The second annual international conference on Business and Sustainability, held October 15-17, brought together leading industry practitioners and scholars to share best practices and leading edge research.

Dilafruz Williams, Education faculty, presented a paper, "The Landscape-Mindscape Connection: Why Learning Gardens are Relevant to Urban Education," at the Council of Great City Schools Annual Meeting in Houston, Oct. 23. Williams as served as a facilitator for "Standards Based Progress Reports" at the meeting.

George Lendaris, Systems Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty, authored "Higher Level Application of ADP: A Next Phase for the Control Field?" published as the lead article in Special Issue on Adaptive Dynamic Programming and Reinforcement Learning in Feedback Control, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Part B, Vol. 38, No 4., August 2008.

Harrell Fletcher, Art faculty, contributed to Harrell Fletcher / Michael Rakowitz, a new volume in the Between Artists series published by A.R.T. Press.

James White, Social Work faculty, co-authored "Alcohol and Drug Use among Alumni of Foster Care: Decreasing Dependency through Improvement of Foster Care Experiences" published in The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, Vol. 35, No. 4, October 2008.

Jan Semenza, former faculty; Linda George, Environmental Sciences faculty; David Sailor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering faculty; David Hall, Psychology faculty; and graduate student Daniel Wilson co-authored "Public Perception of Climate Change: Voluntary Mitigation and Barriers to Behavior Change" published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 5, 2008.

Michele Gamburd, Anthropology faculty, authored a book, Breaking the Ashes: The Culture of Illicit Liquor in Sri Lanka, published by Cornell University Press.

Student Eric Hayden and Niles Lehman, Chemistry faculty, co-authored "Systems Chemistry on Ribozyme Self-Construction: Evidence for Anabolic Autocatalysis in a Recombination Network" published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Vol. 47, No. 44, 2008.

Rudi Nussbaum, Physics and Environmental Sciences emeritus faculty, gave an invited presentation, "Mysterious Excess of Childhood Leukemia Around 16 German Nuclear Reactors?" at the 2008 conference Prescriptions for Survival, sponsored by Physicians for Global Survival, the Canadian affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 25-57. In his presentation, he described a government-sponsored study that was expected to disprove claims of increased incidence of leukemia in children under the age of five, who live in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. To the consternation of the researchers and their sponsors, the study found an undisputed increase of childhood malignancies out to distances of about 30 miles.

Tim Clark, Business Administration instructor, authored The Swordless Samurai, a book on organizational leadership based on the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, which was recently released in paperback by St. Martin's Press. The hardcover version was published in July 2007.

With the recent naming of SBA’s Professor Talya Bauer as editor of the Journal of Management, the journal has been relocated to PSU.

For the first time this fall, Portland State University’s School of Business Administration and Oregon Health and Science University will offer a joint MBA in Healthcare Management. This part-time degree program for mid-career professionals meets the regional demand and industry trend for master’s level business management training in healthcare.

In the past ten years green building construction, a process which aims to decrease environmental impact of buildings through recycled materials and improved efficiency, has taken root. A Portland State University professor, Peter Dusicka, Ph.D., P.E., is engaging directly with the community to study the seismic performance of green building materials.

Catherine de Rivera, Environmental Sciences faculty, received a $51,159 grant from the Oregon Transportation, Research and Education Consortium for "The Effectiveness of Vertebrate Passage and Prevention Structures: a Study of Boeckman Road in Wilsonville."

Devon Allen, Theatre Arts faculty, presented her work as a professional director of Shakespeare's plays at the American Directors Project, Theatre for a New Audience, in New York City.

Heejun Chang, Joe Poracsky and Teresa Bulman, Geography faculty, gave a poster presentation, “Numeric Visualization: A New Pathway for Teaching Quantitative Methods?” at the 2008 Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement Conference in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13-15. The conference was hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Education and Human Resources Programs, and the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education.

Margorie Burns, English faculty, had two chapters of her book, Perilous Realms (2005), published in Harold Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations (2008). The chapters are "Spider and Evil Red Eyes" and "Skin-changing in More Than One Sense."

Mark Fishbein, Biology faculty, co-authored "Phylogenetic Escalation and Decline of Plant Defense Strategies" published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 105 (2008).

The Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science extends its thanks and appreciation to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and Intel for their generous contributions to the Maseeh College.

Rik Lemoncello, Speech and Hearing Sciences faculty, co-presented an invited talk, "Practice Based Evidence: Practical Strategies for Clinicians to Generate your own Evidence," at the Oregon Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual conference in Salem, Oct. 10-11.

Steve Johnson, Urban Studies and Planning adjunct faculty, was awarded a $5,000 contract with the city of Portland to develop a benchmark system for evaluating citizen participation in Portland, in June.

Catherine de Rivera and Mark Sytsma, Environmental Sciences faculty, and others received a $100,000 grant from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Council for "Green Crab Control Methods, Phase 3: Expanding Capacity to Control European Green Crab Populations in the Northeast Pacific."

David Ervin, Environmental Sciences and Management, Economics, and the Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices faculty, has been appointed chair of the National Research Council Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm Economics and Sustainability. During the next year, the committee will produce a consensus report of the findings of its study and identify future applications of plant and animal biotechnology that are likely to affect agricultural producers decision-making in the future.

Devon Allen, Theatre Arts faculty, directed Will Eno's Pulitzer Prize nominated play, Thom Pain (based on nothing), at The Kingstad Theatre, Beaverton, in November.

Gerry Sussman, Urban Studies and Planning and Communication faculty, and student Sascha Krader, co-authored an article, "Template Revolutions: Marketing U.S. Regime Change in Eastern Europe," published in Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, Vol. 5, No. 3.

