Spider Insider: Spring 2020

For faculty & staff at the UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND Spring 2020

Spider Insider

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WILL THE REAL CARL SORENSEN PLEASE STAND UP? Attendees at this year’s Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony had a double dose of fun when Carl Sorensen, senior associate vice president for human resources, was upstaged by, well ‌ Carl Sorensen.

During the ceremony, five employees were honored for their outstanding contributions to the University (see Page 19 for award categories and winners) and 148 for their milestone service anniversaries.

Spring 2020

Vice president for University Communications John M. Barry Associate vice president for communications and digital engagement Phillip Gravely Editor Cheryl Spain Director of creative services Samantha Tannich

Spider Insider

Graphic designer, publications Gordon Schmidt Photographer Jamie Betts Staff contributors: Ashley Bentley, Sunni Brown, Sarah Busching, Lindsey Campbell, Sam Campbell, Kevin Creamer, Catherine Amos Cribbs, Stacey Dec, ’20, Chad Devers, Matthew Dewald, Mike Domina, Joedy Felts, Pryor Green, Debbie Hardy, Paul Heltzel, Kevin Heraldo, Alicia Hubbard, Brian Ivasauskas, Pamela Lee, Katie McBride, Joe Minick, Cynthia Price, and Aggrey Sam Spider Insider is printed on paper that is FSC® Certified, with 10% post-consumer recycled content and certified fiber.

Duck, Duck, Triceragoose

Life at Westhampton Lake continued its reassuring rhythms this spring.

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Pulling Together

New Weekly Digest, UR Now, Set to Launch This Fall

3 Social Buzz

4 ON THE COVER: Erling Sjovold, professor of art, consults with a student in the Visual Arts Building.

Renovations to the building, which were completed in summer 2019, marked the final phase of a multiyear, $37 million investment in UR’s arts facilities.

Investing in the Arts

Comprehensive renovations to campus arts facilities serve as catalyst for creative expression

6 Media Mentions

7 We welcome your input.

Send your story ideas or comments to spiderinsider @richmond.edu.

16 Getting Comfortable

AROUND THE LAKE Spider spirit shines bright as faculty and staff respond to COVID-19 pandemic

Honoring UR’s Past

Evidence of burial ground on campus furthers UR’s commitment to addressing inclusivity

Going a Little More Green Photograph by Jamie Betts

Newly reopened Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor provides ecological and educational benefits to campus community

18 Accomplishments

Community Partnership

19 Outstanding Service Award Winners

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20 Outstanding Business Affairs Performance Award Winners

UR Downtown marks 10-year anniversary with a strong vision for the future

Change Agents

Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship initiative paves the way for campus change-makers

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Technology Infusion

Technology Learning Center makes cross-disciplinary innovation a reality

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Accolades Convenience & Compliance

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PEOPLE

Changes to student employment procedures make it easier to hire and promote

15 Perks+

Faculty and staff enjoy perks of employment beyond pay and traditional benefits

21 Breaking Down Barriers A conversation with Martha Merritt, dean and Carole M. Weinstein Chair of International Education

22 Omicron Delta Kappa Epsilon Circle Inductees 25 New Hires, Moves, and Retirements

At the start of the  crisis, Dining Services served more than 340 bagged lunches daily to faculty, staff, and students still on campus. Today, that number is roughly 70 daily and includes hot meal options.

SPANISH FLU This is not the first time that a health emergency has impacted University operations.

The City of Richmond Health Board closed Westhampton College for the month of October during the 1918 influenza pandemic. More than 250 students fell ill, but there were no fatalities, according to A Gem of a College by Claire Millhiser Rosenbaum, W’54.

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Pulling Together Spider spirit shines bright as faculty and staff respond to COVID-19 pandemic The spread of COVID-19 significantly impacted operations at the University of Richmond, just as it impacted the rest of the world, this spring.

And once again, UR faculty and staff proved that Spiders can rise to the occasion, no matter the circumstances.

Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, UR moved to remote instruction as of March 23 for the remainder of the spring semester and for the first summer term. Faculty and staff also switched to working remotely to the greatest extent possible. A COVID-19 response website, created and maintained by University Communications, became the hub for COVID-19-related interim policies, community updates, and FAQs. Immediately upon the initial announcement, Information Services went to work ensuring UR’s systems could support the added weight of faculty and staff working and teaching remotely. The team increased Virtual Private Network (VPN) access from 750 to 7,500 users. Information Services enabled Zoom access to the entire campus community and created instructional videos to assist those unfamiliar with the conferencing tool. The work paid off. Approximately 1,450 courses are being taught remotely this semester, and 12,069 Zoom meetings and 55 webinars took place from March 1 to April 9.

In the digital classroom environment, faculty

adapted to new teaching methodologies that many say they will likely continue even when back in the classroom. Others incorporated COVID-19-related topics into their coursework.

Outside of the classroom environment, 80 to 90 essential staff members remain on campus each day to maintain critical operations and support the 55 students still on campus (as of early April).

Custodial Services staff provide service seven days a week. In addition to their primary focus of disinfecting high-touch areas like doorknobs and restrooms, staff have put together get-well kits for students in case any need to go into isolation for COVID-19. The kits contains items such as tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, disinfecting wipes, and personal protective equipment like gloves and a mask. Fortunately, at this time none of the kits have been required.

“Our mission in Custodial Services has always been to provide a safe and clean environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” said Allison Steele, associate director of custodial and environmental services. “Today, that is more prevalent than ever, and I am very proud of the dedication of our team to our mission.”

In addition, area coordinators and Mail Services staff are packing and shipping academic materials and medical items to students — more than 200 shipments to date; the bookstore is

A roundup of reactions to posts on @urichmond:

taking online orders; the Student Health Center is providing health services to students regardless of whether they remain on campus or reside locally; University Facilities’ design and construction team is ensuring major projects like the Well-Being Center, Queally Athletics Center, and Ryland Hall renovations stay on track; and Dining Services continues to serve up breakfast, lunch, and dinner for those remaining on campus.

Others still are working to support the University’s critical functions remotely.

The Office of International Education continues to remain in close contact with international students who have transitioned to other residential locations. Staff put together and delivered to the students “starter packs” that included paper towels, hand sanitizer, wipes, and other items needed to set up a new home. The office also helped secure larger items, like tables, chairs, and printers when needed.

And even a worldwide pandemic can’t stop the Office of Undergraduate Admission from recruiting the next class of students. Admissions staff have been busy conducting virtual tours, information sessions, and recruiting events to reach potential students.

“There is no playbook to address this global pandemic,” said President Ronald A. Crutcher, who continues to uphold the University community, providing frequent communications and even a live cello performance for Spiders everywhere. “Even as our lives have been turned upside down, I have found inspiration in the one constant through it all: your commitment to educating our students and caring for one another.”

BEHIND THE SCENES The Executive Policy Group and the Outbreak Control Team have been meeting each week since the onset of COVID-19 to provide leadership support to emergency operations; address the safety and welfare of faculty, staff, and students; and ensure the continuity and timely resumption of normal University operations.

“The actions of these two teams have been thoughtful and made with the well-being of the campus community at the forefront,” said Brittany Schaal, director of emergency management. “They’re not only making decisions for the short term, but they’re looking forward and considering how each and every decision impacts the future of the University.”

