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A Guide to Arts and Sciences' News, Events and People |
June 2011 |
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Contents Congratulations Class of 2011! A Special Graduation Luther Rice Fellow Reawakens Her Creative Passion New Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Named Public-Private Partnership Created to Protect Egyptian Antiquities Hot Summer, Cool Classes Alumna Launches New Digital Magazine Presidential Management Fellows Make Their Mark Kudos
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From the Departments |
Congratulations Class of 2011! 
"Your ongoing achievement will be measured by how you choose to conduct your life and the impact of those choices. It is my sincere hope that you will take what you’ve learned and use it as a springboard for contributing meaningful solutions in your community and the world beyond.” —Peg Barratt, Dean of Columbian College On May 14th, the day prior to GW’s Commencement on the National Mall, Columbian College graduate and undergraduate students, family, and friends, gathered in the Charles E. Smith Center for celebrations recognizing the College’s Class of 2011. The ceremonies included a speech by Dean Peg Barratt, who encouraged each student to embrace the challenges ahead using the skills and knowledge afforded them through their GW education. Other speakers addressing the packed auditorium were faculty members John Sides and Christopher Cahill and student speakers Sally Nuamah, Dominique Harris, Janean Wilson, and Tayler Lofquist. To read the Celebration speeches, view the video, or visit the photo gallery, click here. A Special Graduation Among the 7,000 GW Colonials graduating last month were 14 high school students who simultaneously had earned an Associate of Arts degree from Columbian College and a high school diploma. The students represent the first cohort of the GW Early College Program—a partnership with the School Without Walls, a D.C. public high school located on the Foggy Bottom Campus. “What I most appreciate about [the program] is that when I continue my college education, I’ll be more prepared for college classes than I think most incoming freshmen will be,” said Pernilla Persson, who took biology and physics at Columbian College and is headed to Bates College in the fall. Read more. Recent Graduate and Luther Rice Fellow Reawakens Her Creative Passion 
Alexandra Pinel, never dreamed she would perform in college. A native of France, she let her childhood love of dance lapse in favor of a more academic focus. But several years and one continent later, the Columbian College art history major was drawn back to the dance studio, rediscovering her passion for movement and taking her creative energy to a new artistic level as a Luther Rice Undergraduate Research Fellow. During her senior year, Pinel choreographed a multimedia honors dance thesis depicting the fall of Germany’s Berlin Wall and, after graduating last month with a BA in art history and dance, she is heading to New York City for a position in the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. “Dance was never part of my plan in college and never did I imagine getting an award or fellowship,” said Pinel. “Columbian College gave me a chance to follow my wildest childhood dreams while staying centered on scholarship through faculty guidance. I have really found myself.” Read more. Mathematician Assumes New Role as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies 
Effective July 1, Professor of Mathematics Daniel Ullman will be succeeding Paul Duff as Columbian College’s Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. Ullman came to GW in 1985 and chaired the Math Department from 2001 to 2006. He has served on numerous Columbian College and university committees, and worked with DC Public Schools on a Math-Science Partnership. In addition, he was awarded the Kenny Teaching Prize in 2005 and co-founded the GW Summer Program for Women in Mathematics in 1995, a program that continues today.“Dan Ullman has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to undergraduate education and undergraduate students,” said Dean Peg Barratt. “Going forward, he will work to increase the challenge of our courses and the engagement of our students through learning. I look forward to working with him.” Read more. Public-Private Partnership Created to Protect Egyptian Antiquities 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and an international collation led by Columbian College’s GW Capitol Archeological Institute announced they have agreed to cooperate on a comprehensive plan to protect Egypt's archaeological and cultural heritage sites and artifacts. "Egyptian antiquities and sites are among the most historically significant and important in the world,” said chairperson of the Capitol Archaeological Institute Deborah Lehr, second from the right in the photo. “In times of political transition, ancient sites and artifacts are often targets of international crime and illicit activity. We commend the government of Egypt for its efforts and are delighted to be working together to develop and implement short and long term solutions to ensure protection of Egypt's invaluable cultural heritage." Read more. Hot Summer, Cool Classes: Summer Session II Begins July 6 
Summer Session is the time to explore emerging interests, push the boundaries, or just get ahead. Students can complete a 3-credit course in just six weeks, save money with institute course packages, or take an online course. Registration is now open for Summer Session II, which begins July 6 and is open to GW and visiting students. In addition to required courses in math, writing, science, and languages, students can explore 700 courses in 70 different areas of study, such as sign language, dance history, American cinema, and creative writing. Read more.
