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March 2015

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program gets new major and new friends

March is Women’s History Month, and this year, the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Program celebrates it with two major accomplishments – the launch of a bachelor’s degree in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Houston and the growth of Table Talk, the annual fundraising luncheon that supports and sustains the interdisciplinary academic program and public events.

State approves Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Friends of Women’s Studies hosts Table Talk celebration of Houston women

Faculty Accolades

Russell Sage Foundation names Economics Professor Chinhui Juhn a 2015-16 Visiting Scholar

The full-time appointment will allow Dr. Juhn to continue her work as the principal investigator of a research study titled “Who Needs Kids? Fertility, Workforce and the Future.” Dr. Elizabeth Gregory, Professor of English and Director of the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, is the project’s co-principal investigator. read more

Psychology Professor Arturo Hernandez awarded prestigious research prize

Developmental psychology professor Arturo Hernandez is among this year’s recipients of the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award. The award honors his work in mapping how the brain processes language. This research has implication on how language – including a second language – is taught and learned. read more

Dr. David Ashley White recognized with 2015 Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition

Composer David Ashley White’s secular and sacred works are performed around the world. Recently, the veteran University of Houston Moores School of Music professor was honored with the 2015 Raabe Prize in Sacred Composition for his piece “Spirit Moving Over Chaos.” read more

Communication Sciences and Disorders Department Chair Lynn Maher honored

The expertise and research achievements of Dr. Lynn Maher were recognized in early March by the Houston Aphasia Recovery Center. Dr. Maher “is a visionary leader and educator whose dedication and expertise has advanced the world of aphasia,” the Center said in its announcement about the recognition. read more

	Lindita Camaj, assistant professor in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, received one of only four 2015-16 Emerging Scholars Grants for innovative and timely projects in journalism and mass communication from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Dr. Camaj will use the grant to help fund a study she will conduct in Bulgaria titled, “Media Use of Freedom of Information Law to Set the News Agenda in Bulgaria.”

	The Organization of American Historians has selected Raúl Ramos for its China Residency Program sponsored by OAH and the American History Research Association of China. Dr. Ramos is an associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of History. He will teach a one-week seminar to faculty and graduate students on the history of the American West at Renmin University in Beijing, China this summer.

	The Southeastern Medieval Association (SEMA) has awarded English Associate Professor Lorraine Stock its annual award for Scholarly Achievement. Dr. Stock’s service to the field of medieval studies includes presiding as vice president of the Southeastern Medieval Association from 1999 to 2001 and president from 2002-2004, as well as the Modern Language Association Councilor to the Division of Middle English Literature excluding Chaucer, for a five-year term (2003-08). She’s the author many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her book, The Medieval Wild Man: Primitivism and Civilization in Twelfth and Thirteenth-Century French Literature, is scheduled to be published in December 2015 by Palgrave Macmillan.

Broadway legend Audra McDonald launches Madison Artist Series

Dancer and neuroscientist team up to explore brain’s mysteries
Hobby Center for Public Policy hosts political campaign strategists March 11
Houston Shakespeare Festival to present Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice
The yin and yang of gender research: Student Spotlight -Jeffrey Schlitte

CLASS Students in the Media

Mariah Berry is a senior majoring in political science and pursuing a minor in the Honors College’s Phronesis program. She is working in the Austin office of State Representative Gene Wu as a 2015 Hobby Fellow. The Houston Chronicle recently ran an the article, Texas could be a leader in addressing the child trafficking problem with House Bill 418, that was written by Berry.

CLASS Faculty in the Media

	Abbey Simon, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Music Piano, has been playing the piano for over 90 years and teaching at UH for nearly 40. KHOU recently ran a feature on Simon titled, UH professor regarded as the real "Piano Man".

	The discrepancy between online and offline behavior has been a research area for Arthur Santana, assistant professor of communication. The Buzzfeed article, 5 Things We Learned About How Tech Affects Us On The Sixth Episode Of NPR’s “Invisibilia”, discusses his research on this subject.

	The Huffington Post ran an article penned by Shayne Lee, associate professor of sociology. The article, Tyler Perry’s Movie Milestone, details Perry’s professional accomplishments over the past decade.

	The Houston Chronicle recently ran an article featuring Instructional Assistant Professor of Chinese Studies, Marshall McArthur. The article, Cypress-area professor recovers to jog, then run again, details his journey overcoming psoriatic arthritis.

	Robert Zaretsky, professor of history, wrote the article Can teaching patriotism protect France? for The Boston Globe.

	Beth Olson, director of the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, will step down from her position in August to concentrate on research and teaching according to the Daily Cougar article, Valenti director to leave behind memorable accomplishments.

	Professor of history and African American studies, Gerald Horne, recently spoke with RT International about the instability and turmoil in Yemen in a piece titled, Gerald Horne interview with RT International.