That scene and building lit up my feed for the 27 years I worked there and still does. My compliments to the UR photographer who took this shot. Go @urichmond Spiders.

—Ron Inlow via Twitter Editor’s note: Thanks, Ron. The photo was taken

by University Communications photographer Jamie Betts.

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SOCIAL BUZZ

Majored in Political Science, International Affairs, and Spanish and studied abroad in Venezuela and Costa Rica. Just finished managing a threeyear project combatting arboviruses in Latin America and the Caribbean and am now working on an HIV/AIDS care and treatment project in Mozambique. Would not be where I am today without my Richmond Education. Class of ’94.

Go Spiders!

—Paula Wood via LinkedIn Referring to news that UR was ranked No. 2 for undergraduate international education by the Institute for International Education Congratulations Prof. Datta! I know you’ve inspired many — colleagues and students alike (including my daughter)!

—Savita Nair via Facebook Referring to Monti Datta’s grant from The Achelis & Bodman Foundation to further his research on modern slavery Dr. Crutcher is very generous with his time, knowledge, and wisdom. UR is in good hands.

—Jonathan Henry via LinkedIn Referring to President Ronald A. Crutcher’s interview with the American Council on Education on the role of higher education in breaking down barriers across race

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @urichmond

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Art instructor Katie  Baines-Herrin teaches a painting class in the newly renovated Visual Arts Building. The white walls and natural light from skylights help make the painting studio an ideal creative space for artists.

Investing in the Arts Comprehensive renovations to campus arts facilities serve as catalyst for creative expression

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For the last four years, a walk around the perimeter of Westhampton Green would have required construction zone detours as a multiyear, $37 million project to renovate the campus arts facilities on either end of the green was underway.

In 2017, North Court received significant enhancements to Perkinson Recital Hall, as well as the addition of a new choir room and global studio. A new dance studio, acting studio, and two-story scene shop were completed in Modlin that same year. In 2018, Booker Hall received a refresh, with enhancements to everything from practice rooms to faculty offices. Camp Concert Hall and the Parsons Music Library also have been modernized. In the summer of 2019, a complete renovation of the Visual Arts Building marked the end of the project.

“Now, when you walk through these buildings at any given time of day, creative activity abounds,” said Shannon Hooker, assistant director of Modlin Center for the Arts. “You hear music streaming from the practice rooms of Booker; students are conducting auditions and rehearsing their next play in the acting studio; and there is choreography in the new dance studio. It is really exciting to see.”

Throughout each stage of the renovations,

University Facilities’ own creativity was key to re-envisioning these existing spaces on campus.

“As an architect you want the space to feel intentional, and you want the people working within that space to feel like it was designed for them,” said Chuck Rogers, director of design and construction. “Something as simple as painting the walls white and incorporating natural light can make a space feel like a blank canvas, leaving the artists room to create within it.”

Understanding the needs of each space and finding clever ways to meet those needs is exactly what Andrew McBride, assistant vice president for facilities and University architect, did when he envisioned how changes to the roof might play a role in the design of the studio spaces below.

Where enclosed dormers once lined the top of the Visual Arts Building, skylights now exist in their place.

“This idea enabled us to incorporate natural, diffused light from the north, which we knew from our conversations with faculty was preferred because an artist doesn’t have to deal with the effects of the sun moving through the studio at different angles during the day,” McBride said. “It was an extension of the ’96 renovation. The architect at the time added dormer

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windows for more natural light, but they caused a tunnel effect, limiting the light’s impact on the space. By replacing the dormers with large skylights, we introduced more light into the topfloor studio spaces.”

These design dividends abound, but they’re not always easy to spot. When attending an event in Camp Concert Hall, visitors may recognize the updates to the entryway or the new visual and audio systems but may not take particular note of the fabric banners hanging from the ceiling.

These banners are not just decorative.

Staff can adjust their positions to “tune the space” for each type of performance taking place, maximizing the audience’s auditory experience.

“You have to witness a performance to truly appreciate the transformation of these renovations,” Hooker said. “It truly is state of the art.”

And there’s no lack of opportunity to take in a performance. The Modlin Center for the Arts holds more than 250 events each year in its four performance spaces. Both the Department of

Theatre and Dance and the Department of Music host free performance series each year, showcasing faculty, staff, and student talent as well as the work of award-winning artists.

In addition, Modlin Arts Presents offers a season of world-class performances by national and international artists spanning chamber music, global and traditional music, jazz, contemporary theater, and contemporary dance. University schools and departments are also utilizing these spaces more often for academic events. The School of Arts & Sciences’ Student Symposium puts students’ creativity on display in these spaces each spring.

“These spaces serve as a hub for creativity on campus, and there’s more synergy and discovery around the arts after these renovations,” Hooker said. “There’s more cross-fertilization of creative ideas between disciplines because we now have spaces that not only inspire collaboration, but also serve as a catalyst for artistic expression in our community.”

“You hear music streaming from the practice rooms of Booker, students are conducting auditions and rehearsing their next play in the acting studio, and there is choreography in the new dance studio. It is really exciting to see.”

CHECK IT OUT Faculty and staff have an array of opportunities to view the recent renovations while taking in the arts on campus, often for free or at discounted rates.

The Department of Theatre and Dance’s UR Free Theatre and Dance Series and the Department of Music’s Free Concert Series aim to make the performing arts accessible to everyone. The Modlin Center for the Arts offers all employees a 15% discount on all regular, adult-priced tickets. Reserve tickets at tickets.modlin@ richmond.edu or the Modlin Center box office, or by phone at (804) 289-8980.

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MEDIA MENTIONS Ronald A. Crutcher column: Understanding history to tell a more inclusive university story “Universities, like families, have histories that cry out for a fuller telling. All too often, we see only the surface — the buildings in which we work and study, the grounds we call home. And yet lying just beneath are stories of people and experiences with the power to connect us more meaningfully to larger histories we all share,” wrote President RONALD A. CRUTCHER in a piece he authored in January following his message to the campus community about the Westham Burying Ground.

New on the Brand Center

Strategic Plans? Why They Matter for the Promise of Inclusive Excellence “A strategic plan has advantages — the promise — well beyond the planning proposition itself: that of rallying around a collective process, that of organizational self-examination, and that of holding administrators publicly accountable. By accomplishing these objectives, such plans are ultimately good for inclusive excellence,” wrote PATRICE RANKINE, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, about the school’s first strategic planning process, Concept 30.

Visit the online brand center to view a comprehensive collection of the University’s advertising work in the new ADVERTISING LIBRARY under “Tools and Templates.” Also, browse a catalog of completed brand expressions for guidance or inspiration on the updated PORTFOLIO webpage.

Not All Candy Is Created Equal — At Least for Tax Purposes “In some states that cookie crunch in your Twix is doubly satisfying. It feeds your sweet tooth while also getting you a sales tax break,” said tax law expert HAYES HOLDERNESS, assistant professor of law, in his piece explaining how candy is defined by tax codes. The Halloween-themed article initially appeared in The Conversation and was picked up by more than 80 additional outlets.

It’s all there to help bring your Richmond story to life. brand.richmond.edu/resources

Unprecedented: Is a Threat Protected Speech?

“There is a lack of information about the [rap] genre, and a lot of the characterizations of it that you see in a legal context are incorrect,” said ERIK NIELSON, associate professor of liberal arts and expert on the use of rap lyrics in court.

