14 faculty hires made possible by Madison Intiative for Undergraduates

The College of Letters & Science is proud to announce that fourteen faculty have accepted positions at UW-Madison.  This is only the first round of new faculty hires. 

These hires were made possible by the Madison Initaitive for Undergraduates which was approved last spring.  This supplemental tuition charge is being phased in during the next four years to improve the quality and long-term value of undergraduate education while also providing funds for need-based aid.

The fourteen L&S hires represent an opportunity for the college to meet pressing needs in high-demand majors. 

The ability to recruit new talent — at a time when many of our peers cannot — is an exciting chance to grow and enhance the undergraduate education and meet our teaching and research mission.

The faculty, areas of study and start dates include:

• Catalina Toma (Communication Arts, 2010-11)
• Karma R. Chávez (Communication Arts, 2010-11)
• Chao Fu (Economics, 2010-11)
• Kenichi Fukushima (Economics, 2010-11)
• Xiaxia Shi (Economics, 2010-11)
• Joseph Dennis (History, 2010-11)
• Sana Aiyar (History, 2010-11)
• Leonora Neville (History, 2010-11)
• Christopher F. Wells (Journalism & Mass Communication, 2010-11)
• Alexander Tahk (Political Science, 2010-11)
• Bas Rosker (Psychology, 2010-11)
• Paula Niedenthal (Psychology, 2011-12)
• Marcus Brauer (Psychology, 2011-12)
• Maurice N. Gattis (Social Work, 2010-11)
  

Category: College Updates
Tags: , , , , , ,

Bordwell featured in New York Times 'You Can Judge a Book by its Movie'

David Bordwell, the film historian, author and blogger, in an editing room on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Photo by: Andy Manis for The New York Times

Emeritus Communication Arts Professor David Bordwell was recently featured in the The New York Times, You Can Judge a Book by its Movie.

Bordwell, the Jacques Ledoux Professor of Film Studies, has been called "our best writer on the cinema" by Roger Ebert.

Category: Social Sciences
Tags: ,

First Ouisconsin Field Research Scholarship awarded

The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) France Chapter named Kelly Jakes, PhD Candidate in UW–Madison’s Department of Communication Arts, its first Ouisconsin Scholar, on Friday, April 2.

This new needs-based scholarship will be given annually to a UW-Madison student to conduct field research in France, with a goal to enhance his or her global competence.

The award complements the WAA-France Chapter’s sustained efforts to support scholars working between the UW–Madison and France.

During the fall 2010 semester, Jakes will use the $3,000 award to conduct field research on the rhetoric function of the popular music culture that flourished in Occupied France during World War II. She will conduct research in several archives and resource centers in Paris and Lyon, including Radio-Paris, the French National Police Archives, and the Center for the History of the Resistance and Deportation.

via the Division of International Studies

Category: Social Sciences
Tags: , ,

Chase away winter blues with the Int'l Spring Program at UW Cinematheque

Winter blues got you down?  Check out the variety of films in this year's International Spring 2010 program via UW Cinematheque.

All events are held at 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI.

The Cinematheque is a coalition of UW–Madison academic departments and student film groups dedicated to showcasing films which would otherwise never reach Madison screens. The Cinematheque regularly showcases archival and other rare prints from around the world.

Spring 2010 Film Series and Special Events:

Egyptian Film Series:
Egyptian Reverie: In Memory of Youssef Chahine

Japanese Series:
Tokyo Now: Contemporary Japanese Cinema

Bollywood Series:
Kings of Bollywood

Brazilian series:
Brazilian Films of the 1950s

Special Event:
Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev

News via our partners in the Division of International Studies.

Category: Social Sciences
Tags: , ,

Cantor talks digital distractions, new book in The Cap Times

Professor Emerita Joanne Cantor.

We have the iPhone, Google, Twitter, Facebook ... when do we get a break?

Professor Emerita Joanne Cantor talks about the frustrating digital world and its implications: Digital distractions hinder productivity, creativity, UW media expert says in The Capital Times.

Cantor, a "recovering cyber addict" is the Director of the Center for Communication Research in the Department of Communication Arts.

Her new book Conquer CyberOverload: Get More Done, Boost Your Creativity, and Reduce Stress is now out with CyberOutlook Press.

Category: Social Sciences
Tags: ,

Hot off the press: Comm Arts newsletter now available

What has the Department of Communication Arts been up to?  A lot!

Check out their Fall 2009 "Vilas Voice" newsletter, now available online:  http://commarts.wisc.edu/alumni/newsletter/

Category: Social Sciences
Tags: ,

Awards, awards, awards!

‘Tis the season and L&S faculty and students are racking up the awards – congratulations to all!

• Phillips-Court wins publication award from Modern Language Association
• Foundation funds child well-being research of two faculty members
• Communication Arts professor to address William T. Grant Foundation
• Gruffat takes top awards in filmmaking 
• Lucas named NCA 'Distinguished Scholar'
• DeLamater receives Distinguished Service Award
• Dresang receives 'Champion Award' from Women's Philanthropy Council
• Sahai elected a Fellow of Mineralogical Society of America 
• Six honors undergrads receive Trewartha Senior Thesis grants
• History student receives Mark Mensink Honors Senior Thesis Research Award 
• Rodriguez receives 2009 Roberto G. Sánchez Award
• Computer Sciences team heads to world finals of programming competition

Category: College Updates
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,