University Reporter: May, 2003
Children's Defense Fund President and Former Boston Bruin Among Honorees at UMass Boston's 2003 Commencement
A
nationally renowned advocate for children, a former Boston Bruin whose
drive and dedication extend well beyond the rink, the state's first
Latino senator, and an Irish man of letters will be honored by the University
of Massachusetts Boston at its 35th commencement, to be held on May 31
in the Bayside Exposition Center.
Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Washington D.C.-based Children's Defense Fund, will receive the Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Service and deliver the keynote address at the ceremony for 1,924 undergraduates and 818 graduate students set to receive their degrees this May.
"Marian Wright Edelman's career should highlight the foundation a university education can provide for a 'life of action,'" said Chancellor Jo Ann M. Gora.
As a lawyer, educator, and reformer, Edelman is best known for her devoted advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged Americans. Finding the Children's Defense Fund in 1973, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of children's welfare, education, rights, and healthcare. read more: Commencement Honorees
UMass Boston Receives $600,000 GAANN Grant
On April 18, the Biology Department received word from Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office that it has been awarded a $600,000 Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) grant from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The GAANN fellowships will support six students in UMass Boston's Ph.D. program in biology over three years. The funds will supplement stipends, tuition waivers, and provide resources for top students in need.
"This is just amazing for us, winning this kind of award in our first attempt," said Greg Beck, associate professor of biology and lead investigator for the GAANN program. "This will really strengthen the Ph.D. program. We'll be able to extend support for our students, as there are very limited funds available for stipends, and we'll be able to attract top students to the program."
Healey Library Renews More Than Just Books at Open House
By Kim Trauceniek
On
April 3, the Healey Library dazzled students, faculty, staff, and friends
with an open house event. Instead of pleas to "shhh, quiet please,"
the library and the newly formed Friends of the Library wowed guests with
performances by the Unity African Dance and Theatre Company, the Joseph
Omicil Jazz Trio, and poetry readings by Johnine Simpson and Saul Torres.
Also on display was the artwork of William Tucker and photography by Mari
Carmen Cintrón.
The event was just one of the many efforts that the library is making to boost its visibility and renew its commitment to UMass Boston and the community. The library also shared what it calls its "hidden treasures." Among them are the Early Childhood Literacy Center, sponsored by the Dorchester Cluster and Read Boston, and the JSTOR database, a "treasure trove" of over two million scholarly journal articles dating back to the early days of the republic, thanks to David Outerbridge's gift to the Library.
"Friends of the Library help us strengthen scholarly life at UMass Boston by providing financial support so that we can improve our collection and implement new initiatives," said Daniel Ortiz, director of libraries. "I am so grateful for their support and zeal."
Outerbridge, an alumnus of UMass Boston, has been instrumental in jump-starting the Friends of the Library. "I hope that by raising awareness of how important a library is to a university, something wonderful comes out of this event."
With its eye on the future during this critical time for UMass Boston, the library's most urgent goal is to continue to improve service and accessibility. "Our renewal of the university library will have a lasting influence on our campus in the 21st century," said Chancellor Gora.
Provost Paul Fonteyn unveiled the library's new vision. Picture a cybercafé, web-enhanced study rooms, and a media center, to name a few proposed amenities. "The library is truly the crossroads of the harbor campus."
UMass Boston student Hortense Dossous said, "it'ss great to see so many faces here tonight. The culture, poetry, and dance help celebrate what UMass is about."
"The intelligence and sensitivity of the library staff make this library so special," said Rusty Simonds, professor and chair of political science. "The library is the soul of the campus."
To find out more about the Friends of the Library, visit http://friends.lib.umb.edu.
Image: Friends and staff of the Healey Library (from left to right): Robert Bodeen, Emilie Delquie, and Maggie Stanley. (Photo by Harry Brett)
Public Service Awards For Commonwealth Journal
By Melissa Fassel
Commonwealth Journal, the weekly public affairs program produced by WUMB Radio and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, boasts three prestigious awards this spring for its public service programming.
The public affairs show won the first-place American Cancer Society "Sword of Hope Award" for the second time in three years for a series of four programs about cancer research and support. The show featured two staff members from the Center for Survey Research, Floyd Fowler and Lois Beiner, as well as members of the Wellness Center of Greater Boston and an author of a book about cancer survival. The award recognizes news media that have raised awareness and deepened the public's understanding of cancer.
"This award is particularly competitive given that the pool of stations is comprised of the whole of New England," says Pat Monteith, general manager of WUMB Radio."Only one station in six states wins the award."
For a show on "Menopause in Society" featuring Lynette Leidy-Sievert, UMass Amherst associate professor of anthropology, Commonwealth Journal placed first among competition in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the Associated Press Public Service Award. The program is receiving this award for the fourth year in a row.
The show also won a Silver Award in the ACE 1003 Critique and Awards
Program. ACE (Agricultural Communicators in Education) is an international
association of communicators and information technologists. WUMB staffers
received their awards during ceremonies held in late April.
Commonwealth Journal features segments with scholars, writers, cultural
workers, and public officials examining current issues of particular interest
to Massachusetts listeners. Programs range from topics such as "Three
Centuries of Christmas in New England" to "Massachusetts Diners"
and "MCAS Testing."
Commonwealth Journal's knowledgeable and expert host, Barbara Neely, is an award-winning author, perhaps best known for her Blanche White mystery series. She has worked in several capacities in the media and public sector and is a much-sought-after public speaker who has addressed audiences on college campuses and elsewhere.Commonwealth Journal is produced with support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Listeners can tune in every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on 91.9 FM in Boston. The program is syndicated on 23 public radio stations across Massachusetts.
Commerce and Labor Chief Receives CM Executive Award
The College of Management (CM) will present the Distinguished Executive Award to Robert C. Pozen at a luncheon held on May 7. As chief of commerce and labor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Pozen is helping Governor Mitt Romney close the state's large budget gap and reorganize its related functions. Pozen is also responsible for supervising the banking, insurance, and utilities commissions. During the luncheon, he will present a talk on "Managing the State's Budget Crisis."
Pozen is a former CM faculty member and developed the graduate course "Managing Mutual Funds," which was based on his book The Mutual Fund Business. In addition to his years teaching at UMass Boston and Harvard Law School, Pozen formerly served as vice chairman of Fidelity Investments and president of Fidelity Management and Research Company.
Pozen is the third recipient of the award, joining the ranks of Lawrence Lasser from Putnam Investments and Lawrence Fish from Citizens Bank, who have won the award in past years.
Student Chess Club Flourishes in First Year
Members of the UMass Boston Chess Club study their boards while playing
during a recent tournament held in the Asian Center on the fourth floor
of Wheatley Hall. In its inaugural year, the chess club meets regularly
in the Asian Center or the Physics Club in the Science Center for tournaments,
practice, and lessons. Club president and founder Dan Korsunsky organized
the group when he arrived at UMass Boston as a freshman who had been a
very active chess player in high school. With the support of the Student
Senate, Korsunsky was able to create the club and help fund a trip for
five club members to represent UMass Boston at the 5th Annual Foxwoods
Open, a chess tournament for over 650 competitors at Foxwood Casinos.
Competitors Korsunsky, Joe Perl, Will Roach, Eugene Roemischer, and Erik
Garcia recorded a winning tally of 20.5 wins out of 35 total games played.
"Many players were surprised to see so many representatives of UMass
Boston," said Korsunsky. "Some high school players asked for
information about UMass Boston's chess program. The trip was a huge
success." (Photo by Harry Brett)