The College Admission Year in Review “The greatest change in college admission this past year will come from the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC) agreement to modify its Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (CEPP), which may violate antitrust laws according to the Department of Justice,” explained GIL VILLANUEVA, associate vice president and dean of admission.

Confederate ornaments are smaller than statues — but they send the same racist message “Pause to consider whether your Christmas tree represents your values.

Does a keepsake from Stone Mountain really belong between an ornament crafted in a kindergarten classroom and a glass nutcracker gifted by your grandmother?” NICOLE MAURANTONIO, associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies, raised this question in a piece she authored for The Conversation that was picked up by nearly 40 additional outlets.

A Math Professor Makes the Case for Revisiting Algebra as an Adult “If you work toward mastering a mathematical idea with a goal of teaching it to others, you not only enhance your own understanding of the concept, but you also build communication skills in the process,” wrote DELLA DUMBAUGH, professor of mathematics, in a piece about the benefits of increasing your math skills.

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Visit news.richmond.edu to view additional media mentions or connect with University Communications’ Media and Public Relations team, Cynthia Price, Sunni Brown, and Lindsey Campbell.

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R I CHM O N D H A L L P URY E A R H A L L

R I CHM O N D WAY

Honoring UR’s Past Evidence of burial ground on campus furthers UR’s commitment to addressing inclusivity In January, President Ronald A. Crutcher updated the University community about recent research that suggests the strong likelihood that a corner of campus land between Puryear Hall and the steam plant was used as a burial ground for enslaved persons before the Civil War. Shelby Driskill, SPCS graduate student and research coordinator, began the research as part of coursework under the guidance of Nicole Maurantonio, associate professor of rhetoric and communication studies. In fall 2019, when Crutcher launched a wide-ranging effort to examine, understand, and communicate our past more fully and inclusively, Driskill’s work — some of which was also done independently — became part of the initiative, led by public historian and visiting lecturer Lauranett Lee. Driskill was assisted throughout by SPCS student Douglas Broome, who produced many of the maps that appear in her research.

A report by Lee and Driskill — called “Knowledge of This Cannot Be Hidden” and published by the University — shares what is now known through evidence collected and uncovered during Driskill’s research. The burial ground is located on a small patch of hill behind Puryear Hall near the corner of Richmond Way and UR Drive. A 1901 surveying map and other evidence produced before the University owned this land identifies the location with the words “grave yard.”

The University purchased the land in 1910 and began to develop the campus we know today.

Records indicate that construction projects in 1912, 1947, and 1955–56 revealed human remains at the site. Known records do not indicate how the University responded to the 1912 discovery. In the latter instances, the University condoned the reburial of remains at undisclosed locations.

Circumstantial evidence — such as the treatment of the graves in the 20th century, the location of the burying ground, and the hundreds of people enslaved on the land during the enslavement era — point to the high probability that the people buried here were enslaved people who worked on the land that is now the University’s campus.

“This devaluing of human life and dignity conforms with the long and painful history of dehumanizing enslaved persons,” Crutcher wrote in a Richmond Times-Dispatch op-ed about the discoveries. “The Board of Trustees and I are deeply saddened by these discoveries. We profoundly regret the desecration that took place on this ground and the silences in our historical narrative.”

In January, Crutcher also announced the formation of the Burial Ground Memorialization Committee to engage campus and the broader community in discussions about memorializing the enslaved people who lived and labored on this land and to make specific recommendations about appropriate memorialization of the burial ground and the land’s connections to enslavement, including a physical memorial. That work is ongoing.

“We profoundly regret the desecration that took place on this ground and the silences in our historical narrative.”

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE The University’s Inclusive History initiative is part of its Inclusive Excellence strategic priority, which focuses on the critical importance of making Richmond a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds, identities, viewpoints, and experiences. For more information about these initiatives and the Burial Ground Memorialization Committee, visit president.richmond. edu/inclusiveexcellence/index.html.

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Pollinator Meadow

Tributary & Step Pools

UR D RIV E

GROWING KNOWLEDGE Faculty may receive support from the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement for community-based learning courses related to the Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor. Through this initiative, faculty help further connect their students to the campus environment.

Since fall 2018, more than 10 courses, such as Environmental Economics and Geographic Dimensions of Global Change, have taken advantage of the Eco-Corridor’s educational benefits.

For more information on how to offer a community-based learning course that contributes to sustainability on campus, visit engage.richmond. edu/cbl/courses/ eco-corridor-cbl.html.

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Stream Restoration

Community Garden

Going a Little More Green Newly reopened Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor provides ecological and educational benefits to campus community “It feels like we needed this,” says Rob Andrejewski as he walks along the newly opened Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor. Andrejewski, director of sustainability, helped spearhead the initiative to reconstruct the corridor and restore Little Westham Creek. “It’s like opening a whole part of campus that has been neglected.”

Part of the 2011 Campus Master Plan, the project has been underway for years. The initiative was finally realized in March when the walking trail was paved, allowing community access to the area. The Eco-Corridor’s benefits to the campus are countless and ultimately help faculty and staff become better stewards of the James River, while also bringing them closer to the local community.

ECOLOGY More than 9,000 native trees and shrubs are scheduled to be planted in the Eco-Corridor’s 13 acres. The project also reconstructed Little Westham Creek through a process called sinuosity, which transformed the straight, 5-foot-deep creek with eroded shores into a curved, 2-footdeep creek with flood plains. This will prevent bacteria and nutrients from flowing into the James River by allowing the water to percolate

through the ground before it reaches the river and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. “It’s a living laboratory for learning, stewardship, and thinking about how to design and take care of our landscape,” Andrejewski said.

INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL It’s easy to remember when the goats came to campus in spring 2018 to put invasive plants in the Eco-Corridor at bay. That was just the beginning of the invasive species control. Landscaping then came in with electric equipment to cut vines and remove invasive species to make room for native species.

“It is an invitation to native species to come here to find food, shelter, and water and making a little home for all types of animals,” Andrejewski said. “I really want us to treat campus as more than just a place for people. We want to think about who is using this land — it’s not just ours.”

WELL-BEING With almost a half-mile pavement trail leading to the River Road Shopping Center and beyond to the James River, Andrejewski said the Eco-Corridor was initially designed to pop the Richmond bubble and help move people from here to there.

Rain Garden

Wastewater Treatment Remnants

Walking & Biking Trail 0.5 miles Little Westham Creek

UR Dr.

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Outdoor Classrooms

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Illustrations by Cassandra Troy

Now opened, the Eco-Corridor invites people to walk and bike on campus and into the community.

“Just having a relationship with nature is critical,” Andrejewski said. “We know that there are people who are feeling way too stressed out here. Having a place for people to go and connect with nature is really important. This is a well-being project as much as it is an environmental project.”

Faculty and staff may apply for a plot at the organic community garden to grow fresh vegetables. They can also reserve the nearby pavilion, which will have several picnic tables. Eventually, Andrejewski hopes to have a bike-share program at the head of the trail, a free produce stand, and a Little Free Library.

LEARNING The Office for Sustainability 1.5 miles partnered with the Bonner Center to James for Civic Engagement to create River the Eco-Corridor Think Tank. Its 10 access faculty fellows were responsible for developing the two outdoor classrooms in the space, among other initiatives. Already, nine faculty members from varying academic fields have displayed interest in using the classrooms.

