Dr. Andrew Webb, former Director of the Beckman Institute’s Biomedical Imaging Center and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Illinois, together with his former colleagues at the University of Illinois, have established a fund to honor Andrew’s wife, Dr. Nadine Barrie Smith, in recognition of her accomplishments in science, engineering, and education.
Nadine Barrie Smith, a University of Illinois alumna and postdoctoral researcher at the Beckman Institute (1987-1995), died very suddenly at the age of 48. She was a professor in Bioengineering and Acoustics at Penn State University. Throughout her career she was a renowned leader in medical imaging and therapeutic ultrasound. In addition to her research, Nadine was a major contributor to women in engineering initiatives, and a national figure in establishing undergraduate research programs, as well as actively mentoring numerous graduate students in her field.
The Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fund will initially support the installation of a memorial bench in the Beckman Institute Garden. Future funds will be used to support and promote the role of women in engineering through education and research, and to support graduate and postdoctoral research in biomedical imaging at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology.
Dr. Webb is currently a professor of Radiology at the Leiden University Medical Center and Penn State University. In 1991 he came to the University of Illinois as a postdoctoral researcher in Electrical and Computer Engineering. From 1992 to 2003 he moved up the ranks from assistant to associate to full professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. In 1992 Andrew also joined the Beckman Institute and was an instrumental contributor and leader of the growing Biomedical Imaging Center. In 2005 Andrew left Illinois for Penn State University to join Nadine.
Donations to the Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fund can be made by visiting the Beckman Institute’s Giving page at http://www.beckman.illinois.edu/giving/gifts.aspx. When completing the secure giving form, please check “yes” in the “special instructions” field and enter: Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fund.
Gifts by check or money order should be made payable to the University of Illinois Foundation. Please also include a short note (or memo on your check) stating the purpose of your gift as: Nadine Barrie Smith Memorial Fund and mail to: University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801. If you would like to make a gift by phone, please call 217.333.0810.
If you have any questions please contact Tim Montague, Director of Development, at 217.244.2887 or via email at tgmontag@illinois.edu.