Bryant A&S Magazine Fall 17

A Magazine of Bryant University’s College of Arts & Sciences

STUDENT PROFILE Drew Phelan ‘16 When Drew Phelan first entered Bryant University in 2013 thinking about possible careers in Biology or even Human Resource Management, she n ever im agin ed that within a couple of years she’d be working in a key lab at Massachusetts General Hospital looking for ways to bust tumors. How did that happen? According to her, it was largely through the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Reid, a pr o fesso r an d r esear cher in the Science and Technology Department at Bryant.

“God bless Chris Reid,” says Drew. “I would never have been able to do it without him.”

The “it” she’s talking about was the ability to gain the high order technical skills in biochemistry and molecular biology, and perhaps as important, the confidence to compete for, and ultimately to be hired to work in prestigious research positions such as the one at MGH. That Professor Reid was able to be her guiding star shouldn’t surprise anyone who is familiar with his work or hers. One of Bryant’s most prolific grant writers and researchers, he’s currently working on three projects, one of which accounts for much of what is done in the Department’s laboratories. The Rhode Island INBRE grant, connected with the National Institute for Health Idea Programs, consists of multi-disciplinary biomedical research in search of novel antibiotics. So far Dr. Reid and others who were awarded the grant (members

of the Chemistry department at Brown University, along with undergraduate students including Drew from Bryant and Brown) have produced a paper which has been accepted in a top-tier refereed journal, and have also been awarded a U.S. patent for their work on new tools to fight infections such as pneumonia and MRSA. Reid, who is Principal Investigator, describes his role as one that straddles chemistry to solve biological problems.

He is also Co-Principal Investigator on a grant made by the Rhode Island Science and Technical Advisory Council. This group, consisting of Chris and several professors from the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, is figuring out ways to detect changes in the metabolism of small unicellular predators found in the ocean, in this case, Narragansett Bay. These are organisms that are low but important in the food chain, and knowledge about some of their behaviors, especially during starvation conditions, ultimately may help to determine the health of the Bay. Just started in June 2017, successful data collection for this project will enhance the team’s position to secure a larger, more comprehensive grant.

Dr. Reid is also a participant in a statewide collaborative National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant. This is another collaboration with scientists from URI, Brown, and other undergraduate institutions in RI. Together, a

Issue 5, Fall 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Student Profile Drew Phelan….………………......1-2 On The Value of the Liberal Arts……….....……...............2 Around the Departments……………...3-8 Internships, Jobs, and Careers……………….…....….9 Art & Science of Love Spring Event……………….……....…. 9 New Faculty………….... 10-12 Nobel Prizes From Our Faculty’s Perspectives…............. 12-13 Student Clubs & Orgs…14-15 3rd Annual Block Party Memories in Pictures…………….............16

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Layout and Design: Kimberly Keyes Edited by: Bradford Martin and Wendy Samter

multidisciplinary team of scientists that includes Reid is studying the coastal ecosystem of Narragansett Bay and developing low cost nano-based sensors for monitoring marine environments.

(If you would like to get a glimpse of one of Dr. Reid’s labs, go to Facebook: Bryant Microbial Glycomics Lab).

It was through activities such as these that Drew got her first experience in research at Bryant. Ultimately, she completed an honors capstone thesis, normally of four years’ duration – which she completed in two and a half years – along with three other projects. She became a key player in the INBRE project mentioned above which may have ultimately stimulated her to pursue her mission in the present position at Mass. General. As she states, “The search for antibiotics has hit a brick wall. We can find new compounds.”

As to the role of her Professor at the time? “Chris w ill alw ays be my favorite Principal Investigator. He would sit there and either hold your hand or drag you through or both until you understood the key concepts. This was especially important to me as I only had the two and a half years to do the four year honors program. He and the all the faculty were just phenomenal at taking a small program like the one at Bryant and getting students to go in the direction they wanted.”

When queried about the Bryant University science programs, Drew states, “The science programs at Bryant will provide you with the confidence you need. Conducting research with faculty has been a huge resume builder for me, especially when I was

“The liberal arts are the building blocks of the competent mind.”

Cecilia Gaposchkin, Associate Professor of History and Assistant Dean of Pre-Major Advising, Dartmouth College.

interviewing for positions at MGH and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (Worcester). A lot of the candidates with whom I was competing – even from huge institutions like UMass, NYU, Cornell, and the University of Chicago – didn’t have backgrounds like this. Their programs were actually too large. Not one person had the experience I had. It was a major confidence builder.”

This combination of professor and student involved in high profile research is not at all atypical at Bryant. Although Chris Reid is especially active in successfully securing grants and conducting student-involved research, he is only one of several who fit this profile in the Department of Science and Technology. Look at studies being conducted in the department by professors such as Blais, Leng, Hokeness, Langlois, McNally, Yang …and you‘ll also see the names of multiple students who are co-authors and participants.

At Bryant, in addition to their primary career goals, students are prepared to pursue interests. Drew is a typical example. In addition to her position as a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, she has been appointed as District Director to recently elected state Senator Paul Feeney. In this position she will handle concerns of citizens in the district. To a large extent she credits her education at Bryant and her ability to work so closely with faculty for her dual-career success. “It was my professors who helped me develop into the scientist and political activist I now am.”

“Businesses want workers who have the ability to think, the ability to write, the ability to understand the cultural or historical context of whatever business decision they’re making,” Rachel Reiser, Assistant Dean, Questrom School of Business, Boston University

“Young people do need to enter the job market with strong marketable skills that include the technical skills needed to both do the work they are first given and to pursue a career in that field, but they also need a solid liberal arts education that teaches them how to learn new things quickly.”

Marc Tucker, President, National Center on Education and the Economy Why Study Arts and Sciences At Bryant?

