CLASS NEWS is brought to you by the Office of Communications for the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.
CLASS NEWS follow us on:
facebook
twitter
University of Houston
February 2015

Steven G. Craig appointed Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Top Story
Dr. Steven G. Craig, Professor of Economics and Associate Dean of Faculty and Research, has accepted the appointment to the position of Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Provost Paula Myrick Short wrote in the January 30 announcement about the appointment: "I have asked Dr. Steven Craig, Associate Dean, to step in as Interim Dean and assume all the responsibilities and decision-making authority of the Dean. I thank Dr. Craig for being willing to assume this important responsibility." read more
Dr. Anadeli Bencomo

Anadeli Bencomo appointed Associate Dean of Faculty and Research

Dr. Bencomo served as chair and graduate studies director of the Department of Hispanic Studies. She was a founding director of the UH Center for Teaching Excellence. She also is a recipient of the UH Teaching Excellence Award. read more

NEH Logo

NEH at UH: National Endowment for the Humanities research grant workshop Feb. 19

Regional National Endowment for the Humanities grants workshop Feb. 18 & 19. The National Endowment for the Humanities funds some of the most innovative research in the liberal arts and social sciences disciplines. read more

Creative Writing Alums

Two Creative Writing alums nominated for 2015 National Book Critics Circle Awards

Lacy M. Johnson (Ph.D. Creative Writing, 2008) is nominated in the autobiography category for her memoir "The Other Side." Vikram Chandra (M.F.A. Creative Writing, 1992) is nominated in the criticism category for his book, "Geek Sublime: The Beauty of Code, the Code of Beauty." read more

African American History Month Highlights

CLASS Students in the Media

An article by Lindsay Scovil Dove, master’s student in public history, recently ran in the Houston Chronicle. The story, Where the action was: Houston's 20th-century music venues, originally appeared in the Fall 2013 edition of Houston History Magazine.
   
simple
Emily Louise Robinson, a graduate student in Moores School of Music, recently advanced from the Houston District round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council’s annual auditions. As winner, she was awarded $1500 and progressed to the contest’s regional round which will be held in New Orleans in February according to the Houston Chronicle article, Houston singers advance in Met contest.


CLASS Faculty in the Media

The Economics Times recently named Chitra Divakaruni, professor of creative writing, as one of The 20 most influential global Indian women. India.com also noted the recognition in the article, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Among the 20 Most Influential Global Indian Women.
   
A recent UH study conducted by Temple Northup, assistant professor of communications, suggests people who watch excessive amounts of TV tend to eat more unhealthy foods. ABC 13’s story, UH study links TV use and unhealthy eating, and the Houston Chronicle article, Watch much TV? You probably make bad food choices discuss this research.
   
The Houston Chronicle announced the 2015 lineup for the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts’ CounterCurrent festival. The article, UH CounterCurrent arts festival brings history into the present, highlighted the best of the free festival’s experimental live performances curated by the center’s director Karen Farber.
   

Associate professor of art, Stephan Hillerbrand, and his family have turned their entire home into an opportunity to make art. The family is featured in the Houston Chronicle article, Life comes full circle for Hillerbrand & Magsamen.

   
Candice Alfano, director of the sleep and anxiety center of Houston, was part of the panel discussion on the Houston Matters program, Your sleep and sleep disorder questions answered.
   
Elizabeth Gregory, professor of English and director of the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, was quoted and her late motherhood research cited in the AARP Bulletin article, Women 50+ are having babies.
   
Poet and professor of creative writing, Tony Hoagland, was featured in the Santa Fe Reporter article, 3 Questions.
   
In its Ups and downs roundup, the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle gave thumbs up to the Hobby Center for Public Policy: "The soon-to-be Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston got a $500,000 bump at a Wednesday gala on top of the $5 million already raised to teach public policy in the name of Texas' longest-serving lieutenant governor, Bill Hobby." The Chronicle's Society Diaries column also ran the feature, Politicians roast Bill Hobby for his 83rd birthday. Jim Granato is the director of the Hobby Center for Public Policy.
   
Malachi Crawford, assistant director of African American Studies, recently appeared on the Houston Newsmakers program Houston protesters speak out; HPD responds. The program was about issues between police and the community.
   
