November 11th, 2010
Join me in congratulating our incredibly prolific and talented faculty! In the past year, Columbian College scholars authored or edited 52 new books on topics ranging from the design aspects of the 1930s world’s fairs to the ancient Indian concept of Dharma. I’m also pleased to report that faculty earned 28 fellowships and scholarships, including five Fulbright Scholarships.
In addition, prestigious institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the American Cancer Society awarded grants to 68 of our faculty researchers to help fund their research. For example, Psychology Professor Maria Zea will use her grant from the National Institutes of Health to work with the DC Developmental Center for AIDS Research; and Chair of Anthropology Brian Richmond’s grant from the Leaky Foundation will further advance his study of primates’ teeth and the origins and developments of their chewing and feeding adaptations.
We are so proud of our faculty for being at the forefront of learning and discovery.
Tags: awards, books, Fulbright, grants, research, scholarship
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October 19th, 2010
Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dean Barratt at the GW Capitol Archeological Institute event.
In early October, I was proud to deliver welcoming remarks at an event marking the opening of the new GW Capitol Archaeological Institute. The institute was made possible through a generous donation by alumni Deborah Lehr, MA ‘89, and John F.W. Rogers, BA ’78. Headed by Eric Cline, chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, the new institute will provide a focus for our archaeology work in the Middle East (including both Israel and Jordan), Greece, Italy, Egypt, China, Africa, and Mexico.
We were honored by to have renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass speak at the opening celebration. In 2002, Dr. Hawass was appointed Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, a government council in Egypt that oversees the cultural heritage of that country. Earlier this year, he was named Vice Minister of Culture of Egypt. His work earned him recognition as one of the world’s 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine in 2005. During the event, he spoke about excavations in the valley of the tombs and showed us pictures of a stairway that leads literally hundreds of feet into the earth.
We were also joined by Columbian College National Council member Bill Warren, who has his own strong interests in archaeology, anthropology, and stratigraphy; and Andrew Oliver, who recently donated more than 8,000 volumes on subjects pertaining to Ancient Greece, Rome and the Near East to Gelman Library.
I am excited about the prospect for new scholarship and discovery that the institute will enable. It is our hope that the Capitol Archaeological Institute will place GW at the forefront of research in this field.
Tags: alumni gift, Archaelogical Institute, Eric Cline, Gelman Library
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July 22nd, 2010
Provost Steven Lerman, Dean Barratt, President Steven Knapp, with Wayne Clough, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and other Smithsonian representatives at the signing.
Last Friday, I witnessed an event that I’ve been working toward since becoming Dean three years ago: GW President Steven Knapp and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution G. Wayne Clough signed an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding to “fulfill their mutual goals to increase contributions to science and knowledge, share their knowledge with the public at large, and develop and educate future generations.” It was a momentous occasion, cementing a partnership that began more than a century ago to encourage learning and discovery across the disciplines.
Over the years, our collaboration with this prestigious institution has provided a wealth of access and opportunity. From internships for our Museum Studies and Art History students to our collaboration with Smithsonian curators on special exhibits involving the evolution of the primate brain and the biological lineage of dinosaurs, we are so very proud of the partnerships we have established.
This marks a new chapter in our long association with the Smithsonian. I look forward to our continued collaboration and expansion upon the solid foundation that has been built.
Tags: research, Smithsonian partnership
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May 11th, 2010
Congratulations to Columbian College graduating seniors Lauren Chun and Jennifer Day! Both were named Undergraduate Distinguished Scholars at the Honors Dinner April 28. These students are at the very top of their academic performance and will speak at the Columbian College Celebration ceremonies graduation weekend.
President Knapp, Lauren Chun, Jennifer Day and Dean Barratt at the Honors Dinner.
Lauren Chun, who will receive her BS in Criminal Justice, came to GW sight unseen from Hawaii. Ms. Chun took advantage of D.C.’s vast opportunities by interning for U.S. Representative Mazie Hinorno of Hawaii and working for the Campaign for Youth Justice at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And since that didn’t keep her busy enough, she also completed an independent project—an examination of the changing perceptions in the media of crystal meth. After graduation, Ms. Chun has her sites set on law school. We wish her the best in all her pursuits!
Native Minnesotan Jennifer Day will graduate with a BS in Chemistry and minors in both Biology and Psychology. Ms. Day partnered with Professor of Chemistry Akos Vertes and co-authored two articles. Using instrumentation developed by Professor Vertes, Ms. Day examined metabolites—the small molecules that are a product of metabolism—in different parts of the corn root. She also participated in an alternative spring break with a community service trip to Atlanta. We are so proud of Ms. Day and look forward to hearing about her future accomplishments as she starts medical school in the fall.
Congratulations to all the undergraduate students recognized at the Honors Dinner. Your significant accomplishments and ambitions inspire all of us at Columbian College.
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April 28th, 2010
Columbian College students Melissa Cradic and Alexandra Murrin with Andrew Oliver.
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and the Gelman Library recently hosted a fabulous event celebrating the Oliver Book Collection and the philanthropy of Andrew Oliver, who donated the Collection of 8,000 volumes in memory of his late wife, Diana Guitron-Oliver.
A compliment to our Classical Studies and Old World Archeology programs, the Collection provides excellent resources for interdisciplinary work in Greek, Roman, Near Eastern Art, Archaeology, and History. It includes a comprehensive assortment of journals, exhibition catalogs, books in several languages, and final reports from archaeological excavations. Two of our Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations students, Melissa Cradic and Alexandra Murrin, partnered with our faculty and librarians to survey the Collection and prepare it for display in Gelman.
Diana Buitron-Oliver was a curator for the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore and for two major exhibits at the National Gallery of Art: The Human Figure in Early Greek Art and The Greek Miracle: Classical Sculpture from the Dawn of Democracy the 5th Century BC. She was also part of an expedition in Cyprus that lead to fascinating discoveries relating to the excavation of the Greek sanctuary of Apollo at Kourion.
We are grateful to Andrew Oliver for enriching our students’ lives with this extraordinary collection in honor of his wife.
Tags: Gelman Library
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April 23rd, 2010
Dean Barratt, New York Times Columnist Bob Herbert, and SMPA Director Frank Sesno.
Last week, I traveled with SMPA Director Frank Sesno, director of Columbian College’s innovative School of Media and Public Affairs, to New York for a wonderful reception with some of our alumni and friends.
Graciously hosted by Kathryn Green, BA ’77, the event featured a talk by Bob Herbert, author of a bi-weekly column in the New York Times. Bob spoke to our group about politics, urban affairs, social trends, and about how he got into his news media career. We are thrilled that he will soon be joining us as fellow within SMPA.
We also welcomed GW Trustee Maria Matilde Bonetti, and Alan Lafer, BA’77, a former co-chair of the Luther Rice Society Advisory Board. Susan Smirnoff, BA ’74, who serves on the National Council that advises me, also attended with her son, Noah Zachary, a 2009 graduate of GW in American Studies.
Columbian College is lucky to have so many great alumni to help us achieve our goals of engaging our students with the world. With such amazing support, we will continue to succeed!
Tags: New York Times, School of Media and Public Affairs
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March 25th, 2010
Greetings blogosphere!
I’m excited to join the online conversation and give an insider’s view of what’s happening—events, graduate and undergraduate programs, student life, faculty accomplishments, alumni events, and so forth—at GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
Stay tuned!
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