Letter from the Dean

Dear Friends of the College,

Welcome back to campus and the start of the 2008-2009 academic year, and welcome to the September 2008 issue of Inside A&S, the monthly e-newsletter of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We hope that you find all of the College news and information that you're looking for here.

Villanova University and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia continue to present the traveling exhibition, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics,” at the Academy. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 28, so time is running out if you have yet to experience the exhibit. You can read more about it here. During the exhibition’s Philadelphia tour, all Villanova students, staff, and faculty who present valid University identification (a valid Wildcard) will receive free general admission to the Academy.

The exhibit on Mendel's life, work, and legacy brings with it a wonderful opportunity for the College to celebrate this scientist's enormous impact on our world, while at the same time to partner with the Academy, a very well-respected museum in the city. I encourage you to experience the exhibit for yourself. You can read more about it here in the latest issue of Academics magazine and in Villanova magazine.

In addition, this year's recipient of the Mendel Medal, the Rev. George V. Coyne, S.J., Ph.D., president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, will deliver the annual Mendel Medal lecture on Friday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m. in the Connelly Center Cinema. I encourage you to attend to hear Father Coyne speak on the fascinating subject: "The Dance of the Fertile Universe: Did God Do It?"

Continuing our celebration of Mendel, the University will host a two-day symposium entitled, "Mendel in the 21st Century: The Scientific, Social, and Ethical Impact of Genetics in Our World." This exciting event is one not to be missed. Learn more about it here. You must register for the symposium online, so I encourage you to do so soon.

I'm happy to report that word has been spreading far and wide regarding the University's sponsorship of the exhibit at the Academy and its Year of Mendel celebration. This article entitled, "Mendel called model for balancing science, religion," by an Associated Press reporter, has appeared in numerous publications around the world.

This academic year is filled with a wide array of academic and cultural events designed to enhance the learning experience for every member of the Villanova community. My sincere hope is that our students, faculty, and staff take advantage of all of these intellectual activities to further enrich their educational experience. Be sure to visit this Web site to learn about the many events happening this academic year.

Thank you for continuing to read Inside A&S. We appreciate your continued interest in the life of the College, and, as always, we welcome your feedback. Again, welcome back to campus. I wish you a wonderful start to what promises to be a productive semester.

Sincerely,


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

In College News …

Make Plans to See the Exhibit: “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics"

Coming to Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences
Villanova University and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia present the traveling exhibition, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics,” which will visit the Academy at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway now until September 28, 2008. We encourage you to visit the Academy to experience this thought-provoking exhibit for yourself.

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.

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.

To learn more about the exhibit, please visit http://www.fieldmuseum.org/mendel/. You also can visit the Academy of Natural Sciences to learn more. For more information, please contact Kate Szumanski. You can learn more about the City of Philadelphia's "Year of Evolution" here.

Click here to here a KYW Newsradio podcast on the exhibit.
 

College Hosts "Welcome Back" Reception for Faculty and Staff

Annual Mendel Medal Lecture: "The Dance of the Fertile Universe: Did God Do It?"

Mendel in the 21st Century: The Scientific, Social, and Ethical Impact of Genetics in Our World

Make plans to attend this two-day interdisciplinary academic symposium, "Mendel in the 21st Century: The Scientific, Social, and Ethical Impact of Genetics in Our World," which will be held on Villanova’s campus from Sunday, Sept. 21, to Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.

The University is hosting the symposium as part of its campus-wide celebration to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the awarding of the Mendel Medal. As an Augustinian institution of higher education, Villanova is one of the custodians of the Mendel legacy. As an Augustinian priest trained in mathematics, physics, and biology, Mendel is an icon of interdisciplinarity.

Accordingly, this symposium will include a series of engaging speakers in fields ranging from molecular genetics, genomics, biotechnology, and evolutionary biology to history and philosophy of science, psychology, ethics, medicine, and law. Speakers will discuss the impact of 21st century genetics in our society from the perspective of their respective disciplines. Learn more here. Register here.
 

