URI Distinguished Achievement Awards

2009 Distinguished Achievement Awards

The recipients of our fourth annual URI Distinguished Achievement Awards were honored on October 17, 2009, at a celebration held at the Providence Westin Hotel. See photos from the DAA Celebration and the DAA Reception and Art Opening at the President's House.

Read more about the President's Award honorees Patricia Anton, James Diller, Richard Kerr, and Edward Rudnic.


Patricia Miller Anton ‘79, President, Anton Family Foundation	James V. Diller '57, Vice Chairman of the Board, PMC-Sierra, Inc.	Richard A. Kerr Ph.D. '77, Senior Writer, Research News, Science	Edward M. Rudnic '78, M.S. ‘82, Ph.D. ‘83 Founder, former Chairman, and CEO, MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

2009 Distinguished Achievement Award Videos

Patricia Miller Anton '79 (Music) of Henderson, Nev., president of the Anton Family Foundation, played the flute, sang in the choir, and participated in the URI Ram Band. She applied her operational and organizational talents to an extraordinary career in airport foodservice. Her advice to URI students: Dream Big.

James V. Diller '57 (Physics), vice chairman of the board, PMC-Sierra, Inc., appeared on the cover of Electronic Business magazine in 1989 as one of the world's "New Mavericks" in the semi-conductor industry. He and his wife, June, have established one of the largest endowed scholarships at URI for students majoring in a science.They live in Portola Valley, Calif.

Richard A. Kerr '77 Ph.D. (Graduate School of Oceanography) of Bethesda, Md. is senior writer, Research News, Science. A national leader in scientific journalism, his interest in journalism began at URI when he enrolled in communication classes while pursuing his doctorate.

Edward M. Rudnic '78, M.S. '82, Ph.D. '83 (Pharmacy) of Potomac, Md. is founder, former chairman, and CEO of MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals. He has more than 25 years of experience in the development and commercialization of a wide range of pharmaceutical products.

The URI Distinguished Achievement Award recipients are selected by a committee composed of representatives from URI’s colleges, the Office of the President, the Office of the Provost, the Division of University Advancement, the Department of Athletics, the Alumni Association, and the graduate and undergraduate student body. Note: Faculty, staff, students, and honorary degree recipients are not eligible to receive a University of Rhode Island Distinguished Achievement Award.

2009 DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Dean's List Recipients

In addition to the four President's Distinguished Achievement Award honorees, URI’s individual colleges and the Graduate School of Oceanography honored the following Dean’s List recipients:

Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education
John A. Flaherty ’87
Barbara A. Roberts ’83
Mary Ann Shallcross Smith ’85

College of Arts and Sciences
Phillip Kydd ’81
Carol J. Makovich ’75
Anthony E. Perrotti ’62

College of Business Administration
Margo L. Cook ’86
David B. Lea Jr. ’59
Michael M. Morrow ’77

College of Engineering
Krishnan Balasubramanian ’70
Barry Gertz ’76
Anthony Zuena ’74

College of the Environment and Life Sciences
William J. Brennan ’86
Wayne King Durfee ’50
Peggy Boyd Sharpe, friend

College of Human Science and Services
Michael A. Nula ’96
Marie Campopiano DiBiasio ’61
Linda D’Amario Rossi ’68

College of Nursing
Holly W. Kennedy ’99
Elaine Doherty Sullivan ’75
Deborah K. Zastocki ’74

College of Pharmacy
Scott A. Campbell ’77
Paul J. Desjardins ’72
Eleanor M. Perfetto ’80

Graduate School of Oceanography
Christopher Langdon, Ph.D. ’88
Jerry L. Miller, M.S. ’83
Michael P. Sissenwine, Ph.D. ’75

Public Affairs and Programming

2009 DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Dean's List Recipients