Monday Memo March 4, 2019
Dean's Message
Dear Colleagues:
We are excited for a great turnout tomorrow for the 5:30 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony for our newly renovated Rowan building in the historic neighborhood in Portland and for President Bendapudi’s Phi Beta Kappa lecture on "The Value of the Liberal Arts in a Global Economy" (6:30PM). If you miss Tuesday's event at the Rowan building, there’s also our Thursday economic summit on the impact of arts & culture to our region. I hope you are impressed by the new facility, and start dreaming about other programs and activities we can have there.
I’m also very pleased to report success in our graduate programs. We received a record number of 26 offers across 9 programs for University Fellows and Diversity Scholars from SIGS this year, an upward trend that began three years ago. Let’s keep that going with more and more fantastic students!!
I also want to recognize Mr. Diptaparna Biswas and his mentor, Prof. Swagato Banerjee (Physics & Astronomy). He’s been selected for a competitive award aimed at strengthening U.S.-Japan scientific collaborations, and will spend next year working and studying at KEK, the largest particle physics laboratory in Japan, situated in Tsukuba, Ibaraki.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Ph. D.
Dean
Great Place to Learn
The annual Kentucky Women's Book Festival is coming up
The 13th annual Kentucky Women’s Book Festival will feature authors from a wide variety of genres March 2 on University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus. The festival begins at 9:00 AM with coffee and conversation followed by the opening session at 9:30 AM at the Brandeis School of Law. Following the festival will be a workshop presented by Women Who Write, at local women's writer's group. For the full schedule and additional details, please see this news release.
Malcolm X Debate team qualifies to advance!
The Malcolm X Debate team has qualified the team of Jahne Benthall (freshman) and Deontrey Yeargin (sophomore) to the 2019 National Debate Tournament (NDT)! The NDT is the most elite intercollegiate national championship tournament where participants must qualify by being one of the top 78 teams in the country! As it is rare to qualify as a freshman/sophomore team, a huge congrats is in order!
Army ROTC hosts Academic Advisor Brief
The Army ROTC Department invites all University of Louisville academic advisors, department chairs and program directors to an Academic Advisor Brief on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Dougherty Hall, Room 202 to learn about Army ROTC scholarship and curriculum opportunities.
Great Place to Work
Prof. Mattes to receive a grant
Please congratulate Prof. Mark Mattes (English), who has just learned of his receipt of a competitive $2000 grant from the Friends of the UW-Madison Libraries. The grant will fund research at the Wisconsin Historical Society related to his work on "Archival Apocrypha: Indigenous Writing and the Figure of Logan in Colonial and Native American History."
Prof. Almousily is a 'Top' Faculty Favorite
Prof. Khaldoun Almousily (Classical and Modern Languages) is one of a number of UofL's faculty recognized as a 2017-2018 'Top' Faculty Favorites. Here is a video with comments from each of the recognized faculty members.
Prof. Lutz is headed to the Huntington Library
Prof. Deborah Lutz (English) has been awarded a research fellowship (short term) from the Huntington Library, in California. She will continue research on her book project, now called "Paper Art and Craft: Victorian Writers and Their Materials," with a focus on the Huntington's collection of late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century paper crafts, especially the valentines, greeting cards, scrapbooks, and paper dolls collected by Zelda Walker Gaudin.
Great Place to Invest
Mini-grants available from the International, Diversity, & Community Engagement (IDEP) Office
The College of Arts & Sciences is committed to supporting the recruitment and retention of African American faculty, along with other underrepresented minority faculty members. As a tangible expression of that commitment, we have set aside a small fund to support research and creative activity efforts that can help our junior faculty with tenure & promotion and the retention of our tenured faculty. Three Mini-grants between $2000 and $2500 each are available. Due date for applications is April 15th. For more details, see this Word document.
Diversity & Inclusion
Two Fine Arts professors will exhibit their art at an upcoming economic forum
Profs. Mark Priest and Che Rhodes (Fine Arts) will exhibit their art at the upcoming public economic development forum, “Strategies for Revitalizing West Louisville: Arts, Culture and Tourism,” at 1606 Rowan St. in Louisville’s on March 07, 2019.
