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Vol. XXXVIII No. 15; April 23, 2008
Interim Editor: Pauline Oo, brief@umn.edu
Read Brief on the Web at http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief.html.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--U helps families discover the joy of science together
--People: Grad School names admissions director; U professor wins
prestigious Rome award; and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Twin Cities
FAMILIES AND PHYSICS: Through PACES (Parents and Children
Experiencing Science), a program of the President's Initiative on
Children, Youth, and Families, parents can model scientific
curiosity for their kids; read "When
physics is a social science."
PEOPLE: Dean Tsantir is the new director of the Graduate School's
Office of Admissions, effective June 9; assistant professor Hisham
Bizri has won an award from the American Academy in Rome; Jean
Wyman was named president-elect of the Midwest Nursing Research
Society; Gwen Halaas, director of AHC's Center for
Interprofessional Education, was selected to attend the Harvard
Macy Institute's Leading Innovation in Health Care and Education.
Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
THE U WAS PART OF A DISTANCE LEARNING MEMORANDUM signed
yesterday (April 22). The American Distance Education Consortium, a
nonprofit organization composed of approximately 65 state
universities, including the U, has signed a cooperative agreement
with the Chinese Central Agricultural Broadcasting Television
School, the largest distance education organization in the world,
to foster additional relationships for distance learning
opportunities. Read the
news release.
TWO MILLION-DOLLAR GIFTS will support adult education at the U. The
Bernard Osher Foundation has given the College of Continuing
Education two gifts: one to create an endowment for the Osher
Reentry Scholarship, which helps adults finish their first
bachelor's degree, and the second, to go toward an endowment to
support the U's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, a
membership-based lifelong learning community of older adults. Read
the
news release.
U NAMES ALUM TO COORDINATE RENOVATIONS: Archie Givens, CEO of
Legacy Management & Development Corporation and nationally
known for his work in affordable housing and health care
administration, will serve as the U's representative during the
renovation of the former shopping center at 2001 Plymouth Ave. N.
in Minneapolis. The U bought the building in February to house the
new Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center. Read the
news release.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF GLOBAL CHANGE has been
awarded a $600,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to
continue its undergraduate honors program, the Global Issues Honors
Consortium--a partnership among UMTC, UMM, Tougaloo College, and
Dillard University. The program is designed to serve populations
underrepresented in higher education and prepare students for
graduate school. To learn more about the center, see ICGC.
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED to Women's Leadership Institute's 2008-09
program. The institute offers U women a chance to cultivate
leadership skills. Monthly meetings, held from September to June,
include guest speakers, reflection, networking, and group
discussion. Applications accepted through May 22. For more
information, go to the WLI Web
site.
GRANT WRITING FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH is the topic of the
next workshop in the Collaborative Leadership Development Series. A
panel of seven faculty members will share their perspectives and
experiences of developing successful proposals, focusing on the
issues and concerns unique to interdisciplinary contexts. April 30,
3-5 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC, and by ITV at 410 Library,
UMD. Sponsored by the Graduate School. Free, but space is limited
and registration is required at OII workshops.
ERIC BURGESS, UMC business instructor, presented his research on
strategic planning in higher education at the 14th annual Midwest
Qualitative Research Conference, April 17-18, University of St.
Thomas. Kenneth Johnson, also an instructor in the Business
Department, will copresent with Burgess on the same topic at the
Association of Business Schools and Programs Annual Conference,
July 21-22, New Orleans. Read the news
release.
STUDENTS HONORED SELECT FACULTY AND STAFF with special awards
during the 2008 Student Awards Ceremony in early April. The entire
UMC student body voted on the recipients. "Most Creative Use of
Technology," Tom Sondreal, senior media producer, Media Services;
"Outstanding Educator," Kevin Thompson, assistant professor of
communication; "Most Supportive of Students," Sonia Spaeth,
assistant professor of health, physical education, recreation, and
art; and "Outstanding Service to Students," Lisa Samuelson,
director of student activities.
A PROPOSAL BY UMC HORTICULTURE CLUB to create a native plant
demonstration garden has been awarded $4,000 by the U's Institute
on the Environment. The grant was 1 of 12 awarded to student
organizations across the U system for projects or activities in
spring 2008 that promote sustainability and the environment. Read
the news
release.
25TH ANNUAL BAEUMLER-KAPLAN HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION presents
keynote lecture "Zeit Zeuge: Time Witness" by Leonore Baeumler,
April 29, 4 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Baeumler, a Duluth resident who
lived in Germany during the Nazi regime, will present excerpts from
her memoir, Zeit Zeuge. The event is free and open to the
public. Read the news
release.
MARSHALL W. ALWORTH PLANETARIUM WILL CELEBRATE National Astronomy
Day, April 26, starting at 10 a.m. UMTC physics and astronomy
professor Lawrence Rudnick will give the keynote address, "The
Greatest Impact: Our Birth in the Stars." Programs include dark-sky
shows, full-dome videos, remotely delivered presentations by the
Hayden Planetarium in New York City, demonstrations, and workshops
on buying and using telescopes. For more information, see Alworth Planetarium.
DEAR FINDER, written and produced by UMD theater professor
Tom Isbell, opens April 24, 7:30 p.m., Marshall Performing Arts
Center. The award-winning play about the Holocaust returns to UMD
10 years after its premiere performance. The play runs through May
3; all performances 7:30 p.m., except Sundays, 2 p.m. Members of
the Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Committee will lead
discussions after each performance (except opening night). Tickets
are $15 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $6 for UMD students and
children. For more information, see UMD
theatre.
