Archives for New Positions

Stratman Named General Counsel

November 1, 2009 - Victoria Stratman has been named Caltech's new general counsel, effective December 1, the date Harry Yohalem, the current general counsel, will step down. A member of Caltech's Office of the General Counsel since 1996, when she joined as associate general counsel, Stratman has been serving as deputy general counsel since 1998. She came to Caltech from O'Melveny & Myers, where she was a litigation partner specializing in labor and employment law. A member of the California bar and admitted to practice in all California federal district courts, the Ninth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court, Stratman is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the American Association of Corporate Counsel.

Nelson Nash Appointed Acting Associate VP

September 6, 2009 - Denise Nelson Nash, assistant vice president for public events, has been appointed acting associate vice president for communications, effective September 1. She will manage campus programs and community relations, editorial services, media relations, and online communications. Since joining Caltech in 1998, Nelson Nash has overseen public events, community outreach, and the performing arts. She has served as president of the Tournament of Roses Foundation, been honored as a 27th Congressional District Woman of the Year, and received the Raymond Pitts Human Relations Award in Education and the Association of Black Employees' Community Service Award. She is a graduate of Scripps College.

O'Rourke Named Senior Advisor

September 6, 2009 - Bob O'Rourke, Caltech's "Mr. P.R." for 23 years, has stepped down as vice president for communications and been named to the new part-time position of senior advisor to the president for external affairs, effective September 1. In this capacity he will continue to work with key community leaders on the Institute's behalf. Long the public face of Caltech, O'Rourke was extensively involved in alumni relations and fund-raising. He also appeared frequently on KPCC's AirTalk and helped create the nationally syndicated radio program The Loh Down on Science. In 2008, O'Rourke was named a Platinum Citizen of the Year by THE Magazine.

Daily Appointed Assistant Vice President

July 5, 2009 - Peter Daily, senior director of dining, has been named assistant vice president for housing and dining, effective April 1. Daily joined Caltech in 2006 as dining operations manager, and last year he was selected to receive an ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Staff Award.

Graham Appointed Director of Diversity Center

July 5, 2009 - Eva Graham, director of the Minority Student Education (MSE) program, has been named director of the Caltech Center for Diversity, effective April 1. The new center is part of an effort to consolidate Student Affairs' activities by merging the Caltech Women's Center and MSE. The mission of the center has been expanded to include LGBTQ support.

Hunt Named Associate Dean

July 5, 2009 - Felicia Hunt, director of the Caltech Women's Center, has been appointed to the new position of associate dean of graduate studies, effective April 1. She joined Caltech in 2007 as director of the Women's Center.

Stolper Directorship Expanded

July 5, 2009 - Lauren Stolper, director of Fellowships Advising and Study Abroad, has taken on the additional responsibility of leading the Career Development Center. Her position as director of these areas combined became effective June 1.

Blake Named MOSH

June 7, 2009 - Geoffrey Blake, professor of cosmochemistry and planetary sciences and professor of chemistry, has been named the new Master of Student Houses (MOSH), effective July 1. A Caltech alumnus, Blake is known for his experience working with undergraduate students, including serving as one of the original faculty-in-residence at Avery House. In addition, he is currently chair of the Freshman Admissions Committee. Blake received his BS from Duke University in 1981 and his PhD from Caltech in 1986 and joined the Institute as an assistant professor the following year. He was appointed associate professor in 1993 and professor in 1997, and he served as deputy director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory from 2000 to 2006.

Epalle Appointed E&AS Administrator

June 7, 2009 - Marionne Epalle has been appointed division administrator for the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, effective May 11. Prior to joining the division in 1991, she held positions at JPL and Bennington College, and her most recent divisional position has been that of director of communications and development liaison. Epalle founded and developed the E&AS Communications Office. She is currently a member of the development committee for Lycee International de Los Angeles and has served as president of the board of trustees of the Children's Center at Caltech.

Gurnis Named Seismo Lab Director

June 7, 2009 - Michael Gurnis, Smits Professor of Geophysics, has been named director of the Seismological Laboratory, effective July 1. According to Division Chair Ken Farley, "This is an important position both within the Division and as a public face for one of our key programs." Gurnis joined Caltech as an associate professor in 1994 and became professor in 1996 and Smits Professor in 2005, and he served as the Seismo Lab's associate director from 1995 to 2003. He received his BS from the University of Arizona in 1982 and his PhD from the Australian National University in 1987.

