ARTES LIBERALES
Fall 2011 Volume V, No. I
The Newsletter of the Liberal Arts
A&S DEAN’S LETTER
Greetings, I began work as the School of Arts & Sciences’ new dean on July 1st of this year. I have had the great pleasure of meeting many of our faculty during the quieter days of summer, and I have loved these conversations. I eagerly await the return of our students, so that I can begin to get to know them as well. I very much appreciate reading articles such as the ones in this publication. I am awed by your creativity, your drive, and your many accomplishments. If I start to look or sound like a bureaucrat, I hope you will intervene and invite me to a lecture or a lab or a creative performance. Just like many of you, I am drawn into life by the vitality of ideas and a passion for discovery.
I am excited about the year that lies ahead. If you read the Arts & Sciences feature story (pg. 10), you will learn that I intend to host a series of conversations or “listenings” this fall. My goal is to elicit your insights and priorities for the School. In the meantime I am settling in, slowly learning my way around campus, more or less, and most importantly—getting to know all of you. If you see me out and about, please don’t hesitate to stop and say hello. One by one, you are helping me see the great presence and potential of the School of Arts & Sciences as the heart of this liberal arts university.
Kathleen Roberts Skerrett Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences University of Richmond
Kathleen Roberts Skerrett Dean
Kathy Hoke Associate Dean, Research Support
Scott Johnson Associate Dean and Director, Academic Advising Resource Center
Joseph Boehman
Associate Dean Dean of Richmond College
Juliette L. Landphair Associate Dean Dean of Westhampton College
Artes Liberales is published twice a year for faculty, staff, students, and friends of the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Richmond. Electronic issues of Artes Liberales are available online at as.richmond.edu. Director of Communications Rachel Beanland Communications Coordinator Catherine Amos Web and Graphic Design Coordinator Kirsten A. McKinney Send story ideas or comments to catherine.amos@richmond.edu.
Our Mission To explore the liberal arts through intellectual inquiry, shared investigation, and creativity, thereby fostering a community whose members pursue knowledge for its intrinsic value and its contributions to professions, society, and the world. Cover Photo Dr. Kathleen Roberts Skerrett. See story on page 10. Throughout the publication, this symbol indicates that additional content is available.
A&S FACULTY TEACHING
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School adds director of film production to film studies program The School of Arts and Sciences is expanding its film studies program, adding filmmaker David Burkman as director of film production starting this fall. With experience working on hundreds of movie sets—from big-budget studios to nobudget films with friends—Burkman will teach two introductory sections of film production. He hopes to expand the curriculum with a screenwriting course and a track of more advanced production classes. “Film is not only the marriage of all art forms but it also integrates art with technology,” Burkman said. “It affords students the opportunity to learn so many real world skills that can be applied to myriad professions. It’s also a great forum in which students can learn about collaboration, leadership, and communication.” Burkman bought his first camera when he was 13 and cast his family in movies such as “Kung Fu Mom” and “My Dad’s a Robot.” But he never considered filmmaking as a profession until seeing a friend’s films while in college. He realized that anyone—not just Hollywood studios—could make movies. Burkman has shot films on everything from VHS tapes to 35mm film. His current
project is a feature film called “HAZE” about pledging a fraternity, based loosely on ancient Greek myth and his own experiences. At Richmond, Burkman plans to give his students the opportunity to make as many films as possible in a safe, encouraging environment where they are allowed the room to find their voices. “The best way to learn how to make films is to make films,” he said. One of his proudest projects was his MFA thesis film, “Breaking Up with Maggie Moore,” a semi-autobiographical and “deeply personal” work. Burkman licensed the 2000 film to the Independent Film Channel, where it aired for three years. The film aired so often that he began receiving emails from strangers who said the film affected them. “One of the most rewarding things about having made this film was seeing how it could affect total strangers,” he said. “More than any other reason, I think that’s really why I love film and love making films.” v
STUDENT RESEARCH
