SPIDER INSIDER
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t s e r B S u O OR D SA S BA
For faculty & staff at the University of Richmond 2017–18 • VOL.1, NO. 1
Austen Kelso and Amadi Slaughter from the Office of Admission take a break to enjoy the Aug. 21 solar eclipse.
INSIDER 2017–18 • Vol. 1, No. 1
AROUND THE LAKE 4 Media mentions Athletic director search update A chip off the ol’ graduation cap 5 Early Action: A new admission option Your pocket guide to our strategic plan A holistic wellness culture 6 A new webpage, too Richmond named best-run college Accolades Bigger, faster wireless network Social buzz 7 Meet the Class of 2021
PEOPLE 8 A conversation with Provost Jeffrey Legro 9 2017 Distinguished Educators 10 Your accomplishments 11 Meet Dana Kuchem, director of scholars and fellowships 13 New and reappointed endowed position holders 14 New hires 15 Moves Retirements 16 Mark your calendar
Faculty and staff kick off the academic year with Colloquy.
Our best AMBASSADORS
AROUND THE LAKE
SPIDER
Welcome to the first issue of Spider Insider, a publication designed specifically for you, faculty and staff at the University of Richmond. Published twice a semester, it will feature institutional updates, national and local recognition of our colleagues, highlights of upcoming events, facilities announcements, and information about working at Richmond. You’ll also find insights from fellow Spiders, announcements of new hires and promotions, stories and photos from around campus, and more. This publication was developed to keep you informed about the University. I also hope that seeing announcements about new benefits and recognition of work well done will leave you feeling personally affirmed and proud of our collective service to the University. As faculty and staff at the As faculty and staff at the University of Richmond, University of Richmond, we we are some of our instituare some of our institution’s best ambassadors in our tion’s best ambassadors in local communities, our proour local communities, our fessional networks, and the professional networks, and world at large. Spider Insider the world at large. is another tool to help us all match the depth of our knowledge about the University with the depth of our enthusiasm when speaking about Richmond with others. In conjunction with the launch of this publication, University Communications has created an online resource for faculty and staff at richmond.edu/faculty-staff. This website will be a place for timely news and announcements, as well as a collection of resources that will help support you in your work on behalf of Richmond and our students. We’re keenly aware that some of our staff members don’t have regular access to a computer as part of their work responsibilities or would like the opportunity to read about the University when it suits them best. That’s why we’re offering both the website and this print publication — which allows everyone to access information in their preferred medium. With the launch of Spider Insider, we are providing a new opportunity to further connect colleagues across campus. Thank you for all you do to make Richmond such a special place for those who work and learn here.
President
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MEDIA MENTIONS Media often seek out the expertise of UR faculty and staff to help explain the news of the day and give context to national issues. Here is a sample of recent media placements highlighting the expertise of our Richmond colleagues: In an essay, “The President as Mentor for Tackling Hard Questions,” in Inside Higher Ed, President RONALD A. CRUTCHER shared his insights on the potential of mentoring as a way to bridge differences and foster civility. “Today, at Richmond and across the nation, students are ready to have candid and civil conversations across lines of difference,” he wrote. “In our mentoring groups, and on our campuses, they are acquiring the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to lead us effectively in the future.”
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR search update The University launched its search for a new director of athletics in August. The search is expected to attract top candidates nationally for the critical role of providing our student-athletes with the finest possible experience in competition and in the classroom. “We look forward to identifying and hiring a director of athletics who will work effectively across the University of Richmond community to lead our pursuit of both athletic competitive success and educational excellence,” said Dave Hale, executive vice president and chief operating officer and chair of the search committee. To help with the search, the University engaged Collegiate Sports Associates (CSA), a firm that specializes in senior college athletics administrator searches, including recruitment work for many highly selective institutions with Division I intercollegiate athletics programs. Hale said he hopes the search will conclude by the end of the fall semester and that a new director of athletics will join the community in early 2018.
Ahead of President Trump’s first trip abroad, National Geographic highlighted a map project out of the Digital Scholarship Lab. In “New Map Explores the History of Presidential Trips Abroad,” DSL director ROBERT NELSON explained that the dramatic increase in presidential travel since World War II was not solely due to air travel. “The shift also reflects America’s growing global influence and use of soft power — diplomacy rather than military might — in the latter half of the 20th century,” Nelson said. Assistant director of Career Services ANNA YOUNG offered advice to readers of College Magazine on what questions to ask an interviewer to land the job. She suggests asking this question: What are the most important things you’d expect me to accomplish in the first month? “Great candidates hit the ground running; find out how you will be expected to jump in and start contributing to the organization from day one,” Young said. The Christian Science Monitor turned to landscape ecologist TODD LOOKINGBILL, chair of the Department of Geography and the Environment, for perspective on a study linking climate change to some tree species moving west. “Shifts are occurring downslope, towards the coast, or laterally in mountains,” he said. “The findings … highlight the important role that changes in precipitation are already having on tree distributions.”