Shepherd Appointed Dean

May 3, 2009 - Joe Shepherd, Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and professor of mechanical engineering, became dean of graduate studies on April 1. Shepherd has been a graduate student himself at Caltech, having received his PhD here in 1981, and he is known for his experience working with graduate students. He joined Caltech as associate professor of aeronautics in 1993 and was appointed professor of aeronautics in 1999, professor of aeronautics and mechanical engineering in 2006, and Johnson Professor and professor of mechanical engineering in 2008. His Explosion Dynamics Laboratory specializes in the study of combustion, fuel properties, and the fluid dynamics relevant to explosion initiation and propagation.

Barton New CCE Chair

April 5, 2009 - Jackie Barton, Hanisch Memorial Professor and professor of chemistry, has been named chair of Caltech's Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, effective July 1. The recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" fellowship and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the National Academy of Sciences, Barton investigates DNA and how it can be damaged and repaired. A professor of chemistry at Caltech since 1989, Barton received her bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1974 and her PhD from Columbia University in 1978. She was named Hanisch Professor in 1997. She has served as a member of Dow Chemical's board of directors since 1993.

Rosakis Named EAS Chair

April 5, 2009 - Ares Rosakis, von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, has been named chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, effective May 1. His many research interests range from materials to the mechanics of solids to geophysics, particularly seismology and the materials and mechanics of restoring historical monuments. He received his BSc from the University of Oxford in 1978, and in 1982 he both received his PhD from Brown University and joined Caltech as an assistant professor, becoming associate professor in 1988 and professor in 1993. He has directed the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories (GALCIT), now the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, since 2004, the same year he was named von Kármán Professor.

Krippner New SFCC Director

November 2, 2008 - Linda Krippner has been named director of the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center (SFCC), effective October 1. Susan Cross, who led the office for four years, will transition to part-time assistant director. These changes reflect the professional goals of both psychologists. Krippner first joined Caltech in 2002 as an Ombuds Office counselor, served in 2007 as one of two part-time interim codirectors of the Women's Center and, in August 2007, became assistant director of the SFCC. Known for her abilities as a communicator, problem solver, and counselor, she is experienced in crisis response, stress management, and dealing with anxiety/depression. She earned her doctorate in health psychology, focusing on the interaction between physical health and psychological well-being.

McQuinn Named Acting VP

October 5, 2008 - Robert McQuinn has been appointed acting vice president for development and alumni relations, effective October 1. Associate vice president for development since joining Caltech in 2003, he has played a key role in the effort to build an effective development team and is expected to provide continuity of leadership in one of the Institute's most critical endeavors.

Brewer Appointed Controller

September 7, 2008 - Matt Brewer, of Business and Accounting Services, has been named controller for Caltech. A former auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he came to work at the Institute in February 2002 and has assumed ever greater responsibilities over the years. The complex financial organization he now leads includes general accounting, financial reporting, student financial services (bursar), auxiliary accounting, investment/endowment accounting, and tax departments. He will continue to report to the associate vice president for finance in this role, but will assume greater responsibility in serving the Audit and Compliance Committee and will work with the associate vice president on strategic initiatives and policy development.

Marneus Named Emeritus Lecturer

September 7, 2008 - Shirley Marneus has been appointed lecturer in theater arts, emeritus, after directing Theater Arts at Caltech (TACIT) for over 35 years. She started working with the students in 1974, about 10 years before TACIT officially began. Plays ranged from ancient Greek drama (The Trojan Women) to Shakespeare (Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Othello) to 20th-century explorations of reality and illusion (Six Characters in Search of an Author). When asked what she hoped to accomplish with TACIT, Marneus replied that she wanted students "to have something" of the performing arts "that when they leave they can do the rest of their lives." Despite degrees in science or engineering, a number of alumni have gone on to professional entertainment careers.

Murray Interim EAS Chair

September 7, 2008 - Richard Murray, Everhart Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems and director, Information Science and Technology, has accepted the position of interim chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science, effective September 8. Formerly division chair from 2000 to 2005, he replaces Dave Rutledge, Tomiyasu Professor of Electrical Engineering, who is stepping down after serving as chair since 2005. A search committee will be formed for a long-term division chair. A Caltech alum (BS '85), Murray received his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1990 and joined Caltech as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering the following year, becoming associate professor in 1997, professor in 2000, professor of control and dynamical systems in 2005, and Everhart Professor in 2006.

