Newsbriefs
Remembering Thomas Anton '56
Former Clark Trustee Thomas J. Anton '56, an active alumnus and longtime supporter of the University, died June 6, 2006. Among their many contributions to Clark, Dr. Anton and his wife Barbara Anton '56 established the Anton Fellowship Program, providing many Clark undergraduates extraordinary opportunities to pursue their scholarly and creative passions.
A Worcester native, Dr. Anton described his Clark education as "a real enlightenment for a poor kid from Worcester." A member of the University's first Phi Beta Kappa class and a Rhodes Scholar finalist, he went on to become an internationally renowned political scientist. He held faculty positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois, and the University of Stockholm, where he was a visiting professor. He was a longtime faculty member at the University of Michigan, prior to becoming the founding director of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions at Brown University.
During his 15 years at Brown, Dr. Anton served on several boards and committees, as well as dean of faculty from 1990 to 1991. Throughout his distinguished academic career, he published more than 50 articles and presented a dozen papers on public policy that covered an array of topics, from "Policy-making and Political Culture in Sweden" to "The Political Consequences of General Revenue Sharing." Published in 1994, his fifth book, "American Federalism and Public Policy: How the System Works," won the American Political Science Association's Gladys M. Kammerer Award for "the best political science publication in the field of U.S. national policy." In 2003, Dr. Anton was given the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Political Science Association, Section on Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations.
At Clark, Dr. Anton served as vice chair of Clark's Board of Trustees, as chair of the board's Academic Affairs Committee and as a member of the board's Executive, Strategic Planning, and Neighborhood Improvement committees. With his wife Barbara, Dr. Anton was a member of the Jonas Clark Fellows and also established the Thomas J. '56 and Barbara J. Lindblom '56 Anton Endowed Prize for a Clark student who has made an outstanding contribution to the University Park Partnership. The Anton Fellowship Program provides awards of $500 to $2,500 annually, allowing 10 to 12 undergraduates to pursue independent study, or explore an intellectual interest or a public-service project. Some 55 Clark undergraduates have benefitted from the Anton Fellowship Program since its inception in 2001.
"Tom Anton brought to Clark his deep understanding of higher education and the powerful role it can play in the lives of students," says President Bassett. "He understood the value of giving students the often life-changing experience of pursuing their intellectual curiosity, wherever it may lead."
Dr. Anton was also active in the Providence, R.I., community. In 1986, he was appointed a commissioner of the Providence Housing Authority. In 1988, he was appointed a member of the Mayor's Task Force on Alternative Revenue Sources. From 2003 to 2006, he served as chairman of the board of the Providence Plan, for which he had been interim director in the early 1990s. He was elected chairman of the Providence Housing Authority in 1990 and, in 1992, received an Individual Recognition Award for his contributions in that role.
In addition to his wife Barbara, Dr. Anton is survived by three children, Lynn Allen, Thomas R. Anton and Leslie Anton; a brother, Richard Anton; a sister, Dorothia Giza; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Remembering Alexander Drapos A.B. '58
Former Clark Trustee Alexander Drapos A.B. '58 died July 10, 2006. Mr. Drapos was a dedicated alumnus whose work as a Worcester civic leader exemplified Clark's commitment to the Worcester community.
After graduating from Clark, Mr. Drapos earned his law degree in 1961 at Duke University, where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Drapos went on to a distinguished career in commercial, banking and immigration law. He practiced at Fletcher, Tilton and Whipple, PC, in Worcester, where he was a director. He was a member of the Worcester County and Masschusetts Bar associations and of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
As a Clark student, Mr. Drapos was a member of the Gryphon and Pleiades Honor Society and the Lambda Chi fraternity. He remained actively involved with Clark throughout his life, serving on his reunion committee, as president of the Alumni Association and as a member of the University's Board of Trustees. His six-year term on the board concluded in 2004. Mr. Drapos was a longtime generous supporter of the University as a member of the Jonas Clark Fellows and also contributed to the University's New Century and Clark 2000 capital campaigns. He also established the Evangelos and Theodora Drapos Endowed Scholarship at Clark. In recognition of his unyielding support of Clark, Mr. Drapos received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award presented by the Alumni Association.