UMD MUSIC DEPARTMENT presents two performances of The Merry
Widow, a romantic operetta by Franz Lehar, April 25 and 26,
7:30 p.m., Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The opera
features UMD faculty Rachel Inselman (soprano) and Calland Metts
(tenor) in the leading roles, and nationally known guest director
Dean Anthony. Performed in English with supertitles. Tickets are
$10-$35. For more information, see UMD
music.
A NEW DIGITAL IMAGE DATABASE makes three online high-resolution
photo collections accessible to on- and off-campus users. The
Historic District Collection documents the buildings and spaces
that constitute the West Central School of Agriculture and
Experiment Station Historic District. The UMM Heritage Collection
contains photographs of people, places, and events that span the
120-year history of the campus. UMM Today holds current UMM
photographs. The database is an ongoing, joint project of UMM
Archives, the Rodney A. Briggs Library, Media Services, Admissions,
Computing Services, and U Relations. Visit UMM Digital
Collections.
UMM STUDENTS who participated in the 2007-08 Multi-Ethnic
Mentorship Program presented the results of their work April 7. The
12 projects were in the disciplines of art, biology, political
science, economics, philosophy, computer science, French,
environmental science, and education. Read the news
release.
OPEN FORUMS ON CAMPUS MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS will be held
April 28, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center; May
1, 9:30-11 a.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union; and May 2, 11
a.m.-12:30 p.m., 33 McNeal Hall, St. Paul. The purpose of the
forums is to gather input from the U community and from residents
of adjoining communities regarding recommended updates to the Twin
Cities Campus Master Plan. For more information, go to the Master Planning Web
site.
CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY FORUM: VP Kathleen O'Brien and Institute on
the Environment interim director Deborah Swackhamer will cohost a
forum with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, April 28,
4-5:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. Learn more about the
work being done to advance sustainability efforts on campus and
share your priorities for campus sustainability. The forum, part of
student Actifest week events, will also inform the work of the
committee charged by President Bruininks, and cochaired by O'Brien
and Swackhamer, to develop sustainability goals and outcomes for
the U.
NEXT WELCOME WEEK INFO SESSION, April 30, 1-2 p.m., 335 Borlaug
Hall. RSVP, ofyp@umn.edu. To
learn more, see Welcome
Week.
MOVIE SCREENING AND DISCUSSION: Sundance Film Festival award-winner
Dark Matter is a fictionalized account of a 1991 shooting
at the University of Iowa. A panel discussion following the film
will explore student mental health, adjustment issues, and campus
safety. April 24, 4 p.m. (seating 3:30 p.m.), Coffman Union. To
learn more, see campus
events.
INTERNATIONAL GRANTS SYMPOSIUM, sponsored by the Office of
International Programs, will feature panel discussions with
previous faculty recipients of its International Strategic
Initiatives funds. A reception will follow to honor the 2008
faculty and graduate student recipients and feature posters
presented by last year's student recipients. Grants will total
nearly $560,000 in 2008-09. April 29, 2 p.m. (reception 4:30 p.m.),
Weisman Art Museum. To learn more, see campus
events.
"STORMWATER," cosponsored by the U's Water Resources Center, will
feature student presentations on stormwater projects and an update
on the U's stormwater plans, including those for the new TCF Bank
Stadium. April 30, 3-4 p.m. 105 Cargill Building.
2008 KERMIT A. OLSON MEMORIAL LECTURE. Richard Primack, a Boston
University professor, will present "Climate Change Comes to
Thoroeau's Concord," in which he will focus on the changes in
flowering times that have been observed in several plant species
over the past 150 years. April 30, 4 p.m., 110 Green Hall.
HILLEL PRESENTS A LECTURE: "Turning Away from Hate: Confessions of
an Ex-Neo Nazi." TJ Leyden will speak about his years in a white
supremacist movement and the importance of diversity and tolerance.
April 30, 7 p.m., 175 Willey Hall.
UNIVERSITY STORES ANNUAL LAB FEST, featuring lab product and
services vendors, will be April 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Radisson
University Hotel, and May 1, St. Paul Student Center.
"BUILDING TIES '08" exhibit will feature culturally sensitive
housing designs for Mexicans and Ojibwe, developed by third-year
interior design students under the direction of U professor
Tasoulla Hadjiyanni. Opening May 3, 2-4 p.m., Hennepin History
Museum, and runs through June 8.
"THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY'S NANOELECTRONICS Research Initiative:
Motivation and Challenges" is the next lecture in the Digital
Technology Center's Science and Technology Innovators Series. Given
by Jeff Welser, director of SRC Nanoelectronics Research
Initiative, IBM Almaden Research Center. May 6, 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m.
reception), 101 Walter Library. For more information, see DTC
events.
MORE EVENTS include Financial Intelligence course (April
24); "Atlantic Worlds: Art and Globalization from Columbus to
NAFTA" (April
25); "Kinetic Spectrum" (April
26); "Cellotone 2008" (April
27); "Innovative Approaches to the Global AIDS Epidemic: A Town
Meeting With Congresswoman Betty McCollum (April
28); "Video Options at the U" (April
29). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.
Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.
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