A Sterling Success...Samuel Somuah, and Elvino Taylor. College Partner Linbeck Construction Company...

NEWSLETTER OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2010

A Sterling Success

The Atrium was decorated with new banners and filled with excited alumni and corporate partners in the Fall Open House and Alumni and Partnership Luncheon. The College honored its partner-sponsored scholarship donors, distinguished alumni, and high achieving students in a sparkling event. The theme of this meeting was “COST – The Currency of the Future.” Dr. Oscar Criner expanded on the idea in his opening remarks pointing out that, “In the 21st century,

PARTNERSHIP LUNCHEON

SCHOLARSHIPS FOUNDER’S DAY

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GM VISIT TO TSU CHINA STEM EXPLORATION

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STRATEGIC PLANNING DEAN’S STUDENT

ADVISORY COUNCIL Page 4

SOLAR ENERGY LAB MARITIME AT TSU

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NEW SOCIETIES Page 6

RETIREMENTS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

HOMECOMING 2010 Page 7

RESEARCH SEMINARS Page 8

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ALUMNI RAVES

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STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES Page 12

LEI YU Editorial Director

OSCAR H. CRINER Editor in Chief

SHISHIR SHISHODIA Editor

DESIRÉE JACKSON Associate Editor

ALAMELU SUNDARESAN Associate Editor

HECTOR C. MIRANDA Photography

E D I T O R I A L

C O N T E N T S

http://www.cost.tsu.edu/ COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 3100 CLEBURNE STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77004 Tel 713 313 7009

The College Fall Open House - Alumni and Partnership Luncheon

knowledge is the wealth and information is the currency.” Since science and technology are driving the economy, such knowledge generates wealth; and since computers are ubiquitous in our society, information is being used to satisfy obligations in an expanding e-commerce environment and is, therefore, the currency. Dean Lei Yu informed the visitors, partners, and alumni of their importance to the success of the College. Dr. Yu summarized the state-of-the-College and

plans for the future. He emphasized that “Our primary business is to educate students to the best of their ability and to help them grow into individuals who will be competitive in the job market and make meaningful contributions to society.” Since Dr. Yu has become the Dean, the College has assembled a new administrative team, established an Office of Student Services and Instructional Support, reorganized the College

(Continued on page 2)

Clockwise from left to right: Dean Lei Yu, Students and Guests, and Dr. Oscar Criner

Below (L to R): Dr. Daniel Vrinceanu, Ms. Nina Alaniz, Mr. Joseph DeLoach, and Mr. Jackie Freeman

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2010 2the EXPLORER


The College Partners Joseph & Lori Flowers and the H. Fort Flowers Foundation awarded scholarships to Nissi Abraham, Capriese Lawton, Nicollette Manning, Kimberly Gilkes, and Sarah Munyu. College Partner KBR awarded scholarships to Haruna Kibirige, Abidat Lawal, Grace Ndegwa, Olusegun Ogunniyi, Jennifer

COST Partner-Sponsored Scholarship Awards

Dr. Oscar Criner Associate Dean, COST

Dean Lei Yu with recipients of 2010 Distinguished Alumni awards and respective department representatives. Clockwise from top left: Dr. Bobby Wilson and Dr. Carla Wyatt with Dean Yu, Dr. Della Bell and Ms. Pamela Clarkson (Daughter of Award Recipient Dr. Llayron L. Clarkson) with Dean Yu, Dr. Jonathan Lewis and Ms. Jenna Brown-Ford with Dean Yu, Dr. Khaled Kamel and Ms. Donna Aurich with Dean Yu.

Advisory Board, expanded academic program offerings, improved laboratory facilities, broadened the research enterprise, and begun many other initiatives. The speakers sought to demonstrate the level of research and scholarship taking place in the College and to inspire the students to greater scholarship. Dr. Daniel Vrinceanu spoke of discoveries in Physics, Ms. Nina M. Alaniz spoke of her research in biology, and featured speaker, Mr.

A Sterling Success…… (Continued from page 1)

Joseph DeLoach, Olympic Track Star and computing executive, inspired students to believe in their own abilities with examples from his life as an athlete. The Keynote Speaker was Mr. Jackie Freeman, who is the Director of the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department. He encouraged students to seek the “Joy of Scholarship” and not limit themselves to courses that are job preparation only.

Okanmelu, John Shoboiki, Samuel Somuah, and Elvino Taylor. College Partner Linbeck Construction Company awarded scholarships to Ediguenure Abu, Ebenezer Addo, Sharon Kwende, Marcia Robin, and Alicia Simmons.

Dr. Desirée Jackson Assistant Dean, COST

COST Founder’s Day 2010 The University’s 2010 Founder’s Day Celebration was a great success. Founder’s Day commemorates the university founding date of September 14th, 1927. Colleges and Schools decorated tents and booths. The spirited commemora-tion program was followed by a “Party on the Plaza”

with food, music and a pep rally. The College of Science and Technology won first place for the best-decorated tent. The COST tent was decorated with items representing each department within the College. The COST received a free float entry in the Homecoming Parade for 2010 as a result. We salute

the Faculty, Administrative Assistants, Staff members, and Students who helped make this event a success. Thanks especially to our sponsors, Metro, Port of Houston Authority, Butler Business, and Zion Promotional Products for donating promotional items. The College also thanks special guest, Mr. Amin

Moore, a local R & B Recording Artist, for singing his songs and for assisting us with the Karaoke activity. The students enjoyed it and had a great time singing their favorite songs.