Beyond Clark, Mr. Drapos was involved in many community, civic and cultural organizations. He was chairman for two terms and a current board member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, current chairman of the Worcester Business Development Corporation, vice president of the Fallon Foundation, a director at First Massachusetts Bank and president of the Worcester Research Bureau. He also served as a director of the Worcester County Music Association, a founder and director of the Hellenic Arts Society, a director of the Worcester Economic Club and a member of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Visions 2000 Committee. Mr. Drapos was also involved with the American Farm School in Greece and was a fundraiser for a variety of causes.
Mr. Drapos was recognized for his remarkable commitment to Worcester in 1994, when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Telegram & Gazette Visions 2000 Committee. He also received the National Conference of Christians and Jews Award.
"Alex Drapos represented the best that a Clark education has to offer," says President John Bassett. "The Clark community, and all those who had the opportunity to work with Alex, will miss him for the enthusiasm, expertise and friendship he brought to the causes about which he cared so deeply."
New trustees join Clark Board
David H. Chaifetz '65 has been appointed to the University's Board of Trustees for a six-year term. In addition, Barbara Rabinowitz Dyer '73 was elected to the board by alumni this spring, also for a six-year term. Both began their terms on July 1.
"We are thrilled to have David and Barbara joining the Board of Trustees. Both bring broad-based experience and have been loyal supporters of the University," says President John Bassett.
In 2004 after 29 years of service, Chaifetz retired as vice president, secretary and general counsel of Praxair, Inc. in Danbury, Conn. Prior to that he was a staff attorney for the Chrysler Corporation. A long-standing member of the Jonas Clark Fellows, Chaifetz created the David H. '65 and Edith Chaifetz Endowed Fund for Jewish Studies in April 2006. The fund supports additional courses, speakers, and scholarship in Jewish Studies. Chaifetz also supported the renovation of the Cohen-Lasry House and provided funding for the Jakubowitz-Chaifetz Garden, which lies adjacent to the building.
Dyer has been president and CEO of the Hitachi Foundation since 1998. Under her leadership, the foundation has played a pivotal role in Japanese-based Hitachi Ltd.'s corporate-citizenship strategy throughout North America and globally and has been an influential force in the corporate-citizenship field. Dyer co-founded and directed the Alliance for Redesigning Government based at the National Academy of Public Administration and served 11 years with the National Governors' Association affiliate, the Council of Governors' Policy Advisors. Early in her career, she was a Carter administration appointee, serving as special assistant to Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Cecil Andrus. A member of an extended Clark family—husband Samuel S. Dyer '73, Sam's mother, Betty Dyer '50, and uncle, Saul Schanberg '54, M.A. '56—Dyer and her husband have been generous supporters of the Samuel and Lillian Schanberg Scholarship Fund established at Clark by the family.
In addition, Perry R. Pero '61 and James H. Harrington have both returned to the University's Board of Trustees as honorary trustees for four-year terms.
"We are very happy to have Perry and Jim return as honorary trustees," says President Bassett. "Both have served us with distinction and bring valuable experience to the Board."
Minds, Matter and Medicine in the 21st Century
This past July, 20 high-school seniors, from across the country, China and El Salvador, participated in Clark's Summer Science Program, "Minds, Matter and Medicine in the 21st Century."
Students attended morning lectures on topics including biological clocks and cancer biology and discussed whether or not there is "intelligent life" in the universe beyond Earth. Afternoon labs and workshops, team-taught by five Clark faculty members from various departments, had the high-school seniors isolating DNA and talking about color, vision and the stars, among other things. Faculty also counseled the students in everything from note-taking and time management, to planning for graduate studies and preparing for careers in medicine.
The program offered college credit, room and board at no cost. Students stayed in a campus residence hall and experienced a taste of Clark's academic and social life.
