Mark Leiderman, professor and chair of the CU-«Ƶ Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages & Literatures, calls on a student during class. Born and educated in Russia, Leiderman contends that the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded to Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich, underscores the importance of Russian Studies. He notes that Russian studies are expanding at CU.

Nobel Prize highlights importance of Russian studies

Dec. 3, 2015

For Svetlana Alexievich, this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Soviet Union is a kind of ‘historical Chernobyl that still produces contamination and radiation—psychological, historical, political and cultural,’ CU-«Ƶ expert Mark Leiderman observes. He says now is a good time for students and the world to learn more about Russia, and the university has already moved to meet that need.

CU-«Ƶ Alternative Breaks students work on the community well in Sontule, Nicaragua (2010). Photo courtesy of Roman Yavich.

Choosing Nicaraguan nonprofit work over New York banking

Sept. 14, 2015

Roman Yavich had accepted an offer to work for an investment bank after graduating from CU-«Ƶ with degrees in economics and business. But he won a Fulbright Fellowship to study the effect of tourism on the Nicaraguan community, economy and environment. Yavich chose philanthropic work in Nicaragua over a potentially lucrative career in New York. “I never looked back.” Both Nicaragua and tourism have benefitted from his decision.

Albert W. Smith (second from right) with a meteorology class in 1942 at Clark University. Photo courtesy of Albert W. Smith family.

Geography prof left lifelong impression on students

Sept. 14, 2015

It was just one personal letter, but it reaffirmed, recognized and acclaimed the lifelong work of a professor. “No one outside of my immediate family positively influenced my life more than Professor Smith,” a former student wrote to the professor’s family. “He counseled me at critical times and even rescued me once when I had lost my life’s direction.”

Robert E. “Bob” Sievers in a moment of reflection. Photo by Glenn Asakawa.

Major gift to SEEC caps decades of service, giving

Sept. 9, 2015

Following four decades of service in a host of roles and several gifts to CU, Bob and Nancy Sievers have made a major capstone contribution to advance the development of the new laboratory and office complex at Colorado Avenue and Foothills Parkway in «Ƶ, dedicated to sustainability, energy and environmental research.

Adam Bradley

RAP lab's work ranges from Polish hip-hop to prison

Sept. 8, 2015

Adam Bradley is a study in contrasts: a hip-hop expert who grew up in Salt Lake City, dissecting the literary devices of Shakespeare in one breath and Slick Rick in the next. He teaches in English, but his RAP Lab is in the chemistry building.

Nan Goodman, third from left, and her students in front of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey. The man with the button-down shirt at the center is Cem Durak, the group’s guide in Turkey and now a graduate student in religious studies at CU-«Ƶ. Photo courtesy of Nan Goodman.

Students explore Turkey’s Jewish/Muslim history

Sept. 1, 2015

“When people think about Istanbul, they don’t necessarily think about Jewish life,” says Nan Goodman. The professor of English and director of the Program in Jewish Studies is starting to change that.

Neurons

Couple’s $1 million bequest supports neuroscience, conservative scholarship

Aug. 30, 2015

As a liberal undergraduate, Todd D. McIntyre planned to study psychology and then attend law school. He didn’t anticipate becoming so fascinated with science, the brain in particular, that he’d completely change his academic trajectory and then launch a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, where developing treatments for brain pathologies has been his primary focus. As a liberal undergraduate, McIntyre planned to study psychology and then attend law school. He also didn’t anticipate becoming more conservative.

Michelle Ellsworth, associate professor of dance, has been awarded a 2015 Doris Duke Impact Award. Ellsworth will receive an $80,000 grant with the award, to support her “radical experimentation” in unconventional displays of dance. Here, she appears in Clytigation: State of Exception. Photo by Satchel Spencer.

TV comedian helped inspire award-winning CU dancer

June 29, 2015

You have to thank Carol Burnett for Michelle Ellsworth’s art. At least in part. Ellsworth, associate professor of dance at the «Ƶ, has been captivated by dance since she was 7, when she first saw the Ernest Flat Dancers on The Carol Burnett Show. In between the show’s segments, jazz-dance sequences functioned as segues. “I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh. That’s what I want to do for a living.’”

Courtnie Paschall is the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Arts and Sciences for spring 2015. Photo by Laura Kriho.

Naval pilot earns soaring praise for honors’ research

April 30, 2015

Before coming to CU, Courtnie Paschall had graduated from the Naval Academy, attained the rank of lieutenant and undergone years of flight training. Now, she’s graduating summa cum laude with a degree in neuroscience and a minor in electrical engineering. She is also the Outstanding Graduate for the College of Arts and Sciences for spring 2015.

Brian Domitrovic

Third Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought, Policy

April 30, 2015

The «Ƶ has appointed Brian Domitrovic as the Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought and Policy for the 2015-16 academic year. He is the third person to be appointed to the position. He hopes to address vexing problems in economic thought.

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