The comments from educators and experts on business and industry below speak to the value of core skills – oral and written communication, critical thinking, persuasive reasoning and the ability to construct an argument, the ability to conduct research, intercultural competence, ethical reasoning – that are the outcomes of a solid liberal arts education.

At Bryant University, the dedicated faculty in our College of Arts & Sciences offer students a high level of close personal attention and mentoring designed to ensure that they emerge from four years in Smithfield with those core competencies in abundance. The business minor that Arts & Sciences majors fulfill provides an additional layer of practical, technical knowledge that gives our students the confidence to apply and transfer their skills to a variety of professional settings, to study for an advanced degree, and to their lives as citizens in the larger society.

Twenty-one years here, as well as the key metric that 99% of our students have a full-time job or are enrolled in graduate school within the first six months after graduation, have convinced me that this works and of the great value of a degree from Bryant University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Brad Martin, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

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Fall 2017

~Around the Departments~ APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY Haley Wood ‘19 I chose psychology as my major because it is a broad field that I can apply to many aspects of my personal and professional life.

Bryant’s Applied Psychology program is preparing me to thrive in the real world after graduation and is turning me into a well-rounded student with multiple options for life after college.

Next year, I plan on getting an internship at a children’s hospital and doing job shadowing with a school counselor. After college, I’ll look for a job as a child life specialist, and will eventually earn my masters and doctoral degrees so I can help those in need.

I have truly loved all of my psychology classes and professors.

Class sizes are small, with a maximum of 35 students, which allows for a more intimate classroom experience with classmates and professors. The new Academic Innovation Center is a great addition to campus. Classrooms are modernized and chic, with various lighting settings, windows in each room, and whiteboards from the floor to the ceiling. Many rooms have tables on the exterior of the room designed for group work. One of my favorite experiences in the AIC was my Child and Adolescent Development course. A few times during the semester, toddlers and children came into the classroom to play so we could observe what we were learning in action. In a normal classroom, this would not be possible. The size and setup of the classrooms allowed everyone to either observe from a comfortable distance, or get right down on the floor and play with the children.

The psychology professors are always available to provide additional assistance on finding internships, study tips, or helping me have a better understanding of class material. Out of all of the professors I have had here at Bryant, the psychology professors make class the most relatable. Whether I am learning about the effects of stress on my health, how athletes are more likely to succeed in academics, or the causes and effects of mental health disorders, I walk away from the classroom with new information that I can apply to my life and use to better the lives of people around me.

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT Catherine Benetti, ‘18

When it came time for me to choose which university I would attend, my primary consideration was which school offered the best Communication Program. I compared a number of programs and determined that Bryant’s Communication Department offered me a variety of career paths and gave me the best chance for future success. What particularly resonated with me was the connection students had with the faculty in the Communication Department. Stu den ts r eceive atten tio n an d guidance from the start when they take the Introduction to Communication course. They are asked about their goals and career path interests.

Professors in the Department get to know the students on a first-name basis and develop relationships with them throughout their time at Bryant. They even have a welcoming reception where new and current students meet with professors in a friendly atmosphere. This gathering in particular not only makes students feel welcome, but provides them with a strong sense of belonging.

Another thing I liked about the Communication Department is the expansive alumni network. At least once a year, students have the

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opportunity to have lunch and interact with successful alumni working in communication-related fields. I myself have taken advantage of this opportunity. It is tremendously rewarding to be able to speak with young adults who have taken the same courses I am taking and who have been in my seat. Witnessing the small community of this Department come together to produce such successful individuals makes me continuously strive to reach my potential. When you have that in a dedicated faculty such as Bryant’s Communication Department, learning is exciting and adventurous. Our Department consists of professors who not only pass on their wisdom to students, but also care about their students’ aspirations. They will meet with individuals outside of class, help them develop a plan for their future, and even provide students with contact information of alumni or previous colleagues. Faculty in the Communication Department are compassionate and provide a foundation for students to excel at Bryant and throughout their careers.

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~Around the Departments~ Biology Kristie VosWinkel ‘18 The Biology major in the College of Arts & Sciences at Bryant University has provided me with the framework needed to pursue my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant. Attending lectures presented by professors in the Physician Assistant program at Bryant University has given me an understanding of how graduate school lectures will be structured. The close relationships I have built with the Biology professors here have allowed me to get a personalized education. This has presented me with the opportunity to engage in a research project specific to my interest, “The Perception of Antibiotic Use in the United States” on which I will be working in close collaboration with Professor Kirsten Hokeness. My interest in this subject was initially sparked in an Anatomy and Physiology II lab during the spring semester of my junior year.

My interest in Antibiotics prompted me to apply for an internship at the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine in Hanoi, Vietnam.

I spent three weeks in the surgical department at a hospital for underprivileged patients whose primary form of medicine was Chinese as opposed to western. I was taught cupping, acupuncture, massage therapy, and herbal medicine. I was also given the chance to provide assistance in numerous surgeries. The Hanoi experience allowed me to expand my knowledge of science beyond the classroom.

Bryant’s Study Abroad program also paired me with schools where I could take science classes, thus ensuring that I could study abroad as a Biology major and still graduate on time. At Griffith University in Australia, I was able to take Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology utilizing a Human Cadaver lab. Having a culturally diverse academic background makes me a well-rounded candidate for graduate programs. In my senior year at Bryant University, I could not be happier with my decision to enroll as a Biology major and feel confident that Bryant has provided me the framework needed to continue my education in a Physician Assistant Master’s program.

What It’s Like Being an LCS Major Here at Bryant

Danielle Veith ‘19 I'll be the first to admit that I was hesitant to come to Bryant for an LCS major; being surrounded by business majors and having to have some kind of business minor of my own sounded intimidating. However, within my first semester, I found my place in the LCS community and realized that the College of Arts & Sciences is a place where I belong and can thrive.