According to Clark chemist David Thurlow, the program, in its fifth year, attracted between 170 and 180 applicants, and the pool of students was "more impressive than ever."
For more information on the Summer Science Program, visit www.clarku.edu/admissions/special programs/summerscienceprogram/index.cfm.
Student Organizations: STIR magazine
Two years ago, studio art and psychology major Diana Levine '07 founded STIR magazine as an outlet for Clark students to showcase their work. Guided by Levine, who serves as editor, STIR combines compelling content with provocative photography, for a final product that has attracted a strong campus following, as well as advertising dollars. Published four times during the academic year, STIR involves approximately 20 students on its editing and production staff, and approximately 25 students contribute writing, photography and other artwork to the magazine.
Levine has spent the past spring and summer learning more about the magazine business. She studied at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Photography & Imaging during the spring 2006 semester and interned at JANE magazine. This summer, Levine interned at Boston Magazine. Determined to make STIR "as professional as possible," Levine says, she has implemented the following changes this year:
- STIR is now full color, rather than black and white.
- Following the model Levine saw at JANE and Boston Magazine, preproduction responsibilities, such as copy editing, graphic design and advertising, are assigned to specific staff members.
- An editorial calendar is used, with each issue for the year already planned.
- Three full-time copy editors and editors for each magazine section work to ensure top-quality writing.
- And Levine, who does all the graphic design for STIR, revamped the design.
Special features planned for upcoming issues of STIR include:
- "Worcester Style Bargains"
- "Clarkies with a Cause"—a spotlight on the causes that are most important to Clark students and how they can get involved
- "Escape from Campus!"—places to visit in and around Worcester
- "Campus Survey: Has Technology Taken Over?"
- "History of the Triple Deckers"
- "Menswear"—featuring photos of Clark men
In addition to creative features like these, each STIR always includes sections on: Clark; Worcester; reviews of books, movies, concerts, clubs, classes, stores, toys, gadgets and more; style; and "STIR It Up," described as "fun, lighthearted articles and photographs that infuse the magazine with humor and personality." Along with her plans to increase the already high quality of STIR, Levine hopes to make the magazine a larger part of the Clark community by sponsoring more events on campus.
STIR receives $1,125 per issue in funding from Student Council. The remaining $4,000 in production costs per issue are generated from advertising revenue and other STIR fundraising activities. For more information about STIR, visit www.stir-magazine.com.
Clark named one of 25 Saviors of Our Cities
Clark University is included in a list of 25 "best-neighbor" urban colleges and universities compiled by Evan Dobelle, president of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE). Dobelle selected the schools "because their strong positive contribution of careful strategic planning and thoughtful use of resources have dramatically strengthened the economy and quality of life of their neighboring communities and have become Saviors of Our Cities."
"Clark was really the first of the urban universities, back in the 1980s, to stop building bigger fences and to partner with its neighbors to restore the vitality of its community. We are honored to be recognized by Evan Dobelle in this way," says President John Bassett. "Clark has a longstanding tradition of changing our world for the better and we are proud to carry on that tradition right here in our own neighborhood."
The Saviors of Our Cities list is composed of 25 academic institutions that are outstanding examples of community revitalization and cultural renewal, economic drivers of the local economy, advocates of community service and urban developers, both commercially as well as in housing. Among them are: University of Pennsylvania, University of Dayton, Case-Western University, University of Wisconsin, Emerson College, Trinity College, University of Chicago, George Washington University, and Carnegie-Mellon University.
Clark was eighth on the list, based on criteria that considered the size of the institution in geography, student population and endowment, and the population of its immediate neighborhood or city, as well as subjective impressions based on 20 years of professional experience. Dobell considered the institutions' longstanding involvement with their urban communities, the real dollars invested through their foundations and annual budgets, their catalyst effect on additional partners for social and economic change, and their overall positive impact on their communities.