Items of Note
Upcoming presentation in the WAC Speakers Series to discuss U.S. Japan Alliance
The WAC Speakers Series will be holding an event entitled The U.S.-Japan Alliance Working in Kentucky as a part of the Alliance Working in America series. The event features some high profile panelists, including former Ambassador James Zumwalt. It takes place on Wednesday, March 6 with registration at 5:30 PM and the presentation at 6:00 PM. The cost is free for WAC Members, $20.00 for non-members, which includes the reception afterwards. For more details, please read the description below.This event will aim to improve understanding of Japan as America’s most important ally and as Kentucky’s strong partner. A panel of U.S. and Japanese experts from Washington, D.C. and a representative of a prominent Japanese company in Kentucky will examine important developments in today’s Japan with implications for U.S.-Japan relations, the depth and breadth of Japan-Kentucky ties, and the impact of Japanese business investments in Kentucky. RSVP today.
In the News
Louisville's Sue Grafton will be remembered with mystery writer award (Courier-Journal, 2/26/19) - UofL Alumnus Sue Grafton (English) will be honored with an award for her extensive career in authorship.
Passport's West Louisville Plans Are On Hold. What Happens To The City's Incentives? (WFPL, 2/23/19) - Prof. Janet Kelly (Urban and Public Affairs) weighs in on the current status of Passport Health Plan's $130 million campus in West Louisville.
Kentucky lacks access to eating disorder treatment, but this professor is changing that (Courier-Journal, 2/26/19) - Prof. Cheri Levinson (Psychological & Brain Sciences) discusses her experience in treating eating disorders.
KMACnificent (Voice-Tribune, 2/28/19) - UofL alumna Francis "Frankie" Lewis's work in fashion is discussed. She will soon appear on Bravo's "Project Runway".
UofL student doesn't let cystic fibrosis slow her down (UofL News, 2/21/19) - Briana Bonham, senior, tells her story about her experience with cystic fibrosis.
Closing Time: The Science Behind Nostalgia For Our Favorite Bars (WFPL, 2/22/19) - Dr. Keith Lyle (Psychology) is interviewed regarding the scientific intricacies of nostalgia for places in our community.
After hate crime debacle, Jussie Smollett's only friends are racists and homophobes (Courier-Journal, 2/22/19) - Prof. Ricky Jones (Pan-African Studies) writes an opinion article regarding the situation surrounding Smollett.
UofL Theatre Arts presents "A Piece of My Heart" (UofL News, 2/20/19) - An article about the recent show by UofL Theatre Arts and Prof. Sydney Monroe Williams (Theater Arts).
Carnegie Center hosts exhibit by friends and fellow artists Elmer Lucille Allen, Sandra Charles, and Barbara Tyson Mosley (Insider Louisville, 2/21/19) - The work of multiple UofL alumni will be shown at New Albany's Carnegie Center for Art & History.
African American Theatre Program celebrates 25 years with gala (Louisville Cardinal, February 2019) - This article recounts the long history of our African American Theatre Program.
Closing reception of UofL's 'Organize Your Own' exhibit will feature national curator and cultural dialogue (Insider Louisville, 2/18/19) - Curator Daniel Tucker headed a discussion at a reception for the 'Organize Your Own' exhibit at Schneider Hall's Galleries.
One year after Parkland, gun debate rages in states (The Hill, 2/14/19) - Prof. Melissa Merry (Political Science) answers questions regarding the state of local gun safety legislation.
UofL Senior: 'I felt included on this campus immediately" (UofL News, 2/15/2019) - Keionna Bailey, a senior who studies Communications, shares her experience regarding UofL's inclusiveness.
Black History: How U of L's Pan-African Studies changed me and others (Courier-Journal, 2/14/19) - UofL graduate Brandon McCormack writes an opinion discussing the impact that UofL's PAS department had on him.
Safer, but still scared: How suburban students feel one year after Parkland shooting (Daily Herald, 2/14/19) - UofL freshman Emily Gornik weighs in on the atmosphere surrounding students and gun safety.
Organize Your Own: The Politics and Poetics of Self-Determination Movements (LEO Weekly) - Event announcement for UofL's 'Organize Your Own' Exhibit.
