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by Allison Elliott - UK Public Relations

University of Kentucky faculty, staff and graduate students are coming together to help one of their own as she enters her second bout with cancer. Writing instructor Kelly Feinberg, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2009 and with metastasized cancer in her liver in September, will be the beneficiary of a silent auction to be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in the UK Student Center Small Ballroom.

The Feinberg Fund Silent Auction, hosted by the UK College of Arts and Sciences departments of English and Hispanic Studies, along with the Graduate Student Congress, will feature an array of interesting items on the auction block. Gift baskets, services from local businesses and UK Athletics items will be on the block, along with rare items such as an 1806 edition of the complete works of Samuel Johnson (donated from the personal collection of English department faculty member Richard Smith). Autographed books from authors as diverse as Nick Cave, Hulk Hogan Robert Joran, Paul Auster and Thomas Friedman will be available - as well as a sculpture commissioned for the event, artwork by UK faculty and students and items from local artisans.

Feinberg, described by English department doctoral candidate and teaching assistant Leah Bayens as “so dear - open, honest, and kind,” has won awards for her teaching of composition and writing at UK.

“She's the colleague who brings enthusiasm and fresh ideas to any project, from classroom innovations to conference presentations," said Bayens, who is co-organizing the Feinberg Fund Silent Auction with fellow English graduate student Rebecca Beach. "It's always a pleasure to work with such a bright yet unpretentious person, a person who has convictions about fostering healthy communities and who builds those ethics into her life at every level. Perhaps most humbling, though, is the positive spirit Kelly has maintained throughout her physical trials, keeping her chin up for herself, her son, her husband and her friends. For all of these reasons, it's important for us to support Kelly in any way we can as she works through this difficult time in her life.”

Following Feinberg’s initial diagnosis of breast cancer, she underwent a double mastectomy. Initially believing her cancer to be gone, doctors unfortunately discovered malignant tumors in Feinberg’s liver this fall. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy at UK Chandler Hospital. All proceeds from the silent auction – as well as a benefit concert to be scheduled in the future – will assist Feinberg and her family with the enormous medical and living expenses they face.

Feinberg and her husband Matt, a graduate student in the UK Department of Hispanic Studies, are the parents of a 16-month-old son, Ari. Feinberg is also known among her colleagues as an avid gardener, crafter and compassionate co-worker.

"From the first time I met Kelly at our Writing Program new instructor orientation, I admired her. She had so many good ideas for teaching, and I could tell that she is the type of teacher who draws students into the challenge and fun of writing," said Beth Connors-Manke, an English doctoral candidate and teaching assistant. "As a colleague of hers for several years now, I also know that she is the type of person to which many people are drawn because of her kindness and authenticity. We all need her to get better."

Event organizers are still seeking donations of items for the silent auction. Any local business owners or members of the UK community wishing to donate can contact Rebecca Beach at (931) 624-5939 or Leah Bayens at (859) 583-7796. Donations should be received by Nov. 30.

The Feinberg Fund Silent Auction will be open to the general public, and promises to provide guests the opportunity to pick up some top-notch gift items just in time for the holidays, while knowing they are helping a member of the UK family wage the fight of her life.

Article Date: 11/20/2009

Summary: Writing instructor Kelly Feinberg, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2009 and with metastasized cancer in her liver, will be the beneficiary of a silent auction Thursday, Dec. 3..

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In his career as a horticulturalist, Allen Bush has introduced many exciting plants from the gardens of Europe into North America. Bush, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Kentucky in 1973, is now continuing his legacy of planting new seeds at his alma mater.

Bush has secured a $1.2 million gift for the University of Kentucky, a contribution which will be enhanced by donations from Kentucky’s Research Fund. Three endowments have been established as a result of the estate gift from Allen’s father George A. Bush. They include:

• The Bush-Holbrook Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship in Arts and Sciences
• The Bush-Holbrook Endowed Chair/Professorship in English
• The Bush-Holbrook Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Arts and Sciences

UK expects to award all 3 areas no later than fall 2011, and received a partial advanced gift in 2007 to award the Bush-Holbrook Endowed Professorship to Lisa Zunshine. Bush created the professorship because he was most passionate about his experiences in the English Department while at UK, citing Wendell Berry and Gurney Norman among those who had significant impact on his education.

