From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
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Four dean candidates for the School of Architecture & Design to give presentations
LAWRENCE – Four candidates will give public presentations in a bid to be the next dean of the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. Three presentations will occur on campus, and one will be fully remote. Presentations will take place Feb. 15, 18, 21 and 24.
Ash Wilson named director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
LAWRENCE — Ash Wilson has led strategic initiatives and been a champion for LGBTQ students since their arrival at the University of Kansas five years ago. Wilson will continue doing that and then some as they step into the role of director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity. Wilson started as director for the center Jan. 24.
Leadership change announced for School of Public Affairs & Administration
LAWRENCE — Stacey Swearingen White, director of the School of Public Affairs & Administration at the University of Kansas, has accepted a position as dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She will remain at KU through the spring semester. John Colombo, interim dean for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, has named Marilu Goodyear as SPAA’s interim director to lead the school through the transition.
Forty-nine KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring
LAWRENCE — This spring, 49 KU students will receive an Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on research and creative projects with mentors from KU. Recipients include Kansans from Brown, Cherokee, Douglas, Ford, Harvey, Johnson, Marion, Riley and Shawnee counties.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Evan Riggs, Office of the Provost, 785-864-1085, [email protected], @KUProvost
Four dean candidates for the School of Architecture & Design to give presentations
LAWRENCE – Four candidates will give public presentations in a bid to be the next dean of the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. Three presentations will occur on campus, and one will be fully remote. Members of the KU community are encouraged to attend each candidate’s public presentations and provide feedback to the search committee.
The name of each candidate will be announced approximately two business days before their respective campus visits. The first candidate was announced Thursday. Public presentations for each of the candidates are scheduled for the following dates:
1. Michael McClure: 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, The Forum at Marvin Hall
2. Candidate 2: 2:45-3:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, The Forum at Marvin Hall
3. Candidate 3: 3-4 p.m. Feb. 21, Zoom webinar, details to be shared later
4. Candidate 4: 3-4 p.m. Feb. 24, The Forum at Marvin Hall.
The search committee, led by Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education & Human Sciences, asked candidates to describe their approach to leadership, how they emphasize design thinking and to describe the key areas of emphasis for the school over the next five years. Recordings of the presentations will be available to view the following day. Presentations are expected to be 30-45 minutes, with a short question-and-answer session to follow. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to offer their impressions and observations of each candidate. Feedback will be due by 5 p.m. March 1.
“The search elicited a pool of high-quality candidates from all over the world,” Ginsberg said. “The finalists all bring strong scholarly and applied experiences, and each one emphasizes design thinking that fits with the needs for leading the school into the future.”
The approximately 800 undergraduates, 200 graduate students and 40 faculty who comprise the School of Architecture & Design share a commitment to excellence. The dean will strategically and collaboratively lead the school in its scholarly and educational contributions.
The KU Department of Architecture is internationally known for its high-impact programs in design-build, health and wellness, historic preservation, participatory design, urban design, and experiential learning in immersive study abroad and global professional internship programs. The KU Department of Design has an established legacy of preparing multidisciplinary practitioners to impact the world through a creative, solutions-based and human-centered approach. Experiential, professionally focused programs engage students in the practice of design-thinking and visualization to create beautiful, innovative and responsible solutions that respond to human needs and enhance the quality of everyday life.
Faculty in the school lead and contribute to a multitude of strategic initiatives such as:
• Center for Design Research
• Dotte Agency
• Institute for Health + Wellness
• Institute for Smart Cities
• Think Wrong.
More information about the school and the search committee can be found online.
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Contact: Evan Riggs, Office of the Provost, 785-864-1085, [email protected], @KUProvost
Ash Wilson named director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
LAWRENCE — Ash Wilson has led strategic initiatives and been a champion for LGBTQ students since their arrival at the University of Kansas five years ago. Wilson will continue doing that and then some as they step into the role of director of the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity (SGD).
“I’m excited to join (the SGD) in their excellent work serving queer and trans students of all identities,” Wilson said. “Working to enhance and enact the mission, vision and pillars of the (SGD) in dynamic ways brings me to work each day.”