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Dressing Polly Tania Bukach, '13, sewed together Richmond history for her summer research project In a workspace in the theatre and dance department’s costume shop—a place that could double as the set of “Project Runway”—junior Tania Bukach has spent her summer playing designer for Mary Willis Ambler Marshall, the wife of Chief Justice John Marshall. Bukach hopes to someday design costumes for historic movies. To achieve her goal, Bukach self-designed an interdisciplinary studies major, combining theatre and history courses to create a special academic focus on medieval costumes. When compared with the medieval dresses Bukach has studied in the past, Mary Marshall’s dress, resembling ones from the early 1800s, is practically modern. With the help of a School of Arts & Sciences summer research fellowship, Bukach wanted to recreate a historic dress that had some local importance to Richmond. On a visit to the John Marshall House Museum, she saw a portrait of Mary Marshall and decided to recreate the dress she wore in the painting. The museum estimated that the painting had been completed circa 1790 but Bukach’s research on Mary Marshall’s dress
led her to believe the style of the dress was more in line with early 1800s fashion. “There’s not much history about her out there,” Bukach said, “and that’s what I like about this project. I’m giving her more of a visual impact on history.” John Marshall was a respected attorney in Richmond in the late 1700s. He was influential in the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, and President John Adams appointed him to serve as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1801. Marshall married Mary, whom he affectionately called “my dearest Polly,” in 1783. Bukach followed his lead and calls her project “Polly’s dress.” “It makes me feel more connected to how Richmond began and how it interacted in the wider history of the states,” she said. In the style of muslin dresses from the early 1800s, Polly’s dress embodies similar white empire waist dresses from period movies such as “Pride and Prejudice.” However, the dress in the portrait only showed Polly from the waist up, so Bukach had to get creative to figure out the structure, silhouette, fabric, and techniques used to construct it.
STUDENT RESEARCH
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While conducting primary research at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and at the Valentine Richmond History Center, Bukach viewed historical dresses and patterns that may have been similar to Polly’s. In her research, she found a pattern for an open-style gown, somewhat similar to modern wrap dresses, after which she modeled Polly’s. In her research she also found that early 1800s dresses had a bodice lining that wasn’t attached to the skirt lining but instead was attached to the shoulders and sleeves. Sheer fabric then wrapped over the bodice, adding a layer and providing more modesty, she said. Using white linen and cotton voile, Bukach created the different layers and pieces of the dress, from the linen shift to the pleats, and sewed them all by hand. She built the stays (similar to a corset) based on a pattern she found in a book, crafting channels for each of the stay’s metal bones. Historically, the dressmaker would have used whalebones, Bukach said. She wanted to make accurate stays from the era, but realized she wouldn’t be able to use a human model. Because women grew up wearing corsets that ultimately altered the
shape of their bodies, modern women would not be able to comfortably wear one and take the shape of a woman from 1790. But using a mannequin proved to be difficult as well. “There are a lot of challenges to working with a mannequin and not a person,” said Bukach, who nicknamed her mannequin Pollykin. “She doesn’t have arms, so making the sleeves has been difficult.” In the remaining weeks of summer, Bukach’s to-do list included finishing Polly’s sleeves, attaching the skirt, and hemming the dress—not to mention adding lace to the cuffs and waistband. When she finishes the dress, Bukach plans to donate it to the John Marshall House on East Marshall Street in downtown Richmond. v
Watch Tania explain her research by clicking this icon in the digital version of Artes Liberales. To see pictures from various stages of her project, visit Bukach’s blog at marshallhousedress.wordpress.com.
A&S FACULTY RESEARCH
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Sociologist researches the cultural identities of West Indian immigrants This summer Bedelia Richards stepped out of her role as an assistant professor and into the role of a student at a National Endowment of the Humanities summer seminar, where she studied immigration from different perspectives. Richards, a sociology professor who specializes in immigration, social inequality, and race and ethnic relations, spent five weeks in Los Angeles with 15 other scholars from around the country for the seminar, “Rethinking International Migration.� UCLA distinguished professor of sociology Roger Waldinger led the seminar and met with
participants individually. Richards’ goal was to work on her book proposal, which would explore the research she conducted on second generation West Indians. Some of the issues she researched included what it means to become an American for children of immigrants and what types of ethnic identities they adopt. The purpose of the seminar was to expose the scholars to an interdisciplinary approach to immigration studies, exploring issues such as rights, citizenship, and migration policy; diasporas and transnationalism; and the second generation.
