Robin N. Coger, a professor of mechanical engineering & engineering science at UNC Charlotte and director of the university’s Center for Biomedical Engineering Systems, has won the 2010 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award.

The award is given annually to a UNC Charlotte faculty member who has demonstrated superior commitment to student education. Professor de Silva, a biology researcher for whom the award was named, was killed in an October 2000 automobile accident in Charlotte.

Coger received the award at a Feb. 10 reception.

Having chaired the doctoral and masters committees of 15 graduate students, she is currently the dissertation advisor to two doctoral students and has helped mentor and guide more than 30 additional graduate students.

She has published extensively, co-authoring the majority of those papers with her students. At UNC Charlotte, the only article Coger published without student participation was one co-authored with de Silva.

Coger earned a master's and a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She served as a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School before joining UNC Charlotte in 1996 as an assistant professor.

Coger also won the 2008 William States Lee College of Engineering Graduate Teaching Excellence Award.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman announced a principal transfer and several interim appointments on Wednesday.

Ron Thompson was named the interim area superintendent of the East Learning Community. He is currently the executive director of Federal and State Compliance Programs. Nancy Bartles, who is currently the area superintendent of the East Learning Community, is retiring at the end of this month.

Bev Moore was named the interim area superintendent of the West Learning Community. She is currently a retired educator from CMS. Elva Cooper, who is currently the area superintendent of the West Learning Community, is retiring at the end of this month.

Valerie Williams was named principal of Vance High School as part of the Strategic Staffing Initiative. She is currently the principal of Cochrane Middle School. The Strategic Staffing Initiative provides a mix of financial and hiring incentives for principals and staff that join them. The principals make a three-year commitment to their new schools, and receive a 10 percent merit pay supplement (also factored into retirement) and an ABC bonus if their school shows high growth in the second year. Josh Bishop will become the interim principal of Cochrane Middle until a permanent staffing decision is made.

Michael Jones, who served as interim principal of Vance High School, will now serve as the interim principal of the Math and Science High School at Garinger.

These changes take place on March 1.

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