Robert Zaretsky, professor of history, commented on the recent terror attacks in Paris in The Atlantic article, #JeSuisAhmed: The Muslim Victim in the Paris Massacre.
In addition, he recently wrote the following articles:

Calendar

Throughout the month: Mel Chin: Rematch
Presented by the Blaffer Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Asia Society Texas Center and Station Museum of Contemporary Art
A citywide homecoming for one of the most important artists Houston has produced, the Houston presentation of the retrospective exhibition will be displayed in the four presenting museums.
The component at the Blaffer will showcase Chin's science-based projects.
Free and open to all.
Blaffer Art Museum, UH Arts District, Entrance 16 on Cullen Boulevard & Entrance 18 on Elgin Rd.
Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston, 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, 77006
Asia Society Texas Center, 1370 Southmore Blvd., Houston, 77004
Station Museum of Contemporary Art, 1502 Alabama St, Houston, 77004

Feb. 12: Why So Few? A Talk on Women and Minorities in STEM
Presented by UH American Mathematical Society Graduate Chapter, UH Pi Mu Epsilon–Math Club, and the Cougar and Houston Area Math Program (CHAMP)
While women make up nearly half of the American workforce, they hold less than a quarter of the STEM jobs. Similarly, minorities are vastly underrepresented in STEM fields. Science Communicator Cara Santa Maria, host of the "Talk Nerdy" science podcast, will talk about some of the obstacles facing underrepresented groups in STEM and what can be done to increase diversity and encourage more people to pursue careers in STEM.
Thursday, Feb. 12th – 4 – 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Room 100 in the Science & Engineering Classroom (SEC) building

Bus Stop
Feb. 20 – March 1: Bus Stop by William Inge
Presented by the School of Theatre & Dance
In the middle of a howling snowstorm, a bus out of Kansas City pulls up at a cheerful roadside diner. Things heat up as the stranded passengers explore love in all of its many guises. This enchanting American gem portrays the full spectrum of romantic relationships.
Friday, Feb. 20th & Saturday, Feb. 21st – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb 21st – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 22nd – 2 p.m.
Tuesday Feb. 24th – Saturday, Feb. 28th – 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 1st – 2 p.m.
Preview lecture 45 minutes before the curtain rises.
Tickets $10 - $20
Jose Quintero Theatre, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Building
Entrance 16 off Cullen Blvd.

Feb. 22: Songs of Lent: Works by Allegri, Pärt, and Esenvalds
Presented by the Moores School of Music
Betsy Cook Weber conducts the Concert Chorale in songs commemorating the six-week preparation period before Easter Sunday set aside on the Christian liturgical calendar for fasting, prayer, repentance and atonement.
Sunday, Feb. 22nd: 4 – 5 p.m.
Free and open to all
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 4900 Jackwood Street, Houston.
Additional performances during the Lenten Season:
March 26th – 8 – 10 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1701 San Jacinto Street.
April 2nd – 1 – 2:30 p.m. in the Organ Recital Hall on campus.
Song of Lent: Works by Aleegri, Pärt and Esenvalds

PLEASE SAVE THE DATES

March 6: Table Talk Luncheon
Benefitting the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program & hosted by the Friends of Women's Studies
This annual event invites 50 of our city's most dynamic women leaders in a diversity of disciplines and professions to lead conversations with luncheon guests. Confirmed 2015 conversationalists include
Table Talk
Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Fashion entrepreneur and Table Talk Honorary Chair Tina Knowles and Brown University President Emerita Ruth Simmons, as well as CLASS alumnae screenwriter and blogger Kristin Wong, Fox Television Master Chef champion Christine Ha and opera singer Barbara Padilla.
Friday, March 6th – 11 a.m. reception and 12 noon luncheon.
Underwriting and individual ticket information available here.
Hilton Americas Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar St, 77010

American in Paris
March 10: Moores Society 28th Annual Dinner Concert Gala
Hosted by the Moores Society
This year's black-tie event is titled "An American in Paris" and honors former Moores School of Music director David Ashley White. This special evening will
feature six-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald in a concert before dinner in the Cullen Theater of the Wortham Center in downtown Houston. The evening will also include a performance by the Moores School Jazz Orchestra.
Tuesday, March 10th – 6:30 p.m.
For underwriting and individual ticket information available, contact the CLASS Development Office at 713-743-4016
Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., 77002

April 8: "This Is It"
Hosted by the School of Art
This is the annual fundraising event in support of graduate scholarships for the School of Art's Master of Fine Arts program. The party will be in conjunction with the 37th annual Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition that opens Friday, April 3 and runs through Friday, April 17.
Wednesday, April 8th – 6 – 8 p.m.
Blaffer Art Museum
CounterCurrent

Baby Food and the American Industrial Diet
April 14 – April 19: CounterCurrent
Presented by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts
CounterCurrent is a festival of bold experimental art that occupies a range of unexpected sites in the city of Houston. It includes audio and visual installation, live
performance and participatory events by artists from around the world. Collaborations with dynamic organizations and artists in the Houston community are included as well as fresh new works by faculty and students.
Tuesday April 14 – Sunday, April 19th
See the full schedule here.

For more events, check the CLASS calendar.

Support CLASS, Give online at https://giving.uh.edu/class/

Give to the University of Houston  Find CLASS on Facebook  Follow CLASS on twitter