"The extraordinary efforts of these and other colleges have made higher education one of the great growth industries in America and have given a sense of confidence and hope as well as stability to cities that would otherwise be struggling in a world of mergers, downsizing and global outsourcing that has eroded the traditional urban economic base," says Dobelle.
Institute for Economic Policy hosted scholars from Africa at Clark
The Institute for Economic Policy Studies (IEPS) hosted the first African Outreach Program, "Democracy, Liberty and Development," July 20 through Aug. 3 at Clark. Participants from Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal, along with American scholars, participated in the two-week program, which was funded by a grant from the Earhart Foundation of Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Institute members. Clark's College of Professional and Continuing Education provided logistical support to the conference.
The IEPS is dedicated to finding new solutions to current economic challenges facing developing countries in Africa. Institute members promote economic education through seminars, dialogue and position papers. The goal is to further understanding of economic issues and policy questions and encourage greater participation of the intended groups in determining and shaping the course of their economies.
The Honorable Joseph Pare, Minister of Secondary, Higher Education and Scientific Research of Burkina Faso, delivered the keynote address. Gordon Tullock, University Professor of Law and Economics and Distinguished Fellow in the James M. Buchanan Center for Political Economy at George Mason University, presented a public lecture, "The Fall of Africa," and actively participated throughout the first week of the program. Tullock's book, "The Social Dilemma —The Economics of War and Revolution," was one of the foundations for the readings assigned to participants in the Africa Outreach Program.
Session topics included "Democracy, Autocracy and Development," "Africa: Development in Reverse—The Economics of Civil War, Mass Killing, and Post-Conflict," and "The Rise of Microfinance."
College teachers of economics will take part in ongoing educational research set up by the Institute in consultation with African universities and institutes. The Outreach Scholars programs create opportunities for participants to participate in scholarly meetings in the United States and elsewhere by facilitating exchanges of ideas and cooperative research with scholars in the United States.
"Education is not just about lectures, conferences, research, books and papers," says IEPS President and Clark Research Professor Attiat F. Ott. "It has to have a personal dimension. You can only access and cultivate this dimension through interpersonal contact." For program details, visit: http://www.iespolicy.org.
What's Playing?
Film notes from Tim Shary, Screen Studies professor
American movies usually portray business as venal and vile, which is ironic since Hollywood represents one of the biggest industries in the world. Few films have anything positive to say about corporations and companies. In fact, a large majority of businesses in this country offer very necessary products and services, employ a huge sector of the population in rewarding jobs, and are responsible for our high standard of living.
That more beneficial aspect of business was seen in many films of the 1930s. The 1934 melodrama "Imitation of Life" offered the dream that two single women could start a food business and turn it into a flourishing franchise. The title character in "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935) overcomes his status as a servant through comic misunderstanding, and goes on to open his own restaurant. The great "Shop Around the Corner" (1940) depicted workers within a store as an organic nuclear family.
Yet after World War II, Hollywood changed its view of company life. At first that view was sardonic yet lighthearted, as in "Sabrina" (1954), "The Apartment" (1960), and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1967), the title of which portended its funny critique of corporate culture. Then after the financial crises of the 1970s, and the Reagan administration trickled-down finances to make the rich richer, the Hollywood perspective on business became more caustically facetious. "Being There" (1979) suggested that the economy could be run by an imbecile, "Trading Places" (1983) entertained the idea that human beings are mere commodities for wealthy businessmen, and "Head Office" (1985) featured an M.B.A. achieving progressive corporate promotions despite doing nothing on the job.
By the end of the 1980s, the view of American business had turned downright venomous. Consider the contempt films like "Baby Boom" (1987) and "Working Girl" (1988) had for modern businesswomen. And those men had themselves become lubricious and pernicious, witnessed most famously in the "greed is good" ethos of "Wall Street" (1987), the corruptive shenanigans of "Bonfire of the Vanities" (1990), and the outrageously homicidal mania of "A Shock to the System" (1990).
