Monday Memo September 19, 2016
Message from the Dean
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for the terrific turnout at the State of the College address on Friday. I appreciate the support and the opportunity to celebrate your many successes, which are such fun to report. The presentation is now posted on our website, if you would like to review it again or if you were unable to attend Friday. I also want to clarify my position reported in an article in The Louisville Cardinal, which states that the majority of the $2 million in salary equity is likely to go to A&S faculty and staff. While I’d love for that to be true, what I actually said is that I anticipate we will get disproportionately more than we might have hoped based on our numbers because of how far from benchmarks the study shows many of our salaries.
Thanks to everyone who helped with Saturday’s Heartwalk, which was a big success. Saturday’s football win was another great event, and an appearance on the national stage for UofL that will undoubtedly inspire future student applications. We’ll get to welcome back for Homecoming former football star Roman Oben (Economics ’95) as our 2016 Alumni Fellow, and the university’s 2016 Alumnus of the Year Ernie Allen (International Studies ’68), who is on the A&S Hall of Honor.
Yesterday we welcomed Mayor Fischer as our guest for the first Yearlings Club meeting this fall. He spoke of a recent visit to Austin, Texas, and I was delighted to learn that Austin’s successful growth in the past several years is credited to the university there, including the important role in workforce preparation attributed to their College of Arts & Sciences. I hope Louisville emulates Austin in that respect!
Tonight we recognize all department chairs at the university, and tomorrow is the celebration of Faculty Excellence. Theatre Arts’ first production, Fences, begins Wednesday. We also welcome special guests to celebrate Peace Day Sept. 21-22. The semester’s in full swing, and it is chockfull of fun!
Many thanks,
Kimberly Kempf-Leonard
Dean
Announcements
Bingham Fellows applications open
Applications are now open for the Leadership Louisville Center’s Bingham Fellows program. This program provides experienced professionals with a world class opportunity to develop and hone their influence skills. The topic for the upcoming class is “WINNING THE TALENT OF THE FUTURE: Advancing Louisville's ability to develop, retain and attract the talent we need to compete and thrive.” Those interested should attend the information session on Tues., Sept. 27th from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Leadership Louisville Center, 732 W Main St. For more information or to RSVP, email Angella Wilson.
New Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) information sessions
As part the SACSCOC accreditation process, the university will present a new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for undergraduate learning. Over the next four months, the QEP Development Committee invites all members of the campus community to review the QEP proposal. The proposal and related documentations are available at the QEP website, which also houses online feedback forms. The QEP Development Committee will host all-campus information and discussion sessions on Belknap Campus Thursday, Sept. 22, 1-2 p.m. Shumaker Research Building, room 139; Friday, Oct. 21, 2-3 p.m. Ekstrom Library, room 104; and Tuesday, Nov. 15, 9-10 a.m. Ekstrom Library, room 104. Questions and concerns can be sent to the committee at QEP2017@louisville.edu.
A&S State of the College correction
Some numbers in the “A&S Degrees Granted” slide were accidentally inverted. The table below includes the correct numbers:
13-14 14-15 15-16
Associates 14 41 43
Bachelors 809 1400 1307
Masters 118 207 224
PhD 16 51 50
For a look at the full slide presentation, go to 2016 State of the College.
Faculty: Nominate outstanding graduate students for commencement awards
SIGS will be recognizing outstanding graduate students at both masters and doctoral levels during the December commencement and there are many deserving A&S graduate students completing their degrees this fall semester. Please consider nominating your top students for these awards. Nominations, made by chairs or program directors, are due to SIGS by Friday, October 7. For more info, email Graduate Student Services.
In Memorium: Prof. Laurie Rhodebeck
Prof. Laurie Rhodebeck (Political Science) passed away on Sept. 13. Prof. Rhodebeck will be greatly missed by all of us in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Prof. Rhodebeck joined the UofL faculty in 1998, following teaching positions at Oberlin, SUNY-Buffalo, and Notre Dame. She taught courses in media in American politics, political parties and elections, and research methods. She served twice as acting chairperson, 12 years as director of graduate studies, and on many committees throughout the college and university. Her research appeared in Political Research Quarterly, Political Behavior, Gender & Society, the Journal of Politics, and Public Opinion Quarterly. Prof. Rhodebeck also contributed to features for the college, including sharing her perspective on the importance of an education in the liberal arts and sciences.
Teaching, Research, Creative Activities, & Service
Prof. Stewart to present at Linguistic Institute
Prof. Thomas Stewart (Comparative Humanities) has been selected to offer a course on Non-concatenative Morphology during the Linguistic Society of America's 2017 Linguistic Institute to be held at the University of Kentucky July 5 to August 1, 2017.
Prof. Ribeiro publishes archaeological research on Amazonia
Prof. Anna T. Browne Ribeiro (Anthropology) has just published Results from Pilot Archaeological Fieldwork at the Carrazedo Site, Lower Xingu River, Amazonia in Latin American Antiquity.
