The Mendel Medal is awarded annually to outstanding scientists who have done much by their painstaking work to advance the cause of science, and, by their lives and their standing before the world as scientists, have demonstrated that between true science and true religion there is no intrinsic conflict. For more on the history of the Mendel Medal, please visit http://astro4.ast.vill.edu/mendel/mendel.htm.

Dr. Farmer will deliver two public lectures as part of his visit to campus. He will speak on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. in the Jake Nevin Field House and will deliver another lecture, sponsored by SIGMA XI in cooperation with the College, that same day entitled, “Pathologies of Power: Rethinking Health and Human Rights in the Global Era,” at 2:30 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema. For information about the lectures, please visit: http://www.artsci.villanova.edu/special_events/lectures/paul_farmer.html and http://www.csc.villanova.edu/~sigmaxi/events/index.html.

In addition, please note that the name of the Core Humanities Seminar has changed to Augustine and Culture: The Villanova Seminar. You’ll read all about this important change and the reasons behind it in this e-newsletter. Also, the certification programs in the Department of Education and Human Services are undergoing a reaccredidation process by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Please take a moment to read all about this important reaccreditations process in this e-newsletter.

 hope this semester is going well for all of you, and as always, please feel free to contact the Dean’s Office if we can be of service to you. Also, please continue to submit your news items and event announcements for inclusion in the e-newsletter to Kate Szumanski at kathyrn.szumanski@villanova.edu.

Sincerely,

Kali C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

To learn more, please visit the Web site of the Department of Education and Human Services at: http://education.villanova.edu/statevisit/article.htm.

Core Humanities Seminar Renamed Augustine and Culture: The Villanova Seminar

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce Augustine and Culture: The Villanova Seminar as the new name of the Core Humanities Seminar, the innovative academic seminar and writing program for undergraduate first-year and transfer students that introduces them to the thought of St. Augustine and places it into conversations with other primary voices in the liberal arts tradition.

For full story, please visit: http://www.artsci.villanova.edu/corehumanities

The Department of Chemistry Publishes News and Events on Its Web Site

To learn all about what’s happening in the Department of Chemistry, be sure to visit http://www.chemistry.villanova.edu/notices/departmentnews.html and http://www.chemistry.villanova.edu/seminars/schedule.html.

There you will find a full rundown of news announcements – including student and faculty accomplishments – and upcoming seminars.

The Department of History Hires New Faculty, Posts Upcoming Events on Its Web Site

Be sure to visit the Web site of the Department of History to read all about its new faculty hires and other important news happening in the department at: http://www.history.villanova.edu

VCAN Bites the “Big Apple”

The Villanova Communication Alumni Network has been on the move once again, this time hitting the Big Apple in grand style for the recent kick-off of its New York Network. More than 100 guests enjoyed the launch celebration overlooking Manhattan’s picturesque 59th Street Bridge and East River.

The event caps an excellent inaugural year for VCAN. “Our Network launches in Philadelphia and New York have been both exciting and successful,” said Bill Cowen, director of VCAN, faculty in the Department of Communication, and coordinator of the department’s public relations program. “The response from alumni has been incredible and we look forward to the program’s continued expansion.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.communication.villanova.edu/VCAN/index.htm.

For more information, please visit: http://www.humanities.villanova.edu/images/Hanley2-2.pdf.

“Values and Interests: How Russians Make Sense of the New Russia”

The Russian Area Studies concentration invites you to a lecture by Dr. Stephen Whitefield of the Political Science Department at Oxford University, who will speak on “Values and Interests: How Russians Make Sense of the New Russia” on Monday April 3, in the DeLeon Room (300) of SAC at 4 p.m.

Dr. Winer to Deliver a Lecture as Part of the Core Humanities Program Birmingham Lecture Series

The Spring 2006 Core Humanities Program Birmingham Lecture Series will take place on Tuesday, April 4, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the DeLeon Room (SAC 300). Rebecca Winer, Ph.D., a professor in the department of history, will deliver a lecture entitled, “From Lactating Madonnas to Enslaved Muslim Wet Nurses: Mothers, Mothering, and Breastfeeding in the Medieval Realms of Aragon.” To RSVP, please call 610.519.7325.

