The scholars chosen for this year's Academic Senate and Academic Federation awards at the University of California, Davis, reflect the breadth of faculty expertise and dedication to students and society. The information presented here is taken from nomination forms and biographies.

ACADEMIC SENATE

The senate announced 10 awards for the 2005-06 academic year, and planned to recognize the recipients this afternoon during the Senate's year-end meeting.

Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching:

• William Fink, a professor emeritus of chemistry, is described as a "quintessential teacher, scholar and mentor" and a "model citizen" on campus. During his career, Fink, who retired in 2002, served as a master adviser for undergraduate students, advising countless students on their educational plans. He led the effort to revise the undergraduate chemistry curriculum, and he developed Internet-based tutorials for the introductory courses. Fink has taught other faculty members about how information technology can improve instruction.
• Charles Gasser, a professor in molecular and cellular biology, is a strong believer in training students to meet the "challenges of the future." One student described him as an "excellent lecturer with an amazing ability to convey even complex concepts effectively." Gasser was among the first faculty to get students to solve real problems online using genomics and informatics tools. In 2004-05, he led an in-depth review of course and lab content while serving as the chair of his department's curriculum committee.
• Tonya Kuhl, an associate professor in chemical engineering and materials science, reportedly "rocks the socks" of her student audience with a dynamic teaching flair. "Tonya taught me to be confident in my creative reasoning," recalled one student. Kuhl is the faculty adviser to the UC Davis chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and is renowned for her Picnic Day demonstrations -- making ice cream using liquid nitrogen -- and creating entries for the national Chemical Car Competition.
• Norm Matloff, a professor in computer science, has a reputation for holding his students to the very highest standards. He creates tests that, as one student puts it, "test the understanding of a subject, not the ability to memorize or jump through hoops." Matloff, a curriculum leader in his department, says his most gratifying teaching moment came when he bolstered the confidence of a clearly bright student and helped that student get a job at a major software company. "You're the only one who has ever shown any faith in me," the student remembered.

Distinguished Graduate, Professional Teaching:

• Ezra Amsterdam, a professor of medicine and a cardiologist, is particularly noted for his "stellar" teaching skills, especially in the clinical setting, and for displaying a "compassionate concern for patients." His impact on students has been tremendous -- one former student wrote, "This experience in clinical research was, from start to finish, a fantastic culmination of my medical school education." Amsterdam founded and currently edits the journal Preventive Cardiology.
• Gary Anderson, a professor of animal science, takes "meticulous care" to present the most up-to-date scientific findings in his courses. His students have excelled both during and after his courses. One wrote, "He inspires his students to achieve academic performance levels far beyond their expectation." Anderson is an adept communicator with a renowned editing style. Part of his success in shaping students' lives is reflected in one of Anderson's favorite sayings: "Think like a scientist, communicate like a layperson."

Distinguished Scholarly Public Service:

• Kenneth Brown, a professor of nutrition and the director of International and Community Nutrition, has made a difference in nutrition and medicine in developing countries. In particular, he has focused on zinc deficiency. As one of his former graduate students wrote, "What has left the most clear mark on me is his sincere devotion to the alleviation of human suffering associated with hunger and malnutrition, particularly when this affects the lives of infants and young children."
• Carole Joffe, a professor of sociology, has made "enormous contributions" to women's reproductive health issues, including working pro bono for a number of groups. She has penned two highly influential books on family planning and abortion, has been quoted extensively in the media, and speaks frequently at training sessions for primary care physicians. Joffe is described as having a "keen intellect, a huge heart, integrity" and "tireless dedication."
• H. Bradley Shaffer, a professor in evolution and ecology, has "taken every opportunity" to contribute to the protection of reptiles and amphibians nationally and worldwide. Toward this end, he has helped develop standards for the world's most endangered turtle species and participated in biological assessments in several international hot spots of biodiversity, including the Peruvian Amazon and southwestern China. Shaffer has served 14 years as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service volunteer expert on the listing of the California tiger salamander as an endangered species.
• Garen Wintemute, a professor of emergency medicine and director of the Violence Prevention Research Program, is renowned for his research on gun violence and its link to public health. He has published numerous scientific articles on this topic, testified before Congress and other government agencies, and spoken extensively with the media. In 1997, Time magazine named him one of 15 international heroes of medicine. He has conducted groundbreaking research -- and generated hard scientific data -- on the nature of gun violence.

ACADEMIC FEDERATION

The federation presented three Excellence in Teaching and Research Awards during a May 24 ceremony.

Teaching:

• Aliki Dragona, a lecturer in the University Writing Program, grew up in Greece under a military junta (1967-74) that dictated educational content. This experience partly explains her commitment to teaching critical reading and writing for meaningful effect in the real world. At UC Davis since 1990, she has taught the widest possible range of writing courses, from preparatory (for first-year students who have not passed the entry-level writing requirement, and English-language learners), through pedagogy for graduate students, and almost everything between.
• Susan Keen earned her doctorate in biology at UC Davis in 1991 and, in the process, received a Graduate Student Teaching Award. Today, as a lecturer in evolution and biology, she continues to draw praise for "her passion; infectious enthusiasm; dedication; creativity; organization; encyclopedic knowledge; lucid, thought-provoking explanations; and inspiring researchers' understanding of animal diversity and evolution." She is director of Introductory Biology (BIS 1B), teaching innumerable sections. One student wrote: "Keen has a gift for anticipating what students may not understand."

Research:

• Frank Mitloehner, a Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Animal Science, developed "bovine biobubbles" where cattle, feed and waste emissions can be trapped and precisely measured in efforts to improve air quality. His "meticulous methodology has produced objective, reliable results useful to producers and regulators alike." His work represents "acute, skeptical analysis of accepted premises; innovative, rigorous scientific methods; use and design of state-of-the-art technology; the leadership skills to create the research facilities and collaborative teams, and the communications skills to raise grants and disseminate his findings through scientific journals, conferences and the popular press."