June 26, 2024

Food Drive Prevents a Break in Meals (The Free Lance-Star)

UMW Biology Professor Receives Fulbright Grant

Dianne Baker, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Mary Washington, has been selected to receive a 2014-2015 Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant. Baker will conduct research at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in Oslo, Norway beginning in January 2015.

Professor Dianne Baker

Professor Dianne Baker

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is the U.S. government’s flagship international exchange program.

Baker is an animal physiologist who joined UMW’s biology department in 2006. As part of her Fulbright grant, Baker will employ molecular techniques to study the roles of neurohormones in brain development, using the Japanese rice fish. She will work alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other visiting scientists from around the world. During her research period, Baker hopes to learn cutting edge techniques in physiological research that she can bring back to UMW.

While in Norway, Baker also will guest lecture on animal physiology at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. She also plans to attend the ninth annual European Zebrafish Meeting, hosted at Finn-Arne Weltzien’s lab in Oslo in 2015.

Baker received a bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington.

Phi Beta Kappa Inducts New Members

The University of Mary Washington chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa of Virginia, recently inducted 46 students into the chapter.  Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society.

Members of the Kappa Chapter of Virginia at the 2014 induction ceremony.

Members of the Kappa Chapter of Virginia at the 2014 induction ceremony.

Phi Beta Kappa was founded at the College of William and Mary in 1776 and has since upheld the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression, sponsoring activities to advance the study of the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences. The society invites the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities for membership.

The UMW chapter, Kappa of Virginia, selects its members based on rigorous scrutiny of students’ academic achievements as demonstrated through grade point averages.

New members of Kappa of Virginia include:

Benjamin Blalock

Kathleen E. Busch

Danielle P. DeSimone

Danielle C. DeVille

Emily M. Farnsworth

Shannan M. Feight

Elisa Fuhrken

Tabitha Glinski

Gabriella Graham

Elizabeth Green

Charlotte Hageman

Felicia Hamn

Claire Harrington

Elizabeth Henry

Phillip Hitt

Max Huemer

Alicia Izaguirre

Katherine Johnson

Eun-Mi Ju

Anna Kania*

Erin Keener

Celeste Kelly

Jared Kline

Katie Lebling

Catherine LeBouton

Emma Leheney

Daniel Lipscomb

Ellynn Loftus

Sarah R. Marzec

Paige H. R. McKinsey

Melissa Mittelman*

Jerome M. Mueller

Sidney A. Mullis

Emma C. Oestreicher

Leanna J. Papp

Lauren I. Pettengill

Robin R. Ramey

Jordan W. Reece

Hannah W. Riddle

Alexandra M. Ritter

Brittany Scites

Brittany Simmons

Kimberly Slater

Mollie E. Welty

Margaret Wilder

Kaylee L. Wilsher

*Juniors

Multicultural Fair Brings Thousands to UMW

 

Thousands gathered at the University of Mary Washington on Saturday, April 12 for the 24th annual Multicultural Fair. The event, one of the biggest at UMW, featured more than 30 diverse performances, numerous vendors, ethnic food and children’s activities.

For information about upcoming multicultural events at UMW, visit http://students.umw.edu/multicultural/.

Rao Presents at National Association of Communication Centers Conference

Anand Rao, Associate Professor of Communication and Director of the Speaking Intensive Program and the Speaking Center, gave two presentations at the National Association of Communication Centers conference at Arizona State University-West on Friday, April 11, 2014. The first was on “Assessment Best Practices,” and the second was on “Negotiating Identity and Place at Institutions without Communication Majors.”

Festivals: Honoring Diverse Cultures; Sharing the Natural World (The Free Lance-Star)

‘Stage Combat’ Offers Lessons in Realistic Fighting (The Free Lance-Star)

UMW History Department Chairman Named to Technology Post (The Free Lance-Star)

Virginia is Broken (Slate)

Fourteen Students Inducted into Pi Mu Epsilon

Fourteen students have been inducted into the University of Mary Washington chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honorary society:

Jonathan R. Blauvelt

Samuel G. Carolus-Hager

Michelle F. Craft

Christopher A. Dingus

William A. Etcho

Mattson C. Fields

Kimberly D. Hildebrand

Christopher A. Hunt

George A. Marché

Jerome M. Mueller

Emily P. Nykorchuk

Christina I. Panagopulos

Maureen E. Sunderland

Rachel E. Youmans

Melody Denhere, assistant professor of mathematics, and Liane Houghtalin, professor of classics, were inducted as faculty members of the society.