Olivia DrakeNovember 5, 20102min
Wesleyan alumna Rashida Shaw '99 returned to her alma mater this fall as an instructor of theater. Shaw, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in sociology and theater from Wesleyan, also has a master of arts in theater from Northwestern University. She will receive an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in theater and drama from Northwestern's Theater and Drama Program in Spring 2011. Upon completion of her dissertation, titled “Theatrical Events and African American Audiences: A Study of Contemporary ‘Chitlin Circuit’ Theatre," Shaw will become a tenure-track assistant professor of theater at Wesleyan (view video below). (more…)

Olivia DrakeNovember 5, 20104min
A Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) award will fund a biomedical research project on tobacco-related illnesses. On Oct. 26, Senator Joseph Crisco (D-Woodbridge) presented Manju Hingorani, associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, with one of the eight awards, supported by the Connecticut DPH Biomedical Trust Fund. Hingorani received a $165,083 grant to promote understanding of the mechanisms whereby DNA mismatch repair suppresses carcinogenesis and development of refractory cancers. "While we have made considerable progress in the area of tobacco use prevention, tobacco-related illnesses continue to be the leading causes of disability and death," said Senator Crisco, sponsor of…

Olivia DrakeNovember 5, 20102min
Dana Royer, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences, assistant professor of environmental studies, accepted the gold Donath Medal at the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) annual meeting in Denver, Colo. Nov. 1. The award came with a cash prize of $10,000. The award recognizes a scientist, aged 35 or younger, for outstanding original research marking a major advance in the earth sciences. On a GSA press release, Peter D. Wilf of Pennsylvania State University said, “Dana is a true innovator who successfully tackles extremely important questions in paleoclimatology and paleoecology, in part using paleobotanical proxies calibrated with a remarkable…

Olivia DrakeNovember 5, 20102min
On Nov. 1, Jessica Posner ’09 met with Wesleyan President Michael Roth and Rob Rosenthal, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, and the John E. Andrus Professor of Sociology, to share her “Do Something Award.” On July 19, Posner was declared the top world-changer among all Americans under 25 by VH1. She received a trophy and a $100,000 award for Shining Hope for Communities, an organization she co-founded in August 2009 with Kennedy Odede ’12. Shining Hope created the first free school for girls in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum. The award ceremony is featured online here.

Olivia DrakeNovember 5, 20101min
Wesleyan was selected to host the Association of Retirement Organizations in High Education (AROHE)’s Fifth international Conference on “Purpose and Passion in Retirement: Models and Best Practices” Oct. 14-17 at Usdan University Center. AROHE, the first national and international association of retiree organizations, is committed to advocating for, educating, and serving retired faculty and staff in higher education. AROHE brings together the talent, knowledge and experience of retired faculty and staff to improve their quality of life and that of the community and institutions through creating new models of retirement. Faculty and faculty emeriti from around the country led sessions throughout the…