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Additional media placements are available at news.richmond.edu/placements.
A CHIP OFF THE OL’ GRADUATION CAP When Richmond’s director of maintenance, Paul Lozo, started talking to his kids about college, he knew his message would carry more weight if he also had his degree. So in 2006, he enrolled in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies’ liberal arts bachelor’s degree program. He took a break to focus on the demands of raising young children, but returned to his education about five years ago. That’s when he realized he could graduate the same year as his son Collin, a business major. On Saturday, May 6, Collin met Paul at the Robins Center stage to hand him his diploma. The next morning, Paul reciprocated. “I’m not sure if I was more excited for him handing me my degree or me seeing him walk across the stage,” Paul said. Paul is keeping the momentum going. He started the Richmond MBA program this August. He hopes to graduate in three years — this time with his daughter Alex. All three Spiders used tuition remission to cover the costs of their educations. “The tuition benefits for both my kids and myself are absolutely huge,” Paul said. “But it’s also the connections. Because I’m an employee here, I know a lot of the people or departments I can reach out to for help.”
AROUND THE LAKE
EARLY ACTION: A NEW ADMISSION OPTION The Office of Admission has added Early Action, an admission decision plan for students applying to be part of the Class of 2022 and beyond. This student-friendly option provides greater flexibility for applicants while also allowing Richmond to remain competitive in the marketplace, as many other schools offer this decision plan. Early Action is similar to Early Decision in that it allows students to apply and receive an admission decision earlier in their senior year. Early Action admission is non-binding, meaning admitted students are able to compare all offers of admission prior to committing to a university. Early Decision students, however, agree to attend Richmond if admitted. Through Early Action, students who apply by Nov. 1 will be notified of Richmond’s admission decision by mid-January. Previously, applicants didn’t receive the news until April unless they applied through the Early Decision process. Applicants may still apply through Regular Decision with a Jan. 15 deadline and early April notification.
Your pocket guide to our STRATEGIC PLAN Inserted into this issue is a pocket-sized guide to Richmond’s strategic plan, Forging Our Future, Building from Strength. It outlines the plan’s five pillars and the values that will inform and guide our institutional priorities in the coming years. Our work together continues to move forward as the plan shifts into the implementation phase. Attention is now on identifying and developing specific initiatives, as well as the means of evaluating them. Several ideas are already emerging. Wellness — a focus on the well-being of body, mind, and spirit, and a signature of a thriving community — is an urgent issue that universities must address. Richmond is positioned to be a leader in this area. A second emerging initiative is the enhancement of programs that position students for professional success. Q-Camp in the Robins School of Business has been at the forefront of our efforts here. Additional opportunities will build on the work of our schools and the Office of Alumni and Career Services. For the full version of the plan, visit strategicplan.richmond.edu.
A holistic WELLNESS culture When students arrived on campus in August, they heard a consistent message during orientation, from their residential advisers, and elsewhere: To do well, you need to be well. A holistic approach to wellness is an issue that universities across the country are increasingly addressing. Richmond is taking such an approach and positioning itself to become a leader with the creation of a new Health and Wellness Unit in the Division of Student Development. The new unit brings together Recreation and Wellness, Student Health, and CAPS under the leadership of Tom “Aligning and pooling our Roberts, who previousresources creates opportunities ly headed recreation and wellness. to reach a broader audience “In our University’s and gives us a unified voice mission, we make the and message.” bold claim that we prepare students for lives of purpose,” President Ronald A. Crutcher said. “It is imperative that a holistic approach to their wellness be part of our efforts if we are to ensure they have an opportunity to thrive as part of this academic community and to position them for long-term success in their lives.” Support services across campus reinforce this message and offer multifaceted opportunities for wellness — from healthy dining options to coursework, sustainable lifestyle education, psychological services, the Student Health Center, exercise classes, and even study breaks complete with puppies to pet. Students are getting the message. Last year, more than 3,500 of them used the Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness, and more than 1,600 are registered for wellness classes. “Our campus providers share similar goals for the health and well-being of our students,” said Roberts, whose new title is associate vice president of health and wellness. “Integrating and combining our efforts and expertise, and aligning and pooling our resources creates opportunities to reach a broader audience and gives us a unified voice and message. All of our programs and services benefit from the shared knowledge, resources, and access.”