Students are pictured with Joseph Flowers (upper); Dr. Mario Gomez of KBR (lower left); Ike Allen of Linbeck Construction (lower right)

3the EXPLORER


Dr. Robert Ford visited China as a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) China STEM Exploration delegation, led by TMCF CEO, Attorney Johnny Taylor, and Founder, Dr. N. Joyce Payne. Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, and North Carolina A&T University were member institutions selected to dialog with colleagues in Chinese universities, K-12 schools, government agencies, and Non-Governmental Organizations. The travel mission was two-fold: (1) to promote scholarly work being done at HBCUs in the STEM disciplines; and (2) to establish cooperative agreements with Chinese Universities on student and faculty exchanges and collaborative research opportunities. The delegation visited four universities, one high school, and the China Ministry of Education (MOE). Major outcomes from the visit include: (1) introduction of HBCUs to the China education community (2) a signed TMCF/Nanjing Normal University Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); (3) an agreement to have one

Industry Comes Calling: GM Visits TSU Campus

Representatives of General Motors Corporation came to the College of Science and Technology on October 21, 2010 to discuss career opportunities with students and to familiarize students with the technical operations of the company. While on campus, GM Chief Design Engineer, Mr. Sean Lo, offered tours of two GM products: two Buick LaCrosse sedans that were brought to campus. Mr. Lo showed off features that have tremendously improved GM vehicles, including the powertrains and the Buick OnStar program. During post-presentation discussion, Mr. Lo spoke with attending faculty and students about engine design and computation in the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as applied to auto engineering. General Motors is one of the largest employers of graduating HBCU students nationwide. The company makes annual donations in support of scholarships,

TMCF China STEM Exploration


diversity, student design activities, faculty recognition, curriculum development and engineering advances. The visit begins the process of inclusion of TSU in the list of GM-affiliated institutions. In his welcoming remarks, Dr. David Olowokere, Chair of Engineering Technologies, and facilitator of the visit, expressed delight at the interest that GM is taking in TSU. “The coming of Michigan to TSU is exhilarating. Our president is from Michigan, and it is obvious he will be thrilled that GM is establishing a presence here.” Dr. Olowokere also mentioned that almost all major HBCU’s in the nation have been beneficiaries of GM; “and it is necessary that TSU joins the GM bandwagon”. The visit ended with a pledge by GM representatives to begin the process of active collaboration with TSU through employment of graduates, support of research activities, and scholarship opportunities to students.

faculty member and four students from each of the delegation institutions spend 6-8 weeks at Nanjing Normal University during the summer of 2011; and (4) an agreement with the MOE to pursue a joint research project examining similarities and differences between the K-12 STEM education system in the U.S. and China. A Letter of Intent has been submitted to the NSF in pursuit of a Discovery Research K-12 grant to underwrite the U.S. investment in the education research project. A proposal will be submitted to the NSF in January. Other collaborations are being discussed, including bringing China into the 111-country GLOBE International Program, for which TSU is an Official GLOBE Partner. The trip also included two days at the 2010 American Association of State Colleges and Universities Conference/China Education Expo, where member institutions joined representatives from many countries to distribute campus marketing materials and to discuss academic offerings at their institutions. More than 30,000 students visited the 600 booths during the conference.

4the EXPLORER


Strategic Planning in the College Institutions of higher education engage in strategic planning processes just as businesses engage in planning for their success. The increasing demand for higher education combined with concern regarding the cost of higher education from all constituents demands that institutions change in response. What changes are going to be made? How do pervasive technologies affect what and how we teach, learn and conduct research? How are these changes implemented? How will these changes affect the ability of an institution to achieve its stated objectives and exploit its competitive advantage? Issues like these are being addressed by the COST faculty beginning with its administrative Strategic Planning Retreat held last summer. The famous business process engineer Michael Hammer wrote in 1990 that “It is time to stop paving the cow paths. Instead of embedding outdated processes in silicon and software, we should obliterate them and start over. We should “reengineer” our businesses: use the power of modern information technology to radically redesign our business processes in order to achieve dramatic improvements in their performance.” (Michael Hammer, Reengineering Work: Don’t automate, Obliterate”, Harvard Business Review, July-August 1990.) The College seeks to significantly improve its


performance via several metrics, with special emphasis on improving the recruitment of students into STEM careers, improving both retention and graduation rates, and ensuring that graduates are successful in the market for their skills. To construct this Strategic Plan, the members of faculty are working in six sub-committees each considering one of the six strategic goals: (1) Provide high quality instruction; (2) Perform basic and applied research; (3) Engage in community service; (4) Optimize enrollment of college-ready undergraduate students and enhance graduate student enrollment; (5) Strive for a steady increase in external funding; and (6) Ensure that the College’s administrative units function effectively and efficiently so that they support the missions of the College and the University. The strategic plan will provide the roadmap for the College to achieve greater competitiveness and a higher visibility in the community.