PMA Chair Named

June 1, 2008 - Andrew Lange, Goldberger Professor of Physics and a senior research scientist at JPL, has been named chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, effective September 1; he replaces Kenan Professor and Professor of Physics Tom Tombrello, who is stepping down after a decade in the position. A member of the National Academy of Sciences as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Physical Society, Lange was named California Scientist of the Year in 2003 and corecipient of the Balzan Prize for Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics in 2006. He received his BA from Princeton in 1980 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1987, and he joined Caltech as a professor in 1994. He became Goldberger Professor in 2001.

Lee Appointed Assistant Treasurer

January 13, 2008 - Madeline Lee, the director of treasury services, has been appointed assistant treasurer. Responsible for the Institute's banking relationships and debt management, she will report directly to the vice president for business and finance.

Seligman Named Associate VP

January 13, 2008 - Richard Seligman, senior director of sponsored research, has been named associate vice president for research administration. He will lead a unified group including not only the pre-award sponsored research group, but also project accounting, costs studies, export compliance, and research compliance training.

Anneila Sargent New Student Affairs VP

December 2, 2007 - Anneila Sargent, Rosen Professor of Astronomy and director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, has been named vice president for student affairs, effective December 1. Noted for her administrative experience and interpersonal skills, she is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh who received her PhD from Caltech in 1977 and has served as a member of the Institute's faculty or professional staff ever since. In 1998 she was appointed professor and Owens Valley Radio Observatory director. She also served as director of the Interferometry Science Center from 2000 to 2003 and was founding director of both the Michelson Science Center and the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA). Her honors include election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Nadin Named Senior Science Writer

October 7, 2007 - Elisabeth Nadin has been appointed senior science writer for Media Relations. She will report on research news, write science press releases, assist the media, and work on radio's Loh Down on Science. A writer and editor for the past year for Engineering & Science, Caltech's quarterly research magazine, she received her MS and PhD in geology from Caltech, in 2001 and 2007, respectively, and earned a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz in 2003. Her experience includes interning with the Monterey County Herald, freelancing for Geotimes, ScienceNOW, and Science & Spirit, and a stint in hospital public relations. Her graduate work focused on highly deformed rocks of an ancient fault zone in the nearby Sierra Nevada.

Pierce Appointed Executive Officer

October 7, 2007 - Niles Pierce, associate professor of applied and computational mathematics and bioengineering, has been appointed executive officer for bioengineering, effective September 1; he had been acting executive officer. Pierce came to Caltech as an assistant professor of applied mathematics in 2000, had computational mathematics and bioengineering added over the next several years, and was appointed associate professor in 2006. He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1993 and his doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1997.

Rosenthal Named Executive Officer

October 7, 2007 - Jean-Laurent Rosenthal, professor of economics, has been appointed executive officer for the social sciences, effective September 1. He received his bachelor's degree from Reed College in 1984 and his PhD from Caltech in 1988. After receiving his doctorate he joined the faculty of UCLA's department of economics, where he rose to professor. He returned to Caltech in 2006.

Svitil Appointed Lead Science Writer

October 7, 2007 - Kathy Svitil has been named lead science writer for Media Relations and producer of The Loh Down on Science. Besides producing the radio spots hosted by Caltech alumna Sandra Tsing Loh, Svitil will also report on research news, write science press releases, and assist the media. Before joining Media Relations in 2005, she worked at Discover magazine, where she developed and researched stories and wrote for the news section. She also wrote features (such as the 2004 cover story featuring Caltech professor of planetary astronomy Mike Brown) and served as editor of the Discover website. She has done freelance work on books and websites. She received her MA in journalism with a certificate in science writing from New York University, and has a BS in biology from UCLA.

Anne Chomyn Becomes Emeritus

September 20, 2007 - Anne Chomyn became senior research associate in biology, emeritus, on August 6. After receiving her BS from Drexel University in 1972, she joined Caltech as a graduate student. She received her PhD in 1978 and became a research fellow that same year. She was appointed senior research fellow in 1982 and senior research associate in 1989.

Hillenbrand Named Executive Officer for Astronomy

September 20, 2007 - Lynne Hillenbrand, associate professor of astronomy, has been appointed executive officer for astronomy, effective August 15. She joined Caltech in 2000 as an assistant professor and became associate professor in 2006. Hillenbrand received her bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1989 and her PhD from the University of Massachusetts in 1995.

O'Doherty Appointed Associate Professor

September 20, 2007 - John O'Doherty, assistant professor of psychology, has been appointed associate professor of psychology, effective August 1. He received his BA from the University of Dublin in 1996 and his DPhil from the University of Oxford in 2000, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 2004.