From the Local to the Global: International Sustainability Conference

A Call for Papers

Villanova University is hosting an international interdisciplinary conference on sustainability from April 23 to 26, 2009. The conference aims to bring together scholars, activists, and government and corporate professionals from across the United States and around the world to learn from each other in exploring the multiple dimensions of sustainability. This conference is the capstone event of Villanova’s Year of Sustainability, which begins in September 2008 with the symposium, "Mendel in the 21st Century: The Scientific, Social, and Ethical Impact of Genetics in Our World," a celebration of the 80th anniversary of Villanova’s granting of the Mendel Medal honoring the legacy of Augustinian priest Gregor Mendel, an icon of interdisciplinary scientific investigation; recipients of the medal include botanist Peter Raven, philosopher Holmes Rolston III, and biologist Meg Lowman.

Sustainability, by one definition, means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. Other understandings contest this definition, asking whether it is too centered on human needs and marginalizes the needs of other planetary inhabitants. Whatever definition we apply, all meanings of sustainability imply a responsibility to other members of our earth community. We seek the sharing of perspectives on this vital responsibility via a range of formats, including panels, poster sessions, workshops, and roundtables that address the scientific, humanistic, political, economic, and ecological challenges and opportunities of true Sustainability. Papers should examine philosophies, practices, and policies of sustainability from broad intersections.

The deadline for submission of proposals (single paper, panel, poster session, workshop, or roundtable) is September 15, 2008. Please send an abstract of no more than one page and a brief bio (affiliation, areas of specialization, relevant achievements/projects, and contact information) to sustainableconference@villanova.edu.  Because interdisciplinarity is the organizing principle of the conference, organizers encourage proposals that cross disciplinary, methodological, and national boundaries. Conference organizers will provide notice of acceptance by November 1. Conference papers and presentations of the workshop will be published in two formats. All conference papers will be included in an Internet-based conference proceedings volume. Conference organizers also encourage the submission of selected conference papers for consideration for a peer-reviewed volume.

If you have any questions about the submission process or about the conference, please get in touch with Dr. Paul C. Rosier, Conference Chair, via e-mail or at 610-519-4677.

Visit this Web site to learn even more.
 

Attend the Classical Studies Reception on Sept. 8 in Falvey Holy Grounds

You are cordially invited to attend a special reception hosted by the Classical Studies Program on Monday, September 8, 2008, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Holy Grounds of Falvey Memorial Library. Come meet the Classical Studies faculty as well as current undergraduate and graduate students. Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there. For more information, please contact Marie Kelly.
 

A&S Internship Office Open House to be Held Wednesday, September 10

Make plans to attend the A&S Internship Office Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Internship Office, St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts, Room 415. The open house is designed to be a relaxed, informal opportunity to stop by the office, meet the staff, and learn a little bit about the internship opportunities available to all liberal arts and sciences students. Internships are an integral part of a college education. If you have any questions, please contact Rina Ebert, director of the program. Learn even more about the Internship Office here.
 

Aaron M. Bauer, Ph.D., Named Holder of the Gerald M. Lemole, M.D., Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is proud to announce that Aaron M. Bauer, Ph.D., a professor of biology and director of the graduate programs in biology, has been named the holder of the Gerald M. Lemole, M.D., Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology. The first endowed chair to be awarded in the sciences, the Chair in Integrative Biology honors the life and legacy of Gerald M. Lemole M.D. ’58, by supporting the career of a talented biology professor, advancing the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and enhancing the education of Villanova biology students. Learn more here.
 

Villanova Again Ranked No. 1 in the North by U.S. News and World Report
Learning Communities Recognized for Excellence

Villanova University has again received the No. 1 ranking in the North region (North – Master’s Universities) by U.S. News & World Report. For more than a decade, Villanova has held the top spot in this category, which is part of U.S. News & World Report’s America's Best Colleges Rankings. Villanova also was ranked No. 1 in the University-Master’s North Category for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” According to the University’s press release, as part of its America’s Best Colleges Rankings, U.S. News & World Report publishes a list of schools with examples of outstanding academic programs that are commonly linked to student success. Villanova was lauded for its learning communities, which offer students the opportunity to link academic and residential experiences to form a close connection inside and outside of the classroom with faculty, classmates and residence hall colleagues. This program gives freshman students the option of exploring one of seven learning community themes as part of the first-year seminar course – Augustine and Culture: the Villanova Seminar – and to live with fellow students who share that interest. Learn more here.

