Music and Theatre Arts

Dale Taylor (emeritus) has been appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to the board of directors of the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Authority. He will represent the Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care, where he serves as chair.

English

Max Garland's poem "You Miss It" appears in the recent British anthology "Earth Shattering: ecopoems," a collection of poems — from ancient to contemporary — concerned with the environment. The anthology was published by Bloodaxe Press.

Center for International Education

Karl Markgraf recently returned from a trip to China, where he met with leaders from a number of Chinese organizations and universities. The overall goal of the trip was to help expand UW-Eau Claire’s network of institutional partnerships throughout China and to enhance the university’s international student population through that expansion.

In Beijing Markgraf met with representatives from several organizations that advise Chinese students about studying in the United States. In Guangzhou he met with representatives from Jinan University, one of UW-Eau Claire’s partner universities, and discussed ongoing collaborations in student and faculty exchange as well as new program possibilities. Markgraf also visited the Zhuhai campus of Jinan University, South China Normal University and Sichuan Normal University.

While in Guangzhou Markgraf attended a reception hosted by UW-Eau Claire alumnus Brian Goldbeck, consul general of the U.S. Embassy there. The reception allowed Markgraf to meet with leaders from the top universities in the Guangdong province as well as representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Education. More information and photos from the reception can be found online.

Condolences

Condolences to Damian O'Brien (emeritus), Admissions, whose mother, Mary O'Brien, passed away Oct. 29 in Osseo. Full obituary.

English

Max Garland's poems "Remembering Paducah" and "The Snowflake" appear in the fall 2009 issue of Arts & Letters — Journal of Contemporary Culture, which was recently released.

English

Bruce Taylor (emeritus) had his poem "A Whole Day" included on the Your Daily Poem Web site as the featured poem for Nov. 1.

Foreign Languages

Jessica Sertling Miller presented a paper titled "Pronunciation in a College-Level Beginner French Course: Teaching with Phonetics" at the 2009 Second Language Research Forum Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Michigan State University in Lansing, Mich.

Faculty/Academic Staff Forums

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will present Faculty/Academic Staff Forums this semester. The programs will be held from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. Wednesdays in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Old Library 1142. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.

▪ Nov. 4: Dr. Joseph Hupy, geography and anthropology, "Revaluating the Long Term Effects of the Vietnam War: A Contemporary Look at the Khe Sanh, Vietnam Battlefield."
▪ Nov. 11: Dr. Eric Jamelske, economics, "The First-Year Experience Program at UW-Eau Claire: Significant Resources, But Does It Work?"

A complete schedule of the Fall 2009 Forums is available online.

Music and Theatre Arts

Dr. Ethan Wickman's "Les Jeunes et les Immortels" ("The Young and the Immortal") will be premiered during a Nov. 7 Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra concert at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Wickman will introduce his composition during a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. in the chapel, and the concert will follow at 7:30 p.m. Wickman composed the piece after visiting American and German military cemeteries in France last July. Wickman said his music was inspired by "the lives laid to rest there — predominantly young lives snuffed out at ages that surreally echo the ages of my students at the university." Full story.

Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Paul Thomas is the 2009 recipient of the OWL award, which recognizes an outstanding UW-Eau Claire faculty member who best exemplifies the art and science of teaching adult returning students. Thomas will receive the award for helping "older, wiser learners" reach their academic potential. He will be recognized during a Nontraditional Student Services awards reception at 3 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Arrowhead Room of Davies Center. Full story.

Activities and Programs

Sara Thommesen was recognized with the 2009 Support Staff Recognition Award at the annual conference of the Wisconsin College Personnel Association Oct. 22-24 in Wisconsin Dells. The award recognizes support staff members on Wisconsin campuses who interact regularly with students and staff and understand their mission to serve students and their department. The recipient demonstrates genuine concern for the life and development of students, excels in job responsibilities, goes above and beyond job responsibilities and makes a significant contribution to staff with whom they serve. As a university services associate, Thommesen's responsibilities include assisting more than 240 student organizations at UW-Eau Claire. Full story.