Monday Memo, January 11, 2022 — College of Arts & Sciences

Dear A&S Faculty and Staff,

In the spirit of better late than never, the Monday Memo arrives on Tuesday, as I wanted to allow space for the recent discussion of teaching modalities to reach some degree of closure. Dean Owen and I thank everyone for taking the time to articulate so thoughtfully a wide range of views and circumstances, both publicly and privately. We are sharing those with President Gonzalez and her leadership team, and Dean Owen is communicating with department chairs about the kinds of flexibility needed to manage individual and short-term circumstances.

The good news is that our undergraduate credit hours for spring 2022, while falling short of the target set pre-pandemic, have increased over 2021. Our students are eager to carry on with their lives during the pandemic, and the exceptional education we offer in the College of Arts & Sciences is key to that. It is great to see students back on campus: thank you to everyone who is helping to launch a new semester for them!

—Julie Wrinn, Chief of Staff

Reminders

Sustainability Research

If you are engaged in sustainability research, please email Associate Dean Michael Menze (michael.menze@louisville.edu) by Thursday, January 13, with the researcher names, home units, and a brief phrase or a few key words to characterize their research topic. UofL has always held the highest STARS rating in Kentucky (Gold), and we are on a path to a Platinum. You can help us get there as we report on: a) the percentage of UofL employees engaged in sustainability-related research, and b) the percentage of all research-conducting academic departments at UofL that include at least one employee who conducts sustainability research. Note that social and economic research are just as fundamental to sustainability as ecological or environmental research. Include all faculty and staff researchers, including paid students, not just the principal investigator or team chair. Your assistance is most appreciated!

Representatives for Onboarding Navigator

New staff onboarding sessions are pivoting back to in-person as of January 2022, and your help is needed. The role of the onboarding navigator is to be a guide for a new employee’s first few days. Every department is asked to provide a representative to the Onboarding Navigator process. Chairs or Department Managers should contact our Administrative Secretary in the Dean’s Office, Candyce Woodard (candyce.woodard@louisville.edu) with the name of your department’s representative, by January 24.

Mentored Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

Grant applications of $1,000 to $1,500 for mentored undergraduate research and creative activity are due by February 1. Please find the application and guidelines here: https://louisville.edu/artsandsciences/academics/undergraduate/research-grant/.

Faculty & Staff Awards

As it is in Hollywood, it’s awards season at UofL! Please take the time to nominate your faculty and staff colleagues for a 2022 A&S award. Awards, guidelines, and links to upload applications may be found at this link: https://louisville.edu/artsandsciences/awards/nominations. (Note: Substitute “Julie Wrinn” wherever this website mentions “Lindsay Ronay”; and send Graduate Studies nominations to Dr. Latrica Best instead of David Brown—apologies, we hope to update the website soon.)

The Distinguished Faculty Award is administered by the Employee Success Center, and their deadline is January 31, 2022 for submissions to our A&S committees. Instructions for uploading nominations can be found at the link above. All other awards within A&S have a deadline of February 28, 2022.

Events

Louisville women’s basketball is excited to invite faculty and staff to enjoy a game with friends and family at an exclusive $4 ticket rate to watch the Cards take on the Syracuse Orange Thursday, January 13, 7 p.m.. Be sure to use your @louisville.edu email to access the discounted tickets and take advantage of our happy hour specials. Get your discounted tickets at https://fevo.me/3C1ejdG. For more information, contact Zack Day, (303) 589-5101, or visit the webpage.

The Matriarchive: A research project showcase. This talk hosted by the Department of English will introduce a body of work created by Rachel Maloney during her practice-led research project as a fellow with the Victoria & Albert Museum Research Institute in London. This project focused on uncovering the marginalized memories and experiences of women in the home, looking particularly at the Burnip Album, a female-made photograph album from the V&A’s collection, dated circa 1870. Join this session on Zoom on January 21, 1:00 p.m. at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81834796656#success. For more information, contact deborah.lutz@louisville.edu or visit: https://events.louisville.edu/event/rachel_maloney_the_ matriarchive_working_with_the_royal_photographic_society_rps_collection_at_the_va_museum.

