The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University has presented its Woodburn Professor Award to George A. ODoherty in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick in the Department of Psychology and Dr. Katherine B. Aaslestad in the Department of History.

The Woodburn Award recognizes associate professors in mid-career who demonstrate outstanding achievement in research, teaching and service.

George ODoherty

Dr. ODoherty earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Ohio State University, joined the WVU faculty in 2002 and was promoted to associate professor in 2005. He has had the largest research group in the Department of Chemistry with eight graduate students and four postdoctoral associates. Additionally, he has received two major grants from the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation for his research.

In my evaluation last year, I noted that Georges research had taken off like a rocket at WVU ,wrote Harry O. Finklea, chair of the Department of Chemistry, in the nomination letter.After completion of my evaluation of Georges research productivity in 2005, I can state that the rocket has continued to accelerate.

In 2005 alone, 10 of ODohertys research papers appeared in print. He was also invited to give five seminars at North American universities and four seminars in the Peoples Republic of China.

Julie Hicks Patrick

Dr. Patrick earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Akron in 1995, joined the faculty at WVU in 1998 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004.

She is the Department of Psychologys director of undergraduate training, core member of the Life-Span Developmental Training Committee and faculty advisor to the Psychology Club. She received grants from the National Institute on Aging and the National Cancer Institute for her research.

She has been published in two books, four book chapters and 26 articles in peer reviewed journals.

Dr. Patrick is an energetic and productive researcher, a committed and rigorous teacher in and out of the classroom, an integral part of the doctoral training program in lifespan developmental psychology and an excellent citizen who provides a range of valuable service to WVU and the profession,wrote Dr. Michael Perone, psychology chair, in the nomination letter.

Katherine B. Aaslestad

Dr. Aaslestad earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, joined the WVU faculty in 1997 and was promoted to associate professor in 2004.

She is also the recipient of the John R. Williams Outstanding Teaching Award from the WVU Honors Program, the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award and the WVU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award.

She advises Phi Alpha Theta honorary and the History Club and specializes in modern German history. She was recently appointed 19th century session organizer in the German Studies Association. She has published her research in peer review academic journals and book chapters and has five articles forthcoming.

With support from the Woodburn Professor Award, Aaslestad plans to continue research on her second book,Lessons on Allegiance: Local and National Histories in German Schools, 1815-1933.

Currently she is investigating a summer study abroad program in Germany for WVU students. She is cooperating with the Departments of International Studies and Foreign Languages to promote either a German Studies Program or Central European Studies Program.

These three outstanding faculty members are being recognized for their achievements in research and teaching,said Dean Mary Ellen Mazey of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.I am confident that they will each have an individual impact upon our students and bring national and international recognition to WVU and the Eberly College.

For more information, contact Dr. Julie Hicks Patrick at Julie.Patrick@mail.wvu.edu , Dr. Katherine Aaslestad at Katherine.Aaslestad@mail.wvu.edu or Dr. George ODoherty at George.ODoherty@mail.wvu.edu .