Author Archives: mcconnar

Diversity and inclusion events Feb 2-12

1. Building Sacred Connections: Understanding How Implicit Biases Can Get In The Way Of Building Meaningful Relationships with Priya D. Klocek When: Sunday, February 2nd @ 2pm-3:30pm

Where: Interfaith Center, 16 South Campus Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056

Description: An event with an interactive session focused on cultured and unconscious bias, sponsored by MU META Collective (mini-grant), Hillel: Miami University, Center for American and World Cultures, Miami University Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, Interfaith Youth Core (micro-grant).

2. World Hijab Day

When: Tuesday, February 4th @ 10am-3pm

Where: Armstrong Student Center, Slant Walk Table 1, 550 E. Spring Street, Oxford, OH 45056

Description: This event is an informational session in support and solidarity of Muslim women who decide to wear or not wear respective hijabs.

3. We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

When: Wednesday, February 12th @ 7:30pm

Where: Hall Auditorium, 101 S. Campus Ave., Oxford, OH 45056

Description: This impactful event is a joyful celebration of music from across the African American music traditions inspired by the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sponsored by I am Miami, Jack Keegan, and MIA Restaurant + Studio. Tickets for this event cost $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $10 for youth/students.

Spring 2020 Make It Miami signups

Once again we are looking for faculty members to represent psychology at Make It Miami events this semester. Faculty attending the sessions are asked to arrive at Fritz Pavillon (top floor of Armstrong Center) by 11:20 am, and they will be on hand to answer questions until approximately 12:15 pm. The events usually run on Fridays or Mondays, and they are great opportunities to meet prospective students and their families, and answer questions about the major (and many questions involve the neuroscience co-major and “what can you do with a psychology degree?”). The sessions begin on February 14 and run through April 17. Please review the Make It Miami signup Google sheet and sign up if you feel that this is an event that plays to your strengths. We will need at least one person for each session (two is okay, but probably overkill). Thanks for your engagement in this important recruiting activity! You can review and add your name to the google doc:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jgxPh6X-IJuy067CgJoAFdU0Vwcv6iOPTxQast2QwUI/edit?usp=sharing

NSF Career Award workshop on January 23, 2020

Faculty who are eligible to apply for an NSF CAREER Award may be interested in the following professional development sessions being offered on Thursday, January 23, 2020. 

  • 9:00am — A two-hour NSF CAREER Award seminar will be presented by Burr Zimmerman of UVG, Ltd. Continental breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30am and the seminar will begin at 9:00am. Registration is required.

  • 1:00pm — A one-hour NSF CAREER Award recipient panel will feature current or past CAREER awardees Mike Brudzinski of Geology & Environmental Earth Science and Dominik Konkolewicz, Gary Lorigan, and Rick Page, all of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Discussion will be moderated by Burr Zimmerman. Registration is required.

  • Afternoon — A very limited number of one-on-one consultations with Burr Zimmerman are available to eligible faculty who are planning to submit an NSF CAREER Award application in 2020. Reservations are required and are available on a first-come/first-served basis — click link below for desired appointment time:

Intro to Voices: Intergroup Dialogue program accepting applications through January 12

Intro to Voices: Intergroup Dialogue (ITV) is Miami’s free, abbreviated version of intergroup dialogue for students but is only available through faculty-sponsored courses. To register your spring course, please follow this link and answer the simple questions.

The ITV program is oversee by Dr. Tarah Trueblood, Director of Miami’s Center for American and World Cultures. For more information on ITV, please feel free to contact Tarah by email ( [email protected]) or by phone (513.529.1943).

Faculty of all disciplines are eligible to embed a co-curricular version of Miami’s Voices Intergroup Dialogue program, Intro to Voices (ITV), into their spring 2020 courses (graduate and undergraduate). The Center for American and World Cultures (CAWC) offers ITV at no cost to faculty or students.

3 EASY STEPS:

1. OFFER: Decide what course credit/points you will offer students who successfully complete ITV. The more substantial the credit the more likely your students will enroll in, and successfully complete, the program. Examples:

—Credit in lieu of an exam/paper
—Credit in lieu of a community engagement project
—Credit in lieu of required event attendance
—Some other point/course credit (excluding “Extra Credit”)
— Credit in lieu of a group project
—Credit in lieu of certain assigned readings —Credit via independent study (or +1)

2. ENROLL using the link above. The CAWC will prepare an editable draft description of the ITV Program tailored for your students, including how they will earn credit in your course upon successful completion.

