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Monthly Archives: September 2016

Tobacco- and vape-free campus

The state Department of Public Health has awarded Southern a grant for $235,496 to enhance its leadership role in snuffing out campus tobacco use and to encourage its students to kick the habit.

The grant comes a year after SCSU became a tobacco-free campus, which means tobacco use in all its forms – as well as the use of e-cigarettes – are prohibited on all campus property. Southern was the first public university in Connecticut to make that transformation.

The grant will enable the university to:

*Train students to become tobacco-free “ambassadors,” who will help connect tobacco users to services that can help them quit. A part-time, tobacco-use cessation coordinator will be hired to oversee this program, as well as assist with other cessation programs.

*Provide technical assistance and training to other Connecticut public universities that are interested in becoming tobacco-free.

*Expand tobacco-cessation services on campus. Counseling and nicotine replacement medications will be among the services offered.

“Southern is proud to be the first public university in Connecticut to go tobacco-free, and this grant will allow us to collaborate with our sister schools to improve the health and safety of more students,” said Emily Rosenthal, coordinator of the SCSU Wellness Center.

“We are happy with the improvements on campus since we implemented the policy a year ago,” she said “But we also are seeing some positive results in our students’ tobacco-use off-campus, as well.”

Rosenthal said the percentage of male students who identified themselves as casual smokers (any use within 10 days of taking the survey) dropped from 26 percent in 2014 to 17 percent in 2016. Casual female smokers dipped from 14 to 13 percent during that same period.

In addition, use of electronic vapor devices also dropped. Male students who said they had been vaping within 30 days of the survey plummeted from 17 percent in 2014 to 9 percent in 2016. Vaping by female students also fell from 9 percent in 2014 to 3 percent in 2016.

“We also found that before we came a tobacco-free campus, Southern was slightly above the national average in terms of the percentage of our students who were regular smokers,” Rosenthal said. “But now we are slightly below average. We still have work to do, but we are headed in the right direction, and I have to believe becoming a tobacco-free campus is helping encourage tobacco users to quit.”

Dr. Diane Morgenthaler, SCSU director of health and wellness, agreed. “Southern has made great strides in moving forward our tobacco-free campus initiative over the past year. We look forward to continuing the progress. This grant will help us accomplish that goal.”

Physics, Evan Finch

Evan Finch wants to get to the heart of the matter – “strange quark matter,” that is.

The assistant professor of physics at Southern and expert on particle/nuclear physics has been researching whether this theoretically enigmatic type of matter exists. If proven, scientists believe it could hold the keys to unlocking many mysteries of the universe.

While the Earth is made up of atoms, which form “visible matter,” a larger portion of the universe is believed to be made up of “dark matter,” which does not emit light and is invisible. But physicists theorize that another type of matter – called strange quark matter, or “strangelets” – is part of creation, as well.

It has yet to be proven, but if it exists, scientists say it would be much heavier than visible matter, likely thousands of times as dense. It could be one of the building blocks of neutron stars, and it could even be responsible for influencing the space-time continuum.

“So far, every test for strange matter has come back negative,” Finch said. “But it can’t be ruled out, and in fact, many physicists believe it exists. Over time, I’ve become less optimistic that it exists. But we certainly can’t rule it out. There is sound theoretical science behind its possible existence.”

Crab Nebula
Optical: NASA/HST/ASU/J. Hester et al. X-Ray: NASA/CXC/ASU/J. Hester et al.

Finch has been part of a team of scientists involved with the use of an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) for the International Space Station. The AMS measures the level of cosmic rays in the atmosphere, which is important information needed to prepare for a manned flight to Mars by NASA in the next 20 years or so. But the AMS also can detect strange matter, as well as dark matter.

The AMS was installed on the space station in 2011. Finch said it is more likely to capture strange matter at the station, than on Earth.

Finch, now in his third year of teaching at SCSU, brought two students interested in particle physics – Richard Magnotti and Michael Schriefer — to the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island during the summer for three short trips. During the trip, the students sought to troubleshoot a small detector that is used as part of the lab’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, which recreates conditions that are believed to have existed in the first millionth of a second after the Big Bang. The Big Bang is the most commonly held theory by scientists in terms of what ignited the start of the universe. Finch said the collider is the second largest in the world.

