Janusz Konieczny, professor of mathematics, has co-authored a research article, A method for finding new sets of axioms for classes of semigroups, published in the journal Archive for Mathematical Logic.

  On Tuesday, April 17, Nabil Al-Tikriti delivered a lecture entitled “‘Ghazi’ Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 1881-1938” as part of the Chappell Great Lives lecture series at Dodd Auditorium on the UMW campus. The prezi visuals which accompanied the presentation can be accessed here: “‘Ghazi’ Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, 1881-1938”

Zach Whalen, Assistant Professor in ELC, recently contributed an essay to Before the Crash: Early Video Game History, edited by Mark J.P. Wolf and published by Wayne State University Press. Whalen’s essay, “Channel F for Forgotten: The Fairchild Video Entertainment System,” examines the historical contex, aesthetic affordances and underyling technology of this innovative  (though never very popular) early video game platform.

Professor of English Steve Watkins’ 2011 young adult novel “What Comes After” has been named to Bank Street’s list of 2012 Best Books of the Year. “What Comes After” is one of 46 books in the category for children older than 14-years-old.

The Bank Street College of Education chose the books for the annual list based on several criteria, including literary quality and the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Bank Street is a private institution composed of children’s programs, a graduate school and a research and policy initiative.

Watkins’ novel also is a finalist for the 2012-2013 Georgia Peach Book Award, given by the Georgia Library Media Association, Georgia Library Association, Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Education Association. Watkins is one of 20 nominees in the teen readers category. Teens will read and rate the books to determine the winner of the award, which will be announced in April 2013.

Gary Richards, assistant professor of English, presented a paper, “Where The Wind Done Gone Done Went: An Unauthorized Anniversary Parody,” at the Society for the Study of Southern Literature Conference in Nashville, Tenn., held Thursday, March 29 through Saturday, March 31. A member of the SSSL Executive Committee, Richards also was part of the four-person program committee for the conference.

Richards facilitated the Breakfast Book Club discussion of Tennessee Williams’s short fiction at the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival in New Orleans, La., held Wednesday, March 21 through Sunday, March 25.