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A NEW WEBPAGE, TOO Stay informed between editions of Spider Insider at richmond. edu/faculty-staff. This new faculty and staff webpage offers the latest institutional news, announcements, faculty and staff accomplishments, and event listings. You’ll also find links to frequently used academic, employee, and work resources. Plus, you can share your own recent accomplishments, many of which will appear on the site and be included in future editions of Spider Insider.
ACCOLADES The New York Times ranked UR among the colleges most committed to economic diversity in its third annual College Access Index, “Top Colleges Doing the Most for the American Dream.” The Fiske Guide to Colleges selected UR for its 2018 edition of more than 300 “best and most interesting schools” in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. U.S. News & World Report ranked UR No. 23 overall among the nation’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges — up from No. 27 last year — and No. 20 in the Best Value category.
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SOCIAL BUZZ The best emoji around: #WorldEmojiDay —@SpiderAthletics via Twitter
Richmond named BEST-RUN COLLEGE At a time when some are questioning the value of higher education, Richmond is being recognized nationally for both superior education and strong management. It’s frequently named a best value as well. In July, the Princeton Review named UR among the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education and ranked Richmond as the No. 1 Best-Run College in the country. The University also made several of the publication’s other lists including Best Classroom Experience (No. 6), Most Beautiful Campus (No. 6), Most Popular Study Abroad Program (No. 12), Lots of Greek Life (No. 16), and Best Athletic Facilities (No. 20). In September, U.S. News & World Report ranked UR No. 23 overall among the nation’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges — up from No. 27 last year — and No. 20 in the Best Value category. U.S. News also listed Richmond among the nation’s best for enrollment of international students and Pell Grant recipients, as well as its study abroad programs. “These rankings are directly attributable to the dedication, hard work, and expertise of the University’s staff and faculty,” said Dave Hale, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Richmond’s fiscal health also got an A+ grade from Forbes in its 2017 College Financial Grades, a mark achieved by just percent of nearly 900 colleges it evaluated.
Bigger, faster WIRELESS network Information Services more than doubled the number of Wi-Fi access points on campus over the summer as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen the University’s network capacity and performance. The total number of access points increased from 1,287 to 2,665. The result: a much faster and more reliable wireless campus network for our community. “The campus community expects Wi-Fi to be fast and reliable,” said Alison Harvey, project manager and senior network specialist. “Coverage, speed, and signal quality improvements are a result of doubling the access points on campus with specific focus on classrooms and residence halls.” Most campus users now prefer to access the internet through the wireless data network. At any one time, up to 6,000 devices may be connected by faculty, staff, and students. As part of the upgrade, Information Services also replaced all existing access points with the latest technology.
Summers at @urichmond with Dr. Myers doing Amine-haloborane research helped me become a scientist. —@Astro_Flow via Twitter
DE SA !!! If you are currently enrolled you MUST TAKE HIS CLASSES —@hannaloupehaze via Instagram
What it takes to retrofit an elevator. #progress —@modlincenter via Instagram
So proud to be one of Dr. Gupton’s former students and research mentees. His guidance, instruction, and mentorship were invaluable, informative, and irreplaceable. —Austin Scharf via Facebook Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @urichmond.
The new Spiders who make up the Class of of experiences and backgrounds our students 2021 are a distinguished group. These 800 bring when they come together from nearly students stood out from among more than 600 different high schools across the globe 10,000 applicants to earn their spots. Their stretches and informs their education. They academic acumen rivals any incoming class help each other understand perspective and in UR history. Their accomplishments outside difference in new ways.” the classroom are equally impressive. Dupaul praises the “amazing work” of the Among them are class presidents, yearbook editors, “From the enrollment management lens, Gold Award winners and everyone in the community is recruiting Eagle Scouts, entrepreneurs, students. From those who make the grounds cancer researchers, a pianist beautiful to the faculty members who meet who has performed at Carnegie Hall, and a nationally with families to those who simply make a ranked tennis player. point to say ‘hi’ to the tour groups — every They also stand out in touchpoint is critical.” another important way. As the most diverse class in University history — 38 percent self-identify as staff in admission and financial aid for craftdomestic students of color or nonwhite intering such a talented and diverse class. But she national citizens, and 13 percent are first-genalso stresses the key role all University faculty eration college students — it brings a tapestry and staff play in recruiting our students. She of perspectives that will infuse and enrich calls it “creating the culture of welcome.” campus conversations. “From the enrollment management lens, “This class is bright, interested, and intereveryone in the community is recruiting stuesting,” says Stephanie Dupaul, vice president dents,” Dupaul says. “From those who make for enrollment management. “The diversity the grounds beautiful to the faculty mem-
WHO are they? 10,013 applicants 33% admitted 806 enrolled 53% female 47% male 30% students of color 10% international students 13% first-generation college students 17% Pell Grant recipients 9% legacies 65% receive financial aid
bers who meet with families to those who simply make a point to say ‘hi’ to the tour groups — every touchpoint is critical.” For those in enrollment management, there’s little time to celebrate the arrival of the Class of 2021. They are already immersed in recruiting and shaping the Class of 2022. With thousands of prospective families coming to campus this fall for visits and admission events, Dupaul hopes all faculty and staff will think about how they can help extend the culture of welcome and ensure another strong incoming class next year.