Villanova Theatre’s 50th Anniversary

This year marks the Theatre Department’s 50th anniversary and the start of a yearlong celebration of Villanova Theatre’s past, present, and future. The 2008-2009 line-up includes a masterpiece of the American stage, a giddy French farce, a gorgeous contemporary re-imagining of Roman mythology, and a sizzling Kander and Ebb musical. Each piece celebrates and builds upon some aspect of Villanova Theatre’s history, as the M.A. in Theatre program looks forward to the next half century.

Forty years ago, Robert Hedley directed Long Day’s Journey into Night as the first production in then-new Vasey Theatre. In 2008-2009, he’ll breathe new life into Eugene O’Neill’s autobiographical tour de force. The play stars Joanna Rotté, who last appeared on stage in the title role of Mother Courage and Her Children, as Mary Tyrone. Next, Harriet Power – whose spring 2008 production of The Illusion was last season’s biggest hit – will take the reins of Georges Feydeau’s hilarious farce, Le Dindon (An Absolute Turkey). Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Mary Zimmerman’s lyrical update of Ovid’s Metamorphoses will inspire audiences to meditate on love in all its myriad forms; Shawn Kairschner will direct. The season will end with the passionate and politically-charged Cabaret, from the songwriting team behind Chicago and the current Broadway hit Curtains. Valerie Joyce, the department’s newest faculty member and an alumna of the M.A. in Theatre program, will direct.

Theatre Department Chair Rev. Richard G. Cannuli, O.S.A., says, “The 2008-2009 season draws upon the traditions of American, European, contemporary and musical theatre that have been so important to our repertoire and curriculum through the past 50 years. At this important milestone, we take special pride in our graduates, whose success in regional, national, and international theatre continues to bring such distinction to Villanova University’s M.A. in Theatre program.”

Subscriptions to Villanova Theatre’s 50th anniversary season are now on sale, with faculty and staff subscriptions available for just $40. For information about bringing students to Long Day’s Journey into Night, or any other production, call the Box Office at (610) 519-7474.

Dean's Office Welcomes Two New Associate Deans

Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Smith Join the Dean's Office

The Dean's Office in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences proudly welcomes two new associate deans who will work closely with the dean, department chairpersons, program directors, and other administrators in their respective academic areas to promote the teaching, research, and service mission of the College.

An internal search was initiated to fill the two positions; several excellent candidates presented themselves, making the selection process difficult. The Associate Dean for Humanities is Thomas W. Smith, Ph.D., currently chair of the Department of Humanities and Augustinian Traditions. Lowell Gustafson, Ph.D., currently chair of the Department of Political Science, is the Associate Dean for Social Sciences. They assumed their positions August 22, 2008.

Both Dr. Smith and Dr. Gustafson have academic credentials that include a record of academic achievement and administrative experience in overseeing college departments and programs. Equally important, both also have a demonstrated understanding of, a commitment to, and the ability to promote Villanova University’s Catholic mission and Augustinian heritage as they relate to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D., dean of the College.

Kevin Hughes, Ph.D., an associate professor of theology and religious studies, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Humanities and Augustinian Traditions for the 2008-2009 academic year. Dr. Hughes has been involved with the department since its inception. He was on the original steering committee that established the department and has been actively involved in the hiring and evaluation of its faculty. He has also taught courses in the department.

Bob Langran, Ph.D., a professor of political science, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Political Science. Dr. Langran has been a member of the department since 1959, and during those years, he has served as department chairperson and has had a distinguished career in the formation of the University Senate, the University Rank and Tenure Committee, the tennis team, and numerous other activities that have involved students and faculty alike.