Ellen Glowacki Strauss Becomes Emeritus

September 20, 2007 - Ellen Glowacki Strauss became senior research associate in biology, emeritus, on July 1. She received her BA from Swarthmore College in 1960 and her PhD from Caltech in 1966. Strauss returned to Caltech as a research fellow in 1969, becoming senior research fellow in 1973 and senior research associate in 1984.

James Henry Strauss Becomes Emeritus

September 20, 2007 - James Henry Strauss became Ethel Wilson Bowles and Robert Bowles Professor of Biology, Emeritus, on July 1. He received his BS from Saint Mary's University in 1960 and his PhD from Caltech in 1967 and joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor in 1969. He became associate professor in 1975 and professor in 1983, and he was named Bowles Professor in 1993. Strauss served as executive officer for molecular and cellular biology from 1980 to 1989.

Grinols to Administer Provost's Office

September 2, 2007 - Jean Grinols has been appointed administrator of the Provost's Office, effective August 1. She joined Caltech in 1972, and in 1977 she became administrator of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, a position she has held until now, except for an earlier six-year stint as administrator of the Provost's Office. Grinols is recognized as a key manager and leader at the Institute who is also well known for her mentoring of staff and students. She has been replaced at GPS by Aleen Boladian.

Gukov Appointed Professor

September 2, 2007 - Sergei Gukov, associate professor of theoretical physics and mathematics, has been appointed professor of theoretical physics and mathematics, effective July 1. Gukov received his BS from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1997 and his PhD from Princeton University in 2001. He joined Caltech in 2005.

Hunt Named Vice Provost

September 2, 2007 - Melany Hunt, professor of and executive officer for mechanical engineering, has been named a vice provost, effective September 1. The position is half-time, and Hunt will focus on academic/educational issues. She joined Caltech's faculty in 1988 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 1995 and professor in 2001. She received her BS from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1987.

Mayo Named Vice Provost

September 2, 2007 - Steve Mayo, Bren Professor of Biology and Chemistry, executive officer for biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been named a vice provost, effective September 1. The position is half-time, and Mayo will focus on research issues. He received his BS from Penn State in 1983 and his PhD from Caltech in 1987, and he has been a member of the Caltech faculty since 1991. He was named executive officer in 2004 and Bren Professor in 2007.

Simons Becomes Professor

September 2, 2007 - Mark Simons, associate professor of geophysics, has been appointed professor of geophysics, effective July 1. Simons received his BS from UCLA in 1989 and his PhD from MIT in 1995. He joined Caltech in 1997 as an assistant professor and became associate professor in 2003.

Boladian Named GPS Administrator

August 5, 2007 - Aleen Boladian has been named to replace Jean Grinols as the next administrator for the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, effective August 1; Grinols is moving to the position of administrator in the Provost's Office. Boladian first came to Caltech in 1991 and joined the division in 1993. In 1998 she earned her BS in management and in 2000 her MBA, with an emphasis on finance, from Woodbury University. Fluent in five languages, Boladian currently represents Caltech as a board member as well as treasurer of Executive Women International, which encourages leadership, community outreach, and networking among executive women.

Krippner Appointed SFCC Assistant Director

August 5, 2007 - Linda Krippner has been appointed assistant director of the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center. Since coming to Caltech in 2002, Krippner has undertaken increased levels of responsibility across a range of duties at the SFCC. She served this year as one of two interim directors of the Caltech Women's Center during the search for a permanent director, and she currently works at both Caltech and JPL, consulting with managers and supervisors. Known for her abilities as a communicator, problem solver, and counselor, Krippner is experienced in crisis response, stress management, and dealing with anxiety/depression. She earned her doctorate in health psychology, focusing on the interaction between physical health and psychological well-being.

HSS Chair Named

July 22, 2007 - Jonathan Katz, professor of political science, has been named chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, effective August 1. Known for his expertise in voting problems, he is codirector of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 1995, the same year he received his PhD from UC San Diego, becoming associate professor in 1998 and professor in 2003.

Professor La Belle Becomes Emeritus

July 22, 2007 - Jenijoy La Belle became professor of English, emeritus, on July 1. She received her BA from the University of Washington in 1965 and her PhD from UC San Diego in 1969, the same year she joined Caltech as an assistant professor of English. She was appointed associate professor in 1977, then became associate professor of literature in 1980 and professor of literature in 1988. She was named professor of English in 2004.

