ASU News - Uncategorized

ASU offers support to Sichuan University

gcampbel — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:21:45 -0600

EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is a message from ASU President Michael Crow to the ASU Community.

To the ASU Community:

Arizona State University, as the sister institution of Sichuan University, is committed to helping its friends and colleagues in the aftermath of the severe earthquake that occurred in Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all those affected by this tragic event, especially those who have lost loved ones and livelihoods. The scale and scope of the damage are still being assessed, and the Chinese government, and local and international NGOs, are working intensely to advance relief efforts in this area.

Many organizations are focused on providing for the emergency needs of those impacted by the disaster, specifically food, water, shelter, health care, and rescue. ASU is engaged actively in this urgent support, and anticipates the significant, longer-term future needs of the region. Some of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake are desperately poor and many families have been left without the means to support themselves.

Many Sichuan University students have experienced dramatic personal losses and their futures, as well as those of their families, are uncertain. In support of these members of our extended Sun Devil family in Chengdu and Sichuan Province, we have established a fund to aid these students and their families during this difficult time, and we are working with Sichuan University and our counterparts in the City of Chengdu and in Sichuan Province to ensure that our assistance will be directed where it is most needed.

I write in the hope that our university community will come together, as it has in the past, and contribute to the Sisters of Sichuan Fund for Disaster Relief. We will report regularly on the funds raised and the families aided by your generosity.

Checks can be made payable to the ASU Foundation, Sisters of Sichuan Fund and mailed to the ASU Foundation, PO Box 2260, Tempe, Arizona, 85280-2260.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and your willingness to help during this critical time of need.

Sincerely,

Michael Crow

Sun Angel Scholarship funds research in the humanities

evelasco — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:11:00 -0600

From teachers using Japanese comic books in the classroom to “green” advertising to a controversial moment in the history of the American Revolution revisited through a gender lens, students majoring in the humanities study unusual and interesting topics with funding from a Sun Angel Foundation research award.

Stefanie Craig, Kendra Kennedy and Ginger Hanson are the 2007-2008 recipients of the Sun Angel Excellence in the Humanities Research Scholarship. The scholarship provides undergraduate students in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences a chance to pursue a research project related to their majors and also their personal interests. The award requires that the research culminates in a scholarly article or related form of publication.

For Craig, who received a bachelor’s degree in English this past December, the chance to study a topic she loves was the best part of her project. “Manga is something I’ve been interested in for over a decade,” Craig says.

Manga are Japanese comic books, read by people of all ages. They can be about anything – fantasy or science fiction, romance or school life. Craig, who also speaks Japanese, focused her research on how teachers of young adult literature can use this popular medium in classrooms.

“My main goal is to give educators, parents and any interested party a look into what manga actually is; its history, themes, characters, archetypes and structure,” she says.

Craig’s findings are published in the April 2008 eighth edition of “Literature for Today’s Young Adults,” a textbook written by Alleen Pace Nilsen, an ASU English professor, and Kenneth L. Donelson, an ASU Professor Emeritus of English education.

Kennedy, a senior with a double major in history and women and gender studies, became interested in her topic after stumbling across in her readings a reference to the Meschianza, an elaborate party thrown by the British Army in Philadelphia in 1778. Curiosity piqued, Kennedy made her first archival research trip to Philadelphia, which revealed intriguing gendered aspects of the event and the after effects on the Revolution.

The research will serve to illustrate the role that gender and culture had on political events that shaped United States history, Kennedy says.

Combining both of her majors into one project is what Hanson found so interesting about her analysis of ecological and environmental language and rhetoric in advertising. Hanson, a junior with a double major in English and conservation biology, is able to put both disciplines to work in her research.

“It was not until I noticed my heart rate was picking up every time I viewed an ‘eco-friendly’ advertisement on television that I realized I had to propose a project based on analyzing the rhetoric employed in such ads,” Hanson says.

All three scholarship recipients intend to go on to do graduate level research.

“What began as a curiosity about the Meschianza and an experimental research trip has become the basis for my graduate school studies,” Kennedy says.

