Office of University Communications 

English instructor selected as runner-up in national book award

Additional faculty and staff accomplishments noted

SPRINGFIELD – Mara Cohen Ioannides, instructor of English at Missouri State University, was honored recently when her book, “A Shout in the Sunshine,” was chosen as a runner-up for the 2007 National Jewish Book Award in the category of Children’s and Young Adult Literature.

The book, which is Cohen Ioannides’ first novel, is a young adult novel set in 15^th century Greece. It explores the friendship between two Jewish boys of very different backgrounds—one a refugee from post-Inquisition Spain, the other the son of a wealthy Greek Jewish fabric merchant.

“I wrote the story to preserve this mostly forgotten part of Jewish history,” said Cohen Ioannides. “I learned an incredible amount by writing the book. However, I also wrote it because it was a story aching to get out. Having the book be a runner-up for the National Jewish Book Award is amazing.”

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Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, director of disability services at Missouri State University, was appointed to serve on the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council (MOSILC). Tabitha Haynes, assistant director of disability services, received an appointment to serve as web master for the Missouri Association on Higher Education and Disability (MOAHEAD) Executive Board. 

“I am very humbled and honored to be appointed to the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council,” said Staeger-Wilson. “I am excited about the opportunity to make a difference in the statewide policies developed for people with disabilities and educating others about disability issues.” 

MOSILC is a governor-appointer board responsible for developing, submitting and supervising the implementation of the State Plan for Independent Living. MOSILC advocates for disability rights, conducts studies and works to expand Independent Living Services.

MOAHEAD is a professional association which works to provide full participation for persons with disabilities in higher education by sponsoring workshops, developing resource materials and making presentations to community and professional organizations.

Dr. Lifeng Dong, Missouri State professor of physics and astronomy, was recently awarded a grant by the American Chemical Society for his work on developing a novel approach for controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotube-supported platinum (Pt) nanoparticle catalysts for applications in fuel cells and solar cells. 

In October 2007, Dong was awarded the Visiting Scientist Fellowship from the National Center for Electron Microscopy located at Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory. He will use the state-of-the-art electron microscopy facility located at Berkeley, with the aim of overcoming problems impeding the development of nanotube-supported Pt catalysts.

 “This research will provide a better understanding of interactions between Pt nanoparticles and nanotube supports,” said Dong. “This new funding will be providing a number of students with a significant learning opportunity, including cutting-edge research in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.”