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COSAM Today
Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics Newsletter - May 11, 2015
COSAM Today Top Story

Nobel Peace Prize winner, COSAM alumnus receives honorary doctorate at spring commencement

John Oakberg, mathematics ’69, received an honorary doctorate at the College of Sciences and Mathematics’ 2015 spring commencement on Saturday, May 9. Oakberg, a '69 graduate in mathematics, was part of a team of scientists at the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, in Vienna to receive the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest way possible. "The most significant highlight during my career was in sharing, along with all other IAEA staff members, receipt of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize," said Oakberg. When looking back at his career, he recalls his time as a student at Auburn and notes that in addition to a degree in mathematics, he received minors in Spanish and geography. "At the time (of graduation), I was not sure what I would do with the degree, and initially thought of teaching, weather forecasting or going to graduate school. The prospect of an information technology career was not even a consideration at that time," said Oakberg. "Following graduation in 1969, my entry job as a computer programmer began in July of that year for Union Carbide Corporation's Nuclear Division, which was the contractor operating the three nuclear facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Certainly, my mathematics degree was necessary to be considered for employment, but I was told that the key, critical factor for being hired was a single elective course in Fortran programming that I took during my senior year at Auburn." To read the full story, click here. 

COSAM recognizes academic achievement for 2014-2015 academic year

COSAM awarded top students and faculty at the annual Honors Convocation on April 25. This year, the convocation was held in honor of Howard Hargis, former head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Hargis retired in 2004 after 34 years as a professor at Auburn. During the ceremony, students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement for the 2014-2015 academic year. Dean Giordano also congratulated several COSAM students, faculty and staff for exceptional performance including the following:

2015 COSAM Dean’s Medalists: Andrew J. Clark, Biological Sciences; Maegan N. Neufeldt, Biological Sciences; Lauren E. Barr, Biomedical Sciences; Lexi R. Burkard, Biomedical Sciences; Joseph W. Granade, Biomedical Sciences; Katelyn W. Ahern, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Devon N. Verellen, Geosciences; Graham W. Gordon, Mathematics and Statistics; and Christopher M. Coger, Physics

Outstanding COSAM Graduate Teaching Assistant: Christopher M. Murray, Biological Sciences; and Katherine E. Perry, Mathematics and Statistics

Outstanding Faculty Advisor: Paul A. Cobine, Biological Sciences

Outstanding COSAM Teacher: Randall R. Holmes, Mathematics and Statistics

Student Government Association Award: Patrick D. Michael, Physics

Awards given at other events include:

Robert K. Butz Award: Junshan Lin, Mathematics and Statistics

Comer Award: Meredith McCray, Biological Sciences; and Christopher M. Munna, Physics

President’s Award: Tofey J. Leon, IV, Biomedical Sciences

Susan Stacy Entrenkin Yates Scholarship Award: Hannah Hashimi, Claire Pettit, Lindsey Conry and Martha Chodaba

Faculty members nominated for U.S. Professors the Year

Two COSAM faculty members have been selected as nominees for the U.S. Professors of the Year: Stuart Loch, Department of Physics; and Sharon Roberts, Department of Biological Sciences. The nominees were selected by a sub-group of the Teaching Effectiveness Committee for their contributions to teaching and mentoring. The U.S. Professors of the Year program salutes the most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country – those who excel in teaching and positively influence the lives and careers of students. Sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, it is the only national program to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring since 1981. All undergraduate teachers in the United States, of any academic rank at any type of undergraduate institution, are eligible for the award.

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