Students Explore Sacred Spaces at Villanova University

During the spring 2008 semester, students enrolled in the course, "HUM 2900 American Sacred Space Class," taught by Margaret Grubiak, Ph.D., an assistant professor of humanities, put together a Web site entitled, "Sacred Spaces Villanova." To access it, please click here.

2008 Saint Augustine Lecture Features Professor Gareth Matthews

The 2008 Saint Augustine Lecture will feature Professor Gareth Matthews from the University of Massachusetts who will examine, "Augustine on Reading Scripture as Doing Philosophy," on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in Bartley Room 1011. The event is sponsored by the Augustinian Institute and Augustinian Studies of Villanova University. A reception will follow the lecture. For more information, please contact Anna Misticoni at 610.519.4780.
 

Cultural Film Series Announces Fall Line-Up

University Honors Outstanding Faculty Research, Teaching, and Service

Robert H. DeFina, Ph.D., a professor of sociology, received the 2008 Outstanding Faculty Research Award; Philip Stephens, Ph.D., a professor of biology, received the 2008 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Outstanding Teaching; Susan Mackey-Kallis, Ph.D., a professor of communication, received the 2008 Lawrence C. Gallen, O.S.A., Faculty Service Award; and Mr. James Barnes from the Chemistry Department received the 2008 Pohlhaus-Stracciolini Award for Teaching Excellence, which is an award given to an adjunct faculty member who meets the same qualities as expected of Lindback Award recipients. Congratulations to all of the College's award winners.
 

College Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies

The Center for Arab and Islamic Studies will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009 and will mark the occasion with an international conference titled, "Mirror Images: Challenges for Arab and Islamic Studies," on April 2 to 4. During the conference, which will feature scholarly panels, workshops, discussions, and diverse cultural programs, a keynote address will be delivered by Professor Juan R.I. Cole, Ph.D., the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. Dr. Cole also is the president of the Global Americana Institute.

Call for Papers. To submit your proposal for paper, workshop, or roundtable discussion at "Mirror Images," please click here.
 

Grant Development Web Site Now Live

Faculty are strongly encouraged to visit the new Grant Development Web site. Here you will find the guidelines for the submission of proposals.

Call for Papers: Global Sustainability

Call for Papers: A special issue of the Journal for Peace and Justice Studies will focus on sustainability. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 30, 2008. Manuscripts and related correspondence should be sent electronically to the Managing Editor. Manuscript submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter containing all contact information and title of the essay. No identifying information may be in the submission itself.

All manuscripts submitted for publication must be prepared for blind review. Articles should be double-spaced throughout, with notes gathered at the end. An abstract of 100- to 150-words must be included with the submission. Authors are advised to use inclusive language throughout the manuscript, and to follow the MLA Style Sheet. Essays accepted for publication must be prepared in Microsoft Word (.doc) format.

For more information about this on this special issue, please contact Sally Scholz, Ph.D. 
 

Explore iTunes University on the Web  

Download faculty lectures and subscribe to podcasts all at iTunes University. Connect to what is happening at Villanova anytime, anywhere.
 

Women's Studies Hosts Fall 2008 Event Series

Visit Mideastwire.com Today!

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Partners with the Financial Times

Providing Students With Global Perspectives on World Events

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has partnered with the Financial Times, internationally recognized for its authoritative news, comment, and analysis, to provide students and faculty with full access to the FT’s electronic edition and to FT.com’s Level Two subscription service. This partnership will enable the University to further educate its students on socio-economic and geo-political issues that affect everyone regardless of a student’s major.

How To Access the Financial Times Online

There are many ways to access the FT online:

• For resources for faculty, please click here.
• For resources for students, please click here.
• To access the digital version of today's newspaper, please click here.
• To access the Financial Times online, please click here.

IT Corner

• Faculty Searches Page. The College has put together a Web page to consolidate current faculty searches that may be spread across different departmental pages. If your department has a search in progress that is not listed, please e-mail Elisa Wiley. Also, please keep this page in mind as new positions become available. All faculty search information for posting on the Web page can be sent to Elisa.
   