The Aebersold Jazz Quartet performs at the School of Music on Monday, January 24, 7 p.m. https://events.louisville.edu/event/aebersold_jazz_quartet_guest#.YdiE3VlOk2x. About the Aebersold Quartet: http://www.carnegiecenter.org/events/jamey-aebersold-jazz-quartet-in-concert/.

Kudos

SaMee Harden (B.A., Communications) has been named as a member of the 2021-22 Class of White House Fellows. The highly selective White House Fellowship program places professionals from diverse backgrounds for a one-year term working as full-time, paid Fellows for White House staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other senior government officials. She credits her former professors and mentors Dr. LunDeana Thomas and Dr. Yvonne Jones with helping her think beyond what she could see and pursue her dreams. https://www.uoflnews.com/post/uofltoday/uofl-alumna-named-2021-2022-white-house-fellow/.

A&S undergraduate Sam Kessler earned the prestigious George J. Mitchell Scholarship, of the three “Big Brit” awards that also include the Rhodes Scholarship and the Marshall Scholarship. Sam will graduate in May 2022 with a B.S. in applied geography and an individualized liberal studies B.A. in public policy and environmental mitigation. Read more about Sam and his exciting future plans here: https://www.uoflnews.com/post/uofltoday/uofl-senior-earns-a-prestigious-mitchell-scholarship/.

Haval Shirwan, professor in the department of microbiology and immunology, is the inventor of a newly issued European patent, EP3313429. This invention can prevent the autoimmune reaction that causes tissue or organ rejection in type 1 diabetes. The invention received funding from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, American Diabetes Association, and the National Institutes of Health. Shirwan is currently working with UofL Innovation & Commercialization to find commercial opportunities for the technology.

Last week, Khadija Shojae took her oath and became a United States Citizen. Mike Bassi, Director of the Southern Police Institute in the College of Arts & Sciences, writes:

Her story of survival, perseverance and strength is inspiring to all that know her. From her war-torn homeland of Afghanistan as one of the first woman police leaders in that nation, to a political asylee and an integral team-member at the Southern Police Institute, in the Department of Criminal Justice here at the University of Louisville. She has continued to give back and donate her time to others, through the Kentucky Refugee Ministries and by sharing her inspiring story with students at the university and beyond. Khadija, welcome to the American Family, I am proud to know you and inspired by your strength and courage. You embody everything all Americans should aspire to be!

Department of Criminal Justice assistant professor Heather Ouellette and associate professor Tom “Tad” Hughes, along with IUS colleague Brian Schaefer, had their research report integrated into a cross-site analysis entitled, “Understanding Trends in Jail Populations, 2014-2019: A Multi-Site Analysis” for three U.S. cities (Durham, St. Louis, and Louisville). The report shows increases in the average length of stay in all jurisdictions, as well as relationships between age and race of those held in jail.

Congrats to Chemistry professors Craig Grapperhaus and Robert Buchanan, and Chemistry alumni Steven Cronin and Jacob Strain, who are inventors on a newly issued patent, U.S. 11,078,148. The invention is a zinc-centered chemical complex that captures the emitted greenhouse gas molecule, carbon dioxide, then converts it addressing environmental friendliness and energy needs. This technology received funding from the National Science Foundation. The researchers are currently working with UofL Innovation & Commercialization to find commercial opportunities for the technology.

The UofL Society of Physics Students has been named a 2021 Outstanding Chapter. Dr. Brad R. Conrad, Director of the Society of Physics Students with the American Institute of Physics (SPS) writes:

We at the SPS National Office want to take this opportunity to commend and applaud you for your tireless efforts to enrich the SPS community. It is because of your dedication and commitment to the SPS mission and vision that we are able to foster such a strong SPS community. The National Council has reviewed all chapter reports and has awarded the University of Louisville SPS Chapter as a 2021 Outstanding Chapter. On behalf of the Society of Physics Students’ National Office, congratulations once again to you and your chapter!