At Brown

Brunonians invited to Aug. 11 gathering on Martha's Vineyard

The University will again host a summer reception on Martha’s Vineyard open to all members of the Brown family - alumni, alumnae, students, parents, faculty and staff. The event will take place the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 11. For further information or to indicate your interest in attending, please contact Laura Sullivan at (401) 863-2190 or send e-mail.

Awards and honors

Carle Pieters, professor of geological sciences, has been selected to receive the 2004 Gerard P. Kuiper Prize by the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Science.

Pieters, who has been a member of Brown's geological sciences faculty since 1980, researches the composition of planetary surfaces. She uses a variety of spectroscopic techniques to understand the interaction of radiation with these surfaces, including the Earth's moon, Mercury and Mars. Her studies of the surface of the Earth's moon have led to a new understanding of space weathering – the processes in space that combine to alter the physical and compositional properties of planetary surfaces.

As science manager of the NASA Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB), Pieters has helped provide spectroscopic measurements of meteorites, lunar and terrestrial materials to the international planetary science community. Pieters is also involved in NASA's Dawn mission, launching in 2006, which will orbit Vesta and Ceres, two protoplanets whose surfaces are likely to hold retrievable records of the processes at work during the formation of the solar system.

Pieters will receive the award during the Division of Planetary Science's meetings in November. The award, which has been conferred annually since 1984, honors Gerard P. Kuiper, regarded as the father of modern planetary astronomy.

Recent departures

David Roach, who has been the University's director of athletics and physical education since June 1990, is heading for a similar position at Colgate University. Roach's last day at Brown was July 16.

"Brown has been great to me," Roach said recently,"but at this point in my life I'm ready for a new set of challenges and Colgate's AD position represents such a challenge."

David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services, said that Roach's departure is a tough loss for Brown. "David leaves us with a legacy of an exceptionally strong athletic program. He helped recruit to Brown an excellent group of coaches, as well as talented and committed student athletes. This University is in an enviable position right now and we will build on these strengths," said Greene.

"Dave did an outstanding job during his tenure at Brown," said Margaret "Digit" Murphy, head coach of women's ice hockey. Murphy has coached at Brown for 13 of the 14 years Roach has been athletic director. "He will provide structure, growth and a competitive spirit for Colgate."

"I've had such a great experience at Brown," said Roach. "I have to give credit to the coaches. We've hired great people. I'm proud of what we have been able to accomplish together over the years."

During Roach's tenure, Brown teams have captured 62 Ivy League or Eastern championships, made 36 NCAA tournament appearances and won eight national championships, including Brown's first four NCAA championships. In 2002, Brown's athletic program was honored by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 20 athletic programs in the nation.

Under Roach's leadership, the Brown athletic department adopted the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School at Fox Point. Brown athletes and coaches tutor, mentor and offer friendship to the school's 450 pupils, who in turn root for their Brown Bears as special guests at various games throughout the year.

"I am most proud of Brown's relationship with the Fox Point school," Roach said. "I believe that was above and beyond one of my greatest accomplishments because Brown athletics as well as the Brown community are both winners."

Always the competitor, Roach admits he'll no doubt still wake up and check the Brown scores in the morning newspaper, but only after tucking away the Colgate scores the night before. - Dionne Montgomery

Katherine P. Lewis, director of institutional research, has retired from Brown after 31 years of service to the University.

Before being named director of institutional research, Lewis had served as assistant to the dean of academic affairs, assistant dean of the College, associate dean of the College, and University registrar and dean for curricular research.

She was among the students, faculty, alumnae and administrators who worked on a proposal that ultimately helped establish the Sarah Doyle Women's Center in 1975.

In recent years, Lewis has focused her efforts on assessing the impact of the Academic Enrichment Initiatives and on developing better information systems to support the senior administration.