2008 Award Winners

Merrill Goozner (BA, '75, History)

Merrill Goozner spent more than 25 years in the news industry as a foreign correspondent, economics writer and investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune and other publications. He reported from more than a dozen countries while posted in Chicago, Tokyo, New York and Washington.

Goozner left daily journalism in June 2000 to teach journalism at New York University. He joined the Center for Science in the Public Interest in December 2003 as director of the Integrity in Science project, where he continues his research and writing. In 2004, the University of California Press published Goozner's first book, The $800 Million Pill: The Truth Behind the Cost of New Drugs, an exposè of the pharmaceutical industry's research and development practices. Goozner also has found a home on the Web with gooznews.com, where recent posts are titled "High Biotech Drug Prices = A Failed Industrial Policy" and "How Not to Run a Comparative Effectiveness Agency."

Goozner and Karen Bachner are the proud parents of Zoe, who is in high school in Silver Spring, Md. Goozner has two children by his first marriage, Rebecca and Thad, and two grandchildren, Rachel and Sarah.

Walt Handelsman (BGS, '79, General Studies)

In 2007, Pulitzer Prize judges praised Walt Handelsman's "stark, sophisticated cartoons and his impressive use of zany animation" as they awarded him his second Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. Handelsman, the syndicated editorial cartoonist for Newsday since 2001, creates cartoons appearing in more than 200 newspapers around the country and internationally. Just two years after teaching himself Flash animation, he produces animated editorial cartoons viewed by countless fans via the Internet, with timely topics touching on issues ranging from baby boomers attempting to stay young to parodies of political ads. The quirky, biting cartoons, voiced by Handelsman, are among Newsday's most e-mailed items.

Before joining Newsday, Handelsman worked for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, the Scranton Times in Pennsylvania and a chain of 13 Baltimore and Washington suburban weeklies from 1982 to 1985. In addition to his 1997 and 2007 Pulitzers, Handelsman's many honors include two National Headliner Awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and the 2007 Online News Association's Best Online Commentary Award for his animations. He is the author of eight collections of his editorial cartoons and in 1995, illustrated a children's book, Mallory's Moving and Her Monkey is Missing. Handelsman lives with his wife, Jodie, and two sons, James and Billy, on Long Island, N.Y

Thomas Heckler (PhD, '81, Chemistry)

Thomas Heckler's technical and scientific expertise and dedication to improving the quality of life have been the hallmark of his career. Heckler is the retired director of biotech development at Centocor Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Company. After completing his PhD thesis in beta-lactamase enzymology with UC professor Richard A. Day, Heckler accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia.

His industrial career began at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he was a "key driver" in development of industrial enzymes in antibiotic drug manufacture and established recombinant strategies for protein growth factor and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies production processes. He also established Bristol's first Good Manufacturing Practice clinical production facility. Heckler continued his career at Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Biotech, developing successful biotech products. Among Heckler's many honors are Johnson & Johnson Standard of Leadership Awards in 2000 and 2004, the Ortho Biotech Diamond Award for Consistently Outstanding Performance in 1999, and Achievement Awards in 1998 and 1999.

His nominator says of Heckler: "Emphasizing a team-based collaborative approach, he has led a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and technicians within the recombinant cell culture and purification disciplines to foster innovative organizations, mentoring many junior scientists along the way."

Heckler and his wife, Nancy, have three children, Erin, Jeff and Kyle. They live in Annandale, N.J.

McMicken Excellence Award

Karen Eichelbrenner, Psychology

Karen Eichelbrenner is described by psychology graduate students as the "heart and soul" of the doctoral program. She joined the Department of Psychology in 2001 as graduate secretary, quickly adding to her role the duties of a full-time clinical secretary. Eichelbrenner also assumed responsibility for a number of large departmental activities. She has an "outstanding, friendly, and helpful attitude that consistently draws praise for the department," says Paula Shear, director of clinical training, adding that Eichelbrenner is "professional and trustworthy; absolutely delightful to work with." According to Department of Psychology head Steven Howe, "Karen's contributions to our operations and, on a more personal level, to the lives of our students, are absolutely critical."

CARL MILLS AWARD for outstanding Faculty & Student Relations

Lisa Newman, Communication

Lisa Newman's career centers on helping others improve their communication skills. Newman, a field service professor, is director of the Department of Communication's undergraduate and internship programs. She is described by current student Adam Bowman as the "most helpful and caring teacher I've ever had" and by Patrick Strasbaugh as an educator whose classroom environment "inspires critical thinking and creativity which leads to confidence and independence." Newman is actively engaged in the First Year Experience, serving as a speaker for the Peer Leader program, Freshmen Seminar instructor and Talk Soup Learning community advisor. Newman received the first Student Choice Faculty Woman of the Year award in 2007 and is a past winner of the McMicken Dean's Award for Distinguished Service.

McMICKEN DEAN'S AWARD for Distinguished Adjunct Performance

Linda Bates Parker, Organizational Leadership

Linda Bates Parker, director of the Career Development Center since 1987, is an "excellent leader, an engaging teacher and very well respected," says Joseph C. Gallo, Center for Organizational Leadership director. Parker, a Distinguished Faculty Fellow who helped develop some of UC's first distance learning courses, has taught her popular Managing Diversity in the Workplace course in McMicken since 2002. As a widely recognized expert on issues of women and of diversity, her recommendations laid the groundwork for the university-wide Diversity Task Force. Parker is noted by students and colleagues for her "long-lasting and life-changing" style of teaching and as someone who "is driven by the satisfaction of seeing her students achieve their goals."