Bush may have made horticulture his career after leaving UK, but he is still dedicated to sowing a different kind of seed to ensure UK’s continued excellence. The story of Bush’s transformation from University of Kentucky sociology major to world-renowned horticulturalist is featured in the November/December 2009 issue of The American Gardener.

Article posted with permission from the American Horticultural Society and the The American Gardener.

Article Date: 11/19/2009

Summary: Bush may have made horticulture his career after leaving UK, but he is still dedicated to sowing a different kind of seed to ensure UK’s continued excellence.

Contact: Brian Connors

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Two faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Gang Cao and Ganpathy Murthy, have been elected 2009 Fellows of the American Physical Society (APS), in recognition of their outstanding contributions to physics. Cao's award cites his "experimental studies of electric and magnetic single-crystal transition metal-oxides," and Murthy's award recognizes his "contributions to the understanding of correlated and disordered electron systems."

Election to Fellowship in the American Physical Society is limited to no more than one half of one percent of the membership. Counting Professors Cao and Murthy, the Department of Physics and Astronomy now boasts a total of 13 APS Fellows.

Professor Joe Brill has been named by the American Physical Society as one of this year's "Outstanding Referees of the Physical Review and Physical Review Letters journals." This award recognizes outstanding service to the discipline and the APS, and is bestowed on less than 1% of active APS referees each year.

Article Date: 11/18/2009

Summary: Gang Cao and Ganpathy Murthy have been elected 2009 Fellows of the American Physical Society in recognition of their outstanding contributions to physics.

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The University of Kentucky's two ethics bowl teams traveled to Marian University in Indianapolis to compete in the 11th Annual Central States Regional Ethics Bowl. Both UK teams went 3-0 in head-to-head competition, and placed first and fourth out of the 18 teams at the event. First through fourth finishers usually move on to the the national competition. Unfortunately for our deserving UK squads, a school can send only one team to nationals. Best of luck to the UK team in the finals that take place in February of 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

View a list of the topics debated.

Ethics Bowl Participants:

Assia Amry
Ryan Belcher
Lucas Carden
Tommy Evans
Matt Finley
Jonathan Fisher
James Jones
William Martin
Leland Miller
Chaise Smith

Article Date: 11/18/2009

Summary: UK's two ethics bowl teams went to Marian University in Indianapolis to compete in the 11th Annual Central States Regional Ethics Bowl.

Contact: Brian Connors

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Psychology professor Tom Widiger will receive the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology’s Distinguished Scientist Award for 2009. The award is given to one individual a year who has made an extremely important career contribution to the science of clinical psychology. Widiger's research interests focus generally on the diagnosis and classification of mental disorders.

The Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP) was established in 1966. Its purpose is to affirm and continue to promote the integration of the scientist and the practitioner in training, research, and applied endeavors.

Article Date: 11/18/2009

Summary: Tom Widiger will receive the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology’s Distinguished Scientist Award for 2009.

Contact: Brian Connors

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Professor and Department of Political Science Chair Don Gross, who is engaged in research on legislative politics and political parties, recently had his commentary on the potentially dangerous political climate building for Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler featured in an article appearing in McClatchy Papers. Read the full article.

Article Date: 11/17/2009

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Professor Mark Fillmore, whose research specialties include behavioral pharmacology, substance abuse and behavioral neuroscience in the Department of Psychology, recently had his research on the dangers of combining caffeine and alcohol referenced in U.S. News and World Report.

View the entire article.

Article Date: 11/17/2009

Summary: Recent article details the dangerous effects of combining caffeine and alcohol.

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The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kentucky invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in experimental condensed matter physics with an intended focus on thin-film synthesis and characterization. Successful candidates are expected to establish independent research programs and strongly participate in our multidisciplinary Center for Advanced Materials, which is adding four initial tenure-track positions during 2008-11.

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and brief statements of research accomplishments and future research plans, and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to: Ms. Diane Yates - diane.yates@uky.edu, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0055.

