University Communications » Internal Communications » MavWire » MavWire 05-02-2011

Faculty and associates to receive awards at annual spring meeting today

President's and provost's awards are just a few of the accolades to be bestowed at the Spring Meeting of the Faculty and Associates at 4 p.m. today, Monday, May 2, in the Rio Grande Ballroom at the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Recipients of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching are Norman Cobb, associate professor of social work, and Mindi Anderson, assistant professor of nursing.

The Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors non-tenure track instructors, goes to Jonathan Davis-Secord, senior lecturer of English.

Other awards to be presented are for distinguished teachers, distance learning, service learning, research, advising, grants, and mentoring. See a complete list of the awards. President James D. Spaniolo will provide remarks. The event is open to the public. A reception follows.

Dr. George Alexandrakis

Bioengineer wins NIH grant to help guide treatment for children with cerebral palsy

George Alexandrakis, assistant professor of bioengineering, is working to give physicians vital information that could lead to better therapy for patients with cerebral palsy.

Dr. Alexandrakis won a three-year, $1.16 million National Institutes of Health grant that will use functional near-infrared brain imaging as a tool to help guide the treatment of children with cerebral palsy. Functional near-infrared brain imaging measures the neuronal activity from the brain’s surface.

The work proposes to image how brain patterns change over the course of months while patients with cerebral palsy undergo a treatment process called constraint-induced movement therapy. Part of the NIH grant work will take place at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas and will center on testing brain patterns before treatment.

Read more about Alexandrakis' NIH grant.

Legendary celebration: Grammy Award-winning singer John Legend is the featured speaker for Graduation Celebration.

Fireworks, John Legend highlight Graduation Celebration May 13

UT Arlington honors the Class of 2011 and its achievements during Graduation Celebration at 8 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington's Founder's Square, 100 W. Abram St.

Featured speaker is Grammy Award-winning superstar John Legend, who has earned nine Grammys, including three this year. A 1999 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Legend returned in 2009 to give the commencement speech at his alma mater. His message was “Finding Your Truth: Living a Soulful Life.”

President James D. Spaniolo and Kate Aoki, an architecture graduate student representing the Class of 2011, also will speak. A Texas-sized fireworks show, food, and a special surprise for graduating students are also on the agenda.

Faculty, staff, students, friends, and family are invited to attend. No tickets are needed for this free event, but reserved seating is available for graduates and their families. Dress is casual.

Graduation Celebration is an annual event held during May commencement weekend to celebrate UT Arlington's graduating class. See the commencement schedule.

In case of inclement weather, Graduation Celebration will move to Texas Hall.

Conference champs The Maverick golf team won the Southland Conference championship last week at Waterchase Golf Club in Fort Worth. From left are, front row, Zack Fischer, Wes Worster; back row, Hunter Brown, Paul McConnell, head coach Jay Rees, assistant coach Stuart Powell, and Carson Kallis. Watch SLC videos of final round highlights and comments from coach Rees.

Join the Blazing Race 2 for a wellness walk Wednesday, May 18

Step up to the challenge of the Blazing Race 2. Join UT Arlington's faculty and staff Wednesday, May 18, for National Employee Health and Fitness Day.

Participants can walk or run a campus adventure course and receive prizes and giveaways. Take your choice of starting times at 11 a.m. or noon. The UT Arlington Wellness Committee hosts the free event.

Individual and team registration ends Monday, May 16.

Find details and registration information online or email wellness@uta.edu.

Sign up your department for the New Maverick Orientation activities fair

Departments, groups, and organizations are invited to provide information for the 2011 New Maverick Orientation activities fair, which is on the second day of each two-day orientation program this summer.

The fair, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, is a great way for incoming freshmen to learn about the resources and involvement opportunities available to them.