Right away, teachers took notice of me because I was an LCS major. My strong reading and writing skills from my English courses have benefitted me in all of the classes I have taken

here, even in Financial Accounting and Biology. The LCS Department has su r passed all of m y expectation s, an d they have become my most dedicated support system. My professors have always been at the ready for whatever it is I may need, whether it be a letter of recommendation, advice, ideas, or even something completely unrelated to school. It is undeniable how much they love their jobs, and their passion shines through in the classroom every single day.

This semester, I am in two advanced LCS classes: Political Satire and Critical and Cultural Theory. I have been able to read and analyze the classics – from Karl Marx to Jonathan Swift – and apply my knowledge of them to modern culture. I have been able to go to an incredible forum of women writers in fiction, in which they advised us on how to go about writing our own stories and creating our own characters. I have written my own pieces of satire for the first time, as well as a memoir. Recently, my classmates and I attended Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home at the Providence Performing Arts Center, which we read and analyzed in class. With every new semester here, I learn so much, and am so thankful that I chose Bryant.

LCS 490 Students at PPAC for Fun Home 4

Fall 2017

~Around the Departments~ GLOBAL STUDIES MiaLynne Park ‘18 When I tell people that I am majoring in Global Studies they always ask, “So what does that mean?”

Global Studies is very broad, one might say. It is a multidisciplinary field with an expansive focus on historical and current political, economic, and cultural factors that influence our globalized world.

The vast range of interests to be explored and possibilities offered by Global Studies should excite curious minds. The multifaceted nature of Global Studies m akes it a u n iqu e lear n in g exper ien ce. The uncertainty can be intimidating, even deterring. But the endless possibilities made available by uncertainty allows students to create their own academic and career paths.

A final requirement of Global Studies majors and concentrators is a senior capstone where students design their own research project. With the help of Professor Perullo, Director of Global Studies, I star ted w or kin g on a pr oject r elated to environmental sustainability. My decision has taken three years; six semesters of both business and liberal arts classes including business management, anthropology, global environmental sustainability and policy, and research methods. The wide range of courses offered by the major allowed me to discover and truly explore my interests. Specifically, Professor Freiner’s class on Global Environmental Sustainability and Policy encouraged me to further consider and study the relationship between the environment and our globalized world. After communicating my interest to Professor Perullo, he introduced me to another Global Studies student with a passion for environmental sustainability. Our collaboration addresses various components of environmental sustainability and education, specifically in Asia and Latin America and we will present our findings in April 2018.

If you are still asking yourself, so what does that mean? Explore it yourself! Global Studies is offered as a major, concentration, and minor. Explore the Global Studies website http://global.bryant.edu/ for more information.

POLITICS AND LAW Shane Vyskocil ‘19 The Politics and Law major offers an array of benefits for its students, preparing them with a unique and diverse skill set that will propel them through their studies at Bryant, as well as post-graduation. Not only do students build time management strategies, but they also develop their analytical and writing skills, both of which are valuable talents that employers and graduate programs expect. This includes exploring current social and political issues relating to your interests, resulting in impressive policy reports and analysis papers. What separates the Politics and Law m ajo r is a m o r e in dividu al, creative, and personal approach to education. Do you want smaller class sizes so that you can develop a positive relationship with your professors? Do you want to learn about the vast and diverse political, social, and legal environments both domestically and abroad? Are you interested in improving your problem solving skills, while also having the initiative to freely develop your own opinions and pursue a career path that Fall 2015

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distinctively fits such values? Then this is without a doubt the major for you.

Politics and Law stu den ts have received a wide variety of internships, jobs, and graduate school opportunities.

This includes working for US Congressmen, working for public policy and lobbyist firms, and pursuing law degrees at the nation’s most impressive law schools. For example, as a junior Politics and Law Major , I w or ked with Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen this past summer. I was responsible for assisting constituent requests regarding federal resources and drafting congressional record statements for Representative Frelinghuysen. It was a remarkable experience because not only did I learn more about the inner workings of government, but I felt that I was actually helping the constituents, which was fulfilling. Clearly, what is unique about this major is that it prepares you for a wide variety of opportunities, so that you will end up in a position that truly interests and excites you. It will

undoubtedly guide you down a path towards a fulfilling and gratifying future.

Fall 2017

~Around the Departments~ Actuarial Mathematics Sean Joly ‘19 With each class having around thirty students and a near equivalent number of majors in each year, the Actuarial Math major is an interconnected group of students who frequently work together if the class material becomes difficult. Before you can work as an Actuary, you must begin the process of becoming certified through either the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) or the Society of Actuaries (SOA). So, the goal for any Actuarial Math major is to graduate having passed as many credentialing exams as possible.

That's the hardest and most rewarding part of the major – and it's also what distinguishes it from others. Professor Gao Niu, a recent addition to our faculty, is excited to head up the effort to help students prepare for these exams. Dr. Niu's enthusiasm and energy is great because it is almost impossible to be too prepared. Even with prep classes and a general curriculum that covers material on the first few exams, personal study time is still needed in significant portions. We do seem to have a good record though. Last year, Will Kelly passed four exams before graduating from Bryant. He's now working for Hanover Insurance in Worcester, MA. Of all the differences between Bryant’s Actuarial major and other universities, the largest would be an increased focus on the business side. At Bryant, every Arts & Sciences major has to minor in Business. While Business may not sound not very relevant to an Actuarial major, a large part of an Actuary’s car eer in volves figu r in g out how to explain techn ical information to people who are not well versed in the math behind it. This makes a business background much more significant than it would otherwise appear.

Math may be the most important thing we do, but if no one can understand it, then its usefulness is limited!

Applied Mathematics and Statistics The Possibilities Are Only Limited by Your Imagination Kiersten Paniati ‘18 It took me about a year and half at Bryant before I found myself declaring Applied Mathematics and Statistics as m y m ajo r . This pr ocess w as m u ch less abou t knowing what I liked to do and much more about wondering where I wanted to go. In other words, I’ve always had a passion for Math and Statistics, whether it was big data, statistical programing, or analytical thinking. But I was much less sure about what career path that passion would lead me to.