Alumna Launches New Digital Magazine 
Last September, after three years as chief-of-staff at a prestigious public relations firm, School of Media and Public Affairs alumna Rebecca Wilson, BA ’08, decided to ditch her corporate job to create her own publication. With hard work and some encouragement from her former professors, Julep magazine—an online magazine with the slogan “Not Your Momma’s Southern Magazine”—was launched in March. The publication focuses on southern culture and voices within the realm of food, drink, travel, fashion, and design.“There’s no way I would be where I am without SMPA,” said Wilson. “I truly have the program and the terrific professors to thank for every professional move I've made since graduation." Read more. Presidential Management Fellows Make Their Mark 
GW has more graduates accepted to the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program than any other university in the country thanks to Columbian College’s top-ranked Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. On average, three to six graduates from the school are accepted each year to the program, the federal government’s premier vehicle for recruiting graduate-level talent. Stephanie Stone, MPP ’09, and Lauren Hoshibata, MPP ’09, are among those making the most out of their PMF experience this year. Read more.
Kudos Adam Bethke, a student in political science and criminal justice, was selected to study at the Fulbright Summer Institute at Roehampton University in the U.K. Henry Farrell, associate professor of political science and international affairs, was named to the editorial board of the journal Perspectives on Politics. Mark Feldstein, associate professor of media and public affairs, is the winner of the Frank Luther Mott/Kappa Tau Alpha Research Award for the best scholarly book on journalism/mass communication for his book Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson and the Rise of Washington's Scandal Culture. Graduate student in political science Colm Fox won the Indonesia and East Timor Studies Committee Award for best graduate paper, which he presented at the Asian Association Society conference. Christopher Klemek, assistant professor of history, authored the book The Transatlantic Collapse of Urban Renewal. Kanika Metre, MPA ’11, was selected as a prestigious Luce Scholar for 2011–2012. Rebekah Meyer, one of the 2010-2011 Dean's Scholars in Shakespeare, received the English Department's DeWitt Clinton Croissant Prize for an essay in drama or theatre. Joseph O'Mahoney, a graduate student in political science, received a predoctoral fellowship from the DeKarman Fellowship Trust. Professor of Mathematics Josef Przytycki co-authored the article “Modeling Information Flow in Molecular Networks” that appeared in Physical Biology. The article discusses the impact of the increased use of large-scale molecular interactive networks to provide a system level view of cellular processes. Maria Rost Rublee, PhD ’04, received the Alexander George Book Award by the International Society for Political Psychology for her book Nonproliferation Norms: Why States Choose Nuclear Restraint. Political Science Professors John Sides and Henry Farrell and their colleagues at The Monkey Cage have been named bloggers of the year by The Week. Christopher Sten, professor of English and American literature, authored the book Literary Capital: A Washington Reader. Sarah Tynen, a student majoring in Chinese, was awarded a Fulbright grant to study in China. Cheryl Vann, adjunct associate professor in the Honors Program, has been selected to participate in an NEH Institute in India during the month of July. A groundbreaking technique developed by Professor and Deputy Chairman of the Chemistry Department Akos Vertes was featured in the May edition of BioTechniques. The technique—laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI)—promises to revolutionize the study of chemical processes within cells and lead to a better understanding of the transformation of a cell from normalcy to malignancy. The journal piece was coauthored by Jessica Stolee, a graduate student in Vertes’ research lab. Dana Yasur-Landau, a graduate student in political science, has been awarded the Scheusterman Israeli Scholar Award from the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. Director of the GW Solar Institute Ken Zweibel has been invited to be a member of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Higher Education Committee. ACORE is a large, influential association working to bring all forms of renewable energy into the mainstream of America’s economy and lifestyle.
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