McCallin Appointed Associate VP

July 8, 2007 - Julia McCallin has been named associate vice president for human resources, effective June 11; she was selected to replace retiring associate vice president Tom Schmitt after a nationwide search. Most recently Caltech's senior director of employee relations, McCallin came to the Institute in 2004 as director of employee relations. Prior to joining Caltech, she served as assistant vice president for human resources at Claremont McKenna College. She has, directly or indirectly, managed all the core areas of Human Resources, including employee and labor relations, recruitment and staffing, benefits, disability services, compensation, employee recognition, worker's compensation, affirmative action, staff training and development, and customer service.

Bing to Head Performing and Creative Arts

June 3, 2007 - Delores Bing has been appointed the new coordinator/chair of the performing and creative arts faculty and program; she will continue to serve as lecturer in chamber music and director of the Caltech chamber music program, which she has directed since its founding in 1979, coaching many of the student chamber ensembles herself. She also oversees the Donald E. Hudson Fund, which brings distinguished guest coaches to campus. A recipient of the ASCIT Teaching Award, Bing is an honorary Caltech alumna. She has played the cello with many L.A. musical groups and been a guest member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has also recorded with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and frequently plays and records with the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Stolper Named Provost

May 6, 2007 - Ed Stolper, Leonhard Professor of Geology, has been appointed provost, effective August 1. He will be Caltech's ninth provost. He received his bachelor's degree from Harvard in 1974, his master's from the University of Edinburgh in 1976, and his PhD from Harvard in 1979, the same year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor. Appointed associate professor in 1982, professor in 1983, and Leonhard Professor in 1990, Stolper served as executive officer for geochemistry from 1989 to 1994, as chair of geological and planetary sciences from 1994 to 2004, and as acting provost in 2004. His research focuses on the origin and evolution of igneous rocks on Earth and other planets.

Calegari Appointed Professor

April 8, 2007 - Danny Calegari, formerly associate professor of mathematics, has been appointed professor of mathematics, effective January 1. Noted for his work in geometry and topology, and particularly foliation theory, he received his BA from the University of Melbourne in 1994 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 2000. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 2002 and was appointed associate professor in 2003.

Koyzis Named Executive Director

April 8, 2007 - Pam Koyzis has been appointed executive director of audit services and institute compliance. A member of Caltech's Office of Audit Services and Institute Compliance since 2001, Koyzis has been serving as acting director and associate director, and has provided leadership for a number of compliance initiatives. Prior to joining Caltech, she worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Atlantic Richfield Company (BP Amoco). She received her BS in mathematics from Southern Methodist University and her MBA from UCLA's Anderson Graduate School of Management.

Rypisi Named Women's Center Director

February 4, 2007 - Candace Rypisi has been appointed director of the Student-Faculty Programs Office, effective February 19. The office includes SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) and related programs. Rypisi (pronounced Repish) came to Caltech in August 2001 as director of the Women's Center, which has become one of the most active offices on campus. A holder of undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State and Colorado State, she has a master's degree in literature with a graduate certificate in women's studies.

Curtis and Krippner Appointed Interim Directors

February 4, 2007 - With Rypisi's move, Jane Curtis, Caltech's health educator, and Linda Krippner, a counselor in Caltech's Staff and Faculty Consultation Center and at JPL, will serve as interim, part-time codirectors of the Women's Center for the remainder of the academic year. As health educator, Curtis works closely with students and is known for her innovative programming. She has a master's degree in psychology and women's studies and previously served as program coordinator for the Women's Resource Center at Cal State Long Beach. As a counselor at Caltech and JPL, Krippner works closely with staff, faculty, and various campus offices and serves on the campus crisis response team. Outside of Caltech, she has developed mentoring and volunteer opportunity programs for students and others.

Deshaies Named Executive Officer for Molecular Biology

December 3, 2006 - Raymond Deshaies, professor of biology and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, has been appointed executive officer for molecular biology, effective July 1. Deshaies received his BS from Cornell in 1983 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1988, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor. He was appointed associate professor in 2000 and professor in 2005.

Hajimiri Becomes Professor

December 3, 2006 - Ali Hajimiri, associate professor of electrical engineering, has been appointed professor of electrical engineering, effective November 1. Hajimiri received his BS from Sharif University of Technology in 1994 and his PhD from Stanford in 1998, and joined Caltech that same year as an assistant professor. He was appointed associate professor in 2003.

