Policy researcher Kathryn Pitkin Derose of Santa Monica’s RAND Corporation has been named one of 56 recipients of the 2005 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and is the first RAND researcher to receive the prestigious award. The awards, presented at a White House ceremony, recognize outstanding scientists and engineers who, early in their careers, show exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. “We are very proud that Kathryn was recognized for her exceptional research in health care and HIV prevention,” said RAND Vice President Robert Brook, who is director of RAND Health. “She is one of many RAND Health researchers who are making a difference in addressing some of the most important health challenges facing the world today.” RAND Health is a division of the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, and is the nation’s largest independent health policy research program, with a broad research portfolio that focuses on health care quality, costs and delivery, among other topics. www.rand.org
Former blink-182 co-founders Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker have reunited under the aegis of a new band, (+44), and will release an album, “When Your Heart Stops Beating” (Interscope Records), on November 14th. The album is produced by Hoppus and Barker and executive produced by longtime blink-182 producer Jerry Finn. Recruited for their new journey as (+44) – pronounced “Plus 44” and named after the international dialing code for the United Kingdom – Shane Gallagher (The Nervous Return) and Craig Fairbaugh (Transplants, The Forgotten, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards) join singer-bassist Hoppus and drummer-keyboardist Barker and pick up where blink-182 left off after splitting in late 2004.
Marcia Caldirola has been named Director of Development for the American Red Cross of Santa Monica. The appointment was announced by John Pacheco, the chapter’s Executive Director. At the Santa Monica chapter, Caldirola will be responsible for individual and corporate fundraising, marketing and coordination of fundraising activities for disaster services, the chapter’s youth program and special fundraising opportunities such as acquiring donations for national and international disaster and recovery efforts. She comes to the Santa Monica chapter from the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles, a private design college where she was the Assistant Director of Admissions and international recruiter. Caldirola is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington and holds a Masters degree in Adult Education/TSEL from Seattle University. She lives in Santa Monica, is married and has a three-year-old daughter. www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.
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