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Letter from the Dean
Dear Friend of the College,
Welcome to the January 2009 issue of
Inside A&S,
the monthly e-newsletter of the
College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The Office of the Dean in the College actively looks
for ways to keep its faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends well
informed of all the news and activity happening in the College. To achieve these ends,
the College publishes this e-newsletter,
Inside A&S,
monthly. The College also publishes
Connections, a weekly e-newsletter for A&S students, and has begun a
blog. Further, you can
become a fan of the College on
Facebook.
Click here for more information. Our hope is to reach
out to our varied audiences in diverse ways so that you receive the news you
need in the most convenient and accessible ways.
In addition, we in the College have much to look forward to in the new year
ahead. This
academic year continues to be filled with a wide array of academic and
cultural events, including the
"From the Local to the Global: International
Sustainability Conference," designed to explore the concept of
sustainability in all its many forms.
The keynote address will be given by
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
My hope is that our students, faculty, and staff take
advantage of this opportunity and other campus activities designed to
further enrich the educational experience at Villanova. Be sure to visit this
Web site
often to learn about the many events happening this academic year.
Thank you for continuing to read
Inside A&S. We appreciate your ongoing
interest in the life of the College, and, as always, we welcome your
feedback. Please let us
know what you would like to read in Inside A&S.
On behalf of all of us in the Dean's Office of the
College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences, I wish you a very
happy new year. Enjoy the semester break.
Sincerely,
Rev. Kail C. Ellis, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Dean of the College
In College News …
New Feature on A&S Web Site: Learn About
Mendel's Legacy at Villanova
 Be
sure to check out a new feature on the A&S Web site: Mendel's Legacy at
Villanova. Here, you will learn about the University's role as one of the
custodians of Gregor Mendel’s legacy. The accomplishments of this 19th
century Augustinian friar, teacher, scientist and mathematician have helped
shape the world’s collective understanding of genes, crossbreeding, and
heredity. Learn more here.
Gender and Women’s Studies Program Announces 20th
Annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton Student Research Conference: A Call for
Papers
The
Gender and Women’s Studies Program encourages students to submit their best work to the
20th annual
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Student Research Conference. If you are a student who has written
a paper that engages gender or feminist theories, then please consider
submitting your work. For more information and submission guidelines, please
click here.
The 20th Annual Elizabeth Cady Stanton Conference will be held Thursday,
March 19, 2009. The event will culminate in a keynote address by
Linda Greenhouse, the Supreme Court reporter for
The New York Times.
Every spring, the Gender and Women's Studies program organizes the Elizabeth
Cady Stanton Conference to highlight and celebrate the incisive work
produced by students from all across campus during the previous year. It
features a number of panels where both undergraduate and graduate students
present their work, as well as a keynote address from an invited scholar.
ACS Recognizes Excellence in Student Writing
The
Augustine and
Culture Seminar, directed by the Villanova Center for Liberal Education,
recogniz ed excellence in student writing at a
special ceremony held on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 3:30 p.m., in the Fedigan Room
of the St. Augustine Center for the Liberal Arts. The Margaret Cecilia Baney
Award for the Augustine and Culture Prize Essays were given to: Alex Puma
(winner); Sean DeWolf (honorable mention); Julian D'Orsaneo (honorable
mention); and Matthew Velez (honorable mention).
Learn
more here.
University Celebrates 11th Annual Literary
Festival
 The
11th annual Villanova University Literary Festival will take place from
February to April 2009. Stay tuned for further details, which will be posted
on the English
Department's Web site. Please note: the date of Yiyun Li's reading is
Feb. 24.
Mendel Science Center Christmas Tree
Generously Donated by Nursery in N.C.
This year’s Christmas tree in the
Mendel Science Center, a beautiful Fraser fir, was kindly donated and
delivered by Cline and Ellen Church of Cline Church Nurseries in Fleetwood,
North Carolina. Dr. Samantha Chapman and Dr. Adam Langley from the Biology
Department are collaborating with Cline Church and other Christmas tree
growers on a research project investigating the potential for soil carbon
storage in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
See a photo of the tree here.
Internship Office Updates Web Site,
Publishes Informational Brochure for
Employers
 Rina
Ebert, the director of the College's
internships office, has updated and changed the office's
Web site.
The site now has a specific section for employers. In addition, the
organizational structure of the
Web site
has changed in an effort to simplify the process of applying for an
internship, Ebert explained. A new brochure specifically designed for
employers has been produced as well. This brochure offers employers
information about the College's internship program and how they can
establish internship placement for liberal arts students at Villanova.
Learn more
here.
Upcoming Events From the Theatre Department
 The
Theatre Department will hold its third annual Philadelphia Theatre
Research Symposium on Friday, January 16, 2009. This year’s symposium
includes a new scholars’ panel and a keynote address by Wilma Theater
Artistic Director Blanka Zizka. For more information, contact
Fr. David Cregan.
