Usap Forum 2009 Speakers
Below are the biographies of the main speakers at the Usap 2009 Forum.
Barrett Hazeltine, Brown University
Anani Dzidzienyo, Brown University
Rodney J. Clifton, Brown University
James S. Miller, Brown University
Denboy Kudejira, Brandeis University
Barrett Hazeltine
Professor of Engineering Emeritus, Adjunct Professor of Engineering
Brown University
His teaching and research interests are in engineering management, technology planning especially in developing countries, and teaching of technology for Liberal Arts students, and digital computers. Has experience and has done research and in Africa and in Asia. Has taught at the University of Zambia, University of Malawi, University of Botswana, and at Africa University in Zimbabwe. Other foreign countries in which he has done teaching or consulting are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa, The Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
More informartion on Dr. Barret Hazeltine can be found on his website here.
Anani Dzidzienyo
Associate Professor of Africana Studies, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies
Brown University
Anani Dzidzienyo, Associate Professor of Africana Studies, and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, specializes in the study of race in Latin America and the encounters between Latina American and Africans, as well as on the life and work of George Padmore and Kwame Nkrumah. He has been invited to present papers, organized and participated in international conferences on blacks in Latin America. He is also a member of the International Advisory Committee, African Diaspora Research Project.
More informartion on Professor Anani Dzidzienyo can be found on his page on the Brown University website.
Rodney J. Clifton
Dean of Engineering
Brown University
Professor Clifton's primary research is on the mechanical response of materials at very high loading rates. Applications include: high speed machining, armor penetration, shear band formation, martensitic phase transformations, elastohydrodynamic lubrication, and dynamic fracture. Principal experimental approach is pressure-shear plate impact. A second research focus involves the measurement of the high frequency, viscoelastic response of soft, biological tissues, especially vocal folds
More informartion on Dr. Rodney J. Clifton can be found on his page on the Brown University website.
James S. Miller
Dean of Admissions
Brown University
James Miller graduated from Brown in 1973 (A.B., American history) and went on to earn a master's degree in communications from Michigan State University. He began his career in higher education as an admissions and financial aid officer at Harvard in the fall of 1978, continuing there as associate director of financial aid and senior admissions officer (1980) and director of financial aid (1983). In 1999, after 16 years as Harvard's director of financial aid, Miller returned to Brown as executive director of capital giving. In addition to his responsibilities for managing relationships with the University's leading donors, Miller participated in a six-month review of Brown's potential to achieve a need-blind admission program. He returned to the financial aid and admissions area first as a consultant on financial aid econometric modeling for The College Board and then, in the fall of 2001, as dean of admissions and financial aid for Bowdoin College. In addition to his work in admissions and financial aid, Miller served as one of the Bowdoin's six senior officers, participating in budgeting and priority-setting across the college, from physical plant to academic planning, fundraising, alumni, student services and public relations.
Denboy Kudejira
Brandeis University
He has worked for the Reducing Vulnerability Programme of Practical Action - Southern Africa for more than 4 years as a Livelihoods Officer. He was coordinating community development initiatives in Zimbabwe's Manicaland Province (Specifically, in Chimanimani District) including Community Based Natural Resources Management, Sustainable Agriculture and HIV/AIDS response interventions. He was also involved in work on climate change adaptation in Burkina Faso and recently completed his Masters degree is Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University .