majority of black students in both were In addition to Richards, there were West Indians. scholars with backgrounds in history, Previous sociologists have found philosophy, political science, geography, and that because West Indians were in other disciplines. predominantly African American schools, Participants met three days a week, they learned what it meant to be American discussing readings and exchanging feedback from their African American peers. The on their own work. Richards said the collegial idea was that this could sometimes lead setting was both extremely constructive and to negative consequences for academic “very uplifting.” She hopes to finish revising achievement, Richards said. her proposal in the fall. Richards argues that this depiction is “In some ways, it reminds me of graduate no longer accurate because there are a school,” she said. “We’re all students for number of neighborhoods in Brooklyn those five weeks … It was intense but it was where West Indians are the majority, not definitely an amazing experience.” African Americans. Her Richards’ research involved in-depth “In some ways, it reminds research identifies what assimilation looks like interviews and participant me of graduate school. in environments where observation with children We’re all students the immigrant group of West Indian immigrants is actually the majority. in Brooklyn, N.Y. She spent for those five weeks… She also says that the a full academic year in two It was intense but it was academic outlooks schools, shadowing a small definitely an amazing and behaviors of West number of students in Indian youth are best school and at social events. experience.” explained by how they “Wherever I was are treated by teachers, able to gain access, I rather than attempts to fit in with African just observed,” she said. “When you do interviews, it’s kind of a one-shot thing. People American peers as some sociologists have suggested. are complex individuals. It enabled me to Because American society is so triangulate and get a more complete picture divided by race, Richards said, one of the by going deeper.” prominent sociology discussions relates Richards wanted to explain the academic to how some—but not all—Asians outlooks and behaviors of West Indian youth and Hispanics are making it “into the who were educated in schools where African mainstream” through economic success. Americans comprised a negligible percentage Yet there isn’t the same level of acceptance of the student body. She looked at how the children experienced self-identification—both of black immigrants and African Americans within predominantly white spaces, she as members of their ethnic community and said. as students—and how their interactions and “So even though West Indians make experiences were shaping or forming their up a smaller percentage of immigrants self-identification. today, you’re not going to have a complete In both schools she visited, Richards said picture … unless you look at black her West Indian respondents described immigrants’ experiences.” she said. “We African American friends who felt pressured can’t make predictions about how they will to identify as West Indians—a reversal of adapt to American society by only looking earlier trends. One school was multi-ethnic at the Asian and Hispanic experience.” v and one was predominantly black, but the
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A&S IN THE COMMUNITY
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The Archimedes Initiative Visiting scholar aims to increase science literacy around the country
Starting with a seedling idea two years ago, visiting senior chemistry research scholar Jeff Seeman set out to create a handful of online videos about science fairs to improve science literacy. After receiving a grant and some unexpected help from a local alumnus, Seeman built a powerful online tool that Google now promotes to high school students around the world. In 2009 the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation awarded Seeman a $40,000 grant to
produce eight five-minute tutorial videos for teachers and students to be used as a step-by-step educational tool for science fair projects. Seeman, an organic chemist by education who has also become a historian and sociologist of chemistry, has nearly 15 years of experience in video production. While working previously on a documentary about 1986 Noble prizewinner Dudley Herschbach, Seeman learned about Herschbach’s interest and involvement with high school science fairs. Seeman immediately realized the benefits students reap from participating in fairs.
like to have somebody listen to what we have to say.” Seeman even enlisted Herschbach to visit the University of Richmond and watch the videos, summarizing what each student said during his or her interview. Seeman included Herschbach’s comments at the end of each five-minute video. Lawrence also built Seeman’s website, which compiles the 17 theme-based videos of students talking about their experiences creating a science fair project. It also indexes and cross-lists dozens of shorter clips by topic—from conquering fears to advice for students and parents. The site went live in February 2009 and Seeman employed former students Heather Robinson, ’11, and Maria Mercedes Guevara Llatas, ’11, to market and promote the Archimedes Initiative. Since then many regional fairs have linked to it as a resource. Even Google contacted Seeman about including the resource on its site for the 2011 Google Science Fair. Though he has seen hits increase on the site, Seeman said implementation of the tool is the hardest part. His next step will be to market the resource directly to schools and teachers. “Our primary goal is improving science literacy in the country,” he said. “We don’t believe that we alone will … but I believe very strongly that combined with other efforts, we can make a substantial contribution. We just never know who will be touched by this.” v Click this icon and explore the Archimedes Initiative online.