“While we weren’t able to find out the cause of a problem in the detector, we were able to re-purpose it,” Finch said.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, is a research organization that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Located in Geneva, its Large Hydron Collider is where the Higgs boson particle, sometimes called the “God particle,” was proven in 2012.

onedrive for business

SCSU students, faculty, and staff have access to OneDrive for Business. OneDrive for Business makes it easy to upload your files and access your documents on different web browsers, operating systems (Mac/Windows), and mobile devices. OneDrive for Business features 1 TB of free file storage and provides a safe and secure location for your data.

Some additional benefits of OneDrive for Business include:

  • Real-time collaboration on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents
  • Version tracking on your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents
  • Sharing files and folders with other SCSU students, faculty and staff


What is OneDrive for Business

How do I upload files to OneDrive? (PDF)

How do I upload files to OneDrive? (video)

If you are here you are looking to learn about phentermine and how phentermine works and how to buy phentermine online from here

 

(Faculty/Staff) If you experience any difficulties uploading your files, please contact the help desk at 203-392-5123 option 3.

Microsoft’s OneDrive for Business complies with FERPA and HIPAA guidelines. However, it is up to you to ensure you are abiding by the proper standards when using the service. Check with the data owner or local department policy before moving confidential data to OneDrive for Business.

CSU Professor Terry Bynam

Terrell “Terry” Ward Bynum, professor of philosophy at Southern and founder of SCSU’s Research Center on Computing and Society, has been selected for one of the most prestigious faculty awards within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.

The state Board of Regents for Higher Education Friday bestowed Bynum with the title of CSU (Connecticut State University) professor. Southern, Central, Western and Eastern Connecticut State universities each can have up to three such professors. Bynum fills an SCSU vacancy left by the recent retirement of James Mazur, who was named as a CSU Professor in 2010. Bynum joins Southern’s current CSU Professor, Vivian Shipley, who is a professor of English. A third CSU Professor at Southern, Joseph Solodow, recently retired, leaving a vacancy.

“Dr. Bynum has a very impressive career at Southern,” said Ellen Durnin, SCSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He has played a leading role in the field of computer ethics and is internationally regarded as the most prominent teacher and theoretician in the field.”

In addition to launching the Research Center on Computing and Society, Bynum organized and hosted the first international computer ethics conference in 1991. The event was funded by the National Science Foundation.

He received the inaugural INSEIT/Joseph Weizenbaum Award in information and computer ethics in 2009 during the International Conference of Computer Ethics: Philosophical Enquiry. The award was presented for making significant contributions to the field of information and computer ethics through research, service and vision. And earlier that year, he was chosen as the recipient of the American Philosophical Association’s Barwise Prize for his life-long work on computing and human values.

Bynum is an accomplished author, having written his first book, “Gottlieb Frege, Conceptual Notation and Related Articles,” about a noted German philosopher. Oxford University Press would eventually republish the book as an Oxford Scholarly Classic, according to Troy Paddock, chairman of the CSU Professor Advisory Committee.

Bynum would go on to write books on computer ethics, as well.
“He is considered to be, by more than one scholar, the ‘founding father’ of the field,” Paddock said.

He established the American Association of Philosophy Teachers and has conducted more than two dozen teaching workshops, Paddock said. He also created the Computer Ethics course at Southern and has taught in the SCSU Honors College.

Bynum began teaching at SCSU in 1987 and holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from City University of New York.

Jim Barber, Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2016

For more than 50 years, James Barber ‘64, M.S. ’79, has given dedicated service to Southern Connecticut State University and its students. He was recognized by the SCSU Alumni Association with its 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award on Friday, Sept. 9 at a campus event attended by more than 300 family members, friends, and fellow alumni.

A record-setting hurdler as a student athlete, Barber went on to become a successful Owls coach for almost 25 years, training numerous track champions and many All-Americans. His expertise also saw him coach both the men’s and women’s USA track teams at national and international championships.

In 1971, Barber launched Southern’s first Summer Educational Opportunity Program, which over time successfully opened the door to a college degree for scores of minority students. He also led the university’s affirmative action office, served as director of student supportive services for more than 20 years, and now helps to advance Southern’s mission as director of community engagement.