Signs created by students in the geography and environmental studies senior capstone with professor Todd Lookingbill will inform the community about the components of the Eco-Corridor.

Additionally, Andrejewski hopes to work with community members to offer educational workshops focusing on gardening and sustainability so that people can take what they learn from the Eco-Corridor and transfer it to their daily lives.

“That to me is the dream: that people come here and think about what is possible in their own lives and their own locations,” Andrejewski said. “And when people are here, they feel more connected with nature. That has benefits in terms of well-being, stress reduction, and attention restoration.”

The Eco-Corridor can be accessed via its Westhampton Way or River Road entrances.

NO-COST BANKING The restoration of the Eco-Corridor came with an added benefit — no cost to the University. Engineering firm Resource Environmental Solutions Inc. completed the Eco-Corridor through a process known as “mitigation banking.”

Rather than UR using University resources, RES developed and restored the EcoCorridor land and stream in order to earn mitigation credits. RES can then sell those credits to the city of Richmond, and the city will use those credits to offset potential environmental impacts caused by new development projects. By partnering with the University, RES was able to help achieve sustainability goals on campus and in the greater community.

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NEW WEEKLY DIGEST, UR NOW, SET TO LAUNCH THIS FALL This fall, University Communications will launch UR Now, a new digital news digest featuring the many stories that mark our progress, uplift our achievements, and celebrate the contributions of Spiders everywhere.

Each week, an email digest will highlight groundbreaking scholarship from faculty, inspiring student achievements, profiles of alumni who are making a difference around the world, views of life on campus, and expert voices on the latest issues that are impacting society. The stories will also be shared on a new UR Now website so readers worldwide can further immerse themselves in the many exciting and inspiring things happening throughout the UR community.

“We used analytics to measure interest in our content and to determine the sorts of stories that our community wanted to see, and UR Now will respond to that insight.”

UR Now is the evolution of Spider Pride, launched in 2017 as an unabashed celebration of all things that make us proud to be Spiders.

The site was created to keep alumni and other Spiders — wherever they are — informed and equipped to be ambassadors and advocates for the place we hold dear.

“We established Spider Pride because we felt there was a vacuum in terms of regular communication with alumni and others about all of the great things happening on campus and the overall progress of the University,” said John M. Barry, vice president for communications.

“We used analytics to measure interest in our content and to determine the sorts of stories that our community wanted to see, and UR Now will respond to that insight. University Communications appreciates the University’s support for Spider Pride and those who have followed it actively, and we look forward to continuing to share stories of the accomplishments and progress of those throughout our community in our new UR Now digest.”

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Community Partnership UR Downtown marks 10-year anniversary with a strong vision for the future

When UR Downtown opened its doors in 2009, the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement’s then-director Amy Howard called the renovated banking space “a physical marker of the University’s commitment to community engagement.” Ten years later, Howard, now an interim senior administrative officer at UR, says the facility has become “a catalyst for UR’s values of ethical engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion, and pursuit of knowledge.”

These values can be seen daily at UR Downtown. The University sponsored almost 125 events at the facility in the 2018–19 fiscal year, including classes, department retreats, and law clinic meetings. Members of the community sponsored nearly 150 more, including public workshops and board meetings. The building is also home to Richmond on Broad Café and a variety of educational programs focused on community engagement and public service.

“Our outstanding faculty and staff have been instrumental in turning an empty building into a collaborative hub for learning, community engagement, and connecting in the heart of the city,” Howard said. “From Campus Services to Alumni and Career Services to Information Services and Transportation Services, with engaged faculty from all five schools, collaboration and innovation have been the foundation for UR Downtown’s success.”

UR Downtown marked its 10th anniversary in December 2019 by envisioning its future. Faculty, staff, and community partners — working together with input from over 600 members of the University and Richmond communities — crafted a vision plan focused on promoting student growth and the creation of new knowledge; offering learning opportunities and collaboration that contribute to the region; and supporting respectful engagement in the city.

As it begins its second decade, UR Downtown will continue to host the programs and events that community members have come to count on, including RVA First Fridays openings and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance hours. Faculty and staff are encouraged to help shape the site’s future by continuing to be active partners with UR Downtown and by bringing forth ideas for expanding its programming and community reach.

“Some of the most unique exhibitions in the gallery, symposia celebrating class-community collaborations, and reflective conversations happened because campus stakeholders made them happen, said Kim Dean-Anderson, associate director of community relationships and UR Downtown. “It’s thrilling to nurture these kinds of opportunities, and we look forward to more of them.”

“a physical marker of the University’s commitment to community engagement”

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Change Agents

Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship initiative paves the way for campus change-makers Standing in front of a crowded room of UR faculty and administrators in February, sophomores Sandeep Kumar and Kartikey Sharma and juniors Xiaodi Hu, Bingjie Liu, and William Walker shared insights from their University Innovation Fellows training and outlined opportunities for campus innovation identified through a process called design thinking. It’s an iterative, human-centered approach to problem solving that, in short, requires identifying a user need, ideating solutions, and refining and testing those solutions based on stakeholder feedback.

The University Innovation Fellows program, run

by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, empowers students to become agents of change at their schools and provide student voices to conversations about the future of higher education. UR participated for the first time in this year’s program, made up of 360 students from 90 higher education institutions in 13 countries. The five UR fellows — with guidance from faculty adviser Todd Lookingbill, associate professor of geography, environmental studies, and biology — completed the six-week online training in fall 2019. They are using this training, together with the global mentoring and peer network provided by the program, to identify and create new learning opportunities on campus.

UR’s participation in the program is just one outcome of the Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (CIE) initiative, launched in 2017 to foster creativity, entrepreneurial ingenuity, willingness to take risks, resilience, and competence in addressing problems and challenges from multiple perspectives.

“We all have creative ideas within us,” said Carol Parish, associate provost for academic integration and Floyd D. and Elisabeth S. Gottwald Professor of Chemistry. “The CIE initiative is about helping our students, faculty, and staff recognize the creativity that lies within themselves and applying that creativity to developing new solutions to address important problems or opportunities.”

While UR’s University Innovation Fellows grow into their new roles as change-makers on campus, the CIE committee is working to identify cross-school opportunities to foster a design thinking mindset among faculty, staff, and students. The CIE lecture series, which launched in February, brings innovators, entrepreneurs, and scholars to UR to speak on CIE-related topics. In addition, students across campus are participating in weekly Idea Pitches, as well as a Sustainable Solutions Challenge to address problems associated with single-use plastic bottles on campus.

With this programming, the CIE initiative aims to deliver the types of learning experiences and skills needed for students to succeed in a complex and ever-changing world.

According to Kumar, it’s working.

“I’ve come to realize that design thinking and the foundations of entrepreneurship are not just skills business majors need,” Kumar said. “On the contrary, these skills are almost essential to anyone who wishes to make our society and the world a better place.”

LEARN MORE For more information about CIE and other academic initiatives out of the Office of the Provost, visit provost.richmond.edu/ academic-initiatives.

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Julia Siewert, ’20, uses  virtual reality as part of her structural biology class to look inside a threedimensional protein structure alongside classmate Conrad Niebuhr, ’20, and Faculty Hub consultant Andrew Bell.