Hanson said the experience gave her newfound confidence.

“It felt good to be trusted to plan and conduct my own study, and my mentor gave me great advice along the way that I will be able to put to use in future studies,” Hanson says. Her mentor is Peter Goggin, assistant professor of English, rhetoric and composition

The Sun Angel Foundation is an organization that was founded in 1946 to provide financial aid to outstanding scholar athletes. It has since extended its support to students throughout the university, including the humanities.

Kennedy describes the humanities as the way humans can “explore and understand the human experience.”

“I am constantly amazed by the social, cultural, political and economic dynamics that interact in society,” Kennedy says.

“The humanities are dedicated to who we are, and where we come from in a different way from natural sciences and other subjects,” Craig says. However, there are more reasons to study the humanities than simply academic pursuits, she claims.

“We also study it, of course, for fun.”

Ashley Lange, ashley.lange@asu.edu
480-965-1441
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Liberal arts students receive liberal dose of career skills

mattcrum — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:19:00 -0600

What’s next after you take off that cap and gown? Answering that question is potentially more complicated for students earning their bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts fields than in professional programs.

This spring, students in ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences received free training from professionals in the career planning field, along with advice from individuals in a variety of professions, to help them answer this and other career questions with confidence.

Trainers from Leathers Milligan/OI Partners led students through a series of workshops on topics such as assessing one’s skills and interests, researching potential employers, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Leathers Milligan & Associates is the Arizona partner of OI Partners, a corporation of career consulting, executive coaching, leadership development and career transition professionals in 200 locally owned offices.

Student participants then gained career insights from panelists representing the public and private sectors in a series of panel discussions.

“The move from backpack to briefcase is a huge transition, and it can be quite intimidating,” says Zabdy Montenegro, who just completed her B.S. in psychology through New College, located on ASU’s West campus. “Participating in this program gave me the tools and skills to help me walk into a job interview with confidence.”

Montenegro says she received helpful practical advice about preparing for interviews and writing her resume. “I found out it’s important for your resume not simply to list what you’ve done, but to address the skills you’ve gained through your work and school experience,” she says.

Her participation in the career preparation program has yielded results – Montenegro received three job offers and is in the midst of more interviews.

“Employers need graduates who are well-prepared to deal with the realities of the workplace, and this program enables students to be more knowledgeable and effective when engaging prospective employers,” says Mark Leathers, founder and partner of Leathers Milligan/OI Partners and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for New College.

A Leathers Milligan employee was taking a class taught by Elaine Jordan, New College’s director of college internships, when their discussions led to creation of the series of workshops developed in collaboration with ASU’s School of Global Management and Leadership. “We are grateful to Leathers Milligan and the panel participants for the time and expertise they have donated to this project,” Jordan says.

Students said the training they received in how to describe themselves was particularly valuable. “We believe industry leaders already see the value in hiring liberal arts graduates,” Jordan says. “This program helps students fully understand and better articulate the immense value they bring to the business world. You could see them grow in self-esteem and confidence as the program went along.”

Adds Leathers, “Confidence also comes from having a plan, knowing how to talk with potential employers and evaluate what the employer is saying to us. Students said they gained a sense of empowerment that they can be successful in finding the job that is right for them.”

Gwen Scheetz, the Leathers Milligan senior consultant who conducted the workshops, describes the student participants as “gutsy” and willing to try out new skills, such as networking. “Not many job seekers enjoy networking at first,” Scheetz says. “But having a chance to practice, as we did in the workshops, makes all the difference. We told the students that the only way to get good at this is through practice and more practice!”

Students had the chance to meet professionals from a range of public and private fields who volunteered to participate in panel discussions that Jordan coordinated. Panelists represented organizations including the city of Glendale, Great Scott Productions, Habitat for Humanity, the FBI, State Farm Insurance, and others.

“It was a fantastic experience for the students to meet people from the professional community who took an interest in them,” Jordan says. “Panelists shared their email addresses with students and were generous with their time.”