WHAT are their
WHERE are
Academics: 66% arts and sciences 32% business 3% leadership
30 countries 38 states + Washington, D.C. 597 high schools attended
Extracurricular: 92 NCAA athletes 61 worked 15+ hours/week in high school 29 student government leaders 20 Eagle Scout/Gold Award winners 19 yearbook/school newspaper editors
Virginia New York New Jersey Connecticut Massachusetts Maryland California North Carolina
interests?
AROUND THE LAKE
Meet the CLASS OF 2021
they from?
Top states:
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A conversation with Provost Jeffrey Legro
A Shared Vision Jeffrey Legro joined the University on July 1 as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He comes to Richmond from the University of Virginia, where he was vice provost for global affairs and Taylor Professor of Politics.
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What attracted you to the opportunity to be provost at the University of Richmond? The ambition and excellence here. We have a world-class liberal arts college that also has professional schools, and that combination is really attractive to me because I see how it can really advantage the student experience and students’ educations. I have also been really impressed by faculty scholarship and our faculty/staff commitment to students. You’ve talked about how our strategic plan “brings our strengths together in new and unparalleled ways.” Can you explain how our strategic plan accomplishes this? President Crutcher has done a great job leading us in this effort to develop a very distinct and promising plan for the future. Richmond has very interesting strengths — the five schools, the diversity, the city at our doorstep, an outstanding global education program, to name just a few. The plan not only further develops these strengths, but also weaves them together. New initiatives like ethical leadership, wellness, and creativity-entrepreneurship can cut across schools and programs. What are the most pressing issues facing institutions of higher education like Richmond? The dilemma is how you continue to be excellent but also remain affordable and accessible, something Richmond is doing well. A second
challenge is the significant divisions we face as a society. How do we train a new generation to learn from dialogue and handle disagreement? So how do you do that? You have to have different views present. We know that students develop the creativity and complexity of their thinking much more rapidly when they’re interacting with peers different from themselves. President Crutcher has an incredibly ambitious vision of the mix of academic excellence and a thriving and inclusive community. When you put those two together, you have something very special. Can you talk about UR’s commitment to international education? I’m very excited about what Richmond is doing. Sixty percent of students do education abroad; the ambition is to make that 100 percent. That’s not a small ambition given all the requirements that athletes and others have, but it has a huge impact because of the transformative power of an international experience. It adds to the intercultural competency that can distinguish a Richmond education. What else would you like to share with the University community? My spouse, Janet, and I love living in close-knit academic communities. We are curious people who like to learn and are looking forward to meeting a lot of people, so come up and say hello.
PEOPLE
2017 Distinguished Educators
Academic Excellence TIMOTHY J. BARNEY, associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies Barney transforms how students see the world, guiding them through the most circuitous and congested problems in international studies using his expertise in the rhetoric of map-making.
KRISTIN M.S. BEZIO, associate professor of leadership studies Bezio makes connections — between Elizabethean and contemporary pop culture, between the University and Henderson Middle School in the city of Richmond, and, most importantly, with her students.
They come from five schools and eight disciplines, but the faculty honored at Colloquy this year as Distinguished Educators are unified in exemplifying the University’s commitment to academic excellence.
BILL FISHER, professor of law Fisher exemplifies the teacher-scholar model. When he could not find a textbook that met his high standards for his corporate governance course, he wrote his own — an 800-page book that is a favorite of students and scholars alike.
KASONGO KAPANGA, professor of French In their course evaluations, Kapanga’s students praise his “rare talent to meet his students at whatever level they enter the classroom,” a feat he accomplishes in three languages, “all without losing sight of the humanity of the work,” as one former student wrote.
SAIF MEHKARI, associate professor of economics Mehkari pushes students to think broadly and motivates them as a classroom instructor, as a faculty adviser for independent honors research, and across departments as a co-coordinator of the mathematical economics major.
CAROL PARISH, professor of chemistry Parish’s national leadership in the integration of teaching and research through her work with Integrated Quantitative Science (IQS) and Science Math and Research Training (SMART) courses is matched by her passion and effectiveness for increasing diversity and inclusion within science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. ELLEN WALK, assistant professor of information systems Walk’s leadership in the School of Professional and Continuing Studies has had its greatest impact in developing courses and engaging students in scholarly and creative work. She has designed, developed, and taught 11 different courses and one internship program.
