through their fields of expertise. Ross’ responsibilities include

interpreting and applying provisions of collective bargaining agreements regarding leaves, discipline, job postings, wage and benefits changes and other employee relations matters. She also counsels managers and represented employees regarding contract issues, benefits and policies and procedures.

“I am proud of my accomplishments at the University of Pittsburgh and I’m thankful to be recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier. It is an honor to be named with such an impressive list of co-recipients,” said Ross.

In addition to this honor, Ross joined the board of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), Pittsburgh chapter in January, and serves as vice president of programming and professional development. NAAAHR-Pittsburgh aims to transform and expand the Pittsburgh HR community of minorities through innovation and HR strategy.

The Department of Chemistry and Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) have won the American Chemical Society (ACS) 2019 SafetyStratus College and University Health and Safety Award for Pitt’s “outstanding comprehensive laboratory safety program in higher education (undergraduate study).”

EHS director Jay Frerotte credited chemistry faculty member Ericka Huston’s successful Safety in the Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM1010) course, developed with input from EHS staff led by environmental manager Keith Duval, as key to the award.

Awards committee chair Kimi Brown, a senior lab safety specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, called Pitt’s approach to chemical safety education a model for other institutions.  

“Dr. Huston is passionate about ensuring that all Pitt chemistry students are educated in the philosophy of risk assessment and control, regardless of whether they participate in her CHEM1010 course,” Brown said. “To that end, she has added more engaging and informative safety content to both the undergraduate teaching lab curriculum and to the graduate student research-safety training. Furthermore, those students who do enroll in CHEM1010 are given a unique opportunity to develop important leadership skills and deepen their understanding of how safety integrates with science.” 

In addition to a plaque, the award includes $1,000 for expenses to present at the ACS national meeting in San Diego in August.