UNL scientists Dermot Coyne, Department of Horticulture, James R. Steadman. Department Plant Pathology, along with James Beaver, Department Agronomy and Soils, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR, were recognized with plaques and certificates of honorary membership in the Association of Agricultural Producers at the "Bean-Field Day," Jan. 9, held at Las Ovijas, Dominican Republic.
The honors were presented in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, the director of Research, the president of the Agricultural Producers Association, and 400 attendees. The official release of five new dry bean varieties (one black, one small white, and three red-mottled) was announced during the ceremony. Fields of the five new dry bean varieties were visited.
The project assisted the Dominican Republic to overcome dry bean crop (staple food) losses due to the white fly-transmitted bean golden mosaic virus disease by using a fallow period, one planting season, near simultaneous planting, early roguing of infected plants, and application of one to two sprays prior to flowering, and in the introduction of the PC-50 variety (selected by the late Ing Freddy Saladin). One of the released varieties was named Saladin-97. The country became self sufficient in beans three years ago as a result of the adoption of these practices that reduced the white-fly population, the vector of BGMV.
Nebraska Educational Telecommunications has filled two new positions on its management council, naming Michael Winkle as assistant general manager for marketing and business development and Arthur I. Zygielbaum as director of interactive media research and development.
Winkle's responsibilities include oversight of Nebraskans for Public Television and Public Radio Nebraska Foundation membership initiatives, fundraising, contractual and revenue generating telecommunication services, corporate development, planned giving and project/program development through grants and contracts. Winkle has worked at NET since 1990 and was telecommunications marketing manager before being promoted to assistant general manager.
Zygielbaum will "look over the horizon" in search of new interactive media technologies, methods and applications. He already holds one adjunct faculty appointment at UNL, will soon be awarded another faculty appointment, and will help NET develop partnerships with UNL faculty. Zygielbaum joined NET in January 1998 after nearly 30 years at the NASA/CALTECH Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, where he managed research and development programs in science information systems and educational applications of space data and technology.
Winkle and Zygielbaum were both chosen after nationwide searches, said NET General Manager Rod Bates. "Michael has been a major force in the growth of NET's revenue from the sale of video production, interactive media production and other contractual services," Bates said. "And Art brings an outstanding background in research and development that augments NET's reputation as a leader in Nebraska's growing technology sector."
Shari J. Clarke has been named special assistant to the president for diversity and equity at the University of Nebraska. Clarke's appointment, effective April 20, was announced by President L. Dennis Smith.
Clarke's responsibilities will include assisting the president in efforts to enhance gender and racial diversity throughout the four-campus university system, and in developing methods assessing the university's progress toward its diversity and equity goals. In addition, she will work in cooperation with campus officials to design programs to raise awareness of equity issues among students, faculty, staff and administrators.
"Shari Clarke's background and experience made her a clear choice for this challenging assignment," Smith said. "She has held key posts on four major college and university campuses and has worked across a wide range of activities, both academic and administrative. She has served as a consultant to health care institutions, worked with student athletes and international students, developed cultural heritage celebrations, and served as a housing manager - and these are just a few examples. We could hardly have found a person with a broader base of successful experience."
Clarke has been associate dean for multicultural student affairs a the University of Maine since 1995. Previously she was director of multicultural student affairs at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., (1992-1995). Earlier, she was a coordinator of a minority math and science scholars program at Bowling Green State University (Ohio), and a student retention assistant at the University of Toledo. She has taught anthropology and ethnic studies as well as special courses to help adult learners succeed in college.
Clarke earned her bachelor's degree from Lane College in Jackson,
Tenn.,
(1983), and her master's degree from Bowling Green State University. She
is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maine. Her annual salary will
be $65,000.
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