Hall Named Acting VP

December 3, 2006 - John Hall, dean of students and professor of civil engineering, has been named acting vice president for student affairs. He received his BS from West Virginia University in 1972, his MS from the University of Illinois in 1973, and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1980, the same year he came to Caltech as a research fellow. Appointed assistant professor in 1983, associate professor in 1989, professor in 1997, and dean of students in 2005, Hall served as executive officer for civil engineering and applied mechanics from 1998 to 2005.

Koch Appointed Executive Officer for Neurobiology

December 3, 2006 - Christof Koch, Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral Biology and professor of computation and neural systems, has been appointed executive officer for neurobiology, effective July 1. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1986, became associate professor in 1991 and professor in 1994, and was named Troendle Professor in 2000. Koch served as executive officer for computation and neural systems from 1997 to 2005. He received his MS and PhD from the University of Tübingen in 1980 and 1982, respectively.

Carpenter Appointed Deputy Director

November 5, 2006 - John Carpenter, senior research associate in astronomy, became deputy director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory on June 1. He received his BS from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1988, and his PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1994. He came to Caltech as a senior research fellow in 2002 and was appointed senior associate in 2005.

Flach New Executive Officer for Math

November 5, 2006 - Matthias Flach, professor of mathematics, became executive officer for mathematics on August 1. After graduating from Johann-Wolfgang von Goethe University in 1986, he received his PhD from St. John's College, University of Cambridge, in 1991. He joined Caltech's faculty as an associate professor in 1995 and was named full professor in 1999.

Okumura Named Executive Officer for Chemistry

November 5, 2006 - Mitchio Okumura, professor of chemical physics, has been appointed executive officer for chemistry, effective October 1. He received his BS and MS from Yale in 1979, his CPGS from Cambridge in 1980, and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1986, and he joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1988. He was appointed associate professor in 1994 and full professor in 2003.

Levy New Outreach Director

October 1, 2006 - David Levy has been appointed director of educational outreach in the Provost's Office, effective October 2. There he will help faculty and staff conceive, develop, and operate educational outreach activities. Currently serving as director of financial aid, he brings to his new position 17 years of outreach experience and collaboration with faculty.

Hillenbrand Named Associate Professor

August 13, 2006 - Lynne Hillenbrand, assistant professor of astronomy, has been appointed associate professor of astronomy, effective July 1. She received her bachelor's degree from Princeton in 1989 and her PhD from the University of Massachusetts in 1995, and she joined Caltech in 2000.

Hsieh-Wilson Appointed Associate Professor

August 13, 2006 - Linda Hsieh-Wilson, assistant professor of chemistry, has been appointed associate professor of chemistry, effective June 1. An investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well, she joined Caltech's faculty in 2000. She received her BS from Yale in 1990 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1996.

Moyer Named Executive Director

August 13, 2006 - Rick Moyer has been promoted to executive director of internal audit and institute compliance. He first joined Caltech in February 2001 as associate director of internal audit, and in November 2002 he was named director of internal audit and institute compliance. Prior to joining Caltech, Moyer held senior finance and audit positions at Lockheed Martin, Martin-Marietta, General Dynamics, and NCR. As executive director, he oversees Caltech's internal audit and compliance activities, both on campus and at JPL.

HSS Chair Named

July 2, 2006 - Peter Bossaerts, Hacker Professor of Economics and Management and professor of finance, has been named chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, effective July 1. Widely recognized for his research in important areas of finance, economics, and econometrics, Bossaerts has recently joined the interdivisional faculty group in computation and neural systems. Following his undergraduate education in Belgium, he received his PhD from UCLA in 1986 and joined Caltech's faculty in 1990. He served as executive officer for the social sciences from 2002 to 2005.

Adkins Appointed Associate Professor

May 7, 2006 - Jess Adkins, assistant professor of geochemistry and global environmental science, has been appointed associate professor of geochemistry and global environmental science, effective April 1. He received his PhD from MIT in 1998, and he joined Caltech's faculty in 2000.

Eiler Named Professor

May 7, 2006 - John Eiler, associate professor of geochemistry, has been named professor of geochemistry, effective April 1. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994, the same year he joined Caltech's faculty as a research fellow.

Farina Promoted to Assistant VP

May 7, 2006 - Fred Farina, associate director of the Office of Technology Transfer, has been appointed assistant vice president for technology transfer.

Gharib Receives Additional Title

May 7, 2006 - Mory Gharib, Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering, became Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and professor of bioengineering, effective April 1. He received his PhD from Caltech in 1983, and joined Caltech as professor of aeronautics in 1992. He was named Liepmann Professor in 2002.