Mark your calendars for
Metamorphoses, the third production in Villanova Theatre’s
50th Anniversary season. The play, which is a contemporary retelling of
several of Ovid’s classical myths, will be on stage February 3-15, 2009. The
action takes place in and around a large, onstage pool! Theatre professor
Shawn Kairschner will direct. Tickets are available at the Box Office in
Vasey Hall, by calling (610) 519-7474, or
online here.
Also in February, theatre professor Fr. David Cregan will direct the
Villanova Student Theatre production of Dead Man Walking. Performances will
be held in St. Mary’s Chapel on February 18-21, 2009.
Organization of Human Services Hosts Alumni
Panel, Other Activities in Fall 2008
The
Organization of Human Services (OHS) is a small organization at
Villanova, but it is making a big and powerful impact on the community.
OHS is dedicated to giving Human Services and related majors a chance to
experience and gain knowledge in many areas of the helping field.
OHS offers members a chance to become involved with the Villanova
community and local area, as well as opportunities for professional
development.
Learn
more here.
Villanova Educators Bring Home Lessons From
Rwanda
Submitted by Suzanne C. Toton,
Ed.D., Coordinator, Villanova/Catholic Relief Services Partnership
Villanova University business professor Debra Arvanites was teaching one of
her first classes of the fall semester, searching for a way to explain a
particular concept to her students. Her mind went to something she had seen
a few weeks before, thousands of miles from this verdant campus near
Philadelphia. Article courtesy of Catholic Relief Services.
Learn
more 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.
The keynote address will be given by Robert
F. Kennedy, Jr. This conference is the capstone event of
Villanova’s Year of Sustainability, which
began 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.
Visit this Web site to learn even more about
he sustainability conference.
Attention, Students: Get Connected Today!
Connections is an e-newsletter published every Tuesday during the
academic year exclusively for students in the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences. The purpose of
Connections is to inform you of opportunities available through
various College offices related to academic advising; fellowships, grants,
and scholarships; internships and professional development; and other
related matters. For more information, please e-mail
Kate Szumanski.
College Enters the Blogosphere!
The
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has
started a blog to help its many
constituencies stay well informed on
Colleges news, events, and initiatives.
View the blog here.
Find the College on Facebook
 Become
a
fan of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on
Facebook. This is an ideal way for all
Facebook users to stay informed of College
news and events.
Click here to visit the College on Facebook.
Women’s Studies Program Renamed “Gender and
Women’s Studies”
The
Women’s Studies Program has been renamed “Gender and Women’s Studies.”
This more inclusive name will allow the program to expand.
Learn more here.
Villanova University Announces 2009
Praxis Award in Professional Ethics
 The Villanova University
Ethics
Program of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has announced the
selection of the recipient of its third annual Praxis Award in Professional
Ethics. Amy Domini, the Founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments, an
investment management company committed to social responsibility, will be
presented the award on March 31, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. in the Villanova Room of
Connelly Center. The Praxis Award highlights and celebrates the
contributions of a professional or an academic in the field of professional
ethics.
Learn more here. |
The College IT Office: Supporting the
Technological Needs of the College’s Faculty
and Staff
Villanova University has a strong tradition
of promoting and using today’s most advanced
and appropriate technological resources, and
while the technological infrastructure at
Villanova is managed by the
University Information Technology Department
(UNIT), the College itself provides a
vast array of
supplemental and vital IT support to its
faculty and staff. The
College IT Office employs a staff of
talented and dedicated IT professionals who
work to meet specific needs within all of
the College’s unique departments and
programs. The
College IT Office reports to the Office
of the Dean in the College.
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.
Learn more here.
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.
Reminder: Grant Development Web Site
Now Live
Faculty are strongly
encouraged to visit the
Grant Development Web site. Here you
will find the
guidelines for the submission of proposals.
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.
Visit Mideastwire.com Today!
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is pleased
to offer to its students, faculty, and staff access to
Mideastwire.com, an
Internet-based news service that employs a team of translators from around
the region to gather important stories from and about the Middle East.
Learn
more here.
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:
IT Corner
- The College IT Office: Supporting the Technological Needs of the
College’s Faculty and Staff.
The College provides a vast array of supplemental and vital IT
support to its faculty and staff. The College IT Office, which reports
to the Office of the Dean in the College, employs a staff of talented
and dedicated IT professionals who work to meet specific needs within
all of the College’s unique departments and programs.
Learn more here.
- Welcome, Jon! Please welcome Jon Graziola, the newest
addition to our
College IT support team.
Jon will be the new point person for the College computing labs and
general IT support for Science departments (Biology, Chemistry, and
Geography). Jon’s contact information:
Email:
Jonathan.Graziola@villanova.edu, Phone: x9-5337, Office: SAC 085
(College IT Office)
-
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.
If you need your photo added to your
Bio Page, please email
Elisa.
Save the Dates!
