About the 2009 Medal Recipients

This year's distinguished recipients are:

Anthony James
Fariborz Maseeh
William Parker
Laurel Wilkening

Anthony James is a Distinguished Professor of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at UCI, where he earned his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in biological sciences. An internationally known biologist, he leads a global effort to develop new methods of controlling dengue fever. His research interests include the molecular biology of insect vectors of disease, the genetics of vector competence, malaria and dengue fever. In 2006 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and in 1994 he was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. James received the UCI Alumni Association’s Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004.

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Fariborz Maseeh founded IntelliSense in 1991 – the first company to specialize in the custom development of next-generation MEMS devices – tiny, computer-controlled chips used in products such as cardiac pacemakers and aircraft landing gear. He serves on campus advisory boards and supports numerous campus areas, including engineering and intercollegiate athletics. Maseeh is the founding benefactor of UCI’s Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture in the School of Humanities and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts – the first interdisciplinary center in the University of California system dedicated entirely to Persian studies that is not based in a department of Near East or Middle East studies.

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William Parker is chair of UCI’s Department of Physics & Astronomy and former vice chancellor for research, serving from 2000 to 2006. He joined the faculty in 1967, two years after the university opened. His work on the electronic properties of metals has led to a greater understanding of fundamental physics. Parker helped create the Irvine Campus Housing Authority – the organization responsible for the development of University Hills, a highly regarded national model for faculty and staff communities. His numerous honors include awards for outstanding teaching from the School of Physical Sciences, the Lauds & Laurels Extraordinarius Award, and the Daniel G. Aldrich Jr. Distinguished University Service Award.

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Laurel Wilkening was third chancellor of UCI, serving from 1993 to 1998. A renowned planetary scientist and expert on comets and meteorites, she has served on several NASA committees and boards. During her tenure, the campus received its first two Nobel Prizes, completed 250,000 square feet of construction, and increased private, state and federal funding. Wilkening was instrumental in the creation of University Research Park – now a national model for collaboration between the private sector and university researchers. She also played a key role in increasing the number of Regents’ Scholarships for transfer students by 60 percent, in cooperation with the campus’s Academic Senate.

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Hosted by The University of California, Irvine Foundation, the Medal dinner is one of Orange County’s premier events. This year’s gala, “A Celebration of Stars – The 2008 Medal Awards,” will be chaired by Salma and Hazem Chehabi, M.D.