On October 14, 2010, the first meeting of the COST Dean’s Student Advisory Council was held. The council is comprised of twelve students representing the ten departments of the college. The charge given to Council by Dean Lei Yu stressed the members’ role as a direct communication line between the student constituents they represent and the college’s administration. The members were encouraged to take ownership of this council; to take the initiative to talk with students about issues; and to bring to the council suggestions to improve the college. Dr. Yu further emphasized that the value of the student’s COST degree increases as the College improves.

Dean’s Student Advisory Council Dr. Desirée Jackson serves as Co-Chair of the council alongside Co-Chair Andre White, a Mathematics major. Other members of the Council include Jerry Garcia and Bennett Abraham (Aviation Science and Technology), Emmanuel Obi and Olusegun Ogunniyi (Biology), Bobby Scott (Chemistry), Alicia Simmons (Computer Science), Chelse Hoover and Anthony Victorain (Engineering Technologies), Bita Iranmadar-Maki (Environmental Science and Technology), Jermaine Potts (Industrial Technology), Landra Williams (Physics), and Yubian Wang (Transportation Studies).

Coming soon…. a new technology building

Dr. Desirée Jackson Assistant Dean, COST

5the EXPLORER


COST Solar Energy Laboratory The Texas Southern University, College of Science and Technology Photovoltaic Laboratory has been recognized nationally and internationally for accomplishments in practical applications for solar energy. The goal of the laboratory is to educate students through research experiences in solar and conventional energy utilization and to remain on the competitive edge of new developments. The Solar Energy Laboratory emphasizes applications of engineering fundamentals to energy problems, and it serves as one of the laboratory experiences for the ENGT 433 Alternative Energy Technology class. TSU’s solar array presently includes more than 100 panels yielding a 6.4-kilowatt solar electric system. Efforts are ongoing for a rapid increase in capacity; the goal being a system that will generate over 100 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Through a partnership with the firm Evolution Solar, students are working on a grid-tied system to offset the cost of TSU’s utility bill for the trailer currently housing the Maritime program.


Texas Southern University, in partnership with the Port of Houston Authority celebrated its new maritime degree program in Maritime Transportation Management and Security on Monday, September 27th at a luncheon sponsored by the United States Coast Guard. The luncheon, “Maritime at TSU: A Sea of Opportunity,” attracted over 125 attendees from the maritime industry, local and county government, TSU students and faculty. TSU President, Dr. John Rudley was also in attendance and shared these words with the audience; “This partnership with the Port of Houston and members of the maritime community is tremendous. We couldn’t have done this by ourselves. This program will provide numerous opportunities and jobs for our students in the future.” Port of Houston Authority Commissioner Dr. Kase Lawal, a TSU Alumnus and recently appointed member of the White House Advisory

Additionally, direct current is being produced and converted to AC current via inverters. Moreover, the laboratory has recently acquired a set of thin-film solar panels. Students will be conducting comparative studies on the efficiency of the thin film system versus traditional polycrystalline panels. The facility provides opportunities for research projects for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as high school students participating in the University’s annual summer pre-college engineering program funded by the Department of Defense. It should also be mentioned that TSU students have participated in solar energy installations in South Africa as members of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Photo Voltaic Research Associates Program; and solar energy activity has featured prominently in some of the collaboration agreements being established between TSU and a number of international institutions.

Maritime at TSU A Sea of Opportunity Luncheon

Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN) served as the keynote speaker. Other speakers on the program included Dr. Lei Yu, Dean of the College and Science and Technology and TSU maritime students Damien LeDay and Tatiana Young. United States Coast Guard Captain Marcus Woodring, along with Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia provided greetings to the attendees. The luncheon Emcee was Channel 39’s Ms. Yolanda Green, host of “Going Green” and “Outlook Houston.” TSU’s maritime program is the first such degree program related to Maritime Transportation Management and Security in the Houston area and the first such at any HBCU in the nation. The program’s curriculum addresses three nationally recognized priorities: logistics, security, and environment.

(For program information, contact Ursurla Williams at 713.313.4394 or [email protected])

6the EXPLORER


Intelligent Transportation Society The Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) TSU Student Chapter was formally established on September 23, 2010. This is a student chapter under ITS Texas, providing TSU students opportunities in the study, research and applications of advanced technologies in Intelligent Transportation Systems. Ms. Huimin Xing, a graduate student of Department of Transportation Studies is the president, while Dr. Fengxiang Qiao (Department of Transportation Studies) and Dr. Xuemin Chen


The Department of Engineering Technologies is proud to announce that its Electronics Engineering Technology program accreditation has been renewed. The program passed the rigorous accreditation review with flying colors and will not need to be reviewed again until September 2014. Accreditation by the Technology Accreditation

Electronics Engineering Technology Accreditation

(Department of Engineering Technologies) are the advisors. Dr. Fengxiang Qiao made a speech on the “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Transportation System” in the chapters’s September meeting, while Dr. Xuemin Chen presented the “Wireless Applications in Intelligent Transportation System” in its October meeting. On November 18, part of the membership visited the world-class transportation management center at Houston TranStar.

