David LowDaphne Kwok ’84, a Wesleyan Board of Trustee member, was recently appointed by President Obama to serve as chair of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Her new position will require her to be “the eyes and ears” of the Asian American community. She will continue to perform her current job as executive director of Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California. Kwok was recently interviewed by New America Media and was asked what were some of the issues she will focus on immediately. She said: “The key issues will include the economy, jobs, education…
During the Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast on NBC on Aug. 29, several Wesleyan alumni received awards in the top categories: Bruce C. McKenna ’84—Co-Executive Producer, Outstanding Miniseries, The Pacific. The Pacific received 8 Emmy Awards, more than any other program. Matthew Weiner ’87—Executive Producer, Mad Men, Outstanding Drama Series; Writer (with Erin Levy), Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, 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. Awarded August 21, 2010 at the Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony:…
Best-selling author Robin Cook '62 has just released a new novel, Cure (Putnam), which deals with the problematic intersection of big business and medicine, the cut-throat world of medical patents, and stem cell technology. Cook recently talked to Reuters about writing and his latest thriller, which is set in Japan and New York: “I have been interested in stem cell issues from the beginning because it is so important. I became more interested when I saw it was going to get caught up in politics and it put us back about 10 years or so. In 2006 when I saw…
Cynthia RockwellCynthia 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.…
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.
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 Drake[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.…
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.
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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…
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.