Cynthia RockwellSeptember 2, 20102min
Cynthia Baker '84, associate professor of religious studies at Bates College, received $50,400 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support her research into one of history’s most fraught identity terms: Jew. The NEH grant will allow Baker to research and write a book set for publication in the “Key Words in Jewish Studies,” series published by Rutgers University Press. Baker notes that no studies exist that analyze the use and the historical development—from ancient times through the postmodern era—of ‘Jew’ as a term. Baker’s year-long research will involve experts and archives in the U.S., Europe, and Israel.…

Cynthia RockwellSeptember 2, 20101min
Steven Barg ’84 has been named co-head of Asian Equity Capital Markets for Goldman Sachs based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he was head of Asian Global Capital Markets for UBS Investment Bank. He had previously been a managing director with Credit Suisse. An American studies and English double major at Wesleyan,  Barg spent a year in Hong Kong as a Henry Luce Scholar prior to earning his MBA from Stanford University.

Cynthia RockwellSeptember 2, 20101min
Thomas J. Sabatino Jr.'80 is senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of UAL Corporation and United Airlines, its principal subsidiary company, based at the company's world headquarters in Chicago. He also is a member of United’s executive council. Prior to joining United this year, he was executive vice president and general counsel of Schering-Plough Corporation, where he oversaw a number of functions, including the law department, public affairs, security and administrative services. Previously, he served as senior vice president and general counsel for Baxter International, Inc. in Deerfield, Ill. A government major at Wesleyan, he earned his bachelor’s…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 2, 20102min
[youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Rf3ZM8KGY&feature=channel[/youtube] Seventy international students, including 11 Freeman Scholars, arrived on campus during the last week of August for International Student Orientation (ISO) for the Class of 2014. A combination of information sessions, introductions and celebrations, ISO was held from Aug. 29-31, and allowed international students the opportunity to get acclimated with Wesleyan and its surroundings before they joined their fellow members of the Class of 2014 for New Student Orientation on Sept. 1. The program is designed provide a comprehensive introduction to Wesleyan and help international students begin to build a foundation for their academic and co-curricular success.…

Olivia DrakeSeptember 2, 20101min
The Class of 2014 moved in on Arrival Day 2010 Sept. 1. Below are videos and photos of the event: Wesleyan University Arrival Day highlights: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ea8EY8H5dc&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] Rebecca Koppel '14: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QKflwVdqIY&feature=channel[/youtube] Nathan Repasz '14: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtJAz_MytfA&feature=channel[/youtube] Catherine Morita '14: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_exwnOSp2lQ&feature=channel[/youtube] Isabelle Rode '14: [youtube width="640" height="420"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GgfgAFPNKY&feature=channel[/youtube] An excerpt from the "Address to Families" by Wesleyan President Michael Roth is online here. (Photos by Olivia Drake and Cora Lautze '11) Read a Wesleyan Connection story about Arrival Day here. Check out photos and video of International Student Orientation here.

David LowSeptember 1, 20103min
New Haven, Conn. resident Taylor Ho Bynum ’98, an acclaimed avant-garde jazz cornetist and composer, is undertaking a strenuous 1,000-mile bicycle concert tour in September of all six New England states. He will travel by bike for two weeks to 10 venues from New Haven to Portland, Maine, and back. As part of his Acoustic Bicycle Tour, Bynum will perform at Wesleyan’s Crowell Concert Hall on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. with vibraphonist and Wesleyan music professor Jay Hoggard ’76. (Click here to order tickets.) Bynum has also performed with Wesleyan music professor Anthony Braxton in several jazz concerts…

David LowAugust 31, 20101min
Three acclaimed books by Wesleyan alumni were on the New York Times hardcover nonfiction best seller list in August. They include: Packing for Mars by Mary Roach ’81, a detailed, often funny examination of space travel; War by Sebastian Junger '84, a powerful look at the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan; and Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson ’03, a witty account of the making of the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

David PesciAugust 30, 20101min
The following alumni received Emmy Awards at the 62nd annual Emmy Awards  on August 29. Bruce McKenna ‘84—Co-Executive Producer, Outstanding Miniseries, The Pacific. The Pacific received 8 Emmy Awards, more than any other program. Matthew Senreich ’96—Executive Producer, Writer, Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program, Robot Chicken. Matthew Weiner ‘87—Executive Producer, Mad Men, Outstanding Drama Series; Writer (with Erin Levy), Mad Men, “Shut the Door. Have a Seat”. Mad Men received 4 Emmy Awards. Bill Wrubel ‘85—Co-Executive Producer, Modern Family, Outstanding Comedy Series. Modern Family received 6 Emmy Awards. A complete list of nominees from the Wesleyan community can be found here,…