The improving economy and booming stock market during the Clinton era did not exactly change Hollywood's take on the treacherous businessman. "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992) offered up a wide range of abhorrent salesmen, "In the Company of Men" (1997) featured immoral managers who abuse a deaf woman, and "The Game" (1997) revealed that the greed celebrated a decade earlier now made millionaires lonely and miserable. And who expected that romances like "You've Got Mail" (1998) and "Punch-Drunk Love" (2002) would point to their male characters' careers as such impediments to happiness?
The secret to success, Hollywood would have us believe, is to avoid engaging in business altogether.
Anton and Steinbrecher fellowships support original undergraduate research
This is the first year of the Steinbrecher Fellowship Program, which was
created by Phyllis and Stephen '55 Steinbrecher in memory of their son David C. Steinbrecher '81. The Steinbrecher Fellowship Program is modeled like the Anton Fellowship Program, which was established six years ago by a gift from Barbara '56 and the late Thomas '56 Anton (see page 2). Both of these fellowships are designed to spark students' excitement about the pursuit of intellectual ideas and public service and to stimulate discussions within the Clark community.
Ten undergraduates are following their intellectual curiosity this year with the support of the Anton and Steinbrecher fellowship programs, which are directed by professor Sharon Krefetz. These students conducted research this summer in all parts of the globe, and some will continue their work throughout the academic year. All of the students will present their work at Fall Fest of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities or at Academic Spree Day.
2006-2007 Anton Fellows:
• Brooks Marmon '07 volunteered in a Ghanaian refugee camp outside Accra, where he organized educational and recreational programs for children whose families fled civil wars and unrest in other countries. He also conducted research on pan-Africanism and the renowned black sociologist E. Franklin Frazier M.A. '20.
• Courtney Croteau '07 interned at Asian Neighborhood Design, a nonprofit community-planning organization in San Francisco, where she used geographic information system (GIS) technology to map the locations of all the affordable housing built in the city over the past 30 years. Croteau is also conducting independent research on affordable-housing issues in San Francisco.
• Hilary May '07 is conducting research on the lives and positions of women in Europe during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. She will create an audio tour for the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester to provide its visitors with information about how women fit into the world represented at the museum and how the conflicts during the Medieval and Renaissance eras affected women's lives.
• Tara Goodhue '07 researched Mozart's life and works, performed some of his works in Mexico as part of an opera touring company headed by Maestro France Iglesias, the former voice teacher of Placido Domingo, and will prepare a program on Mozart and opera to present to Worcester-area high schools and community groups.
• Geoffrey Bonn '07 is conducting research on Buddhism in America, focusing on the Mahayana, Theravadin and Zen traditions, with an up-close look at the teachings of a contemporary Buddhist Master, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the principal teacher of the New Kadampa Tradition.
2006-2007 Steinbrecher Fellows:
• Luke Pekrul '08 piloted English-literacy classes for women in a small, rural community in Zambia, worked with community members and local organizations to recruit and train teachers, and evaluated the effects of the pedagogy used.
• Niluka Gunawardena '07 used geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing technology to help identify the most vulnerable areas of Sri Lanka affected by the spread of malaria, a growing concern there since the tsunami devastated much of the region in 2004.
• Harrison Mackler '07 conducted tissue engineering research aimed at developing a bone scaffold material that will support the transformation of stem cells into bone cells and can potentially be used as a replacement for traditional bone grafts.
• Huyen Nguyen '08 examined the productivity of state-owned and private enterprises in Vietnam's textile industry and analyzed statistical data from the World Bank and IMF on industrial production to compare the state and private sectors and their contribution to Vietnam's GDP.
• Nagraj Rao '08 is researching the development of mathematics in ancient India, with a focus on Vedic mathematics and how Vedic math techniques might be used to strengthen mathematics education in the United States.
"Clark is so fortunate to have alumni and friends like the Steinbrechers and Antons, who, through their generous gifts, make it possible for undergraduate students to pursue fascinating and important research and community-service projects," said Krefetz. "These students are using their fellowships to do terrific projects that will truly make a difference in their lives and in the lives of many, many other people."
