Tag Archives: college of arts and sciences

Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project earns $10,000 in Michigan Humanities Council support

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Deb| 1 Comment

Reenactors depicting British soldiers during the 2011 Fort St. Joseph Open House event.

After reviewing an astounding 51 applications – 31 more than the previous grant cycle – the Michigan Humanities Council (MHC) will award $350,850 in major grant monies to 30 Michigan nonprofits—including $10,000 to the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Program for its “A Colonial Militia Muster on the Eve of Revolution” series.

“We’re very grateful for the continued support of the Michigan Humanities Council, and honored they consider our project to be worthy of funding,” noted Dr. Michael Nassaney, principal investigator of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project and professor in the Department of Anthropology.

“We received an extraordinary number of very exciting, high-quality grant applications this spring and the Michigan Humanities Council has made the very bold decision to fund double the number of grants we usually fund this time of year as a result. This is more than double the amount of grant dollars we awarded in the fall cycle, but with such a large number of great projects on the table, we decided to get the funds out into the communities now when the need is so great,” said Council board chair Timothy Chester.

The grants  provide organizations with the funds needed to host cultural programming in their communities through exhibits, lectures, writing programs, festivals and more.

 Fort St. Joseph project homepage

Posted in Discovery Driven, Learner Centered

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Psychology alum publishes book on blind rehab

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Deb| 1 Comment

The Sight Unseen by Robert V. Pajak

by Katy TerBerg

Robert V. Pajak, who graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in Social Psychology, is no stranger to the human condition and, in his new book, “The Sight Unseen: Chronicles of Lernia,” Pajak details the struggles of living with a major sight condition.

“Most of the book is about a guy’s eye condition and attending two colleges, accompanied by a female friend—and other little sub-stories leading from that main story.

It is meant to convey to the reader that discipline, morality and principles, as well as humor, can be applied to everyday living, and this can help overcome the ups and downs of life, resulting in a person becoming a meaningful and contributing member of society,” he said.

The story is semi-autobiographical, putting Pajak at the helm of the story. Like his titular character, Pajak suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a condition in which the retina slowly deteriorates until it causes tunnel vision. However, Pajak reminds us that each case of retinitis pigmentosa is a bit different.

“Mine is different,” he said. “It’s as if someone splashed a can of
paint on the retina. If I walk with one eye open, there would be
ragged walls.”

The book is a commemoration of one of his favorite movies and
historical events, “The Titanic.” He also mentions the Boris Pasternak
novel, “Dr. Zhivago.”  These are both brought in to elevate the touching
double climax of the story.

Links:
Department of Psychology
Bay City MLive article on The Sight Unseen
The Sight Unseen

 

Posted in Alumni Activity, Learner Centered

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WMU student Fulbrights named

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment
by Deanne Puca

Three Western Michigan University graduate students have the opportunity to continue their studies and research in Spain as recipients of Fulbright scholarship awards.

Alicia Acosta, a recent graduate in Spanish secondary education, and Patrick Harris and David Terry, both doctoral students in medieval history, received the grants for the 2012-13 academic year.

A native of Marshall, Mich., Acosta, was raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and has lived in five countries. She earned a bachelor’s degree from WMU in secondary education and is pursuing her master’s degree. She plans to use her Fulbright award to travel to Spain as an English teaching assistant.

Harris of Harrison, Mich., will travel to Toledo, Spain, to undertake archival work for a project titled, “The Latinization of the Mozarab Community in Toledo.” He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Oakland University, a master’s degree in Eastern Classics from St. John’s College and a master’s degree in history from Eastern Illinois University.

Terry, of San Marcos, Calif., will travel to Barcelona, Spain, and conduct archival research for his project titled, “Merchant, Pirate Crusader: Identity and Cultural Interaction on the Medieval Mediterranean.” He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of North Dakota.

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” The program has provided almost 300,000 participants–chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential–with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Established in 1946, it is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.

Department of History

More Fulbright information

Alicia Acosta’s thoughts on the award

 

Posted in Learner Centered, Student Spotlight

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Public Safety chief meets Spanish service learning students

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Spanish students Conor McShane, Erica Pérez, Kristen Hartman, Hector Silva, Chief Jeff Hadley, Abbey Karlinski, Karmina Bryant.

Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Jeff Hadley, came to WMU on Monday March 12 to meet the students of Dr. Michael Millar’s Spanish with Internship and Service Learning course (Spanish 4400).