Newman Receives Additional Appointment

May 7, 2006 - Dianne Newman, professor of geobiology, has received the additional appointment of professor of biology, effective April 1. An investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well, she received PhD from MIT in 1997 and joined Caltech's faculty in 2000 as Clare Booth Luce Assistant Professor of Geobiology and Environmental Science and Engineering.

Oh Appointed Professor

May 7, 2006 - Hee Oh, associate professor of mathematics, has been named professor of mathematics, effective April 1. She received her PhD from Yale University in 1997, and she came to Caltech as an associate professor in 2003.

Readhead Named Observatory Director

May 7, 2006 - Anthony Readhead, Rawn Professor of Astronomy, has been appointed director of Chajnantor Observatory, effective March 1. He received his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1972 and joined Caltech as a research fellow in 1974. He became a professor in 1981 and Rawn Professor in 2000, and he served as director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory from 1981 to 1986 and as executive officer for astronomy from 1990 to 1992. Located in the Andes mountains in northern Chile, the Chajnantor Observatory is operated by Caltech in collaboration with the University of Chile and the University of Concepción.

Bjorkman Receives HHMI Promotion

April 2, 2006 - Pamela Bjorkman, Delbrück Professor of Biology and executive officer for biology, has been named an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, effective November 1. This is a promotion from her previous appointment as full investigator. The recipient of a PhD from Harvard in 1984, and a Caltech faculty member since 1988, she studies the structure and function of molecules involved in cell-surface recognition, particularly those mediating recognition in the immune system.

Deshais Appointed HHMI Investigator

April 2, 2006 - Raymond Deshaies, professor of biology, has been appointed an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, effective November 1. His previous appointment had been that of assistant investigator. His lab investigates the regulation of cell function by the attachment of ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like proteins to target polypeptides, and studies the control of cell division. He received his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1988 and joined Caltech's faculty in 1994.

Mayo Named Investigator by HHMI

April 2, 2006 - Stephen Mayo, professor of biology and chemistry and executive officer for biochemistry and molecular biophysics, has been named an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, effective November 1. Previously an associate investigator with the institute, he is currently interested in the theoretical, computational, and experimental aspects of protein design and folding. He received his PhD from Caltech in 1987 and has been a member of the Caltech faculty since 1991.

Scherer Appointed KNI Director

April 2, 2006 - Axel Scherer, Neches Professor of Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, and Physics, has been appointed director of the Kavli Nanoscience Institute, effective March 10. He received his PhD from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1985, and he has been a professor at Caltech since 1993. Enabled by gifts from the Moore and Kavli foundations, KNI represents an initiative to pursue long-term research in nanoscale science and engineering.

Schuman Named HHMI Investigator

April 2, 2006 - Erin Schuman, professor of biology and executive officer for neurobiology, has been named an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, effective November 1. Her previous appointment had been that of associate investigator. Her lab does research into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of plasticity in synapses, which are the points of contact and communication between neurons. A Caltech faculty member since 1993, she received her PhD from Princeton in 1990.

Adolphs Receives New Appointment

March 5, 2006 - Ralph Adolphs, Bren Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, has received the additional appointment of professor of biology, effective December 1. A leading authority in social cognitive neuroscience, he received his BS and MS from Stanford University, both in 1986, and his PhD from Caltech in 1992.

Colonius Named Professor

March 5, 2006 - Timothy Colonius, associate professor of mechanical engineering, has been appointed professor of mechanical engineering, effective December 1. He received his BS from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in 1987 and his PhD from Stanford in 1994, the same year he joined Caltech's faculty.

Candes Appointed Professor

March 5, 2006 - Emmanuel Candes, associate professor of applied and computational mathematics, has been appointed professor of applied and computational mathematics, effective December 1. After earning degrees from Ecole Polytechnique and the University of Paris IV and University of Paris IX, he received his PhD from Stanford in 1998. He joined Caltech in 2000.

Tai Receives Expanded Title

March 5, 2006 - Yu-Chong Tai, professor of electrical engineering and executive officer for electrical engineering, became professor of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering effective December 1. He joined Caltech in 1989, the same year he received his PhD from UC Berkeley. He received his BS from National Taiwan University in 1981.

Tai Appointed Executive Officer

February 19, 2006 - Yu-Chong Tai, professor of electrical engineering, has been appointed executive officer for electrical engineering, effective October 1. He received his BS from National Taiwan University in 1981 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1989, the same year he joined Caltech as an assistant professor. He was appointed full professor in 2000.

