Our Faculty and Staff Do Great Things

In my last post I gave examples of some of the amazing accomplishments of the students at the University of Houston-Downtown. I’m also very impressed by our faculty and staff. There are too many to list here, so I will provide only a few examples.

I begin with a faculty member whose research may one day protect wine crops in Texas. Lisa Morano, an associate professor of Natural Sciences, along with her team of undergraduate students has been tracking the genetic footprint of Pierce disease as it makes its way from the Gulf of Mexico to central Texas. Pierce disease is caused by the xylella bacteria and is spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter (homalodisca vitripennis).

Morano's students, most of whom are part of UHD’s Scholars Academy, perform DNA extractions to help create genetic fingerprints in the laboratory. The students present their research at national conferences and most plan to pursue graduate degrees. Says Dr. Morano, “We’re bringing science to life and giving undergraduate students the opportunity to do something they wouldn’t normally be able to do until graduate school.”

UHD faculty members are involved in research in many subjects and their research often provides research opportunities for our undergraduates. For example, associate professor Jeff Flosi’s expertise on mosquitoes and the diseases they carry has led a number of students to conduct research projects on the West Nile virus. Like Morano, Dr. Flosi’s work has stimulated many students to pursue graduate degrees and several have gone on to medical school or doctoral programs.

Dr. David Ryden, associate professor of history, learned that his book, “West Indian Slavery and British Abolition, 1783-1807,” has been selected as one of the Outstanding Academic Titles of 2009. This is a prestigious honor that virtually guarantees that his book, already out of print, will appear in libraries across the country. The book will go into a second printing and is a great success. Dr. Ryden credits the UHD Faculty Development Leave Program as instrumental in helping him complete his book, as it enabled him to step away from class and focus on his research and writing.

Dr. Ermelinda DeLaVina, associate professor of mathematical sciences, has been featured in a publication of Sally Ride Science aimed at middle school and high school students. Sally Ride, you will remember, was the first woman to successfully fly into space back in 1983. The publication gives students a first-hand look at women who have established successful careers in math and science, providing role models that provide guidance and inspiration. Dr. DeLaVina’s work and strong reputation for mentoring students interested in STEM fields has won her national recognition, which is why she was included in the project.

UHD has a renowned jazz musician and conductor, Robert Wilson. Wilson and one of the jazz group he leads, the Young Sounds of Houston, have been invited to perform at a New Orleans Jazz Festival. He has also been asked by the U.S. Park Service to assist their efforts to reclaim jazz heritage in New Orleans by helping to build interest in jazz among young people in New Orleans. For his work, UHD has created a new role and title. Wilson has been appointed as our university’s first Musician Artist-in-Residence. According to Wilson, “This is a great honor that will help me attract more students and build greater support for our jazz program.”

There’s also great staff at UHD. For example, Po-Chu “Anges” Leung, the director of testing services at UHD, won the “Cathy Erwin Humanitarian Award” from the Texas Education Agency for her outstanding work in administering GED exams to thousands of Houston and nearby residents. By her work, she has helped these students to pursue college work at UHD and community colleges. Ms. Leung began her career by first passing a GED herself. She told me, “I love opening the doors of opportunity for our students.”

The UHD IT department has also been recognized for its Strategic Plan for Information Technology. Under the leadership of Hossein Shahrohki, associate vice president for IT, the department has made UHD one of the most modern and up-to-date campuses in the country. Their Strategic Plan was highlight as outstanding example for government agencies in the online publication, Texas Ahead, published by the Texas Controller of Public Accounts.

I wish I had room to list so many other UHD faculty and staff who give their time and expertise to our student and to the community. They serve on school boards, volunteer in homeless shelters, tutor children in middle schools, and gather coats for kids to keep them warm in the winter. They work without public accolades or recognition. But, they help make Houston a better place to live. Hearing their stories makes be proud and I will provide more examples of their work in future posts. Stay tuned, because our faculty and staff are doing new and exciting things every day.

Jazz Fest at Kemah

The University of Houston-Downtown held a wonderful alumni event this weekend at the Kemah Boardwalk during the 2009 Kemah Jazz Fest. We had alumni, supporters, faculty, staff, and friends of UHD, along with a few of the jazz musicians who preformed this weekend. I made a lot of new friends and was impressed by the many people who work with the Jazz Fest. I even got to present the 2009 Jazz Performer of the Year Award.

The Kemah Jazz Fest couldn't be held last year because of the aftermath of the hurricane, which damaged quite a bit of the boardwalk. You can still see the damage in other areas near the boardwalk. But, the Boardwalk and the Jazz Fest are back in their full glory.

The Kemah Boardwalk is great place. The event was held at the Kemah Inn owned by one of the UH System newest Regents, Tilman Ferttita, founder of Landry's, and owner of several restaurants in Houston. There are restaurants, a hotel and, of course, lots of rides for the kids. You can watch the sailboats, take a ride from the dock, kick-back and have a soda, or maybe a margarita or a beer, eat great food, and watch some of the best musicians in the country.

All of it is organized by one of the UHD faculty, Robert Wilson, in cooperation with the Houston Professional Musicians Association. Robert teaches English and jazz courses at UHD. He is also an award-winning musician. In fact, in the near future he will be honored in Austin as one of the Texas legends of music (Past award winners include Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughn.) That's pretty amazing company. It says something about Robert and about UHD.

But Robert Wilson is not just a performer or educator, he also organizes two very successful jazz groups affiliated with UHD. Both performed on Sunday. The first group is the Young Sounds of Houston Jazz Orchestra made up of middle school and high school performers, most of the them Black and Latino, but it includes kids from all backgrounds and from all over Houston. They practice at Jeff Davis High School. Several of them became interested in jazz as a result of the Jazz Camps held each summer by Robert Wilson. Some started studying music as a result of their exposure to jazz. Most go on to college because of their participation in the Orchestra.

The quality of the music of the Young Sounds of Houston Jazz Orchestra is amazing. Their performances are tight, well-orchestrated, sophisticated and mature, with great solos. I could easily see these kids performing on a television show, like the Tonight Show. They are that good.

Late Sunday afternoon, the UHD Civic Jazz Orchestra performed with vocalist Julie Wilson, Robert's wife. She's an amazing performer who became interested in jazz as a result of studying Jazz at UHD in Robert's classes. Julie sang Frenesi in Spanish, an arrangement by Quincy Jones.

The UHD Civic Jazz Orchestra brings together adults (many of them professionals from throughout Houston) with high school and college students mixed in. Equally exciting is that the band members are joined by renowned musicians from all over the country who come each year to Kemah for one reason--because UHD educator, Robert Wilson, asked them. They get to play with him, other musicians, and with the young people--and they contribute to the jazz scene in Houston.

Great going Robert, thank you for all you do for UHD. Congratulations on your upcoming award!