University Communications » Internal Communications » TrailBlazer » TrailBlazer 02-19-2013

Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari

Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari finalist for president

The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named Vistasp M. Karbhari the sole finalist for the presidency of UT Arlington.

The board announced Dr. Karbhari after interviewing candidates and considering recommendations of an advisory committee that reviewed nominations and applications for the position. The candidates recently met with constituent groups at the University as part of a series of campus visits.

Karbhari is the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Prior to his current position, he served as professor and vice chairman of the Structural Engineering Department at the University of California-San Diego.

“Extraordinary leadership is crucial for our institutions, and the unique and innovative environment at UT Arlington calls for an effective and visionary leader,” Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa says. “Dr. Karbhari is extremely well suited to lead UT Arlington, and I am thrilled to welcome him to the UT System.”

Read more about Karbhari.

Job Fair Wednesday at MAC

The Spring Job Fair is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the Maverick Activities Center.

The fair, presented by the Career Center, is open to current students and alumni. Faculty and staff are invited to attend. See a list of attending employers.

Also check out the on-campus interview schedule. Companies looking for new employees include Raytheon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Target, and many more.

Full house for Mark Kelly lecture

All tickets have been claimed for Mark Kelly's appearance in the Maverick Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Texas Hall.

If you would like to attend this lecture but did not reserve a ticket, non-ticketed patrons will be seated as space permits.

No bags larger than 8.5x11 inches will be allowed in the building. Metal detectors and bag searches also will be used.

Kelly is an astronaut, retired U.S. Navy captain, best-selling author, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. As an astronaut, he flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, which he commanded on its final flight in May 2011. Kelly's identical twin brother is also an astronaut, and they are the only twins and only siblings to have both traveled in space.

He became the center of international attention after the 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Hoot and holler at Mavs' next games at College Park Center

Lend your voice to the cheering crowds when the Maverick basketball teams compete Wednesday, Feb. 20, at College Park Center. Tickets are available online at utatickets.com.

The women's team takes on New Orleans at noon while the men face UT Pan American at 7 p.m.

The men defeated Seattle University 65-63 Saturday night in Seattle. The Mavericks improved to 14-9 overall and 9-5 in the Western Athletic Conference after their sixth win in the last seven games. The team is 10-3 on the road this season, including 6-1 in the WAC.

The women claimed their first home win of the season by defeating Idaho 60-58 Thursday night at College Park Center before losing to Seattle on Saturday. The win came after a mid-week coaching change with former assistant coach Karen Blair named interim head coach.

On the road again, the women head to San Jose State for a Feb. 28 game, followed by play March 2 against Utah State. They wrap up their season at home against Denver March 7 and New Mexico State March 9.

The men take on UC Irvine in the Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, in College Park Center. The 11th annual BracketBusters pits potential NCAA championship hopefuls against each other.

More men's home games include San Jose State Feb. 28 and Utah State March 2. The last scheduled conference games are at Denver March 7 and at New Mexico State March 9.

Grab tickets for the 2013 WAC Tournament March 12-16 in Las Vegas. All-session tickets, which are good for both men's and women's games, are $165 and are available at utatickets.com, by calling 2-9595, or at the College Park Center box office. All WAC men’s and women’s teams qualify for the postseason event.

Mardi Gras madness Participants dressed up to celebrate Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday as they enjoyed New Orleans cuisine and live zydeco music at the E.H. Hereford University Center. See more photos.

Parking lot closed, bus traffic expected

One parking lot will be partially closed and traffic will be busy by College Park Center Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Lot 33—north of the Maverick Activities Center—will be closed 7 a.m.-4 p.m. for the Spring Job Fair.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., watch for a large number of school buses on Spaniolo and Center streets. They will drop off and pick up about 1,500 Arlington schoolchildren for the women's basketball game.

Apply now for Women in Leadership

Network with aspiring and current student leaders and discuss trends and critical issues facing women today at the Women in Leadership Summit 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23.

The summit is an opportunity for aspiring and current female student leaders to enhance their practical skills while fostering their positive self image.

All students can attend. Attire is business casual.

Application deadline is Wednesday, March 20. For questions, email multicultural_affairs@uta.edu.

