SBS Newsletter – April 2013
In this issue
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Upcoming Events Sat, May 11. SBS Senior Celebration. 1:00–3:00 pm, Mullins Center. Read more... Wed, May 15–Fri, May 17. The Past for Sale? UMass Center for Heritage and Society International Conference. A wide range of academics, economists, heritage professionals, development experts, government officials, and community leaders come together on campus to examine the economic impact of cultural heritage. Themes include tourism, urban revitalization, looting/costs, and the business of ancient art. Selected papers will be published in Heritage & Society, a peer-reviewed journal, whose editorship has been assumed by the UMass Amherst Center for Heritage and Society. Read more.... Wed, May 22–Thu, May 23. ISSR Workshop: Design and Implementation of Surveys. Brett J. Butler, research scientist with the U.S. Forest Service and adjunct professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at UMass Amherst, will lead this workshop open to faculty and graduate students. Registration/fee required. Read more... For more SBS-related events, go to the SBS Events Calendar. Alumni News Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi '76 (political science) is CEO/president of Emergent BioSolutions in Rockville, MD. The company added about 70 employees in the past year and recruits globally. The biotech industry seems a long way from the federal Securities and Exchange Commission where Abdun-Nabi worked as a young lawyer, but it's not as far-fetched as one might think. Read more... If you are interested in alternative investments, you might want to check out this new research, co-authored by Konstantin Danilov '05 (economics) on risk factor optimization in private equity portfolios. Baltimore Ravens safety James Ihedigbo '07 (sociology) discusses current events and his work with HOPE Africa on ESPN. BusinessWest's 40 Under 40 list included a LOT of UMass alumni...15 to be exact. Among them are three awesome SBSers: William Davila '96 (communication), division director, Outpatient Services Division, Gandara Center; Allison Garriss '03 (sociology), program director, Clinical & Support Options Inc.; and Somalid (Maldonado) Hogan '03 (economics), senior project manager for the City of Springfield. BusinessWest is the business journal of Western Massachusetts. The 40 Under 40 program, begun in 2007, showcases young leaders in the four counties of Western Mass. to recognize talent and inspire others to reach higher and do more in their community. UMass football honored Boston Marathon bombing victims during the spring game on April 20by giving runners a chance to "cross the finish line" during half-time at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Among the runners was Lisa Lunt '05 (sociology), who offered some commentary in the video of the event. Good Morning America used a short video clip shot by Matt Cadwallader '09 (journalism/political science) during the shoot out with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects in Watertown. Matt Rocheleau '10 (journalism/journalism) got a byline on Boston.com's "captured" story about the Boston Marathon bomber. Lecturer Steve Fox (journalism) interviewed several young alumni journalists after the Boston bombing. Runner's World editor Hannah McGoldrick '12 (journalism) was there to cover the race. NPR.org Digital news specialist Eric Athas '08 (journalism) was at work about a mile away at the time of the attack. He discusses the coverage and use of social media as events unfolded. Melissa Turtinen '09 (journalism), a web producer with WHDH-TV, had the day off and had been watching the runners. At the time of the explosions she was in a restaurant about two miles away. A text from a coworker alerted her to the situation. On her blog after the bombings, she wrote: "We’re resilient. We’ll pull together. But for now, we’re hurting. A lot. Please keep this amazing city in your thoughts and prayers…hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.", Sophia Zaman '12 (political science/women's studies) comments on NPR's Morning Edition about the federal Pell Grant program that is spending money on adult students, many of whom never graduate. Zaman says the reason people leave school is the rising cost of tuition and fees. Zaman, who lobbies Congress on behalf of the U.S. Student Association, says the $8,600 she received in Pell Grants over four years wasn't enough. She still had to work three part-time jobs to make ends meet. Does cinema imitate politics? Melinda Tarsi MA '10, PhD '13 (political science) will explore that topic in a summer online course on American Politics Through Film at UMass. Please send us your news! Also, view upcoming alumni events, sponsored by the Alumni Association, on their Events Listing. And check out MaroonCentral, the Alumni Association's online community. This is a FREE social networking service that encourages communication and professional networking among alumni and students through class notes, profiles, a searchable directory, and more. Faculty and Department News The Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning had a great showing at the BSLA (Boston Society of Landscape Architects) awards. Studio instructor Stephen Stimson and his firm Stephen Stimson Associates won three awards (his colleague and co-instructor studio instructor Lauren Todd MRP and MLA '01 was project designer/manager on the Northeast Harbor, Maine, project that won the honor award); Prof. Annaliese Bischoff received a merit award, and Jing Huang '14 (landscape architecture) won a student merit award. Merit awards also went to alumni and their firms: Richardson & Associates (Todd Richardson MLA '87); Spurr, Weston & Sampson's Design Studio (Cherie Ruane '95); and Luisa Oliveira MLA '01. Not quite a sweep, but pretty close! See the full awards listing... Leading scholars on Venezuela and Hugo Chávez gathered on campus in mid-April for a conference titled “Venezuela: Change or Continuity? The Legacy of Hugo Chávez and the Future of the Bolivarian Revolution.” The event, organized by Angelica Bernal (political science), was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Amherst College dean of the faculty, the Amherst College Lamont Fund, and the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies. The Center for Public Policy and Administration hosted a book launch party for Participatory Visual and Digital Methods by Aline Gubrium (public health) and Krista Harper (anthropology and public policy). Mari Castañeda (communication) was a panelist at the inaugural "Faculty Women of Color in the Academy "conference in April at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She discussed "The Economics of Being a Faculty Woman of Color: Being Prepared and Planning Ahead." Read more about the conference... Joya Misra (sociology) and Jonathan Rosa (anthropology) are among the next group of CRF Scholars. Read more... Regine Spector (political science) has received a grant with two colleagues to engage students in an