My classes taught me to expand my horizons. I made my way through the required Calculus courses, a handful of Actuarial classes, and eventually found my way to the courses which opened my eyes to the possibilities that being an Applied Mathematics and Statistics major provided. This included taking classes in Econometrics, which highlighted the importance of statistics to predict economic phenomenon, Statistical Design, which emphasized the power of statistical modeling using software and Sports Statistics, which displayed the decision making power statistics creates within college and professional sports, as well as many others.

My professors taught me that the possibilities were endless as well. I often visited Professor Schumacher du r in g her o ffice ho u r s, w her e w e discussed poten tial in ter n ships ranging from governmental work to private industry. Learning in classes with professors like Professor Quinn an d Professor Bishop pr o ved to m e that ther e ar e in finite prospects for someone with a mind for analytical thinking.

My fellow students were living proof that job possibilities were wide-ranging. There were a handful of students who interned for insurance agencies, but there were also those who worked with statistics or analytics in scientific research, media and marketing agencies, merchandising and retail companies.

Looking towards graduation in May 2018, I know I will have not only followed the avenue Bryant University has provided me to pursue my passion, but I will have a lifetime’s worth of opportunities to follow. The environment at Bryant has proven to me that there are countless opportunities for Applied Mathematics and Statistics majors. Additionally, it’s apparent that almost every company or organization has a need for someone who is skilled in mathematics, statistics, and analytical thinking.

Maybe it’s just the Millennial in me, but not knowing where I will go while still being confident in the opportunities afforded to me by my degree excites me.

Now it’s just about where you want to go – the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

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Fall 2017

~Around the Departments~ Modern Languages Kevin Ludemann ‘18 and Taylor Carlton ‘18 Chinese m ajo r Taylor Carlton co un ts her self am on g m an y stu den ts w ho have been in spir ed by the lan gu age programs at Bryant University. After studying abroad in Shanghai, China in the fall of 2016, at East China Normal University, she wants to ensure that children in China have the experience of learning another language. In the fall of 2018, she will be moving to Weihai, China, to teach children English through International Language Programs (ILP). Taylor hopes to inspire children in China to develop a love for learning languages.

With a passion for Chinese language and culture, Erin Murphy will graduate in December 2017 with a double major in Chinese and Actuarial Mathematics. Erin has m ade the m o st of the oppor tu n ities that the Chinese pr ogr am has affor ded her , from judging Chinese speaking competitions, to partaking in Chinese singing competitions. Erin worked at the U.S. China Institute where she redesigned the library archives. She also helped facilitate the STAR TALK program—a summer program hosted by the U.S. China Institute for middle and high school students. In addition, Erin served as an ambassador for students from the Chinese University of Geo Sciences, hosted at Bryant University by the U.S. China Institute. Erin attributes her success to the way that her teachers make learning fun and rewarding. During the summer of 2016, Erin studied abroad at the Beijing Language and Culture University. Her desire to continue learning led Erin to pursue a Fulbright Scholarship for an English teaching assistant position in Taiwan for the Fall of 2018.

Kevin Ludemann has accepted a fu ll tim e job offer at Liber ty M u tu al within their Human Resources Development Program. After discovering his passion for diversity and inclusion initiatives while learning about the different cultures within Spanish speaking countries, he hopes to work permanently within the diversity and inclusion initiatives at the firm.

Paige Lemieux, IB Major w ith con cen tration s in Human Resources and Spanish, has been hired by Tar get to w or k in El Paso, Texas. She credits her Spanish language proficiency as a key factor in being hired.

SOCIOLOGY Renee Lucas ‘18 Sociology? W hat is that? W ell, thr ee Bryant students have answered that question in different ways. My own experience at UMass Medical School in their Diversity and Inclusion Office over the summer was heavily influenced by my Sociology courses. I was able to provide support to both the medical school and the clinical side on a number of sociological issues.

During her time at Bryant, Ashley Nesmith ’17 realized the value of nonprofit organizations and wanted to put her Sociology background to good use.

She is currently a Development Specialist at Emerson Hospital. Nesmith stated that her Sociology classes had a huge impact on her career choice. She wanted to work for a nonprofit and “make a difference in the community” and that is what she gets to do every day. Her team fundraises for the hospital to provide high quality care

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for the community. She is currently working on a new website for a future event and social media posts.

Another Bryant grad, Marta Gravier Trujillo-Bencomo ’17, was influenced by her Sociology coursework at Bryant.

She currently is in Timor-Leste as a member of the Peace Corps. Having a sociological lens has made her time in Timor-Leste very interesting. “The best way to understand social problems (and world problems) is to live in it,” explained Gravier. Stu dyin g Sociology set her up well for working as a volunteer for the Peace Corps. “I don’t just accept things at face value,” Gravier said.

Coming to Bryant and studying Sociology has provided all three of these students with national and international perspectives that have aided them in their career choices after graduation.

Fall 2017

~Around the Departments~ Environmental Science Emma Ahlrichs ‘19 Exciting things are happening within the Environmental Science major at Bryant. The program continues to grow as more people see the benefits of the field. One of the major changes happening within the major is a new effort to help majors and minors students find internships with local environmental organizations.

This will give Environmental Science students a better idea of what kind of job they would want once they graduate as well as provide more experience and opportunities for them after college.

In addition to this, a new Science and Technology Departmental website will soon be online, giving current and prospective students a platform for information about the Department.

