The Distinguished Faculty Award in Research went to Dr. Beverly Smith, an astronomer who is making significant contributions to science’s understanding of how stars are formed. Smith, an associate professor in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geology in the ETSU College of Arts and Sciences, “conducts research in a variety of exciting and intellectually challenging areas of astrophysics,” according to her nomination. And, a large portion of her work deals with systems of colliding galaxies.

The Distinguished Faculty Award in Service was presented to Dr. Leonard Robertson, professor of biological sciences. Robertson has been an ETSU faculty member for nearly three decades and has worked diligently in the advisement of more than 100 pre-professional students each semester who desire to enter the health sciences. He has also served on ETSU’s Premedical-Medical Program for the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, and the Medical Professions Advisement Committee, which provides oversight of several pre-professional committees.

The following faculty have received grants or contracts from external agencies during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2005:

• Fred Alsop, Department of Biology, received from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency $5,000 for “Bird Identification Workshops 2005”.
• Tim McDowell, Department of Biology, received from Institute of Museum and Library Services $2,325 for “ETSU Arboretum Institutional Assessment”.
• Don Hong, Department of Mathematics, received from NSA $15,125 for “Workshop on Mathematical Tools and Statistical Techniques”.
• Debra Hinsley, Department of Mathematics, received from the Mathematical Association of America $22,680 for “MAA-SUMMA Undergrad Research Project: Discrete Models in Molecular Biology”.
• Mark Giroux, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology, received from NASA $28,700 for “Spirals, bridges and tails: star formation in colliding galaxies”.
• Gary Henson, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology, received from NASA $388 for “Monitoring Post-AGB Stars for Availability”.
• Yuriy Razskazovskiy, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology, received from ResearchCorp $7,320 for “Sequence-specific Radiation Targeting of DNA in Hypoxic Environment”.
• Beverly Smith, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology, received two grants award by NASA, $70,958 for “Investigating the infrared variability of asymptotic giant branch stars” and $29,984 for “Investigating the infrared variability of asymptotic giant branch stars (supplement)”.
• Steve Wallace, Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geology, received from TDOT $177,799 for Visitor’s Center at the Gray Fossil Site.
• Russell Brown, Department of Psychology, received from Eli Lilly Corporation $39,500 for “Effects of olanzapin on behavior, acetylcholine & neuroprotection”.

The Gray Fossil Site was uncovered in 2000 by highway contractors. This is the only Miocene site in Appalachia. Find out more… (http://www.etsu.edu/grayfossilsite/default.asp)

Faculty published over 100 articles in refereed professional journals; over 100 non-refereed articles or encyclopedia references; 72 academic books; and were awarded 27 grants or contracts from external agencies.

Two faculty received Fulbright awards: Dr. Henry Antkiewicz (History; China) and Dr. Richard Kortum (Philosophy & Humanities; Azerbaijan).

College recognition of faculty excellence was awarded to Dr. Larry Miller (Teaching), Dr. Gary Henson (Service), and Dr. Ted Olson (Research). Dr. Miller and Dr. Henson also received the University Faculty Awards in their respective areas.

By invitation, our ETSU Bluegrass Pride band performed at the NATO meetings in Brussels, Belgium and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. With assistance from the government of Japan, musician, actor and storyteller, Takeharu Kunimoto, served as a Visiting Scholar to our Bluegrass, Old Time and Country music program for the year.