Kathleen Zimmerman, ESM Undergraduate Student Assistant, is the recipient of a College of Engineering Peer Review of Exceptional Performance Award - Silver Rank.

Now in its sixth year, the Peer Review of Exceptional Performance (PREP) Award is designed to recognize, reward, and retain exceptional staff employees within the College. PREP provides every staff employee the potential for two promotions within their current position.

The PREP Award recognizes Ms. Zimmerman for her high-level handling of multiple student initiatives including student support, special events, database management, and curriculum activities.

Congratulations to her on a job well done.

Clifford Lissenden, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, presented a talk entitled “The imminent guided wave revolution in NDE” at Hashemite University in Zarqa, Jordan, May 17, 2007. Dr. Lissenden's presentation was the first of five invited speakers to present at the workshop. The workshop was held in conjunction with the opening of Hashemite University's new NDE Center.

Kathleen Zimmerman, engineering science staff assistant for undergraduate affairs, attended the Women's Leadership Conference 2007 held April 16-17, 2007, at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park Campus. The conference featured 16 sessions for participants to choose from to fit their professional development goals.

Dr. Samia Suliman, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, will participate in the 2007 ADVANCE Peer Mentoring Summit to be held June 17-20, 2007, in Durham, North Carolina. The ADVANCE program is specifically focused on the development of infrastructure, programming and resources to boost the participation and success of women in academia.

Summit topics include: leadership, career challenges, and mentoring.

Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Charles Godfrey Binder professor of engineering science and mechanics, gave a talk on the "Evolution of Metamaterials" at the NSF Chemistry Division Workshop on Complexity and Emergent Phenomena, held May 13-15, 2007, in Arlington, VA. Professor Lakhtakia was the first of six invited speakers whose presentations framed the groundwork for the 70+ chemistry expert participants to discuss the future role of supramolecular chemistry. Professor Lakhtakia's presentation focused on the need for supramolecular chemists to develop large molecules useful for metamaterials that shall become essential components of intelligent infrastructures.

Professor Lakhtakia delivered a similar talk on metamaterials at the Penn State's Materials Day 2007, April 10-11, 2007.

Further reading: "Meet the Metamaterials"

Discovering a unique method for fabricating highly nanostructured thin films has won ESM researcher Melik Demirel, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, one of only 33 prestigious awards, offered nationwide, by the Office of Naval Research in 2007.

The ONR Young Investigator Award recognizes and supports new faculty who can help to solve problems of interest to the US Navy.

Congratulations to engineering science and mechanics (ESM) budget assistant Sandra Watson and ESM accounting assistant Kelly Owens for completing the two-year; four semester Administrative Committee on Research (ACOR) Certification and Education Series (ACES). Ms. Watson and Ms. Owens were recognized with other class participants at a special graduation and reception event held Friday, May 11, 2007, on the University Park Campus. The 80-hour certification was taught through workshops, on-line education, mentoring, and competency assessment. The course covered pre-awards, financial basics, project management, compliance, and research administration.

Mirna Urquidi-Macdonald, professor of engineering science and mechanics, has been awarded the Engineering Diversity Award in recognition of her years of service, leadership and dedicated advocacy empowering the next generation of engineers.

The award was formally presented at the Penn State Office of Diversity's spring banquet on April 30, 2007.