• Grant Development Web Site Now Live. Faculty are strongly encouraged to visit the new Grant Development Web site. Here you will find the guidelines for the submission of proposals.
   
• E-mail Backup. Learn how to backup your Outlook Personal Folders here.
   
• Digital Signage. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has worked in conjunction with University Information Technologies to install two digital signs for the College. Located in the lobby of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts and the west lobby (entrance near the large lecture halls) of the Mendel Science Center, the purpose of these signs is to display University and College news, events, and other special announcements. Learn how you can have your announcement posted on the digital sign here. Please note: Preferred JPEG dimension to maximize the screen appearance is 770 x 510.
   
• Faculty and Staff Photographs. Did you have your photo taken at one of the recent faculty and staff photo shoots? If you did, then you can find your photo archived here. Please log in with your user name and password.

Save the Dates!

Please mark your calendars for these important events:

Exhibit on Gregor Mendel                   May 24-Sept. 28
Mendel Medal Lecture                         Friday, Sept. 5
Liberal Arts Open House                     Saturday, Sept. 6
A&S Internship Office Open House      Wednesday, Sept. 10
Mendel Symposium                            Sept. 21-23
Sciences Open House                         Sunday, Oct. 5

Please click here for the complete academic calendar.

Event Round-up

Be sure to visit the College's home page for a more complete rundown of upcoming events!
 

University Events Module Makes It Easy to Promote Special Events, Lectures, and Other Happenings
Posting an event on the University's Web site and College's Web site has never been easier. Simply enter all relevant information here. Be sure to include your event announcement on the daily Wildcat Newswire, too. The Newswire is sent to all undergraduate, graduate, and law school students at Villanova. Access the online submission from from the University's home page.

Make Plans Now to Visit the Mendel Exhibit ... Coming to Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences
Villanova University and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia present the traveling exhibition, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics,” which is now at the Academy at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Sept. 28 is the final day of the Philadelphia tour.

To learn more about the exhibit, please visit http://www.fieldmuseum.org/mendel/. You also can visit the Academy of Natural Sciences to learn more. For more information, please contact Kate Szumanski.

 

Faculty Scholarship

• Rebecca Brand, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology, and former master's student Wendy Shallcross, presented a poster in March at the International Conference for Infant Studies in Vancouver, BC, entitled, "Putting the Motion in Motionese: Infants Prefer Infant-Directed Action to Adult-Directed Action Even With Actors' Faces Obscured." In addition, Dr. Brand participated in an international, interdisciplinary conference July 3-5 entitled, “Intermodal Action Structuring,” sponsored by the Center for Interdisciplinary Research (ZiF) in Bielefeld, Germany, and organized by Dr. Katharina Rohlfing. Dr. Brand gave a talk entitled, “How Adults Structure Object Demonstrations to Support Infant Attention and Learning.” Researchers in the fields of developmental psychology, animal behavior, and robotics joined together to discuss how behaviors are structured to support infant imitation and how similar kinds of structure may enhance human-robot interaction.
   
• Timothy Brunk, Ph.D., an assistant professor of theology, has published his article, “Consumer Culture and the Body: Chauvet’s Perspective,” in the July 2008 issue of the journal, Worship.
   
• Gail Ciociola, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English, was interviewed by WRTI (Temple University radio) regarding Philadelphia Theatre Company's production of Wendy Wasserstein's Third. The story was broadcast on March 22. Ciociola's article on Wasserstein, "An Uncommon Playwright," appears in the current issue of Playwise. In addition, she participated in a post-play panel discussion, which also featured playwright Christopher Durang and set designer Heidi Ettinger, on Sunday, April 6.
   
• Kathleen Connor, Ph.D., an adjunct faculty member of the psychology department, was selected as one of the finalists for the Pohlhaus-Stracciolini Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. 
   
• Robert Curry, Ph.D., a professor of biology, was featured online in Science News in an article entitled, "Vegetarian Spider."
   