Hiro Ito, Economics faculty, presented "U.S. Current Account Deficit Debate, with Japan Then, and China Now" at the Asian Economic Integration in a Global Context conference, organized jointly by the American Committee for Asian Economic Studies and the Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis, at University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy, Aug. 29-31.

Janine Allen, Education faculty, and Cathleen L. Smith, Psychology emerita faculty, authored an article titled "Importance of, Responsibility For, and Satisfaction With Academic Advising: A Faculty Perspective" in the current issue of the Journal of College Student Development.

Laurie Powers and Jo-Ann Sowers, Social Work faculty, received a $690,000 grant from the Research in Disabilities Education, National Science Foundation to explore the impact of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) mentors with disabilities on students with disabilities.

Margorie Burns, English faculty, authored a chapter, "Containment and Progression in J.R.R. Tolkien's World," published in Tolkien 2005: The Ring Goes Ever On, The British Tolkien Society, 2008.

Mark Fishbein, Biology faculty, presented "Are Milkweeds Getting Hairier? An Evaluation of Herbivore-Driven Escalation of Trichome Density in Asclepias (Apocynaceae)" at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Vancouver, B.C., in July.

Pamela Miller, Social Work, presented the plenary talk, "Communication at the End-of-Life: Social Work, Hospice and Oregon's Death with Dignity Act," at the Oregon Hospice Association's Professional Practices Exchange in Redmond, Oct. 3.

Richard Clucas, Political Science faculty, has been appointed executive director of the Western Political Science Association beginning September 2009. Founded in 1948, the WPSA is one of the nation's leading political science associations with more than 1000 members. Its purpose is to promote the study and teaching of government and politics, to foster research, and to facilitate the discussion of public affairs. The executive director is the chief administrative officer for the association.

Roberto De Anda, Chicano/Latino Studies faculty, co-authored a chapter titled "Immigrant Fathers' Labor Market Activity and Its Consequences for the Family" published in On New Shores: Understanding Immigrant Fathers in North America, edited by S.S. Chuang and R.P. Moreno, Lexington Books, 2008.

Steve Johnson, Urban Studies and Planning adjunct, gave a presentation on community organizing in watersheds at the Oregon Bus Project's Politicorps summer camp, July 22.

Portland State University's Division of Political Science within the Hatfield School of Government is putting on the Election 2008 Roundtable: Issues and Implications.

PSU Real Estate student wins $10,000 national scholarship

Carl Abbott, Urban Studies and Planning faculty, is the author of How Cities Won the West: Four Centuries of Urban Change in Western North America, published by University of New Mexico Press, 2008.

Charles Deemer, English adjunct faculty, has published online and as a DVD a silent comedy, The Heirs, written, directed, and edited by Deemer. It is available online at http://www.ibiblio.org/cdeemer/Heirs.htm.

Cynthia Mohr, Psychology faculty, and student Debi Brannan co-authored "Evidence for Positive Mood Buffering Among College Student Drinkers" published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 34, Issue 9, 2008.

Elise Granek, Environmental Sciences faculty, was selected to participate in Women Evolving Biological Sciences, an annual three-day symposium aimed at addressing the retention of female scientists and issues related to the transition of women from early career stages to tenure track positions and leadership roles in academic and research settings.

Gerry Sussman, Urban Studies and Planning and Communication faculty, has been chosen for the editorial board of the newly formed Central European Journal of Communication.

Hiro Ito, Economics faculty, authored a book review of Monetary Policy with Very Low Inflation in the Pacific Rim, published in the International Review of Economics and Finance, Vol. 17, No. 3, 2008.

John Hall, Economics and International studies faculty, delivered the lecture "Neoclassical Versus Keynesian Approaches to Eastern German Unemployment" to fellows of the institute for Economic Research in Halle, Germany, Sept. 17.

Katherine McDonald, Psychology faculty, and student Shannon Myrick co-authored "Principles, Promises, and a Personal Plea: What is an Evaluator to Do?" published in the September issue of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Lynn Fox, Speech and Hearing Sciences, authored “Interactions: A Therapeutic Consideration for Adults with Aphasia” published in Perspectives in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Vol. 17.

Marie Lo, English faculty, authored "Model Minority, Models of Resistance: Native Figures in Asian Canadian Literature" published in Canadian Literature, Vol. 196, 2008.

Mark Fishbein, Biology faculty, co-authored “Rediscovery of Mirabilis hintoniorum (Nyctaginaceae), a Striking Four-o'clock Endemic to the Sierra de Coalcomán, Michoacán, México” published in the Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Vol. 2, 2008.

Natalie Vasey, Anthropology faculty, co-authored "A Reconstruction of the Vienna Skull of Hadropithecus Stenognathus" published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Vol. 105, No. 31, August 2008.

Robert Strongin, Chemistry faculty, and students Jorge Escobedo and Martha Sibrian-Vazquez co-authored "Seminaphthofluorones are a Family of Water-Soluble, Low Molecular Weight, NIR-Emitting Fluorophores" published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, Vol. 105, 2008.

Teresa Bulman, Geography faculty, received a $50,000 grant from the National Geographic Society for geography education programs and a $2,500 grant from the Government of Canada for a Canada/Oregon geography conference for K-12 teachers.

Brad Tuttle and Jesse Dillard who received the Accounting Horizons Best Paper Award for their article, "Beyond Competition: Institutional Isomorphism in U.S. Accounting Research." This AAA award, which is sponsored by McGraw Hill, was presented to Professor Tuttle and Professor Dillard in the form of a plaque and a $2,500 prize for each recipient on Wednesday, August 6th at the AAA 2008 Annual Meeting held in Anaheim, California.