Olivia DrakeThe men's cross country team encountered a muddy course at the Division III NCAA National Championships Nov. 18, however finished in the top half. (Photos by Steve Maheu) Posted 12/04/06 The Wesleyan Mens Cross Country team overcame an uneven season of performances to finish in the top half of the field at the Division III NCAA National Championships in Ohio on Nov 18. We started off running instead of racing, Mens Head Coach John Crooke says about the early part of the season. Its quite simply competing. Cross country is not about time, its about place. When you race, you…
Laura Grabel, the Fisk Professor of Natural Sciences and professor of biology, received $878,348 for her study on embryonic stem cells. Posted 12/04/06 Wesleyan and one of its researchers were major beneficiaries of the State of Connecticuts initial round of nearly $20 million in grants to fund non-federally-sanctioned stem cell research. The awarding of the grants was announced on November 22 in Hartford. Wesleyan was a co-recipient with the University of Connecticut of $2.5 million dedicated for the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Core Facility, which will be located in Farmington. Laura Grabel, the Fisk Professor of Natural Sciences and professor…
Gloster Aaron, Janice Naegele and Laura Grabel will study if stem cell-based treatment in mice brains could possibly control epileptic seizures in human brains. Posted 12/04/06 A $300,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation will help a Wesleyan University researcher investigate the possibility of using brain transplants of embryonic stem (ES) cells to control epileptic seizures in mice. If successful the study could lay the early groundwork for using similar therapy in human beings. Janice Naegele, chair and professor of biology and professor of neuroscience and behavior at Wesleyan, is the principle investigator in the study that will bring together the…
Posted 12/04/06 Scott Plous, professor of psychology, was named the Connecticut Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This designation means he is among only 43 professors working in the United States, the District of Columbia and Guam to be considered a 2006 U.S. Professor of the Year. It was quite a surprise, as you can imagine," Plous says, modestly. The goal of the U.S. Professors of the Year Program is to increase awareness of the importance of undergraduate instruction. In recognizing faculty members…
Janis Astor del Valle, director of the Green Street Arts Center, says the center's people, young and old, keep her job interesting. She relies on the help of Wesleyan students to create a invigorating artsy environment at the center. Posted 12/04/06 Q: When did you come to the Green Street Arts Center?A: I first came on board in February 2006 as assistant director; then, when the director resigned in March, I became the interim director. I was promoted to director in June.Q: How did you find out about the GSAC initially? What drew you towards working there?A: About a…
Benjamin Michael, general manager of WESU 88.1 FM spearheads the Second Annual WESU Holiday Pledge Drive. Posted 12/04/06 As the only full-time employee and sole general manager of Wesleyans college and community radio station, Benjamin Michael says the station wouldnt be possible without the dedication of the stations volunteers. It takes Michael and 115 student and community volunteers to broadcast 88.1 FM WESU 24 hours a day. "It's a real partnership and labor of love for all of our volunteers, Michael says, noting that some programs have been broadcasting for more than 25 years. But, like any other non-commercial…
A MAP QUEST: Lena Bui '07 and Gil Hasty '10 find their academic building locations on a newly-installed campus map near South College. Physical Plant's Facilities Department installed five new maps at key locations on campus. Additional campus maps are located near Clark Hall, pictured, and the Center for the Arts, near Parking Lot "T" and on the sidewalk along Wyllys Avenue. (Photos by Olivia Bartlett)
Residential Life student-staff members for the Butterfields and 156 High Street and 200 Church Street are among those trained by Residential Life's award-winning Social Justice Training Program. Posted 11/17/06 A program developed by Wesleyans Residential Life received the Program of the Year Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), based in Washington DC. The Social Justice Training Program, spearheaded by Residential Lifes area coordinators, teaches and trains about 100 student-staff members on the topics of social justice, the cycle of socialization, dominant and subordinate group dynamics, privilege and power and the action continuum. It also stresses liberation…
Wesleyan is raising awareness and support for the Middlesex United Way. Posted 11/17/06 Each fall, Wesleyan employees have an opportunity to demonstrate an enduring connection with the greater Middletown community by simply making a donation to the Middlesex United Way. By giving to the Middlesex United Way, Wesleyan employees are insuring that the local community has greater access to essential health and human services. Contributions to United Way have translated into disaster relief, support services for the homebound and disabled, emergency food and shelter and after school programs. Middlesex United Way is working to fight the root causes of chronic…
Lea Carlson, administrative assistant for the Film Studies Department and Cinema Archives, interacts with faculty and students on a daily basis. Posted 11/17/06 Q: Lea, when did you begin working at Wesleyan as the administrative assistant for Cinema Archives and the Film Studies Department? A: August 20, 2001, and this is the first department that Ive worked in at Wesleyan.Q: Where was your office located when you started, and what are your thoughts on the new Center for Film Studies building?A: My office was located in the Cinema Archives building when I first started here. I was so lucky…
Lisa Drennan '09 was named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women's Volleyball Player of the Year in 2006 following a vote of the conference coaches. A second-team all-NESCAC choice as a freshman, Drennan led the NESCAC and was fifth nationally in Division III for kills per game this season, averaging 5.56, which also is a Wesleyan team record. Posted 11/17/06 Q: You were just named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Women's Volleyball Player of the Year. How does that make you feel?A: I feel really great about winning NESCAC player of the year. I have…
Posted 11/17/06 Daniella Gandolfo has joined the Department of Archeology as an assistant professor. Her research areas of interest include urban anthropology; urbanization and urban social movements; social and cultural theory; anthropological writing. She has done fieldwork research in Latin America and the United States. Gandolfo comes to Wesleyan from the Department of Anthropology at Columbia University where she completed her doctoral degree and taught a course on cultural anthropology. Prior to that, she taught in the Department of Anthropology at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. She has gained additional teaching and professional experience from Barnard College…