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Local
University Staff and Faculty Members Honored
College Station, Texas – William C. Hearn and Dr.
Alexandru Balaban of Texas A&M University at Galveston were honored with the
2007 Distinguished Achievement Award by Texas A&M University and The Association
of Former Students at a ceremony in College Station on May 1, 2007.
The
Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Awards were established
in 1955 to honor Texas A&M University faculty, administrators, and staff
members. These awards spotlight those outstanding individuals who have helped
earn Texas A&M University its reputation as a top-tier institution of
higher-learning. The programs began humbly, but expanded through the years to
include 24 annual awards to some of the best faculty, administrators and staff
members.
Mr.
Hearn is the sole recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award for
Administration. Dr. Balaban received the award in the Research category.
About
William C. Hearn
Mr. Hearn, a 1963 graduate of Texas A&M University, arrived on the Galveston
campus in 1963 as the
Senior Student Affairs Officer. As the Associate Vice President for Student
Affairs and Administration, Mr. Hearn oversees student life, auxiliary
operations, educational outreach and many of the administrative functions of the
university to include the physical plant, marine terminal, human resources, and
campus police and safety office.
He was instrumental in developing and administering service areas to
include counseling, career planning and placement, student financial aid,
residential life, international student services and disability services. At
various times he has had responsibility for the maritime cadet corps, ship
operations, new student recruiting and enrollment services. He has served as
Senior University Representative aboard the Texas Clipper during training
cruises and as interim C.E.O. of the campus on two occasions.
Hearn has been active in professional and civic organizations including
the Texas Counseling Association, Bay Area Counseling Association, Council of
Student Services Vice Presidents, Counselors Comprehensive Workshop, Galveston
County A&M Club, Galveston County Salvation Army, Galveston Red Cross, Galveston
County Mental Health Association and the Franklin Lindsay Student Aid Fund.
He has served on numerous site visit teams for the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools. In 1998 he was named Aggie of the Year by the Galveston
A&M Club. He received the TAMUG Distinguished Service Award for Student
Relations in 1995 and in 1994 received a Distinguished Service Award from the
Texas Counseling Association. In 1986 he was the first recipient of the TAMUG
Outstanding Faculty/Staff Achievement Award.
Hearn holds a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University and M.Ed. and M.A.
degrees from Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston-Clear
Lake. He served as an infantry officer with the U.S. Army on duty tours in
Panama, Vietnam and Alaska, receiving the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, an Army
Commendation Medal and both the Airborne and Combat Infantryman Badges.
About Dr.
Alexandru Balaban
Dr. Balaban taught organic chemistry in Romania for 40 years. He began
collaborating with scientists at Texas A&M University in Galveston in 1991. He
became a tenured professor in 2000. For three years he was a Senior Research
Scientist at the International Atomic Energey Agency in Vienna for
radio-pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Balaban’s scientific achievements include the discovery of a new
synthesis of pyrylium salts by dicylation of alkenes (the
Balaban-Nenitzescu-Praill reaction), a new sysnthesis of oxazoles and
indolizines, demonstration of the catalytic automerization of polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons, the development of new donors of nitric oxides, and the
introduction of new molecular descriptors (one of which is know as the Balaban
topological index, used for molecular modeling). Dr. Balaban edited the first
book on chemical applications of graph theory, and he published his studies on
graph-theoretical characteristics that predicted the structure of fullerene
cages, and predicted the existences of graphitic cones before they were
observed.
Dr. Babalan is the author/coauthor of 700 research papers (peer reviewed
journals), 60 chapters (edited books), and 16 authored or edited books. He is a
member of Academies in Romania and Hungary and is on the editorial board of over
10 scientific journals.
2007
Distinguished Achievement Awards
The
2007 recipients, along with their departments/affiliations are:
For teaching: J. Amanda Adkisson, finance; Jay Porter, engineering
technology and industrial distribution; Robert Segner, construction science;
Jianer Chen, computer science; David Toback, physics; Annie L. McGowan,
accounting; J.N. Reddy, mechanical engineering; Anton Hoffman, veterinary
integrative biosciences; Ralph Schoolcraft, European and classical languages;
and Eduardo Espina, Hispanic studies. For research: Alexandru Balaban, marine
sciences - Texas A&M University at Galveston; Ciprian Foias, mathematics; John
Fackler, chemistry; Jerome Loving, English; Cecil R. Reynolds, educational
psychology; and Joanne Lupton, nutrition and food science. For staff:
Sherry Adams, College of Veterinary Medicine-Office of the Dean; and Norma
Pantoja, agricultural economics. For student relations: Richard Bartoskewitz,
civil engineering; and Dan Posey, veterinary large animal clinical sciences. For
administration: William C. Hearn, student affairs - Texas A&M University at
Galveston. For extension, outreach, continuing education and professional
development: Larry Johnson, veterinary integrative biosciences. For graduate
mentoring: William Bryant, oceanography; and Stephen McDaniel, marketing.
In recognition of their achievements, recipients were presented with a
$4,000 check, an engraved watch and a commemorative plaque. For more information
about the awards, contact Kelli Hutka at The Association of Former Students at
(979) 845-7514.
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