Activities fair dates are June 10, 14, 17, 24, and 28; July 8, 12, 19, 22, and 29; and Aug. 2, 5, and 12. Groups must be present at all dates. The fairs are 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

The deadline to sign up for the activities fair is Friday, May 6. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Space may fill up prior to the deadline. After May 6, space will be allocated only if available.

See more information and register online.

Executive Dinner speaker provides leadership insight

Ed Whitacre, former chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors and AT&T, provided his insight into leadership at the College of Business Executive Dinner on Wednesday at the Arlington Sheraton Hotel.

Watch a video of highlights from the dinner.

Enlightening contribution Luminant Energy presented a check for $30,000 to the College of Education and Health Professions on Friday to aid students in attending the Energy and Environmental Science Education Summer Institute in June. From left, are Ann Cavallo, associate dean for teacher and professional education; Kevin White, assistant professor of science education; Jerri Schooley, associate vice president for development; Tommy Neyland, Luminant outreach manager; and Robert Gentry, Luminant curriculum manager.

Early voting begins Tuesday

Vote early for the May 14 local elections by casting your ballot on campus. UT Arlington is an early voting polling site 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, May 3-5, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

For more information, see votexas.org or the Tarrant County early voting website.

Renovation of second floor in library among summer construction projects

As spring classes end, various campus construction projects will begin, including renovation on the second floor of the Central Library and a water line replacement and upgrade south of the library.

For more information, log on to Blazing Construction, a blog of Facilities Management construction and maintenance news.

Printer cartridge recycling changes

Printer cartridges are no longer being recycled through the Office of Sustainability.

Office supply stores have various recycling programs. For more information, see the printer cartridges section on the Campus Sustainability's recycling website.

University Club monthly special celebrates Cinco de Mayo on Thursday

The University Club celebrates Cinco de Mayo with its first Thursday of the month special serving chicken and beef taco salads, veggie quesadillas, pita chips and flat bread with homemade salsa and roasted corn salsa, along with churros from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, May 5. Cost is $8 per person plus tax.

The regular menu will not be available Thursday. The University Club is located on the ground level of Davis Hall.

International Internal Audit Awareness Month

May is International Internal Audit Awareness Month. Are you aware of the many services that UT Arlington’s Internal Audit Department offers? These include audits over regulatory compliance, operational, and financial matters along with consulting services and investigations. For more information, see uta.edu/internalaudit or call 2-0150.

Food for Thought: Cutting Edge Warm-Ups

Learn how to get more out of your workouts while improving function and fitness by starting off on the right foot. Free. Noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, Room 213, Maverick Activities Center. See the complete list of HR training classes.

Women's Home Improvement/Repair 101

Geared toward women who want to save money by repairing and renovating their homes on their own, but anyone is welcome. Call 2-2581 for faculty, staff discount fee of $62.50. 10 a.m.-noon, Saturdays, May 7-June 4 (no class May 28), Nuts and Bolts Hardware. Continuing Education.

Mindful Moments

Take a break from stress with Mindful Moments. Mindfulness draws on one's internal resources to cultivate awareness and to practice being present in each moment of our lives. 12:15-12:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Room 235, Business Building. Health Services, Marie Bannister, 2-2771.

Employment Information

Check out employment opportunities at uta.edu/jobs. Have questions? Call Human Resources/Employment Services at 2-3461 or TDD 2-8139, or email employment@uta.edu. The University of Texas at Arlington is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Monday, May 2

City and Regional Planning Lecture Series Sharon Zukin, right, professor of sociology at Brooklyn College and the City University of New York Graduate Center, discusses her book Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places. Free. 4:30 p.m., Room 204, Architecture Building. Urban and Public Affairs.

Tuesday, May 3

Forces of Redevelopment in DFW Sharon Zukin, author of Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places, participates in a roundtable discussion with Paul Geisel, professor emeritus of the School of Urban and Public Affairs; Theresa O’Donnell, Dallas planning director; and Jim Johnson, Fort Worth downtown redevelopment district director. Free. 3 p.m., Room 601, Nedderman Hall. Urban and Public Affairs.

