Photo by Jeff Watts

Accomplishments

PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS

Vera Borkovec (professor emerita, language and foreign studies) published Czech and Slovak Theatre Abroad (Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, 2007).

Alina Israeli (language and foreign studies) published “Russian Conjunction: Two Types of Uncertainty,” Journal of Uncertain Studies (Winter, 2007).

SPEAKER’S CORNER

In December, George Ayittey (economics) was one of six experts on African economics who participated in a debate, “Aid to Africa is Doing More Harm than Good.” Held at the Asia Society and Museum in New York City and moderated by Brian Lehrer, host of NPR’s The Brian Lehrer Show, the debate was part of the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series. The series is produced in New York City by the Rosenkranz Foundation.

In November, Naomi Baron (language and foreign studies) gave a lecture on the Internet’s effects on language, at the headquarters of Telenor, a Norwegian telecommunications company.

In October, Helen Langa (art) delivered a lecture, “Lesbians in the Closet, Women Artists, Professionalism, and Same Sex Affection,” at the Southeastern College Art Association Conference in Charleston, West Virginia.

In November, Jeffrey Reiman (philosophy and religion) presented “Consent of the Governed” at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.

In November, Brian Yates (psychology) took part in a panel discussion, “Cost and Sustainability Checklist: Theory and Practice,” at the annual meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Baltimore.

IN THE MEDIA

The Washington Post quoted Mustafa Aksakal (history) on the potential effects of Benazir Bhutto’s recent assassination on the Middle Eastern political climate (December 28, 2007).

Family Bonds, a book by Ellen Feder (philosophy and religion), was cited in the Sunday cultural supplement of the Italian newspaper Sole-24 Ore (January 27, 2008).

In November, David Keplinger (literature) had his poem “Life on Earth” read by Garrison Keillor on the NPR Program, The Writer’s Almanac. See the poem in the left column.

In December, Peter Kuznick (history) was interviewed by Farsnews in Tehran about the latest developments in Iran’s nuclear program and the ongoing threat of war.

Allan Lichtman (history) was quoted in the article “In Presidential Politics, Iowa Still Packs a Wallop” in the Seattle Times (December 31, 2007). He was also interviewed in January by CTV regarding Hillary Clinton’s narrow win over Barack Obama in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary.

Charles S. J. White (philosophy and religion) had his English translation of Jayshankar Prasad’s poem, “Ansu (Tears),” reviewed in Swatantra Varta, a daily periodical based in India. (December, 2007).

APPOINTMENTS AND HONORS

In December, Robert Beisner (professor emeritus, history) won the Douglas Dillon Award from the American Academy of Diplomacy for his book Dean Acheson: A Life in the Cold War.

Harvey Grossinger (literature) received the 2007 Dana Award for his novel, The Caretaker’s Niece. He also received a 2007 Creative Project Grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Anna University, a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and a partner of the UNESCO International Center for Engineering Education, ranked Priyanka Komala (MS computer science ’09) fifth among 30,000 electronics and communication engineering undergraduate students in the entire state of Tamil Nadu, India. Komala graduated from the university in 2007.

In January, Joan Radner (professor emerita, literature) was elected chair of the board of directors of the National Storytelling Network.

Richard Sha (literature) received a Benjamin Franklin Research Award from the American Philosophical Society to complete research for his upcoming book, Towards a Physiology of the Romantic Imagination.

The American Library Association awarded a grant to the American University Library to reprise the “Let’s Talk about It” book discussion series in fall 2008. The series is cosponsored by CAS’s Jewish Studies Program.

Philip Johnson (computer science, audio technology, and physics) was awarded a two-year Cottrell College Science Award from the Research Corporation to support his research on ultracold physics.