Center Created for Subsurface Sensing

Rensselaer and four other universities have received a grant worth a potential $16 million from the National Science Foundation to become part of a major multi-institutional engineering research center (ERC).

Rensselaer will join Northeastern University, Boston University, and the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, to form the Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems (CenSSIS).

Institute Professor James Modestino will direct Rensselaer's participation in the ERC, which will be headquartered at Northeastern University.

Through subsurface sensing, scientists are able to identify and picture what is happening under the skin, beneath the crust of the Earth, below the surface of the ocean, and in other regions that are not directly and easily accessible.

Subsurface sensing is a specialty of many Rensselaer faculty members, including members of the computer science, mathematical sciences, and electrical, computer and systems engineering departments. Rensselaer researchers are already developing applications in subsurface sensing to advance the detection of breast cancer, land mines, oil deposits, and pulmonary edema.

CenSSIS will receive $2.6 million the first year from NSF, along with support from the Puerto Rican government, industry partners, partnering universities, and state governments.

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David Haviland '64 has been named vice president for institute advancement, after having served as interim vice president since Feb. 15. The appointment, effective immediately, was made by Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson..

"David Haviland's leadership has been truly outstanding, comprising six years of service as vice president for student life, 10 years as dean of the School of Architecture, and 35 years of continual service as a member of our faculty," Jackson said.

"Vice President Haviland also served as a key drafter of the new Rensselaer Plan and played a pivotal role in its development. Simultaneous with that responsibility, he helped to bring Institute Advancement to the completion of a record-breaking fund-raising year. I am particularly pleased, therefore, that he has accepted this vital appointment."

A member of the Rensselaer architecture faculty since 1965, Haviland served as dean of the School of Architecture from 1980 to 1990. He was vice president for student life from 1994 until last February when he assumed leadership of Institute Advancement.

Institute Advancement includes the offices of alumni relations, corporate and international advancement, development and regional advancement, advancement services, and marketing and media relations.

Haviland, who retains his appointment as professor of architecture, is the author of more than 85 publications. He is the only university faculty member to receive an Institute Honor from the American Institute of Architects for sustained contributions to the education of architects for professional practice.

Haviland is also the recipient of the James L. Haecker Distinguished Leadership Award in Architectural Research from the Architectural Research Centers Consortium. He served as director of Rensselaer's Center for Architectural Research from 1969 to 1977.

Haviland also has received numerous honors at Rensselaer including the Albert Fox Demers Medal (Rensselaer Alumni Association), Sun and Balance Award (Rensselaer Newman Foundation), Thomas Sheehan Award (Department of Athletics), and election as an honorary member of Phalanx, the student leadership honor society.

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Mirczak Named Acting Vice President for Administration

Ted Mirczak '66, senior director of campus planning and facilities design, has been named acting vice president for administration. The appointment was announced by President Jackson following the resignation of Thomas Yurkewecz, who stepped down from the position of vice president, ending 27 years of service to Rensselaer.

In addition, the duties of Jon Mueller, senior director for auxiliary services, will be expanded to include administration of the physical plant on an interim basis.

Mirczak was named director of campus planning and facilities design in 1990. Since then, Mirczak has been responsible for providing architectural, engineering, and technical services necessary to develop campus facilities and infrastructure. His unit has been responsible for all building construction and renovations, including the recent revitalization of the Student Union and the construction of Barton Hall and the Mueller Center.

A native of Syracuse, Mirczak holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer and earned a master's degree in business administration from Pace University where he specialized in executive management. He previously served as regional director of operations for New York Telephone.

A national search for a permanent vice president for administration is under way.

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David Duquette has been named head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. A professor of MSE, he will continue as an active faculty member and retain his part-time appointment as the associate director of CAIST.

"I am very confident that Dave's long-standing tenure as an outstanding member of the Rensselaer academic community, internationally recognized professional stature, and strong dedication to the department and the Institute will serve the MSE community and the School of Engineering well," said Bud Baeslack '78, dean of engineering.

Duquette received a B.S. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1961 and a Ph.D. in materials science from MIT in 1968. He joined the Rensselaer faculty in 1970.

He is the author or co-author of more than 180 scientific publications, and is the recipient of the Whitney Award of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers for his contributions to corrosion science. He has also been awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Award. Duquette is a fellow of ASM International and of NACE International. His research interests include the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of metals and alloys, with special reference to studies of environmental interactions.

Richard Siegel, former chair, will shift his focus to teaching and directing graduate research. He will also continue to provide leadership in the areas of nanostructured materials and nanotechnology.

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Lally School Dean Search Under Way

Bill Jennings, vice provost for professional and distance education, has been named chair of the committee to search for a dean of the Lally School of Management and Technology to replace Joseph Ecker, who is returning to teaching.

The search committee includes professors Bob Emiliani, Charles Malmborg, Gina O'Connor, Bruce Piasecki, Al Paulsen, and Bill Stitt. Lally Graduate Student Services Director Laurie Hempstead and former dean Bob Hawkins are also members of the search committee. Lu Uber is providing staff support.

For more information and nomination forms, see http://www.lallymgmtdean.rpi.edu/committee.html.

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Rensselaer in Space

Richard "Rick" Mastracchio, who earned a master's in electrical engineering from Rensselaer at Hartford in 1987, is part of the flight crew of the space shuttle Atlantis, which launched Sept. 8. The 11-day mission is continuing work being done to build the International Space Station.

Mastracchio, a mission specialist on the Atlantis flight, worked as an engineer at Hamilton Standard while earning his graduate degree at Rensselaer at Hartford.

To learn more about the Atlantis crew members and to check daily updates on the space shuttle mission STS-106, visit www.spaceflight.nasa.gov. To read recently published articles about Mastracchio, visit courant.ctnow.com/news/update/shuttle_lands.stm and www.ctnow.com.

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Jumping Into the Thick of Things

Tahira Reid '00, a mechanical engineering graduate, was featured on the TODAY show Aug. 17. Reid demonstrated her automatic double Dutch jump rope machine (www.rpi.edu/doubledutch) for hosts Katie Couric and Al Roker.

Reid is the first Rensselaer undergraduate to earn a patent. The idea for the machine dates back to when Reid was in third grade, when she dreamed up the jump-rope device for a class poster project. At Rensselaer, Reid developed a prototype of the machine in Introduction to Engineering Design, a required class for all engineering students.

In addition to the TODAY show, Reid's story has been featured in The New York Times, Essence magazine, Across The Board magazine, The New York Daily News, Black Issues in Higher Education, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Times Union.

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