A&S IN THE COMMUNITY
“I have a strong commitment to give back to our communities,” Seeman said. “I became convinced that self-learning and self-discovery for our youth is a wonderful method or approach to learning.” With that in mind, Seeman decided to combine his knowledge of science and his experience in video production on a project where students would speak directly to other students. Called the Archimedes Initiative, the idea was that students could browse an online resource of videos about others’ science fair projects and experiences, and in doing so develop their own ideas and pursue their interests. After word spread locally about Seeman’s project, UR graduate Tom Lawrence, ’02, decided he wanted to help. Lawrence owns GroundWork Design, a small web design company in Richmond that specializes in content development for educational institutions, non-profits, small businesses, and grant-funded projects. He offered Seeman the use of his studio for free. Because of the unexpected boost in resources, Seeman’s project grew from eight videos to 17 “of a quality that far surpassed anything that I would have done,” he said. Seeman collected the videos by visiting three fairs: the Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair, the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair in Boston, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta. With the help of professional film crews, Seeman interviewed students about their projects, what they learned about themselves, and what they liked about the experience. “Kids are wonderful,” he said. “These kids became the experts in their field and all of us
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A&S FEATURE
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New Arts & Sciences dean begins her tenure with an emphasis on less talk, more listening Members of the search committee, charged with identifying the School of Arts & Sciences’ next dean, were engaged in two long days of interviews at Richmond International Airport. The in-person interviews take place prior to inviting finalists for more in-depth interviews on campus. More than a dozen candidates had flown into Richmond from across the country, and the committee, comprised of faculty, staff, and a student, was collectively very tired. “We had seen a lot of really good people, but halfway through the second day, in came Kathleen Skerrett, who was so immediately engaging, and so warm, witty, outgoing, personable, and just plain smart, that we all sat up and took notice. People
got excited about her,” said Provost Steve Allred, who co-chaired the search with biology professor Malcolm Hill. Skerrett, a native of Toronto, Canada, was a professor of religious studies at Iowa’s Grinnell College, a liberal arts college that is consistently ranked among the top 20 liberal arts schools in the country. Since 2007, she had served as an associate dean of the college. At Grinnell, she was praised for her emphasis on interdisciplinary education, which is no great surprise considering her background. She received a law degree from Halifax’s Dalhousie University prior to attending Harvard Divinity School, where she earned her Ph.D. in theology and the modern West. “Certainly, she has a really impressive academic resume and incredible administrative experience but there’s also a strategy, a vision, that comes across when she speaks,” said Hill. “She has this way of being very inclusive in how she discusses issues … even when the issues are controversial. That resonated with faculty.” One of Skerrett’s first priorities, since
What will help me the most is for people to say what they think directly, so that I can learn from a broad spectrum of insight and experience.” v Participate in the Conversation August 1 The dean asks members of the Arts & Sciences community to share their insights and priorities with her via an online form. September 9 The online form closes at 5 p.m. September 15 The dean will announce a series of themes, culled from the feedback the faculty and staff provide in their “insights and priorities” submissions. These themes will provide the foci for the conversations to take place throughout the fall semester. September 18 Faculty and staff will be invited to participate in small, facilitated discussions with the dean about matters pertaining to a particular theme. The discussion groups will be kept intentionally small, advance registration will be required, and the conversations will be moderated by an outside facilitator. November 18 Moderated discussions will take place throughout the months of September, October, and November and will conclude before the Thanksgiving holiday. December 12 The dean will release a summary document outlining the results of the fall’s discussions. January 2012 The dean will lead meetings to provide an overview of how these discussions will inform her work and the work of the faculty and staff going forward.
Watch a video message from Dr. Skerrett.
