[Vision2020] The UI Friday Letter for March 28, 2008

[Tom Hansen]

The UI Friday Letter for March 28, 2008 -

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University of Idaho
Office of the President
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3151
Phone: 208-885-6365
Fax: 208-885-6558

The Friday Letter
A Newsletter for University of Idaho Alumni and Friends
March 28, 2008

Dear Friends,

I'm pleased to announce two appointments at the University of Idaho that, 
respectively, bolster our academic leadership in the sciences and address 
our aspirations for greater athletic success.

Scott A. Wood, professor of geochemistry and environmental science, has 
been selected as dean of the College of Science following a national 
search. He has served as interim dean since July 2007, and takes up the 
permanent post April 7. The College of Science is home to seven academic 
departments with 95 faculty and approximately 970 students. As interim 
dean, Scott has enhanced research opportunities for faculty members, 
guided the college's strategic planning process and focused on development 
opportunities.
	
Scott joined the University of Idaho's geological sciences department, 
then housed in the College of Mines and Earth Resources, in 1992. He has 
gained national distinction as a professor and researcher. He is the 
recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Division of 
Geochemistry of the American Chemical Society; two meritorious service 
awards from the Geochemical Society; the 2005 College of Science 
Distinguished Faculty Award; and the 1998 University of Idaho Award for 
Excellence in Research. His research has been supported by organizations 
including the Geological Survey of Canada and Quebec's Ministry of Energy 
and Resources; the U.S. Departments of Energy and Defense; NASA and the 
National Institutes of Health; and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization). Scott also has been a visiting scientist at the Oak Ridge 
and Los Alamos National laboratories.

Scott earned his master's and doctoral degrees in geology from Princeton 
University, and his bachelor's in chemistry and geology from Hamilton 
College. I look forward to his continued service as dean of the College of 
Science.

On Monday, Don Verlin joined us as our new men's basketball coach, 
replacing George Pfeifer. I am grateful to George for his contributions to 
the University, and I send best wishes for the future to him and his 
family. Don has been an assistant basketball coach at Utah State 
University for the past 10 seasons, and was a key part of Utah State's 
nine successive post-season appearances and nine successive 20-plus-win 
seasons. I am impressed with Don's integrity, his commitment to guiding 
student-athletes to their degrees and his competitive spirit. These 
qualities all fit well with our aspirations for the intercollegiate 
athletics program, and the specific goal of building a successful men's 
basketball program competing in the Western Athletic Conference. Please 
join me in welcoming Don and his wife, Serena, and their children, Jacob 
and Sydnee, to the University of Idaho.

Tim White	
President

Here's the latest news from the University of Idaho:

The Borah Symposium is March 30 through April 2, and will include a full 
schedule of events focused on "Reconciliation" following inter- or intra-
state conflict. Frederik Willem (F.W.) de Klerk, the last state president 
of apartheid-era South Africa, will be the keynote speaker. He will speak 
at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building Ballroom. All symposium 
presentations are free and open to the public, and seating is on a first-
come, first-served basis. For more information, visit:

www.martin.uidaho.edu/borah

Earlier in the day, de Klerk will join President Timothy White, College of 
Natural Resources Dean Steven Daley-Laursen and members of the Borah 
Foundation for a ceremonial tree planting at 5 p.m. at the east end of the 
Administration Lawn next to the Spanish-American War memorial soldier 
statue. A grand fir, grown at the University's Franklin H. Pitkin Forest 
Nursery, will be planted to honor de Klerk's contributions toward global 
peace. The tree planters will use the shovel used by President Theodore 
Roosevelt to plant a blue spruce in the University of Idaho's Presidential 
Grove on April 9, 1911.

The University's fourth annual human rights conference, "Finding the 
Center" is April 4-5 in the Idaho Commons. Workshops that address 
communication and collaborative strategies for problem solving will be 
presented to support the conference's theme, "Resolving Differences: The 
Seed of Unity." Author Burl Barer will present the keynote address, "How 
to Always be Right." More information is available at www.uidaho.edu/ftc. 
Scholarships for students and others are available and interdepartmental 
budget transfers can be used for faculty and staff registrations.

The Micron Foundation is the premier sponsor of this year's College of 
Engineering Design EXPO with a gift of $25,000. The EXPO, held April 25, 
is the Pacific Northwest's largest interdisciplinary initiative showcasing 
the world of engineering and technological innovation. Micron's gift will 
allow distant high school math and science students, who may otherwise may 
not be able, to attend this year's event. Micron hopes to inspire young 
science and math students to pursue careers in engineering and present 
opportunities - from building and bridge design to nanotechnology and 
biochemistry - to those students' parents and teachers.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

Came a tribe from the north brave and bold . . .

"Here We Have Idaho"
http://www.tomandrodna.com/HWHI.mp3

"I-D-A-H-O Idaho Idaho Go Go Go"
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