NEW DEAN Following a national search, UHCL named Zbigniew J. Czajkiewicz as dean of its School of Science and Computer Engineering. Czajkiewicz was formerly a professor of engineering and head of the Center for Applied Research in Engineering and Science at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. Focus areas for the new dean include expanding undergraduate programs, developing a more integrated industrial graduate program, planning and implementing research projects, involvement with local businesses and, possibly, a research center. At Robert Morris, Czajkiewicz managed and developed industry relations, conducted research, taught seminars and mentored undergraduate and graduate students. From 2000 to 2004, he was president of Computer Integrated Systems. A native of Poland, he earned his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland. He received his doctorate in industrial engineering – computer simulation from the same university in 1976. Czajkiewicz was professor and chair of the industrial engineering program and director of the Computer Integrated Manufacturing Center at California State University from 1989 to 2000. Prior to 1989, Czajkiewicz served as associate professor of industrial engineering and graduate program director for Wichita State University.

GOOD AS GOLD The Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognized UHCL for outstanding events and publications during the CASE District IV 2010 Awards Competition. Last summer’s event honoring the first lunar landing’s 40th anniversary, Fly Me To The Moon: A Community Celebration of the First Lunar Landing, received a Gold Award of Excellence in the Specialty Advertising Project category for the event’s promotional items and a Pewter Special Award in the Alumni Program, Project or Special Event category. A Bronze Achievement Award went to an article titled “Kevin Munz” by Egret Managing Editor and Senior Coordinator of Publications Summer Russo, which was featured in the fall 2009 issue of Egret, in the General Feature Writing - 1,000 Words or Less category. Coordinator of Outreach and Communications Mindi Funderburg, Coordinator of Special Events Kris Thompson, both architects of the lunar event, and Assistant Director of Media Relations Karen Barbier, associate editor of Egret, accepted the awards on behalf of the university at the CASE District IV annual conference in March.

ON THE SAFE SIDE Stateuniversity.com’s national rankings for the Top 50 Safest Public Colleges and Universities in Texas gave UHCL high marks for on-campus safety based on crime statistics. The rating scale accounts for severity of a crime as well as frequency of crime. Nationally, the university ranked 22nd. It ranked fourth in the state, behind three junior/community colleges, and is just one of a few universities scoring in the top 10.

WONDERS AT WORK During the 32nd Annual Faculty and Staff Awards Presentation in April, President William A. Staples presented distinguished faculty awards to Associate Professor of Legal Studies James Benson, President’s Distinguished Service Award; Associate Professor of Reading and Language Arts Lillian Benavente-McEnery, President’s Distinguished Teaching Award; and Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership Lawrence Kajs, President’s Distinguished Research Award. Carl A. Stockton, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, presented the Outstanding Lecturer Award to Mathematics Lecturer Judy Bergman and the Outstanding Adjunct Award to Family Therapy Adjunct George Pulliam. Presidential staff awards included the Hugh P. Avery Prize – The President’s Distinguished Staff Service Award, which was presented to Assistant Dean of Students David Rachita, and the President’s Staff Merit Awards, which were presented to Assistant Director of Media Relations Karen Barbier, Assistant Director of Student Life Jennifer Clark, and School of Education Secretary Sharon Klein.

AUTISM OUTREACH Work in the UHCL Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities will be able to expand with support from external organizations. Dorothea Lerman, professor of psychology and director of the center, received $17,043 from the Simmons Foundation to fund an applied behavior analysis graduate assistant for 2010-11, which will allow the center to enhance its intervention services to low-income children with autism and their families. Additionally, the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation donated $5,000 to the center for educational materials for client families. Lerman also has been selected to serve as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis for a three-year appointment ending in spring 2013.

HRM PROGRAM CERTIFIED The Society of Human Resource Management recognized UHCL’s Master of Arts in Human Resource Management with full competency status, making it one of only 47 programs in the United States that has received this certification. UHCL’s graduate program is offered completely online and is fully accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

IN MEMORY The UHCL community mourns the passing of a distinguished and respected colleague. Professor of Criminology Stephen M. Rosoff passed away March 2010. A member of the UHCL family since 1988, Rosoff was popular with his students and active in his field, with new editions of “Profit Without Honor: White-Collar Crime and the Looting of America” and “Social Deviance: Readings in Theory and Research,” books that he co-authored being released during spring 2010.