A&S FEATURE
starting the job on July 1, has been to formalize a process by which she can identify the priorities and insights of Arts & Sciences faculty and staff. From now through Sept. 9th she’s soliciting online feedback that will inform a series of facilitated conversations that she plans to host throughout the fall. Skerrett likes the term “listenings”—borrowed from Chancellor Rich Morrill—because, for her, these conversations will very much be about keeping her ears and mind open. “The University has an excellent strategic plan, so I hope we can continue to engage in what I like to call ‘strategic doing’.” Skerrett said. “It seems to me that our faculty and staff have a good grip on their core values; the next steps involve matching resources and means to further their ideas and initiatives.” The Arts & Sciences faculty is excited to see what Skerrett offers. “She’s looking for ways to make things better, not just to change things to change them,” said music professor Jennifer Cable, who was also a member of the search committee. “There’s a speech she gave to first-year students at Grinnell. She talks about what it means to come to a university to be a liberal arts student. When I read the speech, I got so excited because I thought, ‘Here is a person who is passionate about the liberal arts and really gets what it means to be a well educated, well rounded individual.’ From the moment I read that speech, she was a top candidate.” Ask Skerrett about her own strengths and she’ll tell you she’s responsive, responsible, and resilient. By nature, she says, she’s an imaginative and hopeful person but what sustains what she calls “the vision thing” is her ability to see and stick with the real possibilities that a community generates. “I value honesty very highly,” Skerrett said. “I am interested in learning what the faculty values most—what most inspires them in the work they do as well as what gets in the way.
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A&S ALUMNI FOCUS
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A chance encounter Alumni couple’s common interest in diplomacy takes them around the world
Megan Johnson Naylor, ’04, and Mark Naylor, ’05, barely crossed paths at the University of Richmond. Now they travel the world together. After graduating with a degree in international studies—with a concentration in world politics and diplomacy—Mark’s first job out of college was working for UR as an admission counselor. In December 2006 he flew into Richmond International Airport following a series of high school visits and grabbed a shuttle into the city. Megan, who was sitting a few seats away, looked familiar to him. He looked her up in UR’s alumni directory as soon as he arrived home, and the rest, as they say, is history. The two married in May 2010. Megan, a double-major in journalism and urban practice and policy, now works alongside Mark at the American embassy in Liberia as part of a two-year term with the Foreign Service. Mark earned his master’s in public diplomacy from the University of Southern California and works as a Foreign Service officer with the Department of State. He
serves as vice consul at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, where he manages the Fraud Prevention Unit, conducting visa interviews and providing citizen services to Americans. In grad school Mark interned for the Bureau of African Affairs and began his application process to the Foreign Service. After months of training he received the Liberia assignment and moved there in December 2009. Megan joined Mark in Africa following their wedding. She initially did some consulting work with a local microfinance institution before starting with the embassy’s public diplomacy section in January. As a public affairs officer, she works to help Liberians understand American policy and culture by writing speeches and press releases, coordinating social media, and managing special programs and events. She also manages a large-scale public awareness campaign designed to offer alternative dispute resolution strategies for land disputes. Before moving to Liberia, Megan worked for AmeriCorps and later worked in
provided me with the skills and support system that have been the basis for my professional successes. As a result, I’ve been able to work my way up from one great job to another.” Though their life in Liberia has been trying at times, Megan and Mark are eager to continue their work in international relations and head to their next post in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mark will be the assistant cultural affairs officer; Megan’s job is to be determined. “Our lives have almost completely changed since December 2006,” Mark said. “We’ve moved more times than we’d like to count. We’ve left jobs and friends and great apartments. We’ve gone back to school, changed careers, changed coasts, and changed continents … Whether it was fate, divine intervention, or just the pure randomness of the universe, I can’t imagine it turning out any other way.” v
A&S ALUMNI FOCUS
