2005 Index for Print and Web

Teaching

East Meets West By Katherine Seiffert

Gulnaz Sharafutdinova's success in Russia led her - eventually -- to the classroom in Oxford.

Art of Teaching By Mary FitzSimons

Two of Miami's distinguished professors can be found at the front of the room in the beginning-level American history survey courses.

Reaching Out   By Becky Reichenbecher

A group of dedicated science professors have turned their talents to a new group: Ohio students in grades seven through 10.

Life in Lux   By Mary FitzSimons

Serving dinner for 60? That's just one of the many new experiences a professor can have while teaching in Luxembourg.

Bursting the Bubble By Juliet Thomas

Learning more than could ever be gained from a textbook, geography students were in the heart of it all when they traveled weekly to Over-the-Rhine for their "Cities of Difference" class. Exploring gender, class, and racial issues; volunteering and completing a service-learning component; and spending the weekend meeting with community activists were all part of this course that challenged students to leave the security of the Oxford "bubble."

Aiming for Action By Ashley Thomas

The black world studies program is working to bring social justice into the classroom setting. Students are able to participate in lectures featuring important leaders involved in social justice, as well as innovative classroom experiences. (Web only)

Beyond the Lens By Katherine Seiffert

Assistant Professor Mark Peterson's professional decision to examine media in the Third World, particularly in Egypt and India, from an anthropological perspective was a result of media's personal impact throughout his life. (Web only)

A Stroll Through the Progress of Women's Studies By Gabrielle Wlodarsky

At a symposium sponsored by the women's studies program, seven retired, former and current teachers got together to share their stories of how the program came together, the problems they faced and how they made it through. (Web only)

Bad Shakespeare Makes a Good Class By Sarah Minges

Most classes attempt to appeal to students, in the plethora of course listings, Bad Shakespeare stands alone.   In a time when Shakespeare's works are revered, Karaa Peterson's class challenges the universality of a supposed universal genius, as well as offering an in-depth look at unpopular writings from a popular author. (Web only)

Shrinking the Language Barrier By Liz Schilling

Yongxue Yu, a graduate assistant from China, has been practicing the "uh" and "ew" vowel sounds, along with grammar and additional English language skills, since he arrived in the United States in May 2001 to further his physics education at Miami. To meet university requirements, Yu took the SPEAK test upon arriving to determine his ability to communicate effectively in English. (Web only)

Creating

Drei, Zwei, Eins, Action! By Amy Cavanaugh

If you think learning to speak German would be a bore, tune in to this program.

Action in Williams Hall By Naila Aham  

Communication students hone their production skills making "Portrait of Unrest ."

The Road to Hollywood By Lisa Knapp

J. Rickert-Epstein didn't wait for Miami to come up with a full-scale film-production curriculum. He took advantage of what was here to learn what he needed.

3D-Vision By Amanda Wolfe

The students came with a hand grenade and a gun, but not to worry.   They are products of a 3D design class.

Books By Zach Parks

From "carpet monsters" to "cultured chimpanzees," Miami faculty authors had much to say in 2004 and early 2005. A list of their work is provided, with live links to publishers. (Web Only)

Discovering

Desert Digs By Kristen Carlson

Jason Rech and colleagues in geology travel to one of the driest places on Earth to figure out how it got that way.

Quantum Leap By Zach Parks

Computations by physics professor Perry Rice may someday help the development of a super-fast quantum computer.

Science 'Toys' By Brianna Miller

Miami's "new toys" give scientists from many departments access to the same equipment used to crack the human genome code.

Antarctic Discoveries By Marie Mirro

Distinguished professor Rick Lee learns about the cold from a tiny teacher: the midge Belgica antarctica.

10 Years and Still Growing By Jenny Hall

It has taken almost 10 years and still Professor John Kiss is working hard on his experiment with the plant, Arabidopsis. His longing to know how gravity and light affect the plant's growth and its effect on future space missions keeps him intrigued and has sparked interest in some of his students at Miami University. (Web only)

Surveying Residents to better Serve Their Needs By Juliet Thomas

Tucked away in the basement of Harrison Hall, the Center for Public Management and Regional Affairs is a "hidden gem" for local governments across Ohio. Whether it's by conducting surveys or by training elected officials, by implementing economic development techniques or by developing a township's Web site, the CPMRA helps connect local government officials with the needs and wants of the constituents they serve. (Web only)

Big Ideas for Little Minds By Gabrielle Wlodarsky

A class, taught by James Kelly, on philosophy for children searched for meaning in children's' literature so as to bring out discussions in children, to help them search for answers within themselves and to form their own set of morals and belief systems. (Web only)

Opportunities Outside the Classroom By Natalie Weygandt

From public relations to botany, and from economics to geology, clubs on campus form out of classroom topics. (Web Only)

Innovating

Hot off the Presses By Andrea Meier

A new interdisciplinary program takes off, under the direction of Richard Campbell, to expand the study of journalim at Miami.

Crossing Borders By Naila Awan

A new anthropology summer study trip will introduce students to the culture and politics of Tibet.