Faculty are also working on exciting research in the realm of Environmental Science, inclu din g Professor Langlois’ research on Protista in the Gobi Desert, Narragansett Bay, and Great Barrier Reef, Professor Leng’s stu dies o f en vir on m en tal changes documented along the ancient pathway of the Silk Road, and Professor McNally’s pr o jects u sin g bacter ia to degrade petroleum, and studies of nutrient loading in Northern RI watersheds.

the most pressing issues our world faces today. Environmental management is a growing industry that can be relevant to any field because it will have an impact on nearly everything in the coming years as more and more businesses look to become “environmentally friendly” or “sustainable.” Business professionals will need to know environmental law and how to prevent environmental problems as they begin a new project.

I am excited to see the major grow into one that Bryant will be known for. With all of the changes coming, along with all of the potential opportunities for students, it is sure to become a large part of the Science and Technology Department.

I major in Environmental Science because I care so deeply about our environment and I want to make a difference in the world around me. I hate to see the places I love being destroyed and politicians ignoring the growing issue. Climate change is one of

Economics Scott Jarrett ‘19 I am an Honors Senior working on my capstone in Sports Economics. Like all Honors Seniors, I am required to do a capstone project – and most students do their project in their major.

The capstone project begins much earlier than senior year. Honors students work with a professor who provides advice as well as direction for the project. For me, it’s Professor Beaudin, an Economics Pro fesso r , w ho se m ain fields ar e Microeconomics and Sports Economics. I am doing research on the possibility of a causal relationship between the expenditures of NCAA men’s and women’s basketball teams in relation to the parity of the league. No study has ever done this before. Parity refers to how equal the conference is in terms of strength of the various teams. If one team dominates the conference every year, the parity will be low; but if many teams have a decent chance at winning, the parity will be higher. My research examines how much colleges in different conferences spend on their basketball programs. The research is important because studies show that leagues with higher parity are more interesting to the consumer. After all, who wants to see the same team win every year?! I will present my findings in April 2018 during the Honors Capstone presentations.

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ARTS & SCIENCES ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS Applied Psychology  Joseph Trunzo, Chair Communication  Kevin Pearce, Chair Economics  Sam Mirmirani, Chair English & Cultural Studies  Janet Dean, Chair History & Social Sciences  John Dietrich, Chair Mathematics  Kristin Kennedy, Chair Modern Languages  Tony Houston, Chair Science & Technology  Gaytha Langlois, Chair

Fall 2017

Internships, Jobs, and Careers!

Dr. Kevin Gaw, Executive Director of the AMICA Center for Career Education The Amica Center for Career Education continues to develop and provide programs and events to support students in the College of Arts & Sciences. We are excited to assist our Arts & Sciences students search for and secure meaningful internships and post-degree employment.

In addition to helping students search for internships and career positions, we also assist with graduate/professional school planning.

Two exciting programs – the EXPLORE Program and the Shadow Program – are just around the corner! These programs offer Arts and Sciences students personal and deeply engaging opportunities that stimulate career planning and success.

For example, in the EXPLORE NYC: Fashion and Business Program (January 8-12, 2018), students spend four days in NYC meeting key people in the fashion industry. This “real life” tour exposes students to the many different aspects and career opportunities in this exciting industry. The EXPLORE Washington, D.C. Program (March 11 16, 2018 Spring Break) is a five day trip to Washington, DC in which students visit area companies, organizations, and government agencies. The trip also

includes a Washington, DC Alumni/ Student Networking night. Julia Keefe, a Communication and Global Supply Chain dou ble m ajor , said of her experience with the Fashion and Business trip: “Bryant does an incredible job at exposing students as closely as possible to the realm of their passions if you let them.

The fashion business is an investment into your career, and the opportunities are priceless. You cannot get this type of field exposure on your own or anywhere else.

Highly recommend!” Several different EXPLORE Programs ar e held in exciting cities throughout the year, so stay tuned! For more information, contact Patricia E. Miernicki, Assistant Director of Employer Outreach and Development: pmiernic@bryant.edu.

The Shadow Program connects students, either in groups or as individuals, with companies and Bryant Alumni through a formal pairing process. The Shadow Program is design ed to give stu den ts an immersed “real world” exposure to the working life of professionals in their selected fields. Some of the opportunities available to Arts & Sciences students include shadowing at UpServe, Biogen, Delta Airlines, Tilson, Alexion

Pharmacetuicals, TJX, and a variety of law firms, just to name a few. The alumni and companies who participate in this program volunteer their time and typically, over sixty students a year take part in the Shadow Program. Stu dents apply in the fall semester to participate in the Shadow Program w hich occu r s during the winter break, generally in January before the spring semester begins.

Veronica Mansour, Associate Director for Career Development, is the contact for the Shadow Program: vmansour@bryant.edu .

The Amica Center for Career Education provides students with individualized career coaching, career planning workshops, career assessments, personalized internship and job search support, career fairs and access to recruiters, Bryant Career Connection (the online job and internship portal), mentoring, and so much more! We also offer need-based grants for unpaid internships and for the fee-based EXPLORE Programs. Got questions?

Feel free to email me at kgaw@bryant.edu.

2nd Annual Art & Science of Love Event Fisher Student Center, Fireside Lounge February 14, 2018

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If you have news, articles, ideas, comments or would like to volunteer to help with the magazine, please contact Wendy Samter (wsamter@bryant.edu) or Kimberly Keyes (kkeyes@bryant.edu).

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Fall 2017

Welcome to our New Faculty Katayoun Alidadi recently joined the Department of History and Social Sciences as an Assistant Professor of Legal Studies. She teaches International Business Law, Law and Society, and Law and Religion in a Comparative Context. Professor Alidadi completed her initial studies in law at the Catholic University of Leuven in Brussels, and then earned an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from Harvard Law School and a PhD from the KULeuven.

Prior to entering academia, she practiced law in Brussels and with the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles. She has a keen interest in human rights, comparative law, and the intersections of law and religion. Her book Religion, Equality and Employment in Europe: the Case for Reasonable Accommodation was published in 2017. “Bryant offers a vibrant and warm community for both students and faculty interested in interdisciplinary and innovative research” says Professor Alidadi. “Students bring to the table their own set of interests and personal professional experiences, which then undeniably enrich research activities.” Fun fact about Professor Alidadi: She knows most Michael Jackson songs by heart; her brother was a professional MJ impersonator for years, and the family tagged along to his many performances.