regional economic development for Virginia. Ultimately she decided to attend graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she earned a dual degree in business administration and city and regional planning. “[Urban practice and policy] sparked my interest in urban issues,” Megan said, “and led to the pairing that would ultimately be at the root of my career—how to use marketing and communications to impact urban issues.” Liberia is recovering from a 14-year civil conflict that destroyed its infrastructure, economy, and culture, Megan said. Many people live on less than a dollar a day in poor conditions, but she said people are optimistic. “Living here has been remarkably inspiring and challenging at the same time,” Megan said. “It has certainly made me appreciate so many things I previously took for granted.” While a student at Richmond, Mark took classes in comparative politics and international relations. He studied abroad in Accra, Ghana—providing the foundation for his interest in West Africa—and returned eager to work for the state department. “Richmond helped me focus my career aspirations and provided me the opportunities to explore those interests,” he said. He credits his advisor, history professor John Treadway, with helping him narrow his career focus. After taking a class on career and life development with the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies, Megan realized she didn’t want to focus on big, aspirational career goals but instead wanted to seek out the most interesting, meaningful, and challenging work she could find. “I’m probably a career counselor’s nightmare,” Megan joked. “My career goals have always been somewhat fluid, but my Richmond experience
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A&S IN THE WORLD
Tahrir Square becomes the ultimate research lab for political science professor
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Sheila Carapico in Tahrir Square, February 2011
she said. “The students themselves were so intimately involved in what was going on.” The experience was thrilling for Carapico, but she certainly experienced moments of apprehension. The night of Jan. 28, a huge police presence moved into downtown Cairo. The demonstrators confronted the police, who responded with tear gas and live ammunition. The demonstrators then broke through police lines, forcing police to flee. Fires burned in the city, including at the national party headquarters. “It was extremely chaotic,” she said. Thankfully, Carapico was not living in the heart of downtown, but rather a 20-minute metro ride away. Signs of the revolution were still very apparent outside the city’s center, however. With a complete lack of police presence, citizen watch groups sprang up in neighborhoods to patrol the streets at night, and high school students organized cleanup brigades during the day. Revolutions, however, take a long time, Carapico said. The military, which served Mubarak, remains in power and the demonstrations continue. Egyptians are not yet satisfied and are asking for the military to make serious preparations for a transition away from its rule. “It’s a little hard to see what the long term will bring,” she said. “Everyone recognizes this was sort of the beginning of a process of change rather than the end.” Back in the United States, Carapico will teach courses at Richmond this fall on the Arab Spring revolutions. She plans to discuss analyses from participants and visitors, putting students in touch with writings and online resources and using social science tools to analyze what happened. “It gave me an increased fondness of Egyptians,” she said. “I want to try to bring the experience home.” v
A&S IN THE WORLD
While most people watched this winter’s revolution in Egypt unfold on the news, political science professor Sheila Carapico watched the drama play out from her suburban Cairo neighborhood. Carapico returned to the United States this summer after spending three consecutive semesters in Egypt at the American University in Cairo as a visiting member of the faculty and chair of the political science department. After spending last Christmas at home, Carapico returned to Egypt on Jan. 25. “I knew something was going to happen,” she said of the fervor that led to the revolutions, “but I didn’t know that much was going to happen.” Prior to Jan. 25, there were often small protests, Carapico said, adding that there were almost always a few dozen people demonstrating outside the country’s parliament in Tahrir Square. While many ex-patriots desperately tried to get out of Cairo in the days that followed the initial uprising, Carapico—who specializes in international relations and comparative politics—settled in, welcoming the opportunity to witness history unfold in front of her. “It was very exciting,” she said. “It reminded me of the civil rights movement in the United States, except kind of in fast-forward because there were such big demonstrations every single day.” Because the protests started before the academic semester began, the American University in Cairo delayed classes for two weeks. Two days after former President Hosni Mubarak resigned, classes began. Although there was not much noticeable change in day-to-day life, Carapico said there was a definite shift in the way people expressed opinions. Before the revolution, most people would not discuss politics with strangers. Afterward, it was all anyone was talking about. “It was an incredible teaching experience,”
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A&S IN THE WORKS
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Accomplishments Gene Anderson [music] completed a commissioned article on Louis Armstrong for the Grove Dictionary of American Music, second edition (AmeriGrove II). The new edition will be integrated into Grove Music Online and published in a set of eight printed volumes.
Joe Essid [Writing Center] published an article, “Playing In A New Key, In A New World: Virtual Worlds, Millennial Writers, and 3D Composition,” in the book, Teaching and Learning in 3D Immersive Worlds: Pedagogical Models and Constructivist Approaches.
Kathrin Bower [MLC] published an article on “Serdar Somuncu: Turkish German Comedy as Transnational Intervention” in the June 2011 issue of TRANSIT. Her article, “Minority Identity as German Identity in Conscious Rap and Gangsta Rap: Pushing the Margins, Redefining the Center,” appeared in the May 2011 issue of the German Studies Review.