Initial consideration of applications will begin on January 15, 2010, with an anticipated starting date of August 2010. The University of Kentucky is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University that values diversity and is located in an increasingly diverse geographical region. It is committed to becoming one of the top public institutions in the country. Women, persons with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Article Date: 11/11/2009

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Adam Jonas, an MA candidate, won the first place for graduate student competition in the 2009 Larry Webster Student Paper Contest at this year’s Annual Meeting of the Anthropologists and Sociologists of Kentucky (ASK), which was held at Murray State University last weekend. His award winning paper is titled: “The Growth Coalition and Its Opponents on the Centrepointe Project:  Does a Network Analysis Reveal the Contours of the Battle?” It was based on the paper he wrote in Dr. Mooney’s Social Movement course. Based on Dr. Mooney’s suggestions, he revised the paper and submitted to the competition. Please join us in congratulating in Adam!

Centrepointe block razing - 2008

Article Date: 11/13/2009

Summary: Adam Jonas presented - “The Growth Coalition and Its Opponents on the Centrepointe Project: Does a Network Analysis Reveal the Contours of the Battle?”

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The Department of Mathematics at the University of Kentucky invites applicants for two full-time career lecturer (non-tenure track) positions to begin August 15, 2010. The lecturers will teach freshman level mathematics courses and perform various duties associated with the lower division mathematics program. The number of courses taught each semester will be determined each year in consultation with the Chair of the Mathematics Department based on teaching needs and the expected administrative workload. The positions offer competitive salary and full benefits.

A Ph.D. in Mathematics or equivalent is required. Applications should include the standard AMS Cover Sheet for academic employment, curriculum vitae, a statement on teaching experience, evidence of excellent teaching, and at least three letters of reference.

Applications should either be submitted electronically to http://www.mathjobs.org or to:

Lecturer Hiring Committee
c/o Professor Zhongwei Shen
Department of Mathematics
719 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0027

Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2010 and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Kentucky is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University that values diversity and is located in an increasingly diverse geographical region.  It is committed to becoming one of the top public institutions in the country.  Women, persons with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. The University also supports family-friendly policies.

For more information about the positions or department, see: http://www.math.uky.edu

Article Date: 11/9/2009

Summary: The Department of Mathematics at the University of Kentucky invites applicants for two full-time career lecturer (non-tenure track) positions to begin August 15, 2010.

Contact: Brian Connors

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During Homecoming 2009, The University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame welcomed its newest inductees. The induction ceremony and dinner was held Oct. 30 in the Thoroughbred Room of the Lexington Convention Center.  In addition to four distinguished alumni, inductees included two faculty members – the first A&S faculty members to enter the college’s Hall of Fame.

The 2009 Inductees to the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame are:

Alumni

• Ernest Steele – A first generation college student, Steele attended UK following a tour of duty in World War II and the birth of his first two sons. Steele earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from UK in 1948 and 1950. He utilized this education in his life-long career as an actuary in the insurance business, working closely with former Kentucky Governor Albert B. “Happy” Chandler at Coastal States Insurance. He eventually served as president of three different insurance companies, and was the founding president of Knoxville-based Appalachian National Life Company.
• William H. Jansen, II –Jansen acquired his interest in applying anthropology to solve social problems during his time as an undergraduate at UK, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1971. He is passionate about working to better the lives of others, and feels that his connections to UK have profoundly affected his life. Now a research professor at the University of North Carolina, Jansen works to strengthen health care services and improve the health of those in the developing world. Jansen has worked in both government and non-government positions throughout his career, and currently serves as Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Zimbabwe.
• Dr. Olson Huff – Born in Eastern Kentucky, Dr. Huff attended UK to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1957. Huff joined the Air Force during medical school, serving in Vietnam as a medical duty officer. Early in his medical career, he developed an interest in influencing peoples’ actions related to health and moved to Asheville, N.C., to work for a children’s development evaluation program. Now a retired pediatrician and successful author, Huff sits on several boards and commissions, serving as chair of the Task Force on Obesity and Nutrition and co-chair of the Study Committee on Childhood Obesity.
• Sandra Helton – After earning her bachelor’s in mathematics at UK in 1971, Helton specialized in finance and planning/control at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. As an experienced corporate executive and board director, Helton has a record of inspiring business growth at large corporations such as Compaq. She has led significant strategic and financial transformations in Fortune 500 Companies, mostly recently as executive VP and CFO of Telephone and Data Systems. Currently, Helton serves on the Board of Directors for Principal Financial Group and chairs the Audit Committees for both Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and Convance Incorporated.

