IOWA CITY.- University of Iowa faculty member Susan Chrysler White was awarded a $25,000 Joan Mitchell Foundation 2008 Painters and Sculptors Grant. The grant will be used to enhance her studio and develop new work.

The nonprofit foundation supports painters and sculptors who create exceptional work, who are under-recognized for their artistic achievements, and whose career would benefit from the grant. The foundation was established honor of painter Joan Mitchell, a leading New York City abstract expressionist who died in 1992.

White is an associate professor of painting and drawing in the School of Art and Art History, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds an M.F.A. from the University of California at Davis. Her work has been showcased at numerous art museums, and reviewed in ARTFORUM, Art in America, Art News, and Arts Magazine.

A panel of prominent curators, art educators and artists judged images of the nominees' work through an anonymous process. Application was by nomination only.

Michelle J. Rourke named Iowa Public Radio development director

Michelle J. Rourke, director of development for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Northern Iowa, has been named to lead the development efforts of Iowa Public Radio, effective Jan. 21, 2009.

In her current position as director of development for the University of Northern Iowa College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Rourke has been responsible for both planned and outright gifts for scholarship, program support, and leadership gifts.

A graduate of UNI, Rourke has a bachelor's degree in marketing. She completed Principles & Techniques of Fundraising through Indiana University Center on Philanthropy, and earned a master's degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Iowa Public Radio includes WSUI-AM and KSUI-FM at the University of Iowa, WOI-AM and WOI-FM at Iowa State University, and KUNI-FM and KHKE-FM at the University of Northern Iowa. The operations have combined revenues of over $6 million annually and employ about 60 people.

The five-member Iowa Public Radio Board of Directors includes one representative from each of the three state universities as well as two Iowans appointed by the Board of Regents.