Mary Finley-Brook [geography and the environment] published a paper, “Renewable Energy and Human Rights Violations,” with Curtis Thomas, ‘11, in the Annals of the Association of American Geographers. With Curtis, she also published an article titled “Treatment of Displaced Indigenous Populations in Two Large Hydro Projects in Panama” in the journal, Water Alternatives. The papers build upon fieldwork the co-authors completed together in Panama in the summer of 2010.
Laura Browder [English] has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, which will support work on her documentary film, Mothers at War. Kelling Donald [chemistry] received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (NSF CAREER) award. This distinguished award recognizes scientists who are making significant contributions to their fields in the early stages of their careers. Wade Downey [chemistry] has received two grants to support his work with undergraduates regarding reaction acceleration, mediation, and catalysis by in situ silylation—one from the National Science Foundation and one from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Trust.
Jan French [anthropology] published an article, “The Power of Definition: Brazil’s Contribution to Universal Concepts of Indigeneity,” in the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies. Jeffrey Hass’ [sociology] book, Power, Culture, and Economic Change in Russia 1988–2008: To the Undiscovered Country of Post-Socialism, was published in 2011 by Routledge. Another book, Rethinking the Post-Soviet Experience: Markets, Moral Economies, and Cultural Contradictions of Post-Socialist Russia, is forthcoming from Palgrave Macmillan.
Steve Nash’s [journalism] article “Twilight of the Glaciers” led the New York Times travel section on July 31.
Peter Smallwood [biology] published a paper, “Securing WMD Expertise: Lessons from Iraq,” based on his work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He also published a paper, “Wildlife Conservation in Afghanistan,” based on his work there in 2008–2009. He contributed a book chapter on one aspect of this project to Greening in the Redzone, which will be released in October 2011.
Joan Neff [sociology] presented a paper, “Experiential Learning: Living Large in Small Ways,” at the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society and gave an invited presentation, “Trauma among Youth Committed to the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice,” at the Conference for Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges in April.
Aparna Telang [biology] and undergraduate student, Amina Abdul Quyum, produced a research video to accompany the publication, “A Protocol for Collecting and Staining Hemocytes from the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti,” both of which appeared in the Journal of Visualized Experiment. Telang also recently published an article, “Abundance of West Nile virus mosquito vectors in relation to climate and landscape variables,” in the Journal of Vector Ecology.
Jenny Pribble [political science] published an article, “Worlds Apart: Social Policy Regimes in Latin America,” in Studies in Comparative International Development.
Amy Treonis [biology] published a paper, “Effects of a one-year rainfall manipulation on soil nematodes, microbial communities and nitrogen mineralization,” in the journal, Pedobiologia.
Elizabeth Ransom [sociology] published a paper, “Gendering Agricultural Aid: An Analysis of Whether International Development Assistance Targets Women and Gender,” in the journal, Gender and Society.
Eric Yellin’s [history] article, “‘It Was Still No South to Us’: African American Civil Servants at the Fin de Siècle,” which was published in Washington History, was awarded the 2011 James Madison Prize for best article by the Society for History in the Federal Government.
Tracy Roof’s [political science] book American Labor, Congress, and the Welfare State, 1935–2010 was published by the Johns Hopkins University Press in May 2011.
Have some good news to share in the next issue of Artes Liberales? Send your professional achievements to rbeanlan@richmond.edu.
A&S IN THE WORKS
Brian Henry’s [English] translation of the Slovenian poet Ales Steger’s The Book of Things won the 2011 Best Translated Book Award for poetry. Henry’s seventh book of poems, Lessness, appeared in March and has been nominated for the National Book Award in poetry.
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CONNECT
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connect Attend SEPTEMBER Sept. 2 @ 1:30 p.m. Gottwald Auditorium The Department of Chemistry presents Dr. Jeffrey Katz, of Colby College, for its Chemistry Seminar series. Hosted by Dr. Wade Downey.
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Sept. 23 @ 2:45 p.m. Gottwald Atrium The School of Arts & Sciences’ annual Science Symposium showcases research completed by University of Richmond science students over the summer.
Sept. 6 @ 7 p.m. Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall Distinguished Writer in Residence Honor Moore will read from her work. Part of the Department of English’s Writers Series.
Sept. 23 @ 7:30 p.m. Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music The Department of Music’s annual Family Weekend Concert with performances by the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Women’s Chorale, and Schola Cantorum.