Perry Miller Appointment to Hobby Airport General Manager The Houston Airport System announced Perry J. Miller, A.A.E. as the new general manager for William P. Hobby Airport. Perry Miller is an accredited Airport Executive who has distinguished himself by completing years of training to become a member of the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program. After graduation from Texas Southern University with degrees in Airway Science (B.S.), and Transportation Planning and

Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) serves to evaluate curricula for applied science, computing, engineering and technology programs to ensure the quality of specific programs and graduates. The current evaluation is an outcome-based assessment, emphasizing continuous quality improvement of the program.

Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society The Installation and Induction Ceremony for Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society was held on November 19, 2010 at 5:00 P.M. in the Barbara Jordan/ Mickey Leland Building. TSU is the second HBCU to have a Phi Eta Sigma Chapter. Phi Eta Sigma was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois and is the oldest and largest honor society for university students in all disciplines. The TSU Chapter is the 368th chapter

of Phi Eta Sigma to be established. Dr. Della Bell (Senior Advisor), Ms. Virginia Day (Co- Advisor)and Dr. James Hefner worked together to establish this chapter. In addition to the students inducted, Dr. Bell, Ms. Virginia Day, and several other administrators and faculty were inducted as Honorary Charter members. Dr. John W. Sagabiel, General Secretary Treasurer of Phi Eta Sigma conducted the ceremony.

Management (M.S.), Perry spent the next 19-years working with the Houston Airport System, where he has evolved from a tenacious foot soldier into a leading airport manager. Perry has served in a myriad of airport arenas, including Management Analyst, Assistant Superintendent of Airfield & Grounds, Senior Airport Properties Representative, Airport Business Development Coordinator, and Airport Manager for Ellington Field. Perry is a ranking member of the

Management Team for the eighth busiest airport in the United States. He is a passionate student of all things airport related, who has spent his life building powerful leadership skills, all that while balancing strong family bonds with his family. Perry attributes part of his success to his experience at TSU. Studying hard for exams, being prepared to participate in class discussions and being

engaged with university activities such as student government, student chapters of professional organizations and the university’s debate team were of paramount importance in preparing him for life after college.

7the EXPLORER

The Department of Engineering Technologies announces the retirement of Mr. John Berry after 15 years of active service to the department. Mr. Berry served as the Technical Services Specialist for the department. He has imparted much knowledge to our students on laboratory set-up. His expertise in hands-on laboratory instruction has been unrivalled; and the department will miss him.

Professor Yvonne H. Hogan announced her retirement this semester after 45 years of distinguished service to Texas Southern University. She joined TSU as an Instructor in the Department of Biology in 1965. Dr. Hogan served as the director of the Joint Admission Medical Program and Early Medical School Acceptance Program in the Department of Biology. In addition to advising students


DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI VINCENT SANDERS

RETIREMENTS Mr. John Berry

Vincent L. Sanders is the lead planner of the Travel Demand Forecasting and Analysis Division of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). Prior to joining METRO, Mr. Sanders worked as a transportation consultant with RSM Services. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Wayne

Mr. Vincent Sanders


Dr. Yvonne Hogan on careers in health and allied professions, Dr. Hogan has demonstrated outstanding grantsmanship. She has served in the Bridges to the Future: M.S. to Ph.D. Transition Program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Hogan coordinated the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Honors Research Training Program sponsored by the National

Institute of General Medical Sciences. She also served as the Principal Investigator of the NIH funded Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) program. She was the recipient of a Faculty Development Grant from NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The college will be an emptier place without her and the faculty and staff in the College will miss her.

State University in Detroit, Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Transportation Planning and Management from Texas Southern University. With fourteen years of experience in transportation project development, transportation demand analysis, and modeling software, Mr. Sanders is responsible for a wide range of services that METRO

provides. Some of these responsibilities include: management of the Travel Demand Forecasting section, maintenance of METRO’s travel demand models and methods of travel forecasting, and coordination of the travel forecasts and inputs required for Clean Air Act conformity. Mr. Sanders also works with the educational committees of

the Community Outreach Department, METRO’s Diversity Council Task force, and more recently, the Census 2010 Outreach committee.

HOMECOMING 2010 FOREVER TSU The College of Science and Technology had a great time this year celebrating Homecoming 2010-Forever TSU. The ‘COST Groovy Lounge’ placed 3rd in the campus lobby decorations contest. In the Parade, the COST Float was displayed as a boat with captain and crew, a crane and cargo/freight, a space shuttle and astronauts, all representative

of programs in the College. The COST Float placed 3rd. The COST Queen, Ms. Destinee Stroud was also on the COST Float. Dean Lei Yu won 2nd place in the Truck Category in a 2010 Ford F250 charcoal grey pick-up donated by Freeway Ford. The College Departments prepared office decorations and prizes were awarded to the top five offices.