A committed community activist, he founded New Haven’s track and field outreach program for young people, working with more than 4,000 children and youth over the years. And he has served as president and a long-time board member of the New Haven Scholarship Fund, which has assisted generations of local high school students to pay for a college education.

“Unsurprisingly, you are a legend in New Haven, having inspired and mentored generations of city youth,” said Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, in a citation honoring Barber.  “And at Southern, your influence both on and off the field has impacted students and alumni nationwide, many of whom say they would never have graduated without your support and guidance.

“Your many contributions are being recognized today with the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus Award – a fitting recognition for a true Southern icon and a worthy member of the Nutmeg State.”

View a video tribute to James Barber.

View a photo gallery from the Distinguished Alumnus Award event.

 

Women and computer science

Southern’s efforts to bolster computer science education in the region have caught the attention of the White House.

SCSU is mentioned in a White House fact sheet released Sept. 14 to highlight the efforts of schools and other organizations across the nation that expand access to computer science, particularly at the K-12 level. A summit was held on the same day at the White House to celebrate recent commitments to improve computer science education as part of President Barack Obama’s Computer Science for All initiative.

SCSU had submitted materials to the White House that showcase the university’s push. Lisa Lancor, chairwoman of the SCSU Computer Science Department, and Winnie Yu, a computer science professor coordinating this effort, were notified last Friday that Southern would be recognized.

“It is great to see this national effort to expand computer science offerings at the K-12 level – an initiative that is certainly needed,” said Lisa Lancor, chairwoman of the SCSU Computer Science Department. “We are merely tying in what we’ve been doing, and it is wonderful to see that the White House is recognizing our contributions.

Yu agreed.

“Being selected by the White House for recognition is a boost to the morale of our students and faculty,” Yu said.

The three principal SCSU projects are:

*A commitment to increase the number of women majoring in computer science at SCSU from the current 13.8 percent to 25 percent within two years. It is part of SCSU’s participation in the National Center for Women in Technology’s Pacesetters program.

*A training program for high school teachers on mobile computing so that the teachers can more effectively teach their students. Mobile computing is being taught in more than 200 schools across the country, including some in Connecticut.

*A mentoring program in which at least 10 Southern computer science students will conduct weekly, after-school mini program lessons in computer programming to 20-30 middle school students at Beecher Museum Magnet School of the Arts and Sciences in New Haven. The program began more than a year ago.

Michael Kuszpa, a middle school science teacher at Beecher, said he is excited that the mentoring program is continuing. He said his students have been learning various 21st century computer coding skills, ranging from building smart phone applications to coding simple computer programs.

“The interaction between SCSU’s students and the middle school students of Beecher has helped spark a much needed interest among our students into the field of computer science — a high demand STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career field,” said Kuszpa, who also is a student in SCSU’s Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) in educational leadership program.

According to the White House, nine out of 10 parents would like computer science to be taught at their child’s school, but by some estimates, only a quarter of K-12 schools offer a computer science course with programming included. The need for such skills across industries continues to grow rapidly, with 51 percent of all STEM jobs projected to be in computer science-related fields by 2018, the White House said.

Furthermore, some estimates show that three-quarters of U.S. schools do not offer a single computer science course with programming, according to the White House, which adds that lack of access is even worse for communities traditionally underrepresented in computer science and other STEM fields. In fact, the White House said that only 22 percent of students who took the Advanced Placement computer science exam in high school were girls, and just 13 percent were African-American or Latino students.

“Today’s job market, research and development is hungry for computer science-related skills,” Yu said. “We are deeply committed to fostering computational thinking and analytical skills in our students, especially among women and underrepresented groups who might otherwise not consider computer science as a potential career path. To meet these needs, our mission is to provide access, as well as to build inclusive excellence.”

 

 

 

Liverpool

My name is Erica Surgeary (yup, just like the operation). I am a senior majoring in Event Management. I am from Long Island, New York so I’m already used to traveling across open waters to go to school (haha). At SCSU I live on campus as a Resident Advisor, I am a Peer Mentor Coordinator, Orientation Ambassador, and a tour guide.

