News from CLASS

CLASS faculty member named Moores Professor, other CLASS faculty earn teaching, research and scholarship awards

On April 7, Provost Paula Myrick Short announced the 2016 Moores Professors and the recipients of the UH Teaching Excellence Awards. Numerous CLASS faculty earned recognitions, including Susan Scarrow, chair of political science, who was one of two recipients of the Moores Professorship. read more

$1 million grant from NASA funds UH research on astronauts' loss of muscle strength

A $1 million grant from NASA will allow researchers from the University of Houston Department of Health and Human Performance to examine the changes in astronauts’ muscle strength and function during extended space flights. read more

CLASS alumna Kayla Stewart wins coveted Fulbright Scholarship

Kayla Stewart has been awarded a 2016-2017 Fulbright Indonesia English Teaching Assistantship (ETA). As an ETA, Kayla will be assisting English teachers in Indonesia while also serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States through engagement with the host community. read more

Dr. Amanda Baumle’s book earns national award

Amanda Baumle, associate professor of sociology, co-authored the book, Legalizing LGBT Families: How the Law Shapes Parenthood, which recently was recognized with an Honorable Mention for Outstanding Publication at the 2016 Southwestern Sociological Association meeting in Las Vegas, NV on March 25. The book examines the role of the law in the lives of LGBT parents and how individuals use the law when making decisions about family formation or parenting. read more

WGSS librarian receives H.W. Wilson Foundation Research Award

Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies librarian Catherine Essinger received the H. W. Wilson Foundation Research Award last month. The award was given by the Art Libraries Society of North America and will fund and help Essinger complete her current research project. read more

NEH-funded digital humanities project comes to CLASS

Researchers have been examining prehistoric graffiti to better understand the ancient Roman world. Dr. Rebeccca Benefiel, associate professor of classics at Washington and Lee University, will offer a free lecture on "The Ancient Graffiti Project" - an NEH-funded digital humanities project focusing on graffiti from the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The event will be held Friday, April 29 at 2:00 pm in McElhinney Hall, room 108. read more

African American Studies undergraduate students present research at national conference

Five CLASS students spent spring break presenting their research as part of the National Council for Black Studies 40th Annual Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The students, from varying CLASS majors, had a unique opportunity as undergraduates to participate in the annual meeting. read more

Peanuts, peanut butter may hold key to preventing obesity

Researchers from Health and Human Performance collaborate on a study that determined that Hispanic middle school children, at high risk for being overweight or obese, reduced their Body Mass Index (BMI) when they adhered to a nutrition intervention that included a snack of peanuts, compared to those children who did not. read more

Painting Professor Michael Ray Charles designed 2016 Art Car Parade logo

Michael Ray Charles, the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Painting in the School of Art, was commissioned by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art to design the logo for the 2016 Art Car Parade and Art Car Ball. One of the City of Houston's most iconic annual events, the Art Car Parade for 29 years has taken over a major thoroughfare to celebrate mobile visionary art.

Dean Steven Craig is guest speaker at Indo-American Heritage Day event

American Sign Language students take the stage with TUTS production of 'Oliver!'

CLASS students recently provided interpreting service for deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members of the Theatre Under The Stars production of “Oliver”. The students, all seniors, worked in teams and in 30-minute shifts. Similar to the actors on the stage, the UH interpreters memorized the lines and attend rehearsals with the cast. read more

CLASS has large presence at Association of Writers & Writing Programs annual conference

Many faculty, students and alumni of the UH Creative Writing Program (CWP) served as moderators, panelists, readers and book signers at the annual conference of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) which was held earlier this month in Los Angeles. The widespread presence of UH at the event further raises the profile of the CLASS’s nationally recognized CWP. read more

African American Studies scholarship banquet to be held May 6

The University of Houston African American Studies Annual Scholarship banquet will be held, Friday, May 6, 2016 at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel. This annual banquet generates funding for scholarships for deserving students. The 2016 keynote speaker is Dallas Jones, President and CEO of ELITE Change, Inc., public affairs, strategic communications and business development firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Baton Rouge and Jackson, Miss. read more