Letter from the Dean

On October 18, we were privileged to have General Anthony Zinni, a 1965 graduate of Villanova, address our students in the Professional Development Program on the value of a broad-based liberal arts education.

General Zinni, as many of us know, has had a distinguished military career. He was Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command, and since his retirement from the Marine Corps in July 2000, he has participated in diplomatic missions sponsored by the State Department involving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and conflicts in Indonesia and the Philippines.

In his talk to the students, General Zinni emphasized the importance of breadth in one’s education. In the forward to General Zinni’s most recent book, The Battle for Peace, Tom Clancy writes: General Zinni
is “a man who, with a decent book-learning education behind him, then learned to apply the lessons learned west of Philadelphia in the jungles of Vietnam, and later in every famous or infamous place on the globe. In the course of his post-college education, Zinni learned timeless and undying lessons in human behavior.”

Clancy’s point about “a decent book-learning education” is reiterated by an article that appeared in the Oct. 5 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, “New Plan to Overhaul Harvard Curriculum Singles Out Religion and American History for Study.” As noted in this article, a task force at Harvard recommends that undergraduates take one course in each of the following areas: “Reason and Faith,” “The Ethical Life,” “Cultural Traditions and Cultural Change,” “The United States:
Historical and Global Perspectives,” “Societies of the World: Historical and Global Perspectives,” “Life Science,” and “Physical
Science.”

What is striking about these recommendations is that these areas have been part of the core of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova for that last 30 years. The College is currently looking at ways to improve the delivery of these core areas and the University is also looking into whether there should be a more defined core curriculum across the colleges.

Nevertheless, the inclusion of the dialectical relationship between reason and faith is an intriguing recommendation of the report. Reason is not always antithetical to faith, nor faith to reason, nor religion to science. This is a tradition that a Catholic university upheld.

For example, Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian mathematician and Catholic priest (who was also awarded the Mendel Medal from Villanova in 1934) developed the Big Bang theory that described the beginning of the universe as a burst of fireworks, comparing galaxies to the burning embers spreading out in a growing sphere from the center of the burst. He believed this burst of fireworks was the beginning of time, taking place on “a day without yesterday.” Albert Einstein termed his theory of the expanding universe "the most satisfactory yet presented."

The late Pope John Paul II took the position that scientific discoveries in no way diminish the status of God or the place of religion in our lives. In November 1996, John Paul II delivered a message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in which he stated: “Today almost half a century after the publication of the encyclical [Humani Generis], new knowledge has led to the recognition that the theory of evolution is no longer a mere hypothesis.”

Furthermore, in his 1998 Encyclical, Fides et Ratio, John Paul restates a very Augustinian concept: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.” This, after all is what motivates all of our academic endeavors.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, may each of us renew the ties that bind us with the ones we love, and cherish and express our thankfulness for all the good things with which we have been blessed.

Sincerely,


Rev. Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Dean of the College
 

In College News …

Award-Winning Author Jonathan Kozol Visits Villanova

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, the Department of Education and Human Services co-sponsored the visit of award-winning author Jonathan Kozol to campus. 

Department faculty joined undergraduate and graduate students in the teacher education, counseling, and human services programs for a special meeting with Mr. Kozol in the afternoon. Students had the opportunity to discuss with him the issue of inequality of educational opportunity in American schools by asking questions. Many students were familiar with Mr. Kozol’s books since they are often required reading in their courses. In an evening ceremony, Mr. Kozol received the Adela Dwyer - St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award and offered comments on his work. 

The Department of Education and Human Services was pleased to be a part of this event. 

News Submitted by Lori Nelson and Teresa G. Wojcik, Ph.D.

In the photo: (left to right): Rebecca Lee, Lilly An, Dr. Connie Titone, Dr. William Werpehowski, Jonathan Kozol, Skip Peterson, Lori Nelson, Dr. Teresa G. Wojcik, and Joanne Varghese.

Freshmen Experience "Best of the Best" of Philadelphia Theater

Submitted by Nancy L. Kelley, Ph.D.
What a coincidence, or maybe it was even foresight! But last year more than 800 students, or 50 percent of our first-year class, attended two of the most decorated theater attractions in Philadelphia for 2006. Last November, as part of their Villanova Seminar course (then titled Core Humanities), first-year students enjoyed four memorable private showings of Harriet Power’s production of Michael Hollinger’s Incorruptible at Vasey Theater. At the recent prestigious Barrymore Awards, Michael and his most recent play, Opus, received three commendations.

In March, along with their faculty, Villanova Seminar classes were bused to the Philly’s Lantern Theater to see a production of Richard III, for which VCLE faculty member, KC Nocero served as dramaturg. Richard III and its lead actor, Peter Pryor, garnered two of the most coveted Barrymore awards for best play and best actor.

