NEWS

Dr. Elizabeth S. Dunn, who earned her doctorate from UNC-Chapel Hill, has been named the university’s new senior associate vice chancellor for development.

Dunn began her new role earlier this month managing the Office of University Development, part of the Division of University Advancement led by Vice Chancellor Matt Kupec. A $1.8 billion private fund-raising effort, the Carolina First Campaign, supports the university’s vision of becoming the nation’s leading public university.

Dunn works closely with development officers from all of Carolina’s schools and units, campaign volunteers, including the Carolina First Steering Committee, and top UNC administrators to ensure that all campus units reach their campaign goal.

"After an exhaustive national search in which we talked to many capable and talented candidates, I am pleased that Elizabeth has joined our development team in this leadership capacity," Kupec said. "Elizabeth is a seasoned professional with 20 years of administrative and managerial experience in higher education and nonprofits. With her development experience, we are well-positioned for success as we head into the final three-and-a-half years of the Carolina First Campaign."

Previously, Dunn spearheaded a new development department and served as director at Stratford Hall in Virginia, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. She began an emergency $6 million campaign to raise funds for operating expenses and reached half of that goal in the campaign’s first six months. She also has been assistant dean for development in the College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. She oversaw the college’s new development department and managed a $10 million capital campaign as part of the university’s overall $1 billion campaign.

A graduate of Stephen F. Austin University, Dunn holds a master’s and doctoral degrees in English from the University of North Texas and UNC, respectively.

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Photo URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/admin/vice_chancellors/dunn_elizabeth.jpg

Dr. Daniel A. Okun, Kenan professor of environmental engineering emeritus in the UNC School of Public Health’s department of environmental sciences and engineering, will be honored Saturday (Feb. 28) by WaterPartners International.

WaterPartners International will host its 12^th annual Water for Life fund-raiser Saturday at UNC’s Morehead Building.

The event will honor the contributions of Okun, a founding WaterPartners board member and one of the world’s most respected environmental engineers. Okun has made significant contributions in water treatment, watershed protections and water reclamation and reuse. His work has influenced organizations including the World Bank, the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

WaterPartners International was founded by Gary White and Marla Smith-Nilson, who received their master of science degrees in environmental sciences and engineering from UNC’s School of Public Health. Founded in 1990, WaterPartners has launched more than 50 water supply and sanitation projects in developing countries – all of them still in operation.

For reservations or more information on the dinner event, contact Leila Goodwin at (919) 462-3846, e-mail nc@water.org or click on www.water.org

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The UNC School of Public Health’s Office of Global Health has developed a new certificate program to prepare graduate students for international public health challenges.

This semester, 17 courses in the school qualify for the requirements of the Global Health Certificate Program. The new certificate program is open to students enrolled in a graduate degree program at the school. Students enrolled in other UNC graduate degree programs also may apply for consideration. The new certificate program gives students a specialty in global health to go along with their degree program.

"Students completing this program will learn about global issues, and about policies, processes, programs and practices that contribute to and hinder global health improvement," said Dr. Margaret E. Bentley, the school’s associate dean for global health and a professor in the department of nutrition. "They will also be strongly encouraged to participate in a field placement, internship or research project to give them an opportunity to gain skill and proficiency in applying this global health knowledge."

For more information, click on http://www.sph.unc.edu/ogh or e-mail ogh@unc.edu.

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Dr. Francis A. DiGiano, a professor in the UNC School of Public Health’s department of environmental sciences and engineering, recently received the George Warren Fuller Award, presented by the American Water Works Association’s N.C. section.

The award, established in 1937 and the most prestigious presented by the N.C. section, is given each year to individuals with distinguished service in the water supply field.

DiGiano will be recognized at an American Water Works Association awards ceremony this June in Orlando, Fla.

A UNC faculty member since 1981, DiGiano’s research has focused on water and wastewater treatment technology, with an emphasis on using absorption and membrane technologies in removing organic contaminants from drinking water.

He has worked closely with officials in Carthage, N.C., to help guide the town’s conversion from conventional water treatment technology to microfiltration technology. Carthage is the first N.C. community to convert a municipal water treatment plant to this new technology. Additionally, he has provided guidance to the local water treatment divisions.

DiGiano has edited and written numerous journal articles and publications, including the book "Process Dynamics in Environmental Systems," published in 1996. In 2003, he received a six-month Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award to Milan Polytechnical University in Italy to evaluate a new membrane bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment.

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Dr. Donald E. Francisco, clinical professor in the UNC School of Public Health’s department of environmental sciences and engineering, recently received an award named in his honor by the American Water Works Association’s N.C. section and the N.C. Water Environment Association.

Francisco received the Donald E. Francisco Educator of the Year Award, which honors association members for outstanding service to the association and to the industry through education and training of water and wastewater professionals.

Francisco has served 32 years as chair of the Annual Wastewater Schools Committee. This committee oversees two educational programs providing the state’s wastewater treatment operators with intensive training in procedures: The N.C. Annual School Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Program and the Advanced Topics in Wastewater Treatment Program. All state wastewater treatment operators are required to receive certification in these programs.

Francisco, a UNC faculty member since 1973, received the School of Public Health’s 1996 Harriet Hylton Barr Distinguished Alumnus Award, recognizing alumni contributions to public health. He received the 1994 George Warren Fuller Award, given by the American Water Works Association’s N.C. section to recognize distinguished service in the water supply field. In 1986, he received the N.C. Water Environment’s Arthur S. Bedell Award.

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News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu