CLASS plays integral role in UH ADVANCE gender equity and diversity parity initiative

National Institutes of Health $451,000 grant awarded to Dr. Ferenc Bunta
Religious beliefs may reduce suicidal thoughts in African-American adults
Center for Arts Leadership hosts conversation on creative placemaking
Salary negotiation seminars for college students, women in career transition
Health and Human Performance Dept. in the Guinness Book of World Records
Moores School of Music halfway to its piano fundraising goal
CMAS’ Academic Achievers Program Recognized for Increasing Student Success
Valenti students create promotional videos for Houston Grand Opera
Student Spotlight: Taylor Thorns, Economics

The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology with a Concentration in Clinical Neuropsychology was recently ranked number six among the Top 20 Most Innovative Graduate Psychology Degree Programs 2014 by the Best Psychology Degrees blog.

	Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, is launching a new review journal: Current Opinion in Psychology. It will be co-edited by Michael Zvolensky, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Anxiety and Health Research Laboratory / Substance Use Treatment Clinic, and Paul A. M. van Lange, Professor in Social Psychology at VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
	Psychology Associate Professor Rheeda Walker is the principal investigator of a study assessing suicide, depression, religion and racism published in the Journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior and featured in the Psychcentral.com article, Religiosity May Reduce Suicidal Thoughts in African-Americans.
	The project, ‘Channel/1836’ combines film of a site-specific dance and live performance to portray the history of the Houston Ship Channel, as the Port of Houston celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Karen Stokes, head of UH’s dance program, created the choreography for the piece that is featured in the Houston Chronicle article, Ship Channel, Santa Anna serve as inspiration for choreographer Karen Stokes
	A research study led by Dr. Arthur Santana, assistant professor in the Jack. J. Valenti School of Communication, was featured in the Houston Chronicle story, UH study: Print readers recall more than online readers.
	Houston Matters aired a program titled, Sleep and Sleep Disorders, and Your Feedback: Houston Matters for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. Candice Alfano, Director of Sleep and Anxiety Center for Kids, was featured on the program.
	Professor of Conducting Franz Anton Krager recently led the Moores School Symphony when they performed their season opening concert. An article about the concert titled UH conductor ready for Mahler, which recently ran in the Houston Chronicle, details the event and why he enjoys working with student musicians.
	Inprint, a Houston-based literary arts nonprofit, recently held an event that featured a reading and live interview with Antonya Nelson, professor of Creative Writing. The Kingwood Observer article, Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series presents renowned fiction writers Deborah Eisenberg and Antonya Nelson, details the event and Nelson’s successful career.
	Robert Zaretsky, professor of history, recently wrote the articles, A French Jew Gazes Longingly Back at Vichy which ran in The Jewish Daily Forward, and Looking Ebola in the eye, with help from Camus, which ran as an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times.
	Gerald Horne, Moores Professor of History and African American Studies, talked about potential Nov. 4 election outcomes in the Final Call article, Black voters needed in mid-term elections, but Black issues are still unwelcome in 2014.
	Political Science Associate Professor Brandon Rottinghaus shared his perspective on the 2014 election cycle with KTRH – 740AM for Analysis: Networks Ignoring Mid-Term Elections.
	Political Science Assistant Professor Francisco Cantú gave his predictions for the Brazilian presidential elections in a guest articl, Forecasting the Brazilian election, he co-wrote with a professor at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México for the Washington Post’s “Monkey Cage” blog’s Election Reports series.
"Buildering: Misbehaving the City," which is currently on display at the Blaffer Art Museum, was featured in the Houston Chronicle article, Two shows at Houston galleries find beauty in the dusty mess. The exhibit was also featured on Houston Public Media’s VIDEO: "Buildering: Misbehaving The City" At Blaffer Art Museum.

CLASS communications student Kieu Tram is a news anchor at Viet TV, a Houston-based Vietnamese television network. The Houston Chronicle article, Style profile: Kieu Tram aims for a modern take on tradition, details her journey from Vietnam to Houston.

In the Tri-Partisan Student Debate at the UC theater on Nov. 3, political science freshman Zana Shaw and political science junior Charlotte Christian represented the UH Democrats, history junior Matthew Wiltshire and political science and economics senior Sarah Aimad represented the UH Republicans, and political science freshman Dalton Laine and philosophy junior Noelle Mandell represented Young Americans for Liberty, the UH chapter of the Libertarian Party.

The UH Concert Women’s Chorus’ rendition of the Pharrell Williams song, “Happy” was featured in the Houston Chronicle article, Women's chorus sings of UH 'glory times' in 'Happy' rewrite.

Political science and English junior Hadill Calderon was quoted in the The Daily Cougar article, CMAS scholarship banquet highlights the importance of education, about the Center for Mexican-American Studies’ 18th annual Noche Cultural Scholarship Banquet held on Saturday, October 25.

The Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band’s collaboration with two Houston high school bands and nationally-renowned choreographers from Austin was spotlighted in Culture Map Houston’s Pix of the Day feature, Battle of the bands creates quite a ruckus on the University of Houston campus: Can you hear them now?