Hadley talked with Spanish Service Learning students about current issues of community and public safety relations, racial profiling studies, the clear separation between local public safety and federal immigration enforcement, the need for more bilingual staff in public safety and possible career paths for bilingual graduates of WMU. Dr. Millar’s students spent more than an hour  with Chief Hadley discussing course materials that relate to his experience in law enforcement and public safety to gain a clearer understanding of multiple perspectives on these contemporary issues.

Hadley is one of several speakers from the Kalamazoo Community who have agreed to meet with Dr. Millar’s Spanish students. Other participants include: Thomas Thornburg, Managing Attorney with Farmworker Legal Services; MonaLisa Watson, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at Bronson Hospital; Lori Mercedes, Interim Director of the Hispanic American Council; Kelly Alvarez, Principal of El Sol Elementary School; and Manuel Brenes, Coordinator of Bilingual and ESL programs for Kalamazoo Public Schools. Each of these guest speakers have offered Spanish service learning students valuable and experienced insight on a variety of course themes as well as the opportunity to converse about professional opportunities and expectations for bilingual graduates of WMU.

Millar recently was recognized with the 2012 WMU Excellence in Service-Learning Award for faculty instruction.

Millar started the Spanish 4400 the fall of 2008. Since that time, participants in the course have earned credits toward their Spanish major, while gaining valuable hands on experience in a variety of educational, professional and community settings. Spanish majors have collaborated with professor Millar to win grant funding from a variety of sources to support their course projects and have established many lasting professional relationships.

Currently, students of Spanish with Internship or Service Learning are working with Kalamazoo Public Schools, KCIS, KRESA, the Hispanic American Council, Farmworker Legal Services, Bronson Hospital and the WMU Division of Multicultural Affairs. The Department of Spanish offers this course for advanced Spanish majors each Spring semester.

…a closer look:
WMU Department of Spanish
Graduate Program
Undergraduate Majors and Minors
Service Learning at WMU
SPAN 4400

Posted in Globally Engaged, Learner Centered, Study Abroad

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Jaimy Gordon’s “Lord of Misrule” in the spotlight again

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

By Katy TerBerg

Prize-winning author and WMU Professor of English Jaimy Gordon.

WMU has been fortunate enough to have great authors in its faculty and  students, and Professor of English, Jaimy Gordon, is setting the bar a little higher. Gordon published her third novel, “Lord of Misrule,” in 2010 to critical acclaim. Gordon’s novel won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2010 and was voted one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Month in November of 2010.

Most recently, Gordon has been selected as one of the longlist finalists for The Orange Prize for Fiction, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman. According to the official website for the award, The Orange Prize, which is celebrating its 17th year, celebrates “excellence, originality, and accessibility in women’s writing throughout the world.”

The announcement coincides with International Women’s Day. The Orange Prize for Fiction shortlist will be announced on April 17, with readings occuring on May 29 and an awards ceremony on May 30.

“Lord of Misrule” is about “trying to figure out what the shape of your luck on Earth is and, one way or another, come to terms with that. It’s very much about courting that message from the gods that you were destined for something special, and most of the characters of the book have to settle for what they get,” said Gordon in an interview.

It is difficult to determine whether Gordon was destined for the award or if her hard work and dedication led her to the achievement, but it is clear that Gordon’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. As Gordon herself said, “You certainly expect your family, the future generations, to remember you or have some impression of you.”

We believe Gordon will continue to leave a lasting impression.

Links:

Department of English
About Jaimy Gordon
The Orange Prize for Fiction

 

Posted in Faculty News, Learner Centered

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Alumnae Melinda Moustakis named Hodder Fellow

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Melinda Moustakis, WMU alum and award-winning author.

The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University has announced the selection of Western Michigan University alumnae and award-winning author Melinda Moustakis as one of four writers named a Mary MacKall Gwinn Hodder Fellow for the 2012-13 academic year.

“The Hodder Fellowships are awarded to artists during that crucial period when they have demonstrated exceptional promise, but not yet received widespread recognition,” notes Lewis Center Acting Chair Michael Cadden in making the announcement. “We have a very strong and diverse group of artists joining us next year, and we look forward to what this opportunity for what Mrs. Hodder termed ‘studious leisure’ will enable them to accomplish.”

Moustakis plans to work on her first novel during her fellowship, a full-length book that captures the Alaskan fishing community and its many complicated relationships between fishermen, fisherwomen, guides, locals, tourist, scientists and the wilderness and wildlife.