I am studying abroad in Liverpool, England from September 14th – January 6th. I will be an exchange student at Liverpool’s John Moores University. I will be sharing a suite/flat with five other SCSU students in a building called Capital Gate.

Livin n’ Liverpool
You say goodbye, & I say hello!

Wednesday’s occur 53 times a year, it’s the hump day of a long workweek, and it’s commonly known among teens as the day you wear pink. I’ve spent years of dreaming, months of planning, and days of counting down to this Wednesday.

Well, this Wednesday is finally here! On September 14th, I leave the owl’s nest for four months to study abroad in Liverpool, England for the fall semester! But, I’m not just studying abroad… I’m proud to say that I am a pioneer for Southern Connecticut State University’s student exchange program and Liverpool’s John Moores University.

Liverpool JMU

I’ve been waiting on standby for almost two years for this “Atlantic Crossing” program to take off.  Now, you may ask, why did I wait for fall semester of my senior year? (FYI, college really does fly by). Well, my insightful advisors in the Recreation, Sports, and Event Management department were the engineers of this exchange program. They put the pieces together and paved the runway for students like me to be the test pilots for this adventurous flight.

I’m feeling excited but nerves are kicking in. I am ambitious and optimistic. This experience will help challenge me to become more adventurous and live more independently. It still hasn’t settled in yet that I’ll be away for four months, but as my twin sister said, who studied abroad in Prague last semester, it will hit me when I arrive. (BTW Allee, my sister, has been the best resource & guide to me throughout all of this!)

In March 2016 I spent my spring break in Prague visiting Allee. We went to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in 10 days. My short time in these three European cities gave me new perspectives. I was overly exhausted, my shoes were stuffed with band-aids and tissues from countless blisters on my feet, and we probably got lost twenty times, but it was the best trip I’ve ever had.

Office of International Education

So now I am thrilled to take these lessons learned into my own adventure abroad.  I will be joined by 5 other students from SCSU who are also test- piloting the program.  We really don’t know each well yet and we have different majors, but we decided to share a six-person suite. (Check out Chris’s blog too!).

Did I mention we each get our own room and bathroom??!!?!

In preparation for my flight, I returned home last week to Long Island, New York after spending my entire summer at SCSU working for New Student Orientation and interning with the Office of Student Involvement. I’ve been in the driver’s seat all summer steering the Peer Mentoring program in a new direction.  My summer experiences were challenging and incredibly rewarding (making it a million times harder to say goodbye).

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Erica
Erica Surgeary and friends
Erica and friends

But now, it’s time to say hello to OWL the places I’ll go!

*I’ll apologize in advance for the OWL puns… can you tell I’m in love with Southern?

Oh the Places You'll Go!

So like a hot air balloon, I’m going to hop on and ride across the pond. These next few months are filled with unknowns, but I can’t wait to see how much I’m going to learn and grow. Follow me along the way because this blog is intended for OWL WHOOO want to know what it’s like to liv across the sea and call Liverpool my home!

My adventure is waiting.  I’m on my way.  Bon voyage USA!

Signing off….
AmErica n’ Liverpool

There are many reasons why files on your computer may be lost or corrupted, and not all are easily fixed. When data loss occurs, often the only option is to restore from a backup. The best way to protect your data is to make sure copies of your files are stored somewhere else.

Here are some tips to help you choose what you need to backup and what you don’t.

Please Backup:

  • Your User Folder
    • Windows 7 or 10: C:\users\yourusername

windows screenshot of user folder

  • MacOS: Macintosh HD\users\yourusername aka “Home”mac screenshot of home location
  • Other Data Folders
    • If you have programs that save files in other areas, you will need to locate those files and save copies.

Do Not Backup:

  • Your Programs or Applications
    • Many of these can be easily reinstalled. If there are certain programs that contain critical information stored within them, research how a data export can be done and save the exported file as your backup.
  • Your Windows folder
    • On a Windows computer, this folder contains many system files that can be easily reinstalled with a new operating system.
  • Folders that are already backed up with a cloud service (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
    • These files stored on your computer are backed up online which can be restored to your computer again later.