18th Annual NASA Scholarship Pow-wow set for Saturday

Come to the 18th Annual NASA Scholarship Pow-wow for traditional dances, music, vendors, frybread, and performance competition on Saturday, Feb. 23, in the Bluebonnet Ballroom of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

The Pow-wow starts with gourd dancing at 11 a.m. The grand entry begins at 5 p.m. Albert Old Crow returns as emcee. Admission is free.

New this year is a juried art show, part of an international Idle No More movement that began in Canada in response to changes in government policies affecting First Nations, or Native American, people.

All proceeds benefit Native American Student Association scholarships.

Hello, sweetie Anthony Alexander, finance senior, samples free confections at ChocolateFest, a Valentine's Day gift of sweet treats from the Central Library.

Sign up to audition for Mavs Got Talent

Got talent? Audition for Mavs Got Talent 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Palo Duro Lounge of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Individuals or groups (up to five people) in song, dance, or other performances can perform live in front of a panel of judges or submit a two-minute recorded video of their performance. Walk-up auditions will be allowed as time permits.

The top 10 acts will compete at the Mavs Got Talent show Tuesday, March 26, in the Rosebud Theatre for a chance to win a Visa gift card valued at $150, $100, or $50.

Walk-up auditions will be allowed as time permits.

For more information, contact EXCEL Campus Activities at 817-272-2963 or excel-traditions@uta.edu.

Show Maverick Pride in virtual choir

Warm up your vocal chords and turn on your webcam for the first-ever UT Arlington Virtual Choir.

You and fellow Mavericks will be part of a special thank-you event for the 1895 Society, a group of University supporters, and as a farewell to retiring President James D. Spaniolo.

Your voice and face will be merged with hundreds of others and shown on a big screen at the March event. Don't worry about your own vocal talent; all voices will be blended together for a big choir sound.

To sing along, follow these four simple steps:

• Set up your computer. You just need Internet access, a webcam, and a microphone. Full details are on utavirtualchoir.com.

• Practice as much or as little as you want. Take as much time as you need to learn your part and rehearse.

• Record yourself. Follow the step-by-step video instructions on the screen.

• Submit your recording online.

The deadline is midnight Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Sex talk Jay Friedman educated and entertained during his presentation "The J-Spot: A Sex Educator Tells All" Thursday in the Rosebud Theatre. His appearance was sponsored by the Relationship Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Program in the Division of Student Affairs.

Police escort service available any time

The UT Arlington Police Department offers escort service at any time requested. To request a security escort, call 817-272-3381.

Maverick Ride is available to students, faculty, and staff from 7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays until 3 a.m. and is operated by students working with the campus police. The escort will take you to your car, residence hall, or nearby apartment complex. Off-campus complexes served include Campus Edge, Maverick Place, and Midtown.

Elect Her program seeks students

Do you know any students interested in running for Student Congress or other campus leadership positions? Encourage them to apply for a free student leadership training, Elect Her: UT Arlington Women Win, set for 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in the Concho Room of the E.H. Hereford University Center.

Elect Her encourages and trains young women to run for student government on campus, but men are welcome to apply. Students will learn the nuts and bolts of a student government campaign, how to develop and communicate an effective message, how to reach out to a constituency, how to win a campaign, and key leadership skills.

Applications are due Friday, March 1. Space is limited.

For questions, contact Kendra Kliesen at 817-272-2128 or kendrak@uta.edu.

Transfer Ambassadors ready to help

A new mentoring program focuses on transfer students and helping them navigate new territory.

UTA Transfer Ambassadors share advice on being a transfer student and finding academic support, campus resources, and how to become involved on campus.

Meet Transfer Ambassadors at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Room 303 of the Chemistry and Physics Building.

For more information or to sign up for the program, visit the Transfer Ambassadors' website.

Dropping in Dr. Yaba Blay, right, assistant teaching professor of Africana Studies at Drexel University, visits with Larance Delasbour, biology senior, and Tierra Chatman, public relations senior. Blay lectured last Tuesday on "One Drop: Fact, Fiction, or Fate," which was part of Black History Month.

Find first-year help through In Reach Maverick Mentors

Looking for a mentor? The In Reach Maverick Mentor Program is seeking students starting their college career.

