News

Kearns to speak on NYC's Exit Art cultural center

Art professor Jerry Kearns, director of the New York Professional Outreach Program, will speak about Exit Art, the Manhattan-based non-profit cultural center, on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. in the University Museum of Contemporary Art.
 
Founded in 1982 as an alternative exhibition space, Exit Art became know for hosting shows exploring ideas and people outside the political, social, sexual and aesthetic mainstreams.
 
Kearns will examine the workings of Exit Art, its influential role in the New York art world and the accession of the Exit Art portfolios to the UMCA permanent collection.

Shabazz to discuss Springfield's African-American heritage

Amilcar Shabazz, professor of Afro-American Studies and faculty advisor for diversity and excellence in the Chancellor’s Office, will be a panelist on “Discovering Springfield’s African American Heritage” on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Pan African Historical Museum in Springfield.
 
Joining Shabazz in the discussion will be Wayne E. Phaneuf, executive editor of the Republican, and Joseph Carvalho III, retired president and executive director of the Springfield Museums.
 
The Pan African Historical Museum is located at 1500 Main St.  For information, call 733-4823.

Doctoral oral exams for Feb. 25 to March 1

The graduate dean invites all graduate faculty to attend the final oral examinations for the doctoral candidates scheduled as follows:

Robert Herr, Ph.D., Spanish and Portuguese. Wednesday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m., 210 Herter Hall. Dissertation: “Puppets and Proselytizing: Politics and Nation-Building in Post-Revolutionary Mexico’s Didactic Theater.” Luis Marentes, chr.

Elizabeth Harlow, Ph.D., Anthropology. Thursday, Feb. 28, 1:30 p.m., 805-09 Campus Center. Dissertation: “Mind the Gap: Materiality of Gendered Landscapes in Deerfield, Massachusetts, ca. 1870- ca. 1920.” R. Paynter, chr.

Nahir Otaño

MWPHE scholarships and awards

The application deadline for Student Achievement Scholarships, Professional Development Awards and the Phenomenal Woman Awards offered by Massachusetts Women in Public Higher Education, Inc. (MWPHE) is Monday, Feb. 25.

Student Achievement Scholarship Awards
Three $750 Student Achievement Scholarship Awards are given annually. Female students who are enrolled, are matriculated in an academic program, and have completed at least three courses in their major at a Massachusetts public school or university are eligible to apply. Applications must be completed online at www.mwphe.org. An essay,

Research participants needed for Sociology study

A Sociology researcher is seeking interview subjects to talk about the experience of working at a young adult clothing store during the past year and a half. No trade secrets, just what it’s like.

Respondents chosen will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card for participating in an hour-long interview at a convenient location.

Contact kylahays@gmail.com or call/text 413-687-8457 for more information; respondents should indicate the store where they work/worked at as well as dates of employment.

Interpeace official to speak on peace, justice and reconciliation after violent conflict

Graeme Simpson, director of policy and learning at Interpeace and director of Interpeace USA, will speak on “Easier Said Than Done: a practical reflection on peace, justice and reconciliation in the wake of violent conflict…and how we know if we are succeeding” on Thursday, Feb. 28 at noon in 423 Tobin Hall.
 
Interpeace is a global peace-building organization headquartered in Geneva and working in 18 conflict and immediate post-conflict zones around the world for the past decade and a half.
 
His talk is part of the Psychology of Peace and Violence Program’s Interdisciplinary Seminar Series

Campus meetings to explain July 1 ban on tobacco use

A series of open meetings to explain the campus’s plan to prohibit tobacco use starting July 1 will begin later this month, according to Associate Chancellor Susan Pearson.
 
In a Feb. 12 broadcast e-mail to the campus, Pearson said the ban, which was approved by the Campus Leadership Council and the Faculty Senate in 2011, applies to everyone on campus, including students, staff, faculty, contractors and visitors and covers all buildings and grounds as well as vehicles. All tobacco products and electronic cigarettes will be prohibited.
 
“In doing so, the campus joins more than 700 colleges

Hannum preps music and musicians for Tournament of Roses parade

When the nearly 300-member Bands of America Honors Band marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day, the percussion section was under the watchful eye of Thom Hannum, associate director of the Minuteman Marching Band, who wrote their music and prepped them for the national spotlight.
 
During an eight-day stay in Pasadena, Hannum helped the 27 percussionists rehearse not only for the nationally televised parade but for performances at Disneyland and area venues.
 
“There are 1.25 million people along the parade route,” said Hannum.

System research spending tops $597 million last year, reports Caret

Research spending for the five-campus UMass system has reached record levels, surpassing the $500 million mark for the third straight year, according to President Robert L. Caret.
 
Preliminary data compiled by the system’s Office of Institutional Research shows that research and development expenditures climbed to $597.5 million in Fiscal Year 2012 from $586.7 million in FY11, representing a 1.8 percent increase. The Amherst campus ranked second in the system with $194.8 million in research spending.
 
“We were pleased that in this fiscal environment we continued to grow our research

Chancellor's Citation Award nomination deadline is Feb. 27

The campus community is invited to submit nominations for Chancellor’s Citations, which recognize outstanding work performance by classified and professional staff.
 
Members of the campus community may nominate any benefited exempt or non-exempt staff member who has demonstrated outstanding performance in helping the University achieve its goals and objectives.

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