Prof. Lutz lectures at ISU
Prof. Deborah Lutz (English) was invited to give the Schick Lecture at Indiana State University on September 15, 2016. Her talk was entitled "Emily Brontë and the Work of Writing."
Prof. Kelly joined faculty of Black Europe Summer School in Amsterdam this summer
This past summer Prof. Baron Kelly (Theatre Arts) was on the faculty of the Black Europe Summer School at the University of Amsterdam. In addition, he recently returned from the University of Coimbra in Portugal where he delivered a lecture, "Creating Empathy in Actor Training Using Afrocentic Concepts to Fight Racism." On September 26, he will deliver a lecture, "Becoming a Global Citizen: Motivation, Benefits, and Responsibilities" in West Virginia at University at Parkersburg.
Kudos & Congratulations
Prof. Willey selected as Faculty Fellow in Undergraduate Affairs
Congratulations to Prof. Beth Willey (English) on her selection as Faculty Fellow in Undergraduate Affairs, effective September 16. As Faculty Fellow in Undergraduate Affairs, she will represent the provost in work on general education curriculum and assessment; the SACS QEP programs; the Undergraduate Council; the undergraduate catalog; and undergraduate program development, review, and accreditation. Prof. Willey will be working closely with the associate deans and other unit faculty and administrators. She will work out of her office in 315A Humanities and can be contacted at ann.willey@louisville.edu or 502-852-0510.
A&S alumnus Ernie Allen ’68 (International Studies) awarded 2016 Alumnus of the Year
A&S Alumnus Ernie Allen has been named the university-wide 2016 Alumnus of the Year. Allen’s international work in child abduction, sexual exploitation and violence, human trafficking and modern slavery has been lauded. He was called one of America’s foremost social entrepreneurs by President George W. Bush and named Executive of the Year by NonProfit Times. He was a founder of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and served as its President and CEO for 23 years.
Roman Oben named 2016 A&S Alumni Fellow
Roman D. Oben ’95 (Economics) earned the A&S Alumni Fellow award for 2016. He played football for UofL, and in the NFL from 1996-2008, including helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers capture their first Super Bowl title in 2002. Oben went on to a media career covering NFL for major news networks. He is now the NFL’s Senior Director of Youth & High School Football Development.
Local Mortar Board webpage lists high-profile A&S student and faculty scholars
The Pallas Chapter of Mortar Board has created a website to honor top students and faculty at the University of Louisville who have won national or international awards, including Faculty Fulbrights, NSF Graduate Fellowships, Goldwater Scholars, Boren Scholars and more. The page is a work in progress, and therefore welcomes corrections, suggestions and additions. For questions or comments, email Prof. Gerry Williger (Physics & Astronomy).
Items of Note
Undergraduate Philosophy Colloquium paper submission deadline Sept. 30
Faculty: Please let your students know that undergraduates interested in submitting a paper for the Steven Humphrey Undergraduate Philosophy Colloquium should submit it to Prof. David Owen (Philosophy) by Sept. 30. The word limit is 3,000 words and submissions should be prepared for anonymous review. Funding is available for travel and lodging. The event will be held Nov. 4, and this year’s keynote speaker will be Kristie Dotson (Michigan State University).
PeaceDay 2016 scheduled for Sept. 21-22
Stories about a paralyzed U.S. veteran’s antiwar protests, Syrian refugees’ quest for safety and college students’ pursuit of peace and social activism will mark the University of Louisville’s PeaceDay 2016 activities Sept. 21-22. The Peace, Justice and Conflict Transformation Program out of the College of Arts & Sciences organizes the free, public celebration of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. For more information, contact Russell Vandenbroucke at 502-852-8448 or rjvand01@louisville.edu.
In the News
Import of fair housing rule (The Courier-Journal, 9/15/16) – Director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research Prof. Cate Fosl (Women’s & Gender Studies) on housing discrimination against historically marginalized groups.
Kentucky makes strides in income, health coverage and education, census data shows (Insider Louisville, 9/15/16), Study shows we're better educated and make more money, but it takes us longer to get to work (Business First Louisville, 9/16/16), and Census: Incomes Continue To Climb In The Commonwealth (WFPL, 9/16/16) – The Kentucky State Data Center Director Prof. Matthew Ruther (Urban & Public Affairs) on changes in Kentucky’s median income, education, and more.
Fischer touts "big picture" at Yearlings Club (The Courier-Journal, 9/18/16) – Mayor Greg Fischer spoke about how Louisville is growing at The Yearlings Club series this past Sunday. The series is sponsored by the club and the Office for International, Diversity and Engagement Programs.
The Thinker Fall 2016
View the latest issue of The Thinker, the newsletter of the College of Arts & Sciences, online. To request a print copy, email Melissa Moody.
