2007 Assembly of Delegates:
Southwest Regional Representative to the Committee on Nominations

2007 Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference

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

Name: Marshall D. Sundberg

Present Position: Professor
Organization: Emporia State University

Address: Department of Biological Sciences
Emporia State University
1200 Commercial Street
Emporia, KS 66801
United States

Telephone: 620-341-5605
E-mail: msundber@emporia.edu

Chapter Affiliation: Emporia State University Chapter

Candidate's Statement: I was elected by a liberal arts college chapter and served as a chapter officer at two regional comprehensive universities and a major research university which included membership from local industry. While the mission of Sigma Xi is universal, the challenges for chapters to meet these goals vary considerably depending on the nature and resources of the sponsoring institution. The officers of the society must be responsive to each of these constituencies. As a member of the Committee on Nominations representing the Southwest Section, I will work to ensure that the candidates nominated for national office will respond to the needs of all chapters.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Active in chapters since election by Carleton College Chapter in 1974. Founding President, Emporia State University Chapter (ESU) 1998-9, President (ESU) 2004-5, Louisiana State University Chapter (LSU) 1996-7; Vice-President (ESU) 2003-4, (LSU) 1995-6) University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire/Stout Club (UWEC) 1984-5; Secretary (ESU) 2001-3, (LSU)1994-6, (UWEC) 1982-4.; represented all three Chapters at National Meetings; Southwest Region Nominating Committee, 2005-6.

Biographical Information: Professor of Botany, Emporia State University. BA, Carleton College (1971); MA, PhD, University of Minnesota (1973, 1978). Faculty member, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1987-85), Louisiana State University (1985-1997), Emporia State University (1997-present). Fellow, Linnean Society of London; American Institute of Biological Sciences, Council member (1992-5); Editorial Board, Cell Biology Education (2001-present); Botanical Society of America, Charles H. Bessey Award (1992),Centennial Award (2006), Editor, Plant Science Bulletin (2000-present), Chairperson, Membership and Appraisal Committee(1997-8), Education Committee (1991-3), Teaching Section (1983-4); National Science Teachers Association, Review Panel, Journal of College Science Teaching (1998-2001).

Name: Virginia L. Trimble

Present Position: Professor of Physics
Organization: University of California-Irvine

Address: 4575 Physics
University of California Irvine
Irvine CA 92697-0001
United States

Telephone: 949-824-6948
E-mail: vtrimble@uci.edu

Chapter Affiliation: University of California-Irvine Chapter

Candidate's Statement: We all know what Sigma Xi's problems are, including (a) the gentle decline in membership, as stalwarts move into emeritus status and beyond, while newly-elected associate members frequently drop out; (b) more rapid decline of the population of industrial research scientists, as companies focus on short-term productivity, (c) lack of recognition of our name and mission on the part of both students and colleagues, and (d) some uncertainly about what we can/should be doing within the various kinds of chapters. I do not have a solution, though I have some tentative ideas, like, (1) consider electing graduating seniors who do not plan going on to graduate school (at least immediately) but into industrial/technological firms that have historically had research arms, (2) make sure we get permanent addresses for graduating seniors and PhDs who are new assoc. and full members, so that we do not lose them when their college addresses self-destruct in a few months; (3) give prizes (803 invented a couple of new ones this year), co-sponsor talks and research exhibits, and generally remember that there is some truth in the Hollywood dictum that "there is no such thing as bad publicity." Anyhow, I still have the membership pin that my father received more than half a century ago and am willing to try to make it continue to mean something in the scientific community.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Sigma Xi: Director-at-large 1996-99; Committee on Awards 1996-99; Committee on Meetings 1997-2003; Committee on Qualifications and Membership, 1996-97. President, Secretary-Treasurer UCI Chapter (various terms). Other: President, Division of Union-wide Activities of the International Astronomical Union 2003-06; Vice-President, American Astronomical Society 1997-2000; Member, Executive Board, American Physical Society 1998-2001; Chair, Commission 19 (Astrophysics), International Union of Pure and Applied Physics 2002-05.

Biographical Information: VIRGINIA L. TRIMBLE. BA UCLA 1964 (physics and astronomy); MS Caltech 1965 (physics and astronomy); PhD Caltech 1968 (astronomy); MA Cambridge University 1969 (honorary). Recent Publications: Astrophysics in 2004, PASP 117 (in press, with M. Aschwanden); Gamma Ray Bursts in their Historic Context, in E. Fenimore & M. Galassi eds, AIP Conf. Proc. 727, 7, 2004; The Quest for Other Worlds, from 350 BCE to 1995 CE, in S.S. Holt & D. Deming, eds, AIP Conf. Proc. 713, 3, 2004; Productivity and Impact of Optical Telescopes, PASP 117, 111 (2005, wtih P. Zaich & T. Bosler); Scaling Laws in the Distribution of Galaxies, Rev Mod Phys 76, 1211 (2004, with B.J.T. Jones, V. Martinez, & E. Saar). Research interests: The structure and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the universe, and of the communities of scientists who study them.

Name: Stanley E. Vaughn

Present Position: Admnistrator
Organization: College of Science, San Jose State University

Address: College of Science San Jose State University
1 Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0099
United States

Telephone: 408-924-4808
E-mail: svaughn@science.sjsu.edu

Chapter Affiliation: San Jose State University Chapter

Candidate's Statement: Sigma Xi was among the first professional organizations I was interested in as an undergrad, with my major advisor serving as a national lecturer. The commitment of Sigma Xi in supporting undergraduate and graduate research is directly aligned with my interests in promoting student research and science education in my community. I am pleased to volunteer my services in offering any administrative assistance to this organization.

Sigma Xi and Other Activities: Instructor, Board Member, Field Studies in Natural History, San Jose State University. 1996-present.
Instructor & Outreach Director, Youth in Science at San Jose State University, San Jose State University. 1998-present.
Entomologist, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Nye Co., Nevada. 1996-present.

Biographical Information: I received my BS in Biological Science with a concentration in entomology from SJSU in 1994. I am currently enrolled in graduate school at San Jose State with expectations of completing the requirements for the MS degree in 2009. In addition to managing the instructional and research facilities for my College, I hold a research associate position within the Department of Biological Sciences where the focus of my research has been in the areas of medical entomology and tropical rainforest ecology. My current research site in Madagascar is Ranomafana National Park, with plans to begin associated work in La Selva and Monteverde, Cost Rica beginning in January 2008.