ON THE MOVE The TLC is currently on the third floor of Boatwright Memorial Library but is moving to the second floor — into the former Media Resource Center space. The third floor of the library will become home to the new Teaching and Scholarship Hub, also called the Faculty Hub. TLC staff hope the increased foot traffic resulting from the move will encourage more members of the campus community to make use of the available resources.

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Technology Infusion Technology Learning Center makes cross-disciplinary innovation a reality From large-format printing to audio recording equipment, the Technology Learning Center — more often called the TLC — offers a variety of multimedia resources to support academic work across campus.

“Students are coming out of high school with more technology skills than ever before, and we are happy to help faculty and students interested in implementing technology into their class projects and assignments,” said Melissa Foster, an academic computing specialist who leads the TLC’s efforts. “We have a pocket of faculty who consistently use our services, and we often have word-of-mouth referrals, but we want the entire campus community to be aware of the resources we offer.”

That awareness extends to staff, too, Foster said.

While the multimedia resources available to classes are often the main attraction for faculty, the use of — and assistance with — hardware and software ranging from Excel to Adobe creative products such as InDesign can be particularly beneficial to staff as well.

One popular feature housed in the TLC is virtual reality technology, which is facilitated through a collaboration between the TLC and the Faculty Hub. Andrew Bell, a Faculty Hub consultant for technology, scholarship, and pedagogy, has partnered with the TLC and 19 faculty to incorporate VR in their classes.

“One important mission of the Faculty Hub is to help faculty use technology intentionally to meet student learning objectives, and the use of VR is one approach to that,” Bell said. “VR provides cross-discipline opportunities, and I’m delighted to help foster innovative uses of it here at UR.” Biology and biochemistry professor Eugene Wu uses VR in his structural biology class when teaching his students about three-dimensional protein structures that are super small. He says using VR technology allows him to present the information in a different way and improves perceptions about science. He notes he’s seen a change in his students since implementing VR in terms of their engagement with the subject matter.

AROUND THE LAKE HOURS OF OPERATION Exceptions may occur on holiday and school breaks.

Mon.–Thurs.

“It’s amazing for my students to be able to walk into the molecule and see it from the inside,” Wu said. “VR allows my students to think in three dimensions and enriches their educational experience.”

Will Reckner, assistant professor of philosophy, provides a virtual reality assignment to students in his Modern Western Philosophy course as they consider questions about the definition of reality. Students can opt to complete at least two simulations using the VR headsets provided by the TLC. Specifically, students are encouraged to complete the “elevator/plank” simulation where the user rides up an elevator to the top of a city high-rise and when the door opens is asked to walk out onto a plank with no safety net below. Students are then asked to write a short essay describing their experience and reflecting on the philosophical significance (or lack thereof). Using the simulation as their guide, students explore philosophical ideas such as, “I think, therefore I am,” the famous dictum by French philosopher René Descartes.

“The students have had some powerful and interesting experiences and reactions, regardless

of whether or not it changed their minds about the significance of Descartes,” Reckner said.

The TLC provides not only the hardware and software for the campus community to create multimedia projects, but also assistance from students who are trained in a variety of technologies and who can help users navigate their projects, whether the work is 3D printing, virtual reality, spatial representation, or other forms of multimedia. The TLC is open and staffed until midnight most days of the week and during specified weekend hours.

“The quality of the consulting available there is often unknown or underrated,” said Kevin Creamer, manager of information technology communication and engagement. “Faculty and staff who use the resources are blown away by how much the TLC staff know and realize how helpful the services can be for the projects they are working on to meet their goals.”

Faculty and staff interested in incorporating multimedia components into their projects or meeting for a collaborative consultation are encouraged to email the TLC at tlc@richmond.edu.

“One important mission of the Faculty Hub is to help faculty use technology intentionally to meet student learning objectives, and the use of VR is one approach to that.”

9 a.m.–midnight

Fri.

9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sat.

1–5 p.m.

Sun.

2 p.m.–midnight

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ACCOLADES The Institute of International Education ranked UR No. 2 among LEADING BACCALAUREATE COLLEGES for the fourth consecutive year for the number of students studying abroad, according to this year’s Open Doors Report. UR ranked No. 7 for INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named UR among the U.S. colleges and universities that produced the most FULBRIGHT U.S. SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS in 2019–20. UR is one of 20 institutions in the country to be honored in both categories.

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation awarded UR a $104,000 BECKMAN SCHOLARS GRANT to support four faculty-mentored student research scholarships over three years. It is the fifth time UR has received the award since 2006.

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund awarded the Office of Sustainability a $50,000 GRANT to develop an online tool that will identify how proposed projects on campus will help UR achieve sustainability goals.

The Princeton Review ranked UR No. 62 on its 2020 “TOP 75 BEST VALUE COLLEGES” list.

UR ranked No. 6 on the “BEST SCHOOLS FOR INTERNSHIPS” list.

Poets&Quants for Undergrads ranked the Robins School of Business No. 26 on its 2020 list of “BEST UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS.” UR ranked No. 18 for ADMISSION STANDARDS and No. 21 for EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. The Regirer Foundation awarded Richmond School of Law a $25,000 GRANT in recognition of the school’s partnership with the Richmond Health and Wellness Program at VCU Health System. The partnership provides services to residents at an affordable housing facility for seniors or individuals with disabilities living on or below the poverty line.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching awarded UR the 2020 CARNEGIE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CLASSIFICATION honoring the University’s commitment to community engagement and outreach.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded newly renovated North Court LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) GOLD certification.

The Bernard Osher Foundation awarded the School of Professional & Continuing Studies a $25,000 GRANT to support UR’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. It is the institute’s fourth consecutive capacity building grant.

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Sports Backers awarded UR ACTIVE RVA CERTIFICATION for creating a workplace culture centered on daily wellness activities.

Convenience & Compliance Changes to student employment procedures make it easier to hire and promote

From supporting the retail dining locations to staffing the libraries and museums to assisting with academic research, more than 1,500 students are employed in positions across campus as part of the University’s Work Program and Federal Work Study. These roles not only provide financial and professional benefits to students, they play critical roles in helping faculty and staff achieve goals.

For faculty and staff who supervise students, several recent changes to the Electronic Personnel Action Form (EPAF) have streamlined the student employment processes, making it easier to hire and promote student workers and ensuring the University complies with state and federal student employment laws.

The EPAF system now displays an error message if a supervisor tries to submit a form for a student who has not received a Release-toWork Form from the Office of Financial Aid. “Students must fill out their pre-employment paperwork — an I-9 — after they are offered a job,” said Mike Pagano, assistant director of financial aid who oversees the student employment program. “By law, they cannot start working until the paperwork is complete.”

System changes ensure the University remains in compliance, as violations could result in fines, lawsuits, and a worksite investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audit.

Supervisors can also now give returning student employees raises within their pay grades, promote students to different levels, and change student job titles within existing EPAFs, which was not possible before. And for those students who make exceptional contributions to the University, the Student Employee of the Year award provides supervisors a way to recognize those outstanding achievements — with the campus winner moving on to compete at the state, regional, and national levels. While the selection process has already happened for this year, the financial aid office will soon share details via email and SpiderBytes about next year’s nomination process.

More than 1,500 students are employed in positions across campus ...

For information on the student hiring process, including deadlines, pay rates, and forms, visit studentjobs.richmond.edu.