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity advocates for livability, fosters wellness, critically educates and creates connections with and for LGBTQ students, faculty and staff alongside the broader KU community. Wilson started as director for the center Jan. 24.
Wilson will lead SGD’s efforts to provide social justice-based education, resources, programming and support that centers LGTBQ students at the intersection of identity.
“I look forward to establishing and furthering relationships with students, staff and faculty across the institution,” Wilson said. “In my three weeks in the center, it’s clear we have a stellar staff dedicated to doing the hard work of transforming the campus for our QT community.”
Wilson serves as the president of Sexuality and Gender Diversity Faculty Staff Council (SGDFSC), representing constituent interests, organizing the executive board, and providing support to faculty and staff on campus. They also represent SGDFSC and communicate progress to external audiences, which includes the chancellor, provost and acting vice provost for diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging.
“I am excited to welcome Ash to their new role,” said Kevin Joseph, assistant vice provost in Student Affairs. “Ash’s advocacy, campus and community engagement and strategic vision will prove beneficial to ensuring our QT students are supported and celebrated. I look forward to witnessing SGD’s continued growth under their leadership.”
Wilson came to KU in 2017 and served as an assistant director of Student Housing where they worked to support those most marginalized. Lewis Hall launched gender-inclusive housing in the 2017-18 school year, and Wilson was central to the project upon arriving at KU.
“I’ve worked with trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students to find supportive and safe living arrangements,” Wilson said. “I helped adapt housing procedure to make housing assignments more inclusive, created various social programs to serve the QT population, as well as created educational opportunities to train 200-plus staff. Building a community, hosting social gatherings and being a model for the QT community has been a hallmark of my time here.”
Wilson completed their bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from State University New York at Potsdam before obtaining their master’s degree in student affairs in higher education with a concentration in diversity, equity and cultures from Miami University. Wilson also earned a graduate certificate in women, gender and sexuality studies at KU while working in housing.
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Contact: Ruth Dewitt, School of Public Affairs & Administration, 785-864-2554, [email protected], @KUSPAA
Leadership change announced for School of Public Affairs & Administration
LAWRENCE — Stacey Swearingen White, director of the School of Public Affairs & Administration at the University of Kansas, has accepted a position as dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She will remain at KU through the spring semester.
John Colombo, interim dean for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, has named Marilu Goodyear as SPAA’s interim director to lead the school through the transition.
The position is not new to Goodyear, having served as SPAA director from 2007 to 2014. She has also served in several leadership roles at the university, most recently as the associate vice chancellor at the KU Edwards Campus. In announcing her appointment, Colombo called Goodyear a proven leader.
Swearingen White, professor of public affairs & administration, has served in many roles throughout her 24 years at KU. She was hired as a faculty member in the urban planning program in 1998 and served as the program’s director from 2013 to 2019. Under her leadership, the program joined SPAA, strengthening the school’s reputation for graduating the next generation of leaders to serve communities on the local level. She was selected by the school’s faculty to serve as the SPAA director in 2019 when then-director Rosemary O’Leary stepped down to take leave and work with the Peace Corps in strengthening academic scholarship in developing countries.
Swearingen White was a co-founder of and director of academic programs for KU’s Center for Sustainability. She also served as a KU faculty fellow in the Office of Student Affairs, where she led a universitywide study determining levels of food insecurity among the student population. She has held several leadership roles in the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and is active in the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. She has received several teaching and research awards during her time at KU.
“While we are sorry to see Stacey leave, we congratulate her on her appointment,” Goodyear said. “The fact that the SPAA director was chosen from a national search to lead the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, Chicago, speaks to the quality of our school’s reputation. We have been leaders in not only local government, but in urban planning for years. Their choice shows they see Stacey is well-equipped to lead them to achieve their future goals. While it’s never easy to say goodbye to a colleague and friend, knowing she will continue in the field and continue to work as a partner on the national stage makes it easier.”
Swearingen expressed appreciation for her time at KU.
“I am truly grateful for all the opportunities KU has given me,” she said. “While it is difficult to leave students, friends and colleagues for this next chapter, I am confident the School of Public Affairs & Administration is on a solid footing for continued success in the future.”
