David B. Geselowitz, distinguished alumni professor of bioengineering
and professor of medicine, is retiring with emeritus status after 27 years
at Penn State.David B. Geselowitz, distinguished alumni professor of bioengineering
and professor of medicine, is retiring with emeritus status after 27 years
at Penn State.
Since joining Penn State in 1971, Geselowitz's accomplishments have helped further the University's reputation. Some of his greatest achievements include founding the University's bioengineering program, helping initiate the associate degree in biomedical equipment technology, and participating in the development of the Penn State heart-assist pump.
Geselowitz graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and remained there to continue his studies in electrical engineering where he became enthralled with electrocardiography. He received his master's degree in 1954 and his doctorate in 1958 and stayed at Penn as an associate professor of electrical engineering until 1971 when he came to Penn State to start its bioengineering program.
With his graduate students, Geselowitz developed the Miller-Geselowitz Model of the human electrocardiogram (ECG). The model successfully simulates the normal ECG as well as examples of pathology. Geselowitz developed the theory of magnetic fields emanating from the heart and brain. He was active in the development of standards for electric safety of medical devices.
During his career, Geselowitz has received numerous honors and awards. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a founding Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiography. He received the IEEE Centennial Medal and the Career Achievement Award. Geselowitz served as editor of the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering and authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers.
Geselowitz served on the cardiovascular devices panel of the Food and Drug Administration and was the first non-physician to chair the Committee on Electrocardiography of the American Heart Association.
Although Geselowitz's retirement plans include serving as a historian for the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and possibly becoming a bookkeeper, he still plans on coming back to campus.
"I still want to be involved in research," Geselowitz said.
Ronald Wrye, better known as "Pug," who began as a floor
waxer in the Office of Physical Plant in 1958, has retired.
During his 40-year career, he has held numerous jobs, including floor waxer and group leader for the window washers.
He finished his career with the University as a janitorial foreman.
Throughout his years with the Office of Physical Plant, he has seen many changes. The most vivid one is how big the campus has grown since he started. He commented on how many more buildings there are now (652 buildings at University Park) compared to 40 years ago. His favorite memories of work life revolve around his fellow employees.
Roy Myers has retired as emeritus professor of mathematics from
Penn State New Kensington. Myers taught mathematics for 30 years at the
campus, 14 as a full professor.
Myers earned his B.S. in mathematics from Indiana State University in 1964. In 1965, he graduated from Utah State University with an M.S. in mathematics. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1971 from the University of Pittsburgh.
He served as acting campus executive officer from 1992-95 and as acting director of academic affairs from 1977-78. Myers began his career at Penn State New Kensington in 1968 and was promoted to professor in 1984. In addition to his teaching, his scholarship and research activities focused on microcomputer graphics as an instructional tool. A pioneer during the time of the early development of microcomputers, he contributed to advances in educational applications by writing two books on computer graphics. Also, he coauthored three other computer-related books. He has published two computer-generated films, six educational software packages and numerous scholarly articles. He was awarded several federally funded grants for innovations in the use of computers and technology in cooperation with colleagues at the campus.
Myers and his wife, Linda, have four children, all Penn State graduates, and four grandchildren. During retirement, he intends to continue his scholarly interests, travel and spend time with his family.
Kenneth Kinman, assistant professor of sociology at Penn State Delaware County, has retired.
The longtime faculty member received his B.S. from Arkansas State University and his M.A. from the University of Nebraska.
Kinman began his career at the University of Nebraska as an assistant instructor in sociology from 1958-1960. He went on to teach sociology at the University of Pennsylvania from 1960-61, and at Temple University from 1962-67.
He began his 30-year career at Penn State Delaware County in 1968, when the campus was located in Chester.
Kinman's immediate plans for retirement are to relax, read books, see movies and spend time with his wife, Judith. He also will have time to spend with his daughter, Miriam, and to visit his son, Loren. Additionally, he plans to continue volunteering for community service activities.