“I am very excited and honored to be a Hodder Fellow next year,” Moustakis says. “What a dream–to be given time and resources to devote myself to writing the next book, to be part of an arts center that houses creative writing, dance, visual art and other media, where writers such as Chang-rae Lee, Joyce Carol Oates and Jeffrey Eugenides are members of the creative writing faculty.”

Moustakis cites WMU as a major player in her success. “One thing about Western’s program is, it’s not interested in making every student be a certain type of writer,” said Moustakis in a press release.

Links:

Melinda Moustakis’ official website
WMU Spotlight on Melinda Moustakis

 

Posted in Alumni Activity, Learner Centered

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Maarten Vonhof awarded $180,000 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Grant

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

By Katy TerBerg

Dr. Maarten Vonhof, associate professor of biological sciences wants to know what’s causing “the worst wildlife health crisis in memory.” According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, it’s White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in North American bats, and Vonhof recently was awarded $180,000 to further his research on WNS.

WNS is a fungal disease which has killed millions of bats in eastern North America. Vonhof and his research team plan to test a new, biocompatible and inexpensive compound to aid in slowing the growth of the fungal infection. The compound, said Vonhof, is shown to “not have any harmful effects on the bats.”

Dr. Maarten VonHof associate professor of biological sciences.

So far, Arcadia National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the states of Alaska and Kentucky have confirmed the existence of WNS, and additional reports in Liberty Park, Ohio, and the states of Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and New Hampshire point to the need for a solution.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Nose Syndrome is “the worst wildlife health crisis in memory.”

Vonhof comes to the project with a long history of work focused on temperate and tropical bats and birds. He relates his findings on habitat use, dispersal, and social behavior to patterns of population differentiation at multiple spatial scales, ranging from local genetic variation to range-wide patterns of phylogeography.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is an organization dedicated to “conserving the nature of America,” and the conservation of wildlife animals, including bats, is included in their mission statement advocating conservation.
Links:
Dr. Vonhof’s profile.
WMU Department of Biological Sciences
U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s overview of White Nose Syndrome.

 

Posted in Discovery Driven, Faculty News

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Japanese professor represents WMU at Japan earthquake memorial

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Dr. Jeffrey Angles

On March 11, 2011, a devastating earthquake struck northeastern Japan triggering a massive tsunami and the now infamous meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. One year later, on March 27, 2012, the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit held a memorial service at the Michigan State Capital’s Rotunda to commemorate the lives that had been lost and to showcase recovery efforts in the devastated region of Japan.

Dr. Jeffrey Angles, the director of Western Michigan University’s Soga Japan Center and an associate professor of Japanese, appeared alongside the Consul General of Japan Kuninori Matsuda, the mayor of Lansing Virg Bernero, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder at the memorial service.

The Consul General Kuninori Matsuda extended a special invitation to Angles, who was in Japan during the earthquake and lived through all the anxiety that followed, because over the last year Angles has translated and published numerous poems written by various poets about their experiences during and after the March 11 disasters. For his contribution to the memorial service, he read English translations of three poems.

The first, “Do Not Tremble,” was written by the feminist poet Toshiko Hirata during a time when the aftershocks were still rolling through northeastern Japan. The second, “Thoughts Before a Blackout,” which Angles originally composed in Japanese, was written during the rolling blackouts and frightening uncertainty that followed the aftermath of the disasters. The third, “Words,” was by Japan’s most popular poet, Shuntarō Tanikawa and optimistically describes the power of language and communication in helping to overcome the trauma of the disasters. The final poem appears in the newly published collection “March Was Made of Yarn: Reflections on the Japanese Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Meltdown.”

The memorial service was attended by about two hundred people. Afterward, numerous people approached Angles to tell him how moved they were by the poems he read.

“One person told me that he especially appreciated them since the other speakers had emphasized the infrastructural and economic devastation of the disasters,” Angles said. “That listener told me he felt it was the poems that really gave the most dramatic, human face to what had happened. It was also wonderful to hear that ordinary Michigan residents, including elementary school students, had donated $268,000 to the Japanese Consulate’s office for the recovery efforts.”

“The 3/11 disasters seem to have changed the way that many Japanese people think about their own lives,” Angles said. “Many people lost their lives. It will probably be well over a decade before northeastern Japan has fully recovered.  Our thoughts are with the people of northeastern Japan as they rebuild.”

Posted in Faculty News, Globally Engaged

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WMU’s “Grand Tour” Provided Taste of Europe for Alumna

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

Ashley Fitzgerald, WMU alum and past Study Abroad participant.

