Computer Science Engineer to Promote Diversity in Math and Science Fields Released: March, 17, 2006 MILWAUKEE – Dr. Juan E. Gilbert, a nationally recognized scholar in computer science and software engineering, will be at Marquette later this month to promote the importance of diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. He will give a public lecture entitled “Application Quest: A Response to the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in the University of Michigan Affirmative Action Cases,” on Tuesday, March 28, at 3 p.m. in the Beaumier Suite of Raynor Memorial Library. Gilbert is one of two individuals to hold the university’s Ralph H. Metcalfe Chair this year.  The chair, established in 1981 in honor of Marquette’s famous alumnus, brings to campus outstanding African-Americans and other minority scholars. Gilbert is president of the Brothers of the Academy, a national organization that fosters collaborative research aimed at the promotion and tenure of minority faculty members and the investigation of problems facing Americans in general and African-Americans in particular.  In addition to meeting with students and alumni, Gilbert will discuss opportunities for collaboration on diversity initiatives with Marquette faculty and staff. He will also promote the importance of math and science education at a meeting with students at Milwaukee’s Rufus King High School. At his public lecture, Gilbert will discuss Application Quest, a software program he developed for college admissions offices. Gilbert says his program allows universities to holistically consider race and ethnicity without violating recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action. Gilbert’s research in the area of human-centered computing with an emphasis in spoken language systems has been widely recognized. During his five years at Auburn University, he has obtained more than $4.5 million dollars in externally funded research grants and has published extensively. He has received national exposure for his efforts to diversify the information technology community. Recognized by Black Issues in Higher Education as one of the nation’s top emerging African-American scholars, he was also invited to the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposia and the National Academy of Sciences Frontiers of Science Symposia. The second 2006 Metcalfe Chair at Marquette is David Haynes, a critically acclaimed author and director of creative writing at Southern Methodist University. Haynes will be on campus March 27-29 to talk with elementary-aged children and college students about writing and the stories behind his fiction. Event Information: Date:          Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Time:          3:00 p.m. Location:    Raynor Memorial Library, Beaumier Suite                    1335 W. Wisconsin Ave. Office of Marketing and Communication Contacts Brigid O'Brien Miller Director of University Communication Phone: (414) 288-7445 Send e-mail