The final session Jordan held with students was a debriefing designed to look for ways to improve the program in the future. Already it’s been a great success. Students evaluated themselves before and after the program and showed a 73 percent improvement in their ability to assess their skills, construct a resume, interview, negotiate and network.

“The skills they learned will benefit these students not just in the short term but for years to come,” Jordan says. “We’re looking forward to helping a new group of students this fall.”

ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences offers degree programs spanning the humanities, arts, and social and natural sciences. More information is available at http://newcollege.asu.edu/.

Leake semifinalist for top pitching honor

ckussala — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:16:20 -0600

Arizona State University sophomore right hander Mike Leake has been named a semifinalist for the Roger Clemens Award. The award is presented annually to the top pitcher in collegiate baseball.

Leake (Fallbrook, Calif.) is 8-1 with a 3.42 ERA and one save for the Sun Devils. He has thrown a team leading 92 innings, striking out 86 while walking only 12. He was a First Team All-Pac-10 selection last season and was recently named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII selection. Leake is also batting .438 with two homers and 11 RBI.

Leake is one of 10 semifinalists for the award. The three finalists will be announced on May 26.

Roger Clemens Award Semifinalists:

Scott Bittle, Mississippi
Aaron Crow, Missouri
Joshua Fields, Georgia
Scott Gorgen, UC Irvine
Chris Hernandez, Miami
Shooter Hunt, Tulane
Mike Leake, ASU
Andrew Liebel, Long Beach State
Brian Matusz, San Diego
Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State

Travel tips for this weekend

ckussala — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:12:40 -0600

Fans planning on attending the Arizona State baseball game or softball NCAA regional on Sunday, should be aware of the following travel tips. Several downtown Tempe streets will be closed or restricted for the Tempe International Triathlon. The following roads will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 18:

o Mill Avenue in both directions between Curry Road/Washington Street and Rio Salado Parkway

o Rio Salado Parkway in both directions between Ash and Mill Avenues

o Westbound Rio Salado Parkway between Priest Drive and Ash Avenue

o Eastbound Washington Street between Priest Drive and Center Parkway

o The westbound Loop 202 off ramp at Priest Drive

o The eastbound Loop 202 on ramp at Priest Drive

The following roads will be restricted to one lane from 5:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 18:

o Eastbound Rio Salado Parkway between Priest Drive and Ash Avenue

o Northbound Priest Drive between Rio Salado Parkway and Washington Street

The following bus detours will occur from the start of service until 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 18:

o Valley Metro bus routes 1, 56, 66 and 76

o Orbit Earth

Parking and Transit Services has no further information on these restrictions. PTS does not close or restrict City of Tempe streets; PTS relays traffic notices to our customers so they can better plan their travels around the Tempe campus. For more information on these street closures, including bus detours, please visit http://www.tempe.gov/streetclosures/ or www.valleymetro.org/bus.

ASU grad nabs major internship with city of Phoenix

lccampb — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:03:17 -0600

Mayra Baquera is taking a huge step on her path to managing a city.

After receiving her master’s degree in public administration from the School of Public Affairs from ASU May 8, she’ll enter the Phoenix Management Intern Program, one of the nation’s most prestigious in the field of public administration.

She’s one of three interns selected among more than 100 highly qualified applicants from across the nation for the yearlong program, which will provide her with a firsthand look at the city’s efforts to address some of its most pressing issues.

She’ll gain experience closely working with city leaders during rotational assignments in the city manager’s office, and departments such as budget and research, aviation, public works and water services.

“I think this is the beginning of my career and becoming a good manager and leader,” says Baquera, 27. “I’ve seen my skills evolve since I began the program at ASU, so this will be a natural progression to practice them.”

Many of the city’s top-level executives started their careers in the internship program. Former participants include Martin Vanacour, associate director of the School of Public Affairs, who says he learned skills that have lasted a lifetime.

“The experiences from that one year, and the prestige of the program, gave me opportunities to move quickly through various positions to fulfill my goal of becoming a city manager,” Vanacour says.