Zmuidzinas Named Senior Research Scientist

February 19, 2006 - Jonas Zmuidzinas, professor of physics, has been named to the position of senior research scientist at JPL, effective October 1. A Caltech alum (BS '81), he received his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1987 and returned to Caltech in 1989 as an assistant professor. He was appointed full professor in 2000.

Carpenter Appointed Senior Research Associate

February 5, 2006 - John Carpenter, senior research fellow in astronomy, has been appointed senior research associate in astronomy, effective October 1. He received his BS from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1988, and his PhD from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in 1994. He joined Caltech in 2002.

Dimotakis Named JPL Chief Technologist

February 5, 2006 - Paul Dimotakis, Northrop Professor of Aeronautics and professor of applied physics, has been named chief technologist for JPL, effective January 30. During the next three years, he will split his time between JPL and his research program on campus. Dimotakis earned all of his degrees at Caltech: his BS in 1968, his MS in 1969, and his PhD in 1973. He stayed on as a member of the faculty, being named assistant professor in 1975, professor in 1986, and Northrop Professor in 1995. His research has focused on areas ranging from superfluidity to adaptive optics, and, beginning as an undergraduate, he has been involved with numerous space projects and missions. He has consulted widely, including for the successful America³ sail design for the 1992 Americas Cup.

Hsieh-Wilson Selected as HHMS Investigator

February 5, 2006 - Linda Hsieh-Wilson, assistant professor of chemistry, has been named an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, effective September 1. She received her BS from Yale University in 1990, and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1996. After serving for four years as a postdoctoral scholar at the Rockefeller University, she joined Caltech in 2000. Her research focuses on the integration of organic chemistry with neurobiology in order to explore the chemical basis of brain processes such as learning, memory, and motor control.

Professor Davis Becomes Emeritus

January 18, 2006 - Lance Davis became Mary Stillman Harkness Professor of Social Science, Emeritus, on September 1. He received his BA from the University of Washington in 1950 and his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1956, joining Caltech's faculty in 1968 as professor of economics. He was named Harkness Professor in 1980, and he served as executive officer for the social sciences from 1982 to 1985.

Harrison Appointed Full Professor

January 18, 2006 - Fiona Harrison, associate professor of physics and astronomy, has been appointed professor of physics and astronomy, effective July 1. After receiving her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1993, she came to Caltech as a Robert Millikan Research Fellow, and was appointed assistant professor in 1996 and associate professor in 2001. She received her bachelor's degree from Dartmouth in 1985.

Newman Appointed Associate Professor

January 18, 2006 - Dianne Newman, effective September 1, has been appointed associate professor of geobiology and environmental science and engineering, and has also been named an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She received her BA from Stanford University in 1993 and her PhD from MIT in 1997, and she joined Caltech in 2000 as Clare Booth Luce Assistant Professor of Geobiology and Environmental Science and Engineering.

Professor Leonard Becomes Emeritus

January 18, 2006 - Anthony Leonard became Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus, on October 1. A Caltech alum, he graduated with his BS in 1959 and went on to receive his PhD from Stanford in 1963. He came to Caltech as professor of aeronautics in 1985, and was named von Kármán Professor in 2000.

Professor Simon Becomes Emeritus

January 18, 2006 - Mel Simon became Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences, Emeritus, on August 1. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1982 as professor of biology, was named Biaggini Professor in 1986, and served as chair of the biology division from 1995 to 2000. He received his BS from City College of New York in 1959 and his PhD from Brandeis University in 1963.

Schulman Appointed Full Professor

January 18, 2006 - Leonard Schulman, associate professor of computer science, has been appointed professor of computer science, effective July 1. He received his BS and PhD from MIT in 1988 and 1992, respectively, and joined Caltech in 2000 as associate professor. He is currently head of the Center for the Mathematics of Information.

Heidi Bloks Has Joined the Staff of Government and Community Relations

January 4, 2006 - Heidi Bloks has joined the staff of the assistant vice president for government and community relations, effective January 3. She will assist the AVP administratively and in interactions with government agencies and the outside community. She has been general merchandise lead at the Caltech Bookstore for the past five years, and her previous work experience includes several positions in the private sector that involved extensive interaction with the public and in office settings.

Tina Lowenthal Appointed Director of Procurement Services

January 4, 2006 - Tina Lowenthal has been appointed Caltech's new director of procurement services (which includes purchasing services, accounts payable, and property services), effective December 19. She had been associate director of purchasing services, and she began her career with Caltech at JPL in 1986, thus bringing to her expanded role two decades of experience and familiarity with the Institute.