High-school teachers gather for Clark-APA Workshop
From July 10-12, Clark and the American Psychological Association (APA) Education Directorate held the second-annual APA-Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers of Psychology, made possible by a generous gift to Clark from Lee Gurel '48 and by the American Psychological Foundation (APF). The APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) collaborated with Clark to develop this workshop, which included presentations by TOPSS members and Clark psychology professors. Twenty-five high-school teachers from around the country participated.
During this three-day workshop, participants learned about recent updates from various fields within psychology. Additional sessions covered the history of psychology and involving high-school students in research. Participants received many ideas for activities to use in their classrooms. The current president of the APA, Gerald P. Koocher, also visited campus and gave a lecture on "Questionable Fads and Practices in 20th-Century Clinical Psychology" to workshop participants.
The idea for a workshop for high-school teachers grew from the vision of Lee Gurel '48. Gurel went on to practice psychology and believes not only in the importance of education in helping students achieve their goals, but also in the influence and inspiration teachers can have on their students.
"Psychology is central to our lives," explains Gurel. "And if taught at the secondary-school level, this subject can get at issues that are essential—and often neglected—in our culture."
Grant to support study abroad for Clark students
Clark's Office of Study Abroad/Study Away Programs has been awarded a $20,000, three-year grant from the IFSA (Institute for Study Abroad) Foundation. Scholarships will be awarded to students in the Academic Advancement program at Clark who have applied to semester or yearlong Clark study-abroad programs. The funds will assist with air-travel costs, visa fees and personal expenses.
"The experiences that these students will bring back will make a positive difference in their lives, campus life and life in their home community, and will contribute to better understanding between cultures," says Clark study-abroad programs Director Adriane van Gils, who secured the grant.
The Academic Advancement Office designs and implements programs such as the Academic Clark Excellence Summer Institute, study groups and peer mentoring to promote the success of students of African American, Asian American, Latin American and Native American descent (ALANA) and first-generation college students at Clark. Director of Academic Advancement Wesaline Gadson will help identify students eligible for the IFSA funding and will serve on the selection committee.
Recipients will be announced in November. Students who receive the scholarship will be asked to write and present a short paper about their study-abroad experience to other members of the Academic Advancement program at a later event.
Faculty Grants & Awards:
BIOLOGY: Graduate student Jason Slot, adviser David Hibbett, was awarded a $12,000 Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research on "Phylogeny and Functional Evolution of High Affinity Nitrate Transporters in Fungi." Matt Wund, postdoctoral fellow who works with Susan Foster, was awarded a three-year postdoctoral fellowship totaling $145,200 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research on "The Genetic Basis of Boldness in Stickleback Fish." The award carries $45,976 in the first year.
EDUCATION: Tom DelPrete was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation for the "Main South Secondary School Collaborative."
GEOGRAPHY: Graduate students Rebecca Dickson, adviser B.L. Turner, received $24,000 in a second year of support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for her dissertation research on "Evaluating Remote Sensing Techniques for the Discrimination of Secondary Forests and their Biodiversity Potential." Graduate student Zachary Christman, adviser Turner, received a new three-year NASA dissertation research fellowship totaling $72,000 for research on "Disaggregating Phenological Variation from Discrete Land-Cover Change in the Rio Lerma-Chapala Watershed, Mexico." (See also George Perkins Marsh Institute)
MATH & COMPUTER SCIENCE: Natalia Sternberg has entered an $83,294 agreement with the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to take leave this fall semester to conduct research on "Modeling in Plasma Physics."
PHYSICS: Arshad Kudrolli was awarded his third grant this year, a three-year grant totaling $327,000 from the NSF for research on "Statistical and Dynamical Properties of Spherical and Non-Spherical Granular Materials." Chuck Agosta was awarded $105,001 in supplemental funding from the Department of Energy for continuing research on "Novel Superconducting States in Actinides & Other Anisotropic Superconductors."
