Newsbriefs, AY 2009-2010

Spring 2010


02.22.10 Professor sal johnston to Lead Greening of Wanberg Hall
Sociology professor sal johnston will be the new Hartley House faculty master for fall 2010. As part of his new post, johnston, who also coordinates the environmental studies program, is leading the charge of converting Wanberg resident hall—situated next to Hartley House—into a green living environment.

"How do you take an existing dorm, with a structure that wasn't built to be particularly sustainable, particularly efficient, and make it more so?" asked johnston in an interview with Whittier College's QCTV. "There are some interesting things we can do, heating and cooling [techniques], strategic placement of trees. There are some really, really low cost, low tech [strategies] that have been implemented other places."

This project is one of several "green" projects initiated by johnston at Whittier. Beginning in 2008, johnston's environmental students class worked to reduce the amount of food waste produced by students in the Campus Inn. According to research, food waste produces carbon gases that negatively impact the environment. The educational campaign led by the class, coupled with the elimination of trays in the dining hall, helped reduce food waste from 7.4 ounces per person in the fall to 2.7 ounces in the spring.

To view QCTV segment click here.

 

Whittier Receives Grant from W.M. Keck Foundation to Launch Centers for Cross Disciplinary Learning
(1.29.10) The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded Whittier College a grant for $250,000 to launch two interdisciplinary learning centers: the Center for Science, Health, and Policy (CSHP), and the Center for Collaborations with the Arts (CCA). The funding from the Keck Foundation will primarily support cross-discipline course development and student fellowships. Theatre professor Jennifer Holmes will serve as CCA's inaugural director, and biology professor Dave Bourgaize will serve as the inaugural director for the CSHP.
"Support from the Keck Foundation to launch the Centers affirms Whittier's approach to education—that we are educating students to see the world from multiple perspectives—and applauds Whittier faculty for their excellent commitment to interdisciplinary teaching. The Keck Foundation award also will further enable us to recruit talented students who can make significant contributions to these fields in the future," said President Sharon Herzberger.

Professor Eric LindgrenProfessor Eric Lindgren Comments on Proposed Spending Freeze
( 1.27.10) In anticipation of the State of the Union address, political science professor Eric Lindgren comments on President Barack Obama's proposed three-year federal spending freeze for the Spanish-language daily La Opinion. "In reality it does not sound like a good idea; freezing spending is not something you should do in a recession. Government spending helps reactivate the economy and I believe that it has helped the country, in particular minority communities."

Beloved Theatre Professor Robert Treser Dead at 83
( 1.12.10) Professor Emeritus Robert Treser, 83, passed away on January 7. Treser joined the Whittier faculty full-time in 1965 as a theatre professor and served as department chair for 18 years. During his three decades at Whittier he directed countless number of plays and regularly taught his notoriously rigorous theater history course. He also served for a period of time as director of the Copenhagen Program through the Danish Institute for Study Abroad. As noted by his former student, "What a great man and teacher. He saw things in people that they hadn't found yet in themselves. All of our lives are richer for having known him."
Treser graduated from Lehigh University and earned an MFA from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in theatre arts from Tulane University. He is survived by his daughter Nancy and son David. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Whittier College in honor of their father's memory. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 pm at the La Habra United Methodist Church, 631 N. Euclid Street, La Habra, CA. There will be a reception after the service.

Fall 2009

 

Music Professor Competes for Kansas
6.6.09 Commissioned by the Kansas Music Teachers Association (KMTA) for an original work to represent their state at the National Competition in 2010, composer Teresa LeVelle has created “Earth Songs.” The three-movement for piano, vibraphone, and cajon premiered in summer, with a special performance in late November on the Whittier College campus. The concert was recorded and used for the competition, and following, composer LeVelle and the musicians hosted a discussion on collaboration and instrument choices and an audience question-and-answer session.