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Contact: Matt Downen, Center for Undergraduate Research, [email protected],
Forty-nine KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for spring
LAWRENCE — This spring, 49 KU students will receive an Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRA). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on research and creative projects with mentors from KU.
Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the applications based on the merit of the applicant’s proposal and a recommendation from the mentor.
“These students explore innovative ideas through projects in different disciplines at KU,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and associate professor of geology. “With the support of their mentors, these students are learning the skills and tools of their disciplines to make important contributions to their fields of study.”
The Center for Undergraduate Research will soon be taking applications for the summer and fall 2022 UGRA competition. The deadline for student proposals will be March 24. Online guidance and individual advising appointments are available to help students prepare strong applications. More information can be found at the Center for Undergraduate Research website here: https://ugresearch.ku.edu/student/fund/ugra.
Kansas students receiving awards for the spring of 2022 are listed below by county. A full list of students who made their names available is available online.
Brown County
1. Camryn Lowe, a senior from Horton: “The Development of Complex Syntax in Children Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” mentored by Jena McDaniel, Life Span Institute.
Cherokee County
1. Morgan Cassidy, a senior from Columbus: “Investigation of CP-Violation via the Top-Higgs Yukawa Interaction for High-Energy Muon Collisions,” mentored by Kyoungchul Kong, physics & astronomy.
Douglas County
1. Chris Acker, a senior from Lawrence: “Do Higher Incarceration Rates Increase Unemployment?,” mentored by Dietrich Earnhart, economics.
2. Emalee Andrews, a senior from Lawrence: “Identification of CRH Dense Brain Regions in the Fore- and Mid- brain of Pair Bonded Male and Female Prairie Voles,” mentored by Adam Smith, pharmacology & toxicology.
3. Cory Bestwick, a senior from Lawrence: “Vancomycin vs. Probiotic Prophylaxis in Patients at Risk for Clostridium Difficile,” mentored by Brittany Melton, pharmacy practice.
4. Ashlee Brown, a senior from Lawrence: “Impact of Perceiver’s Race, Diversity Statements, and Resume Presentation on Applicant Evaluations,” mentored by Monica Biernat, psychology.
5. Monica Can, a senior from Lawrence: “How Cultural Differences Influence The Design Of Mobile Apps: A Case Study Between Unites States (U.S.) And Vietnamese Mobile Apps,” mentored by Hannah Park, design.
6. Julianne Dillon, a senior from Lawrence: “Politically Motivated Self-Censorship in French Universities,” mentored by Brian Lagotte, global & international studies.
7. Abbey Doyle, a senior from Lawrence: “Establishing a Culture of Writing: Bridging the Gap between Professor and Multilingual Student Misconceptions about Writing Centers,” mentored by John Poggio, educational psychology.
8. Charles Herro, a junior from Lawrence: “Far-Right Online Forums in a Post-Trump Era: Internet Culture and Memes,” Tracey LaPierre, sociology.
9. Renee Kang, a junior from Lawrence: “Effects of Time Pressure in Probability Judgments and Choice under Context Effects,” mentored by Tim Pleskac, psychology.
10. Margaret Lockwood, a senior from Lawrence: “Illuminating the Unseen: Microbial Exploration through Mixed Media Expression,” mentored by Ben Sikes, ecology & evolutionary biology.
11. Logan Longacre, a senior from Lawrence: “Are Low-Latitude Cloud Properties Changing with Tropical Expansion?,” mentored by Justin Stachnik, atmospheric science.
12. Lena Mose, a junior from Lawrence: “Kansas Latina Legacies,” mentored by Elizabeth Esch, American studies.
13. Margo Stokebrand, a senior from Lawrence: “Pollution in China,” mentored by Brian Lagotte, global & international studies.
Ford County
1. Laura Malagon-Palacios, a senior from Garden City: “TRIO Parental School Involvement During Online School and Their Mental Health Status,” mentored by Sabrina Gregersen, Center for Educational Opportunity Programs.
