Coppin State University News July 2012 Coppin State University Faculty Receives Elkins Professorship Honors, Contribution to Book Dr. Jamal Uddin, associate professor of Natural Sciences at Coppin State University (CSU), was selected by University System of Maryland (USM) to receive the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship. The professorships, which has been in existence for over 25 years, was established to perpetuate the name and contributions of Wilson H. Elkins, who led the University of Maryland to new levels of distinction as its president from 1954 to 1978. Elkins Professors are selected based on their contribution to teaching, research and public service mission of the institution and the entire USM. The $65,000 awarded to Dr. Uddin will be used to support his work with STEM initiatives including undergraduate student research, technology transfer, lecture series, travel and publication costs. The award is for Academic Year 2012-2013 and may be renewed during the normal application process. "My happiest moment as a professor came when I learned I'd won the Wilson H. Elkins Professorship," said Dr. Uddin, recipient of the award. "To receive this prestigious award from USM [that] I admire so much makes me totally happy and grateful." In the awarding letter, William E. Kirwan, chancellor of USM, wrote that "the [selection] committee emphasized the CSU proposal reflects work in an area of real promise..." Ron Collins, interim provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, congratulated Dr. Uddin on his recognition that sends out a message that Coppin's scientists are pursuing serious work in their fields. "Your receiving the distinguished Wilson H. Elkins Professorship speaks volumes to the respect that your colleagues within the USM have for you and your achievements." Dr. Uddin is founder and director of CSU's Nanotechnology Center, visiting scientist at the Center for Fluorescence Spectroscopy at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the 2011 recipient of The Daily Record's Innovator of the Year for his research in simulating highly efficient solar energy cells. Previous Elkins Award winners include CSU faculty Dr. Genevieve M. Knight in 1996. In addition, Dr. Uddin recently wrote a chapter and edited the book, Macro to Nano Spectroscopy. This book will "enhance the knowledge of scientists in the complexities of some spectroscopic approaches," states Dr. Uddin. "Moreover, it will stimulate both professionals and students to dedicate part of their future research in understanding relevant mechanisms and applications of nanotechnology, chemistry, physics, biology and material sciences." And with this research, Dr Uddin hopes that it "bring grants from federal, state and private level organizations to [Coppin], scholarships for the undergraduate research students and create new research projects which will help to recruit more undergraduate students to develop their research skill." The book is now available for download. http://www.intechopen.com/subjects/physical-sciences-engineering-and-technology. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.