Celebration 2013

 

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Recent Headlines

Celebrating National Council’s 20 Years

May 2013

Pam Lawrence, BA ’76, chair of the National Council and senior vice president of North Shore Medical Center in Massachusetts, recently offered her thoughts on service, philanthropy, and the need to remain engaged in the life of the university.

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New MA in Islam Bridges Gaps in Knowledge, Understanding

May 2013

Something rather special, even symbolic, happened at GW this year when Religion Department faculty members Robert Eisen, who is Jewish, and Mohammad Faghfoory, a Muslim scholar from Iran—both devout to their respective faiths—collaborated together to create a new master’s degree program  in Islamic Studies.

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Philanthropy-Inspired Fellowship Partners National Park Service and Columbian College

May 2013

A new graduate certificate program has been created within Columbian College to strengthen knowledge about the natural and cultural resources that form the heart of the National Park Service (NPS) mission.

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Other Headlines

Clean Energy Leader Amit Ronen to Direct Solar Institute

May 2013

Amit Ronen, the deputy chief of staff for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), has been named the new director of the GW Solar Institute, the University announced at its 5th Annual Solar Symposium held April 23. The Solar Institute, which was founded in 2008, is a component of Columbian College. 

Ben Vinson III To Be Next Dean of Columbian College

April 2013

Ben Vinson III, a renowned scholar and vice dean for Centers, Interdisciplinary Programs, and Graduate Education at Johns Hopkins University, has been named the new dean of Columbian College, effective August 1.

Crime Detection: Accelerating Sperm Analysis

April 2013

Assistant Professor of Forensic Sciences Daniele Podini has been awarded a two-year, $263,313 grant from the National Institute of Justice to test a faster, cost-effective, and automated method for the processing evidence related to sexual assault cases.

Turtle Ants: Shielded from Danger

April 2013

Scott Powell has spent a lot of time sitting in trees in eastern Brazil watching a remarkable little creature distinguished by a dish-like head that acts as a shield against intruders—the turtle ant.

Shaping Mathematics . . . Literally and Figuratively

April 2013

From the time he was seven years old and his father brought home a thick library book about origami, Lowell Abrams has been fascinated by the way shapes can be folded and fit together. Legos, tinker toys and other types of construction sets also captivated his childhood imagination.  Today an associate professor of mathematics, Abrams continues to build with small models and collections of various pieces and shapes on his desk to help him pursue abstract ideas.

First-of-its-Kind Graduate Certificate in LGBT Health Launched

March 2013

Columbian College has launched a new graduate certificate program in LGBT health to train current and future healthcare leaders and policy advocates on issues relating to the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The program is geared toward the growing need for healthcare and policy professionals to address challenges faced by the LGBT population.

A Strategy for Hope: Preventing Perinatal Depression among Low-Income Latinas

March 2013

The negative impact of perinatal depression—which may be experienced by some women during pregnancy or after their baby is born—is well known.  Feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed, or confused not only affects a mother’s health but also the health and wellbeing of her child. For Associate Professor of Psychology Huynh-Nhu (Mimi) Le, even more troubling is that women from low-income minority groups are more prone to perinatal depression than other women.

GW Celebrates 50 Years of Public Service Education

March 2013

More than 250 alumni, students and faculty gathered on campus last month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of public service education at GW and the achievements of those who graduated with a public policy or public administration degree. The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration and the Columbian College Alumni Office hosted a number of events to mark the milestone, including a policy forum kicked off by former U.S. Representative Thomas M. Davis, R-Va., a celebration reception honoring Distinguished Alumni Award winners, and a networking happy hour. The weekend was equal parts homecoming, celebration and food for thought.

Designing for the Future: GW Museum Summer Institute

March 2013

What does it take to build a museum exhibit? A lot more effort than you might imagine. Registration is open for a summer institute in exhibition design that brings together graduate-level students and professionals to work as a team on the  design, fabrication, and installation of a “Coming Soon” exhibition to promote the new GW Museum. 

Green Chemistry

February 2013

The unfortunate reality of chemistry is that chemists, in their quest to innovate and devise new products to meet societal demands, sometimes create chemicals that are toxic. Look no further than some of the chemicals found in paint, glue, and even cosmetics. Some, like dioxins, are highly toxic to many animal species and are ending up as far away as the North Pole. Enter green chemistry advocate Adelina Voutchkova, who joined Columbian College last year as an assistant professor of chemistry.

Inaugural Moments

February 2013

A presidential inauguration is a proud and historic moment, a time when we come together to celebrate our democracy. For Columbian College students, it is also a rite of passage. On January 21, many in our community had a front row seat to the big-ticket events—the swearing-in ceremony, inaugural parade, and even the inaugural balls—that marked the beginning of President Barack Obama’s second term. Read what it was like to be so close to the action.

Where Will You Go this Summer?

February 2013

This summer, explore the world, enrich your mind, and earn credits through short-term study abroad courses that are open to both GW students and visitors. Journey through Kenya and discover how digital technology is used to address underdevelopment issues; travel to Shanghai to examine misconceptions about China’s economy and policies; or join an expedition into Guadalajara’s LGBT culture and community. Ranging from one week to two months, these programs apply classroom lessons to global experiences.

GW, Smithsonian Research Delves into Distinctive Areas of Science

February 2013

Bee pollination of particular plants, fungal impact on mineral erosion and wood decay, and physical attributes of ray-finned fish all have something in common: They are being studied by Columbian College researchers in collaboration with experts from the Smithsonian. For the second year in a row, the GW–Smithsonian Opportunity Fund is enabling scientists and scholars to come together on start-up projects using seed money provided jointly by the two institutions.  Members of the GW community will have the opportunity to hear about these projects and more at the GW-Smithsonian Collaborative Research Symposium on February 21.

What Triggers Alcoholism?

January 2013

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use accounts for 80,000 deaths each year in the United States, making alcoholism the third leading cause of preventable death. To uncover the connection between genetic influences and environmental factors that may cause alcoholism, Assistant Professor of Statistics Tatiyana Apanasovich is employing statistical methodology to explore the complex interplay between the an individual’s environment and their genetic predisposition to alcoholism.

Confucius Institute to Open at GW

January 2013

Columbian College will soon be home to the GW Confucius Institute to promote the study of Chinese language and culture, support Chinese teaching through instructional training and certification, and enable prosperous growth of research on China Studies. Named for the famed Chinese philosopher (551-479 BC), the institute will be one of 350 worldwide and the first to be established in Washington, D.C.

Shadows for Sale? Meet Visiting Artist Patrick Killoran

January 2013

As we bask in the warmth of a sunny day, fair warning to those strolling through the Foggy Bottom campus: Watch your shadow. Buying people’s shadows is the current business/research of visiting artist Patrick Killoran, whose work represents commentary on consumerism. The New York-based artist is on campus this semester as the first GW Artist in Residence, exploring consumer behavior and consumer culture through his work.


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