2007 Assembly of Delegates:
Comprehensive Colleges & Universities Constituency Associate Director

2007 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference

November 1-4, 2007
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Golf Club
Orlando, Florida

Name: Jonathan B. Clark

Present Position: Professor
Organization: Weber State University

Address: Weber State University
Department of Zoology
2505 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-2505
United States

Telephone: 801-626-6171
E-mail: jclark1@weber.edu

Chapter Affiliation: Weber State University Chapter

Candidate's Statement: I believe that Comprehensive Colleges and Universities face unique challenges when compared to other constituency groups. Many of our members struggle to find adequate time for teaching, research, and service activities at their home institutions. Rather than generate new programs and projects that are unlikely to receive support, I will work with our constituency Director to strengthen existing programs that are of particular benefit to Comprehensive Colleges and Universities. Among these are the Grants-in-Aid-of-Research and support for student participation in Sigma Xi activities. As Associate Director, I will work, whenever possible, to increase the profile of our constituency group by enhancing the communication between its members and the national Board of Directors.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Member of Sigma Xi since 1998 (full, active); Secretary, W.S.U. chapter (1999-2001); President, W.S.U. chapter (2001-present); official chapter delegate to Sigma Xi annual meetings (2002 and 2004); served as official teller at the 2004 Sigma Xi annual meeting; supervised undergraduate presentations at the Sigma Xi Student Research Conference (2002, 2005). W.S.U. representative to the American Association of Colleges and Universities (2002-2004).

Biographical Information: Jonathan Clark obtained a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Ohio State University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona. He was a recipient of postdoctoral fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. He has been at Weber State University since 1998, where he is the 2007-2008 Seager Distinguished Teacher in the College of Science. In 2005, he was a visiting scientist (sabbatical leave) in the Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Spain. He has been a member of Sigma Xi since 1998, and for over a decade he has been actively engaged in undergraduate research, supervising numerous research projects, including presentations with students at over twenty national and international meetings. His research interests are in the area of molecular evolutionary genetics and he is the author of fourteen peer-reviewed publications, four of these with undergraduate student co-authors.

Name: Richard William Lo Pinto

Present Position: Professor
Organization: Fairleigh Dickinson University

Address: Fairleigh Dickinson University
H DH4 03
1000 River Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666
United States

Telephone: 201-692-2297
E-mail: lopintor@fdu.edu

Chapter Affiliation: Fairleigh Dickinson University Chapter

Candidate's Statement: My deep affection for Sigma Xi and its members makes it easy to fully commit to the duties of Associate Director. Beyond this however, is understanding that the Director of our constituency assumes a significant commitment of time and effort in representing our interests. To ease this burden it is useful to have an Associate with broad experience in Sigma Xi who can when called upon , help with the duties of office. My past work with Sigma Xi, as a former member of the Board of Directors; as Director of one of our regions; as Associate Director of our constituency; and as a member of many Committees that serve our members, provides the experience needed to assist the Directors wherever help is needed to support the goals of our constituency. I hope you will consider me for this position.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Director, Mid-Atlantic Region (1999-05); Associate Director Comprehensive Colleges and Universities (05-present). Sigma Xi Committees: Executive Director Search Committee; Committee on Resolutions; Committee on Awards; Regions Committee. President, Fairleigh Dickinson University Sigma Xi Chapter, 1972-82, 87-88, 90-present.

Biographical Information: LO PINTO, RICHARD WILLIAM, MARINE BIOLOGY, ECO-TOXICOLOGY. Current Pos: PROF BIOL, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIV TEANECK, 70- Personal Data: b New York, NY Nov 7, 42; m 70; c 2. Educ: Iona Col BS, 63; Fordham Univ, MS 65, PhD (Physiol Ecol), 72. Prof Exp: Res asst water pollution, Osborne Lab Marine Sci, 67-68; Consult in charge of develop biol testing, Org Econ Coop Develop, 84-85. Concurrent Pos: Cosult, Hackensack Meadowlands Develop Comn, 71-, Hartz Mountain Indust Inc, 76-77; dir, Marine Biol Prog, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ, Rutherford, NJ, 72 -; asst dir, Meadowlands Regional Study Ctr, 74-75; Co-Chair, Seminar Pollution & Water Resources, Columbia Univ, 85 - present; Chair Tech Adv Comt, North NJ Water Quality Prog, 77 -; Assoc Ed, Bulletin of the NJ Acad Sci, 78 -; Consult, US Environ Protection Agency, 84; Orgn Econ Coop & Develop, Paris, 84-85. Mem: Sigma Xi. Res: Bioassay development for marine and fresh water organisms; aquatic toxicology; phytoplankton physiology; microbial ecology. Mailing Add: School of Natural Sci, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ, (HDH403) Teaneck NJ 07666-1996 Other: Columbia University, Co-Chair Seminar on Pollution and Water Resources, 1985-present. Associate Editor, Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Sciences, 1980-89. Fellow, Center for Technology Studies, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1989. Associate Editor: (1985-2007)of the Columbia University "Seminar Series on Pollution and Water Resources" (7 volumes).

