The West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences’ Departmental Alumni Recognition Award Program allows departments within the Eberly College to honor successful alumni for their civic leadership, social welfare activities, professional life, business life and intellectual and cultural pursuits.
Established in 2006, this program not only recognizes individuals who proudly represent their department or program but also applauds those whose lives reflect the excitement gained from a broad arts and sciences education.
This year’s Departmental Alumni Awards program will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 6-9 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center.
Alumni from the departments of physics, psychology and geology and geography, the Forensic and Investigative Science Program and the School of Social Work will be honored.
William Amatucci, from Latrobe, Pa., received both his master’s degree and doctorate in plasma physics from WVU in 1991 and 1994. He currently works in the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., as the section head/research physicist in the Space Experiments Section. In this position, Amatucci has developed the organization’s Space Physics Simulation Chamber Laboratory into a world-class facility for the investigation of space plasma phenomena. His second calling is sports photography. Since 1978, Amatucci has photographed professional and college football for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and the WVU Mountaineers.
Amatucci resides in Fairfax, Va., with his wife and three children.
Dade Chisler, a first-generation college graduate originally from Pentree, W.Va., received his bachelor’s degree in 2008 in forensic and investigative science, with an emphasis in crime scene investigation and latent print examination. He currently works for the Virginia Beach Police Department in on the Forensic Service Unit. His duties consist of responding to crime scenes for the purpose of documenting, collecting, preserving and analyzing evidence associated with criminal acts. His knowledge of particular areas of forensic science allows him to institute the restoration of serial numbers on various items of evidence including firearms, vehicles and electronic devices.
Chisler and his wife are involved in community service. Chisler has given guest lectures at WVU and local colleges and universities in the Hampton Roads area to students interested in forensic science and criminal justice fields.
Paul “Mitch” Harris, a senior research consultant and Chevron Fellow with Chevron Energy Technology Company in San Ramon, Calif., performs carbonate research, technical service projects, consulting and training for the various operating units of Chevron. Originally from Weirton, W.Va., Harris received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from WVU in 1971 and 1973 respectively. He received his doctorate from the University of Miami in 1977. His work has centered on problems that pertain to carbonate reservoirs and exploration plays in most carbonate basins worldwide.
Robert Musick, a Morgantown native, received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from WVU in 1974 and 1976. He is a licensed certified social worker and currently the chief executive officer of the West Virginia Council for the Prevention of Suicide. The program provides education and training to families, mental health and substance abuse professionals, police officers, school personnel and faith-based groups.
Musick spent four years with the U.S. Air Force on duty in Germany and England before becoming part of the Mountaineer family. He has coached football in the Morgantown area for the past 36 years, served as the mayor of Star City, W.Va., and currently serves on the city council for Star City.
Vicci Tucci, from Weston, W.Va., obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from WVU and a master’s degree in psychology with a special emphasis in applied behavior analysis from the University of the Pacific in California. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Tucci is the president and CEO of Tucci Learning Solutions, Inc., in Watsonville, Calif. She is responsible for research, development and implementation of the products and services related to the Competent Learner Model. In her spare time, she tends to her garden of trees and rose bushes.
For more information about the award ceremony, contact Brenda Riggle, at 304-293-9205 or Brenda.Riggle@mail.wvu.edu
-WVU-
gd/9/17/12
CONTACT: Rebecca Herod, Director of Marketing and Communication
304-293-9264, Rebecca.Herod@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.