Faculty member s earn r e co g n i t io n and awa r d s
Tom Fomby
Louis L. Jacobs
David Meltzer
Tom Fomby, director of the Richard B. Johnson Center for Economic Studies in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, and Robert Haley ’67, chief of epidemiology and professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, joined forces with Dallas County health officials on a groundbreaking study of data collected during the nation’s largest outbreak of West Nile virus, which occurred in Dallas County in 2012. The interdisciplinary research collaboration revealed several key findings about West Nile outbreaks and pointed to the use of a mosquito vector index rating system to trigger early intervention. Those results were published in the July 2013 JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), the prestigious peer-reviewed medical journal. Louis L. Jacobs, professor of earth sciences in the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, was selected to receive the 2012 Skoog Cup in November from the Science Teachers Association of Texas (STAT). Jacobs, who also serves as president of SMU’s Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, was honored for his significant contributions to advance science education. His dedication to sharing his knowledge and talents as a leading scientist in the field of vertebrate paleontology has earned him the moniker “Indiana Jones” among Texas teachers and students. His research utilizes advanced imaging and stable isotope techniques to investigate paleo-environmental, biogeographic and phylogenetic issues of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. He also co-leads a collaborative international scientific research program focused on the ancient life of Angola. David Meltzer, Henderson-Morrison Professor of Prehistory in SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in
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Annie Xiang
Brian Zoltowski
April, joining other renowned leaders in various fields such as John Glenn, Martin Amis, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen. Meltzer is an internationally recognized authority on the origins, antiquity and adaptations of the first Americans – Paleoindians – who colonized the North American continent at the end of the Ice Age. His research has been supported by grants from the National Geographic Society, the National Science Foundation, The Potts and Sibley Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. Meltzer also was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2009. Annie Xiang, physics research professor in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, received the U.S. Department of Energy R&D award in August 2012. The award provides $200,000 in funding for her work on the development of small-formfactor, high-reliability optical transmitters for high-bandwidth data transmission in future particle physics experiments. Xiang leads SMU’s Versatile Link project team, a collaboration with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Oxford University, focused on upgrading the optical link of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Brian Zoltowski, assistant professor of chemistry in Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, received a $250,000 grant from the Herman Frasch Foundation for Chemical Research in August 2012 for his work on the photoreceptor protein, one of the many proteins involved in an organism’s circadian clock. The photoreceptor protein enables plants to know when the spring and fall occur and to produce flowers or fruit at the appropriate time of year. The Frasch Foundation awards grants to nonprofit incorporated institutions to support research in the field of agricultural chemistry that will be of practical benefit to U.S. agricultural development.
SMU launches Undergraduate program in public relations and strategic communication
A new Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations and strategic communication was launched in fall 2012 in the Division of Communication Studies in Meadows School of the Arts. The interdisciplinary major is designed to prepare students for current industry needs. Students learn to create and manage multimedia communication campaigns in support of the mission, values, brand and strategic objectives of a corporate, political or nonprofit organization, institution or client. While coursework is essential, the program also emphasizes learning through internships and partnerships with industry professionals in advertising, communications and journalism.
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SMU 2012–13 ANNUAL REPORT
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