HORNET
HIGHLIGHTS E-newsletter from the Office of the President | MAY 2017
Transitions and Transformations As the 2017 spring semester draws to a close, eager seniors are preparing to graduate from DSU. They will leave sophomoric daydreams behind and face the realities of life. Just four or five years ago, they entered the DSU community as hopeful freshmen, full of the anticipation and trepidation that are the twins of transition. As eager now as when DSU welcomed them to begin something new and exciting, we send them forth with great hopes for promising futures. Transitioning from class members to members of the working class, from collegians to colleagues, will be without a doubt a sobering experience for many. However, we are confident that in the time spent at DSU, our students have transformed themselves into men and women ready to make significant marks on the world. This is a pivotal time for them — and for us — as
we send them off into a world that they are destined to change and that will change them as well. If the Class of 2017 has taken full advantage of all that Delaware State University has had to offer, then our new graduates will continue to persevere. If we have done our job, we will reap the benefits of a job well done. We will see our protégés become selfsufficient individuals who will use what they have gained to enrich lives — starting with their own — and to marshal positive change in the world. We believe this for them and wish for them much more. Sincerely,
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Renewable Energy Education Center (REEC) Inaugural Advisory Committee Formed Two DSU Students to Intern with Apple This Summer DSU Student Co-authors Papers in International Science Journals 300 DSU Students Render Service to Community on April 1 — No Foolin’ Read on for more ...
President Harry L. Williams
2017 Competition is a Major Success! A total of more than $63,000 was contributed to the 2017 Battle of the Colleges fundraising drive. At the suggestion of the deans, the drive was extended this year to three months, which proved to be an excellent move.
Congratulations to our five Colleges, the deans and all the donors who supported this year’s fundraising program which has yielded the highest total amount raised, highest total raised by a College and highest participation in total number of donors. Donors include staff, students, administrators, alumni, community partners and friends. Kudos go to: The College of Business, for taking top honors under the leadership of Ms. Donna Covington, with contributions totaling more than $34,000. The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, under the leadership of Dr. Francine Edwards, for achieving second place honors with over $19,000 in contributions. The College of Education, Health & Public Policy, under the leadership of Dr. Marshá Taylor Horton, for third place honors with over $5,000 in contributions. The College of Agriculture & Related Sciences, under the leadership of Dr. Dyremple Marsh, for raising close to $4,000. The College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences & Technology, under the leadership of Dr. Clytrice Watson, for raising nearly $500.
RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATION CENTER (REEC)
Inaugural Advisory Committee Formed Delaware State University’s Renewable Energy Education Center (REEC) has established an inaugural advisory committee to help guide in the fulfillment of the mission and goals. The goals of the REEC are to bring renewable energy to the masses of Delaware, improve the infrastructure and capacity of renewable energy education, research and extension, and offer certificate programs, as well as credentialing services in renewable energy. The advisory committee membership consists of government, educational and community leaders. The REEC is the result of funding provided by Delmarva Power, an Exelon Company. The initial committee membership is: John Allen, vice president, Delmarva Power, an Exelon Company Dr. Marikis Alvarez, associate dean, DSU College of Agriculture and Related Sciences J.D. Bartlett, executive director, DSU Planning & Construction Dr. Eric Cheek, associate vice president, DSU Adult & Continuing Education & Summer Programs Jennifer Clemons, department chair, Energy Technology, Delaware Technical Community College Anthony DePrima, executive director, Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility 2
Six members of the REEC inaugural advisory committee who assembled for a meeting in April are shown with Project Manager William Pickrum, right. From left are Tony DePrima, Scott Lynch, J.D. Bartlett, John Allen, Tom Noyes and Jennifer Clemons. Bernice Edwards, executive director, First State Community Action Agency Scott Lynch, Delaware Municipal Electric Corp., Inc. Tom Noyes, principal planner for Utility Policy, Division of Energy & Climate, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Project Manager William W. Pickrum stated, “We are very excited about the activation of the REEC Advisory Committee. These individuals represent the best thought leaders on the subject of renewable energy in the state of Delaware. As the strategic initiatives are developed, the state of Delaware will become a model for others to follow in this arena.” The Center’s website is www.desu.edu/reec.
