Cynthia RockwellIn this Q&A, we speak with Rob Borman, grounds manager for Physical Plant. "The trees we are planting this year are creating the face of Wesleyan 100 years from now," Borman says. Offering a guided tour of the central campus, he noted recent plantings, the decision process behind those choices, and the history of what felled any previous trees on those spots. He also focused on present details, taking note of the health of the foliage—color and thickness—as well as any recent stressors, like extreme weather or insect-related events, which may be affecting these future giants of Wesleyan. Q: When did you…
Olivia DrakeWesleyan University women's lacrosse head coach Kim Williams was honored by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association (IWLCA), as she was named the 2017 Berkshire Region Coach of the Year following a historic season. The regional coach of the year award is the second postseason accolade for Williams, who was also named the 2017 NESCAC Coach of the Year during the spring. In just her second year at the helm of the program, Williams led Wesleyan to its best season in program history. The Cardinals finished 11-6 overall and 7-3 in the ultra-competitive NESCAC, setting program records for overall wins and…
On July 13, Wesleyan's Campus Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) welcomed 11 new members to the group. Formed in September 2009, Wesleyan’s C-CERT members are trained to assist first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize volunteers at a disaster site. (more…)
The Mattabesset String Collective is a five-piece Wesleyan-affiliated acoustic ensemble playing an eclectic mix of bluegrass, blues, folk, mountain, country and rock, all in a string band style. The group’s name, Mattabesset, is the Algonquian name for the region that became Middletown. “Since our music reaches back into history, we thought it was appropriate. We were attracted to the term collective because it suggests the egalitarian nature of our enterprise,” said band member Marc Eisner, dean of the Social Sciences Division, the Henry Merritt Wriston Chair in Public Policy, professor of government, professor of environmental studies. The band performed July 29…
The Office of Human Resources announces the following hires, transitions and departures for May-August 2017. HIRES Patrick Bohan, Video Producer in Creative Services on May 1 Jeremiah Kenney, Public Safety Dispatcher on May 29 Erin Ogrean, Administrative Assistant in Academic Writing on May 30 Elizabeth Morrison, Admissions Coordinator in Graduate Liberal Studies on June 5 William Ollayos, Area Coordinator in Office of Residential Life on June 12 Heather Fox, Assistant Director, Wesleyan Events and Conferences on June 19 Robert Mirabal, Director of Student Accounts on June 19 Matthew Coyne, Assistant Football Coach; Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers in Athletics on July 6…
In this Q&A, we speak with Michelle Personick, assistant professor of chemistry, assistant professor of integrative sciences. Personick, who joined the faculty at Wesleyan in 2015, is interested in developing tailored metal nanomaterials that improve the clean production of energy and enable the efficient use of energy resources. Her work has recently been published in the journals Particle and Particle Systems Characterization and American Chemical Society Catalysis. Q: Professor Personick, how would you describe your main research interests? A: The main research areas in my group are controlling the shape and composition of noble metal nanocrystals, and exploring the use of these nanoparticles…
What might be most obvious about Tracey Stanley, an administrative assistant in the registrar’s office for 10 years (out of a 20-year total at Wesleyan), is that she is the on-campus go-to “mom” for many students—those she supervises in her office, those who appear at the registrar’s window looking lost, and those she mentors through AFCA, the Administrators and Faculty of Color Association, for which she has served as co-chair. Warm, outspoken, determined and with a strong protective instinct, Stanley also is a union steward. What colleagues might not know is that Stanley is an avid quilter. She began teaching…
This year, Wesleyan's four home football games each offer a highlight to draw fans from near and far to Corwin Stadium on Andrus Field. The first home game, Saturday, Sept. 23, against Tufts, is a night game — "The second home night game in Wesleyan's history," notes Athletic Director Mike Whalen ’83. "I'm thinking of it as our time to focus on Middletown, and we're reaching out to local high schools. Dario Highsmith ’20, a sophomore running back—an outstanding player—graduated from Middletown High. He's a former Gatorade High School Player of the Year, and someone to watch." On Saturday, Oct. 7,…
Building on the efforts of the previous committee, the 2016-2017 Title IX Policy Committee is busy reviewing and revising important processes, many of which coincided with recommendations made by a Victims Rights Law Center report. As a result: The name of the “One Policy” has changed to: Policy Prohibiting Discriminatory Harassment & Sexual Misconduct. With significant student input, the process for investigating and resolving student sexual misconduct complaints has been completely revised. You can learn more about the new process starting on page 25 of the Student Handbook. Sexual Violence Resources are linked inside WesPortal. They lead to a new Title IX website for students.…
Information Technology Services offered these helpful security tips: To identify phishing and SPAM: The following are easy and quick phish/SPAM identifiers: poor grammar, run-on sentences, missing or incorrect punctuation, missing signatures, and succinct emails with attachments or links from unknown senders. ITS will never ask you for your credentials (ID and password) nor ask you to verify your credentials by entering them on a webpage. ITS will tell you how to change your password in your portal. For examples of phishing attempts, see Security > Security Notices in your WesPortal. ITS will be releasing tutorial videos in your portal during the semester…
Randi Alexandra PlakeThis summer, high school students from Middletown and surrounding areas were immersed in college life, often collaborating with faculty and staff across campus, during the summer session of Wesleyan’s Pre-College Access Program. From an overnight stay on campus, to a field trip to Philadelphia to visit colleges, opportunities to get a feel for college life were plenty. Wesleyan University’s Pre-College Access Program is application-based and is developed to enhance the academic skills and preparation of talented high school students who have an interest in pursuing higher education. “Our programs tailor to low-income and first-generation college students,” explained Miguel Peralta, director…
On Sept. 7, the Wesleyan community celebrated the tenth anniversary of the opening of Usdan University Center. “Usdan is Wesleyan’s central gathering location for students, staff, faculty and the larger community," said Frank Marsilli, facility and events manager for Usdan. "It's a place where the campus community comes together—whether that be for a meeting, program or meal. We're proud to celebrate a decade of success!" During the daylong celebration and open house, students were offered a “passport,” encouraging them to visit various areas of the facility and receive a stamp. The event also included a prize wheel at the Usdan info desk; updated…