By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
Astronaut Ellen Shulman Baker, a 1974 graduate of UB, will receive
a SUNY honorary doctor of science degree at the university's seventh
annual University Convocation, to be held at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Mainstage
theater in the Center for the Arts on the North Campus.
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The convocation, which will feature remarks from President William
R. Greiner, will honor and recognize members of the campus community
for outstanding achievement.
Baker, who received a bachelor's degree in geology from UB, was named
a civilian astronaut by NASA in 1985. She has logged more than 686 hours
and nearly 12 million miles as a mission specialist on three space shuttle
voyages.
In each of these flights, Baker and her flight partners achieved several
firsts, breaking new ground not only in terms of space explorationon
Baker's second Atlantis flight, the crew was the first group of astronauts
to visit the Russian space station Mirbut as well in the scientific
frontiers of chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. The crews have
made valuable contributions to the study of crystal growth, fluid dynamics
and combustion in a low-gravity environment.
As a physician specializing in internal medicineshe earned her medical
degree from Cornell UniversityBaker has devoted a significant portion
of her in-flight research to examining the physiological effects of
space travel.
As a UB student, Baker excelled in athletics, as well as in the classroom.
A star swimmer, she becameas a freshmanthe first UB woman to place
in a national collegiate athletic championship. That achievement led
to her induction into the UB Alumni Association's Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1994. That same year, she served as the main speaker at the commencement
ceremony for the Graduate School.
The UB convocation, which also will feature a performance by pianists
Stephen and Frieda Manes, will open with an academic procession composed
of marching faculty and staff led by the chair of the Faculty Senate
(Michael Cohen), the chair of the Professional Staff Senate (H. William
Coles III) and the platform party.
The ceremony will recognize UB's newly named Distinguished ProfessorsSebastian
G. Ciancio, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of
Periodontics and Endodontics; James B. Atleson, SUNY Distinguished Teaching
Professor in the School of Law, and Roger W. Mayne, SUNY Distinguished
Teaching Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.
In addition, recipients of the SUNY Chancellors Awards will be honored.
Recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching are
Kemper E. Lewis, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering;
Mirdza E. Neiders, professor of oral diagnostic sciences, and Athos
Petrou, professor of physics.
Nancy Bren Nuzzo, director of the Music Library, is the recipient
of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Librarianship.
Recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional
Service are Josephine A. Capuana, administrative director of the University
Honors Program; Shelley Frederick, assistant vice provost; Albert "Budd"
Termin, head coach of the men's swim team, and James O. Whitlock, associate
director of computing services, operational support services.
Following the ceremony, Greiner and Provost Elizabeth D. Capaldi will
host a reception in the CFA Atrium.