3. PROMOTE: Class Visit and/or Syllabus Insert. If you wish, a member of the CAWC team will (a) come to your class during the first week to announce the program, answer questions, and encourage registration; and/or (b) craft an editable description of ITV with instructions on how your students can earn credit in your course for successful completion of ITV.

•  Student registration deadline: MONDAY February 10, 2020 (2/17/20 for Q term).

•  ITV runs the last 8 weeks of the semester (3/9/20 –5/6/20) from 6-8 pm (students choose M, T, or W).

• CAWC takes attendance and reports it to you weekly.

•  CAWC provides you with the names of your students who successfully complete ITV. You award earned course credit.

•  Your students receive suggested resume entry for ITV and a “Certificate of Completion” from CAWC.

Presidential Service Awards nominations due by 11 Feb

PRESIDENT’S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD (PDSA): presented to approximately 15 seniors whose contributions to campus and community life have been truly exemplary. Eligible students include December 2019 and January 2020 graduates and seniors preparing to graduate in May 2020 and August 2020. The PDSA highlights the spirit of being a citizen leader of uncommon quality, such as: 

1.     Taking a leadership role in initiating university policy or policy change

2.     Rising to and exercising a significant level of leadership, regardless of formal title, within a student organization, student governance, student research or civic action that positively affects a significant portion of the student body

3.     Employment competency far beyond what is required, which may literally transform the position

4.     Effectively and creatively leading outreach efforts in a community organization/entity

A written nomination letter is required for this award. All nominations are reviewed by the PDSA Reading Committee, comprised of faculty and staff from the Oxford, Middletown, and Hamilton campuses. Academic performance and student disciplinary records are considered during this process. The timing and significance of a violation of the Code of Student Conduct may impact eligibility to receive the award. Recipients are honored at a ceremony in April and receive a medallion to wear with their commencement robes. All nominees for the PDSA also receive the Senior Service Leadership Award.

SENIOR SERVICE LEADERSHIP AWARD: honors graduating seniors who have demonstrated meritorious service in the areas of Campus Life, Community Service, Employee Service, and/or Intellectual & Cultural Leadership. Eligible students include December 2019 and January 2020 graduates and seniors preparing to graduate in May 2020 and August 2020. All nominated seniors will receive this award and be honored at a ceremony in early May, where they will receive a ribbon-medallion to be worn with their commencement robes.

EMPLOYEE SERVICE LEADERSHIP AWARD honors student workers who have demonstrated outstanding effort and accomplishments through student employment positions. Student employees are often the unsung heroes of any organization, contributing their talents daily to the successful operation of the department. This award recognizes those student employees who faithfully execute their responsibilities to ensure the mission of Miami is realized. All student employees, regardless of year at Miami, are eligible to receive this award. All students nominated will receive a pin in recognition of their service. Each senior nominated will also receive the Senior Service Leadership Award. 

Details regarding the nominations and the online nomination forms are available on the Parent & Family Programs website.All nominations must be submitted through this site.

Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2020

CAS committees seeking members

The committees listed below have expected vacancies for 2020-2021.  Before the Committee on Committees makes recommendations to fill the vacancies, you are invited to indicate your interest. Faculty must have continuing faculty status to be eligible.

Please respond to Jennifer Cradduck by email ([email protected]) if you are interested in serving on any of the committees listed below, and specify which committee(s) you are interested in. Please e-mail your response no later than Monday, December 2, 2019.

Committee of Advisors: 4-year term.  Reviews petitions from undergraduate students regarding exceptions to academic requirements of the CAS and University.  Meets every other week, until the 9th week of the term when it becomes weekly; occasional (but not required) meetings during the summer and winter terms.  Advising experience such as being CDA is helpful but not required. Eligibility: all continuing faculty.

Committee on Promotion of Teaching/Clinical Professors and Lecturers (TCPL): 2-year term. Advises the Dean on recommendations for promotion of TCPL faculty. Meets several times in the spring semester, including one long meeting. Eligibility: faculty holding a tenure-track or tenured position and faculty holding the third rank of Teaching/Clinical (full) Professor or Senior Lecturer or Senior Clinical Lecturer.

Curriculum Committee: 3-year term. Reviews all new or changed courses and programs (majors, minors etc) in the CAS.  Meets every two weeks during the fall and spring semester.  Eligibility: all continuing faculty.

Governance Committee:  2-year term.  Meets as needed to discuss revisions to the CAS Manual of Operations and other governance docs. Eligibility: all continuing faculty.

