News Center

Nov. 2, 2011 – Students and faculty at Allegheny College have recently authored works or participated in professional activities across a wide range of disciplines.

Erin Nawrocki ’13 presented a poster titled “Assessment of Essential Oils and Resveratrol as Alternative Treatments for Chancroid” at the Midwest Microbial Pathogenesis Conference at the University of Michigan. Her co-authors are Hillary Bedell ’11, Zachary Lindeman ’11, and Molly Waggoner ’11. Assistant Professor of Biology Tricia Humphreys also presented a poster at the meeting, “Vaginal Flora Byproducts Inhibit the Growth of Haemophilus ducreyi,” with co-authors Aleksas Nerone ’11 and Laura Magnelli ’11.

Several Allegheny students and faculty members authored presentations at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2011 Conference and Expo, held in Pittsburgh. Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Kate Darby, Sustainability Coordinator Kelly Boulton, and Hannah Giacomin ’14 presented “Can Texting Transform Transit? Evaluating Technology to Improve Public Bus Ridership at Allegheny College.” The presentation described efforts to improve usability of the U-Pass local bus system for students by implementing a text messaging service that enables students to determine when the next bus will arrive at their stop. In “Campus Wide Energy Challenge: Success through Unique Strategies and Diverse Collaborations,” Kelly Boulton and Professor of Environmental Science Eric Pallant reported on the 2010 Energy Challenge, which engaged the campus in a two-week dormitory energy competition that reduced electricity consumption by 10%, twice the stated goal, saving $6,000 for solar panels that will be installed on campus. Professor of Environmental Science Richard Bowden, Alessandra Trunzo ’11, Sandra Wayman ’10, Carlyn Johnson ’11, Eric Pallant, Professor of Economics Don Goldstein, Meadville mayor John Christopher Soff, Ernst Conservation Seeds President Calvin Ernst, and Acutec Precision Machining President Robert Smith ’73 presented “Hands-on undergraduate instruction in renewable energy; Linking student research and community partners,” which described class projects, independent research, and senior thesis efforts that engaged students in local renewable energy research (wind, biodiesel, biomass) for local community partners.

Assistant Professor of Music Jennifer Dearden gave a faculty trumpet recital on October 1 at Alfred University and on October 2 in Ford Chapel. The recital was a joint performance with Christopher Foster (trumpet), a guest artist from Alfred University. Professor of Music Alec Chien (piano) served as accompanist for both Dearden and Foster. Both performers played solo works and collaborated on several duets. Dearden also co-organized and performed in “A Touch of Brass,” an evening of brass and organ music at Meadville’s First Presbyterian Church on October 25. In a collaborative effort with Kevin Dill, music director at the church, Dearden coached Allegheny student brass ensembles and performed as a soloist. Student performers included Kiah Boudreau ’15, Claire Crowther ’13, Lauren Farruggia ’12, Daniel Honeycutt ’14, Joseph Lampe ’14, and Shelby Penn ’13. This was the third annual collaboration between Allegheny brass musicians and First Presbyterian Church.

Professor of Mathematics Michael Barry’s paper “Generators for decompositions of tensor products of modules” was recently accepted for publication by Archiv der Mathematik.

Sustainability Coordinator Kelly Boulton was featured on a Second Nature webcast, Campus Sustainability Day event – Campus Conversations, on Oct. 26. Second Nature is the lead organization for the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. This year’s Campus Conversation focused on the topic “A Useful Education: Sustainability in Admissions, Retention, and Educational Value.”

Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies Mark Cosdon was featured in a Tufts University graduate newsletter article, “The Right Stuff,” discussing the process of moving one’s dissertation to a book. Cosdon’s book The Hanlon Brothers: From Daredevil Acrobatics to Spectacle Pantomime, 1833-1931 was published in 2010.

Associate Professor of Classical Studies Judson Herrman was part of an international team of conservators, scholars and scientists who have recovered previously unknown Greek writings preserved as erased texts in the famous Archimedes Palimpsest (see https://archimedespalimpsest.org/). That story is now the basis of a special exhibition, titled “Lost and Found: The Secrets of Archimedes,” on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore until January 1. Cambridge University Press is also now publishing a two-volume set, The Archimedes Palimpsest, that includes manuscript facsimiles and the text of a new speech by the Athenian orator Hyperides, which was co-edited by Professor Herrman in 2008.

Assistant Professor of Economics Stephanie Martin and Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies Eleanor Weisman published a paper about civic engagement curriculum in higher education in the Journal of College and Character. Titled “Challenges of a Community Engagement Program: Values, Ethics and Social Action at Allegheny College,” the paper reflects on the opportunities and challenges facing emerging academic programs that focus on community engagement and service-learning, like the VESA program, within the liberal arts.

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies Shannan Mattiace was inducted into Central College’s (Pella, Iowa) Athletic Hall of Honor on October 1. Central’s hall of honor is intended “to recognize those who were exceptional performers in the athletics arena as a student-athlete, coach or administrator, and who have distinguished themselves in life after graduation through service and leadership.”

Professor of Psychology Elizabeth Weiss Ozorak presented a lecture/workshop titled “Bringing Peace Home: Lessons Learned from Pilgrimage” at the annual conference of the Labyrinth Society in Taos, New Mexico, on October 21.

Assistant Professor of Chinese History Guo Wu’s research article “From Private Library and Bookstore to Communist Party: Yun Daiying’s Social Engagement and Political Transformation, 1917–1921” has been accepted for publication by the Journal of Modern Chinese History.