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EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
HIGHL IGHTS
A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5
ASM
NEWS
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Mark Atwater, Millersville University
B
eing a new professor is actually pret-
ty strange. In most jobs I can think of,
when you’re new, you’re expected to be
somewhere at the beginning of the learn-
ing curve. As an assistant professor, I have
the duality of being the guy that knows
the least and the most all at the same time. Senior faculty
members expect me to need some guidance, but students ex-
pectme to provide the guidance. Add to this a diverse range of
departmental and campus responsibilities and it can be quite
a balancing act.
The way I’ve managed this dichotomy is to be honest
about it. I ask for guidance from my colleagues and I try to
be proactive in seeking their input before I run into prob-
lems. After all, if they’ve made it through the labyrinth of
tenure and promotion, there is something for me to gain by
their experience. I am deeply grateful for the willingness of
my fellow faculty members to share their ideas, challenges,
and solutions.
I am straightforward with my students as well. Because I
am early in my career, everything I do in class is still new, but
if I’m going to try something out of the ordinary, I warn them.
They are surprisingly resilient and willing to engage in new
ways of learning. I believe it is important, however, to empha-
size that there may be some rough patches and we’ll make
adjustments as needed. In that same spirit, I ask for feedback
so I can gauge how effective I am. The open dialogue ensures
that they knowmy intentions are good.
So maybe it isn’t really all that strange being a new profes-
sor. Much of life involves being somewhere between an expert
and ignorant. The important thing is to keep learning, nomat-
ter where you are on this continuum.
EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
Teaching is a Matter of Learning
CHAPTER NEWS
Ravindran visits Bengaluru
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Yun Hang Hu Becomes AAAS Fellow
Yun Hang Hu,
professor at Michigan
Technological University, was elected a
Fellow of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the
world’s largest general scientific society
and publisher of the journal
Science.
Most recently, Hu has received interna-
tional recognition for his development
of 3D graphene, which could replace the platinum in solar
cells without degrading their efficiency.
Haiyan Wang Wins O’Donnell Award
Haiyan Wang, FASM,
professor at
Texas A&M University, was named one of
four recipients of the 2015 Edith andPeter
O’Donnell Award. Presented by The Acad-
emyofMedicine, Engineering&Scienceof
Texas, the award recognizes researchers
who address the essential role that sci-
enceand technologyplay insociety.Wang
was honored for research into nanostructured materials in the
areasof high temperaturesuperconductors,microelectronicand
optoelectronic devices, solid oxide fuel cells, nuclear materials,
in situ TEM characterizations, and for exceptional potential in in-
spired educationand future leadership.
NAE Names Romig Executive Officer
AltonD. Romig, Jr., FASM,
amember
of the National Academy of Engineering
(NAE) since 2003, will join the NAE lead-
ership team as executive officer (EO)
on March 2. The EO is the chief operat-
ing officer of the Academy reporting to
the president. Romig served in several
positions at the Lockheed Martin Aero-
nautics Co., Advanced Development Programs, including vice
president and general manager of the Skunk Works. Among
other honors, Romig won the ASM Silver Medal for Outstand-
ing Materials Research in 1992.
As part of his recent trip to India to meet with several ASM
Chapters and dedicate the Delhi Iron Pillar as an ASM
Historical Landmark, immediate past president Ravi
Ravindran enjoyed a visit with the Bengaluru Chapter on
November 28, 2014.