Tenure and Promotion Committee: 2-year term.  Advises the Dean on recommendations for tenure and promotion of tenure-line faculty. Meets several times in the fall semester, including one long meeting.  Eligibility: tenured full professors.

Pre-health Advisory Committee AND Ecology Research Center Policy Committee

These two committees generally comprise faculty whose professional interests lie in these areas.  Coordinate and set goals and policy for these programs.  Eligibility: all continuing faculty.

From time to time there are also vacancies in the advisory committees for interdisciplinary programs.  If you have a professional interest in any of these areas and would be interested in serving on the committee should a vacancy occur, please let us know.  We will inform the appropriate chair(s) of your interest.            

East Asian Studies Committee

European Studies Committee

Middle East, Jewish and Islamic Studies

Speaker: Disability rights are civil rights

On Friday, December 6, 2019, from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Dr. Kathy McMahon-Klosterman of Miami University will present a talk in 127 PSYC entitled, “Disability rights are civil rights.” Dr. McMahon-Klosterman is a Professor Emerita of Educational Psychology, Women’s Studies, Disability Studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University. Dr. McMahon-Klosterman has a long history of service at Miami University and in the broader community, and she continues to be active in these communities. Her extensive résumé of service and accomplishment includes helping to establish the Minor in Disability Studies at Miami, serving as the Eminent Faculty Scholar for Community Engagement at Miami, where she championed service learning, and serving as president of the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Celebrate International Education Week

Celebrate International Education Week will be held Nov 18-22. The Muslim Student Association in conjunction with the Global Initiatives is hosting a lecture during this week called Discovering Islam which will be presented by Dr. Baher Foad on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 in Hall Auditorium.     

The purpose of this event is to both raise awareness of the values and beliefs of Islam, as well as to help people find common ground between differing religions. The event will begin with a meet and greet with the speaker at 5:00 to 6:00 pm. followed up by the lecture and Q & A from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The event is open to all to attend.

Diversity events for Nov 16-21

1. Taste of Africa; hosted by African Students’ Union, Miami University.

Free food will be served at this event!

When: Saturday, November 16 at 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Where:  McGuffey Hall, 322
210 E. Spring St., Oxford, OH 45056

Description: Description: This potluck allows you to get a ‘Taste of Africa’. Not only will it be a showcase of food from around the continent, but also a chance to immerse yourself in what it means to be Africa. This year’s theme is: What It Means to be African Now. Come and learn from your fellow students about their experiences and growth as an African.

2. For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

When Saturday, November 16 at 8:00pm

Where  Harry T. Wilks Conference Center
1601 University Boulevard, Hamilton, OH 45011

Description: For Colored Girls is a choreopoem written by Ntozake Shange in 1974 that tells the story of seven nameless African-American women who have suffered oppression in a racist and sexist society. Each woman is identified by the color she is assigned. It consists of monologues accompanied by dance movements and music.

Subjects including rape, abandonment, abortion, and domestic violence are tackled. This play is for mature audiences only.

3. Global friendship thanksgiving dinner

When: Thursday, November 21, 2019 from 05:30 pm to 07:00 pm 

Where: Shriver Center’s Dolibois room
301 Maple St. Oxford, OH, 45056

Cost: $7.00 after November 14, $5.00 if registered by November 14, free for children 12 and under.

Description: This annual event takes place during International Education Week and is open to all Miami University international students and scholars, staff and faculty, as well as Oxford community members. The purpose is to share this American tradition with our international students and scholars. With around 300 people in attendance each year, it is one of ISSS’ signature events and includes a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as well as plenty of opportunities for fellowship and conversation. Please purchase a ticket for this event while supplies last!

Prof. Tim Smith visit on Nov. 1

On Friday, November 1, 2019, Professor Tim Smith (Univ. of Utah) will be visiting the Department of Psychology. Dr. Smith is a leading-expert in relationships and their impact on health and well-being. While in the department, he will present a SPRIG talk entitled, “Emotion, social relationships, and physical health: Concepts, methods, and evidence for an integrative perspective” in 302 PSYC at 10-11 a.m.

He will also present a departmental colloquium entitled, “Dominance and prestige status-related interpersonal styles: Implications for cardiovascular risk ” in 125 PSYC beginning at 3:30 p.m. (please note the start time is 3:30, not 3 p.m.). Following his talk, there will be a reception in the PSYC Atrium, and after that, there will be a happy hour at Left Field Tavern (12 W Park Place, uptown Oxford).