Posted 4:08 p.m. Friday, June 10, 2011
Fabian balances books and the ‘fabulous opportunity of motherhood’
Susan Fabian is an outstanding college student, a scholarship winner and an active volunteer. But ask her what her best accomplishment is and she’ll tell you it’s ‘Being a mom.’Music Department chairman featured in La Crosse Magazine
Greg Balfany, UW-L Department of Music chairperson, is featured in the May/June issue of La Crosse Magazine. Read about his life-long love of music and his talent of teaching and playing a variety of instruments in the article,“Life, music and all that jazz.”
Read about the College of Science and Health
The summer edition of the 2011 College of the College of Science and Health e-newsletter is now available. View it and other archived editions.Agarwal accepts Minnesota State University Mankato position
Vijendra (VJ) Agarwal, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, has been appointed as the next Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Minnesota State University Mankato. His last day at UW-L is July 15. Agarwal joined UW-L in 2005. He was instrumental in helping to develop undergraduate research as one of UW-L’s signature high-impact practices, and he has served in various positions on the national Council on Undergraduate Research. He also was recently appointed to India's National Board of Accreditation to develop policies and implementation standards for technical education accreditation throughout the country.
Aric Opdahl, Chemistry; alumni Sarah Schreiner, Anna Hatch, and David Shudy; and David Howard, Biology; published “Impact of DNA-Surface Interactions on the Stability of DNA Hybrids” in the American Chemical Society journal, Analytical Chemistry, 2011, Vol. 83, 4288-4295.
Cecilia Manrique, Political Science/Public Administration, had her peer reviewed review of the article "Serious games, debriefing, and simulation/gaming as a discipline" by D. Crookall et. al. published in the April 12, 2011, issue of Computing Reviews.
Seth King, Physics, is featured in WiSys Newsletter Spring Edition, Vol. 7, Issue 2. The story “Discoveries and the people making them” focuses on King’s research on novel oxide materials for use in solar cells.
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UW-La Crosse Professor Emeritus William "Bill" Richard Fiorini, 69, of Grayville, Ill., died Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Deaconess Hospice Care in Evansville, Ind. He was born Feb. 28, 1942, in Latrobe, Pa., the son of William Richard Fiorini and Hildegarde (Stauffer) Fiorini. He was married to Kirsten Alicia Skiles, and she survives.
Fiorini started at UW-L in 1968 and retired in 2009. He taught jewelry and metalsmithing. He was the artist who created and made the university's mace and medallion in 1992 for the inauguration of Chancellor Judith Kuipers. 
This mace and medallion continue to be integral components in the commencement ceremonies performed each semester.
In 2003, Professor Fiorini received a College of Liberal Studies Excellence Award for Creative Endeavors. He was awarded a sabbatical in 1998 to research Japanese traditional metal techniques, and received a Jerome Foundation Grant which funded his research. Professor Fiorini published numerous articles on metalsmithing and conducted workshops in Germany, Japan, and the United States.
Fiorini was a knife maker and master blacksmith with membership in the American Bladesmith Society and the Artist's Blacksmith Association of North America. As a knife maker, he spent time in Japan researching Japanese sword making. A dedicated and accomplished craftsman and artist, Fiorini mastered the techniques of Damascus Steel and Mokume Gane (woodgrain-pattern developed non-ferrous metals through diffusion) and high-relief chasing. Fiorini also worked collaboratively with his wife, artist Kirsten Skiles, on numerous commissions.
Survivors include his wife, Kirsten Skiles of Grayville, Ill.; adoptive father, Albert Good of Latrobe, Pa.; son, Ian Fiorini of Grayville, Ill.; two daughters, Danielle Fiorini of Des Moines, Iowa, and Stella Fiorini of Grayville, Ill.; brother and sister-in-law, Greg Good and Lynn Sobolov of Washington, D.C.; sister, Jessie Good of Fond du Lac, Wis.; grandchild, Mia Cason; and two nieces, Anna Sobolov-Good and Colleen Sobolov-Good. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Hildegarde Fiorini.
Fiorini's remains were cremated and a memorial service will follow at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Cook Funeral Chapel, 221 North 1st Street, Grayville, IL 62844-1312.
Faculty emeritus James Conway
Faculty emeritus James Conway was featured in an article in the La Crosse Tribune. Conway, 79, of La Crescent, died Jan. 25, 2011. A memorial celebration is planned at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at 612 Shore Acres Road, La Crescent, Minn. Conway taught in the Mass Communications Department and was station manager of WLSU, UW-L's campus Wisconsin Public Radio station. Read the article.
Transfers
John Elmer, IS Operations Support Tech Sr., to Business Services, June 5, 2011. Angela Kvalheim, Custodian, to Residence Life, June 5, 2011 Greg McCabe, Custodian, to Residence Life, June 5, 2011Retirement
Sharyn Lehrke, Records and Registration, June 30.