Partings
Penn State Intercom......September
20, 2001
Longtime director to
retire after 38 years
Archie McDonnell, director of the Environmental Resources Research Institute, director of the Environmental Consortium and professor of civil engineering, is retiring this year, effective Sept. 30th, after serving the University for more than 38 years.
He began his career at the University in 1963 as assistant professor of civil engineering and embarked on his career with the institute in 1969.
From 1969 to 1982, he served as assistant director of the Institute for Research on Land and Water Resources, ERRI's precursor established in 1963, and as director of the institute's Water Resources Research Center. In 1982, he was appointed director of the institute and served in that capacity until 1986. In 1986, the Institute for Research on Land and Water Resources merged with the Center for Air Environment Studies to become the current Environmental Resources Research Institute, and McDonnell has served as its director from 1986 to present. In addition, with the establishment of the University's Environmental Consortium in January of 2000, he also has served as the consortium's director.
Under his leadership, the institute has grown in numbers from 190 faculty, staff and graduate students, to include faculty from 25 departments representing seven colleges, seven post-doctoral scholars and 56 graduate students, including 20 doctoral degree and 36 master of science degree candidates. Research expenditures, which are derived from a present active contract funding base of $36 million, have increased from $335,000 per year to $10.5 million per year. In addition, institute centers have expanded from three to eight.
McDonnell has received many honors and awards throughout his career. He also has chaired or co-chaired or been the member of many state and national committees and boards dealing with the issue of water quality.
McDonnell has been the principal or co-principal investigator on multiple research projects.
McDonnell earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College and a master's degree and doctoral degree in civil engineering from Penn State.
After 29 years,
Biederman says farewell
Edwin Biederman retired after 29 years of service to the University and its Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PENNTAP).
During his work for PENNTAP, he provided technical assistance to thousands of clients around the world, who reported millions of dollars of economic benefits.
Biederman holds five patents, authored a book and had nearly 20 articles published.
Before joining the University, Biederman worked for Cities Service Oil Co. for 14 years and also served in the U.S. Air Force. He received his bachelor of arts degree in geology from Cornell and a doctoral degree in mineralogy from Penn State.
Emeritus rankings
announced by the University
The following individuals have earned emeritus rank from the University for their longstanding and productive years of service:
Jan M. Mutmansky, professor emeritus of mining engineering in College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, from Sept. 1, 1977, to July 3.
E. Stratford Smith, professor emeritus of communications in College of Communications, from April 1, 1989, to July 3.
Judith Van Herik, associate professor emerita of religious studies and Jewish studies in College of the Liberal Arts, from Sept. 1, 1977, to June 30.