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2018 LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

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President: Tuajuanda C. Jordan, PhD

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2018 SURF Cohort and Directors Ready for Summer May 2018 Getting ready to SURF! Nine students were chosen during a competitive selection process to participate in the St. Mary’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program this summer. The program partners students from intentionally varied disciplines with faculty mentors to engage in directed research or creative work. While working full-time for eight weeks on their individual projects, students also participate in workshops and group meetings to sharpen their professional skills. The SURF program culminates in a symposium in July, where students showcase their finished projects to the campus and local community. Here is a glimpse at what some of the SURFers will be working on this summer: Justyce Bennett ’19, a DeSousaBrent Scholar studying anthropology, is working on a project under the guidance of Emily Casey (asst. prof. of art history). Bennett will research the methodology of archaeologists and art historians to establish an interdisciplinary approach to the interpretation of artifacts found on sites that relate to slavery. The project’s purpose is to develop a critical method for approaching these artifacts that connects them to larger visual cultures and provides insight into the culture and lives of enslaved people, while also allowing room for personal agency and creativity. Nick D’Antona ’20 is conducting the project “Printing Perovskite Solar Cells: A Low-cost Production Method for Renewable Energy”. D’Antona and Troy Townsend (asst. prof. of chemistry) will layer inks with an automated printing process so that they consistently produce stable and efficient solar cells. James Judlick ’19 is a junior studying psychology. His project is a study of possible discrimination against LGBTQ men as they apply to administrative, clerical, and management positions. The project will be mentored by Ayse Ikizler (asst. prof. of psychology). Bethany Laffan ’20 is an English major working with Jeffrey Coleman (prof. of English) on the project of analyzing the novels “Norwegian Wood” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” through various psychoanalytical theories, Laffan hopes her research will reveal intercultural connections between readers in Japan and the

A newsletter for the community, faculty, staff and students.

The 2018 cohort of SURF students with program co-directors (top left) Mark Rhoda (visiting assoc. prof. of TFMS) and (top right) Kevin Emerson (asst. prof. of biology).

United States. Lily Pohlenz ’21 is working on a biology-focused project, conducting research under the guidance of Kevin Emerson (asst. prof. of biology). Since somatic Wolbachia infection limits disease transmission among mosquitoes, Pohlenz, a biology major, and Emerson are attempting to learn its method of growth as a potential mechanism for preventing the spread of vector transmitted diseases. Stephanie Schoch ’19, computer science and psychology double major, will investigate the role of domain-specific knowledge in health data visualizations under the mentorship of Amanda VerMeulen (research and instruction librarian). This research specifically focuses on how healthcare domain knowledge affects comprehension of data visualizations with varying properties and attributes. Kelly Healy ’19 will work with Shanen Sherrer (asst. prof. of biochemistry) on her project titled “Cutting a Pathway: Locating Binding Site of Environmental Contaminant Cadmium in Metal-binding Protein”. Kelly is a junior, double majoring in biology and biochemistry with a minor in music. Elizabeth “Izzy” Peterson ’19 is working with Barry Muchnick (asst. prof. of environmental studies) on a project titled “A Call to Animate: A Study and Subversion of Propaganda’s Power.” A studio arts major with a minor in film & media studies, Peterson’s research is focused on analyzing propaganda films of the early 20th century, such as Disney war bond shorts, Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator,” and the films of Leni Riefenstahl. Patrick Martin ’18 contributed to this article as a PFP fellow in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

Want More? News, Student and Faculty accomplishments: www.smcm.edu/news Campus Events Calendar: www.smcm.edu/events/calendar 240.895.2000 | www.smcm.edu

Twain Lecture Series Welcomes Tig Notaro On Friday, April 20, comedian, actor, writer Tig Notaro headlined the 12th annual Twain Lecture Series on American Humor and Culture, founded and directed by Professor of English Ben Click. Notaro, originally of Mississippi, writes, produces and stars in the Amazon series, “One Mississippi.” Season 1 yielded several nominations including WGA, GLAAD and The Critic’s Choice Awards. Notaro was also nominated for an Emmy as well as a Grammy for her 2016 HBO special “Boyish Girl Interrupted,” a GLAAD Award nomination for the Netflix Original Documentary “Tig,” and her memoir “I’m Just a Person” is a New York Times Bestseller. Rolling Stone named Notaro one of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time. Pictured: Tig Notaro with SMCM President Tuajuanda C. Jordan at a reception held for Notaro prior to her lecture.

EPA Recognizes SMCM as Top Green Power User in CAC The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized SMCM as the Capital Athletic Conference Champion in the 2017-18 College and University Green Power Challenge. Since April 2006, EPA’s Green Power Partnership has tracked and recognized the collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power use within the program. The Conference Champion Award recognizes the school that uses the most green power in a qualifying conference. St. Mary’s College of Maryland beat its conference rivals by using more than 22 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power, representing 117 percent of the school’s annual electricity use. SMCM procures renewable energy certificates from 3Degrees, and

also generates green power using on-site solar resources. This commitment to green power demonstrates a sustainable choice that helps to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain, and regional haze.


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