2003 Assembly of Delegates:
Nominees for Committee on Nominations Northwest Region

November 13-16, 2003
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles at Macy's Plaza
Los Angeles, California

In conjunction with the Sigma Xi Forum, Science and Engineering: Keys to International Understanding, November 12-13
And the Sigma Xi Student Research Conference, November 14-15

Name: Michael Hiroshi Johnson

Present Position: Computational Biologist
Organization: Institute for Systems Biology

Address: Institute for Systems Biology
1441 North 34th Street
Seattle, WA 98115
USA

Telephone: 206-732-1319
FAX: 206-732-1299
E-mail: mjohnson@systemsbiology.org

Chapter Affiliation: University of Washington

Candidate's Statement: Woody Allen once said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Obviously, he was not talking about science. Success in science comes from many sources, a primary one being the people with whom we surround ourselves. The strength of Sigma Xi lies in its integration of intelligent people from a spectrum of scientific disciplines. I have experienced the benefits of being affiliated with such an honorable group. I now hope to contribute back to such a valuable organization.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: In addition to being a computational biologist and member of Sigma Xi, I am a software developer for several open-source scientific projects. However, I spend much of my free time playing piano, hiking, and volunteering my time to teach elementary school children about science.

Biographical Information: In June 2001, I graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in Biophysical Chemistry. Since, I have worked as a computational biologist at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, WA. Under the guidance of Dr. Leroy Hood, I am using novel microarray and computational techniques to hypothesize genomic regulatory networks in yeast.

Name: Linda H. Mantel

Present Position: Academic Consultant

Address: 1511 SW Park Avenue Apt. 1302
Portland, OR 97201
USA

Telephone: 503-294-0644
E-mail: crablady@teleport.com

Chapter Affiliation: Columbia-Willamette

Candidate's Statement: In this age of fragmentation of science into narrow specialties, an organization such as Sigma Xi plays an important role as a gathering place in which scientists can not only learn and talk about their own fields, but also about the larger questions relating to science today. Thus it is important that scientists from many fields, age groups, and cultures feel at home in the society. As a member of the Committee on Nominations of Sigma Xi, I would try to find candidates for office who think broadly and are welcoming of a diverse group of members.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Member of Sigma Xi for 34 years; active in City College of New York chapter for 25 years; Reviewer one year for Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research; Currently Member, Board of Directors, Columbia-Willamette Chapter of Sigma Xi; Currently Candidate for Sigma Xi Committee on Diversity. Association for Women in Science (AWIS): Past-President, following 2-year terms as President-elect and President (1998-2003); Co-PI, NSF-supported Mentoring Means Future Scientists project, 1995-97; Councilor, member of the Board of Directors, 1992-1995. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2004: Host Committee for Portland OR; Co-chair, Higher Education programs. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) (formerly American Society of Zoologists): Member, Education Council, 1996-present; Chair, Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, 1992-93; Member at large of the Executive Committee, 1989-90. Oregon Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (OCEPT ): Leader of the Diversity Strand, 1998-2002.

Biographical Information: Dr. Linda H. Mantel received a B.A. in Biology from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Illinois. She spent three years as a Research Fellow in the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, after which she joined the Biology department at City College of the City University of New York. During her 25 years at CCNY, Dr. Mantel was a faculty member, department chair, and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies and Research. She carried out research on crustacean physiology, endocrinology, and toxicology, and trained a number of undergraduate and graduate students. She was also active in the City College chapter of Sigma Xi and served as nominations coordinator for Biology for several years. Since moving to Portland, OR in 1993, Dr. Mantel has served as Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Biology at Reed College, as Interim Vice-President for Academic Administration at Willamette University, and as Assistant Vice-President for Technology Services at the University of Portland. Dr. Mantel serves regularly as reviewer for biological journals and as a panelist for NSF grant programs. She is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, the Association for Women in Science, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Name: Ruth A. Streveler

Present Position: Director, Center for Engineering Education
Organization: Colorado School of Mines

Address: Center for Engineering Education
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO 80401
USA

