On November 10, 2016, an all-alumni cast of Rutgers 250 Fellows—thinkers and innovators—will reveal the discoveries, ideas, and practices that are transforming our world. Scientists, artists, activists, writers, doctors, and inventors abound. Invited and hosted by Rutgers schools and departments, the presentations offer new frontiers of knowledge.
The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences will be hosting five alumni speakers who will be presenting throughout the day on the G.H. Cook Campus. Listed below are the speakers and topics.
Craig McLean
Craig McLean, Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RC’79, Bachelor of Arts in Zoology
Thoughts on the Discovery of a New Water Planet: Earth
Ocean ecosystems are changing under the influence of human populations, at a rate far faster than they would naturally evolve. What are the challenges to be addressed, and how can we take on purposeful roles in meeting them?
9 a.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Marine Science Building, Phillip Alampi Seminar Room 1180
Hosted by: Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Center of Ocean Observing Leadership, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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As head of NOAA Research—the research office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—Craig McLean J.D. directs the agency’s entire research enterprise, including all programs and laboratories. Over a 30-year career with NOAA, he has served as a commissioned officer on board hydrographic, oceanographic, and fisheries research ships and was the founding director of its Office of Ocean Exploration. An attorney practicing marine resource law, he has been awarded the U.S. Department of Commerce Silver and Bronze Medals.
Kenneth Klipstein
Kenneth H. Klipstein II, Director of Watershed Protection Programs, New Jersey Water Supply Authority
CC’88, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Design
From Municipal Boundaries to Watershed Boundaries
A successful focus on watershed planning within the framework of New Jersey’s municipal “home rule” principles has transformed environmental planning in the state; a leader of the effort reflects on his experience.
11 a.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Cook Student Center, Room 202 ABC
Hosted by: Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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Kenneth H. Klipstein II is director of Watershed Protection Programs for the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, where he manages the watersheds of the Raritan and Manasquan rivers and advises on water issues statewide. He serves as president of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, cofounded by his grandfather in 1960. His philanthropic work, through the E.C. Klipstein Foundation, supports environmental education, conservation policy, and innovative environmental solutions.
Wei-Hua Wu
Wei-Hua Wu, Professor of Plant Science, China Agricultural University
GSNB’92, Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture
Regulatory Networks of Potassium Transport and Translocation in Higher Plants
A leading plant scientist presents new research on and understanding of the genetic networks that regulate potassium utilization efficiency in plants.
12:30 p.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Foran Hall, Room 138AB
Hosted by: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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Wei-Hua Wu Ph.D. is a professor at China Agricultural University, the top university in the area of agricultural science in China. His research at the university’s State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry focuses on plant responses to nutrient deficiency and abiotic stress. He is an accomplished scientist and has had significant impact on plant science research and education within China and internationally.
Michael Graziano
Michael Graziano, Vice President, Drug Safety Evaluation, Bristol-Myers Squibb
CC’79, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
Preclinical Safety Assessment of Immuno‐oncology Drugs
Immuno‐oncology drugs—specifically T‐cell checkpoint inhibitors—present a new and promising approach to cancer therapy; hear a case for their clinical development.
3:30 p.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Cook Student Center, Multipurpose Room C
Hosted by: Department of Animal Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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Mike Graziano Ph.D. is currently vice president of drug safety evaluation at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). Prior to joining the company in 2003, he was a director of toxicology programs at Pfizer/Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After graduating from Rutgers, he received a master of science in veterinary toxicology from Louisiana State University and a doctorate in toxicology from the University of Kentucky and was a postgraduate research toxicologist at the University of California, Berkeley.
4 p.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Marine Sciences Building, Phillip Alampi Seminar Room 1180
Hosted by: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Amy Tuininga
Amy R. Tuininga, Director, PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, Montclair State University
GSNB’00, Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and EvolutionA Revolution of Inclusion: Building Partnerships to Achieve Sustainability in Ecosystem Health, Public Health, and Corporate Triple Bottom Line
A leader in sustainability education on college campuses shares insights from her experiences with helping students understand how to treat the world as if they intend to stay.4 p.m. | G.H. Cook Campus, Marine Sciences Building, Phillip Alampi Seminar Room 1180
Hosted by: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
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Amy R. Tuininga Ph.D. is the director of the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University. She builds partnerships across academic, corporate, and community spheres to promote project-based, data-driven solutions that advance sustainability science and build resilient communities. Previously, at Fordham University, she held various executive leadership positions and was an associate professor of biology with a focus on the relationship between ecosystems and human actions.
