Jack Catlin

Janet Fender

Rodney McKinley

W. DeVier Pierson

February 16, 2009

Norman - Four lectures will be presented by the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award recipients on Thursday, Feb. 19, beginning at 1 p.m.  Recipients of the 2009 College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award are Jack Catlin, representing the humanities; Janet Fender, representing the natural sciences; Rodney McKinley, representing the professional programs; and W. DeVier Pierson, representing the social sciences.
Pierson, special counsel at Hunton and Williams, LLP, in Washington, D.C., and founding member of Pierson, Semmes and Bemis, will present “Are We Living in the Age of Obama?” at 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19 in the Scholars Room, Oklahoma Memorial Union.  Pierson also served as special counsel to Lyndon B. Johnson and to the joint Committee on the Organization of Congress.
McKinley, chief master sergeant, U. S. Air Force, will present “Air Force Priorities and Thoughts on Leadership,” at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19, Scholars Room, Oklahoma Memorial Union.  He serves as the personal adviser to the chief of staff and the secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.   He currently is stationed at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
            Catlin, professor emeritus of classics and letters at OU, will present “Myopic Wisdom,” beginning at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19 in the Regents’ Room at the Oklahoma Memorial Union, 900 Asp Ave., Norman.  He joined the faculty in 1969 as an assistant professor, becoming director of the letters program in 1978.  From 1978 to 2006, Catlin also served as chair of the Department of Classics and Letters. 
            Fender, chief scientist for Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, will present a panel discussion “Physics in Unexpected Places,” at 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19 in Room 170, Nielsen Hall, 440 W. Brooks St.  Included in the panel are Fender, Major General P. David Gillett Jr., commander, Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB; James M. Larsen, senior scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson AFB; and Grizelda Loy-Kraft, chief engineer, Aircraft Sustainment, Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB.  The panel will discuss the application of physics to revolutionize aircraft maintenance and fleet management from the perspectives of a U.S. Air Force commanding general officer, an aircraft sustainment chief engineer, a research scientist and an applied scientist.