News briefs and announcements

Business school joins Asia association
The Robins School of Business has been admitted to membership in the Association of Asia-Pacific Business Schools, the first business school in the Americas to earn the distinction.

AAPBS is the leading association of schools of business in the Asia-Pacific region, established to advance the quality of business and management education by collaborating in research and teaching.

“Membership in AAPBS gives the Robins School a direct, formal link to the finest schools in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jorge Haddock, Robins School dean. “As the region becomes increasingly important, such linkages have tremendous potential to help the Robins School carry out its mission.”

Several AAPBS member schools already have partnerships with the Robins School, including the universities of Hong Kong, Tsinghua (China), Queensland (Australia), Curtin (Australia), Melbourne (Australia), Yonsei (Korea), Otago (New Zealand), National Chengchi (Taiwan) and Thammasat (Thailand). Associate Dean for International Business Programs Tom Cossé led the Robins School’s AAPBS membership initiative.

University Museums acquires Warhol photographs
A foundation that is dedicated to Andy Warhol’s legacy has donated 153 original Warhol photographs to the University of Richmond Museums as part of the foundation’s 20th anniversary celebration. In all, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts donated more than 28,500 photos valued at more than $28 million to 183 college and university museums.

Richmond will exhibit its Warhol photos from March 20 through May 22 in the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art. Lucy Green, ’09, will curate the exhibit and make it the subject of her senior thesis project.

The photos donated to the University include 102 Polaroids and 51 black-and-white silver gelatin prints made by Warhol from 1970-87. Several of the Polaroids served as studies for his later works, including “Witch,” which correlates to his later myth series of pop culture figures, such as the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. The black-and-white works are mostly candid shots that provide a glimpse into Warhol’s life, social circle and artistic milieu.

Stars bring message to campus
Actors Tatiana Ali, Marlon Wayans and Jurnee Smollett spoke to Justice and Civil Society students taught by leadership studies assistant professor Karen Zivi. The trio, stars of “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “Scary Movie” and “The Great Debaters,” are Barack Obama supporters who were making appearances on campuses nationwide. They encouraged students to register to vote and then follow through by voting for the candidate of their choice on election day.

DSL receives NEH grant
The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded the University a grant of $19,942 for research and an academic conference on the use of data visualization in the humanities. The grant to Andrew Torget, director of the Digital Scholarship Lab, will fund a two-day workshop this fall where experts will discuss limitations preventing humanities scholars from using visualization techniques in their research. It also will fund initial experiments in creating new tools or Web sites about overcoming obstacles to data visualization.

NSF grant to fund math-biological sciences project
The University has been awarded a three-year, $134,028 grant from the National Science Foundation to increase numbers of students pursuing scientific careers that combine math and biological sciences.

The project will be led by Ovidan Lipan, assistant professor of physics and mathematics, with assistance from math professors Lester Caudill and Kathy Hoke and biology professors Scott Knight and Lauren Runyen-Janecky.

Each academic year, two students will be picked from among biology and math majors to assist Lipan and Runyen-Janecky with actual research. They also will participate in a semester of data analysis and have the opportunity to travel to scientific conferences.

Lipan and Runyan-Janecky study the stress response system in mammalian cells and iron uptake in E. coli bacteria.

Leadership Forum endorsed by Bicentennial Commission
The national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) has recognized and endorsed “Abraham Lincoln’s Legacy of Leadership,” the 2008-09 Jepson Leadership Forum speaker series.

The federally appointed, 15-member commission is responsible for facilitating knowledge of America’s 16th president by planning events commemorating his 200th birthday. Members were selected based on their knowledge of Lincoln and dedication to educating others about him and the Civil War era.

The 2008-09 Jepson Leadership Forum examines Lincoln’s moral leadership and political savvy, focusing on important aspects of his legacy.

For more information on the bicentennial, visit www.lincolnbicentennial.gov, and for more information on the forum, visit jepson.richmond.edu.