Whittier Hosts Workshop on Peace and Conflict Resolution
(9.14.09) Dozens of high school and community college educators participated in a two-day workshop at Whittier College, Causes of War: Paths to Peace. Organized by political science professor Joyce Kaufman, the Center for Active Learning in International Studies at the University of Southern California, and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C., the goal of the seminar was to teach educators about issues related to peace and conflict.
The workshop was prompted by the 20th anniversary of Whittier College's International Negotiation Project, a program started by Kaufman with a grant from USIP to teach high school students about the use of the internet as the tool for negotiating on a range of global issues.
Kaufman is a specialist in international relations, American foreign policy, and Asian politics. In 1989, she founded the International Negotiation Project, a program started with a grant from USIP for high school students to research the use of the Internet as a tool for global negotiations.
Former child soldier George Elunai Latio gave the keynote address on Saturday afternoon. Latio was born in Juba and joined the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army at 14. He was subsequently demobilized, arriving in the U.S. in 2003. Latio graduated from Bluffton University in the fall of 2007 with a bachelors in communications.

Federal Grant to Support Professor's Groundbreaking Childcare Research
(10.01.09) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) have awarded Whittier College a grant for $102,000 to support educational research in the pre-school level. The study, "Exploring Child Care Cultural Congruency: Predictors and Pathways to Social and Emotional Outcomes in Kindergarten," will be led by education and child development professor Kay Sanders.
Sanders' research will analyze information from the 1997 Head Start Family ang Child Experiences Survey study to explore how cultural practices at home and in childcare coincide to benefit children from low-income families. In particular, the study will look at whether issues associated with cultural diversity and cultural responsiveness influence outcomes, particularly children's readiness for school.
"In the past, the impact and influence of cultural aspects has not been a focus of inquiry at the childcare level. Presently, there is quite a bit of talk about the quality of child care and how quality relates to children's well-being. [But] many of the ways in which that quality is measured fails to find strong evidence for a connection between high quality care and children's outcomes," said Sanders.
Sanders has extensive applied and research experience in national- and state-subsidized childcare programs for low-income families. Prior to Whittier College, she worked with childcare programs as a teacher, and later as a site supervisor and program director for Head Start. In addition, she has written at length on culture and development in childcare. Child development major Mark Juaton ’11 will be her undergraduate research assistant on the project.

Professor Fred BergersonPolitical Science Professor to Lead 12-Day Tour to Vietnam--His First Return Since the War
(10.12.09) Fred Bergerson, political science professor and veteran of the Vietnam War (Captain, U.S. 1st Cavalry Division/Airmobile), will lead a 12-day tour for alumni and families through some of the most well-known battle sites and share recollections and analyses of his time spent in the military service, notably on major strategic campaigns including the Tet Offensive and relief of Khe Sahn.

This will be Bergerson's first visit to the country since his tour of duty ended in 1971. As he notes in his letter of invitation to prospective travelers: "I am not sure what we will find there; I am certainly not sure what I will find there. I know that when I was called to active duty in 1966, I was a grad student focused on the politics of Indonesia. And when my tour ended and I came home, I vowed never to return to South East Asia and definitely to stay away from Vietnam. But after years of teaching courses such as Warfare: In Pursuit of Military Security, Military Strategy and Arms Control, my intellectual interests are now focused squarely on the meaning of the war—in its time, and for contemporary American politics, civil-military relations, and national security policy. Geographically and intellectually, my life has taken its twist and turns, and now I find myself willingly, albeit cautiously, traveling back through a door I thought firmly closed."

This travel opportunity is open to all Whittier College alumni, students, their families and friends, and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-College parties interested in joining this trip may be placed on a waiting list, should spots become available. For a full trip itinerary, cost, and for registration information, please click here.

