Kudos

Pan Trinbago, the world’s governing body for steelpan, has honored NIU’s Cliff Alexis.

Alexis, co-director of the NIU Steel Band, received a trophy “in appreciation of (his) role in advancing the global reach of Pan. As a member of the 1st National Steelband of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Nov. 10 presentation also included a monetary award.

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Distinguished Research Professor Biswa Datta, a member of the faculty in the NIU Department of Mathematical Sciences, spent two weeks at the National University of Mongolia as a Senior Fulbright Specialist in the area of computational mathematics.

Senior Fulbright Specialists are distinguished scholars and professionals who are recognized leaders in education, politics, culture and other areas. They are selected on a competitive basis by the J. William Foreign Scholarship Board, the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

During his visit to Mongolia, Professor Datta gave a workshop on “State-of-the-Art Computational Techniques and Softwares for Linear Control Systems Design and Analysis.” He also delivered several lectures on computational methods for active vibration control and finite element model updating.

The lectures and workshop were attended by faculty and graduate students of the National University of Mongolia, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, and several other universities. Several Mongolian news agencies reported on his visit. Datta’s wife, NIU Mathematics Professor Karabi Datta, also delivered a colloquium talk on linear algebra and control theory.

Biswa Datta this year also has lectured at Peking University in Beijing; Xidian University in Xian, China; and three universities in Hong Kong. Additionally, he delivered a plenary address at an international conference there. Earlier this year he was awarded a plaque of honor for leading an invited workshop at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, India.

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Christine Sorensen, dean of the College of Education, is the recipient of the Virgil S. Lagomarcino Laureate Award for 2006.

The alumni award is given annually by the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State University, where Sorensen earned her master’s and doctoral degrees. It was established in 1975 to honor graduates who are nationally and internationally recognized for their meritorious service or distinguished achievement in the field of education.

At NIU, Sorensen rose quickly from an assistant professor to dean. She came to DeKalb in 1996 and became dean in 2001, navigating the college through budget cuts and reorganization.

Her duties include management of the $5 million federal Project REAL grant. She also is the co-author of one of the top five textbooks in education research, and remains active at Wright Elementary School, the university’s partnership school with DeKalb School District 428.

The dean also served as chair of the Illinois Association of Deans of Public Colleges of Education, an election rooted in her sharp knowledge of educational policy issues and trends.

“It’s an honor,” Sorensen said of the award. “I’m the third-generation Iowa State grad in my family. My dad, in particular, is excited.”

She is quick to credit her Iowa State professors for much of her success: “They’d say, ‘You’re going to do great things one day,’ and I’d say, ‘Not me.’ They pushed.”

11-27-06