Please mark your calendars for these important events:
Spring 2009 Semester Begins
January 12
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
January 19 (no classes)
Early Action Candidates' Day
February 7
Mid-Term
and Deadline for Study Abroad
February 27
Spring Break
March 2-9
Easter Recess Begins After Last Class April 8
Candidates' Day
April 18
Reading Day
May 1
Baccalaureate and Commencement
May 16-17
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.
Faculty Scholarship
-
Sarah-Vaughan Brakman, Ph.D., an associate
professor of philosophy and an ethics consultant, has written the
following book chapters: “Real Mothers and Good Stewards: The
Ethics of Embryo Adoption,” in The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the
Catholic Tradition. Eds. Sarah-Vaughan Brakman and Darlene Fozard
Weaver. (Dordrecht: Springer Publishers, 2007): 119-138; “Introduction:
The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition,” in The
Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition. Eds.
Sarah-Vaughan Brakman and Darlene Fozard Weaver. (Dordrecht: Springer
Publishers, 2007): 3-23. (with Darlene F. Weaver); and “Paradigms,
Practices and Politics: Ethics and the Language of Human Embryo
Transfer/Donation/Rescue/Adoption,” in Pluralistic Casuistry: Moral
Arguments, Economic Realities, and Political Theory, Essays in Honor of
Baruch A. Brody. Eds. Mark J. Cherry and Ana Smith Iltis (Dordrecht:
Springer Publishers, 2007): 191-210.
-
Sarah-Vaughan Brakman, Ph.D., an associate
professor of philosophy and an ethics consultant, and Darlene Fozard
Weaver, Ph.D., an associate professor of theology and religious
studies and director of the Theology Institute, have co-edited
the book, The Ethics of Embryo Adoption and the Catholic Tradition:
Moral Arguments, Economic Reality and Social Analysis, published by
Springer Science & Business Media B.V. 2007. Drs. Brakman and Weaver
co-edited the book and co-wrote an introductory chapter together. In
addition, each wrote a single authored chapter in the book, which is a
comprehensive collection of essays that examines and advances ethical
evaluations of the controversial and increasingly popular practice of
embryo adoption.
Learn more here.
-
Michael Hollinger's recent plays Opus
and Tooth and Claw will be published by Dramatists Play Service,
the leading American publisher/licensor of new plays, in 2009.
-
Robert Langran, Ph.D., a professor of
political science and chair of the department, a talk on the U.S.
Supreme Court to the residents of Hershey's Mill in November 2008.
-
Silvia Nagy-Zekmi, Ph.D., a professor of
Hispanic and Cultural Studies and director of the Center for Arab and
Islamic Studies, has written the book, Moros en la costa:
Orientalismo en Latinoamérica (Madrid/Frankfurt: Iberoamericana/
Vervuert, 2008, a collection of 15 scholarly articles exploring the
manifestations of orientalism in the Latin American literary and
cultural production with an article-length introduction. Dr. Nagy-Zekmi's
work has appeared in Madrid.
-
Theatre Professor Joanna Rotté, along with
actresses Olympia Dukakis and Marian Seldes and acting teachers William
Esper and Kristin Linklater among others, participated as a panelist in
an all-day seminar entitled ACTING TEACHERS OF AMERICA held at the City
University of New York Graduate Center on December 8 for the purpose of
exploring the legacy of the teaching of acting in America. The
full-house audience in the Proshansky Auditorium of the Graduate Center
was composed of teachers of theatre, students of acting, and
professional actors.
-
Deborah Schussler, Ed.D., an associate
professor in the Department of Education and Human Services, recently
published the article, "Using Case Studies to Explore Teacher
Candidates' Intellectual, Cultural, and Moral Dispositions," in
Teacher Education Quarterly with co-authors Lynne Bercaw and Lisa
Stooksberry. She also presented a session, "School Care: What Is It and
How Do We Foster It?," for superintendents, teachers, administrators,
and school counselors at the Delaware Valley Minority Student
Achievement Consortium Fall Conference hosted by the University of
Pennsylvania.
-
James W. Wilson, Ph.D., an assistant
professor of biology, has written the article,
"Media Ion Composition Controls Regulatory and Virulence Response of
Salmonella in Spaceflight," which was published in
PLoS ONE. This
paper is based on the results from two separate spaceflight experiments
aboard Space Shuttles Endeavor and Atlantis. In the paper, the authors
show that (1) spaceflight increases Salmonella virulence, and (2) we can
counteract this increase in virulence by addition of a specific ion to
the media (phosphate). Both earth-based and space-related antibacterial
strategies can be based on the results of this work.
Faculty in the News
Alumni in the News
-
Daniel DiCenso, '05, who earned a master of
arts in classical studies, is a visiting instructor in music at the
College of the Holy Cross.
He also was a Villanova Gates Cambridge Scholar.
Learn more here.
-
Juan Martínez-Gomez, '96, who earned a
master of science is biology and is part of the team of investigators of
the
Socorro Dove Project, is pleased to announce the arrival of
captive-bred Socorro Doves at the Albuquerque Zoo, an important step
toward their eventual reintroduction to the wild. Martínez works at the
Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
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. |