Baquera, the first in her family to receive an undergraduate and graduate education, has a passion for making a difference in the Phoenix community where she has spent most of her life. She’s a research assistant for the Alliance for Innovation, an ASU partnership networking association for cities and counties committed to innovation and transforming local government.

After receiving her bachelor’s degree from ASU in 2003, she worked as a case manager at a nonprofit shelter for undocumented children. Last year, she was selected for the Department of State’s Summer Internship Program and worked in the Public Affairs section at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Upon her return, Mayra pursued classes in urban management at the College of Public Programs. She also has served as a volunteer for the Victim Services Division of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Corey Schubert, corey.schubert@asu.edu
(602) 496-0406
College of Public Programs

Dance scholar’s donation gives collection a home at ASU

lccampb — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:29:48 -0600

The Cross-Cultural Dance Resources Collection (CCDR) has found a new home in ASU Herberger College Dance from the extraordinary generosity and vision of Elsie Dunin, a leading international dance scholar.

The collection, which is internationally recognized as the most comprehensive dance resource center in the Southwest, comprises more than 15,000 books, letters, costumes, films and 75 indigenous instruments representing dance cultures worldwide.

According to Pegge Vissicaro, president of CCDR and associate chair at ASU Herberger College Dance, this significant acquisition is not coincidental: Dunin’s decision to give $1.15 million to endow a curator and provide funding for the maintenance of the CCDR collection embodies a special and meaningful convergence of time and place. This convergence honors the special importance of dance to Arizona’s native and immigrant populations.

Vissicaro says Dunin specifically wanted the CCDR collection, which currently is in Flagstaff, moved to ASU’s Tempe campus.

“I feel strongly that the best place for the collection is within Herberger College Dance because of its commitment to teaching students the importance of studying dance in the context of cross-cultural influences,” Dunin says. “The collection will better serve the greater population of the Southwest through the Herberger College and its dance program, which is being spearheaded by enlightened leadership and vision. The department’s development of advanced studies in dance reflects the importance of studying dance not only as a performance and contemporary art, but also with an understanding of dance movement in cultural contexts.

“In addition, the collection will attract national and international dance scholars who, through their contacts and exposure to the department, will in turn benefit the students. Just as studies of law, medicine, and architecture are already well-served in academia with their libraries and archives, the CCDR collection will provide a unique body of knowledge for dance within the midst of a thriving dance program.”

Simon Dove, chair of ASU Herberger College Dance, shares Dunin’s vision of exploring resources and expanding awareness about the connection between cultural influences and contemporary dance forms.

“Ms. Dunin’s remarkable gift, and her visionary decision to house the CCDR collection at ASU permanently, will benefit all students and scholars of dance by bringing the collection to an academic environment that encourages research and creativity,” Dove says. “In this time and place, enlightened and generous investment in future generations of dance artists will enable us to achieve our goal of nurturing a truly global perspective on this extraordinary art form.”

Tirosh-Samuelson to become director of Jewish Studies

chughes3 — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:48:00 -0600

When asked why a public university should teach Jewish Studies, the incoming director of ASU’s program doesn’t hesitate with her response.

“There is no way to understand the story of humanity, let along the story of the West, without telling the story of the Jews and the story of Judaism. The story of the Jewish people is nearly as old as human written records. Judaism developed side by side with the Christian interpretation of the Judaic heritage, and there is no way to understand Western, Christian culture without its Judaic foundation,” says Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, who will assume the position of director of Jewish Studies at ASU on Aug. 16.

Tirosh-Samuelson, who has been at ASU since 1999, is a professor and associate chair in the history department. In the director’s position, she will hold the Irving and Miriam Lowe Professorship in Modern Jewish Studies and will remain an active member of the history department.

“One the attractive aspects of the director of Jewish Studies position is the convergence between ASU’s growth trajectory and the interests and needs of the Jewish community in metropolitan Phoenix,” Tirosh-Samuelson says.

In sharing her vision with members of the faculty and the community, Tirosh-Samuelson says that Jewish Studies at ASU will focus on research, teaching and community outreach.