An Urban Experience By Lyndsay Walters

The Urban Leadership Internship Program gives students an opportunity to explore career-related interests as well as to become involved in a community, learning through service activities.   For the last 10 of its 15-year existence, coordinator Katie Egart has led students to participation in internships involving medical research, museum coordination and education and helping destitute individuals at legal aid clinics.   (Web only)

The Second Watch: Technology as a Watching Eye for Loved Ones By Abby Schrader

Jennifer Kinney and Cary Kart have studied how current technology can help families care for someone with dementia. With the aid of cameras, sensors, cellular phones and computers, a person with dementia can be left in a room unattended, but have his/her movements monitored. If the person were to open a restricted door with a sensor, the sensor would send a message within 10 seconds.(Web only)

New Program Allows Miami Students to Study Abroad... At Home! By Jenny Hall

Acting Locally is a new program designed to help students as well as faculty become more involved with local comunities. The focus is on issues. (Web only)

Walk like an Egyptian... or a Roman By Heather Lash

Judith De Luce, chair and professor of classics, has been working with VROMA, a Web site that brings ancient Rome to present-day technology users, with students across the country from her office in Oxford. This spring De Luce worked with a group of advanced Latin students in Virginia one a week examing texts and ideas that they were presented with during the week in their classroom. De Luce interacted with the students on the virtual site to broaden their understandings of Ancient Rome and technology. (Web only)

Latin America Comes Alive By Kate Porick

The Latin American Studies program is rapidly expanding. With a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which will be matched by Miami, new classes, lectures and events are in the works.  Along with improving the already successful UniDiversity festival, three new courses will be offered that provide students with more opportunities for interaction and discussion, as well as service-learning components, where students can work hands-on in Latin American communities around the area. (Web Only)

Changes: Spanish Curriculum Looks Like New By Kate Porick

Spanish classes are undergoing a transformation.  After realizing that current literature courses often try to cover too much material in one semester, the department of Spanish and Portuguese has split some classes and created other new ones to offer more options to Spanish majors and minors.  The new curriculum is ready for the fall 2005 semester. (Web only)

Inside Washington By Natalie Weygandt

Miami's Inside Washington Program founded by alumn and Washington, D.C., political journalist Chad Pergram.   It exposes the participants to not-open-to-the-public opportunities such as panel discussions with high-profile political figures and a five-week internship.   This program is unique because students have the opportunity to gain a real understanding of the intertwined connected work and lifestyle of Washington D.C. (Web only)  

Scholarship Symposium By Lyndsay Walters

Three Miami faculty and staff members are beginning a program to bridge the gap between students and scholarships in hopes of sparking growth within the students and encouraging prestige for the University. To begin the process, a scholarship symposium was held in November to introduce 47 high-ability students to some of the most prestigious scholarships in the nation, including the Rhodes scholarships, the Fulbright scholar program and the Harry S. Truman scolarship. (Web only)

Italian Department Creates New Major By Marie Mirro

After 29 years of petitioning, the Italian department now offers an Italian studies major.   The new interdisciplinary major offer classes within the history, art, classics, music, film, American studies and Italian departments. (Web only)  

Personalizing

Counting Your Blessings Along the Road to Success By Rebecca Bibbo

John Skillings was asked by President Garland to move from his position as dean of the College of Arts and Science to Interim Provost last March.   He is currently serving while a national search is taking place and a permanent replacement is found.   Steve DeLue was named acting Dean last fall, and he will remain in this position throughout next year while a nationwide search is conducted. Although faculty members expected Skillings to return to the College of Arts and Science, he has recently announced that he will not be returning as Dean.   After he fulfills his duty as Interim Provost, he plans to continue his career at Miami, although he has not stated to what degree. (Web only)

Del Rio-Tsonis By Kristen Carlson

An intense researcher, inspiration to students, recipient of national grants, and distinguished scholar, Katia Del Rio-Tsonis takes her job as a faculty member of the zoology department seriously. Her peers and supierors agree. (Web only)

For the Love of (Greek) gods By Heather Lash

Classics professor Judith de Luce was named the College of Arts and Science Distinguished Educator of the year. De Luce is chair of the classics department and has worked with her colleagues to develop curriculum that challenges students intellectually and pushes them to use the technology that is at their finger tips. (Web only)

Air Force Lessons: Associate Dean Takes Summer Trip to a Base to Learn abut Air Force ROTC By Kevin Chlum

Associate Dean David Francko went on a trip to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last summer as part of the Air Force Distinguished Educator program. The purpose of the program is to get academic personnel from around the country to an Air Force base to gain an understanding of the Air Force and Air Force ROTC. (Web only)

Returning From War: Miami Students Transisition From Active Duty to College Life By Kevin Chlum

Sgt. Eric Kaskela, 22, is one of 14 members of Miami's Navy ROTC who were previously enlisted in the United States Marines or Navy. Kaskela is now a business major at Miami after serving four years on active duty. He is at Miami through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, which allows enlisted personnel to get a college education and become commissioned officers. The transition was rough at first, but Kaskela is now fully adapted to college life. (Web only)

What's in a Name? By Ashley Thomas

After given the chance to attend an intimate dinner with filmmaker Spike Lee at Marcum Conference Center, senior student Ashley Thomas describes her personal reaction to the dinner and Lee himself. Her experience, thanks largely to black world studies director Rodney Coates, reveals a more in-depth look at Miami's prestigious guest. (Web Only)

Finding Freedom Summer: Influences That Endure By Sarah Minges

Rick Momeyer, philosophy professor, has participated in a variety of political activities including the Freedom Summer project in 1964.   The project has explicit ties to Miami.   The university has recently initiated a multi-faceted program commemorating the efforts of the volunteers involved in the original movement. (Web only)

A World of Opportunities By Liz Schilling

College alumnus Chad Boettcher, now the director of strategic partnership and public affairs for MTV, still remembers the advice his father gave him while driving from Minnesota on move-in day in August 1992. (Web only)