Diana Ahmad, associate professor of history and political science and campus archivist, was named 2011 Woman of the Year in April. The award is presented each year to a female faculty member in recognition of her efforts to improve the campus environment for women and minorities. The award was created by Cynthia Tang, Econ’85, founder and former chair of Insight Industries Inc. and a member of the S&T Board of Trustees.

Missouri S&T’s custodial and landscape services department received the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence for efforts to improve trees in the community. The award is from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council.

Walt Eversman, Curators’ Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, was named a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in May for his contributions to the aeronautics field.

Joseph D. Smith became the university’s first Laufer Chair of Energy on July 1. Formerly the manager of advanced process and decision systems for Idaho National Laboratory, Smith holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Brigham Young University. His expertise is in the design of industrial-scale coal gasification systems. The chair was established in 2009 through a $3.4 million gift from Wayne Laufer, CE’67, retired co-founder and CEO of Bois d’Arc Energy Inc., and his wife, Gayle Laufer.

Jay W. Goff, vice provost and dean of enrollment management at Missouri S&T, recently joined the staff of Saint Louis University to lead that campus’s enrollment management efforts. Goff led the S&T enrollment management office from 2001 through August. Laura Stoll, S&T registrar, will serve as interim dean.

Lea-Ann Morton, director of career opportunities and employer relations (COER) since 2003, was named assistant vice chancellor for development on Aug. 1. Edna Grover-Bisker, associate director of COER since 2008, replaces Morton as director of COER.