Ilisabeth Bornstein is a new Lecturer in Legal Studies where she will teach both introductory and advanced courses, and serve as a Pre-Law Advisor. Professor Bornstein is a graduate of Yale University and received her JD and a Master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Prior to joining Bryant, she was a Senior Clinical Instructor at the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School and taught at Providence College. She currently maintains an active private practice for business and nonprofit law. Of her new role within our College, Professor Bornstein said “I am excited to be at Bryant in a capacity to teach students about the law and help them explore their interest in law as a career.”

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Fun fact about Professor Bornstein: She was an Academic All American as a field hockey player at Yale and competed internationally.

Jennifer Horan, new Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Graduate Center of New York and the Sorbonne-Paris IV. Her teaching and research are interdisciplinary, drawing upon literary, philosophical, historical, environmental and other contexts. She studies, among other things, aesthetics, philosophies of community, ecological literature, and literature and the arts. Prior to coming to Bryant, she taught at universities in France, New York City and at Salve Regina, Doctoral Humanities. Her most recent publications include “Potentiality, Gesturality and the Lyric: A Study of Shelley’s Triumph of Life" and “Migrations of Myth into Literary Genre: A Study of Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound”in Créatures et créateurs de Prométhée, Sources et migrations d'un mythe dans les arts et la littérature. In spring, Professor Horan will teach Introduction to Philosophy and British Literary Contexts, Restoration to the Present. When queried about her experience at Bryant, Professor Horan responded "What I love most about teaching at Bryant is the manner in which it embraces interdisciplinary perspectives. For each course I teach, I often feel I am preparing for two courses: one for the subject matter and one for the community; one for knowledge and one for passionate discovery." Fun fact about Professor Horan: She was a synchronized swimmer throughout her teen years.

Yuri V. Kondratiev earned his Ph.D. in French Studies at Brown University in 2014. His teaching interests include French, Latin, Literary Analysis, French Literature and Medicine, Monsters and Monstrosity in early modern France, Autobiography and Fiction, Literature and Architecture, Renaissance Lyric Poetry, Renaissance Humanism, French Enlightenment, French Philosophers and Moralizers, Representations of Paris, and Women in French Canadian literature and cinema. His research interests include early modern French literature and culture, Rabelais, Montaigne, interdisciplinary approaches to French Studies, history of science and medicine, aesthetics, the body, emotion and affect, architecture, critical theory, history of the French language, and French Canadian literature and cinema.

Fun fact about Professor Kondratiev: He was a first generation college student and he is an expert in Creole cooking.

Fall 2017

New Faculty Continued...

This fall, the Math Department welcomed Dr. Alicia Lamere who received her PhD in the Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics Department from the University of Notre Dame, where she was also a Schmitt Fellow. Professor Lamere's research is concerned with developing statistical methods for analyzing RNAsequencing data, with a primary focus on new network estimation tools for non-Gaussian data. To put that in lay terms, RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is rapidly replacing gene expression microarrays in many labs. Professor Lamere is also an aspiring runner, and founded a Pi Day 5K while at Notre Dame that celebrated math and science while raising money for local charities, and eating pie! Fun fact about Professor Lamere: While an undergrad at Hamilton College, she double-majored in Mathematics and Studio Art, and spent a summer at MassArt studying foundry and welding to make bronze sculptures.

Christine McAuliffe joined the Applied Psychology faculty as a term professor last spring. Professor McAuliffe, earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University in 2010. Her primary areas of expertise include clinical child, adolescent and family psychology, community psychology and systems-level intervention. She is particularly interested in underserved populations including children in foster-care and residential placement. Says Professor McAuliffe, "I was attracted to Bryant because of the hands-on approach that the entire faculty and staff community take toward helping the students earn their educations." She will be teaching classes in abnormal psychology, counseling theory and practice, child and adolescent development, and child psychopathology.

Fun fact about Professor McAuliffe: Although she is an only child, Professor McAuliffe comes from a really big family. She has 17 first cousins and 7 second cousins on just one side of my family. Plus, her mother is an identical twin and she has another set of aunts who are fraternal twins.

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Matthew Neill Null, new Visiting Writer in Residence and Lecturer of English and Cultural Studies, is author of the novel Honey from the Lion and the story collection Allegheny Front. Professor Null has a MFA from the University of Iowa. Originally from West Virginia, he is the recipient of the O. Henry Award, the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, a Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship, and, from the American Academy of Arts & Letters, the Joseph Brodsky Rome Prize Fellowship in Literature. Translations of his books are forthcoming in Italy and France. His teaching and research interests include fiction writing, memoir, southern American literature, literature in translation, environment and place, narrative theory, and eco-criticism. This spring, Professor Null will be teaching courses in both fiction and creative non-fiction. “At Bryant I’ve found students who are enthusiastic to write, to learn, to throw out first drafts and try again, so it’s been a rewarding and inspiring experience,” says Professor Null. “It’s clear there’s a real appreciation at Bryant for opportunities to write and create art. I’ve tried to challenge my students with unorthodox writing exercises, experimental fiction, and campus visits by young, working novelists.” Fun fact about Professor Null: He is a descendant of Catherine de’ Medici (arts patron and 16th-century Queen of France).

Fall 2017

New NewFaculty FacultyContinued...

Continued...

Gao Niu, PhD, ACAS, MAAA is a new Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department. He received his doctorate in Actuarial Science from the University of Connecticut, and his Master's degree in Mathematics/Statistics from Western Illinois University.

