Quincy Troupe, a professor of creative writing, American and Caribbean literature at UCSD, has been appointed by Gov. Gray Davis as California’s official Poet Laureate.
Troupe becomes the first official Poet Laureate for California. His five predecessors did have to meet the national standards that Troupe will, which include a minimum of six poetry readings during the two-year term. Troupe will also participate in projects to bring the poetic arts to all Californians who might otherwise have little opportunity for exposure to poetry.
Troupe is known for his passion to promote literacy to youths within schools via poetry, as well as for his ability to bring together artists of all ethnicities, styles and approaches.
A resident of La Jolla, Troupe has authored 13 books, including six volumes of poetry. He has had poetry, articles and essays in more than 200 publications throughout the world. He edited “”James Baldwin: The Legacy”” and was co-author with jazz musician Miles Davis of the best-selling “”Miles: The Autobiography.”” Troupe is also the founding editorial director CODE magazine.
Troupe’s honors include two American Book Awards for poetry and non-fiction and the Peabody Award for co-producing and writing the radio show “”The Miles Davis Radio Project.”” He is a two-time winner of the Heavyweight Champion of Poetry competition sponsored by the World Poetry Bout of Taos, N.M.
Troupe will coordinate his activities with the California Arts Council, which conducted the search for the California Poet Laureate. It accepted more than 50 nominees and narrowed the field to three, from which Davis selected Troupe.
Troupe’s selection must be confirmed by the state Senate, which is expected to vote on the appointment this summer.
New chief of police at UCSD brings 32 years of experience in law enforcement
Orville King, a 32-year law enforcement veteran, was appointed as the new UCSD Chief of Police on July 1. King will replace Maudie Bobbit, who retired last year.
Born in California, King brings a broad range of experience in both the police and sheriff departments to UCSD. He was a captain with the Seal Beach Police Department and was responsible for all police services at John Wayne Airport and the Sheriff’s Air Support Bureau and Mounted Enforcement Unit.
King has experience in patrol, investigation and administration, as well as in developing and directing law enforcement programs.
King also has a strong educational background, including a masters degree in public administration from California State University, Northridge as well as certificates of graduation from California State Command College and the FBI National Academy.
UCSD graduate wins World Heavyweight of Poetry Championship
UCSD graduate Pat Payne won the World Poetry Association’s prestigious Heavyweight of Poetry Championship June 15 in Taos, N.M. Payne received her masters of fine art degree in installation and performance from UCSD in 1999.
Payne studied under professor Quincy Troupe, recently named California’s Poet Laureate, as well as Jerome Rothenberg and Eleanor Antin while at UCSD. Troupe is a former two-time heavyweight champion of poetry.
Widely published, Payne has also performed numerous times throughout the United States, Mexico and Beijing, China.
Payne’s current project is a commissioned performance for Leilani Chan’s Teada Ensemble, titled “”Blutoh,”” which will premiere at Angel’s Gate in San Pedro this August.
Pat Payne resides in Los Angeles and will return to Taos in June of 2003 to defend her heavyweight title.
UCSD receives $2.5 million in funding for composite metal research
A $2.5 million multidisciplinary university research initiative has been awarded to researchers at the Jacobs Schools of Engineering to develop and test a composite metal material capable of returning to its original form after undergoing shape changes.
The project’s benefactor, the Office of Naval Research, wishes to apply the study’s findings in its construction of ships, submarines and other vehicles and structures.
The composite metal, known as shape memory alloy, will be able to return the material back to its original shape after undergoing superelastic deformations.
Sia Nemat-Nasser, the director of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and principal investigator of the project, will be making breakthrough improvements to the shape memory alloy family, which was originated over 30 years ago.
Nemat-Nasser, along with Professor Kenneth Vecchio and researchers from the University of Washington and California Institute of Technology, will be combining non-metallic materials with plates of shape memory Nickel-Titanium and rods embedded with hollow glass beads in the development of the new composite metals.
