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A Guide to Arts and Sciences' News, Events and People | September 2012 |
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Contents Visual Identity Makeover New Faculty Teen Obesity Analysis of National Conventions Alumni Bookshelf A Stellar Find Alexandru Gets CAREER Grant SMPA Videos on iTunes U Escort Relationships Making History Alumni Weekend Nominate Your Fellow Alumni In Memoriam: Henry Solomon New Books Awards and Recognition
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Image Makeover: Portrait by Alumnus part of GW's New Visual Identity
In creating a new visual identity for the university, George Washington's portrait needed a face lift. Digitally, it was difficult to reproduce. When enlarged, it became pixilated. On mobile platforms, it was distorted. And, when used as a component of GW's logo, Washington's eyes were averted away-instead of toward-the university's word mark. The challenge was to create a new digital image of the famous visage, one that reflected the university's history but with a nod to modernity and the forward-thinking nature of an institution of higher learning. A competition was launched and the design by alumnus John McGlasson, BA '00, MFA '03, got the winning nod. Read more. New Faculty Bring Depth and Experience 
Forty-six full-time faculty members have joined Columbian College this fall, bringing further depth and experience to a community of more than 471 full-time professors. From award-winning researchers to published authors and talented artists, these scholars are engaging a student body totaling 7,700 undergraduate and graduate students who come to the College with interests in the arts, the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Read more.
The Neighborhood: A Link to Teen Obesity? 
When it comes to adolescent obesity, Assistant Professor of Sociology Antwan Jones, left, thinks neighborhoods may be one of many factors in its root cause. Armed with a two-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Jones is studying characteristics of neighborhoods, such as proximity to fast food restaurants and open spaces, to determine if they elevate the risk of obesity. He's also examining whether the act of moving to a new neighborhood, which may break long-established networks of friends, also adds to the risk. Read more.
Highs and Lows: Analysis of Republican and Democratic Conventions 
With their nominees officially named, the Republican and Democratic parties are now in high gear in the run-up to November's presidential election. In the wake of the recent national conventions, Assistant Professor of Political Science Danny Hayes recently discussed the events' highs and lows and what voters can expect to hear-and not hear-this fall from the campaigns of President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney. Read more.
Alumni Bookshelf 
It's no secret that Columbian College faculty are prolific scholars, writing, on average, 50 books per year; but the college also boasts a number of alumni authors. Among those penning books this year are graduates of history, philosophy, geology, and political science. From a personal memoir to historical essays and a cookbook, these works reflect the wide variety of interests and expertise of our graduates. Read more.
Stellar Find: X-ray Emissions Offer Clues about Star's Composition 
A new study of the densely-packed remains of an exploded star may offer new insights into the makeup and inner-workings of these cosmic remnants. The findings, published recently in the journal Science, were made by an international team led by GW physicist Oleg Kargaltsev. The team was studying a pulsar-a type of fast-spinning star that emits pulses of radiation and comprises the vast majority of neutron stars. Read more.
Alexandru Receives Prestigious NSF CAREER Grant 
Assistant Professor of Physics Andrei Alexandru received a five-year Nationals Science Foundation CAREER grant, which supports early career development for junior faculty. The $550,000 grant will help fund his research in nuclear physics and support the development of a seminar series for K-12 science teachers and a new undergraduate course in computational physics. Alexandru is the fifth GW professor this year to be awarded a CAREER grant. Read more.
SMPA Launches Video Collection on iTunes U 
Columbian College's School of Media and Public Affairs recently launched its new video collection on GW's iTunes U channel. Showcasing footage from the best in academic lectures, special events, and discussions with notable figures in media and politics, the school's online iTunes U presence allows a global audience to tap into a wealth of educational materials that illustrates the university's prominence in the worlds of journalism, political communication and global communication. Read more.