Prior to joining the faculty at Bryant, Professor Niu worked at UConn as the Assistant Director of the Goldenson Center for Actuarial Research, and at American International Group (AIG) and General Reinsurance New England Asset Management (GR-NEAM). He is an Associate of the Casualty Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Professor Niu recently presented his work “A Financial Protection Strategy Using a Combination Annuity for Families with a Down Syndrome Child” at a conference in Ascona, Switzerland. Fun Fact about Professor Niu: He has 11 chickens.

Xiaofei (Sophie) Pan is the n ew est m em ber of ou r Economics Department. Professor Pan graduated from George Mason University in 2012, where she worked as a Research Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science founded by Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith.

After that, she spent two years to further her postdoctoral work at Harvard University, from 2012 to 2014. Immediately before joining Bryant, Professor Pan was an Assistant Professor at Sewanee: University of the South. Her main research is in Behavioral Economics and Experimental Economics. Dr. Pan's work has appeared in top journals such as Journal of Public Economics, Proceedings B and PlosOne as well as in Wired Magazine. "Everyone seems to be happy and proud of Bryant," says Professor Pan. "I was amazed by the great interest from students and parents that I experienced during the recent “Discover Bryant” Admission event." Fun fact about Professor Pan: She pla y s pia n o a n d r eceiv ed the certified 9th grade for being an amateur player.

The Nobel Prizes from Our Faculty’s Perspective Did you know that Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and actually believed it would bring about the end of war? "When two armies of equal strength can annihilate each other in an instant," he once wrote, "then all civilized nations will retreat and disband their troops." Plagued by guilt that his prediction proved so terribly wrong, Nobel stipulated upon his death in 1895 that most of his vast fortune (about $225 million in today's dollars) be used to create a series of prizes for those who confer the "greatest benefit on mankind" in Physics, Chemistry, Peace, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature. Much later, in 1968, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was established by a donation from the Swedish National Bank.

According to Time Magazine's Claire Suddath, "Some Nobel Prizes have gone to discoveries that turned out to be wrong. The 1926 Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Johannes Fibiger for the discovery that roundworms cause cancer (they don't). A year later, psychiatrist Julius Wagner-Jauregg won for injecting patients with malaria to treat syphilitic dementia (not a good idea). Past laureates have espoused eugenics, opposed public school, joined the Nazi party and claimed that the Sept. 11 attacks were an inside job." But the majority of prizes have been awarded for important findings such as X-rays and penicillin and to well-respected leaders including Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. We asked our faculty to comment on this year's Nobel Prize winners and here's what they had to say.

According to Political Science Professor Dr. John Dietrich, the Peace Prize is given to the person who in the preceding year has done "the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." In 2017, the prize was won by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations from more than 100 countries. The group is promoting a UN treaty that would ban the development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons. "Currently, there are treaties that limit the spread of nuclear weapons to new countries and that set caps on the number of warheads in U.S. and Russia arsenals, but the proposed treaty would go much further" explains Professor Dietrich. ICAN argues that nuclear weapons' use is immoral and that allowing some countries to maintain arsenals is unfair and destabilizing. "The countries that currently have nuclear weapons, and most of their major allies, have boycotted UN discussions of the treaty and are unlikely to ever accept its full terms" says Professor Dietrich. "ICAN, though, has succeeded in putting the issue back on the world’s agenda and showing the power of citizens groups attempting to alter country behaviors."

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Fall 2017

The Nobel Prizes Continued...

Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Kip Thorne received this year's Nobel Prize in Physics for the development of a device which can observe gravitational waves. "This was a particular prediction of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity that was believed for a long time to be impossible to detect" explains Dr. Brian Blais, Professor of Physics. "In essence, you have to be able to measure the lengthening of a ruler several miles across by little more than the width of a proton." Weiss, Barish, and Thorne built two detector devices, and were able to measure the remnants of two black holes spiraling into each other from millions of light years away.

"Interestingly," says Dr. Blais, "the signal processing and analysis for this work was done with the open-source Python software platform using methods of frequency analysis in time-series which we teach in Computer Programming for the Sciences (SCI 378) and other quantitative courses."

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry requires that the significance of the achievements being recognized is "tested by time." Practically, this means that not all scientists live long enough for their research to be acknowledged! This year's awardees, Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson were recognized for their pioneering work in developing cryo-electron microscopy.

According to Dr. Chris Reid, Professor of Chemistry, this technique has helped revolutionize the biological sciences by providing high-resolution structures of biomolecules in solution. "This is how it works," explains Professor Reid. "A beam of electrons is sent through a biomolecular sample that has been frozen, typically in liquid ethane (approximately -180 degrees Celsius). The material deflects electrons in a way that permits researchers to determine the structure of the biomolecule. Electron beams typically damage molecules, but freezing them (the “cryo” part) protects them from electron damage and prevents them from getting dehydrated in the microscope’s vacuum chamber." The technique is of fundamental importance for understanding the chemistry of life and can help with the development of drugs by understanding the interaction of bioactive agents with biomolecules.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael Young "for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm". According to Dr. Gaytha Langlois, Environmental Policy Professor, and Dr. Qin Leng, Biology and Environmental Science Professor, circadian (from the Latin words circa meaning "around" and dies meaning “day") rhythm is also known as the “biological clock” that helps to prepare organismal physiology for the fluctuations of the day. This intriguing phenomenon has been observed and analyzed by biologists and ecologists since ancient times, but its molecular mechanism remained a mystery until recently. "The work of these three scientists starting in the 1980s has successfully confirmed that the circadian rhythm of all multicellular organisms is controlled by gene expression" explain Langlois and Leng.

"They not only discovered the related genes and understood the functions of their encoded proteins, but also revealed the complex environmental regulation of gene expression for circadian rhythms." Largely due to the work of Hall, Rosbash, and Young, circadian biology has become an active field that is closely related to and contributes to our health and wellbeing, for example, to help develop efficient and safe sleeping pills.