8the EXPLORER

RESEARCH SEMINAR

The first of a series of seminars hosted by the College of Science and Technology Research Committee kicked-off on Thursday, September 30, 2010 in the Science Center. The speaker, Dr. Montgomery Pettitt is a



Texas Southern University and the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (TSU-UTGSBS) Collaborative Program on Prostate Cancer Research hosted Dr. Rick Kittles on Monday, October 25, 2010, in the TSU Science Center. Dr. Kittles is an Associate Professor in the Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine at University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Kittles’ research focus is to formally evaluate genetic mechanisms involved in complex diseases. His work entails understanding how genetic variation is structured

Fold of the Un-foldable: B. Montgomery Pettitt Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemistry; Professor of Computer Science, Physics, Biology, and Biochemistry; Director of the Institute for Molecular Design; and Chair of the Keck Center for Interdisciplinary Biology at

Is Race Relevant in the Era of Personalized Medicine: Rick Kittles

across human populations and how that variation contributes to inter-individual variation in disease susceptibility and other phenotypes such as drug response and skin color. Currently his work explores sequence variation within candidate genes in well-characterized populations for prostate and breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and human pigmentation. His interests also include biological and socio-cultural issues related to “Race” and health disparities and the utility of admixture mapping for genes for common traits and disease in African

Americans and Hispanic Americans. He discussed his views on the relevance of race in the era of personalized medicine. The TSU-UTGSBS Collaborative program offers

paid summer internships to 4 undergraduate students in the department of Biology to work at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The program is funded by the Department of Defense.

Dr. Montgomery Pettitt

Dr. Rick Kittles (above); Dr. Kittles with Dr. Olufisayo Jejelowo and students in the Department of Biology (right)

the University of Houston. Dr. Pettitt discussed the latest understanding and controversies regarding the driving force and mechanism of protein folding. His view challenges the hydrophobic effect on the polymer side chains during protein folding.

Ironing Out Strategies for the Design of Split Protein Biosensors: Jonathan Silberg

On October 18, 2010, Dr. Jonathan Silberg, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Rice University, visited TSU and delivered a research seminar entitled “Ironing out Strategies for Split Protein Biosensors ” at the bi-weekly NASA CBER seminar series.

Dr. Silberg has been working at Rice University on exciting synthetic biology projects employing bacterial extremophiles in structure function studies focused on protein folding. Synthetic biology looks for ways to industrialize or exploit microbes in ways that either

produce useful products or produce useful products in easily controllable ways. If the expressed protein is used medicinally, this would allow the health care professional to produce the therapeutic effect only when necessary. This technology has far reaching capabilities and promise. Dr. Jonathan Silberg

9the EXPLORER

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT ALADDIN SLEEM

DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT CHEMISTRY


Dr. Aladdin Sleem is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science. He received his Ph.D. degree in 2003 from the University of Louisville in Computer Science and Engineering. Before joining TSU in September 2006, Dr. Sleem was the Chief Services Officer (CSO) and the Senior Vice President leading the Services Division of Trendium, a software development company specializing in telecommunications software. As soon as he joined TSU, Dr. Sleem utilized his industry experience in

Dr. John Sapp Chair, Chemistry Dept.

Dr. Aladdin Sleem

The Department of Chemistry is continually enhanced by the activities of its faculty and students in research, internships and faculty development. These processes have served to provide a broader horizon and distinction to the attractiveness of students desiring to major in Chemistry here at Texas Southern University. The Department of Chemistry provided critical technical support for The Discovery Channel's new program. Taking advantage of the Chemistry Department's state-of-the-art Hitachi S-4800-II ultra-high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscope system with an energy dispersive X-ray


Computer Networks as well as Operations Support Systems (OSS) integration to establish the Networking and Multimedia Research Lab in the Department of Computer Science. This lab utilizes the latest technologies in data networking to study the Quality of Service (QoS) for services offered over Internet Protocol (IP) networks such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and Voice over IP (VoIP). Dr. Sleem is also the Assessment Manager and the Curriculum Lead for the TSU Local Cisco Networking Academy which was established in collaboration with Cisco

Systems in 2007. Through this academy, TSU students have exposure to the Cisco Networking Academy which is a global education program that provides online courses, interactive tools, and hands-on learning activities to help students to design, build, troubleshoot, and secure computer networks. To capitalize on the launch of this academy, Dr. Sleem proposed a new track for students majoring in Computer Science to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Computer Networks Concentration. This new track was approved by the University Curriculum

Council and has been offered since Fall 2009. Currently Dr. Sleem is doing research on deep packet inspection and QoS monitoring for multimedia traffic in IP networks. Dr. Sleem is a father of two young men, Mohamed who studies Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M, and Ahmed a sophomore in high school.

spectrophotometer, Dr. Xin Wei worked with the Discovery Channel crew closely to study an important artifact specimen, a musket ball that was found in the Battlefield of San Jacinto. What is more interesting is that there might be a tiny bone fragment remainder embedded in the musket ball. The program is expected to be broadcast next spring. Dr. Robert Ford was a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) China STEM Exploration delegation, during the period of October 10-19, 2010. Drs. Bobby Wilson, Yuanjian Deng, Xin Wei and others have continued in their quest to bring research dollars and student support

programs into the folds of the university in the area of research. Texas Southern intends to establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Atmospheric Processes in the Coastal and Urban Environment (NC-APCUE). The NC-APCUE center is designed to strengthen and enhance the research and training capabilities of TSU by developing a new atmospheric science program at TSU that directly relates to and supports the NOAA mission. Drs. Wei and Deng have been submitting proposals to the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society. Students majoring in

Chemistry and in programs that are housed in the department have been instrumental in obtaining competitive internships from various agencies across the country (see page 10). Faculty and student development has been increased evidenced by presentations and attendance at several national conferences. Faculty and students attended the 2010 Minority Access Role Models Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 2010 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Anaheim, California, and the TMCF Leadership Institute Conference in New York.