Study Finds Escort Service Clients Want a Relationship Based on data collected through an online forum, Professor of Sociology Ronald Weitzer found a significant portion of clients of escort services wish to have a personal relationship with their provider. "In our data, approximately one-third of the 2,442 postings contained discussions of emotional intimacy in client-provider relationships. . . They want some emotional connection." said Weitzer. Read more. Making History: A Video Library of Your Stories 
The university launched a new campaign to demonstrate how members of its community are impacting the world using the knowledge and relationships developed at GW. The heart of the campaign is a microsite that features stories from students and alumni on how they have made history in big and small ways. You can submit your own story via YouTube, Flickr or record your stories in GW's mobile television studio that will be on campus this fall. Among those who have already contributed their stories are Columbian College seniors Liz Doherty
and Maggie Sexton. Read more.
Alumni Weekend: Register Now! 
It's not too late to register for Alumni Weekend, to be held September 27-30. All alumni are invited to return to campus for the festivities, which include: � a Columbian College Alumni Reception: mingle with Dean Peg Barratt, fellow alumni, and your favorite faculty. � Classes without Quizzes: sit in on classes featuring Professor of Philosophy and Human Sciences Peter Caws. � Hard Hat Tour: visit the construction site of the new Science and Engineering Hall. Read more. GWAA Accepting Nominations for Alumni Service Awards Each year, the GW Alumni Association honors alumni who have attained notable achievements through their service to the university. We invite you to nominate committed alumni for one of two awards: the Alumni Outstanding Service Award, given to alumni who advance the mission of the university through dedicated volunteer efforts in support of its programs; or the Jane Lingo Alumni Outstanding Service Award, awarded annually to a faculty or staff member who is a GW alumnus/a and who consistently advances the mission of the university through dedicated volunteer efforts in support of its programs. Nominations are due by Wednesday, October 3. Read more. In Memoriam: Henry Solomon 
We note the passing of Henry Solomon, 85, dean of Columbian College's Graduate Studies from 1974 through 1990 and a former chair of the Department of Economics. Solomon began his teaching career at GW in 1956, progressing to full professor of mathematical economics and microeconomic theory. He is noted for his research on the application of mathematical programming techniques to production processes, and for his popularity among his peers. His tenure as the graduate dean was marked by an increase in both the quantity and quality of full-time faculty at GW.
New Books Melissa Panek, professorial lecturer of French, wrote The Postmodern Mythology of Michel Tournier. Victoria Grady, adjunct professor of organizational sciences, authored The Pivot Point: Success in Organizational Change, which was featured by Leadership Now's Leading Blog as one of the best books on leadership for August 2012. Alexander Huang, associate professor of English, recently penned World Literature and World Theatre: Aesthetic Humanism in Cultural Globalization. He also received a grant from Stiftung Mercator, one of the largest private foundations in Germany, to fund research for his new book, World Literature and World Theatre: Aesthetic Humanism in Cultural Globalization. Awards and Recognition Brandon Bartels, assistant professor of political science, received a $24,518 grant from the National Science Foundation in support of his project, "Collaborative Research: A Workshop on the Normative Implications of Empirical Research in Law and Courts." Professors of Art Therapy Donna Betts and Jordan Potash were awarded the American Art Therapy Association Research Award 2012 for their collaboration on "An Art Therapy Study of Visitor Reactions to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Experience." Houston Miller, professor of chemistry, was awarded $350,000 from the National Science Foundation for his research on laser diagnostics. Dmitry Streletskiy, a post-doctoral researcher in the Geography Department, received a $168,138 grant from the National Science Foundation in support of his project, "Collaborative Research: Interactions Between Air Temperature, Permafrost and Hydrology in the High Latitudes of Eurasia." Erin Marie Williams, MA '07, PhD '11, won an L'Oréal USA Fellowship For Women in Science award for her postdoctoral research in hominid paleobiology. Hal Wolman, professor of political science, was named the winner of the Norton Long Career Achievement Award for his contributions to the study of urban politics through scholarly publication, the mentoring of students, and public service.
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