By Katy TerBerg

If you had the chance, would you rather travel abroad in France, Italy or Switzerland? What about Spain—or England? Thanks to the 2009 Grand Tour of Europe, a WMU study abroad program, making that choice was a cinch.

Ashley Fitzgerald, CAS alum (B.A. Public Relations ’10), and past participant in the program, is enthusiastic about the opportunities available for students to study abroad.

“I took part in the Grand Tour of Europe a couple of summers ago and it was the most amazing, beneficial thing I’ve ever done for myself,” said Fitzgerald.

“I was able to see the world and learn about various cultures all at the same time,” said Fitzgerald. The pace of the trip may be quick, but students are able to experience many sides of Europe.”

Fitzgerald is currently the communications/web coordinator for Career and Student Employment Services at WMU. Previously, Fitzgerald served as an intern for the Comstock Community Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kalamazoo, and WMU’s Parent and Family Programs Department.

To date there are 25 summer semester, short-term, study abroad programs offered through Western Michigan University’s Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Fitzgerald, who graduated from WMU in 2010 with dual degrees in public relations and fashion merchandising, had a taste for cultural communication as well as the high fashions of the European scene. From Hoorn, Amsterdam and Paris to Rome and Vienna, the trip offered a real taste of European art and culture.

Fitzgerald is passionate about utilizing creativity, closing communication gaps, and building relationships. The study abroad program has enabled her to do just that, she said. By becoming exposed to several different countries, Fitzgerald was able to observe the differing styles but common links of communication.

On the whole, Fitzgerald lauds the experience as rewarding and life-changing. “Participating in any study abroad is definitely recommended!” she said.

Links:
WMU Study Abroad
WMU School of Communication
WMU Career and Student Employment Services

Posted in Globally Engaged, Study Abroad

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Fort St. Joseph Project Bring Virtual Lectures to Classrooms

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Deb| Leave a comment

A group of visitors learn about excavations at the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project in Niles, Mich.

 

Don’t like to get your hands dirty? Dreading the thought of loading 30 screaming sixth graders onto a bus headed to Niles, Mich.? Just want to know what it’s like out in the archaeological wilds?

Now you can, without leaving the comfort of your chair! Western Michigan University’s Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project is offering free virtual lectures on the Project.

Virtual lectures (using a free software called Skype) will discuss the progress and history of excavation of an eighteenth-century French fort in Niles, Mich.  Participants must download this free software and create an account and have access to a webcam, the internet, and a projection area where the lecture may be viewed. The virtual lecture will include PowerPoint presentations, images of authentic artifacts, and face-to-face discussion between participants and students, allowing the public to “enter” the lab where post-fieldwork analysis takes place on a weekly basis.

This virtual lecture program is offered free of charge and can take place in any classroom with a projector and webcam, so no permissions slips are needed (in most cases) for this virtual field trip.

This program is specifically designed to educate students, from grades 3 through 12, about what archaeology is, the history of the French fur trade in the Midwest, and the methods involved in recovering, identifying, and analyzing artifacts and other cultural materials. The program will also consider requests from adult groups interested in learning more about Fort St. Joseph and its importance in our collective heritage. The lectures will be offered on a first come, first served basis, with a variety of time slots and dates available for scheduling the virtual field trip. The program lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Fort St. Joseph is one of the oldest European settlements in the western Great Lakes Region and was occupied by the French, British, Spanish, and Native Americans for nearly a century (1691-1781). After a decade of excavation led by Dr. Michael Nassaney, the FSJAP is expanding its public outreach efforts to future archaeologists through new technologies and software. The FSJAP is a collaborative partnership between Western Michigan University, the City of Niles, the Fort St. Joseph Museum, Support the Fort, and numerous individuals and community groups. It began in 1998 when Dr. Michael Nassaney conducted a preliminary survey, eventually locating the site of the fort, beginning over a decade of excavation and research. FSJ is located in Niles, Michigan, known as the City of Four Flags.

The FSJAP offers a variety of public education and outreach opportunities including our popular summer archaeology camp program for adults, students, and educators, where participants can excavate at the fort site under the supervision of archaeologists for a whole week. Each season the fieldwork culminates in our annual open house that has hosted over 10,000 visitors over the past 5 years in viewing ongoing investigations, informational panels, artifact exhibits, and living history re-enactors who make the eighteenth century come alive. Excavation continues in 2012 as we work to recover the past and reconstruct the history of the French fur trade and the lives of the people of New France.

Links:
Department of Anthropology
Dr. Michael Nassaney

Posted in Discovery Driven

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