Jul 08, 2011 - Claremont, Calif. -

Several Harvey Mudd College faculty will be promoted, including two professors who have been named to Clinic leadership positions, effective July 1, 2011.

Adam Johnson

Christine Alvarado

Anna Ahn

Nancy Lape

Susan Martonosi

Debra Mashek

David Vosburg

Adam Johnson, associate professor of chemistry, has been promoted to full professor. His research involves the design and synthesis of amino alcohol ligands for organometallic chemistry. Johnson recently received two National Science Foundation grants; one for expanding chemistry research opportunities for undergraduates at HMC and the other to study catalytic hydroamination of aminoallenes with chiral tantalum complexes.

Six faculty members were recently promoted to associate professor with tenure:

Christine Alvarado, Computer Science Department, explores artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, particularly as they relate to building intelligent interfaces. Her current research focuses on developing a sketch recognition tool for logic circuits that can understand students’ hand-drawn images. In 2006, Alvarado helped develop a new introductory CS course (CS5) and summer research opportunities, which proved integral in increasing the number of women CS majors from 12 percent to 35 percent.

Anna Ahn, Biology Department, researches the neural control and mechanics of animal locomotion. Her work includes examining the neural signals sent to muscles and how the different levels of musculo-skeletal organization respond to these neural signals. She uses an integrative and multi-disciplinary approach to examine the different levels of organization that influence the behavioral output of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system in animals such as frogs, lizards, tarantulas, and humans. 

Nancy Lape, Engineering Department, focuses her research on energy-efficient composite gas separation membranes and chemical transport across human skin. She serves as director of the Patton and Claire Lewis Fellowship in Engineering Professional Practice, which matches students and faculty with practicing professional engineers. In 2009, Lape received a National Science Foundation CAREER award. 

Susan Martonosi, Mathematics Department, is an expert in applying operations research and applied probability to address homeland security issues. She also serves as Mathematics Clinic Director and advisor for the international MCM/ICM annual competition. In January 2009, Martonosi traveled to Kenya, Africa with a team of students to help construct a solar still to purify a school’s water system and teach a course on solar distillation to teenage Kenyan students. 

Debra Mashek, Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts, studies the psychology of relationships, examining how individual behavior and identity are influenced by connections with others. In 2009, Mashek received the Jane S. Halonen Early Career Teaching Award from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association. She was awarded a Faculty Fellowship from the Haynes Foundation in 2010 to study strategies for motivating participation in Neighborhood Watch programs, and served as the HMC Critchell Assistant Professor from 2009-11. 

David Vosburg, Chemistry Department, is an expert in green chemistry and the biomimetic synthesis of medicinal natural products. In 2008, Vosburg’s work on the role of bacterial protein chain dynamics in antibiotic production was featured in the journal Nature. His student-directed approach to teaching synthetic organic chemistry has been featured in the Journal of Chemical Education.

Clinic Appointments

Geoff Kuenning

Talithia Williams

Computer Science Professor Geoff Kuenning will succeed Robert Keller as Computer Science Clinic Director. Kuenning’s research focuses on file systems, including his most-visible project, the SNIA IOTTA Trace Repository, a compendium of trace data used by file systems researchers worldwide.

Talithia Williams, assistant professor of mathematics, has been appointed Associate Director of the Mathematics Clinic. Williams, who joined the faculty in 2008, develops dynamic statistical models, which emphasize the spatial and temporal structure of data with environmental applications.

Media Contact: Judy Augsburger
judy_augsburger@hmc.edu
909.607.0713