“At ASU, Jewish Studies will offer a new and creative model to integrate a Jewish perspective into all relevant disciplines and academic units, including history, religious studies, political science, justice studies, international languages and cultures, media and film studies, and law,” she says.

Tirosh-Samuelson would like to see develop new subjects, discourses and emphases within the program, specifically in the areas of Judaism and science, Judaism and environmentalism, Jewish history as global history, Judaism and liberalism, and Judaism and the arts.

As part of the community outreach, Jewish Studies will organize monthly seminars on campus, as well as art exhibits, either on campus or in synagogues.

Tirosh-Samuelson was born in Kibbutz Afikim, Israel, and served three years in the Israeli army. She has a doctorate in Jewish philosophy and mysticism from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the Stony Brook University. This past November, the university recognized her with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Tirosh-Samuelson’s research focuses on medieval and early-modern Jewish intellectual history with an emphasis on the interplay between philosophy and mysticism.

Among her published works, Tirosh-Samuelson is the author of “Between Worlds – The Life and Thought of Rabbi David ben Judah Messer Leon,” which was awarded the best work in Jewish history published in 1991 by the Institute of Jewish Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and “Happiness in Premodern Judaism: Virtue, Knowledge, and Well Being” (2003). She also is the editor for “Judaism and Ecology: Created World and Revealed Word” (2002), “Women and Gender in Jewish Philosophy” (2004), and “The Legacy of Hans Jonas: Judaism and the Phenomenon of Life” (2008).

She is the recipient of a $500,000 grant for the Templeton Research Lectures on the Constructive Engagement of Science and Religion – a three-year project titled “Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Religion, Science, and Technology.”

“Transhumanism is inherently interdisciplinary, as is the nature of Jewish Studies,” Tirosh-Samuelson says. “To understand Judaism, the Jews, Jewish civilization, one is called to do interdisciplinary work.

“My interest in transhumanism is part of a larger and deeper commitment to the dialogue of science and religion, which is rooted in the conviction that, historically and conceptually, science and religion are not antagonistic but intertwining cultural forces,” she says.

“In her new role as director of Jewish Studies Dr. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson brings with her both a national vision for the program and first-hand experience from some of the leading programs in Jewish Studies in the country: Emory University, Columbia University, and Indiana University,” says Deborah Losse, dean of humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Her stature in the field is such that her work to advance the program will attract the attention of major scholars in Jewish Studies both in the United State and abroad.”

Tirosh-Samuelson steps into the directorship, a position vacated in 2005 with the departure of Jack Kugelmass. Since that time, Joel Gereboff, chair of ASU’s Department of Religious Studies, has been serving as interim director.

“With the appointment of Professor Hava Tirosh-Samuelson as the director of the Jewish Studies program we will be able to move forward on our goal of raising the international profile of the program, which will be of great benefit for many individuals on campus, the community and many areas of inquiry in general,” Gereboff says. “She brings with her a stellar international reputation as a scholar and an already very strong record of leadership and ability to work with and motivate others."

Heat sheets available for the Pac-10 Track & Field Championships

ckussala — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:04:22 -0600

The first version of the heat sheets for the Pac-10 Track & Field Championships presented by 76 Gasoline were released Wednesday, May 14. The heats, which can be accessed below, will be reviewed by the Conference coaches and any changes needed will be reposted here later Thursday night.

Access the heat sheets: HERE

Women's tennis honored with three ITA Awards

ckussala — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:59:14 -0600

For the fifth time in her career at Arizona State, Head Women's Tennis Coach, Sheila McInerney has been honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as the Wilson/ITA West Coach of the Year. In addition the ASU Women's Tennis Assistant Coach, Josh Goffi was named the Wilson/ITA West Assistant Coach of the Year. Freshman phenom, Kelcy McKenna was honored to complete the trifecta as she was honored as the Wilson/ITA West Rookie Player of the Year.

While the honor is the first for both Goffi and McKenna, Head Coach Sheila McInerney has been honored on four other occasions by the ITA. In 1988, 1990 and 2001 she was named the ITA West Region Coach of the Year and in 1997 she was honored again as the ITA National Coach of the Year.