Thus, our first-year students can claim that they experienced “the best of the best” in Philly theater, a claim that only a distinct few can make. This VCLE program, of course, is being repeated this year as over 1,000 first-year students will attend performances of Shawn Kairschner’s production of The Tempest at Vasey in the next two weeks. The VCLE faculty has not yet selected the Philadelphia performance to which they will take their students in the spring, but all the Barrymore hopefuls are anxiously awaiting their decision.

East Asian Studies Publishes Fall Newsletter

The East Asian Studies Program has published its Fall newsletter.

Communication Department Posts Photo Gallery of "Summer in Greece" Program

This program, Villanova COM Summer in Greece, is one of many exciting programs that the Communication Department offers. It is one of the most unique study abroad opportunities available for students interested in communication.

Event Round-up

An Extensive Program of Events Marks the 2006-2007 Series in Anthropology
Looking Into Culture: The 2006-2007 Series in Anthropology features a number of events planned throughout the upcoming fall and spring semesters. For more information on all of these events, please visit the series' Web site.

A Special Brown Bag Lunch Event
At this special brown bag lunch event sponsored by the Center for Peace and Justice Education, learn how Oriental rugs are produced, the artisans who make them, and the difference fair wages and air trade make in their lives on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in Room 200 of the Health Services Building.

Catholic Imagination in Literature Series Looks at Ignatian Prayer and Poetic Imagination
John Freeh, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at Hillsdale College, will speak about Ignatian Prayer and Poetic Imagination in the works of Robert Southwell, John Donne, and Richard Crashaw as part of the University's Catholic Imagination in Literature Series on Monday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. in Room 300 of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts. The event is sponsored by the Department of Humanities and the Office for Mission Effectiveness. For more information, please click here.

Lectures in the Augustinian Traditions
The Augustinian Institute presents "Lectures in the Augustinian Traditions" featuring Professor Kenneth B. Steinhauser from Saint Louis University who will speak about: "Getting From Manuscript to Book in the 21st Century," on Monday, Nov. 6, at 4:30 p.m. in the first floor lounge of Falvey Memorial Library.

"Gender and Communication in Contemporary American Fiction"
Women's Studies is pleased to host "Gender and Communication in Contemporary American Fiction" presented by Magali Cornier Michael, associate professor of English at Duquesne University and author of Feminism and the Postmodern Impulse: Post World War II Fiction. The event will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. in Room 300 of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts.

Department of History Welcomes Stewart Stehlin, Ph.D.
Dr. Stewart Stehlin of the Department of History at New York University will speak about "Pius XII, the Second World War, and the Jews" on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. in Tolentine Hall Room 305.

"Writing for Our Lives," A Presentation by Teacher Michael Galbraith
Michael Galbraith, a Philadelphia middle school teacher, and his students, will make a presentation entitled, "Writing for Our Lives," on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Tolentine Hall Room 215. Galbraith has used a journaling method with his students, asking them to write about the violent and stressful situations in their lives. The resultant writing is both poignant and pressing. When students share their writing in class, the cathartic reaction has lead to a greater commitment to their education. In this presentation, Galbraith will explain his remarkable teaching tool, and five of his students will read from their journals. This special event is sponsored by the Concentration in Writing and Rhetoric, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Department of Education and Human Services.

The Augustinian Institute Presents the Vivian J. Lamb Lecture Series
The Vivian J. Lamb Lecture Series on Augustinian Thought and the Sciences welcomes Simon Conway Morris of the University of Cambridge, author of Life's Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema.

Andrew Delbanco Speaks on Herman Melville and the Law as Part of Villanova's Law and Literature Series
Renowned scholar Andrew Delbanco will be speaking on "Herman Melville and the Law" Thursday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m. in the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts Room 300. Delbanco, Levi Professor in the Humanities and director of American Studies at Columbia University, is the author of many books, including The Death of Satan: How Americans Have Lost the Sense of Evil, Required Reading: Why Our American Classics Matter Now, and, most recently, Melville: His World and Work. Inaugurating Villanova’s Law and Literature series, Delbanco’s lecture is sponsored jointly by the Villanova School of Law and the Villanova Department of English. The event is free and open to the public.

Seniors Encouraged to Attend Volunteer Fair
A Volunteer Fair for seniors interested in post-graduate service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the Villanova Room of Connelly Center. For more information, please contact Barbara Haenn in the Office of Campus Ministry.

An Evening of Kabuki Dance With Performing Artist and Educator, Kyoko Ohnishi
Join artist and educator Kyoko Ohnishi for an evening of Kabuki Dance on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 4:40 p.m. in Connelly Center.

