News

New website highlights campus sustainability efforts

A new interactive website, the Campus Sustainability Explorer, is allowing students, faculty, staff and the public to click on more than 100 icons to read about “green” buildings, research programs in sustainability, a student farmers’ market and related topics.
 
Bill Stanton, the Sustainability Explorer’s lead designer and developer, says, “a powerful tool like this is intended to serve as a vehicle for educational outreach.

Smith honored for promoting literacy

Cristine Smith, associate professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration, has been named the recipient of the Kenneth J. Mattran Award for Promoting Literacy Nationally and Internationally by the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE).
 
The award is given to a practitioner with five or more years of adult education teaching experience who participates in school and community activities, who understands the characteristics of the adult learner and who is committed to the adult/continuing education profession.
 
Smith will receive the

Cordeiro keynotes MLK Day event in Somerville

Lorraine Cordeiro, assistant professor of Nutrition, gave the keynote address for Somerville’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, “equality Through Access,” on Jan. 21.
 
Cordeiro discussed her research on food insecurity among underrepresented groups in Massachusetts. She also spoke about her community work with King’s oldest daughter, the late Yolanda King, and encouraged the audience to embrace a broader definition of who is considered to be American.
 

Alvarez receives Fulbright award for research on feminism in Brazil

Sonia E. Alvarez, Leonard J. Horwitz Professor of Latin American Politics in the Department of Political Science and director of the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (CLACLS), has received a Fulbright Lecturer/Research Award to support her research on feminism in Brazil.

"Feminism in Brazil today not only has been 'mainstreamed' so that it extends vertically across different levels of government, the full party spectrum, and a variety of national and international policy arenas," says Alvarez.

Panel to highlight research and engagement projects in Springfield

Three social scientists who are engaged in projects in Springfield will discuss their work at the first Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) “Research in Process Panel” of the spring semester on Thursday, Feb. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Amherst Room of the Campus Center. Lunch will be served. RSVP to Karen Mason by Feb. 4.
 
In 2010, officials from campus and Springfield formalized a new Greater Springfield-University of Massachusetts Amherst Partnership designed to promote collaborations that will lead to the revitalization of Springfield’s economy.

Collura honored for contributions to transportation education

John Collura, professor of Civil Engineering and director of the Transportation Center, was awarded the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) S.S. Steinberg Award on Jan. 14 during the association’s annual Research & Education Division (RED) meeting in Washington, D.C.

Named after the founding president of the ARTBA’s RED, the award recognizes individuals who make remarkable contributions to transportation education.

According to the association, Collura has established himself as a leader in the transportation profession by integrating research and technology transfer

New course proposal

The following new course proposal has been submitted to the Faculty Senate Office for review and approval and is listed here for faculty review and comment. Comments on any new course proposal should be submitted to Ernest May, secretary of the Faculty Senate, at senate@senate.umass.edu.

POLSCI 391A, “Corporate Lobbying in the Global Economy,” 4 credits; Instructor: Kevin Young; This course centers on one of the most important yet underappreciated aspects of contemporary political life: the governance of the global economy by private actors. Prerequisites: None

Retirement party for Associate Chancellor Susan Pearson

The campus community is invited to a celebration honoring Associate Chancellor Susan Pearson upon her retirement after 40 years of service to the campus on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 4-6 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Atrium.

Contributions in Pearson's honor may be made to the Center for Early Education and Care by sending a check payable to the University of Massachusetts Amherst to 305 Whitmore Administration Building.

RSVP to events@admin.umass.edu or by calling 577-1101.

 

New course proposals

The following new course proposals have been submitted to the Faculty Senate Office for review and approval and are listed here for faculty review and comment. Comments on any new course proposal should be submitted to Ernest May, secretary of the Faculty Senate, at senate@senate.umass.edu.

HT-MGT 337, “Meeting, Convention & Exposition Management,” 3 credits; Instructor: Linda Lowry; Learn the different venue types, approaches and management of group gatherings. Identify the role of convention and visitor bureaus, destination management companies and service contractors.

Five College Viol Consort performs Feb. 3

The Five College Viol Consort will present "A Consort of Severall Friends" on Sunday, Feb. 3 from 2-4 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Renaissance Center, 650 East Pleasant St.
 
The consort consists of Robert Eisenstein, bass viol, Loren Ludwig, treble viol, Meg Pash, bass viol, Laurie Rabut, treble viol, and Alice Robbins, tenor viol. Music of Thomas Tomkins, William Byrd, Johann Schop and others will be performed at the free, public concert, which is part of the center's First Sunday Concert Series.

Refreshments will follow the performance.

For information, call 577-3600 or e-mail

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