Professors Danilo Lozano and David Muller Present Wind Ef Fusions
(11.7.09) Grammy-award winning flautists Danilo Lozano and accomplished bassoonist David Muller celebrated the release of their new album, Wind Ef Fusions, with a recital of music for flute and bassoon, drawn from their new CD, at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts. The CD was recorded at the Shannon Center in 2008 and was released on Crystal Records. All artist proceeds from CD purchases will be used to help support the cost of private music instruction for Whittier College students. Muller and Lozano spent an entire semester rehearsing the pieces heard on the album which included a repertoire of classical music from Hanning Schroder, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Pierre Gabaye, Jan Bach and more.

Professor Karen Redwine Presents New Study on Testosterone
(12.09) Neuro-economist and visiting professor Karen Redwine made the media rounds (New Scientist, Toronto Star, Financial Express, and Times of India) with a new study that links testosterone, the hormone that creates brawn in men, with generosity. "Our broad conclusion is that testosterone causes men essentially to be stingy," says Redwine, who presented the work at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting in Chicago last fall.
Redwine is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on applied cognitive psychology, with a focus on cognitive neuroscience.

Biology Research On Lifespan
Trained immunologist professor Sylvia Vetrone’s spent part of last summer working with Dr. Lynn Carta at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C. receiving specialized training on the use of microscopic nematodes (roundworms) called Caenorhabditis elegans for scientific study. Accustomed to working with human cells or animal models, she chose to adapt her research methods to create a science project that could involve her undergraduate students.
According to Vetrone, nematodes make a good model species because they have a short lifespan and their entire genome has been sequences.
The project, which includes four biology students, began last summer and involves understanding the role of phytoestrogens—estrogen hormone-like chemicals found in plants—on longevity.
Phytoestrogens are chemicals found within plants that "mimic" the activity of estrogen, but do not induce feminizing effects. Previous studies have shown that estrogen is able to raise the production of naturally occurring antioxidants; an increase has been correlated to an increase in life span.

Professor Ivannia Soto-Hinman co-writes Comprehensive Guide for English Learners
Assistant Professor of Education Ivannia Soto–Hinman co–wrote The Literacy Gaps: Bridge-Building Strategies for English Language Learners and Standard English Learners, a comprehensive guide designed to help teachers promote basic learning for English learners.
Soto–Hinman recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. She has also worked as an educational consultant.

Professor Joseph Price Appears in Forbes Magazine
Joseph Price, Genevieve Connick Shaul Professor of religious studies was quoted in Forbes, regarding the flashing "John 3:16" signs at sporting events. Price notes that holding religious banners up for TV is a thoroughly modern phenomenon."Even in Rome, most of the fans in the Coliseum were not literate," he said, so signs with any words wouldn't have made sense.

Professor Chuck Hill Discusses Romantic Relationships in Wall Street Journal
Professor of Psychology Charles “Chuck” Hill appeared in the Wall Street Journal discussing the differences between men and women and how they may affect romantic relationships. Hill asserts that adhering to social expectations in terms of displaying emotions can be the root of many problems. "Women can go to their friends and talk and ask, 'Does he love me? What do you think?'" says Hill in the article. "If men went to their friends and said, 'Do you think she loves me?' They would say, ‘Get a grip.”’

Professor Ralph Isovitch is named the Chester and Olive McCloskey Junior Faculty Chair
Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ralph Isovitch has been named the Chester and Olive McCloskey Junior Faculty Chair for the 2009-10 academic year. As part of the appointment, made possible by a gift from alumni Chet ’40 and Olive ’44 McCloskey, Isovitch will receive funds to support his research on inorganic photo chemistry.

Professor David Hunt Presents Paper at the Annual Society for Neoplatonic Studies Conference
Professor of Philosophy David Hunt attended the annual International Society for Neoplatonic Studies conference in Krakow, Poland this summer. Hunt presented a paper on recent developments in the philosophical debate over free will that was anticipated by Plotinus, the third century founder of Neoplatonism.