10the EXPLORER

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ANDRE WHITE Mr. Andre White came to Texas Southern University in 2007 and is majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Electronics Engineering Technology. Over the past three years, he has led a productive academic life. In Spring 2011, Andre will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. His future plans are to obtain a Masters and a Doctoral degree in Mathematics and to teach on the collegiate level. Andre has participated in several summer research projects and programs such as the Space, Engineering and Science Internship Program; NASA’s Research Engineering and Mentoring Project; Louisiana State University’s IMRAM Summer Institute for Juniors;

ALUMNI RAVES KATIE MUHAMMAD


Entering as a first-generation, 17-year-old college student, Texas Southern University gave me the opportunity, and a scholarship for all four years of attendance, allowing me to graduate Summa Cum Laude in May 2007, with a B.S. in Biology. A myriad of professors guided me to make sure that not only would I graduate, but I would also leave as a well-rounded student, professional, and person. Due to their support and mentorship, I worked in a NASA-funded Molecular Biology research lab at TSU and did summer internships at some of the leading medical schools in the

Summer Internships by Chemistry Students

Osman Ahmed – Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, NSF REU Research Experience for Undergraduates, Department of Computer Science. RaiAnna Arscott – University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, JAMP Program. Stephanie Curry – University of North Texas Health Science Center – Summer Multicultural Advanced Research Training (SMART). Zuri Dale – HBCU-UP Scholar interned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, June 2010-August 2010. Samantha Everett – U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NMRC),as a student Engineer, STEP in the Division of Nuclear Materials Safety. Brandon Georgetown - University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Radiochemistry Fuel Cycle Summer School Internship. Nelson Guerrero – Rutgers University, Command Control Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis in the Research Experience for Undergraduates. Rasheedat Ipaye – Drexel University- SENROS: From Design to Implementation for 2010. Cedric Koumau – University of North Texas Health Science Center, Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Mia Lander – Louisiana State University, Mathematical Research Experience for Undergraduates. Pamela Mbonu – University of Houston Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Summer 2010 Research Experience. Ruqiah Muhammad – Percy Julian Fellowship Summer 2010 Undergraduate Research Experience, University of Maryland, College Park. Aqeeb Sabree – The L. L. Clarkson Mathematical Research Experience II, Texas Southern University, Mathematics Department. Michael Smith – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 10-week summer Educational Partnership Program. Kyle Thomas – University of Washington in Seattle, in Chemical Oceanography. Jerald Watley – University of Chicago Materials Research Center (MRSEC) and the Department of Physics Summer 2010 Research Experience for Undergraduates. Andre White – The L. L. Clarkson Mathematical Research Experience II, Texas Southern University, Mathematics Department.


and the L.L. Clarkson Research Experience where he worked extensively on Discrete Dynamical Systems and made a poster presentation at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Andre attended a conference for African American Researchers in Mathematical Science at Rice University, and the National Association of Mathematics Conference at the University of District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., and in Miami, Florida. Andre is heavily involved in various university organizations. He is a Student Ambassador for the College representing the Mathematics Department, and he is Co-Chair for the COST Dean’s Student Advisory Council. Andre is a

proud recipient of the Houston Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholarship for the years 2007 through 2011. As a Teaching Assistant for Calculus, and as a Mathematics Department Tutor, Andre acquired significant experience working with other college students. Andre has described his journey at Texas Southern University as having been fruitful in various ways. He has an eagerness to learn, and is committed to education.

country to gain experience. Many professors (un-named for fear of leaving someone out) provided me with a wealth of advice and encouragement to help me, and were instrumental in orchestrating my life toward success. My exposure at TSU helped me gain employment as a Molecular Biologist at Monsanto. I am now a medical student at the historic Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. I am beyond grateful for my experience at TSU. It has molded my life in ways beyond my dreams: spiritually, academically, and mentally. For my past

professors, I thank you for believing in me even at times when I didn’t believe in myself. You all helped me realize that despite my modest socioeconomic condition, I could dream and reach my goals. Much of my inspiration comes from inside…my strong desire to serve my community as TSU does. Thank you TSU, I really do love you!

Vivian Usoro was accepted into the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP).

Latissha Clark, “Analysis of Hazardous Material Incidents in the Gulf Coast Region: A Case Study of Houston, TX,” M.S. Research Thesis, Completed in October 2010. (Advisor: Lei Yu)

Maria Williams, a junior with a Chemistry major from Baton Rouge, LA, made a technical presentation at the 2010 Regional Undergraduate Chemistry Symposium (RUCS), hosted at Rice University on Saturday, October 23rd. Her presentation on reactions of cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase using site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state kinetics summarized her 2010 summer REU research at the University of Arkansas.