• Robert DeFina, Ph.D., a professor of sociology, and Lance Hannon, Ph.D., will soon publish, "Diversity, Racial Threat, and Metropolitan Housing Segregation," Social Forces (forthcoming).
   
• Sterling F. Delano, Ph.D., a professor of English, emeritus, was one of four "Scholars-in-Residence" this July in Concord, Mass., for the National Endowment for the Humanities “Landmarks of American History and Culture” program on "Transcendentalism and Social Action in Antebellum America." The two-week program, sponsored by the Community College Humanities Association, enables 50 faculty members from two-year colleges across the United States to work intensively with senior scholars.
   
• José Luis Gastañaga Ponce de León, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of modern languages and literatures, took part in a recent conference -- "Colloque International: "Les réélaborations de la mémoire dans le monde luso-hispanophone" -- at the Université de Nancy 2 (Nancy, Francia), on May 29 and 30. The title of his presentation was, "The literary re-elaboration of a real experience in Alonso Enríquez de Guzmán's Libro de la vida y costumbres" Colloque International: "Les réélaborations de la mémoire dans le monde luso-hispanophone."
   
• Christopher Haas, Ph.D., a professor of history, has written the article, "Mountain Constantines: The Christianization of Aksum and Iberia," which has been published in the inaugural edition of The Journal of Late Antiquity (Spring 2008), 101-126.
   
• Ray Heitzmann, Ph.D., a professor of education, had an article entitled, "Case Study Instruction in Teacher Education: Opportunity to Develop Students Critical Thinking, School Smarts, and Decision Making," published in the journal Education Vol. 128. No. 4. This journal is the oldest in the field of pedagogy. The article focuses upon the literature of case study instruction and the "Case Study Contests" conducted by Dr. Heitzmann over the last 14 years.
   
• Jeffrey Johnson, Ph.D., a professor of history, discusses the dual use technology and how products and processes can be used by the military and in civilian life in Distillations, a weekly science podcast that brings listeners extracts from the past, present, and future of chemistry. Produced by the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Learn more here.
   
• Mercedes Juliá, Ph.D., professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, has been working extensively in the poetry of Juan Ramón Jiménez, an author considered today to be the father of Spanish contemporary poetry. Learn more here.
   
• Catherine Kerrison, Ph.D., an associate professor of history, has been awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Association of University Women. This year, the association selected only 97 fellows out of 1,116 applicants.
   
• Frank Klassner, Ph.D., an associate professor of computer science, was a featured presenter at the 2008 RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition. He spoke about the results of his NSF-sponsored research on robotics in computer science education and their implications for how the U.S. robotics industry can reach out to computer science majors as its 25 percent growth rate continues into its third year.
   
• Robert Langran, Ph.D., a professor of political science and chair of the department, presented a history of the Court throughout wars, the Depression, and the 2000 Presidential election including current issues facing the Court such as treatment of detainees, gun control, and more at the at the Montrose Theater on August 20. The Susquehanna County League of Women Voters, Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and Montrose Theater sponsored the presentation.
   
• Jill McCorkel, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology, will soon publish, "Are You an African? The Politics of Self Construction in Status-Based Social Movements," Social Problems (forthcoming).
   
• Charlene Mires, Ph.D., an associate professor of history, has been selected as a Penn Humanities Forum Mellon Regional Faculty Research Fellow for the 2008-09 academic year. As a Faculty Fellow, Dr. Mires will participate in a regularly scheduled interdisciplinary seminar on the theme of "Change." She will also be presenting a paper based on her current research project on the United Nations titled, "Capitals of the World."
   
• Satya Pattnayak, Ph.D., a professor of sociology and political science, et al, have published, North American Homeland Security: Back to Bilateralism? (Praeger, 2008).
   
• Allison Ann Payne, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology, will soon publish, "A Multilevel Analysis of the Relationships Among Communal School Organization, Student Bonding, and Delinquency," Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency (forthcoming).
   
• Michael Posner, Ph.D., an assistant professor of statistics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, received the Best Poster Award at the 2008 Lilly-East Conference. The poster portrayed his scholarly work on “Proficiency-based assessment and re-assessment of learning objectives in an introductory statistics class.” Learn more here.
   