JONATHAN WHITAKER, associate professor of management Whitaker, who has received all four major honors in the Robins School of Business, played a leadership role in designing the consulting track curriculum and overseeing its implementation. One hundred percent of his students achieve full-time job placement before graduating.
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YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS We celebrate the accomplishments of our talented faculty and staff. See more accomplishments and submit your own grant, publication, or honor at richmond.edu/ faculty-staff.
NANCY BAGRANOFF, dean of the Robins School of Business, was appointed to the board of directors for TowneBank. KRISTIN BEZIO, associate professor of leadership studies, and PETER KAUFMAN, George Matthews & Virginia Brinkley Modlin Chair in Leadership Studies, co-edited Cultural Icons and Cultural Leadership, Edward Elgar Publishing. CHRIS BISCHOF, assistant professor of history, received a $70,000 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship to research elementary education in the West Indies for his book project, An Efficient Empire: Race, Capitalism, and Social Engineering in the British West Indies, 1834–1865. JORY BRINKERHOFF, associate professor of biology, received a $100,000 grant from the Jeffress Memorial Trust for his project “Quantitative Genomic Analysis of Black-legged Tick Populations in Virginia to Identify Processes Associated with Increased Lyme Disease Incidence.” JEFF CARLSON, assistant professor of marketing, received a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to fund research on consumers’ perceptions of price discounts. HANK CHAMBERS, professor of law, was named an Austin E. Owen Research Scholar by School of Law Dean Wendy Perdue. The scholar position honors the legacy of the Hon. Austin E. Owen, L’50, and is awarded for faculty excellence in research and scholarship. JORY DENNY, assistant professor of computer science, received a grant from the Computing Research Association for Women to support a student undergraduate researcher for a project that seeks to develop advanced algorithms for planning robotic motions and is applicable to all types of robots, from automated household vacuums to the Mars rover. RAFAEL DE SÁ, professor of biology, received a $30,000 (approximate award) Fulbright Scholar Fellowship for amphibian biodiversity research in Colombia.
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KATIE FAUTH, program coordinator for Partners in the Arts, and ROB MCADAMS, director of Partners in the Arts and adjunct assistant professor of liberal arts, received a $1,125 grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts for the project “Engaging Creative Thinkers.” JESSIE FILLERUP, assistant professor of musicology, was awarded a fellowship from the University of Aarhus in Denmark for her research into the use of music in 19th-century European and North American theatrical magic shows. JESSICA FLANIGAN, assistant professor of leadership studies and philosophy, politics, economics, and law, published Pharmaceutical Freedom: Why Patients Have a Right to SelfMedicate, Oxford University Press. Flanigan received the 2017 Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Faculty Member of the Year Award for excellence as a motivator, mentor, and teacher. TERRYL GIVENS, Bostwick Professor of English and professor of literature and religion, published Feeding the Flock, which explores Mormon beliefs and practices as well as the theological history of the religion, Oxford University Press. KRISTINE GRAYSON, assistant professor of biology, received a grant from the National Science Foundation for her project “Linking Thermal Tolerance to Invasion Dynamics: Climate and Physiological Capacity as Regulators of Geographical Spread.” JOHN GUPTON, Floyd D. and Elisabeth S. Gottwald Professor of Chemistry, was named to the 2017 class of American Chemical Society (ACS) Fellows, which includes scientists who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in chemistry and have made important contributions to ACS, the world’s largest scientific society. SARA HANSON, assistant professor of marketing, received a grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to fund research she is completing with Monika Kukar-Kinney, professor of marketing, on consumer coupon sharing. JULIAN HAYTER, assistant professor of leadership studies, published The Dream is Lost: Voting Rights and the Politics of Race in Richmond, Virginia, University Press of Kentucky. Hayter was appointed to the Monuments Commission Work Group by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
PEOPLE
Meet Dana Kuchem, director of scholars and fellowships
Expanding Opportunities With two Fulbright, three Goldwater, and three Gilman awards to students in 2016–17, among others, Richmond students have been on a strong run of securing prestigious national fellowships and scholarships. With the addition of a new staff member heading a new office, students’ positioning for such awards promises to grow even stronger. Dana Kuchem joined the campus community in July as UR’s first director of scholars and fellowships. Her office, on the third floor of Tyler Haynes Commons, administers the Richmond Scholars program and will help students across campus identify and apply for externally funded national fellowship programs. “It’s about connecting students with opportunities,” Kuchem said. “I really see myself as an adviser. My role is helping students figure out who they want to be and where they want to go in life.” Kuchem comes to Richmond from Ohio State University, where she was manager of the Undergraduate Fellowship Office in the Honors and Scholars Center. She also is past president of the National Association of Fellowship Advisors and has served on national selection committees for the Udall, Critical Language, Truman, and Gilman scholarships. “We are thrilled that this new office will be led by a strategic thinker who has a strong national network in the fellowship community, and who also understands the University’s commitment to helping our students thrive,” says Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for enrollment management.