 

Welcome Back! Each of us, in our own way, celebrate the academic rhythms that shape and balance our work as teacher/scholars.  As the days grow shorter and cooler; as the leaves grow more colorful and grass less so; our campus experiences a kind of renewal—the returning of our students and the optimism that accompanies the beginning of the academic year. This year is special, of course, as we also welcome our new president, Dr. Joe Bertolino.  Arts & Sciences has so much to be proud of and to “show off” to our new president.  I hope that each of us takes the time to acquaint Dr. Bertolino with our many success stories as well as our plans and ambitions. We have a lot going on this academic year and I hope that we all will spend some time attending the many events offered by Arts & Sciences. So, I welcome you back and look forward to another productive and creative year!

As a reminder, the purpose of the Dean’s Blog is to highlight faculty achievements, departmental initiatives, curricular advancements, and student successes. We also use the blog to bring attention to key academic, scholarly, and artistic events of interest to the School. So, if you have an item that you wish to share, please email the School of Arts & Sciences at ArtsAndSciences@southernct.edu.

A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES

Arts &Sciences adds strength to strength this year by bringing aboard nine (9) new tenure track faculty. Each of these exceptional new faculty bring unique expertise, energy, and new/exciting ideas.  Please join me in welcoming these new colleagues to our School and to our campus!

Alex Girard: Art / Graphic Design
Sara Wojiski:  Biology / Bio-Education
Sara Baker: Communication / Professional & Personal Communication
Mohammad Tariqul Islam:  Computer Science / Data-Science
Rachel Furey:  English / Creative Writing
Matthew Miller: Environment, Geography & Marine Sciences / GIS
Jason W. Smith: History / Science & Technology
Vern Williams: Journalism / Photo-Journalism
Jennifer Hopper: Political Science / American Politics

SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS & FACULTY SHOUT-OUTS 

History department faculty have proven especially productive as Nikos Chrissidis, Dick Gerber, Alan Friedlander, and Michele Thompson collectively published three monographs this past year. Additionally this summer, Michele Thompson was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore.

The new Department of the Environment, Geography, and Marine Sciences continued to sponsor the study abroad program in Iceland.  Patrick Heidkamp (EGMS) and two faculty members from Liverpool-John Moore’s University (LJMU) brought fifteen students from LJMU and eleven from Southern to engage in the department’s field-based approach to teaching and learning.

Last year, the university opened the Buley Art Gallery, which featured three exhibitions. Students and faculty in the Art Department now have a dedicated exhibition space. In conjunction with the 2016 Undergraduate Research Conference, Mia Brownell (ART) again organized the “Art Crawl” for conference participants to see and discuss faculty and student works.

Vivian Shipley (ENG) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection, Perennial.

In April, the Women’s Studies program hosted its 22nd conference, “Feminist In(ter)ventions: Women, Community, Technology”, co-hosted by Yi-Chun Tricia Lin (MDS & WMS) and Heidi Lockwood (PHI).

Nearly one in three interns from the Communication Department received offers of full-time employment upon completion of their internships this year. Annette Madlock Gatison (COM) published Health Communication and Breast Cancer Among Black Women: Culture, Identity, Spirituality, and Strength. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2016.

Cindy Simoneau (JRN) was awarded the SPIG Teacher of the Year. Congratulations Cindy!  A well-deserved honor.

In Spring 2016 the Music Department’s enrollments in private music lessons matched the all-time program high of 62 lessons, thanks to the ongoing support from the Stutzman Family Foundation.

The Psychology Department hosted CSU Psychology Day, a conference of student research from the four CSU campuses. More than 140 students and faculty participated, with 82 student posters, four student talks, and a keynote address by Dr. Bridget Nugent of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, the department’s Mike Nizhnikov, along with colleagues at Binghamton University, was recently awarded an NIH grant to study prenatal exposure to alcohol.

Two teams of three Math students competed in the annual four-day Mathematical Contest in Modeling. One of the teams earned an Honorable Mention designation, which put them in the top half of the nearly 7500 participating international teams. This team also presented a poster on their solution at Southern’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Betsy Roberts (BIO) won the CUR award and presented a poster on Capitol  Hill (Washington DC) with undergraduate researchers Laetitia Iboki and Jacqueline Mary Desrosier. Meanwhile, Nick Edgington (BIO) published a paper with 2,683 other authors (one of the three largest in history), the most ever with undergraduate authors!

