University Reporter: January, 2003
Center for World Languages and Culture Receives $1 Million Grant to Provide ESL Technology Training for Teachers
The
U.S. Department of Education's Office of English Language Acquisition
has awarded UMass Boston's sCenter for World Languages and Culture
a $1,050,000 grant to implement an English as a Second Language (ESL)
teacher-training project in collaboration with Cambridge public schools.
The project's primary goal is to provide opportunities for teachers to be certified in ESL and develop expertise in technology and teacher education. The project will begin by preparing 30 Cambridge public school teachers, with a five-year goal of training a total of 150 teachers. The grant also allots funds for 30 much-needed scholarships over a five-year period for linguistic minority students or their teachers. read more
LA Times Names Book by English Professor As One of 2002's Best
The LA Times recently selected Ambassadors of the Dead by Askold Melnyczuk, director of the Creative Writing Program, as one of the "Best Books of 2002." Published by Counterpoint Press, Melnyczuk's book centers on a tale about friendship, family, and the other side of the American immigrant's dream. Melnyczuk began teaching beginning and advanced workshops in creative writing at UMass Boston in September 2001. Melnyczuk is no stranger to accolade. His first book, What Is Told, was selected as a New York Times Notable. Founder of the highly regarded literary journal AGNI, he has also published stories, poems, and reviews in publications such as The Antioch Review, Boston Globe, New York Times, and The Nation.
Award-Winning Writers Draw Enthusiastic Crowds
More
than 75 university faculty, staff, and students filled seats, sat on the
floor, and spilled out of the Wheatley Lounge into the hallways to hear
Ha Jin and Xi Chuan give readings of their work on December 4. Chuan,
a contemporary poet from China, read several of his pieces, many of which
have been translated into more than ten languages. Considered a leading
poet from China, Chuan is the 2001 recipient of the prestigious Lu Xun
Prize for literature. Jin also read from his poetry and an excerpt from
his latest work, The Crazed. Jin is the winner of the National Book Award
for the international bestseller Waiting and has also won the PEN/Faulkner
Award. Born in China in 1956, Jin now writes in English, a language he
learned 12 years ago. He has taught at Emory University and is now teaching
creative writing at Boston University. The popular reading was sponsored
by the Creative Writing Department, the Asian American Studies program,
Hanging Loose Press, the Joiner Center, and The Watermark, with introductions
given by Askold Melnyczuk, director of the Creative Writing Program, and
Kevin Bowen, director of the Joiner Center.
Image: Ha Jin smiles before he begins his reading (Photo by Harry Brett)
Clayton-Matthews Is Named Co-Editor of UMass Economic Journal
Alan Clayton-Matthews, creator of the Massachusetts current and leading economic indexes, has been named co-editor of Massachusetts Benchmarks, the economic journal published by the UMass Donahue Institute in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
"I am pleased and honored to assume the role of co-editor of Massachusetts Benchmarks," Clayton-Matthews said. "I will strive to maintain the quality, timeliness, and usefulness of Benchmarks to its audience, a task made easier by the excellent colleagues and staff who have guided the publication since its inception. This project has much to offer the public in these challenging times for the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts economy."
Clayton-Matthews is an assistant professor and director of quantitative methods in the Public Policy Program. He joins co-editor Dr. Lynn Browne, executive vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Executive Editor Robert Nakosteen, associate professor at UMass Amherst, in charting the editorial direction of the journal.
Reception for the Laboure Center's Christmas House Tour Held at "New" Ryan Lounge
Chancellor
Jo Ann Gora, Melissa Moynihan, and President William Bulger gather together
at a reception for the Laboure Center's Christmas House tour, which
was held on December 7 at the newly renovated Ryan Lounge. For many, it
was their first view of the Ryan Lounge after a month of extensive changes
and enhancements. Moynihan, of the Design and Construction Department,
oversaw the transformation, which included a repainting and recarpeting
of the lounge in upbeat hues and the addition of new comfortable and contemporary
furniture. The changes were made to create a welcoming ambiance for the
many students who use it to study and meet fellow students and friends.
With its beautiful view of the harbor, it also serves as an attractive
location for events, lectures, and other campus activities. (Photo by
Harry Brett)
Red Cross Praises Donors at UMass Boston Blood Drive
Members of the UMass Boston community gave record-breaking donations at the most recent blood drive held on November 15 at the Clark Athletic Center. The event was sponsored by the Wellness Center of the University Health Services in conjunction with the Red Cross, whose representatives praised Linda Jorgensen, director of health education and wellness programs, for the enthusiastic participation on campus. The number of blood donors increased by 8 percent since the last drive on campus, 20 of whom were first-time donors. As a result, UMass Boston was able to donate 60 units of blood, 21 percent more than in previous drives, which helped meet the medical needs of over 170 hospitals throughout New England and 180 of its patients.