2007 Distinguished Alumni Award: Carolyn Runowicz

April 26, 2007

Carolyn Runowicz, M.D. is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northeast Utilities Foundation Chair in Experimental Oncology, and Director Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Dr. Runowicz is a national expert in gynecologic cancers and women’s health. Prior to her appointment at the Health Center, she served as professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and vice-chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, both in New York City. Dr. Runowicz is involved in many national health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, where she serves as president of the society’s National Board of Directors. She has testified at Senate hearings advocating cancer screening as a representative of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and as a speaker on the President’s Cancer Panel, “Meeting the Challenges of Older Adult Cancer Survivors.” (more…)

2005-06 Faculty Member of the Year Award: Lawrence Hightower

April 24, 2006

Dr. Lawrence E. Hightower received his B.S. degree summa cum laude in chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1968. He received his Ph.D. degree from Harvard University in biochemistry. After working for a year as an instructor in microbiology at University of Massachusetts Medical School, he was appointed assistantprofessor of biology at the University of Connecticut in 1975.

In 1997, Dr. Hightower was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for pioneering work on cellular stress responses. In 1998, he was presented the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees Outstanding Achievement Award. He was the founding president of the Cell Stress Society International and founding Editor-in-Chief of Cell Stress and Chaperones, the leading specialty journal in his field.

Dr. Hightower is currently professor and associate head of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, and he teaches the popular Honors course, “Topics in Modern Biology.” He has helped MCB students with their academic programs as an Honors advisor and has advised several Honors students on their theses.

2004-05 Faculty Member of the Year Award: Robin Chazdon

April 25, 2005

Dr. Robin L. Chazdon was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1957. She attended Grinnell College and got her first taste of the tropics during her second year there on an off-campus field study program. She received her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University in 1984. After three post-doctoral positions she came to UConn as an assistant professor in 1988. She received tenure in 1994 and was promoted to full professor in 2000. At UConn, Chazdon has advised one master’s and five Ph.D. students to completion; she currently has three doctoral students. She has served on dozens of master’s and doctoral committees and has trained Mary Beth Palomaki, a University Scholar and Honors Scholar, who is graduating this May. (more…)