Honor Society Kenneth Roemer, professor of English, is the featured speaker as Phi Kappa Phi honor society initiates 129 new members. The chapter was honored as a Phi Kappa Phi "Chapter of Excellence" in August 2010. Free and open to the public. 4:30 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Office of the Provost.

Wednesday, May 4

Developing Sustainable Urban Infrastructure to Solve Gigaton Problems John Crittenden, right, director of the Brooks Byers Institute of Sustainable Systems at Georgia Tech, presents case studies from Atlanta and Phoenix to illustrate the ability of a simulation-based decision support tool to support the decision-making in constructing more sustainable cities. Reservations. Free. 5 p.m. reception, Room 601, Nedderman Hall. 6 p.m. lecture, Room 100, Nedderman Hall. Engineering Distinguished Speaker Series.

Thursday, May 5

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Lecture Series Douglas Klahr, assistant professor in the School of Architecture, discusses "The Walls That Surround You: Sustainable Architecture." Free. 9:30 a.m., Room 115, Trimble Hall. Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Jeff Howard, 2-5119.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)

BFA exhibit showcases graduating seniors' artwork The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition in The Gallery at UTA is a showcase for recent work created by the graduating seniors of the Department of Art and Art History. The spring 2011 exhibition features the work of 52 students demonstrating a variety of concentrations including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, glass, printmaking, film/video, photography/digital imaging, and visual communication. Located in the Fine Arts Building, The Gallery at UTA is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The exhibition runs through May 14, with an opening reception at 5 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Tuesday, May 3

The Alamo at UT Arlington Grand opening for this exhibit in Second Life features a live vocal performance by Jean Munro. The Alamo at UT Arlington provides an online museum-quality experience of the Alamo’s chapel, long barrack, and surrounding grounds, featuring interactive displays throughout that provide the visitor with background information on the history, artifacts, documents, historical figures, and pop culture references to the Alamo story.Free. 4:30- 6:30 p.m. Second Life.

Wednesday, May 4

$2 Movie: Tron Legacy The son of a virtual world designer looks for his father and ends up inside his dad's digital world. Rated PG. 5:30 p.m.; also 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Planetarium, 2-1183.

Friday, May 6

Baseball Mavericks vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Free with UT Arlington ID. 6:30 p.m., Clay Gould Ballpark. Also 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, and 1 p.m. Sunday, May 8. Athletics, 2-2261.

Saturday, May 7

897 Square Group Show Gallery 76102's inaugural juried exhibition features 25 Tarrant County artists and their contemporary art ranging from 2D and 3D to installation-type work. See the list of artists. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center. 2-0365.

Softball Mavericks vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Free with UT Arlington ID. Doubleheader 1 p.m., Allan Saxe Field. Also single game Sunday, May 8. Athletics, 2-2261.

Ongoing

Combat Narratives: Stories and Artifacts from UT Arlington Veterans Artifacts, memorabilia, and gear on loan from UT Arlington military veterans and objects carried, used, or found by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor atrium, Central Library.

Exposure: Photos from the Second Battle of Fallujah Photographs from the Second Battle of Fallujah taken by UT Arlington student and Marine Corps veteran Joel Chaverri. Free. Through May 21. Sixth floor parlor, Central Library.

Gallery 76102 "Reconsidering Art History," a solo exhibit by Betsy Williamson ('06 BFA), who uses pre-existing images to create specific juxtapositions. Free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Through May 31. Gallery 76102, Fort Worth Center. 2-0365.

Six Flags Over Texas Exhibit Celebrate 50 years of an Arlington landmark. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Through Aug. 13. Special Collections, sixth floor, Central Library.

Planetarium The beauty of a starlit sky conceals the forces at work in Violent Universe. 6 p.m. Tuesdays, 1 p.m. Saturdays. See the complete Planetarium schedule, 2-1183.

(For an expanded list of events, see the UT Arlington Calendar.)