The program encourages academic excellence, enhances self-awareness, and promotes personal growth by providing caring guidance from qualified faculty and staff, tools and opportunities to develop academically, and awareness of the University’s student support services and resources.

First-year students can apply at uta.edu/diversity.

For more information, contact Zeb Strong in the Office of Human Resources at mentoring@uta.edu.

Campus network upgrade due March 10

The Office of Information Technology will conduct maintenance on network equipment connecting the main UTA campus and the Arlington Regional Data Center (ARDC) between 2-7 a.m. Sunday, March 10.

Any service interruption should last between five and 15 minutes.

Campus Internet connections and student email will not be impacted.

Connectivity to resources housed at ARDC—MyMav, access to campus web pages, faculty/staff exchange email, and file servers—will be affected.

Late spring graduation applications accepted

Undergraduates can still apply for spring graduation through Monday, Feb. 25, but the candidate’s name may not appear in the program and the candidate may not receive commencement ceremony tickets from the respective college or school. The late graduation fee is $60. The undergraduate application for graduation is available online.

Master's and doctoral candidates for graduation can apply late through Thursday, Feb. 28, with an additional $60 late fee. The application for graduation for master's and doctoral students is online. Learn more about graduation requirements.

Before students apply to graduate, they should verify with their academic adviser that they are eligible to graduate at the end of the graduation application term. The fee is not refundable or transferable to a future term if a student applies and is then found to be ineligible to graduate.

Freshman progress reports ready; midterm updates in by March 6

Freshman progress report grades are being added to your MyMav Student Center now through Sunday, Feb. 24. Freshmen should check their grades in MyMav and seek guidance from an academic adviser with any concerns about academic performance. A list of academic advising offices is online.

UT Arlington will begin collecting midterm progress reports Monday, Feb. 25, not only for freshmen but also for a number of other students. If you receive midterm progress reports, look for a notice sent to your UT Arlington email address. The majority of midterm progress report grades will be in your MyMav grade roster by Wednesday, March 6. Unlike final grades, you can see your progress grades as soon as they are entered. Check your MyMav Student Center regularly for the next few weeks to see how you are doing in each course.

Print your own enrollment verification

Enrollment verification for the spring semester is available online. To print your verification, log on to MyMav, go to Student Center, and click on Request Enrollment Verification to access the National Student Loan Clearinghouse.

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Clavier Series Piano Recital A recital featuring UTA piano students. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Maverick Speakers Series Astronaut Mark Kelly, "Endeavoring to Build a Better America." 7:30 p.m., Texas Hall. Free, but tickets required. Premium seating $25. Maverick Speakers Series.

Wednesday, Feb. 20

Women's Basketball Mavericks vs. New Orleans. Arlington Independent School District Field Day with approximately 1,500 sixth-grade students and teachers attending. $3 tickets with student ID. Noon, College Park Center. Athletics.

Men's Basketball Mavericks vs. UT Pan American. Coaches vs. Cancer Awareness Night. $3 tickets with student ID. 7 p.m., College Park Center. Athletics.

Your Journey, Our Legacy Journey through the different paths of famous Africans and African Americans and learn how they defined success. An open discussion about different paths is facilitated by Schnavia Hatcher, director of the Center for African American Studies. Free 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Black History Month.

Friday, Feb. 22

Baseball Mavericks vs. Northeastern. $3 tickets with student ID. 6:30 p.m.; noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; Clay Gould Ballpark. Athletics.

Faculty Vocal Recital Jennifer Ciobanu, adjunct instructor of music, performs. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Friday Night Film: Red Dawn Free popcorn; other concessions available. $1 cash, $1.50 with credit card. 8 p.m., Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. EXCEL Campus Activities.

Saturday, Feb. 23

National TRIO Day Celebration The week-long celebration is culminated on the UT Arlington campus by the DFW Alliance of TRIO programs. Schedule. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. UT Arlington TRIO program.

NASA Scholarship Pow-wow Gourd dancing at 11 a.m., open dancing at 2 p.m., grand entry at 5 p.m. Free. Noon-10 p.m., Bluebonnet Ballroom, E.H. Hereford University Center. Native American Student Association.