Name: Scott E. McKay

Present Position: Professor of Chemistry
Organization: University of Central Missouri

Address: University of Central Missouri
Department of Chemistry
WCM 409
Warrensburg, MO 64093
United States

Telephone: 660-543-4949
E-mail: mckay@ucmo.edu

Chapter Affiliation: University of Central Missouri Chapter

Candidate's Statement: I would like to be an associate director so that I can be involved in discussions and efforts to help promote Sigma XI back to the premier academic organization on campus. Unfortunately, Sigma Xi appears to have less presence than it did on our campuses several years ago. Sigma Xi has had a long and storied past in the academy but it appears not to be immune to the overall decline in interests for the STEM disciplines. It might make since to invest in a robust recruiting campaign for associate members. Sigma XI could be part of the solution by helping to facilitate students' interest in the sciences. Perhaps it is time to consider a student affiliate program which may bring energy, enthusiasm and a pipeline to the society. The American Chemical Society Student Affiliate clubs are very successful in a variety of these goals.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: I have been in Sigma Xi since competing in local Sigma Xi paper competitions at grad school in the early 90s. Since then I have served as recruiting officer and treasurer of the local section. I have also made arrangements to have Sigma XI play a role in our colloquium and seminar series for the past eight years. I have served as CUR university liaison for the past several years.

Biographical Information: Dr. Scott McKay is a Professor of Organic and Computational Chemistry at the University of Central Missouri. He has bachelor's degrees in chemistry and geology, a M.S. in primarily analytical Chemistry and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. Dr. McKay's research interests are in the areas of weak intermolecular interactions in crystal engineering, proton exchange membranes for hydrogen fuel cells, theoretical and synthetic investigations of strained organic molecules, conversion of waste materials to energy products and chemical education. His activities have been supported by NSF, ACS, and PRF. He has been a reviewer for PRF, The Chemical Educator, Journal of Chemical Education, and the Canadian Journal of Chemistry. He is currently the associate editor of the Missouri Academy of Science and the co-editor of the Missouri Journal of Undergraduate Chemical Research. He has served as the UCM institutional liaison for the Council on Undergraduate Research for the past several years and is heavily involved in mentoring undergraduate researchers and promoting undergraduate teaching through research experiences.

Name: Julio F. Turrens

Present Position: Associate Dean, College of Allied Health Professions
Organization: University of South Alabama

Address: Allied Health Professions Dean's office
UCOM 1500
University of South Alabama
Mobile AL 36688
United States

Telephone: 251-380-2785
E-mail: jturrens@usouthal.edu

Chapter Affiliation: University of South Alabama Chapter

Candidate's Statement: Sigma Xi is a true interdisciplinary scientific society which provides the environment for the free exchange of ideas among its members. Through Sigma Xi, I have a chance to learn about what my colleagues in other disciplines consider cutting edge knowledge and why and how knowledge is generated in those disciplines. As a member of Sigma Xi I believe our duty is to promote the relevance of this activity among our peers, to keep alive the desire of learning beyond our narrow disciplines. If elected Associate Director of the Comprehensive Colleges & Universities Constituency, I will assist the Director as needed and I will work towards promoting the relevance of interdisciplinary activities in all our campuses.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: I was elected President of the University of South Alabama chapter of Sigma Xi twice; first in 1996-97 and again in 2006-07. In 2007 I was elected chair of the Comprehensive Colleges & Universities Constituency Nominations Committee of Sigma Xi. In 2007 I received an Education grant from Sigma Xi and also (as a co-PI) a regional Sigma Xi grant to sponsor activities between the Auburn University and our campus. I have also served as chapter president for Phi Kappa Phi.

Biographical Information: I was born in Argentina and completed my undergraduate and doctorate studies in Chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires. In 1981 I moved to the US as a post doctoral fellow in the department of Medicine at Duke University (James Crapo) and, in the department of Biochemistry at the Johns Hopkins University (Albert Lehninger). I returned to Argentina in 1984 as an Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry but remained associated with Johns Hopkins through a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship. In 1987 I took take a permanent position in the department of Biochemistry and later on in Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Since 2005, I am the Associate Dean in the College of Allied Health Professions. In 1998 I designed a campus-wide program for undergraduate research. This program is funded by NASA, NSF, MERCK/AAAS, and intramural funds. In 2004 I developed a new interdisciplinary MS program in Environmental Toxicology, which will start in the fall of 2004. I have published 96 peer-reviewed papers and invited book chapters in the areas of free radical metabolism and intermediate metabolism in parasitic protozoa. Over the years I participated in several review panels for NIH, NSF and AIBS.