Sept. 16 @ 1:30 p.m. Gottwald Auditorium The Department of Chemistry presents Dr. Dorothee Kern, of Brandeis University, for its Chemistry Seminar series. Kern’s lecture is titled, “Choreographing an enzyme’s dance.” Hosted by Dr. Ellis Bell.
Sept. 29 @ 7:30 p.m. Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall The Department of History presents its Stafford Lecture with Dr. Michael David-Fox of the University of Maryland.
Sept. 16 @ 7 p.m. International Center Commons Guest lecturer Dr. Ralph Bolton opens the Chijnaya art exhibit. Sponsored by University Museums. Sept. 22 @ 7:30 p.m. Keller Hall Reception Room The Department of History presents its Baltimore Lecture, “Fire-Eaters at War,” with Dr. Eric Walther of the University of Houston. Sept. 23 @ 10:30 a.m. Ukrop’s Auditorium, Queally Hall Dominion Resources Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II to speak on campus. Hosted by the Speech Center.
Sept. 29 @ 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30 @ 7:30 p.m Oct. 1 @ 7:30 p.m Oct. 2 @ 2 p.m Cousins Studio Theatre, Modlin Center The Department of Theatre and Dance presents Trojan Women: A Love Story, directed by Dr. Dorothy Holland.
OCTOBER Oct. 13 @ 7 p.m. Westhampton Living Room, Westhampton Center American poet Carolyn Forché reads from her work. Part of the Department of English’s Writers Series. Oct. 23 Gottwald Atrium Homecoming breakfast sponsored by the School of Arts & Sciences. Visit alumni.richmond.edu/ homecoming/ for details.
Oct. 24 @ 7:30 p.m. Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall The Department of History presents its Berry Lecture, “The Pox of Liberty: How Markets and States Shape Disease Environments,” with Dr. Werner Troesken of the University of Pittsburgh.
NOVEMBER Nov. 2 @ 7 p.m. Brown-Alley Room, Weinstein Hall American novelist Robert Polito reads from his work. Part of the Department of English’s Writers Series. Nov. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. The Department of History presents its first of two Freeman lectures with Dr. Patrick Geary, of UCLA. Nov. 4-5 Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music The Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival celebrates its 11th year of bringing new electroacoustic music and experimental video to Richmond audiences. Visit thirdpractice.org. Nov. 10 @ 7:30 p.m. The Department of History presents its second of two Freeman lectures with Dr. Patrick Geary of UCLA.
See a complete list of events at calendar.richmond.edu.
Nov. 16 @ 7:30 p.m. Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music Dr. Mike Davison will lead the UR Jazz Ensemble and special guest artists in a multi-media show of Cuban music and dance. “A Night at the Tropicana” will feature videos of recent footage from Cuba, produced and edited by Dr. Davison’s Salsa Meets Jazz class. This event is free but requires tickets. Call the Modlin Center at (804) 289-8980. Nov. 17 @ 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 @ 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 @ 7:30 p.m Nov. 20 @ 2 p.m Cousins Studio Theatre, Modlin Center The Department of Theatre and Dance presents A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Chuck Mike. Nov. 20 @ 7:30 p.m. Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music Global Sounds, directed by Dr. Paul Yoon, will celebrate traditional music and dance from around the world. This family-friendly concert will feature performances from Indonesian and Japanese cultures.
DECEMBER Dec. 2 @ 1:30 p.m. Gottwald Auditorium The Department of Chemistry presents Dr. Mark Johnson, of Yale University, for its Chemistry Seminar series. Hosted by Dr. Samuel Abrash. Dec. 4 @ 8 p.m. Dec. 5 @ 8 p.m. Cannon Memorial Chapel The 38th Annual Candellight Services led by Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, will feature new and traditional Christmas music.
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Oct. 23 @ 3 p.m. Camp Concert Hall, Booker Hall of Music A Homecoming Weekend performance by Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, featuring a cappella and accompanied choral works spanning three centuries and several continents.
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University of Richmond, VA 23173
Elizabeth Ygartua, ‘12, spent the summer experimenting with new painting and printmaking techniques in preparation for her senior thesis, “The Minerals.” In this series of prints the artist explored the characteristics of design, including color, shape, and texture that allow us to recognize and classify different minerals. Pictured is the work titled, “Agate.”