PSYCHOLOGY: Esteban Cardemil was awarded $157,826 from the NIH for his research on "Prevention of Depression in Latino Parents." Postdoctoral fellow Eric Charles, who works with Nick Thompson, was awarded a postdoctoral National Research Service Award of $97,672 from the NIH for his research on "Behavior at Looking, Its Development and Consequences."
Research Centers
GEORGE PERKINS MARSH INSTITUTE: Tim Downs, Laurie Ross, Rob Goble, Halina Brown, and Octavia Taylor were awarded $216,817 in new funds from the NIH for continuing research on "Strengthening Vulnerable Communities in the Worcester Built Environment." Jim Murphy was awarded a new grant of $50,000 from the NSF for research on "The Socio-Spatial Dimensions of Industrial Change in Bolivia: Manufacturers, Regions, and the Prospects for Global Value Chain Integration." Gil Pontius received $10,000 in supplemental funds from the Marine Biological Laboratory for research on "Plum Island Ecosystems."
IDRISI/Clark Labs: Ron Eastman has received a $644,387 grant from the Moore Foundation for research on "Spatial Monitoring of Trends in Biodiversity through Time Series Analysis of High Temporal Resolution Remotely Sensed Imagery."
Faculty honored for excellence
At Fall Convocation ceremonies each year, faculty are recognized for excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and creative work. The following faculty received awards this year:
• Screen studies professor Timothy Shary, Outstanding Academic Adviser.
• English professor Betsy Huang, Outstanding Teacher Award.
• History professor Paul Ropp, Andrea B. and Peter D. Klein '64 Distinguished Professorship.
• Sociology professor Patricia Ewick, University Senior Faculty Fellowship Award.
• Theater professor Gino DiIorio, Oliver and Dorothy Hayden Junior Faculty Fellowship Award.
• Psychology professor Esteban Cardemil, Huang, and art history professor Kristina Wilson, Hodgkins Junior Faculty Awards.
In addition, graduate students Ana Carmiol and Jeremiah Jones received Outstanding Teaching Assistant awards.
Fall Convocation was held on Aug. 30 in the Daniels Theater in Atwood Hall and featured the keynote address "Saving Lives, Transforming Communities, and Changing the World: A Call to be Bold," by Edward Cardoza, director of development of Partners in Health.
Cardoza's address introduced the theme for the academic year: "Global Health and Social Justice," which links closely to the summer-reading assignment for first-year students—Tracy Kidder's "Mountains Beyond Mountains." Kidder's book, which came highly recommended from Clark faculty across the disciplines, focuses on the career of Paul Farmer, a charismatic Harvard-based physician who founded Partners in Health (PIH) to fight tuberculosis in Haiti. Today, the organization is committed to bringing the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need in the world's poorest and sickest communities. A series of events is being planned around the Global Health and Social Justice theme, including a President's Lecture by Kidder, which is slated for Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Razzo Hall. The University hopes to bring Farmer to campus in the spring.
New Faculty at Clark
The following tenure-track faculty have joined Clark for the 2006-07 academic year:
• Michael Butler joins the Government and International Relations Department from East Carolina University in Greenville.
• Ellen Foley joins the International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE) Department from the University of Pennsylvania's Health and Sciences Program, where she was a postdoctoral lecturer.
• Liza Grandia joins IDCE from University of California at Berkeley, where she was head graduate student instructor. Grandia's appointment begins in September 2007.
• Lene Jensen joins the Psychology Department from the Life Cycle Institute at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
• Noel Lazo joins the Chemistry Department from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles. He will serve as the Carlson Chair.
• Junfu Zhang joins the Economics Department from the Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, where he was a research fellow.
In addition, Tim Downs joined IDCE as a tenure-track faculty member in January 2006. Downs has been at Clark since 2001 in a full-time non-tenure track appointment in IDCE.
"Clark has been fortunate the last few years to recruit some of the best scholar-teachers in the world to its faculty," says President John Bassett. "This year is no different. It seems attracting faculty members who are equally committed to their students and to advancing knowledge in their field is fast becoming a valuable tradition at Clark."
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