A paper by Dr. Angelo Brown, assistant professor of criminology, was published by the International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice. He compares the differences experienced by female police officers who are deployed in United Nations peacekeeping missions as compared to their male counterparts. He also wrote a chapter on Anna Sorokin (Delvey) for a book on crimes, investigations and media coverage.

Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering, is the new director of the doctoral programs in environmental sciences and molecular biosciences. He will meet regularly with Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, dean, Sciences and Mathematics, who announced the appointment. One of the most productive researchers at A-State, Medina-Bolivar joined the Arkansas Biosciences Institute faculty in 2005. The Arkansas Research Alliance named him as an ARA Fellow last year.

As part of a National Science Foundation grant, Dr. Jonathan Merten, associate professor of chemistry, spent time at the University of Florida during the summer setting up experiments in the lab of a colleague and collaborator. He and his undergraduate research student, Shealyn Chestnut, joined UF colleagues to use a novel high-resolution spectrograph for measuring the mass of a laser-induced plasma. The experiments complement results from a spectrometer in Merten’s lab.

Dr. Justin Castro, professor of history, and department chair, presented a guest lecture at Georgia Tech based on the book manuscript he has under contract with Johns Hopkins University Press. Having explored the period of 1500-1850, he offered insights about how mining, sugar and textiles networks intersected and fueled both opportunities and inequities. He also kicked off a series of lectures at Campus Querétaro, speaking on "Engineering the Mexican Revolution."

Todd Clark, associate chief communications officer, has been selected by his peers to serve a term as chair of District IV of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). As chair, he will lead a cabinet comprised of volunteers from various campuses who oversee programming, services and engagement for District IV members, including institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.