Mike Rogers (ANT) received a prestigious Louis Leakey Grant and brought another team of students and alumni to Ethiopia to research pre-historic human origins, while Joe Manzella (ANT) brought two students to British Columbia to assist in his work on a documentary about Canada’s First Nations.

The A&S Strategic Planning Committee (Co-Chairs: Craig Hlavac (MUS), Terri Bennett (MAT), Christine Broadbridge (PHY,GR), & Bruce Kalk (A&S)) drafted and submitted a 5-year plan for A&S. We will be collaborating with the committee to finalize and implement our plan this coming academic year.

Twenty-eight Political Science majors completed internships at sites from Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office to Disneyland.

Earth Science faculty members have been active collaborating in student-faculty research projects which have led to a number of successful grants, publications, and presentations. Two of these projects (Rock Wall and Rock Garden) were highlighted as prominent additions during the opening of the new Academic Science Building.

The World Languages Department finished the academic year with a one-day Olympics for World Languages (OWLS) event, thanks in particular to Christine Dombrowski, Lisa Vitale, Luke Eilderts and Luisa Piemontese. Twenty world language teams of French, German, Italian, and Spanish speakers from eight Connecticut high schools participated.

The Media Studies Department is in the process of bringing an exciting new minor on Social Media to fruition.

Ten Sociology students participated in Southern’s Undergraduate Research Conference with co-authored work presented in the poster sessions.

Elliott Horch (PHY) received two new NSF grants totaling more than $250,000 in addition to his other ongoing grant-related activities. Elliott is now in the prestigious “One Million Dollar Club” awarded to faculty who garnered at least $1 million dollars in external funding.

…and much, MUCH more!

THE BEST OF THE BEST

A&S is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of History alumna Jahana Hayes (Jahana Fleming, BS ’05), the 2016 National Teacher of the Year!  She will be honored at a reception on Friday, September 16th hosted by the School of Education. As with many of our fine teachers their paths begin with certification programs in Arts & Sciences.

LIGHTING THE WAY

Southern students soon will be able to use the Southwest Ledge Lighthouse — which overlooks New Haven Harbor — as a base to conduct research, thanks to the generosity of a group of donors who recently bought the facility. The donors were awarded the lighthouse recently after posting the successful bid of about $180,000. The plans are moving forward to renovate the lighthouse in preparation for future use of the facility by the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, as well as other educational organizations. SCSU intends to use it as a field station that would include classrooms and lab space. Read the story in the New Haven Register about the purchase and future use of the facility by Southern.

NURTURING OUTSTANDING STUDENT TALENT

Southern’s Biology students are still on the Phage hunt! Nick Edgington (BIO) reported that in June undergraduates, Bryan Pasqualucci and Elena Haury, gave an oral presentation and poster session at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute SEA-PHAGES Research Symposium. They joined other Phage hunters at the Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn, VA.

Jeff Webb (CHE) and Vince Breslin (EGMS) were pleased by the turnout as the Chemistry Department played host to the American Chemical Society Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium in late April. Cody Edson (CHE, BS ’16 / now in the master’s program), mentored by James Kearns (CHE) and Sadia Younas (CHE) mentored by Vince Breslin won top honors placing first and second for their poster presentations. Sadia later presented her work at the Long Island Sound Research Conference in mid-May. Both students were recipients of research stipends from the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies.

The MOU with the Elm Shakespeare Company broadened the collaboration with Southern’s Theatre Department offering several students positions in the professional company of A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

  • Elisa Albert – Camp Director, Administrative Assistant, and Apprentice Actor (playing Starveling)
  • Briana Bausch – Jr. Camp Teaching Artist and Apprentice Actor (playing Peaseblossom)
  • Nathan Tracy – Non Equity Actor (playing Snout)
  • Cailey Harwood Smith – Assistant Stage Manager

Kaia Monroe Rarick (THR) participated as a senior camp teaching artist and choreographer while Mike Skinner (THR) provided the music to Midsummer as well as the sound design.

LEST WE FORGET…

While the occasion that celebrated academic excellence in April has passed, we want to take the time to extend congratulations to Thomas O’Malley (COM) who was awarded the J Philip Smith Outstanding Teaching Award for Part-Time Faculty, Leon Yacher (EGMS) for Southern’s Technological Teacher of the Year, and Armen Marsoobian (PHI) for Southern’s Faculty Scholar Award for his work entitled, Fragments of a Lost Homeland: Remembering Armenia.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A&S

Our students benefit from the ongoing generosity offered by our many friends and donors–including many faculty, staff and alumni. This year A&S awarded a record number of scholarships! The total A&S scholarships awarded thus far is $47,335.00. If you would like to make a contribution or begin a new scholarship, contact our dedicated team in University Advancement.

MATH FOOTPRINT GROWING

The GeoGebra Institute of Southern Connecticut held its Fourth Annual GeoGebra Conference–its largest ever!  Sixty-five (65) participants from around the country (CT, MA, ME, NY, OH, TX) and one international participant coming from Sri Lanka attended. The conference proceedings will be published as a special volume in the North American GeoGebra Journal. This conference is the brainchild of Marie Nabbout-Cheiban (MAT) and Len Brin (MAT). Dr. Doug Kuhlman gave the keynote presentation and was followed by three parallel sets of sessions including 6 peer-reviewed presentations, 9 short presentations and 11 workshops.

EXCELLENCE FROM THE CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM 

The Arts & Sciences Creative Writing Program have had many remarkable success stories over the years. Here are few recent accomplishments by their students:

Lynn Houston (MFA) book of poetry–The Clever Dream of Man—won 1st place in the Connecticut Press’ statewide literary competition.  Advancing to the national awards, it was selected by the National Federation of Press Women as their 2016 second place winner! Lynn Houston also runs Five Oaks Press.

Seven poetry students in the MFA program participated in a graduate conference hosted by the University of Rhode Island and entitled “Trans(form): New Insights and New Directions.” Sean Igoe, Shelby Lanaro, Laura Ahking, Rebecca O’Bern, Elizabeth Wager, and Lynn Houston read their poetry on a panel called “Transforming Life into Art.” Lynn Houston chaired the panel and opened with remarks about the transformative value of poetry and the various techniques that poets use to make meaning of autobiographical experiences in creative works. During another panel session, MFA graduate student Katherine Sullivan presented a paper on maternal poetry and read poems from her thesis manuscript. Vivian Shipley, with whom all of the poets have studied, attended the conference and contributed to the question and answer sessions after the presentations.

A poem by Rebecca O’Bern (MFA), “To the Man or Woman Who Finds my Body,” will appear in the anthology, Theories of HER, published by the Mercurial Noodle Press.

MFA graduate, Suzanne Lacroix, has received representation for her novel from the New York literary agency DeFiore and Company.

Current MFA, Ryan Leigh Dostie, has received representation for her memoir, Real Soldiers Don’t Cry, about sexual assault while in the military and her time in Iraq in 2003-04, from William Morris, the world’s largest entertainment agency.

MA graduate Julie Barton’s memoir, Dog Medicine, will be released by Penguin in, so far, eight countries in July and discussions of a movie are in progress.

Former undergraduate, Xhenet Aliu, previous winner of the Prairie Schooner Prize for fiction for her first book, has sold her novel, Brass, set in Waterbury, to Random House for release in 2018.

MA graduate Jean Copeland’s novel, The Revelation of Beatrice Darby, is a finalist for the Golden Crown Literary Society’s author debut and historical fiction prize.

MA graduate, Patricia Bjorklund’s memoir, U.S. and Them, has been acquired by Alamo Press for release in fall 2017.

Current and recent MFA graduates published these full collections of poetry during the past year.

  • Christine Beck, Blinding Light
  • Brendan Walsh, GO
  • Joy Mlozanowski, Night Flying
  • Pat Mottola, Under the Red Dress
  • Chris Grillo, Heroes’ Tunnel

Graduate Lisa Mangini has been hired full-time as a lecturer by Penn State University. MA graduate, Sheila Squillante, has been promoted to associate professor and now directs the MFA Program at Chatham University. MFA fiction graduate Nancy Antle (author of numerous young adult novels) has been selected to attend the One Story Writers’ Workshop, a highly-selective national competition.

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