AROUND THE LAKE

Perks

Faculty and staff enjoy perks of employment beyond pay and traditional benefits When Joe Minick, director of multimedia in University Communications, planned a recent vacation to Florida, he knew to look no further than the employee perks and discounts webpage to save a few bucks.

“I needed to rent a car anyway,” Minick said.

“Why not take advantage of the discounts available to us as employees and save some money doing it?”

When it comes to benefits, insurance, vacation leave, and tuition remission are what typically come to mind for most faculty and staff. The University, however, provides employees with a vast array of benefits and perks — many of which are aimed at improving the overall health and well-being of employees — that go beyond just the basics.

SERVICES: Employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) but may not be aware of all the ways representatives can help. All faculty and staff and anyone living with them can receive a free 30-minute legal consultation; get help locating child care, elder care, or a pet sitter; and more. All full-time employees — and their spouses and parents — can also use Health Advocate to assist with health care-related topics, including Medicare, billing issues, scheduling specialized treatments, and transferring medical records.

FITNESS: The free membership to the Weinstein Center for Recreation for full-time employees and their dependents includes not only access to the gym, but also free health services such as blood pressure screenings, cholesterol screenings, and bioelectrical impedance testing.

Outdoor equipment rental, massage therapy, and outdoor adventure and recreation trips are also available at a fraction of the cost typically charged by vendors.

UR Well provides a breadth of resources and services aimed at creating a culture of well-being on campus. Wellness coaching, a motivational approach to meeting personal goals, is offered for free to full-time faculty and staff. For those struggling to quit tobacco, Cigna plan members have access to cessation programs with a personal coach and free nicotine replacement therapy.

DISCOUNTS: Faculty and staff can find a range of free or discounted services all over campus.

Through Boatwright Memorial Library, anyone with a NetID can stream movies and documentaries on services like Swank and Kanopy. Employees can also download ebooks and audiobooks through the RB Digital platform.

UR Transportation can provide a Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) tap card for free commutes to and from campus.

And, as vacation season approaches, remember to take advantage of all the discounts — hotels; car rentals; tickets to shows, concerts, and sporting events; airport parking; and more — provided by local businesses and online vendors and housed on the employee perks and discounts webpage.

“We really want to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance,” said Laura Dietrick, director of benefits and compensation. In addition to the many services and discounts offered to employees, “we hope our solutions, like flexible work schedules and workshops on retirement planning and elder care, can help reduce stress for faculty and staff.”

BY EMPLOYEES, FOR EMPLOYEES The Benefits Committee is made up of faculty and staff from across campus. These employees work closely with Human Resources to ensure that benefit decisions respond to the changing needs of our community.

You can read the University’s guiding benefits philosophy at hr.richmond.edu.

For more information on the benefits and perks of being a UR employee, visit hr.richmond.edu/ benefits.

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GETTING COMFORTABLE Keith “Mac” McIntosh, vice president for information services and chief information officer, sat down with Peabody Award-winning journalist Michele Norris for the Sharp Viewpoint Speakers Series in the fall to discuss the importance of honest dialogue about race. Norris is founder of The Race Card Project, author of The Grace of Silence, and former host of National Public Radio’s All Things Considered.

“Conversations about race are needed, yet they can be very unpleasant for some,” McIntosh said. “Michele Norris introduced us to The Race Card Project, which provides a proven approach to enter these conversations. We need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Then and only then will we grow.”

The Sharp Viewpoint Speakers Series was established in 2011 in honor of Richard L. Sharp, a nationally recognized entrepreneur, to present competing views on topics crucial to our national and global society.

“This is the purpose of higher education: to interrogate truths, support arguments with fact and reason, discover new knowledge, and create greater understanding,” said President Ronald A. Crutcher. “We know that students learn best when they’re challenged to tackle hard questions and when they’re taught to have these conversations in thoughtful ways.”

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PEOPLE

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OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS We celebrate the accomplishments of UR’s talented faculty and staff.

See more accomplishments and submit your own grant, publication, or honor at richmond.edu/ faculty-staff.

ROD ADAMS, visiting assis-

tant professor of law, published Virginia Medical Law: Fifth Edition (Lulu Press).

ogy, received a $719,895 grant from the National Science Foundation for “Collaborative Research: Level 2 Preparing Undergraduates for Research in STEM-related Fields Using Electrophysiology.”

Bukach is directing the project, which has been awarded a total of about $2 million through the NSF’s Engaged Student Learning, Development and Implementation Level 2 award for five years.

JEFFREY CARLSON, assistant professor of mar-

TAYLOR ARNOLD, assistant professor of statis-

tics, and Lauren Tilton, assistant professor of digital humanities, in partnership with Harvard Libraries, received a $50,000 grant from “Collections As Data: Part to Whole,” a University of Nevada Las Vegas initiative supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The UR team will receive $37,388 for their part of the project, “Images as Data: Processing, Exploration, and Discovery at Scale.”

TIMOTHY BARNEY, associate professor of

rhetoric and communication studies, published “Václav Havel at the End of the Cold War: The Invention of Post-Communist Transition in the Address to U.S. Congress, February 21, 1990” in Communication Quarterly.

PATRICK BENNER, director of residence life and

housing, was selected to attend the Association of College and University Housing Officers — International’s 2020 Senior Housing Officer Institute in New Orleans. The institute is an opportunity for emerging senior housing officers to discover how they can make a pronounced impact on their residence life and housing programs, campuses, and beyond through their influence as key leaders.

JENNIFER BOWIE, associate

professor of political science, co-authored “Understanding the Determinants of Opinion Language Borrowing in State Courts in the United States” in Research Handbook on Law and Courts.

MAVIS BROWN, associate professor of educa-

tion, and Connie Honsinger, adjunct assistant professor of education, published “Preparing trauma-sensitive teachers: Strategies for teacher educators” in The Teacher Educators’ Journal.

SHANI BUCHHOLZ, administrative coordinator

in Common Ground, received a 2020 Office of International Education Weinstein Grant to visit universities in England to explore the ways they promote diversity and inclusion, using the knowledge gained to help continue diversifying UR’s campus through the Administrative Support in Thriving, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity program.

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CINDY BUKACH, associate professor of psychol-

keting, and Adam Marquardt, associate professor of marketing, co-published “About time in marketing: an assessment of the study of time and conceptual framework” in the Academy of Marketing Science Review.

KATE CASSADA, associate

professor of education; Dave Myers, adjunct associate professor of education; Tom Shields, associate dean for academic and student affairs; and Dionne Ward, assistant professor of education, sat on the panel “Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K–12 School Leader Development” at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, chaired the panel.

ELENA CALVILLO, associate professor of art

history, published “L’epopea in un guscio di noce: Giulio Clovio e la questione della scala dimensionale” (“Epic in a Nutshell: Giulio Clovio and the Question of Scale”) in the first volume of a new series on Michelangelo studies, Michelangelo e “la maniera delle figure piccolo,” published by the Casa Buonarroti museum in Florence, Italy.

DAN CHEN, assistant professor of political sci-

ence, co-published “Bread and Circuses: Sports and Public Opinion in China” in the Journal of Experimental Political Science.

KEVIN CHERRY, associ-

ate professor of political science; Dan Palazzolo, professor of political science; and Terry Price, Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics, received a grant from the Jack Miller Center for “Frederick Douglass on America’s Founding Principles,” a faculty and student reading group focused on the scholarly work and life of Douglass.

