The Wesleyan Connection

Erin Arai, a graduate student in astronomy, speaks about her photograph of a commuter rail station during the opening reception for the exhibit Photographic Window on Causes of Climate Change Nov. 5 in Van Vleck Observatory. All photographs in the show were taken by students enrolled in Astronomical Pedagogy Seminar, and exhibited waste and carbon use excesses.

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Iddrisu Saaka, artist in residence, performs a dance titled "Jovian Suite" Oct. 30 in Patricelli '92 Theater. The dance was part of "Dancing the Imagination" - a conceptually, visually and kinesthetically compelling project directed by Rachel Boggia, visiting assistant professor of dance.

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Emily Pinkerton plays a 25-string Chilean guitarron during the Annual Meeting for the Society for Ethnomusicology held at Wesleyan Oct. 25-28.

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Thirty-two solar panels were installed on the rooftop of a new senior house on Fountain Avenue Oct. 29. The entire house is Enviornmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR certified. This is the first Wesleyan home to have solar panels.

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Cathy Race, administrative assistant in the Psychology Department, is the key contact person for the department, oversees the undergraduate major, is the department's archivist and website moderator.

Q: Cathy, when did you come to Wesleyan? What office did you start in?

A: I started in 1981 in the Alumni Relations Office. Then I transferred to a joint position in the Science in Society Program/Health Education, then the College of Social Studies, and then in 1991 to the Psychology Department.

Q: Do you have a personal interest in psychology or has your interest peaked since you started working with psychologists?

A: My interest in psychology could never peak. I’ve always been curious how the mind works. The field is fascinating. It goes beyond textbooks. The faculty are amazing and the majors are ambitious. I can honestly say I love my job.

Q: Could you touch on some of the department’s highlights?

A: Our faculty have labs (more…)

Gina Ulysse, associate professor of anthropology and African American studies.

An editorial written by Gina Ulysse, associate professor of anthropology and African American studies, was published in The Hartford Courant on Oct. 26. The editorial, titled “Michelle Obama: An Exceptional Model,” is online here. Ulyssee writes “Recently, interviewer Larry King tried his best to get a rise out of Michelle Obama. Her responses remained cool, collected and focused. She defied the angry black woman stereotype. She was forthright, intelligent, impeccably stylish and obviously happy. With these characteristics, Michelle creates discomfort in many because she raises fundamental questions about society’s fixation with categories and how we understand our place within the pecking order of things.”

As part of the reorganization of the Office of University Communications, formerly the Office of Public Affairs, three staff members’ roles have changed to directly support the department’s mission and priorities.

Mark Bailey, formerly director of development communications, is now director of strategic communications. His responsibilities are for university brand and messaging; strategic initiatives to communicate Wesleyan advantages; and marketing communications integration across media.

Adrian Cooke, formerly web administrator, is now associate director of web technology. In this role, Cooke is the web technologist for University Communications and University Relations and principal contact for University Communications’ web initiatives. With Information Technology Services’ New Media Lab, he will develop and produce the core university website, as well as University Relations and alumni sites.

Jenny Fields ‘03, formerly development communications coordinator, is now digital asset and project manager. She is the point of contact for procurement, stewardship, and delivery of university digital assets, including coordination with outside photographers and videographers for special project and event coverage.

Dana Royer, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, contributed to an important study on the dangerous levels of Carbon Dioxide on the planet. He is featured in a Nov. 6 issue of Health News Digest. According to the article, if climate disasters are to be averted, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) must be reduced below the levels that already exist today. The model, created by Royer and nine other scientists from the U.S., the U.K. and France, suggests “the only realistic way to sharply curtail CO2 emissions is phase out coal use except where CO2 is captured and sequestered.” According to the study, coal is the largest source of atmospheric CO2 and the one that would be most practical to eliminate. The study was presented in the Open Atmospheric Science Journal, Volume 2, 217-231, published in 2008.

Ruth Striegel-Moore

Ruth Striegel-Moore, the Walter A. Crowell University Professor of the Social Sciences, professor and chair of psychology, is the recipient of the New England Psychological Association’s (NEPA) Distinguished Contribution Award. She delivered the Distinguished Contribution Award Lecture titled “Reducing the Burden of Suffering from Eating Disorders” during the 48th Annual Meeting of the organization at Western New England College, Springfield, Mass. on Oct. 25.

The award honors psychologists with current or prior association with New England who have distinguished themselves by advancing the science of psychology; used psychology to advance individual and/or community well-being through service; are conducting a program of research or service which is currently making major strides in furthering new knowledge in psychology; and/or have engaged in teaching and mentoring in a manner reflecting commitment and innovation well beyond the norm.

Jorge Arévalo Mateus is a Ph.D candidate in ethnomusicology. (Photo by Intisar Abioto '09)

Jorge Arévalo Mateus, a Ph.D candidate in ethnomusicology, received a 2008 American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Deems Taylor Award on Oct. 20. Mateus was honored for his liner notes for The Live Wire: Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949, released by Woody Guthrie Publications.

Mateus and fellow winners will be honored at a special reception at the The Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York, N.Y. Dec. 9.

Established in 1914, the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 330,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.