Students have long worked with faculty to apply for such awards. Kuchem brings an additional breadth and depth of knowledge about the application process for an array of potential awards. “The awards criteria change somewhat from year to year,” said Kuchem, who managed the undergraduate nomination process for more than 20 national scholarships and fellowships at Ohio State. “Keeping up with that is frontand-center for us in a way that’s difficult for a faculty member who has 90 other things to do. It’s hard to be an expert in everything that’s out there.” Her sights are set on a broader set of awards than just the very top ones. “There are a handful of awards people know — Trumans, Goldwaters, Fulbrights, Rhodes,” she said, “but there are some that people know less that offer great opportunities to students.” She cites, for example, the Gilman Scholarship, which offers funding for study-abroad experiences to students on Pell Grants. “There’s not necessarily a typical fellowship candidate,” she said. Even students who ultimately don’t receive the awards for which they are applying benefit from the application process, she said. “Whether or not they receive it,” she said, “students reflect on their path and goals, work on their writing skills and possibly interviewing skills, and deepen their relationships with faculty. At the end of the day, the value is in the skills they gain while applying.”
Dana Kuchem joined the University in July as the first director of scholars and fellowships, a position created to connect students with prestigious academic opportunities.
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DANIEL L. HOCUTT, adjunct professor of liberal arts and School of Professional and Continuing Studies web manager, published the paper “The Complex Example of Online Search: Studying Emergent Agency in Digital Environments” in SIGDOC ’17: Proceedings of the 35th Association for Computing Machinery International Conference on the Design of Communication. JOYCE JANTO, deputy director of the Muse Law Library, was awarded the American Association of Law Libraries’ Hall of Fame award for her dedication and contributions to the profession of legal information management. PETER KAUFMAN, George Matthews & Virginia Brinkley Modlin Chair in Leadership Studies, is editor-in-chief of Religions, which Scopus, the largest abstract and citation database of peerreviewed literature, ranked 20 among the 371 religion journals indexed in its 2016 CiteScore. Kaufman and KRISTIN BEZIO, associate professor of leadership studies, co-edited Cultural Icons and Cultural Leadership, Edward Elgar Publishing. NICOLE MAURANTONIO, associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies, was awarded a yearlong $5,000 fellowship from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities for work on her book project, Changing Hearts and Minds: Memory, Race and the Confederacy in 21stCentury Richmond. ROB MCADAMS, director of Partners in the Arts and adjunct assistant professor of liberal arts, and KATIE FAUTH, program coordinator for Partners in the Arts, received a $1,125 grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts for the project “Engaging Creative Thinkers.” ERNEST MCGOWEN, associate professor of political science, published African Americans in White Suburbia: Social Networks and Political Behavior, University Press of Kansas.
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KEITH “MAC” MCINTOSH, vice president and chief information officer, was appointed to the Virginia War Memorial Board by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
LIONEL MEW, assistant professor of information systems, received a $5,000 grant from Bank of America for the project “Pathways to Security.” Assistant professor of journalism SHAHAN MUFTI’s book The Faithful Scribe was chosen as the One Book, One Richmond selection for the coming year.
THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT received a $1,250 grant from the Kip Kephart Foundation to fund the Bobby Chandler Award, given to an outstanding music major in recognition of his or her contributions to the music department through performance and/or scholarship. STEPHEN NASH, associate professor of journalism, published Grand Canyon for Sale, a book investigating the future of America’s public lands (national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, monuments, and wildernesses), University of California Press. MICHAEL NORRIS, assistant professor of chemistry, received a $55,000 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for his project “Systems for CO2 Conversion to Value-Added Products with NADH Mimics.” CAROL PARISH, professor of chemistry, received a $70,000 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for her project “An Atomistic Inquiry into the Driving Forces for Nano-Aggregation and Cluster Formation in Asphaltenes.” Parish was named the recipient of the 2017 Zaida C. MoralesMartinez Prize for Outstanding Mentoring of American Chemical Society Scholars.