"Writing at the New York Times"
Gerry Marzorati, '75, the past editor of the New York Times Magazine who has been promoted to assistant managing editor at The Times, will speak on campus Wednesday, Nov. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Bartley Hall Room 1011. Marzorati now oversees the content of the magazine and related publications. In addition, he helps identify and develop the next generation of editors for the magazines and magazine-like sections of the newspaper.  He also helps bridge the in-depth original reporting projects of the magazine and the daily newspaper and will work with The Times' online staff in developing a Times Magazine presence on the Web. Marzorati received the 2005 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Medallion.

Cognitive Science Program Hosts Upcoming Lecture
The Cognitive Science Program welcomes Professor Steven Sloman of Brown University, who will discuss "Causal Models of Reasoning and Choice," on Friday, Dec. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in Tolentine Hall Room 215. Please click here for more information.

Biology Department Hosts Thursday Seminar Series
The Department of Biology has posted its seminar series on its Web site. All seminars are held on Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the Mendel Science Center, Room 154.

Chemistry Department Hosts Tuesday Seminar Series
The Department of Chemistry has posted its seminar series on its Web site. All seminars are held on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. in the Mendel Science Center, Room 101.

"Ethics for Lunch" Series Features Two Upcoming Events
For more information on the two upcoming events sponsored by the Ethics Program, please click here.

Department of Mathematical Sciences Hosts Colloquia Series
Click here to learn more about the colloquia series.

Department of Philosophy to Host Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium
The Department of Philosophy will host the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please click here to learn more.

Ethics Program to Sponsor an Interdisciplinary Conference and Inaugurate an Award in Professional Ethics
The Ethics Program will sponsor an interdisciplinary conference -- Contemporary Ethical Problems in Engineering Practice: A Dialogue -- May 31 to June 2, 2007. In addition, the Ethics Program will inaugurate the Praxis Award in Professional Ethics on March 28, 2007. This award will highlight and celebrate the contributions of a professional or an academic in the field of professional ethics. For more information on the many activities planned in the Ethics Program, please visit the program's Web site.

VCLE to Sponsor 2007 Carlyle Studies Conference
The Villanova Center for Liberal Education will host the 2007 Carlyle Studies Conference on the subject of "Thomas Carlyle Resartus: Reappraising Carlyle for Our Times.” Please click here for more information.

Mendel Exhibit Coming to The Academy of Natural Sciences
Villanova University and The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia proudly announce their partnership to present the traveling exhibition, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics,” which will visit the Academy at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway from May 28 to September 28, 2008. The exhibition will be available to only five tour venues in the United States through 2008: Philadelphia (Villanova and the Academy of Natural Sciences), Chicago, Washington, D.C., Columbus, Ohio, and Memphis, Tennessee.

During the exhibition’s Philadelphia tour, all Villanova students, staff, and faculty who present valid identification will receive free general admission to the Academy of Natural Sciences. It is our hope that you will find this special exhibition informative and enjoyable.

To learn more about the exhibit, please visit http://www.fieldmuseum.org/mendel/. For more information, please contact Kate Szumanski at kathryn.szumanski@villanova.edu. 

Save the Dates!

Please mark your calendars for these important events:

Arts and Sciences Alumni Awards Dinner    Saturday, Nov. 11
Early Action Candidates' Day                     Saturday, Feb. 3
Candidates' Day                                       Saturday, April 14
Mendel Medal Award Lecture                      Saturday, April 28

Please click here for the complete academic calendar.

Faculty in the News

• David M. Barrett, Ph.D., associate professor of political science, has been awarded the D. B. Hardeman Prize for his book, The CIA and Congress. The D. B. Hardeman Prize, which is administered by the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, is awarded annually for the best book that focuses on the U.S. Congress, from the fields of biography, history, journalism, and political science. Candidates are judged on the importance of their contribution to scholarship on the Congress, and their literary craftsmanship, originality, and depth of research.
   

• David Bush, Ph.D., professor of psychology, recently co-authored an article that appeared in SHRM News, entitled, "HR Implications of Check 21," with Professor Sebastion Rainone. Another article by Dr. Bush, which appeared in the same publication, was co-authored with Richard J. Anthony, Sr., and is entitled, "Respect: Beyond Diversity Management."

• Rebecca Brand, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, recently co-authored a paper with master’s students Wendy Shallcross, Maura Sabatos, and Phaedra Massie. The paper, entitled “Fine-Grained Analysis of Motinese: Eye Gaze, Object Exchanges, and Action Units in Infant-Versus Adult-Directed Action,” has been accepted for publication in the journal Infancy.

• Rev. David Cregan, O.S.A., assistant professor of theatre, provides insightful theatre reviews in Main Line Ticket magazine.

• Rev. Daniel Doyle, O.S.A., assistant professor of theology and religious studies, was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article entitled, "Pope to drop idea of Limbo."