STEPHANIE COBB, George and Sallie Cutchin

Camp Professor of Bible, published “Suicide by Gladiator? The Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas in its North African Context” in Church History.

ed vice chair of the board of directors of the American Council on Education. Crutcher was also selected to serve on the advisory council of Heterodox Academy. The council, comprised of higher education leaders and public intellectuals, promotes open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement in institutions of higher learning.

MONTI DATTA, associate

professor of political science, received a $33,000 grant from The Achelis and Bodman Foundation for “Social Capital, Human Security, and Anti-Slavery: Conceptualizing a Sustainable Path Toward Liberation,” a study exploring how much trust, or social capital, can explain how effective organizations are in alleviating modern slavery. Datta and Bob Spires, assistant professor of education, will travel to Assam, India, for grant-funded research on successful anti-trafficking tactics conducted by religious sisters in the region.

2020

Outstanding Service Award Winners

PEOPLE

RONALD A. CRUTCHER, president, was elect-

These awards, given annually, honor staff members for exemplary commitment and service to the University in the following categories: clerical support, dining services, administrative, service and maintenance, and sustainability. Outstanding Service Award winners are nominated by their colleagues and supervisors to receive $1,000 and a personalized plaque.

KELLING DONALD, professor of chemistry, and

Miles Johnson, assistant professor of chemistry, co-published “On Transannulation in Azaphosphatranes: Synthesis and Theoretical Analysis” in Inorganic Chemistry. Donald also co-published “Aromatic Ouroboroi: Heterocycles Involving a σ-Donor-Acceptor Bond and 4n+2 π-Electrons” in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics and “Hop, Skip, Jump: Synthesis and Theoretical Analysis” in Organometallics.

DUSTIN ENGELS, business process analyst, pub-

Sustainability JAMES CAMPBELL Custodial Supervisor University Facilities

Dining Services LOIDA DOMASIG Cashier ETC

Administrative JULIE NEVILLE User Services Systems Administrator User Services

Service/Maintenance RENEE WALCOTT Patrol Officer Campus Safety

lished Around the Worlds in 80 Days: One Fan’s Journey to Conquer Disney’s Magic Kingdoms (Theme Park Press).

SHARON FELDMAN, William

Judson Gaines Chair in Modern Foreign Languages, received a grant from the Fundación SGAE to translate and adapt into English Un conte de Nadal (A Christmas Carol) and a grant from Sala Beckett to translate Fairfly.

Feldman was one of six theater translators from several countries invited to attend the Segona Missió de Traductors de Teatre Català Contemporani, hosted by Sala Beckett and the Institut Ramon Llull in Barcelona.

JESSICA FLANIGAN, Richard L. Morrill Chair in

Ethics and Democratic Values, co-published Debating Sex Work (Oxford University Press).

DON FORSYTH, Colonel Leo K. & Gaylee Thors-

ness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership, published Making Moral Judgments: Psychological Perspectives on Morality, Ethics, and Decision-Making (Routledge).

Clerical Support MELODY WILSON Assistant to the Vice President Information Services

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JANE GEANEY, professor of religious studies,

published Language as Bodily Practice in Early China (SUNY Press).

KRISTINE GRAYSON, assistant professor of

biology, received a $105,648 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for her research project Developing/Improving a Rearing System for Emerald Ash Borer.

MANNY HAINES, custodial team leader, received

University Facilities’ CHEERS (Co-workers Honoring Excellent Employees with Rewards) Award for third quarter 2019. Winners are selected from a pool of peer-submitted nominees.

NICOLE HANSEN, commu-

Outstanding Business Affairs Performance Award Winners The annual Business Affairs Awards recognize individuals or teams who excel in the performance of their duties, promote teamwork, inspire excellence in others, and consistently reflect the values of the Business Affairs division — inclusivity, cooperation, and collaboration; working together for the good of the whole; working in an open and accountable manner; and being innovative.

nications coordinator in the Robins School of Business, presented “The Gift That Keeps on Giving: How to Make Social Media Work for You” at the College Communicators Association conference at Virginia State University.

JAVIER HIDALGO, associate professor of leader-

ship studies, published “The Ethics of Resisting Immigration Law” in Philosophy Compass.

LINDA HOBGOOD, director of the Speech Center,

was awarded the 2019 Turner Award “for advancement of communication centers within the discipline and within academe” from the National Communication Association’s Communication Centers Section.

DANIEL HOCUTT, web

LIZ BUEHLER Director, Events, Conferences, and Support Services (acting) Campus Services

AMANDA BOYD Manager, Lou’s Café Campus Services

ABRAM SANSON Food Service Mechanic University Facilities — HVAC

manager in the School of Professional & Continuing Studies and adjunct professor of liberal arts, was named program co-chair for SIGDOC 2020, the annual conference of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Design of Communication, to be held at the University of North Texas in October.

CONNIE HONSINGER, adjunct assistant profes-

sor of education, and Mavis Brown, associate professor of education, published “Preparing trauma-sensitive teachers: Strategies for teacher educators” in The Teacher Educators’ Journal.

CRYSTAL HOYT, Colonel Leo K. and Gaylee

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WA HIT, MAURICIO LOPEZ, JOHN SHINES, AND JAMES CAMPBELL (PICTURED WITH JONATHAN LAPRADE, LEFT) Custodial Recycling Team University Facilities — Custodial

Thorsness Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership, co-published “Failing and feeling bad: How we think about experiencing negative emotions during setbacks” in Motivation and Emotion; “Randomized trial of a single-session growth mindset for rural adolescents’ internalizing and externalizing problems” in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology; “Growth Mindsets of Alcoholism Buffer against Deleterious Effects of Drinking Identity on Problem Drinking over Time” in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research; “Mindsets of health and healthy

PEOPLE

Breaking Down Barriers

A conversation with Martha Merritt, dean and Carole M. Weinstein Chair of International Education Martha Merritt is dean of International Education and a political scientist who travels with intent.

Her career has included living, teaching, and building programs in nine countries.

UR is consistently recognized for the number of students studying abroad. Why is study abroad an essential element of a liberal arts education?

Study abroad allows students to engage deeply with other cultures. This teaches them different ways of understanding the world and their own culture, for that matter.

International travel can be intimidating and expensive for some. How does UR help overcome these obstacles and ensure as many students as possible have the opportunity to study abroad?

One reason about 65% of our students travel abroad is that the University is creative and generous in offering financial assistance. Every student on a UR study-abroad program receives a travel allowance to assist with costs. Students on financial aid find that their packages flex up to assist with costs such as airfare.

But financial assistance addresses only part of the concerns. For students whose parents perhaps never traveled abroad, they may say they aren’t able to do so for financial reasons, but this concern may be reinforced by a lack of context or fear of the unknown. There are also some majors such as science and activities such as athletics that make accommodating study abroad very challenging.

We founded the EnCompass program, which is fully funded travel led by a faculty member for a short period of time abroad, precisely to address those students who may otherwise imagine that international travel is not for them. The 29 students who experienced the first journeys have helped to ease the way by talking with this year’s students, who have applied in numbers far higher than we can currently accommodate.

How does UR help with the transition back to UR following time abroad?

Students who return to campus do feel that they have changed. One of the adjustments, though, is that the campus hasn’t changed that much.

