She has been elected to the grade of Fellow of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). SPIE Fellows are recognized for their achievements and for making outstanding contributions in the field of optics, electro-optics or related scientific, technical or engineering areas. SPIE is an international society representing 138 countries advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light.

Richardson was recognized for making important technical contributions to the field of optical materials science and engineering, in particular to understanding the properties and performance of infrared glass and other optical materials. She is recognized for her efforts in ion-exchange strengthened laser glass, infrared glass material development and photo-induced structural modification of amorphous materials. She also was commended for her longstanding contributions to optical science and engineering education, especially for her efforts with K-12, and undergraduate student research.

An active member of SPIE, Richardson is also a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society and a Fellow of the Society of Glass Technology.

Richardson also has received the Scholes Award and recently presented the annual Samuel R. Scholes Award Lecture at her alma mater, Alfred University. The lecture is given each year by a distinguished glass scientist or engineer invited for his or her contributions to the field. Prior award winners span the international glass community and are among past and present leaders in the field.

"These are two very prestigious awards for Dr. Richardson, and they underscore the strength and depth of the School of Materials Science and Engineering here at Clemson," said College of Engineering and Science Dean Esin Gulari.

Richardson joined Clemson in 2005 from the University of Central Florida's College of Optics and Photonics. She graduated from Alfred University with a bachelor of science degree in ceramic engineering in 1982, a master of science degree in glass science in 1988 and a PhD in ceramics in 1992.

For more than 100 years, the disciplines of engineering, science and textiles have been at the heart of Clemson University as it strives toward excellence and leadership. Today, Clemson is a nationally recognized research university where approximately 5,500 students are enrolled in engineering and science undergraduate and graduate courses. There are 350 faculty members in the College of Engineering and Science.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in materials science and engineering, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/MSE/index.php.

Vice President for Research and Economic Development Chris Przirembel said Ballato is charged with being the University-wide champion for research and economic development in advanced materials. He will explore opportunities for major research initiatives and work with faculty to facilitate collaboration through interdisciplinary research teams. He also will coordinate Clemson's role in a major economic development initiative in the Advanced Materials Center in Anderson County, formerly Clemson Research Park.

With the final funding approval by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board for its 28,000-square-foot Innovation Center, Clemson anticipates construction will begin this summer. The Innovation Center is part of a research complex to support and assist private industry and leverage Anderson County's ability to attract advanced-materials companies.

"We are fortunate to have John take on this critical role," Przirembel said. "Advanced materials are a key research area at Clemson, last year accounting for one-fourth of the external funding the university received for research. John's knowledge of the field and his experience and success in competitive grants will be of great assistance. He also understands and appreciates the importance of industry collaboration in moving research from the university to the marketplace, and we look forward to increased activity in that area under his leadership."

A professor of materials science and engineering at Clemson, Ballato also directs COMSET, the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies, which is a South Carolina Research Center of Economic Excellence. He earned a bachelor's degree in ceramic science and engineering and a PhD in ceramic and materials engineering from Rutgers University.

He has received numerous awards for teaching and research, most notably the Schwartzwalder-PACE Award from the National Institute of Ceramic Engineering recognizing "the nation's outstanding young ceramic engineer whose achievements have been significant to the profession and the general welfare of the American people."

Ballato was chosen as a Liberty Fellow (2005). The Liberty Fellowship program inspires values-based leadership among young South Carolina leaders. In 2006, Ballato was selected as the Distinguished Young Alumnus for Rutgers University's Graduate School and also was selected as the faculty representative to Clemson's board of trustees.

He has published more than 120 archival publications and been a principal investigator on $40 million worth of sponsored programs, gifts and contracts. Ballato is an associate editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society and an active participant on the "Optoelectronic Glasses" technical committee for the International Commission on Glass.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in materials science and engineering, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/MSE/index.php

During the academic year, fellows study at their universities and conduct a research project under supervision of an academic mentor and in consultation with an ETS research scientist. During the summer, fellows participate in the ETS Summer Internship Program for Graduate Students. The program is open to national and international applicants who are enrolled in a doctoral program and who have completed all required coursework toward the PhD.  Applicants should be at the dissertation stage of their program.

The deadline for applying for the summer internship and postdoctoral fellowship programs is February 1, 2008. The deadlines for applying for the Harold Gulliksen program are December 3, 2007 for the preliminary nomination materials and February 1, 2008 for the final application materials.

For more information on these great fellowship and internship opportunities - including information about stipends awarded with each, the application process, etc - Please visit www.ets.org/research/fellowships.html.

This inaugural fellowship program recognizes the students' past achievements and contributions to Clemson and confirms each student's future commitment to COMSET and its vision to be the internationally recognized academic leader in optical materials.

The Graduate School would like to congratulate each student on this prestigious honor and thank them for being such a wonderful representative of Clemson University.

To find out more about the COMSET Graduate Fellowship program, visit http://comset.clemson.edu/article.php?story=funding_opps or contact Dr. Dennis Smith at dwsmith@clemson.edu.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in chemistry and physics, please visit the following websites, respectively: www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Chemistry/index.php and www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Physics/index.php.

Caron St. John, associate dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science at Clemson University, has received the Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award for outstanding leadership, innovation and technological excellence in the Upstate community.

St. John is the founder and director of the Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Clemson and director of the MBA program.

The Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award honors an individual who exhibits a commitment to the advancement of technology and the Upstate community through technology-oriented contributions. Such contributions may be business, civic and/or educational in nature and must benefit the Upstate.

InnoVision is the premier awards program focused exclusively on celebrating achievements in innovation and technological excellence in the South Carolina Upstate region. The following 10 counties are in the South Carolina Upstate region: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union.

For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in the College of Business and Behavioral Science, visit http://business.clemson.edu/.

Under the direction of her advisor, Dr. Dennis Smith, Dahliah is researching the development of novel renewable resource materials for commodity applications. She said, "A lot of my work has coincided with the Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films's (CAEFF) strategic plan. My project area allows me to fabricate a variety of fiber and film renewable based materials that complement the CAEFF's goal. I also have worked, hands-on, with a variety of CAEFF's outreach programs in addition to serving as a past student leadership council president for the center."

Her latest project focal points will allow for much more integration with the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET) as well. Dahliah has found a lot of growing potential between what she is focusing on now and COMSET's plan; this will likely result in her working more closely on related COMSET projects.

For more information about Clemson University's graduate programs in chemistry, please visit http://chemistry.clemson.edu/graduate/index.htm