Telephone: 303-384-2413
FAX: 303-384-2420
E-mail: rstrevel@mines.edu

Chapter Affiliation: Colorado School of Mines

Candidate's Statement: I am a scientist turned science educator. Soon after beginning my teaching career at the University of Hawaii, I became intrigued by HOW my students were learning the science I was hoping to teach them. I came to the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in 1994 and here my interest in "science" learning has become focused on engineering education. My intellectual interest and research now centers on the question: "Why are some concepts in science and engineering are so difficult to learn?" I feel I would contribute to Sigma Xi's educational mission by strengthening the connection between Sigma Xi and learning scientists.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Member of CSM chapter's 4-person education team that received funding to attend P-Kal conference in 2000. Received follow-up funding from Sigma Xi to visit University of Washington's Center for Engineering Learning and Teaching in 2001. Took the lead in securing funding for Shodor Corporation (through Sigma Xi) to hold workshop at CSM in February 2003. Coordinated February 2003 seminar on undergraduate research, co-sponsored by CSM chapter and Center for Engineering Education.

Biographical Information: Ruth A. Streveler is the current and founding Director of the Center for Engineering Education at the Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Streveler received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She also holds a Master of Science in Zoology from the Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Indiana University at Bloomington. She is co-director of an NSF-sponsored project to develop assessment instruments for identifying misconceptions in engineering students (DUE - 0127806). She is also a co-principal investigator for the Center for the Advancement of Engineering Education that was recently funded by NSF. (ESI-0227558).

Name: Gerald John Yutrzenka

Present Position: Associate Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences
Director of Minority Affairs, Health Professions Advisor
Organization: School of Medicine, University of South Dakota

Address: Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences
School of Medicine
University of South Dakota
414 E Clark St
Vermillion, SD 57069
USA

Telephone: 605-677-5156
FAX: 605-677-6381
E-mail: gyutrzen@usd.edu

Chapter Affiliation: University of South Dakota

Candidate's Statement: I would be very interested in serving as the Northwest Region representative to the Committee on Nominations. Sigma Xi possesses a valuable local, national and international voice for the continued pursuit of excellence in research and in promoting excellence in the training of our future scientists and researchers. I have been an active member of the University of South Dakota Chapter having twice served as Chapter Program Chair/Vice President and as President. In those capacities, I have helped forge positive cooperative relationships among the local membership as well as with other Chapters in the state. I now look forward to becoming more involved with Sigma Xi on a regional and National basis

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: 1986, 2001 and 2002: Vice President/Program Chair, University of South Dakota; 2001-2003: Organized Distinguished Lecturer Series in conjunction with the annual Graduate Sciences Research Forum; 1987, 2003: President, University of South Dakota Chapter; 1987: Delegate from USD Chapter; 1987: USD Chapter- SDSU Chapter Sigma Xi President's Lecture Series.

Biographical Information: Edu.: Moorhead State Univ., B.S. (Biol), 1974; Univ. North Dakota, M.S. (Physiol), 1977; Univ. North Dakota, Ph.D. (Physiol), 1979. Prof Exp: Dept Biochem., Baylor Coll of Med, Res Assoc, 1979-80; Dept Pharmacol, Med Coll VA, Postdoc Fell, 1980-84; Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, Sch Med, Univ South Dakota, Asst Prof, 1984-91; Assoc Prof, 1991 - ; Admin Exp: Dir Admissions, Sch Med, USD, 1991-99; Dir, Sci & Tech Enhancement Prog (STEP), Sch Med, USD, 1994-; Dir, SD Sci Edu Enhancement Prog (SD-SEEP), 1999-; Dir, Alumni Student Sch Prog (ASSP), 1994-; Health Prof Advis, USD, 1999-; Dir, Indians into Med (INMED) Satellite Off, 2000-; Dir, Min Aff, USDSM, 2000-; Dir, Global Health Theme, IdEA Prog, USD, 2001-. Res Exp: Author or Co-author of 16 articles, 1 book chapter and over 35 abstracts; Member of over 20 thesis or dissertation committees in Div. Basic Biomed Sci and Dept of Psychol; Committee member or chair (3) of 6 undergrad Honors Thesis committees, USD Honors Program. Res: Research interests lie in neuropharmacology and are directed toward the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying drug dependence/tolerance of commonly abused CNS depressants. Prof Soc: Am Soc Pharmacol & Exp Therapeutics; Assoc Am Med Coll: Group on Student Affairs- Minority Affairs; Intl Soc Neurochem; Nat Assoc Advisors Health Professions; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; West Pharmacol Soc.