	The Pew Charitable Trusts has selected veteran survey researcher and political scientist Michael Dimock as president of the Pew Research Center in Washington. A neutral source of public opinion polling and demographic and other empirical social science research, the Pew Research Center doesn't take positions on policy issues. Dr. Dimock earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at UH before completing his Ph.D. from the University of California – San Diego.
	University Press of Mississippi has published Wednesdays in Mississippi: Proper Ladies Working for Radical Change, Freedom Summer 1964 by alumna Debbie Z. Harwell, Ph.D. in history. Dr. Harwell is the managing editor of Houston History magazine, which is published by the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative at the University of Houston.
	Darryl Schroeder, who earned a BS in economics in 1969 and is CEO of Lone Star Energy Fabrication, was recently elected to the UH Alumni Association Board of Directors. He was installed on September 4 and will be eligible for two term extensions during his service to UHAA.
	The College congratulates two of its alums on the completion of their terms on the UH Alumni Association Board of Directors:  Cathy Frank, who earned a BA in radio/tv/film in 1980 and and is president of Class Act Communications, and Ricky Raven, who earned a BS in Political Science, ’83 and is partner at the law firm Thompson and Knight.
	Lacy M. Johnson recently participated in The Iron Horse Literacy Review at Texas Tech University, according to Texas Tech Today article, Lacy M. Johnson to Visit Texas Tech. She read excerpts from her recently released memoir, The Other Side. Johnson received her doctorate from the Creative Writing Program and is currently the director of academic initiatives at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts at UH where she teaches interdisciplinary art.

Nov. 4: El Paso Corporation Lecture: French novelist and UCLA professor Alain Mabanckou Sponsored by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages

Alain Mabanckou, the much-decorated French poet, novelist, and essayist, is Professor in French and Francophone Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was awarded the Prix Renaudot for his 2006 novel Memoirs of a Porcupine and the in 2012 the Académie Française awarded him the Grand Prix de Littérature Henri Gal for his body of works. Prof. Mabanckou’s talk will be a conversation with Prof. Julie Tolliver at 4 p.m. in the Honors Commons of M.D. Anderson Library.

Adrian Matejka’s is the author of three books, most recently The Big Smoke, a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for work that makes “important contributions to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures.” He’s also the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim and Lannan foundations and has been a finalist for the NAACP’s Image Award for Outstanding Literature. 7:30 p,m, at the Jung Center, 5200 Montrose Blvd.

Nov. 5: $tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop for Working Professionals
Sponsored by the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program
$tart $mart prepares women to negotiate salaries and benefits throughout their careers. 6-8 pm in Room 210, Agnes Arnold Hall, Entrance 14 on Cullen. Closest parking is the Stadium Garage on Holman at Cullen.

During the UH homecoming festivities, the Center for Arts Leadership at University of Houston will welcome UH Arts Alumni back to campus on Nov. 6 with a 5:30 p.m. reception followed by a 6:15 p.m. panel conversation, “Success in the Arts.”  The event will highlight six UH alums and the unique artistic journey each has traveled to launch and sustain careers in their chosen medium. The event will feature recent graduates and mid-career arts professionals, including artist and professor Michael Ray Charles, poet John Harvey and arts administrator Ryan Dennis. It will be in the University Center Theater, Entrance 1 off Calhoun Road.

Kenyan novelist, playwright and social justice advocate Ngugi wa Thiong’o, famous for his call to African writers to abandon English and other colonial languages, is the author of the novels, Wizard of the Crow and Caitaani mutharaba-ini (Devil on the Cross.) He comes to campus for two events, both in the Honors College Commons, 2nd floor of M.D. Anderson Library:

Jamie Bennett is executive director of ArtPlace America, which funds projects that use art and culture to develop and redevelop public spaces around the nation. Jonathon Glus leads the Houston Arts Alliance, which curates and manages the City of Houston’s civic art collection and distributes annually more than $3 million in grants to nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists. 9:30 am University Center Theater, Entrance 1 on Calhoun. Closest parking is the Welcome Center Garage on Calhoun at Entrance 1.

Nov. 14 - 23: The Liar by Pierre Corneille and adapted by David Ives
Presented by the School of Theatre & Dance In this classic French farce, a charming, handsome, incorrigible liar named Dorante comes to Paris seeking pleasure. He falls head over heels for the beautiful Clarice but mistakes her name for that of her best friend, Lucrece. After lying his way into a world of trouble, can Dorante lie his way back out again? Purchase tickets to the School of Theatre & Dance production here.

Watch a group of dancers transform the Blaffer Art Museum into a colorful music box. Allard van Hoorn is a Dutch sound, installation and performance artist collaborating across the disciplines of architecture, design, music, dance and theatre. For this piece, he has collaborated with UH Dance Program professors Leslie Scates, Karen Stokes, Teresa Chapman and Becky Valls. 7 p.m. in Blaffer Art Museum, Entrance 16 on Cullen or Entrance 18 on Elgin. Surface parking lots at both entrances.
Link: http://www.blafferartmuseum.org/the-museum-as-music-box/

Nov. 19: $tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop for Students
Sponsored by the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program
$tart $mart prepares college women who are approaching the job market with the confidence, knowledge, and skills they need to negotiate salaries and benefits. 9am – 1pm in Room 210 Agnes Arnold Hall.

For more events, check the CLASS calendar.