• Joseph G. Ryan, O.S.A., Ph.D., an assistant professor of history, has written an article entitled, "Doctor Gunning S. Bedford (1806–70) and the Search for Safe Obstetric Care, 1833–70," which was published in the August 2008 issue of the Journal of Medical Biography.
   

• Sally J. Scholz, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy, has published the book, Political Solidarity. Learn more here.

• Deborah Schussler, Ed.D., an associate professor of education, published the article, "Using case studies to explore prospective teachers' intellectual, cultural, and moral dispositions," in Teacher Education Quarterly. She also was invited to present her work in a webinar, "Dispositions in Practice: Enacting Moral Commitments," hosted by the American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE). Dr. Schussler's talk was titled, "Building Awareness of Dispositions: Enhancing Moral Sensibilities in Teaching."
    
• Colleen Sheehan, Ph.D., an associate professor of political science and director of the Matthew J. Ryan Project for the Study of Free Institutions and the Public Good, delivered a lecture entitled, “The Wit and Wisdom of Jane Austen,”  as part of the lecture series, "All About Austen: Her Life, Her Laughter, Her Legacy," at Camden County College on March 20. Dr. Sheehan also spoke on the topic of, “Transatlantic Cargo: The Influence of French Ideas on Madison and American Republicanism," at the Transatlantic Ideas of the American Founding Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 27. She also spoke on “James Madison and Republicanism” at Hillsdale College on April 8.
   
• Paul Steege, Ph.D., an associate professor of history, has published an essay, "The History of Everyday Life: A Second Chapter," in the June 2008 issue of The Journal of Modern History, 358-378. This essay is based on two panels held at the 2003 German Studies Association meeting and is co-authored with several other scholars. In addition, Dr. Steege's article, "Kalter Krieg: Made in Berlin," (Cold War: Made in Berlin) was published in the German newspaper Die Welt, in its Saturday edition (July 12, 2008). Dr. Steege also was quoted in an article in the Barcelona paper, La Vanguardia, on June 26. The article was written by Javier Ortega Figueiral and is entitled, "Sesenta años y una duda del puente aéreo berlinés."
   
• Seth Whidden, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of modern languages and literature, will be the Starr Foundation Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, during Michaelmas (fall) term 2009. Dr. Whidden's research project for the fellowship will focus on poetic authority in 19th-century France.
   
• Catherine E. Wilson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of political science, has recently published, The Politics of Latino Faith (NYU Press, 2008). The first systematic study of Latino faith-based organizations, this work provides insight into how pivotal religious identity is in understanding Latino social and political involvement in the United States.
   
• Rebecca Winer, Ph.D., an associate professor of history, has published her article, "Conscripting the breast: lactation, slavery and salvation in the realms of Aragon and kingdom of Majorca, c. 1250–1300," in the Journal of Medieval History. In addition, Dr. Winer has co-edited a special edition of the journal Jewish History. This special issue is devoted to the legacy of the historian Elka Klein and consists of essays by many of the field's major scholars. The full citation is Jewish History, Volume 22, Nos. 1-2 2008, "The Elka Klein Memorial Volume." It can now be accessed through Falvey Library; the publisher is Springer. Dr. Winder wrote  the introduction; she also co-authored a review essay on Elka Klein's, Hebrew Deeds of Catalan Jews/Documents hebraics de la Catalunya medieval: 1117-1316, with Elisheva Baumgarten, the journal's co-editor.
   
• Dennis Wykoff, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology, received a $466,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation entitled, “Evolution of the phosphate starvation response in yeasts.” This grant will fund Dr. Wykoff’s laboratory in its investigations of how a simple response to phosphate starvation has changed in yeast species that last shared a common ancestor more than 100 million years ago. Utilizing the model brewer’s yeast and other yeasts, his laboratory, with both graduate and undergraduate students, is determining which genes are required for an efficient genetic response to phosphate starvation. This basic research should help us better understand how different species tailor their genetic composition to their specific environment.

