Olivia DrakeMarch 14, 20141min
The Office of Human Resources reported the following new hires, advancements and transitions, and departures for February 2014. Newly hired Ivan Torres, Jr. joined the Office of Public Safety as an officer on Feb. 24. Advancements and transitions Andrew Chatfield became the press and marketing director at the Center for the Arts. Marc Longenecker became the programming and technical director of the Film Studies Department. Jeffrey Sweet became the associate director of facilities management. Departures Shawn MacDuff associate director of finance. Carolyn Sorkin, director of international studies.

Olivia DrakeMarch 14, 20143min
Peri Smilow '82, a College of Letters graduate, will be honored at the Association of Reform Zionists of America's (ARZA) 36th Anniversary Gala on April 5 at Central Synagogue in New York City. Known internationally as one of the bright lights in contemporary Jewish music, Smilow will be recognized for her ability to elicit a sense of spirituality and social action in her audiences, drawing on a wealth of personal and professional experiences. As a composer, Smilow's music is sung in worship, in youth group settings and at Jewish summer camps throughout the country. As a recording and touring artist, her music has been enjoyed…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20144min
By 2050, the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment is requiring that Wesleyan become carbon neutral. To meet this goal, the university needs to reduce its emissions 1,000 tons annually for the next 36 years — the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 860 trees each year. To help the university meet this goal, Wesleyan's Sustainability Office and the Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship (SAGES) hosted a Sustainability Action Planning Workshop on Feb. 21. More than 50 faculty, administrators, staff and students gathered to brainstorm and develop creative new ideas for Wesleyan’s next Sustainability Action Plan. "In order…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20142min
Ishita Mukerji, dean of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division, is one of 50 local scientists to be elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. Mukerji also is professor of molecular biology and biochemistry and is an expert on fluorescence and vibrational spectroscopy. Mukerji is the 10th Wesleyan faculty to be elected into the academy. She will be introduced at CASE's 39th annual meeting and dinner on June 5 at the Crowne Plaza in Cromwell, Conn. Election to the Academy is on the basis of scientific and engineering distinction achieved through significant contributions in theory or applications, as…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20145min
(Story contributed by Emma Davis '17. The full interview appears in the Feb. 21 issue of The Wesleyan Argus) Tracie McMillan is Wesleyan's Koeppel Journalism Fellow and author of The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Walmart, Applebee's, Farm Fields, and the Dinner Table, a New York Times Bestseller. Her recent work appears in Best Food Writing 2013 and she has received a James Beard Award, the Sidney Hillman Prize, the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism and other national awards for her writing about food, consumers's choices and other social issues. Q: How did you become a reporter? A: I became a reporter after interning at the…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20143min
Mike Conte, associate director in Physical Plant, recently was presented with a Cardinal Achievement Award for his expert handling of serious building emergencies during the winter holiday break, which occurred at all hours. "We are grateful to Mike for going above and beyond the call of duty by responding to an unusual number of late night and weekend emergencies during the especially cold winter break this year," said Joyce Topshe, associate vice president for facilities. Stacy Baldwin, project coordinator in Physical Plant received a Cardinal Achievement Award for her work in advance planning for the winter adverse weather conditions. In November, 2013 Stacy proposed that the…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20142min
The Cardinal Fit team "NoCoTen" is participating in a group walk this week. Team members, most from Academic Affairs, will wear their 100 percent polyester shirts during the walk, each sporting his or her own number. The team members are: #1, Ruth Weissman, provost and vice president for academic affairs, the Walter A. Crowell University Professor of the Social Sciences, professor of psychology; #2, Joyce Jacobsen, the Andrews Professor of Economics, dean of the social sciences and director of global initiatives, interim director of Allbritton Center, professor of economics, tutor for the College of Social Studies; #3, Joy Vodak, assistant…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20142min
Four Wesleyan faculty and five alumni participated in the annual convention of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) in Boston, Nov. 21-24, 2013. Wesleyan attendees included Peter Rutland, Colin and Nancy Campbell Professor in Global Issues and Democratic thought, professor of government, professor of Russian and Eastern European studies, tutor in the College of Social Studies; Victoria Smolkin-Rothrock, assistant professor of history, assistant professor of Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian studies, tutor in the College of Social Studies; Priscilla Meyer, professor of Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian studies; Bill Trousdale, associate professor of physics, emeritus; and Russian…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20142min
Several Wesleyan faculty and graduate students attended the 68th Ohio State University International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy held in Columbus, Ohio in 2013. Stewart Novick, Herbert Pickett and Stephen Cooke, and graduate students Smitty Grubbs Ph.D '10, Daniel Obenchain and Brittany Long made presentations. Novick, chair and professor of chemistry, and Grubbs presented a talk on “Microwave Spectra and Structure of H2 - CuF: Overview of the Complexes of Hydrogen with Metal-Containing Diatomics." Novick, Grubbs and Obenchain presented “Observation of a Moderate Strength Interaction of Hydrogen with a Coinage Metal Halide: The Rotational Spectrum and Structure of the p-H2-CuCl and o-H2-CuCl Complexes." Novick,…

Olivia DrakeMarch 3, 20141min
University Relations and the Career Center hosted "Creating Connections" on Feb. 28.  Students of all class years and interests were matched with Expert Advisors (recruiters and hiring managers as well as alumni and parent volunteers) for brief, one-on-one sessions.  Students introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and practiced their networking and presentation skills. Expert Advisors used their experience and expertise to critique what they heard and offered valuable insights on how the presentation might have been more effective.  This structured speed-networking event  allowed advisors to meet several students in a short period of time, and allowed Wesleyan students to build professional relationships and…