EDITH C. ALEXANDER Award for Distinguished Teaching

Bruce Ault, Chemistry

Graduate and undergraduate students alike continually praise Professor Bruce Ault's excellent teaching style, willingness to clearly explain complex topics and ability to establish a good rapport with all students. The director of undergraduate studies in chemistry since 2003, he has had a significant role in shaping the department's curriculum. Ault's work has earned continuous funding from the National Science Foundation since 1979. Department of Chemistry head Patrick Limbach says, "Bruce is an innovative lab instructor who brings modern equipment and experiments into the undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory and he encourages his colleagues to do the same." Ault's past honors include UC's George Barbour and University Service awards.

McMicken Dean's Award for Distinguished Scholarship

Nageswari Shanmugalingam, Mathematical Sciences

Associate Professor Nageswari Shanmugalingam has gained worldwide notice since writing a breakthrough dissertation which caught the attention of the international geometric analysis research scene. The University of Cincinnati is "extremely fortunate to have landed a 'star' of Nages' caliber," says David Minda, Taft professor of mathematics. Over the past eight years, Shanmugalingam has published 28 papers which appeared in top-notch international analysis journals. In addition, she has been invited to speak and consult worldwide with leading experts in her field and has had continuous research funding from the National Science Foundation. The importance of her work to other mathematicians is reflected in a phenomenal number of citations to her publications, which are "of the highest standards," says Tim Hodges, Department of Mathematical Sciences head.

McMicken College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Scholarship

Per DeVisé Jansen, International Affairs & Political Science

Per DeVisé Jansen will graduate in June 2009 with a double major in international affairs and political science and certificates in French and international human rights. In 2006 he earned a competitive internship with Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory. Per completed an independent research project and original investigations focused on human rights violations, which inspired him to get involved in local and university organizations and help raise awareness of abusive labor practices in Cincinnati. Per, founder of the UC Urban Justice League and a member of Geocats, has served as treasurer of the Political Science Student Association. He also was a delegate on the Model UN team which won a national Best Delegation award in 2007 and cites Howard Tolley as the professor who most inspired him. Per plans to continue advanced studies, including a PhD in human rights and a JD.

THE ELENOR HICKS AWARD for the Outstanding Undergraduate Female Senior

Andrea England, International Affairs & Asian Studies

Andrea England represents the "complete package," says Thomas Moore, political science professor. Andrea, an international affairs and Asian studies major, has earned a 3.9 GPA and is a Presidential Cincinnatus Scholarship recipient. In addition to completing undergraduate internships with the Québec Government Office in Washington, D.C., and the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, Andrea studied abroad in Italy, France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. Following her June 2008 graduation, she will pursue a master's degree in foreign policy and international security at Georgetown University, with the eventual goal of working abroad in a diplomatic role for the U.S. government. Andrea is "not only intellectually gifted but also entrepreneurial, focused and polished in interpersonal skills," Moore says. Andrea is grateful to Moore and Richard Harknett for their guidance.

THE ROBERT PATTERSON McKIBBIN MEDAL for the Outstanding Undergraduate Male Senior

Michael Brothers, Chemistry & Biology

Michael Brothers is a senior double-majoring in chemistry and biology with a minor in business. Michael, who will graduate in June 2008 and earned a 3.986 GPA, has "an outstanding record," says Bruce Ault, director of chemistry undergraduate studies. Brothers returns the compliment, naming Ault and Bruce Jayne as inspiring his success. As a very active undergraduate researcher, Michael presented at the 2006 Kentucky-Indiana-Ohio Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium, where his presentation won first prize. His many interests led him to roles as Honors Retreat Coordinator, UC Running Club president, organic chemistry teaching assistant and PPG Industries intern. Michael, who received an NIH Traineeship and a Roger Adams Fellowship, plans to earn his doctorate in chemical biology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

OUTSTANDING MASTER'S STUDENT AWARD

Natalie Abell, Classics

Natalie Abell is "one of the finest graduate students produced by the Department of Classics," says her mentor, Jack L. Davis. Natalie received her master's from UC in 2008 and is working toward her PhD. She says Davis' advice "has undoubtedly helped me on the road to becoming a good scholar" and adds that Gisela Walberg "has gently guided my navigation toward PhD candidacy." Natalie's interest in the prehistory of the central and western Mediterranean led to her pursue work in the highly selective field of Maltese archaeology. Natalie established herself as a trustworthy colleague while working side by side with the Maltese and assisting in the archiving of materials from early excavations. Natalie completed a "truly outstanding MA thesis" about the contacts between Malta and the remainder of the Mediterranean world, "a subject that richly deserved reexamination." Her dissertation continues her exploration of the archaeology of islands.

OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL STUDENT AWARD

Siva Muthukrishnan, Chemistry

Siva Muthukrishnan is "the kind of graduate student we all dream of having as our student," says his mentor, Anna Gudmundsdottir. While pursuing doctoral research at UC, Siva completed "invaluable research that profoundly influenced both fundamental and applied chemistry," while displaying "intelligence, contagious enthusiasm and unprecedented motivation." Siva says Gudmundsdottir "provided a very supportive yet challenging research environment" and that Joel Schulman "helped me develop my pedagogical skills." Siva is now an NIH post-doctoral researcher at The Ohio State University, where he has the significant task of developing a prophylactic bioscavenger for chemical warfare agents. His goals include contribution to bio-remediation and therapeutics, training researchers and developing educational tools for the spread of scientific awareness and policies.