exciting summer research project in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan. Read more... Russia's Path from Gorbachev to Putin: The Demise of the Soviet System and the New Russia, co-authored by David Kotz (economics), is now out in Russian translation. Our best wishes go to Robert Faulkner (sociology), who is retiring May 31. On the faculty since 1971, he has been the recipient of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ Outstanding Teaching Award and the UMass Amherst Distinguished Teaching Award. Noting that his success as a sociologist should be attributed to curiosity, Faulkner took his own advice while focusing on organizations, corporate crime, culture and social networks. He studied the Hollywood film industry, corporations and advertising agencies, fraud in oil and gas partnerships, and jazz musicians at work. The latter was of special interest, because Faulkner is also trumpeter, playing gigs with bands in the Pioneer Valley and beyond. Shaheen Pasha (journalism) edited a 16-page special report on Islamic finance for The Times of London. She also wrote a piece for Quartz on Cairo's dismal economy, titled "Egyptians, read these three charts before you shun Qatar's aid and burn its flags." Gerald Friedman (economics) spoke on “The Colorado Health Care Cooperative Saves Billions: True or Too Good to be True?” at the Healthy, Wealthy & Wise banquet on April 12. Read more... Prof. Emeritus Irving Howards (political science) died suddenly on April 8. At UMass he served as the director of the Bureau of Government Research and chaired a committee to establish the Institute of Government Affairs. Howards was deeply involved with AARP and served as chair of its national legislative committee and traveled the world – often on a bike -- with his wife. Read more... SBS in the News NPPA The Voice of Journalists, 4/25/13. Brian McDermott (journalism) blogs about students, spot news, and the Boston bombing. MSN Money, 4/17/13. M.V. Lee Badget, (economics), director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration, comments about how same-sex marriage can boost state tax collections. She says same-sex marriage generates tax revenue from tourism and spending on weddings. MainStreet.com, 4/11/13; Yahoo! Canada Finance, 4/11/13. Joya Misra (sociology) says most parents don’t have the option of staying home to care for their children so they have to find ways to handle the cost of childcare. A system of public childcare is needed to give parents better, less expensive options, she says. The Express Tribune [Pakistan], 4/11/13. A group of American academics, students and U.S. officials, led by Prof. Michael Hannahan (political science) of the Donahue Institute’s Civic Initiative, Tim Shea '13 (political science/philosophy) and Chris Sluter '13 (political science) visited Pakistan as part of a cultural exchange. Money Matters, 4/9/13. Robert Pollin (economics), co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, discusses the legacy of the late Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Britain. Business Talk Radio [The Gabe Wisdom Show], 4/9/13. Pollin's discussion of Thatcher's economic legacy begins at 2:58. WWLP-TV 22, 4/9/13. Jesse Rhodes (political science) says the Congressional debate over proposed new gun legislation is sure to get tangled up in partisan politics. It looks like Senate Republicans will attempt to block any vote on the substance of the proposed new rules, he says. CATO Unbound, 4/5/13. Ray La Raja (political science) participates in the CATO Institute's online discussion of campaign finance experts answering the question, "What Keeps Money Out of Politics?" The Real News Network, 4/5/13. James Boyce (economics) says, "The local food movement, the movement towards organic agriculture, and the creation of community-supported agricultural farms is really changing the trends in American agriculture in a way that I think will produce a more diverse and, ultimately, sustainable food system here at home." MSNBC, 4/6/13. Jonathan Rosa (anthropology) appeared on “Melissa Harris-Perry” to discuss the negative connotations associated with the term “illegal immigrant,” which was dropped from use last week by the Associated Press. CNN.us, 4/4/13; Washington Post, Minnesota Public Radio, 4/2/13. The Associated Press has dropped the phrase “illegal immigrant” from its stylebook, which is used by newspapers and news organization around the country. Rosa weighs in on the discussion, noting that he prefers “unauthorized migrant” to describe those who live in the country without proper papers. Bloomberg, 4/3/13. Sheldon Goldman (political science) comments in a story about how delays in confirming candidates for federal courts is hurting the judicial system and adding to the bitter partisanship in Washington. He says back in 1997, the Senate balked at confirming Sonia Sotomayor to the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in part, because she was seen as a potential U.S. Supreme Court nominee. Time, 4/2/13. Brad Tuttle (journalism) notes that gasoline prices dropped in March, for the first time in at least 10 years. Typically gasoline prices rise in the spring and begin declining in the summer. The reason for the decline, he says, is increased refinery production, lower demand because of the soft economy and expanded use of fuel-efficient cars. Tuttle's business articles appear on the Time website almost daily. Click here for a full listing. WTOP 103.5 FM, 4/1/13. A story on how college fees have sharply increased at many schools, while tuition costs have remained low, notes that UMass Amherst's mandatory fees are now six times higher than in-state tuition. Lauren Vaughn '13 (communication), organizer of the UMass Students Against Debt coalition, comments. A Word from SBS Gifts from alumni and friends are vital to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Your investment allows us to create remarkable opportunities for today’s—and tomorrow's—students. If you are already a donor, please accept our sincere thanks. If not, please consider a gift to SBS for your department, financial aid, a purpose that speaks to your personal experiences and priorities, or an unrestricted designation. To make a gift online, click here. Or, send a check to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Draper Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 40 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9244. Questions? Contact James Mallet, 413.577.1700. We welcome feedback related to this newsletter, the college in general, specific concerns, or topics of interest. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, to Sabine Cray, director of communications and marketing. If you wish to add your name to the mailing list, or if you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us. If you have had a change of address, email or other personal information, you can update it online. The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences respects your privacy. 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