Two Students to Intern with Apple This Summer A coveted internship program with Apple — the renowned multinational technology giant — is giving some select DSU computer science students real-world experience that will help to catapult them into their careers in the industry. Curtis A. Hite and Tuba S. Abbasi, both rising seniors, will spend their summer in California as interns working for Apple through a partnership program with the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. In addition to the internship, TMCF is providing the students with a one-year scholarship and is paying for their summer relocation costs. Full story
Curtis A. Hite, center, and Tuba S. Abbasi, right, will follow in the footsteps of Deshaun Crawford, a May 2017 computer science graduate who spent the summer of 2016 as an Apple intern and will now work for the company in California as a software engineer.
College of Business professor authors product design book
Prof. Adam Gadomski, vice rector for International Relations and Tahlia Casey’s research mentor at the University of Science and Technology in Poland, visited DSU to present Casey with published papers she helped co-author. Also pictured are Dr. Mazen Shahin, left, who established the research study abroad program at DSU, and President Harry L. Williams.
Student Co-authors Papers in Two International Science Journals Tahlia Casey, a sophomore biological sciences major from Queens, N.Y., has co-authored two papers in scholarly international journals related to a one-month study abroad research experience she had in 2016 at the University of Science and Technology (UTP) in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz. The first paper, titled “Hyaluronic Acid and Phospholipid Interaction Useful for Repaired Articular Cartilage Surface — A Mini Review Toward Tribological Surgical Adjuvants,” co-authored by Stanislaw Jung, Aneta Petelska, Piotr Beldowski, Wayne K. Auge II, Tahlia Casey, Dominik Walczak, Krzysztof
and Adam Gadomski, appears in the Spring Journal, Colloid Polymer Science. The second paper, titled “Dynamical Systems Theory in Quantitative Psychology and Cognitive Science: A Fair Discrimination between Deterministic and Statistical Counterparts is Required,” co-authored by Adam Gadomski, Marcel Ausloos and Tahlia Casey, appears in Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences.
The College of Business’ Dr. Carlos Rodriguez has written a new book on product design and innovation, titled Product Design and Innovation — Analytics for Decision Making, a practical, hands-on resource that guides readers through the entire design process and the methodologies applied in industry. “It [the book] illustrates the product conceptualization, the design of new products, and product innovation efforts through the application of proven successful methodologies and industry practices to see a project through to launch — while minimizing future commercial risks,” said Dr. Rodriguez, who serves as the director of the Center for the Study of Innovative Management under the College of Business. Full story
Casey was among 10 DSU students who traveled to UTP, where they each were paired with a science faculty member and worked on individual research projects. Full story 3
2017 FIRST LADY’S HATS AND GLOVES TEA
We value and appreciate your support! You enable student success and so much more with your gifts.
VISIT DESU.EDU/GIVE Thank you for your ongoing support!
Tea Raises Funds to Support Honors Students About 400 guests visited campus for the 2017 First Lady’s Hats and Gloves Tea on March 26, a fundraiser benefiting the DSU Honors Program. Joining First Lady Dr. Robin Williams, second from left, and tea co-chairs Enid Wallace-Simms ‘74, left, and Virginia L. Carson, right, are this year’s honorees, Mary Maloy Scott ‘55, seated, and Dr. Lozelle De Luz, Bernice Edwards and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. Story and photos
INSPIRED DAY OF SERVICE
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017 Severe weather plan is in effect due to forecast heavy rain. Commencement will be indoors at Memorial Hall Gymnasium (3 ceremonies).
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, left, and DSU President Harry L. Williams, center, pose with a few of the more than 300 students who took part in the April 1 Inspired Day of Service.
300 Students Participate on April 1 — No Foolin! On Saturday, April 1, Delaware State University’s Inspire Scholarship recipients as well as other students dispersed across the state to engage in community service projects as part of the University’s annual “Inspired Day of Service.” Inspire Scholarship students are required to complete 10 hours of community service per semester. The Inspired Day of Service provides them with an opportunity to fulfill some of those hours as well as personify DSU’s core values of “Community” and “Outreach.” Non-Inspire Scholarship students also participated. Story and photos
9 a.m. Noon. 3 p.m.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College of Agriculture and Related Sciences and College of Business College of Education, Health and Public Policy; College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology; and Ed.D and Ph.D graduates, School of Graduate Studies and Research
www.desu.edu/commencement
For more information, please visit desu.edu or call the Division of Institutional Advancement at 302.857.6055.