Business leaders join Robins School EAC
Seven local business leaders have been appointed to the Robins School of Business’ Executive Advisory Council. The council recommends outreach programs, advises the Robins School on curriculum enhancements and offers career guidance and mentoring to business students.

Robert G. Reynolds, principal of Reynolds Development, is the council’s new chairman. At Reynolds Development, he is actively involved in the planning, financing, construction and management of Reynolds Crossing, a mixed use commercial development in Richmond.

New council members include: John Adams, The Martin Agency chairman and CEO; Deborah Armstrong, Bank of America senior vice president, healthcare and institutions; Brad Booker, SunTrust Bank executive vice president of commercial; Mark S. Cross, MeadWestvaco Packaging senior vice president; Joel Mier, Genworth Financial vice president, global customer insights; Kim Scheeler, Greater Richmond Chamber president and CEO; and Craig Smith, Owens & Minor president and chief executive officer.

Counselors meet on campus
About two dozen college and university counseling center personnel from around Virginia convened at Keller Hall Sept. 5, hosted by Peter LeViness, director of CAPS. They heard a presentation by Jim Stewart III, inspector general for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

UR branded items for sale at Walmart
Richmond alumni, faculty, staff, students and fans now have a major retail location where they can purchase Spider-branded apparel and other products with the University’s logo.

In a deal with Walmart, UR items are now on sale at the retailer’s 1504 N. Parham Road location. It took more than six months to complete negotiations with the world’s number one retailer, said Jessica Ryder Morrall, manager of collegiate licensing.

University-branded items have been available in a few other retail locations in the Richmond area for a number of years. This is the first deal with such a large retailer.

Items for sale include T-shirts, hoodies, hats, polo shirts, cups, travel mugs, car flags, stickers, magnets, suitcase tags, key chains, license plates, trailer hitches and other items, Morrall said.

Currently, the Parham Road Walmart is the only Walmart location to offer UR items. “If the products do well and the UR brand continues to grow, we look forward to expanding our presence into other Walmarts in the metro-Richmond area,” said Herb Peterson, vice president for business and finance.

NIH awards multi-year grant to Lindgren
The National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has awarded Kristen Lindgren, assistant professor of psychology, a two-part, five-year, $885,739 grant to complete alcohol abuse research.

Lindgren’s project, “Retraining Automatic Biases Related to Problem Drinking in College Students,” will include an initial award of $192,796 for two years of mentored support. She will investigate behavioral approaches related to the cause and prevention of alcohol use disorders. The remaining $692,943 will be used to conduct three years of study on the viability of retraining automatic processes in reducing alcohol consumption and problems.

Boatwright Library acquires new digital collections
Recently acquired electronic book collections at Boatwright Library include Early English Books Online (EEBO) and ACLS Humanities E-Books. EEBO features books on history, culture, religion, commerce, education, literature, poetry, music, politics, travel, etc. from the first book printed in English through the end of the 17th century. ACLS Humanities E-Books is a digital collection of nearly 2,000 full-text titles offered by the ACLS (The American Council of Learned Societies). Categories included Comparative/World History, Latin American History, African Studies, Asian Studies and Native Peoples of America.

New search interface for UR library catalog
There is a new look this fall for the UR Library Catalog. In addition to the updated search screen, printing and e-mailing information about library materials is much easier, and users will be able to filter results as they explore a topic. Links to book summaries, reviews and cover images are also available. The catalog interface will work in all internet browsers, but Firefox is recommended.

VFIC awards grant to academic skills director
The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges has awarded Hope N. Walton, director of academic skills, a grant of $2,500 to support the Family Cluster component of the Peer Advisors and Mentors (PAM) program. The Family Cluster concept will allow first-year mentees and upper class mentors to engage in a variety of activities that offer a bonding and support system beyond that of the traditional mentee/mentor relationships. The activities also provide immediate opportunities for mentee co-chairs to hone their leadership skills.