 
Faculty

• Wimberly Royster –Royster received his doctorate in mathematics in 1952, and served as chair of UK’s Math Department from 1963 to 1969. He was the recipient of an honorary doctorate in 2005 and has had a long and outstanding career in research and teaching, acting in various administrative positions at the University of Kentucky for more than 20 years. Royster was instrumental in securing National Science Foundation funding for UK, most recently a $26 million grant for research in the Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership in 2002. He currently works for the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation and maintains his position as professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics.
• William Y. Adams –Adams served as chair of the Department of Anthropology twice during his 26 years at UK, assisting in the development of the University Studies Program. He received his doctorate in anthropology in 1958 and was appointed professor at UK in 1966, later being named a Distinguished Professor by the College of Arts & Sciences in 1980. His expertise and lengthy publishing record have led to Adams’ status as a world-renowned expert on Nubian archaeology and history. In December of 2005, Adams was awarded the Order of the Two Niles, the highest civilian decoration given by the Sudanese government, for his lifetime of contribution and research.

For more information on the A&S Hall of Fame or to submit a nomination for 2010, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni and Giving office at 859.257.8124 or online at http://www.as.uky.edu/alumni/nomination.

Allison Elliott - UK Public Relations

Article Date: 11/4/2009

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Listen to the lecture
2009 Paul G. Blazer Lecture
Series in the Humanities
Manil Suri
"The Mathematics of Fiction" 

Click here for more information on Manil Suri.

The Blazer Lecture Series was started in 1950 by Paul G. Blazer, founder of Ashland Oil, Inc., and his wife, Georgia Blazer, the first woman to serve on the UK Board of Trustees. It was their wish that the series enlighten the thinking and challenge the assumptions of faculty, students and the community. To ensure their vision became a reality, the College of Arts and Sciences has hosted more than 100 individuals as Blazer Lecturers including an American President, several Pulitzer Prize winners, a Nobel Laureate, two ambassadors and dozens of distinguished scholars, authors and researchers.

Article Date: 11/2/2009

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Popkin's 9th Edited Volume

Jeremy Popkin has just sent me the info on his 9th edited volume, which has just seen the light, "On Diary," by Philippe Lejeune, eds. Jeremy D. Popkin and Julie Rak (Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2009). "On Diary" is a collection of essays on the writing and reading of diaries by his French friend, Philippe Lejeune, the well known French literary critic and theorist who was the keynote speaker at the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference in 2005. Along with Julie Rak (University of Alberta), Dr. Popkin worked with Philippe to select the essays for this volume and supervise the translation. Lejeune’s insightful and humorous essays should interest anyone who has ever kept a diary, used one as a research source, or read works such as Anne Frank’s diary.

Albisetti to be Recognized

Jim Albisetti will be recognized for his generous financial support of the Honors Program and UK at this year's National Philanthropy Day luncheon!

National Philanthropy Day, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, is a time to honor those who have made a great impact on our community through their philanthropic contributions. The honorees have given immeasurable amounts of time, talent and treasure to enrich the lives of others. The Honors Program will recognize Jim for his significant contributions to enhance the program and for his generosity in creating the Kate Johnson Scholarship, as well as noting his numerous other contributions throughout our UK community. National Philanthropy Day is celebrated in over 150 cities across America. The Lexington celebration will recognize 30 honorees, with over 400 guests expected to attend.

Summers New Book

Mark Summers’ new book is out in press - check it out. “A Dangerous Stir: Fear, Paranoia, and the Making of Reconstruction.” Congratulations and way to use those cartoons!

Saludos,
Francie Chassen-Lopez
Chair, Department of History

Article Date: 10/23/2009