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A Guide to Arts and Sciences' News, Events and People | September 2010 |
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Contents Welcome New Faculty! A Classical Education Who is Dean Wallace? Indie Rockers Play at Home New Iron Age Masters of Media New Study Focuses on Adoption Examining the Eternal City From the Dean's Blog An Action-Packed Alumni Weekend Graduates Honored The Professor Next Door
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Upcoming Events Associate Professor of Spanish and International Affairs Yvonne Captain-Hidalgo published the article "Brazil's Africa Policy under Lula" in The Global South and was elected to the Advisory Board of United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. Professor of Chinese Jonathan Chaves authored West Cliff Poems: The Poetry of Weng Chüan. Mathematics Chair John Conway wrote the new book Mathematical Connections: A Capstone Course. Assoc. Professor of Media and Public Affairs Mark Feldstein authored Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson, and the Rise of Washington's Scandal Culture. Eric Grynaviski, asst. professor of political science, published "Necessary Illusions: Misperception, Cooperation, and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty" in a recent issue of Security Studies. English Professor Jonathan Gil Harris' book Shakespeare and Literary Theory was recently published. The photography of Dean Kessmann, chair of the Department of Fine Arts and Art History, was featured in Contact Sheet: The Light Work Annual. Professor of Islamic Studies Seyyed Hossien Nasr received the 2010 Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize. Frances Norwood, a Department of Anthropology and Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies faculty member, authored The Maintenance of Life: Preventing Social Death through Euthanasia Talk and End-of-Life Care � Lessons from the Netherlands. Geography and International Affairs Professor Marie Price received the Preston E. James Eminent Latin Americanist Career Award. Geochemistry Research Professor John Tossell won the American Chemical Society Geochemistry Division Medal. Department Blogs Anthropology Department Chinese Program English Department Japanese Program Judaic Studies Korean Program Medieval and Early Modern Studies School of Media and Public Affairs Sigur Center for Asian Studies Solar Institute Speech and Hearing Sciences Theatre and Dance Department University Writing Program |
Welcome New Faculty!
From award-winning researchers to critically acclaimed authors, Columbian College welcomed 22 new full-time faculty members to its rolls this fall. They join a scholarly community of more than 450 faculty members teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the arts, the humanities, the social sciences, and the sciences. Read more.
A New Look at a Classical Education 
When Columbian College opened its doors in 1821, there was one program and one curriculum: Classical Studies. In the nearly two centuries since GW's first students were admitted, Classical Studies has gone from being the major to being one of 46; however, it remains the foundation of all disciplines and professions. Still, it has its doubters. "Back in the early days of GW, if a kid asked you what your major was, and you responded, �Classics,' his response would have been, �Cool!' He wouldn't look at you and say, 'So, what are you going to do with that?'" noted Classics major J.P. Cotton. Read more. Who is Dean Wallace? 
Associate Dean of Graduate Students and Professor of English Tara Ghoshal Wallace is fascinated by British culture, which is easy to understand considering she's the daughter of an Oxford-educated Indian civil Service officer who served the British Raj before joining the government of independent India. But, what about Paul McCartney? We caught up with Wallace recently to learn more about her roles as dean, accomplished author, and . . . Beatles fan. Read more.
Jukebox the Ghost Visits Campus 
Last week, the rising Indie rock band Jukebox the Ghost stopped by Kogan Plaza and performed an impromptu concert under the Tempietto's dome. Students gathered to hear the three-piece band made up of Columbian College alumni Ben Thornewill, BA Music '07, Tommy Siegel, BA Journalism '07, and Jesse Krisin, BA Biology '07. The Washington, D.C.-based group released their second album Everything Under the Sun on September 8, and kicked off their fall tour with an appearance on David Letterman.
New Research Could Reduce the Global Warming Gas CO2 
Professor of Chemistry Stuart Licht has developed a revolutionary carbon dioxide-free method of producing iron that could provide a breakthrough for an industry that has been using the same polluting process of iron smelting for more than three thousand years. Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo (STEP) energy conversion-a renewable solar energy and a process of solar conversion patented by Licht-makes it possible to easily extract pure metal iron from the two prevalent iron ores, hematite and magnetite, without emitting carbon dioxide. Read more.
Masters of Media 
Journalistic heavy weights Joe Lockhart, Ed Henry, and Bob Herbert have been appointed fellows at Columbian College's School of Media and Public Affairs. "[We] are excited to enhance our classroom discussions and public events with three nationally recognized experts in media and politics," said Frank Sesno, SMPA director. Read more.
Research Finds Adoptive Children of Gay Couples Developing Well 
Should the sexual orientation of prospective parents be considered when placing children in adoptive homes? The answer is "no," according to a recent study by Stephen Forssell, a faculty member in Columbian College's Department of Psychology, and Charlotte Patterson, a researcher at the University of Virginia."Our research found that what mattered to children's healthy development were quality of parenting and the absence of parental stress, regardless of the gender composition of the parental dyad," said Forsell. Read more. Examining the Eternal City 
Last month, six interior design students examined in-depth some of the world's most famous architectural landmarks-researching, studying and sketching dozens of sites that span more than two millennia. The students spent two weeks in Rome, where they focused on a different building each day. "We really wanted the students to experience these wonderful places with their own eyes," said Catherine Anderson, assistant professor of interior design, who co-led the class along with colleague Nadia Volchansky-Nieves. Read more. From the Dean's Blog 
Classical Acting Students Take a Bow"I am convinced that there will continue to be actors that bring life to the angst and triumph of the human condition-and among them will be the talented graduates of the Academy for Classical Acting Program. The academy, a collaboration between the Shakespeare Theatre and the Columbian College, has trained more than 140 actors in classical acting over the years. This summer, our students performed in two productions: King Lear by William Shakespeare and The Malcontent by John Marston." Read more. An Action-Packed Alumni Weekend 
Alumni Weekend 2010 (September 30 � October 2) promises to be one of the best ever. Activities include breakfast with Dean Peg Barratt and a "Taste of GW" food fair featuring restaurants owned and operated by alumni from GW and Columbian College. Also on tap are tours of Thurston Hall, the President's Open House, a panel discussion on autism that will include panelists from Columbian College, and special reunion celebrations for Student Association members and the classes of 2005, 2000, 1995, and 1960. Capping the celebrations will be a concert by the rock band Barenaked Ladies-free to all Alumni Weekend registrants. Read more.
Columbian College Graduates Honored for Achievement Among the seven alumni tapped to receive this year's Alumni Achievement Awards are two Columbian College graduates: Ellen Zane, BA '73, for "distinguished alumni achievement", and Vanessa Maltin, BA '05, for "recent alumni achievement." The award ceremony will take place during Alumni Weekend.  Zane, right, a member of the GW Board of Trustees,
is president and chief executive officer of Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children. She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Care Research at Tufts University School of Medicine.
 Maltin, left, is the author of Beyond Rice Cakes and the recently-released The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook. She also is the Food & Lifestyle Editor of Delight magazine and sits on the advisory board of the Celiac Disease Program at Children's National Medical Center. Read more.
The Professor Next Door 
The next time you stop in for a quick bite at the new dining facility at West Hall, don't be surprised to see Assistant Professor of Geography Melissa Keeley and Assistant Professor of History Christopher Klemek and their kids, Abraham, 3, and Madeleine, almost 1, at the next table. The family lives on the fourth floor of the new residence hall-one of four apartments housing faculty-in-residence at GW. Read more.
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