PEOPLE
JULIE POLLOCK, assistant professor of chemistry, received a $100,000 grant from the Jeffress Memorial Trust for her project “Experimental and Computational Investigations of MEMO1 and its Role in Breast Cancer.” Her collaborator for the project is CAROL PARISH, professor of chemistry. JOSAFATH REYNOSO, assistant professor of scenic design, won the Gold Award for Emerging Designer at the 2017 World Stage Design exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan. Reynoso won the award for his design for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Triad Stage in North Carolina. KIMBERLY ROBINSON, professor of law, was named an Austin E. Owen Research Scholar by School of Law Dean Wendy Perdue. The scholar position honors the legacy of the Hon. Austin E. Owen, L’50, and is awarded for faculty excellence in research and scholarship. CHUCK ROGERS, director of design and construction, received a $9,615 grant from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges for the project “Gottwald Science Center: Student Study and Collaboration Area.” ERNESTO SEMÁN, assistant professor of leadership studies, published Ambassadors of the Working Class: Argentina’s International Labor Activists and Cold War Democracy in the Americas, Duke University Press. DEBORAH SOMMERS, executive director of the Modlin Center for the Arts, received a $7,000 grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts for “In the Shelter of the Fold” – Doug Varone and Dancers. Sommers received a $5,000 grant from the foundation for “Soil” – Michael Sakamoto and Dancers, and another $2,000 grant from the foundation for “Dorrance Dance.”
New and Reappointed Endowed Position Holders These academic honors recognize an individual’s attainment of the highest levels of teaching, scholarship, research, and service in his or her discipline or field. CINDY BUKACH MacEldin Dunn Trawick Professor in Psychology
CORINNA LAIN S.D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law
STEPHANIE COBB* George & Sallie Cutchin Camp Professor of Bible
LÁZARO LIMA* E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Chair in Liberal Arts
DON FORSYTH* Col. Leo K. & Gaylee Thorsness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership
TERRY PRICE Coston Family Chair in Leadership & Ethics
GEOFF GODDU James Thomas Professor in Philosophy
STEPHEN TALLMAN* E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professorship in Business
ROBERT KENZER* William Binford Vest Chair of History
*reappointed
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NEW HIRES FACULTY We offer a warm welcome to our new colleagues and congratulations to colleagues taking their next steps. The following includes full- and part-time faculty and staff from May 1 to July 31, 2017. Hires, moves, and retirements courtesy of Human Resources.
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES CHEMISTRY
Jeffrey Simpson Director of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Computational Support PSYCHOLOGY
Molly Kent Post-doctoral Fellow
Perry Cancilla Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine
Ellen Sayles Associate Dean and Director of Education Abroad
Nate Mulberg Assistant Baseball Coach
Lauren Tolson User Support Specialist, Boatwright Memorial Library SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING STUDIES
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Barbara Apostle Regirer Grant Program Assistant, SPCS Administration
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
ADVANCEMENT
STAFF
Carlos Cevallos Post Baccalaureate Research Assistant, Biology
Carrie Hawes Associate Director, Employer Relations, Office of Alumni Relations
John Forsythe Administrative Coordinator, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Emily Humberson Writer and Acknowledgment Coordinator, Donor Relations
Sam Gillespie Post Baccalaureate Research Assistant, Chemistry
Marya Kravets Gift Entry and Records Coordinator, Advancement Data Services
Rhonda Jackson Administrative Coordinator, Theatre and Dance Operations Benjamin Kornegay Post Baccalaureate Fellow, Integrated Inclusive Science, Biology Tanya Wagner Administrative Coordinator, Chemistry PROVOST
Melanie Jenkins Director, Institutional Effectiveness Jeffrey Legro Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
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Luci Ortiz User Support Specialist, Boatwright Memorial Library
Genna Mirenda Operations Coordinator, Law School Advancement, Annual Giving SK Parker Assistant Director, Career Services Brenda Thomas Director of Grant Support, Office of Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations
ATHLETICS
Shelby Broughton Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine
Siaura Saville Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine Hannah Stapleford Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine RJ Thomas Assistant Baseball Coach Brian Waltos Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine Martina Wood Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
BUSINESS AFFAIRS Chase Fletcher Investment Analyst, Spider Management Co. Ellie Sullivan Investment Analyst, Spider Management Co. CAMPUS SERVICES
Alicia Engels Events Manager, Events, Conferences, and Support Services David Morones Catering Cook I, Heilman Dining Center Charles Williams Sous Chef, The Cellar FACILITIES