Faculty in the News

• David M. Barrett, Ph. D., a professor of political science, was featured in an article entitled, "After 9/11: Are We Safer?," which appeared in a California newspaper.

• Bill Cowen, Ph.D., faculty in communication and director of the public relations program, served as a senior member of the PR team for the recent presidential debate between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Cowen supported the National Constitution Center and the City of Philadelphia, while working with media from around the world including debate sponsor ABC, as well as CNN, the BBC and the Associated Press.

• Rick Eckstein, Ph.D., a professor of sociology, was featured in an article in The Christian Science Monitor entitled, "Last Innings for Yankee Stadium."

• Lowell Gustafson, Ph.D., a professor of political science and chair of the department, was featured in an online news article entitled, "Clinton uses GOP tactics to win PA."

• Matthew Kerbel, Ph.D., a professor of political science, participated in a live chat on 6ABC.com regarding the Pennsylvania primary elections.. Read the transcript here.

• Timothy W. Kirk, Ph.D., a Catherine of Siena Fellow in Ethics and visiting assistant professor of philosophy,
  was featured in a Washington Post article entitled, "Heart Pump Creates Life-Death Ethical Dilemmas."

• Stephanie Teoli, an adjunct professor teaching a master's course in public administration, was featured in a recent news article entitled, "New manager earns high praise." Read the full story here.

• Thomas C. Toppino, Ph.D., a professor and chair of the department of psychology, was featured in a a New York Times health blog. Read more here.

Students in the News

• Camille M. Carlisle, an English major and an astronomy minor, is currently an intern at Sky & Telescope, America's major popular astronomy magazine. Here is a link to her most recent work entitled, "Artificial Intelligence Aids Astronomers."

• Padriac McCole, a communication major, is featured in an article entitled, "Swimmer ready to bring home gold again," in the Delco Times. Read the story here. 

• Tanja Prsa, '09, a biology major, received an honorable mention for her student presentation at the 2008 Annual Society of Wetland Scientist Meeting. Tanja's poster presentation was based on her senior thesis research this past spring.

• Erin Puck, '09, a political science major and resident of Fair Haven, N.J., (pictured right), donated 2,000 teddy bears to the emergency services department at Jersey City Medical Center. A childhood cancer survivor, Erin founded Toys.Calm to give children in frightening hospital situations the comfort she received while she was undergoing treatment. Her generous donation is large enough to give every child arriving by ambulance at Jersey City Medical Center a stuffed animal for one year. Learn more here.

Alumni in the News

• David Greco, '91, who earned a master's degree in political science, has been named the vice president of the western region for the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF). Learn more here.

• David J. Mazzo, Ph.D., '79, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Regado Biosciences. Mazzo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Honors Program and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Villanova in 1979. Learn more here.

• Laurence (Lon) G. O'Neil, '70 (pictured right), who earned a degree in sociology, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Learn more here.

• Triantafillos (Tri) Parlapanides, '95, received his doctorate from Seton Hall University this summer in Educational Leadership. Currently, he serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Central Regional School District in New Jersey. His dissertation focused on the utilization of technology to increase student performance on the New Jersey State Student Assessments.
   

• John Patch, '88, '96, who earned both a B.A. and M.A. in political science, was recently appointed an associate professor of strategic intelligence at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. John retired this year from a career as an intelligence officer in U.S. Navy.

• Erin Settle, '03, who earned a bachelor's degree in political science, is featured in an article entitled, "2 teachers, 2 generations at Centerville Elementary," in the Lancaster New Era. 

• Elysse Voyer, '06, who earned a degree in astronomy and astrophysics, was awarded a prestigious NASA fellowship. Learn more here.

Send Your News Items and Event Notices for Publication

Is your upcoming event not listed in this e-newsletter? Do you wish it was? Do you need help broadening your outreach efforts, publicizing events, and getting the word out about the accomplishments of your faculty? Learn more here! Please submit your announcements or events via our online submission form or directly to Kate Szumanski. Kate will include it in the next issue of the College’s e-newsletter.