Monday Memo May 7, 2018

Dean's Message

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to Commencement week! I hope many faculty will attend to cheer on our successful students, none of whom could’ve achieved their degrees without the terrific mentoring of A&S faculty. We have a large number graduating, and can be assured that we will see many happy faces on Friday and Saturday. 

This has been yet another year with a lot of uncertainty that is beyond our control, and I truly appreciate the professional way in which our faculty and staff have carried on. We are strong in terms of scholarship, curriculum and collegiality. We have managed an uncertain budget without too much hardship, and I think it is safe to say we all hope that in the coming year our financial situation will be resolved so we can plan and execute our shared goals more effectively. 

For those of you heading off to research sites or study abroad locations, best wishes for success. Although summer on Belknap is a bit quieter, we are offering many classes this summer, and students are continuing to enroll. Several faculty are engaged in research from on campus, and quite a few people are preparing for new classes or retooled class formats with new pedagogical approaches.  

This will be the last official Monday Memo until mid-August, but I’ll make sure to send special announcements directly or through department chairs and unit managers if anything arises that is time sensitive. Come August, we’ll have a new President, a new budget, a new classroom building, and a new physical location west of 9th Street for both our MFA in studio art and design program and our archaeology program. We’ll also be welcoming several new faculty, and perhaps the largest freshman class UofL has ever had. I am optimistic for the coming year. 

I hope summer 2018 is successful for everyone. Please know how appreciative I am of the hard work and extra efforts put forth by so many to make this academic year successful. Our graduating students’ smiles this week help make it all worthwhile!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Ph.D.

Dean

Announcements

Q & A with Dean Leonard

Please note there is a staff meeting with Dean Leonard scheduled for next Tuesday, May 8 at 2:00pm in Chao Auditorium. As with past meetings, this meeting will be your opportunity to get an update on Arts & Sciences and ask questions. If you wish, you may submit questions in advance via this form. 

Research & Creative Activity

Upcoming changes to the UofL IRB fee schedule and billing process for industry contracts

The University of Louisville IRB review fee schedule and billing process are changing for industry contracts executed on or after July 1, 2018. Please review the revised fee schedule for details on the new amounts and new billing process. Additional information: Website

Diversity & Engagement

New Social Justice Fellows announced

The Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research congratulates new Faculty Fellows from A&S! These faculty will receive funding and other research support to conduct community-engaged, transdisciplinary, social justice research. The 2018 Faculty Fellows from A&S include: Dr. Lluis Baixauli-Olmos (Modern Languages), Dr. Russell Vandenbroucke (Theatre Arts), Dr. Avery Kolers (Philosophy), and Dr. Lisa Markowitz (Anthropology). These faculty join 2017 Faculty Fellows from A&S: Dr. Shira Rabin (Biology), Dr. Bronwyn Williams (English), Dr. Lauren Freeman (Philosophy), Dr. Theresa Hayden (Criminal Justice), Dr. Kaila Story (Women & Gender Studies, Pan-African Studies), Dr. Angela Story (Anthropology), Dr. Daniel DeCaro (Urban & Public Affairs, Psychological & Brain Sciences), Dr. Lauren Heberle (Sociology), Dr. Kelly Kinahan (Urban & Public Affairs), Dr. Lara Kelland (History), Dr. Stephen Schneider (English), and DJ Biddle (Geography & Geosciences). Learn more on the consortium's website.

Interested in becoming a faculty fellows or getting connected with the social justice community at UofL and in Louisville? Visit our website at louisville.edu/socialjustice or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

Kudos

Professors Koven co-publish book 

Routledge Press recently published a book by Prof. Steven Koven (Urban & Public Affairs) and Prof. Andrea Koven (Sociology) entitled Growth, Decline, and Regeneration in Large Cities: A Case Study Approach.

Undergraduate student Meghan Carrico at NASA Langley

UofL junior Meghan Carrico, a double major in Physics & Astronomy and Atmospheric Science, is working at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia this Summer 2018. She'll be part of the TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) Student Collaboration.  Students will be analyzing and correlating output from sensors that measure ozone, nitrogen dioxide, aerosols, and UVB to provide ground truth for the TEMPO satellite.

Items of Note

Two chemistry labs are to be named in honor of two donors

• The Tilford F. Riehl Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab -  An organic chemistry teaching lab will be named in honor of alumnus Tilford F. Riehl. Mr. Riehl is gifting $270,000 over four years to chemistry, and the initial $100,000 will be used for said lab renovation. The balance of the four year commitment will be used to establish the endowed Tilford F. Riehl Endowed Chemistry Lab Fund. The funds are to be used solely to support lab enhancements and upgrades as deemed appropriate by the Chair of the Department of Chemistry.
• The Calvin & Helen Lang Chemistry Lab - Before her death in 2017, Helen Lang made a $100,000 gift to the Department of Chemistry. The gift provided the funds that the department needed for the renovation of a teaching lab located in the Chemistry Building, room LL10.

In the News

STAFFPICKS: ‘Title’ by Douglas Miller (LEO Weekly) - References the Master's exhibit of Douglas Miller, MFA candidate in the Studio Art & Design program. 

Utah teen chastised online for wearing traditional Chinese dress to prom (5/3/18) - Prof. Jianhua Zhao (Anthropology) was interviewed on CGTN America for input on recent controversy over Utah teen who wore a traditional Chinese dress to prom. 

Sold at Derby: Sex Trafficking in Louisville (Louisville Magazine, 5/2/18) - Prof. Theresa Hayden (Criminal Justice) discusses his research on sex trafficking.

LMPD to receive new de-escalation training (WLKY, 4/30/18) - Prof. John Reed (Criminal Justice) provides feedback on ICAT training (Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics)

"We Are Louisville" hackathon returns to highlight the city's newcomers (WFPL, 4/28/18) - Prof. Frances McDonald (English) is quoted regarding hte purpose of the hackathon sponsored by the Commonwealth Center for Humanities & Society.

Part-Five: EP:5 - Dr. Ricky Jones (Youtube, 4/27/18) - Biographical video focusing on Prof. Ricky Jones (Pan-African Studies).

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is a political warrior. Can his foes find the will to fight back? (Courier-Journal, 4/25/18) - Op ed by Prof. Ricky Jones (Pan-African Studies).

Tim Faulkner Gallery finds new home near $28M Louisville development (Louisville Business First, 4/25/18) - References the University of Louisville's masters of fine arts in studio art & design that will be moving into Portland neighborhood this fall.

K-PAC calls for state takeover of JCPS; Board Responds (Spectrum News, 4/24/18) - Prof. Ricky Jones weighs in on state takeover of JCPS.

Whitmore named assistant PBPD chief; others promoted (The Pine Bluff Commercial 4/24/18) - References the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course.

As marijuana goes mainstream, what's happening to the way we talk about weed? (Coeur d'Alene Press, 4/20/18) - An article by Prof. Frank Nuessel (Classical & Modern Languages) on the linguistic changes related to marijuana due to its legalization.

YPAL announces 2018-19 board of directors (The Lane Report, 4/19/18) - Features A&S alumna (B.S. Communication) Aimee Jewell as the incoming president of the Young Professional Association of Louisville. Ms. Jewell is also the employer engagement coordinator at UofL's Career Development Center.

But what is "great?" (Arts-Louisville.com, 3/19/18) - Review of New Monuments For Freedoms: Make America Great Again art exhibit.