Olivia DrakeRichard Slotkin, the Olin Professor of American Studies and English, was one of three faculty members to receive the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching by President Doug Bennet during Commencement Ceremonies May 27. Posted 06/04/07 Joyce Jacobsen, the Andrews Professor of Economics; Richard Slotkin, the Olin Professor of American Studies and English; and T. David Westmoreland, associate professor of chemistry were the 2007 recipients of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching. They received the prize during the 2007 Commencement ceremony May 27. The Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching was inaugurated in 1993 as an institutional recognition of…
Posted 06/04/07 Edward P. Jones, pictured at left, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award, will be the keynote speaker at the 51st annual Wesleyan Writers Conference, held on campus June 17-22. The Writers Conference welcomes experienced writers, new writers and anyone interested in the writer's craft. One of the leading writers conferences in the nation, it has launched many writers publishing careers, notes Anne Greene, director. All of the programs are designed to offer you new perspectives on your work and the company of other writers who share your interests, Greene says. This summers…
David Wagner, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut, talks to Wesleyan faculty and Wesleyan Hughes and Mellon Fellows about the 2007 BioBlitz, to be held in Middletown June 8-9. Posted 06/04/07 BioBlitz 2007 is coming to Middletown and Wesleyan faculty and students are playing key roles. For those unaware, BioBlitz is a 24-hour environmental diversity survey that was originated in the state by the University of Connecticut and several partners. During BioBlitz, scientific specialists are partnered up with grade school students and others for field surveys and other activities. The idea is to get…
Posted 06/04/07 About 30 years ago, unnatural and excessive biological growth started occurring in the small, man-made Beseck Lake six miles southeast of Wesleyan's campus. Septic systems from lakeside homes deposited nutrients into the water, altering the biogeological cycles of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus in the aquatic ecosystem. By 2002, the problem was remedied by connecting the homes to a city sewer system and the quality of the lake water improved. However, excess algae growth continued to form, proving that some unwanted nutrients continued to exist. What was still polluting the lake? asked Tim Ku, assistant professor of earth…
Patti Miller, assistant director of programs, grants and marketing for the Project to Increase Mastery of Mathematics and Science (PIMMS). Posted 06/04/07 Q: Patti, when did you start working at Wesleyan and what were you hired in as?A: I started in Fall 2000 and I was hired on a part-time/temporary basis to assist a wonderful woman who was diagnosed with a terminal illness to help her manage PIMMS workshop registrations and promotion.Q: You are the assistant director of programs, grants and marketing for the PIMMS. What is the overall purpose of the program?A: PIMMS mission is to provide high-quality…
ADVERTISING ALUMNUS: Darren Kapelus, Class of '87, and Senior Partner and Executive Group Director of the advertising agency, Ogilvy and Mather, Worldwide, addressed the issue "Is Advertising Dead?" April 25 on campus. Carol Crosby, associate director of the Career Resouce Center, speaks with Kapelus, whose world renowned agency has addressed issues of self esteem and beauty stereotypes with the Dove "Campaign for Real Beauty." Kapelus discussed how the advertising industry is shifting from talking at to listening to consumers. "Is Advertising Dead?" was ideal for students interested in careers in marketing, branding and advertising, as well as students who have…
Posted 05/27/07 Wesleyan's 75th Commencement Ceremonies were held on Sunday, May 27. Wesleyan conferred: 731 bachelor degrees, 25 master of arts degrees, 58 master of arts in liberal studies degrees and 14 Ph.D. degrees. During that ceremony, the following people received honorary degrees: Jewel Plummer Cobb is renowned as a teacher, a research biologist, and an advocate for the participation of women and members of minority groups in the sciences. A graduate of Talladega College, she earned her Ph.D. in cell physiology at New York University. Her scientific research has centered on factors influencing the growth, morphology, and genetic expression…
Jim Lehrer P'85, anchor of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, delivered the commencement address during ceremonies on May 27, 2007. His speech is below: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am honored to be so honored, in such great company, by this great university. It means so much to me personally because I am the devoted father of a Wesleyan graduate, Lucy Lehrer, class of 1985. And she's sitting right over there. My first encounter with Wesleyan was because of Lucy and it was a most memorable one. My wife Kate and I had come here to take Lucy…
Posted 05/27/.07 The following remarks were made by by Wesleyan University President Douglas J. Bennet during the 175th commencement ceremony May 27, 2007. Welcome to the 731 members of the Class of 2007. Slava! Slava! Slava! And if you dont know what that means youll have to ask one of the students. They obviously knew of my love of Russian history. Welcome parents, family members, friends, and well-wishers. Welcome to our distinguished honorees. Welcome Wesleyan trustees, faculty and staff. Welcome alumni and your families, including Welcome to Wesleyans 175th Commencement. This is the last time as president I will have…
Posted 05/27/.07 (Click picture to open high-resolution picture. Large images are 300 DPI.) Chair of the Board of Trustees Jim Dresser '63 and Wesleyan President Douglas Bennet. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient and speaker Jim Lehrer P'85. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Nobutaka Machimura. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Alan Dachs '70, P'98 speaking in front of the Douglas Cannon. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Rosa DeLauro. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Jewell Cobb P'79. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Honorary Degree recipient Thomas Malone. Photo credit: Bill Burkhart Doug…
Picnics, entertainment, dances and get-togethers are all part of Reunion and Commencement Weekend, which kicks off May 24. Posted 05/16/07 Picnics, seminars, a parade of classes, alumni luncheons, campus walking tours, rock concerts, academic department open houses, and graduation ceremonies are all part of the 2007 Reunion and Commencement Weekend May 24-27. All Wesleyan alumni, students, staff, faculty and friends are invited to the three-day event, which will conclude Wesleyans yearlong celebration of its 175th anniversary. Reunion and Commencement weekends are partly about Wesleyan's past and present, says President Doug Bennet. We come together from across the Wesleyan map to…
More than 280 students received awards during the 2007 Academic Scholarships, Fellowships and Prizes awards ceremony May 8. Posted 05/16/07 During the 2007 Academic Scholarships, Fellowships and Prizes awards ceremony May 8 in Russell House, Maggie Filler 07 received the Camp Prize for excellence in English literature; Jeremy Marks 07 was honored with a Leavell Memorial Prize for film studies; and Per Stinchcombe 08 received the Rae Shortt Prize for excellence in mathematics. Kristen Haller 08 received the Thorndike Prize for excellence in psychology and John Burruss 07 was honored for his thesis on an American studies topic. At the…