Harvey County
1. Kailene Hamilton, a senior from Hesston: “Evictions in Lawrence,” Melinda Lewis, social welfare.
Johnson County
2. Marilyn Curtis, a senior from Olathe: “How Cultural Differences Influence the Design Of Mobile Apps: A Case Study Between Unites States (U.S.) And Vietnamese Mobile Apps,” mentored by Robert Fiorentino, linguistics.
3. Rachel Hall, a senior from Lenexa: “Palestinians’ Right to Water: Impact of Israeli Settlements on Palestinians’ Water Access,” mentored by Brian Lagotte, Global & International Studies.
4. Megan Heeney, a senior from Lenexa: “The Interaction of Labor Market Demands and Automation Processes: A Task-Based Analysis of Automation in the Japanese Transportation Industry,” mentored by Brian Lagotte, global & international studies.
5. Amanda Hertel, a senior from Shawnee: “Tau Protein and Lipid Dysregulation: Potential Role in Alzheimer’s Disease Progression,” mentored by Prajnaparamita Dhar, chemical & petroleum engineering.
6. Madison Holloway, a senior from Overland Park: “Web Dream,” mentored by Megan Kaminski, English.
7. Logan Honeycutt, a senior from Overland Park: “First-principles Calculations of Multivalent Ions in Vanadium Oxide for High-performing Battery Cathodes,” mentored by Hartwin Peelaers, physics & astronomy.
8. Bethlehem Kelecha, a junior from Olathe: “Chinese Economic Influence in Africa: Does Trade Dependency Create Political Dependency?,” mentored by Jack Zhang, political science.
9. Natalie Lamb, a senior from Lenexa: “Perceptions of Deserved Parental Leave for Adoptive and Birth Parents,” mentored by Monica Biernat, psychology.
10. Gavin Mullin, a senior from Overland Park: “Constructing a Performance-based Model Using Cognitive Network and Affective Science,” mentored by Michael Vitevitch, psychology.
11. Austin Nguyen, a senior from Overland Park: “Campanian Cornus Fossil Fruits: A Look into the Cretaceous Diversification of Cornaceae,” mentored by Brian Atkinson, ecology & evolutionary biology and Biodiversity Institute.
12. Natalie Nickels, a junior from Lenexa: “Researching How to Catalogue and Store 3D Scans in Archaeology and its Applications,” mentored by Frederic Sellet, anthropology.
13. Harrison Polen, a senior from Overland Park: “Export Abilities in Landlocked African Countries: How Does Political Stability, Natural Resource Access, and the Economic Freedom Index Score Play a Role?,” mentored by Brian Lagotte, global & international studies.
14. Lauren Prehn, a junior from Overland Park: “A Comparison of Parent-Report Social Communication Assessments in School-Age Children with ASD,” mentored by Meghan Davidson, speech-language-hearing: sciences & disorders.
15. Miguel Rivera, a senior from Overland Park: “Depression Severity as Indicated by Vocal Pitch, Word Choice, and Response Latency in Gastrointestinal Patients,” mentored by Jeffrey Girard, psychology.
16. Kate Woods, a senior from Prairie Village: “Discovery of Aspergillus nidulans Secondary Metabolites That Block Quorum Sensing in the Pathogenic Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” mentored by Josephine Chandler, molecular biosciences.
Marion County
1. Abigail Driggers, a senior from Hillsboro: “Prediction Versus Integration in Listening Comprehension: Autism Spectrum Disorder,” mentored by Meghan Davidson, speech-language-hearing.
Riley County
1. Samuel Clark, a senior from Manhattan: “How Permanent are Sexual Identity Labels? Is Label Permanency Related to Changes in Sexual Attraction?,” mentored by Michael Vitevitch, psychology
Shawnee County
1. Alyssa Morrell, a junior from Topeka: “Investigating Female Predisposition to Musculoskeletal Disease Through in Vitro Spheroid Models of Meniscal Fibrocartilage,” mentored by Jennifer Robinson, chemical & petroleum engineering.
2. Emma Scott, a senior from Topeka: “Native Korean Speakers’ Acquisition of the English Progressive,” mentored by Alison Gabriele, linguistics.
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