Sunday, Feb. 24

Military Science Hall of Honor The Cadet Corps Alumni Council Hall of Honor ceremony recognizes outstanding alumni. The Carlisle Cannons will fire three volleys at approximately 1:45 p.m. Military Science.

Monday, Feb. 25

Downtown Arlington Music Monday A lunchtime concert featuring music students. Free lunch served after the concert. Free. 12:15 p.m., First Baptist Church, 300 S. Center St. Music.

Fort Worth Regional Science/Engineering Fair Students in grades six-12 from 10 counties participate in the study of science, mathematics, and engineering. The colleges of Science and Engineering provide learning activities for participants. Free. Project viewing 3-7 p.m., College Park Center. Fort Worth Regional Science/Engineering Fair, Engineering, Science.

Percussion Ensemble Concert Features percussion performers and ensembles. Free. 7:30 p.m., Irons Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building. Music.

Coming Up

Black History Month Black History Month Wolf premiere, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26, Planetarium; and "Exploring Our Legacy," 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, Rosebud Theatre, E.H. Hereford University Center. Black History Month.

Jazz: The Perfect Cultural Exchange Model Tim Ishii, professor of music, director of jazz studies, and associate chair of the Music Department, talks about the International Jazz and Youth Exchange. He and Dan Cavanagh, associate professor of jazz studies, perform jazz classics. Free. 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, sixth floor parlor, Central Library. Focus on Faculty.

Ongoing

Self-congratulatory Nonsense A solo installation by Joshua Elliott. Gallery hours 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays; 4-8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays. Through Saturday, March 30. Fort Worth Center, Gallery 76102.

Planetarium Take a trip in the universe to discover how scientists use the entire electromagnetic spectrum to view the universe in Cosmic Colors. 1 p.m. Saturdays. Planetarium.

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

Baseball sweep: J.M. Twichell (25) receives congratulations after pounding out five hits, scoring six runs, and adding three runs batted in as the Mavericks swept Louisiana Tech in the season-opening, three-game series.

Baseball opens with three wins

After winning a pair of one-run games, the baseball Mavericks rolled to a 9-3 win over Louisiana Tech on Sunday to sweep the season-opening series at Clay Gould Ballpark.

UT Arlington plays at UT Austin at 6 p.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 19, before hosting Northeastern Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23.

Softball off to 4-1 start

The softball team opened the season by winning four of five games in the Central Florida Invitational last weekend.

The Mavericks posted wins over Buffalo, Florida A&M, Stetson, and South Carolina with their only loss a 1-0 decision to host UCF.

Next action for the team is in the Texas Shootout at San Marcos Friday-Sunday, Feb. 22-24.

WAC indoor track championships start Thursday

UT Arlington men’s and women’s teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 21-23, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Last weekend at the Sooner Invitational, Robert Gribble was second in the men’s 3000-meter run while Hannah Nilsson was second in the women’s mile.

Movin' Mavs at Alabama tournament this weekend

The Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball team competes in the University of Alabama Tournament Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23, as they face Alabama, Auburn, and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Coach Doug Garner’s squad is 11-1 in the college division and 21-5 overall.

Women down Air Force to get first tennis win

The women’s tennis team picked up its first win with a 4-3 triumph over Air Force on Sunday. The Mavericks, now 1-2, play at Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 23.

The men are also 1-2 after losing to 18th-ranked Baylor on Saturday and will play at UT Austin on Thursday, Feb. 21.

Golfers tie for eighth in first spring outing

Riley Fleming shot four over par and tied for 12th as the golf team opened the spring season by tying for eighth place in a field of 14 at the UT San Antonio Oak Hills Invitational last week.

The Mavericks compete at the Bayou City Collegiate Championships in Houston Friday-Sunday, Feb. 22-24.

Sign up for flag football, table tennis, softball

Intramural entries for 4-on-4 flag football are due Wednesday, Feb. 20, and table tennis entries are due Thursday, Feb. 21.

Entries for softball teams are due Wednesday, Feb. 27.

(For more sports news, go to utamavs.com, uta.edu/movinmavs, or uta.edu/campusrec.)