Richard Thaler received the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics for his contribution on Behavioral Economics. His work challenged standard economic assumptions that humans behave in strictly rational ways and instead has shown that humans are predictably irrational. According to Dr. Xiaofei (Sophie) Pan, Professor of Economics, three of Thaler's most significant contributions include mental accounting (which suggests it is better to give good news separately to people and provide bad news to the group as a whole), the dual-self model (in which Thaler argues that the "planner" self is rational and long-term oriented, yet the "doer" self is short sighted and often makes decisions not in one’s long-term interest) and the endowment effect "The endowment effect suggests that we are all loss averse" explains Dr. Pan, "and that we need much more to compensate our loss (from owning something), than the amount of acquiring it in the first place." She used a personal story to describe the effect. "Before I joined Bryant, I worked at another institution. After I stayed in my assigned office for a semester, the department chair asked me to move to another office. If I were given this choice earlier on, I would definitely prefer the office suggested by the department chair, a bigger room with more windows. However, at that moment, I was not at all excited. I thought, 'I own that little sweet office'. That's the endowment effect and, in the world of Economics, it often reduces the gains from trade.

According to Alfred Nobel's will, the prize in Literature is awarded to an author who has produced "in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction." Nobel's use of the term "ideal" has caused some controversy in interpretation; recently, though, it has been understood to mean "a kind of idealism championing human rights on a broad scale." The 2017 prize went to Kazuo Ishiguro who is best known for his classic novel Remains of the Day. However, according to Professor Matthew Null, Visiting Writer in Residence, Ishigu r o 's m o r e r ecen t w or ks like Never Let Me Go an d Th e B u ried Gian t bor r ow elem en ts from genre fiction, such as sci-fi and fantasy. As Professor Null explains, "While the Nobel Prize in Literature has sometimes been criticized for overvaluing political engagement in writers, Ishiguro was specifically praised for his ‘novels of great emotional force’ that focus on the quiet, interior lives of his characters.”

Since 1901, 896 individuals and 27 organizations have become Nobel Laureates. With 336 awardees, the United States has produced the most Nobel Prize winners of any country. 49 Nobel Prizes have gone to women and, at age 17, Malala Yousafzai, was the youngest person to receive the award. Is there a future Nobel Laureate among our faculty, students, or alum? Stay tuned!

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Fall 2017

Get Involved on campus More than 100 student-run organizations thrive on Bryant’s campus. You won’t just have fun exploring the things you care about and make friends—you’ll enrich your education.

Academic Associations

Community Service

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Accounting Association Actuarial Association Association of Latino Professionals for America Bryant Debaters Bryant Economic Student Association Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization (CEO) Communication Society DECA Delta Sigma Pi Enactus Finance Association Franco BU

Alternative Spring Break Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bryant Circle Up Colleges Against Cancer Community Activism and Leadership (CALO) Enactus Giving for Good Marketplace ONE Campaign Love Your Melon Raise Your Voice Week Relay for Life St. Jude's Up Til Dawn Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program

International Business Association Management Association

Greek Organizations

Marketing Association Mock Trial

Managing groups include:

Model United Nations

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National Association of Black Accountants Pi Sigma Epsilon Psychology Association Supply Chain Leadership Association Technology and Applied Analytics Club

GAMMA (Gr eeks Advocatin g for Matu r e Management of Alcohol)

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Order of Omega - Greek national honor society Interfraternity Council - governing body for fraternities Panhellenic Council - governing body for sororities

Sororities

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Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Sigma Alpha Delta Zeta Sigma Sigma Sigma Zeta Phi Beta

Fraternities Cultural Groups

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Bryant University Spanish Cultural Organization Global China Connection Dragon Dance Team

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Delta Chi Delta Kappa Epsilon Sigma Chi Tau Kappa Epsilon

Franco BU Hillel International Student Union Italian American Association Multicultural Student Union

Fall 2017

Get Involved on campus More than 100 student-run organizations thrive on Bryant’s campus. You won’t just have fun exploring the things you care about and make friends—you’ll enrich your education.

Student Leadership and Communities

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Media and Performing Arts

Bryant University Student Government Commuter Connection

Media Groups

Bryant Pride

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Greek Leadership Hillel International Student Organization Interfraternity Council InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Multicultural Student Union Panhellenic Council Student Programming Board

The Archway student newspaper Her Campus Ledger yearbook WJMF radio station

Performing Arts

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aDvANCEd Evolution Dance Team Bryant Singers The Bottom Line (a cappella group) Jazz Ensemble Chamber Ensemble Bryant Improv Troupe Bryant Players Pep Band

Sports-Oriented Activities

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Badminton Bulldog Dancers Bowling Cheerleading Cycling Fishing Hockey

And…..

Karate Mixed Martial Arts Racquetball Rugby (men's and women's) Running Club Ski & Snowboard Soccer Squash Tennis Ultimate Frisbee Men's Volleyball Women's Crew

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Active Minds Alliance for Women's Awareness Anime and Literature Society Bryant University Gamers ESCAPE su ppor t gr ou p Fashion Forum HEAL health aw ar en ess Outdoor Adventure Club The Podium The Venue n on den om in ation al Chr istian gr ou p

Are you more of a fan than an athlete? Show off your Bulldog spirit by being a part of the Dawg Pound.

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Fall 2017

College of Arts & Sciences 3rd Annual Block Party October 10, 2017

If it’s fall, it must be the Arts & Sciences Block Party—an annual celebration of the majors and minors in Arts & Sciences.

70 degree weather, live music, good food, games and activities sponsored by each of the Departments made for a terrific afternoon. This year, the Amica Center for Career Education joined the festivities with their “Career Wheel.” And, of course, Seamus, the Golden Retriever captured everyone’s attention! Stay tuned for information about the College’s major spring event, The Art & Science of Love to be held—you guessed it—on Valentine’s Day!

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Fall 2017