Kiara Taylor, a senior Chemistry major from Tulsa, OK, represented COST and the Chemistry Department at two student professional development conferences during the current quarter. She attended the Minority Access Conference in Las Vegas, NV in October, where she networked with college students who made presentations on research projects they had completed. While in Las Vegas, she was awarded the Wal-Mart First Generation College Student Scholarship in conjunction with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) . By winning this competitive scholarship she was invited to attend the TMCF Leadership Institute Conference in New York City, NY this month. The TMCF Leadership Institute was not only geared toward STEM majors, it was also an opportunity for students

11the EXPLORER

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS



of an array of majors to attend leadership workshops in order to develop the minds of our future leaders. This conference offered ample opportunities for student networking with major corporate representatives and leaders, including those in STEM fields. TSU’s participation increased six-fold over the previous year’s participation, with 18 TSU students, most of them COST students, spending a week networking and learning in New York. There are many more opportunities for our students to experience leadership development programs with TMCF.

Ms. Huimin Xing (advisor: Dr. Fengxiang Qiao), a graduate student of the Department of Transportation Studies, received a scholarship of $1,000 in early November of 2010 from the Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS), Texas Chapter.

Krystal Lastrape, a Center for Transportation Training and Research (CTTR) Student in the Department of Transportation Studies was placed with Booz Allen Hamilton, Washington, DC.

Anthony Price, a CTTR Student in the Department of Transportation Studies was placed with Sysco Logistics, Houston, TX.

Gwen Goodwin, Research Associate, attended the 2010 TRANED Conference in Hong Kong, China on June 2-4, 2010. Goodwin presented a paper titled, “Driving Cessation: Who Gives You the Right to Decide?”

Six students enrolled in CHEM 131 General Chemistry, Section 4 volunteered time to guide PK-2 grade students at Whidby

Elementary in developing a school garden. With the help of the TSU students, Whidby students acquired and prepared soil, learned about planting seasons and plant types, and planted squash, radish, and beans. Led by Ebony Uzowulu (Chemistry Major), Shilonda Blount, Stephanie Hayes, Peggy Taylor, Michael Warren, and Monique Gates formed the team that met 3 days per week for several weeks since the beginning of October.

Five TSU STEM majors served as team captains at Taylor High School in Alief ISD to provide leadership to one hundred 10th grade students as they participated in a science and engineering field day event on November 12th. The program, Viva Technology, was managed by GREAT Minds in STEM and underwritten by Shell Oil Company. Chiaka Opara and Maria Williams, both Chemistry majors, led the TSU

delegation and will be invited by Shell STEM managers to participate in other Shell supported STEM programs. These students made a good impression, leading the school principal, Dr. Walter Jackson (TSU Alum) to request a meeting with TSU leaders to discuss strengthening Taylor High School’s connection with TSU.

Mathematics students Andre White, Ruqiah Muhammad and Aqeeb Sabree attended the The National Association of Mathematicians (NAM) Undergraduate Math Fest XX held at Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida, November 18-20, 2010. All three students presented research papers at MATH fest. In addition, Andre White won a prize of $100.00 for solving one of two problems posed by mathematicians at MATH fest. Aqeeb Sabree and Ruqiah Muhammad won honorable mention for their presentations.

Students and scholars of the Department of Transportation Studies actively attended the 2010 TSU International Week which began November 15. They performed the Mandarin Qipao Show, and demonstrated fantastic Chinese handwritings. In the photo above taken November 17, TSU Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Sunny Ohia (middle) presents his name in Chinese written by Dr.

Xiaomin Chen (Post-doctoral fellow of Department of Transportation Studies, leftmost) to Ms. Ceshia Love (Director of International Student Affair, second from the left), Dr. Fengxiang Qiao (advisor of TSU Chinese Students and Scholars Association, second from the right); and Miss Da Li (a graduate student of Department of Transportation Studies, rightmost.)

12the EXPLORER

SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES


Robert Ford has been selected as a 2010 Inspire awardee and will be honored at Tekoa Academy’s 1st Annual Inspire Scholarship and Inspire Award Gala to be held in Beaumont, TX on December 9, 2010. Carlos Handy and Daniel Bessis received special recognition within the recently published book by Jean Lasserre entitled “Moment, Positive Polynomials and Their

Awards and Recognitions Applications” (Imperial College press, 2009 ISBN 978-1-84816-445-1) for their pioneering work in applying the semidefinite programming philosophy (through linear programming algorithms) in the analysis of very difficult (singular perturbation related) quantum operators (i.e. multidimensional Sturm Liouville type problems).