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures Hosts Two Upcoming Events

Professor Mark Miller of the University of Delaware will speak about “Reflections on the ‘Intifada of the Suburbs’: Migration, French Muslims, and Security,” on Tuesday, April 4, at 3 p.m. in the Bryn Mawr Room of Connelly Center.

Join Dr. Gerald Prince, professor of romance languages at the University of Pennsylvania, to discuss “Revisioning Narratology” on Tuesday, April 11, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Radnor/St. Davids Room of Connelly Center. Dr. Prince is one of the most highly respected scholars on the subject of narrative theory. He is the author of several books, including A Dictionary of Narratology (rev. ed., U of Nebraska P, 2003), as well as many articles on narrative theory and modern French literature.

For more information on these upcoming events, please visit: http://www.classicalmodernlanglit.villanova.edu/events.

Ethics Program Symposiums Examine Deus Caritas Est, God is Love, Pope Benedict XVI’s First Encyclical

Two upcoming symposiums on April 5 and 7 will look at Deus Caritas Est, God is Love, Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical. For more information, please visit http://www.ethics.villanova.edu.

“Rebuilding Afghanistan, Renewing Hope” Catholic Relief Services and the Office for Mission Effectiveness along with the Center for Multicultural Affairs, the Departments of Education and Human Services, the Department of Political Science, the Ethics Program, the Graduate Program in Liberal Studies, the Center for Peace and Justice Education, One Book Villanova Program, the Environmental Program, the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, the Women’s Studies Program, and the Women’s Law Caucus of the Villanova Law School are sponsoring “Rebuilding Afghanistan, Renewing Hope” on Thursday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in Tolentine Hall Room 215.

For more information, please visit http://www.heritage.villanova.edu/Lectures/CRS1.htm.

The Department of English Hosts the 8th Annual Literary Festival

David Means, author of The Secret Goldfish, will speak on Thursday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema. Edmund White, author of My Lives, will speak on Thursday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.english.villanova.edu/LiteraryFestival/lit_fest.htm.

The Center for Peace and Justice Education Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Center for Peace and Justice Education will host a 20th anniversary celebration on April 7 and 8.

For more information, please contact Sharon Discher at sharon.discher@villanova.edu.

Dissertation Defense to be Held on April 7

The Graduate Faculty of the Philosophy Department cordially invites you to attend a defense of the dissertation, “The Foundations of Productive History in Mimesis and Narrative Identity,” by Judd Seth Wright on Friday, April 7, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Fedigan Room of SAC.

Paul Farmer, M.D., Ph.D., the 2006 Mendal Medal Recipient, to Speak on Campus

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, along with other University sponsors, welcomes Paul Farmer, M.D., Ph.D., the 2006 recipient of the Mendel Medal, to campus. Dr. Farmer, the Maude and Lillian Presley Professor of Medical Anthropology at Harvard Medical School, will deliver a public lecture on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. in the Jake Nevin Field House. He will also deliver another public lecture, sponsored by SIGMA XI in cooperation with the College, that same day entitled, “Pathologies of Power: Rethinking Health and Human Rights in the Global Era,” at 2:30 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema.

For information about the lecture, please visit: http://www.csc.villanova.edu/~sigmaxi/events/index.html.

The Department of Theatre Presents “Urinetown”

The Department of Theatre will feature “Urinetown,” directed by Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., on March 21 through April 9 in Vasey Hall. For show times, please visit: http://www.theatre.villanova.edu/2005-2006%20Season/Urinetown.htm.

“Memoirs of a Master Sushi Chef”

The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, the concentration in East Asian Studies, Dining Services, and the Japanese Club invite you to a special talk featuring Shigeo Mori, chair of the All Japan Sushi Association, on Monday, April 10, at 3 p.m., in the Faculty Lounge of Bartley Hall Room 3055. Mr. Mori will discuss how sushi developed from a simple 18th century technique for preserving fish to the elegant delicacy we know today. The lecture will be followed by a sushi making demonstration at 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Dr. Masako Hamada at masako.hamada@villanova.edu.

The 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference to be Hosted by Department of Sociology

On Thursday, April 20, the Department of Sociology will host the 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Social Research Conference on campus. This conference gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present their research on a number of topics, including Africana Studies, Criminal Justice, Education, History, Women’s Studies, Political Science, and other fields. For more information, please visit http://www.sociology.villanova.edu/mid_atlantic_undergraduate_confe.htm.

