Faculty and staff news
Stephen Addiss, Tucker-Boatwright Professor in the Humanities: Art, lectured recently at Cornell University on Japanese calligraphy, at Northern Florida University on Japanese haiku-painting and at the Indianapolis Museum of Art on Zen painting. In addition, he is the primary editor and translator of Zen Sourcebook: Traditional Documents from China, Korea and Japan, published this spring by Hackett Publications. His co-authored Zen Art Box (fall 2007) won the Best in Show prize at the New England Bookbuilders meeting.
Con Beausang, associate professor of physics, was elected to the Gammasphere Users Executive Committee. Gammasphere, the world’s most powerful gamma ray microscope for scientific research, is housed at Argonne National Laboratory. The users group facilitates the exchange of information and advice among the nuclear physics community with regard to the use of Gammasphere. Beausang has been a member of the users group since 1990 and served on its executive committee in 2005.
Dan Fabian, Richmond College associate dean and chemical health coordinator, gave a presentation at the Association of American Colleges and Universities conference April 10–12 in Austin. He discussed “Academic and Student Affairs Collaboration to Increase Sophomore Male Retention.” He gave an overview of the Richmond College Dean’s Office’s approach to sophomore male retention and the focus of personal assistance.
Rick Mayes, associate professor of political science, won a national faculty award from Delta Gamma sorority. He will receive a $5,000 grant at the national convention this summer in Palm Springs.
At the U.S. Collegiate Championships, held in March at The Ohio State University, Carole Mitchell, operations manager in the Office of Admission, received the 2008 Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Contrib-utor Award. The award recognizes significant contributions to the development of collegiate synchronized swimming. She is a vice president for U.S. Synchronized Swimming, faculty advisor for the UR Synchro Team and head coach of the Weinstein JCC Dolpholinas. She also is actively involved in a task force created to help club teams achieve varsity status.
Cheryl Pallant, instructor in English and theater & dance, published a chapbook series in poetry, Declaration of Independence, Ten or More Suggestions and Poetry by Chocolate, all by Feral Press. Her poetry also has recently been published in New York Quarterly.
Tom Roberts, director of recreation and wellness, received the Professional Award of Merit from the Virginia Recreational Sports Association. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions and commitment to VRSA.
Nick Vogel, media scheduling manager, appeared as an extra in the HBO seven-part miniseries, John Adams. Vogel applied at an open casting call and appeared in early scenes depicting an angry mob, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, a funeral procession and a scene showing the aftermath of the battles of Lexington and Concord. He participated in filming done in Mechanicsville and Powhatan County and met John Adams stars Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Justin Thereaux and Danny Huston.
John Warrick, assistant professor of biology, has been awarded a grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to study proteins in brain cells that contribute to brain degeneration. The institute is an agency of the National Institutes of Health. Awarded through the institute’s Academic Research Enhancement Award program, the three-year, $182,159 grant will provide summer support for Warrick and up to two undergraduate students each year, plus equipment and supplies.