Gustavo Geirola Writes Book on the Psychoanalytical Approach to Acting Techniques
Gustavo Geirola, Hazel Cooper Jordan Chair in the Arts and Humanities, is working on a new book about the psychoanalytical approach to acting techniques. Related travel and research has taken him to Washington D.C., the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, he interviewed well-known directors for his the fifth volume of Arte y Oficio del Director Teatral en América Latina. He also taught a one-week workshop in Munich on Constantin Stanislavski, psychoanalysis, and acting to a group that produces Spanish-language plays.

Professor Marie-Magdeleine Chirol Writes Reviews on African Films
French professor Marie-Magdeleine Chirol wrote two reviews on African films, “Delwende de Pierre Yameogo: Quand la femme file un mauvais coton,” and “Sia, Le Rêve du Python de Dani Kouyaté: Sous le signe du temps,” that will be translated into Italian and will appear in the book Invisible Screens, Guide to the Fantastic Cinema and its Variations.

Professor Joe Dmohowski Attends the 2009 International Association of Media and History Conference
Assistant Professor of Library Studies Joe Dmohowski attended the 2009 International Association of Media and History Conference in Aberystwyth, Wales, delivering a paper on award-winning, blacklisted screenwriter Michael Wilson and his unaccredited work on the The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Professor Judith Wagner Appears as a Guest Editor in the International Journal of Education Research
Judith Wagner, Broadoaks director and professor of childhood education and development, served as guest editor for a special issue of the International Journal of Educational Research and co-authored a feature article with psychology professor Lori Camparo, adjunct physics professor James Camparo, and alumna Vera Tsenkova '04. The article explored the topic "Do anti-immigrant sentiments track into Danish classrooms? Ethnicity, ethnicity salience, and bias in children’s peer preferences." Additionally, the trio of Camparo, Wagner, and Camparo co–wrote the article "In the Eye of the Beholder: Quantifying Individuals' Preferences and Biases Using Peer Nominations," which appeared in the journal Applied Psychological Measurement.

Professor David PaddyProfessor David Paddy Teaches in Copenhagen
English professor David Paddy spent last spring in Copenhagen teaching a course in “Literature of Ice and Snow” for the Danish Institute for Study Abroad.
Paddy is also busy at work on a book on J. G. Ballard. Commissioned by an English press, Ballardland: Imperial Terrains and Political Geography in J. G. Ballard’s Fiction will offer a literary geography of Ballard's work and an examination of how his novels and stories have mapped the changing dynamics of imperialism since World War II.

Professor Wendy Furman-Adams Presents Paper on John Milton
English professor Wendy Furman-Adams presented the paper "Ecofeminist Eve," at the Conference on John Milton at Middle Tennessee State University; a longer version of this essay will be published in a forthcoming work, In Dialogue with Nature: Ecofeminist Approaches to Early Modernity. Other works by Furman-Adams are slated for publication, including a chapter on “Milton and the Visual Arts” in the book Milton in Context, and several entries in the upcoming Milton Encyclopedia.

SUMMER 2009

A Summer of Shakespear for Whittier College
(07/09) Whittier College faculty have been working hard this summer with two different Shakespeare Festivals in southern California. Professor Brian Reed returned as scenic designer on two productions for the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company in Thousand Oaks, California. This summer he designed both a Shakespearean tragedy, MacBeth (June 26-July 12) and a comedy All's Well That Ends Well (July 17-August 2). He was joined by Whittier College student and theatre major, Caitlyn O'Connor. O'Connor interned in the costume shop for Kingsmen Shakespeare Company this summer.

Professor Gilbert GonzalezIn Garden Grove, Assistant Professor Gil Gonzalez retured for his second season with Shakespeare Orange County. Previously, he performed with the company for their production of Henry V (2008). This summer, he was once again onstage in productions of As You Like It (July 9-25), directed by Carl Reggardio and The Merchant of Venice (August 6-22), directed by Tom Bradac. David Palmer, theatre manager for the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, designed lighting for this production of As You Like It. Palmer was assisted by theatre major Emma K. Ah Sing '12.