Terrell Clarke Custodial Floor Technician Julian Cline Groundskeeper
Mason Dickerson Electrician I Halima Sesay Interior Designer Assistant FINANCE/ADMIN
Alison Smith Director of Financial Planning
COMMUNICATIONS
Sam Campbell Social Media Specialist David Johnson Assistant Vice President, Marketing and Brand Integration
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Amanda Gearhart Assistant Director, Admissions Marcie Hampton Operations Assistant, Financial Aid Office Abbie Handford Financial Aid Advisor Dana Kuchem Director of Scholars and Fellowships, Richmond Scholars Program Vanessa Santo Operations Assistant, Financial Aid Office
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
Amy Collins Administrator, Residence Life and Housing Lee Dyer Associate Director for LGBTQ Campus Life, Common Ground Britnie Hopkins Sexual Misconduct Education and Prevention Coordinator Rachel Koch Staff Psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services
FACULTY
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES BIOLOGY
Fernando Gomez Director of Biological Instruction STAFF
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Tiffany Jefferson Budget Manager Kirsten Petrocelli Director of Operations and Strategic Initiatives LAW
Mason Ramsey Computing Services Associate, Law Library
PROVOST
Carrie Ludovico Business Librarian, Boatwright Memorial Library Andrea Vest Administrative Coordinator, Bonner Center for Civic Engagement
ADVANCEMENT
George Bowles Assistant Director, Advancement Data and Reporting Sarah Kuhn Assistant Director, Employer Relations, Alumni and Career Services Kimberly Lebar Director, Annual Giving Sarah McComas Major Gift Officer
ATHLETICS
Anthony Carney Assistant Coach, Strength and Conditioning
BUSINESS AFFAIRS CAMPUS SERVICES
Ashley Blount Cook II, Heilman Dining Center Jerry Clemmer Director of Business Services, One Card Office Eliot Cleveland Multi Unit Manager, ETC. Shaun Hall Banquet Captain, Catering Josh Wroniewicz Director, Purchasing, Dining Services
FACILITIES
Elena Chergarova Custodian Wa Hit Custodial Support Technician Kernell Lewis Custodian CONTROLLER
Laurie Melville Senior Associate Vice President and Controller FINANCE/ ADMINISTRATION
Mark Detterick Senior Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration HUMAN RESOURCES
Carl Sorensen Senior Associate Vice President, Human Resources
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Mike Pagano Financial Aid Advisor
INFORMATION SERVICES
PEOPLE
MOVES
Sam Gibbs User Services, Macintosh Support Coordinator
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE Tracy Cassalia Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT Sarah Sheppard Manager, Health Education and Wellness
Bryn Taylor Associate University Chaplain
RETIREMENTS
45 YEARS OF SERVICE Lit Maxwell Boatwright Memorial Library
38 YEARS OF SERVICE Hugh West History faculty
34 YEARS OF SERVICE Gene Anderson Music faculty 15 YEARS OF SERVICE Ellis Bell Chemistry faculty 13 YEARS OF SERVICE Sharon Scinicariello Languages, Literatures, and Cultures faculty
29 YEARS OF SERVICE Mark Rhodes Art and Art History faculty
73 COMBINED YEARS OF SERVICE Cathy Moran Dining Services Administration 35 YEARS OF SERVICE
Randy Moran One Card Office 38 YEARS OF SERVICE
Cathy and Randy leave a legacy of dedication, professionalism, and genuine caring.
19 YEARS OF SERVICE Debbie Mullin Theatre and Dance Operations
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
OCTOBER Oct. 9 PREVIEW RICHMOND Open house for prospective students and their families
OCT. 30–NOV. 10 OPEN ENROLLMENT The one time during the year to make changes to your benefit elections without a qualifying event. INFORMATION SESSIONS Oct. 17, 10–11:30 a.m. Oct. 18, 2–3:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 10–11:30 a.m. Weinstein Hall, Brown-Alley Room BENEFIT FAIRS Nov. 2, 8, 10; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness Open enrollment assistance, free flu shots, health assessments, chair massages, and more!
Oct. 11 VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE A Sharp Viewpoint Speakers Series event Oct. 27–29 HOMECOMING
NOVEMBER Nov. 22–24 THANKSGIVING BREAK
DECEMBER Dec. 1, 2–4 p.m. WINTER CELEBRATION THC, Alice Haynes Room Dec. 8 LAST DAY OF UNDERGRADUATE FALL CLASSES Dec. 22–Jan. 1 WINTER BREAK
USAC
FACULTY SENATE
The University Staff Advisory Council represents the needs of staff to senior administration and works proactively to make the University of Richmond an employer of choice.
The University of Richmond Faculty Senate is the body authorized by both the University Faculty and the Board of Trustees to represent the faculty in the University’s governance process on matters that impact the University or affect more than one school.
MEETINGS* Oct. 10 Nov. 14 Dec. 12 1–3 p.m. THC, Room 305
MEETINGS* Oct. 13 Nov. 17 Dec. 8 3–4:30 p.m. THC, Room 305
* Unless otherwise noted, meetings are open to all faculty and staff. Spider Insider is a publication for faculty and staff of the University of Richmond produced by University Communications. Spider Insider is printed on paper that is FSC® Certified, SFI® Certified Sourcing, and Rainforest Alliance Certified™, with 10% post-consumer recycled content and certified fiber.