Marian Hillar (Biology Department) was invited in July 22-23, 2010, for a conference “Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Religion: Global Issues” at the editorial office of the philosophical Journal, Dialogue and Universalism, published in Warsaw as an official publication of the International Society for Universal Dialogue. Jason Rosenzweig has been invited by Dr. Harlan Jones to deliver a research seminar entitled “Yersina Pestis

pathogenesis: a pathogen's perspective” on December 13, 2010 at the University of North Texas Health Science Center Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology. Alamelu Sundaresan presented “Placental Growth Factor (PlGf) as a Biosignature of Inflammation in Microgravity-In Coronary Artery Disease and Stress,” an oral presentation at the International Academy of Aerospace Medicine Congress, Singapore, Oct 2010.

Chen, X., L. Yu, L. Zhu, J. Guo, and M. Sun. Microscopic Traffic Simulation Approach to the Capacity Impact Analysis of Weaving Sections for the Exclusive Bus Lanes on an Urban Expressway. Journal of Transportation Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 136, No. 10, Oct 2010, pp. 895-902. El Baroty, G. S., Farag, R. S., Abd El-Baky, H. H., Saleh, M.A. Characterization Of Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Compounds Of Cinnamon And Ginger Essential Oils. African Journal of Biochemistry Research Vol. 4(6), pp. 167-174, June 2010. Lawal, A., Jejelowo O. A., Chopra A. K., and Rosenzweig J.A. Ribonucleases and bacterial virulence. Microbial Biotechnology, October 2010 (in press). Lawal, A., Jejelowo O. A., and Rosenzweig, J.A. The Effects of Low-Shear Mechanical Stress on Yersinia pestis Virulence. Astrobiology, October 2010 (in press). Lewis, C. A. An Inventory And Assessment Of Models Used To Predict Emergency Evacuation And Considerations For Increasing Policymaker

Daniel Bessis and Daniel Vrinceanu received their first DoD contract through NAVAIR for specific application of their advanced noise filtering methods to helicopter rotor blade defect detection. Yuanjian Deng (PI), Platinum (II) Complexes with S-Donor Ligands; A Synthetic and Mechanistic Study (American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund), October, 2010. Lalita Sundaresan (PI), Preliminary studies of Lunar

Grants

Publications

Presentations


Involvement, Risk, Hazards And Crisis In Public Policy. Berkeley Electronic Press, Vol. 1(3), 2010 Saleh, M.A., Clark, S., Woodard, B., Deolu-Sobogun, S.A. Antioxidant And Free Radical Scavenging Activities Of Essential Oils. Ethnicity & Disease, 20(1), Suppl. 1, 78-82, (2010). Sundaresan, A., Ponomarev, A., Vazquez, M., Guida, P., Kim, A., and Cucinotta, F. A. Model of the Effects of Heavy Ion Radiation on Human Tissue. Advances in Space Research, August, 2010. Sundaresan, A., Russomano, T., dos Santos, M., Bosquillon, C., Falcao, F., Marriot, C., Forbes, B. Modeling the Effects of Microgravity on the Permeability of Air-Interface Respiratory Epithelial Cell Layers. Advances in Space Research, May, 2010. Sundaresan, A., Shah, S., Walker, P., Moore-Olufemi, S., Kulkarni, A., Andrassy, R. An Evidence-based Review of a Lentinula edodes Mushroom Extract as Complementary Therapy in the Surgical Oncology Patient. In Press; The Journal of Parenteral and Enternal Nutrition, Sep 2010.

Dust in Three Dimensional Lung Tissue Models (NNJ06HG25A USRA/NASA), 2010-2011, $50,000. Xin Wei (Co-PI), MRI Consortium: Acquisition of a Small Angle X-Ray Scattering System for Materials Characterization (NSF/MRI Program), 2010-2012. Other collaborators: Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti (PI, UH), Dr. Matteo Pasquali (Co-PI, Rice U.), Dr. Gila E. Stein (Co-PI, UH), and Dr. Michael Wong (Co-PI, Rice U.).

Dr. Marian Hillar published the next volume of translation from the Latin of the major work of Michael Servetus, Chrsitianismi restitutio. The project was undertaken by the Center for Philosophy and Socinian Studies and constitutes Volume 3 of Christianismi restitutio containing his Thirty Letters to Calvin & Sixty Signs of the Kingdom of the Antichrist and His Revelation which is Now at Hand (from The Restoration of Christianity, 1553) by Michael Servetus (2010). The Center was founded in 1986 and its original focus was the studies of the philosophy and doctrines of the intellectual movement of the Radical Reformation represented by the Socinians or Polish Brethren as the precursors of the Enlightenment and American democracy. The other volumes translated by Christopher A. Hoffman and Marian Hillar with introduction and notes by Marian Hillar, published by The Edwin Mellen Press (Lewiston, NY; Queenston, Ont., Canada; Lampeter, Wales, UK) are Vol. 2, tome 1: Treatise on Faith and Justice of Christ’s Kingdom by Michael Servetus (2008); Vol. 2, tome 2: Treatise Concerning the Supernatural Regeneration and the Kingdom of the Antichrist by Michael Servetus (2008); and Vol. 1: The Restoration of Christianity: An English Translation of Christianismi restitutio, 1553, by Michael Servetus (1511-1553) (2007).

A Sterling Success...Samuel Somuah, and Elvino Taylor. College Partner Linbeck Construction Company...

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