• Charles Folk, Ph.D., professor of psychology, recently published a paper in the journal Visual Cognition entitled, “Top-down modulation of pre-attentive processing: Testing the recovery account of contingent capture.”  The paper was co-authored by Dr. Roger Remington of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

• Matthew R. Kerbel, Ph.D., professor of political science, was featured in an article in the Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette entitled,  "Three Tight Races in Pennsylvania's Hot Corner." Dr. Kerbel was also a recent guest on WHYY-91FM's "Radio Times." The topic: Bloggers vs. Talkers. Dr. Kerbel is the author of the essay, "Grassroots and Gigahertz: The Power of Weblogs to Drive Media Discourse, Energize Campaigns, and Enhance Civic Engagement." Listen to this show via Real Audio.

• Michael Mason, Ph.D., assistant professor of education and human services, has received a one-year extension on his three-year, $750,000 adolescent substance abuse treatment grant in order to complete follow-up interviews and data analysis. Michael Posner, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematical sciences, is collaborating on the analysis. This federal grant is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and provides funding to support evidence-based substance abuse treatment for 100 under-served adolescents in the District of Columbia and follows these teens for up to 12 months. Beyond studying substance use and mental health of participating teens, Dr. Mason’s team is also examining social networks, spirituality, environmental risks, and family functioning, as well as case study interviews with 20 percent of the sample.

• James J. Murphy, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of the Irish Studies Program, spoke at Camden County College in Blackwood, N.J., on the topic of "Less Shamrock, Less Shillelagh," using personal narrative to explore the difficulties experienced by Irish immigrants in comparison to other immigrants to America.

• Allison A. Payne, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, appeared on the CBS 3 evening news to comment on the tragic shooting deaths of children in the Lancaster County schoolhouse. Dr. Payne is a new member of the department and a criminologist. Information taken from "Highlights: Faculty, Staff, and Students in the News Media."

• Connie Titone, Ph.D., associate professor of education and human services and chair of the department, was featured on NBC10.Com in a feature on "What’s Hot in Grad School Degrees?" Information taken from "Highlights: Faculty, Staff, and Students in the News Media."

• Thomas Toppino, Ph.D., professor of psychology and chair of the department, presented an invited paper entitled, "On the Nature of the Mechanisms Underlying Perceptual Multistability," at the recent World Congress of Psychophysiology in Istanbul, Turkey. The paper, which was co-authored by Gerald Long, Ph.D., professor of psychology and dean of Graduate Studies, was the featured presentation in a symposium on perceptual multistability.

• Craig M. Wheeland, Ph.D., professor of political science and department chair, was featured in an article in The Citizens Voice about the upcoming elections in Pennsylvania.

Alumni in the News

• Lauren Byrne, J.D., who earned a bachelor of arts in communication in 1994, has joined Alvarez & Marsal Tax Advisory Services in New York in support of the Transaction Advisory Group. Byrne focuses on advising financial and strategic buyers and sellers on tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including reorganizations, spin-offs, financings, repatriations, and bankruptcies.
   
• Robert Emery, Ph.D., who earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1961, was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Phillipsburg, N.J., Area Chamber of Commerce. For more than 40 years, Dr. Emery has practiced at Warren and Easton hospitals as a cardiologist.
   
• Charles Gallagher, '87, who graduated with a degree in communication, has been named a Regional Director of Operations with HP Hotels.
   
• Chris Lilik, '02, is featured in The American Spectator about his conservative politics.

Students in the News

• Tiffany A. Flippen, a sophomore and a participant from the Ed Fund's College Access and Philadelphia Scholars programs, received the Rising Star Eddy award from the Philadelphia Education Fund on Oct. 24. Tiffany is an accounting major with a minor in African American Studies and is an active volunteer for Villanova's Black Cultural Society. She was also the valedictorian of her class at University City High School.

IT Corner

• Web site(s) Update - The new History and Theatre Department Web sites are now online.
   
• Internet Explorer (IE) 7 – Microsoft recently released its newest Web browser, Internet Explorer 7. At this time, it is not certified to work with a number of University applications including Banner, Oracle, Webmail, etc.; therefore, we are not recommending installation.
   
• Banner Password Reset -- Banner passwords will need to be changed mid November (Banner users will receive an e-mail with more information).
   
• Northeast WebCT Users Group Meeting -- This Friday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Villanova Conference Center. No cost for Villanova faculty. Click here for more info and to register.
   
• iTunes U Launch --  Tuesday, Nov. 7, there will be a launch party at the Apple Store in Ardmore (Suburban Square). Look for more information on the Villanova homepage.
   

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 or events via our online submission form or directly to Kate Szumanski at kathryn.szumanski@villanova.edu. Kate will include it in the next issue of the College’s e-newsletter.