Surupa Gupta, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, has been added to the network of experts for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). Based in Geneva, ICTSD is an independent non-profit and non-governmental organisation that seeks to empower stakeholders in trade policy through information, networking, dialogue, well-targeted research and capacity-building. Its goal is to further the cause of sustainable development. It maintains consultative status with most international organizations and other civil society networks.
John Broome Featured Speaker in Civic Seminar Hosted by Tufts
John P. Broome, assistant professor in curriculum & instruction in the College of Education, was the featured speaker in an online seminar hosted by The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) based at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University. The five-week seminar was created to discuss CIRCLE’s new report “All Together Now: Collaboration and Innovation for Youth Engagement.” Broome’s talk focused on the importance of developing ‘classroom climate’ in K-12 schools to foster student free expression and discussion of controversial issues.
CIRCLE conducts research on civic education in schools, colleges, and community settings and on young Americans’ voting and political participation, service, activism, media use, and other forms of civic engagement. It is based at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University (Source: www.civicyouth.org)
Farnsworth Gives Washington Lecture
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, recently gave a Washington lecture entitled, “U.S. Foreign Policy and U.S. Mass Media: Shaping Global Public Opinion,” to visiting journalists and political figures from the Middle East and North Africa who were part of a recent U.S. State Department International Visitor Leadership Program. The talk was based, in part, on Farnsworth’s recently co-authored book, “The Global President: International Media and the U.S. Government.”
Kisila and Students Publish Research
Ben Odhiambo Kisila, earth and environmental sciences, and his former UMW research students Elyse Clark ’13, Ph. D. candidate in the department of crop and environmental sciences at Virginia Tech and Matthew Ricker ’06, postdoctoral fellow in the school of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University, have their research paper, “Comparative analysis of metal concentrations and sediment accumulation rates in two Virginian reservoirs, USA: Lakes Moomaw and Pelham,” published in the February issue of the peer-reviewed journal Water, Air, and Soil Pollution.
The research results shows comparable levels of trace metals loadings in the more human stressed Lake Pehlam system and the more pristine Lake Moomaw probably because of the relative importance of atmospheric deposition in the mountainous forested watersheds. The steep slopes coupled with the highly erodible colluvial soils and the prevalence of shoreline erosion also exacerbates both sediment and trace metal fluxes in Lake Moomaw.
Aminrazavi Receives Outstanding Service Award
Mehdi Aminrazavi, professor of classics, philosophy and religion, co-director of the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies, has received an Award for Outstanding Service from the Scholar Rescue Fund of the Institute of International Education, for facilitating the hosting of Leila Asadi at UMW from 2011 to 2012.
“Presented with sincere appreciation and in recognition of the extraordinary commitment you have demonstrated to preserving the life, voice, ideas, and work of a persecuted scholar by providing a safe academic haven.”
Julius Esunge Active at Joint Mathematics Meetings
Professor Julius Esunge from the Department of Mathematics attended the annual Joint Mathematics Meetings in January, held this year in Baltimore. At the meeting Dr. Esunge participated in the mini-course “Game Theory – path to quantitative literacy” and also served as a judge for the annual MAA undergraduate research poster session.
Leo Lee Presents at Joint Mathematics Meetings
Professor Jangwoon “Leo” Lee presented his latest research at the annual Joint Mathematics Meetings in January, held this year in Baltimore. Dr. Lee’s talk was titled “An Optimization Based Domain Decomposition Method for PDEs with Random Inputs.”
Director of Residence Life Joins VSSC Planning Committee
Christine “Chris” Porter joins the Virginia Student Services Conference Planning Committee. VSSC is the premiere student services conference in Virginia! A blending of the annual meetings of the Virginia Association of Student Personnel Administrators (VASPA) and the Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers (VACUHO), this event is the place to be for those involved in working with students in higher education. The conference offers students and professionals the chance to engage in professional development sessions, networking, and fun activities.
ACPA Next Generation Conference Planning Committee
Marissa Miller, an Assistant Director for the Office of Residence Life and Commuter Student Services, serves on the ACPA Next Generation Conference Planning Committee for the second year.
Next Gen 2014 is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about careers in student affairs. Participants will meet and learn from current graduate students, graduate preparation program faculty, and seasoned student affairs professionals who work at a variety of colleges and universities. Next Gen 2014 is dedicated to helping undergraduate students explore the student affairs profession and gather information they need to plan their future.
Tony Leger Joins Executive Board of VACUHO
Tony Leger, an Area Coordinator with the Office of Residence Life, joined the Executive Board for the Virginia Association of College and Housing Officers as a member at large. The Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers (VACUHO) is dedicated to the education and professional development of housing and residence life staff at institutions of higher education in Virginia.