	The Washington Post recently ran an article co-authored by Brandon Rottinghaus, associate professor of political science. The article, New ranking of U.S. presidents puts Lincoln at No. 1, Obama at 18; Kennedy judged most overrated, discusses their study which ranks U.S. presidents in terms of their effectiveness. The study was also featured in the Yahoo News article, Bill Clinton ranks high in new historical presidents study.

CLASS Alumni/ae Notes

	Dr. Mikee Delony, associate professor of English at Abilene Christian University, has been named the James W. Culp Distinguished Professor for 2014-15. Named after the former chair of ACU's English department, the endowed professorship recognizes Delony as a Christian scholar, role model and mentor. She earned her bachelor, master and doctorate degrees in English at UH.

	Activist artist John Halaka earned his MFA from UH in 1983. His current exhibit at Rice University, "Portraits of Denial & Desire," focuses on displaced indigenous Palestinians and their stories of exile, resistance and survival. The Houston Press recently ran a detailed article about Halaka and his artwork titled, John Halaka's "Portraits of Denial & Desire" Tell a Palestinian Story.

	Writers in the Schools executive director Robin Reagler (Ph.D. in Creative Writing) was a panelist at the Library of Congress’ Poetry and Literacy Symposium in Washington, D.C. on March 3. Dr. Reagler discussed the poetry curriculum her organization develops and teaches in public, private and charter schools to increase the literacy of K-12 students.

	Jim Parsons, a graduate from the School of Theatre & Dance, currently stars on the TV comedy, “Big Bang Theory”. His family still resides in Houston and is featured in the KHOU story, 'Big Bang Theory' star Jim Parsons has strong local roots.

	Jamie Ellen Davis, who completed her MFA at UH in 2014, has an art collection that recently debuted at Winter Street Studios. According to the Daily Cougar article, UH alumna debuts “troublewithwords” art exhibit, her current exhibition tells the story of the learning disabilities that she has lived with.

	Through March 21: 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

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

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

March 9: Decolonizing the Archive: Chicana por mi Raza and the Challenge of Digital Humanities lecture
Sponsored by the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, Center for Mexican American Studies, Department of English, Department of History, and Digital Humanities Initiative, along with the Houston Arts Alliance, MECA, and Humanities Texas.
Focusing on the Chicana por mi Raza digital archive, a collection of oral histories and documents from women who were active in social movements during the 1960s and 1970s, this lecture and panel discussion explores the possibilities and challenges that are opened up by the “digital turn” in Humanities scholarship.
10 a.m. talk by Dr. Maria Cotera of the University of Michigan
Free and open to the public.
Rockwell Pavilion, MD Anderson Library (2nd floor)

March 9: Pushing Back: Chicana, Latina, Hispanic Women Preserving Our Narratives panel discussion
Sponsored by the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program, Center for Mexican American Studies, Department of English, Department of History, and Digital Humanities Initiative, along with the Houston Arts Alliance, MECA, and Humanities Texas.
Practicing archivists, scholars, and community activists talk about the politics of digitizing the Chicana por mi Raza digital archive. Panelists are Lisa Cruces, who joined UH in 2014 as the first ever Hispanic Collections Archivist; Patricia Hernandez, founder of Studio One nonprofit; and Dr. Carolina Villaroel, director of research for UH’s Arte Público Press.
11:30 am panel discussion
Free and open to the public.
Rockwell Pavilion, MD Anderson Library (2nd floor)

	March 19: 21st-Century Moore Conference public talk Underwritten by the Houstoun Endowment, the Department of English, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the El Paso Corporation Lecture Series, and the Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program
A panel discussion on the uses of biography and a book talk by Linda Leavell, author of the award-winning biography Holding on Upside Down: The Life and Work of Marianne Moore. This is the public component of an international conference on the work of the Modernist poet Marianne Moore. Thursday, March 19^th: 6 – 8:30 p.m. Rockwell Pavilion, M.D. Anderson Library

March 26 – 29: UH Dance Ensemble Concert
Presented by the Dance Program in the School of Theatre & Dance
The annual spring concert features original dance theatre by faculty and guest artists as performed by the Dance Ensemble, a pre-professional dance company; Come see students shine in new works created especially for them.
Thursday, March 26^th: 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27^th: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 28^th: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 29^th: 1: 30 p.m.
Tickets: $10 for students and senior citizens/ $12 general public
Jose Quintero Theatre, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Building
Entrance 16 off Cullen Blvd.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATES

April 6: The 2015 Leadership in the Arts Summit
Hosted by the Center for Arts Leadership
The 2015 Leadership in the Arts Summit will focus on audience expansion and diversification and explore new programs and initiatives that work to create an audience experience beyond the exhibition or performance of the art.
Monday, April 6^th – 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
University Center Ballroom

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 37^th annual Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition that opens Friday, April 3 and runs through Friday, April 17.
Wednesday, April 8^th – 6 – 8 p.m.
Blaffer Art Museum

	April 8 – 12: 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.