May 9, 2006
First Student to Receive Ph.D. from Boise State Saturday
Geophysics Ph.D. candidate Greg Oldenborger, right, and geosciences research professor Michael Knoll adjust a resistivity meter inside Knoll's lab in the Math-Geosciences building. Oldenborger will receive the university's first Ph.D. at Spring Commencement on Saturday.

This Saturday, when Greg Oldenborger walks across the stage to receive his diploma during Boise State’s spring Commencement ceremonies, he’ll make school history.

Oldenborger, who is from Vancouver, B.C., is the first person to earn a Ph.D. from Boise State. He’ll receive his Ph.D. in geophysics, one of four doctoral programs now offered at the university.

While Oldenborger is Boise State’s first Ph.D. graduate, he isn’t the first Bronco to earn a doctoral degree. That honor goes to Alecia Baker, who received an Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction in 1997. Spring Commencement will also include hooding ceremonies for two Ed.D. candidates, Barbara Schroeder and Kerry Rice.

Oldenborger has accepted a position as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia in his hometown, where he will continue his research in the area of electrical and electromagnetic geophysics. He plans to pursue a career as a university professor.

The 2006 spring Commencement is Saturday at 10 a.m. in Taco Bell Arena.

Neal Peirce
Author and community development expert
Friday, 5:30 p.m. and
Sunday, 8:30 a.m.
on NPR News 91

The Boise State debate and speech team won a third consecutive regional championship and concluded its first undefeated season in school history in 2006. Boise State’s team is currently the reigning national champion.

We have a winner
The winner of the $25 gift certificate to the BroncoShop is Cheryl Gerla in the Registrar's Office. Thank you to everyone who responded to this year's readers poll.

COMMENCEMENT /
Open Parking Available for Saturday’s Commencement
With the largest attendance ever expected for spring Commencement and the annual Race for the Cure scheduled at the same time near Boise State’s campus, increased traffic and parking demands are expected during Saturday’s Commencement ceremonies.

To help offset the anticipated congestion, all on-campus reserved, general and metered parking lots, including the parking structure, will be free for Commencement patrons during Saturday’s ceremonies in Taco Bell Arena. A large portion of the west stadium lot, located directly east of TBA, will be reserved for disabled and dignitary parking. Because of the Race for the Cure, portions of Parkcenter Boulevard will be closed between S. Leadville Ave. and Southshore Way. Those attending Commencement are encouraged to arrive early. For more information, contact Nicole Nimmons with Parking and Transportation Services at ext. 6-4327.

Twin Falls Graduation Ceremony Tonight
 Provost Sona Andrews and deans Mike Blankenship (Social Sciences and Public Affairs) and Mike Stockstill (Extended Studies) will be among the Boise State officials who will travel to the Magic Valley this afternoon to help officiate graduation ceremonies for the university’s Twin Falls program.

The university officials will be among those who will honor the 37 graduates of accountancy, general business management, criminal justice administration, and bilingual education from the Magic Valley program. The event begins at 5 p.m. on the College of Southern Idaho campus. Immediately following the graduates’ program at the college, there will be a Boise State Magic Valley alumni gathering and graduation celebration at the Red Lion Cedar. Congratulations to the Twin Falls members of the BSU’s Class of 2006.

Graduation Barbecue Slated for Friday
Faculty and staff are invited to attend this Friday’s graduation barbecue, which will be hosted by the Alumni Association from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union parking lot. Graduates receive two free tickets; additional tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Student Union Information Desk.

The celebration will feature music, children’s games, a jumphouse and other festivities. Also, take a spin on the Wheel of Games for a chance to win free prizes. For more information about the barbecue, contact the Boise State Alumni Association at ext. 6-1698.
 
Shared Leadership

Shared Leadership is an opportunity to collaborate, network and partner with campus colleagues you might not otherwise meet. The monthly sessions not only provide leadership skills and tools, but also a forum for an exchange of new ideas and diverse leadership experience among participants and session leaders. read more>>

"Shared Leadership was a great introduction to the way the university functions. Having the opportunity to talk to and hear from other departments around campus gave me a "bigger picture" view of the university and the way it operates. It was also great to meet people from departments that I would have rarely had any interaction with. If you are interested in learning more about the university, I would recommend Shared Leadership."
- Bill English, Shared Leadership 2004-2005

Special Spring Commencement Sash Commemorates 'Year of Study Abroad'
In November 2005 the U.S. Senate designated 2006 as the Year of Study Abroad. The resolution was co-sponsored by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho). In recognition of this designation, Boise State students who have studied abroad, or international students who have attended Boise State, will be invited to wear a special sash during Saturday’s Commencement ceremony.

The sash will be a replica of the flag from the country in which the student studied or from the student’s home country. During Commencement, it will be worn around the student’s shoulders, over his or her graduation gown.

Josie Evans, a graduating student and this spring’s Commencement speaker, initiated the effort on behalf of international students and those who have studied abroad.

The resolution notes that only 1 percent of American students currently study abroad each year. The Senate resolution encourages secondary schools, higher education institutions, businesses and government programs to promote and expand study abroad opportunities.

The International Programs Office at Boise State will collaborate with other Idaho higher education institutions, as well as the Idaho Department of Education, to promote study abroad during 2006. Approximately 100 Boise State students study abroad every year. Students receive Boise State credit for courses completed abroad, most federal financial aid and scholarships can be used for study abroad programs, students may study in a foreign language or in an English-language program in their major and there are options for students in any major.

SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS /
Boise State Report Looks at Quality of Life in the Treasure Valley Region
A comprehensive state of the region report released by the Institute for Urban and Regional Planning at Boise State looks at the competitiveness and quality of life of the Treasure Valley. The report on the Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area is the first to look collectively at the total region defined in 2003 as the counties of Ada, Boise, Canyon, Gem and Owyhee.

A total of 49 indicators were analyzed in order to compile a clear picture of the area. The Boise MSA was then compared to 14 other metropolitan regions in the West in areas ranging from population density to crime rates to the number of library books checked out annually. Each section of the report defines the indicator, explains why it matters and gives a snapshot of regional performance. read more>>

Helen Lojek




 
Carol Martin
Julie Oxford
Michael Bixby

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES /
Lojek Named Associate Dean
 Helen Lojek, a professor of English who served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since January, has been named to that position on a permanent basis, beginning July 1. As associate dean, Lojek will head the student division of the college and take leadership roles in curriculum, student advising and community outreach activities.

Lojek began her career at Boise State as an adjunct instructor in the mid-1970s. In 1982, she joined the ranks of the regular faculty, and was promoted to full professor in 1991. She has won numerous honors and awards, including ASBSU awards for Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Faculty Adviser, the COAS Award for Service, the Foundation Scholar Award for Teaching, a Fulbright Scholar Award, and more recently, the Robert Rhodes Award for Best Book on a Literary Subject.

FACULTY AND STAFF AWARDS /
Trio Recognized at Luncheon
The winners of Boise State’s 15th Foundation Scholar Awards were honored at a luncheon in the Student Union last week. The awards have been given annually since 1992 for ongoing commitment, expertise and accomplishment in teaching, professionally related service, and research and creative activity. Michael Bixby, a professor of management, was named winner of the Teaching Award; Carol Martin, director of graduate studies in the Department of English, was named winner of the Service Award; and Julie Oxford, an associate professor of biology, received the Research/Creative Activity Award. read more>>

Gerrard, Hemmens Honored
Boise State employees Julie Gerrard, an administrative assistant with the Graduate Dean’s Office, and Craig Hemmens, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice Administration, received campuswide awards last week at the 25th annual Bosses Appreciation Breakfast. Gerrard, a 12-year employee at BSU, was honored as the Professional Office Employee of the Year and Hemmens, who has taught at Boise State since 1996, was named Administrator of the Year by the BSU Association of Office Professionals, which sponsors the breakfast.

STUDENT HONORS /
Chemistry Department Honors Outstanding Students
The Department of Chemistry honored outstanding students at an awards ceremony Friday. Amber Hibberd was honored as outstanding graduating senior and was also given the award for excellence in inorganic chemistry. Hibberd will head to graduate school at Princeton University in the fall. She is the first Boise State student to receive a prestigious Barry Goldwater scholarship, awarded to outstanding juniors and seniors from across the nation who are pursuing studies in science and engineering. read more>>

CORRECTION /
Plus/Minus Grading System in Effect Fall 2006
Contrary to a news release issued by Boise State last month, the university will incorporate its plus and minus (+/-) grading system beginning with the fall 2006 semester, officials said. The previous news release incorrectly reported that the +/- grading system would be implemented in the spring 2007 semester. Earlier this year, the Faculty Senate and the President’s Cabinet approved the implementation of the +/- grading system beginning in fall 2006. Boise State regrets the error.

John Gardner
Professor and Chair,
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Ph.D. and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University

  • Research areas include systems modeling, controls and mechatronics; has worked on a wide variety of projects from artificial hearts to railroad car dynamics to thermal regulation in sea lions and dolphins; is also involved in innovation and improvement in engineering education
     

  • Publications include two books, Simulation of Machines Using MATLAB and SIMULINK (Brooks Cole Publishing, 2001), and Dynamic Modeling and Control of Engineering Systems (Prentice Hall, 1997), with L.J. Shearer and B.T. Kulakowski; a book chapter, "Artificial Hearts and Other Organs" (Wiley Encyclopedia of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Vol. 1, John Wiley and Sons, New York); and 16 refereed articles over his career as well as 35 referred conference papers.
     

  • Grants from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for the Engineering Schools of the West Initiative, a coalition of nine western engineering schools receiving about $1 million each to improve engineering education; from the USDA, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), for working with TenXsys Inc. on a Phase II SBIR project developing devices to extend the range of animal telemetry collars using animal motion
     

  • Interested in the role of engineers and scientists in the formation of public policy, and in the development of the “creative economy” to encourage innovation among engineers


Jim East, Boise State Radio, was featured in the Citizen Boise column in the May 3 Boise Weekly.

Provost Sona Andrews and David Saunders, Faculty Senate president, were quoted in a May 8 Idaho Statesman story on the implementation of the plus/minus grading system.

President Bob Kustra and College of Engineering Dean Cheryl Schrader were featured in a number of media stories following a press conference on Thursday to announce a $5 million donation from the Micron Technology Foundation to support the new Ph.D. program in electrical and computer engineering. Stories and photos ran in the Idaho Statesman and the Idaho Press Tribune and reports were aired on Channels 2, 6, 7 and 12.

other news sources:
 The Idaho Statesman - The Idaho Press Tribune - The Boise Weekly - The Arbiter - Boise State Radio