Geography Department Plans Lecture on Earth Day

Dr. David Orr (Environmental Studies) of Oberlin College will deliver an Earth Day lecture on Friday, April 21, in the Connelly Center Cinema. For more information, visit http://www.geography.villanova.edu/events.htm.

Philosophy Department Sponsors “On the Philosophy of Martin Heidegger”

The Philosophy Department invites you to a lecture by Dr. Hans-Helmuth Gander entitled, “On the Philosophy of Martin Heidegger,” on Monday, April 24, at 3 p.m., in the Fedigan Room of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts.

Join Villanova Theatre and the Irish Studies Program for a Celebration of Irish Literature, Music, and Dance

For a look at all the events being held from April 24 to 30 to celebrate the Irish Festival, please visit http://www.theatre.villanova.edu/2005-2006%20Season/Irish%20Festival.htm.

“Ethics for Lunch” Series Looks at “The Camden 28”

On Tuesday, April 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in SAC 300, please join Anthony Giacchino, a 1992 graduate of Villanova, who has finished a documentary film entitled, “The Camden 28,” which documents that group of people who broke into the Federal Building in Camden, N.J., in the late 1960s to destroy draft cards. This group was arrested and eventually acquitted by a jury of their peers. Anthony will talk with us about the reasons for creating such a film and how he understands its production in the context of his profession as a film director.

For more information, please visit http://www.ethics.villanova.edu/EthicsforLunchSchedule(S2006).htm.

The Cultural Film Series Examines “Struggles of the Spirit”

Visit the Web site of the Cultural Film Series at http://www.communication.villanova.edu/culturalfilms/struggles.htm for a look at the films featured this semester. The theme of this semester’s series: “Struggles of the Spirit.” Films are shown in the Connelly Center Cinema.

Colloquia Series Features Industry and Academic Leaders

The Department of Computing Sciences’s colloquia series invites guest speakers from academia and industry to present their work on campus. The general public is welcome to attend. Refreshments and informal discussion with the speaker follow the presentation.

For more information and to check out the upcoming speakers, please visit http://csc.villanova.edu/events.

Writing for Publication Seminar to be Held May 5 and 6

The Writing for Publication workshop, which is celebrating its 30th year, will be held May 5 and May 6. Open to all members of the Villanova community (students – graduate and undergraduate, faculty, staff, and members of the greater community), the seminar may be taken for credit or non-credit. Featured this year will be past participants in the workshop who will discuss their publishing success. Ray Heitzmann, Ph.D., serves as the seminar director; interested persons should call Ms. Marion Angelini at 610.519.4625 for more information.

Greenhouse Sale to be Held May 17 and 18

The Department of Biology’s Fourth Annual Greenhouse sale will be held May 17 and 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Greenhouse out in the parking lot behind the Mendel Science Center. This year, annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, cacti, houseplants, and bulbs will be on sale. More information to come!

Send Your News Items and Event Notices for Publication

Do you need help broadening your outreach efforts, publicizing events, and getting the word out about the accomplishments of your faculty? Please submit your announcements to Kate Szumanski at kathryn.szumanski@villanova.edu. Kate will include it in the next issue of the College’s e-newsletter.

• Web Migration Project Update — As you know the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is currently undergoing a thorough Web migration to approved UNIT Web standards. The main College website is expected to go live before the end of this semester. Departments, Programs and Offices within the College will follow and are being given priority order based on when they turn in the forms required by UNIT. To date, approximately half of the departments have turned in these forms- don't be the last to get your forms in!
  
  For more information, please contact Chris Driscoll at Christopher.Driscoll@villanova.edu.
   
• Update your Biography on the Web — As part of the College's ongoing Web migration process, all faculty and staff members in the College are asked to assemble basic biographical data on themselves and input it into a simple online form, known by UNIT as the BIO TOOL, by April 20. This is the information about you that will be displayed on your department's new website (when it is completed). Please visit this Web site and fill in the appropriate line items. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. We will send a reminder out in a separate email later this month. http://vuws.villanova.edu/bio/edit.