Some students are reassured; others long for the challenge and stimulation of an environment that they perceive as more complex.

With student assistance, International Education founded The Return, a reflective walk across campus meant to help students think creatively about their time abroad and to see their University as perhaps more complex than they realize following their travel.

Why is UR a popular choice for international students?

We have not seen a decline in interest from international students as some universities have. The strong interaction with faculty and the care that students receive here continue to make a UR education attractive for international students and their parents. The range of choice of having five schools and the flexibility among them is part of Richmond’s appeal internationally.

WORLD TRAVELER Merritt’s first trip abroad did not happen until she was in her 20s. “I’m not sure there has been a U.S.-born person who was more anxious to travel internationally than me,” she said.

When she was 24, she spent a year in Russia, followed by four years in Britain. By then, she had taken five years of Russian language and studied international politics. Besides Russia, favorite places for Merritt to visit include Morocco, France, and Japan.

How do visiting international scholars enhance the overall academic experience for students?

Some of our faculty come from other places in the world. They bring a richness to the classroom because they understand what it means to navigate more than one society and can provide students with a different — and welcome — perspective when talking about global issues.

What role has international travel played in your life?

Having lived in other cultures for years means the development of an ability to see other perspectives. I have an external perspective of how unusual the United States is compared to most other countries. Our notions of hospitality and our relationship with politics among other things all make us worthy of study.

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eating intentions” in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology; and “Public health messages and weight-related beliefs: Implications for well-being and stigma” in Frontiers in Psychology. Hoyt co-published the chapter “Efficacy and growth mindsets buffer against identity threat for women in leadership positions” in Women’s Leadership Journeys.

MILES JOHNSON, assistant

professor of chemistry, and Kelling Donald, professor of chemistry, co-published “On Transannulation in Azaphosphatranes: Synthesis and Theoretical Analysis” in Inorganic Chemistry.

SANDRA JOIREMAN, associate provost for faculty

and Weinstein Chair in International Studies, co-published “Law, Violence, and Property Expropriation in Syria: Impediments to Restitution and Return” in Land.

OMICRON DELTA KAPPA

Fall 2019 Epsilon Circle Inductees These national leadership honor society inductions recognize individuals who have demonstrated exemplary character and leadership achievements in one of five phases of campus life: scholarship, athletics, service, communications, and arts.

ED JONES, custodial team leader, received Uni-

versity Facilities’ CHEERS (Co-workers Honoring Excellent Employees with Rewards) Award for fourth quarter 2019. Winners are selected from a pool of peer-submitted nominees.

CRAIG KOCHER University Chaplain and Jessie Ball duPont Chair of the Chaplaincy Chaplaincy

PETER KAUFMAN, George

Matthews and Virginia Brinkley Modlin Chair in Leadership Studies, published On Agamben, Arendt, Christianity, and the Dark Arts of Civilization (Bloomsbury Academic).

JEANNINE KEEFER, visual resources librarian, was

named president-elect of the Visual Resources Association.

ERIK LAURSEN, adjunct associate professor

SAIF MEHKARI Associate Professor of Economics Robins School of Business

of education, co-published “Does Mindfulness Strengthen Self-efficacy in First Grade Students?” in the Journal of Teacher Action Research.

LAURANETT LEE, visiting lecturer of leadership

studies, co-curated the exhibition “Evolution of the Sacred Self” at Iridian Gallery at Diversity Richmond.

ADAM MARQUARDT, associ-

ate professor of marketing, and Jeffrey Carlson, assistant professor of marketing, co-published “About time in marketing: an assessment of the study of time and conceptual framework” in the Academy of Marketing Science Review.

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RHONDA LAMBERT PARSON Administrative Coordinator Foundation, Corporate, and Government Relations

NICOLE MAURANTONIO, associate professor

of rhetoric and communication studies, published Confederate Exceptionalism: Civil War Myth and Memory in the Twenty-First Century (University Press of Kansas).

information services and chief information officer, co-presented “Let’s Stop Talking About DEI and Take Action!” “A Conversation with African-American CIOs: Provocative, Authentic, Inclusive, Changing Dynamics,” and “Using the AIR-EDUCAUSE-NACUBO Analytics Statement to Inspire Urgency” at the 2019 EDUCAUSE annual conference in Chicago.

NICK MINNIX, events coor-

dinator for The Richmond MBA, received the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation from the Events Industry Council.

TERRY PRICE, Coston

Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics; Kevin Cherry, associate professor of political science; and Dan Palazzolo, professor of political science, received a grant from the Jack Miller Center for the project “Frederick Douglass on America’s Founding Principles,” a faculty and student reading group focused on the scholarly work and life of Douglass.

TRACY ROOF, associate professor of political sci-

ence, was awarded $5,250 from Virginia Humanities and $1,220 from the Princeton University Library for her book project Nutrition, Welfare, or Work Support? A Political History of the Food Stamp Program.

DAVE MYERS, adjunct associate professor of

education; Kate Cassada, associate professor of education; Tom Shields, associate dean for academic and student affairs; and Dionne Ward, assistant professor of education, sat on the panel “Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K–12 School Leader Development” at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, chaired the panel.

ERIK NIELSON, assistant chair and associate

professor of liberal arts, co-published Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America (The New Press).

CHRISTOPHER VON RUEDEN, associate profes-

sor of leadership studies, co-published “Toward integration of the niche diversity hypothesis with other explanations for personality covariation” in Social Psychological and Personality Science.

DAVID SALISBURY, associate professor of ge-

ography and the environment, and Stephanie Spera, assistant professor of climate change and remote sensing, received a $705,261 grant from NASA for the three-year project “Quantifying the Effects of Forest Cover Changes on Provisioning and Regulating Ecosystem Services in the Southwestern Amazon.”

MATT SALSBERRY, head catering chef, placed

JAN NELSON, adjunct assistant professor of

human resource management, received the 2019 Literati Award for Outstanding Author Contribution from Emerald Publishing for “Here Be Paradox: How Global Business Leaders Navigate Change” in Advances in Global Leadership.

DAN PALAZZOLO, professor

of political science; Kevin Cherry, associate professor of political science; and Terry Price, Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics, received a grant from the Jack Miller Center for the project “Frederick Douglass on America’s Founding Principles,” a faculty and student reading group focused on the scholarly work and life of Douglass.

SANDRA PEART, dean of the Jepson School of

Leadership Studies, chaired the panel “Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K–12 School Leader Development” at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Kate Cassada, associate professor of education; Dave Myers, adjunct associate professor of education; Tom Shields, associate dean for academic and student affairs; and Dionne Ward, assistant professor of education, served on the panel.

PEOPLE

KEITH “MAC” MCINTOSH, vice president for

second in the Tyson Food College and University Wings Contest with his recipe for Sweet and Tangy Southern Wings with House-made Ranch.

ELIZABETH SCHLATTER,

deputy director and curator of exhibitions, was elected president of the College Art Association of America board of directors. She will serve a two-year term beginning May 1, 2020.

ASHLEIGH BROCK,

assistant to the president; RONALD A. CRUTCHER, president; PATRICIA HERRERA, associate professor of theatre; AMY HOWARD, interim senior administrative officer; GLYN HUGHES, director of common ground; and JEFFREY LEGRO, executive vice president and provost, led a panel presentation “Assessing Institutional Capacity to Support Inclusive Excellence” at the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ 2020 Annual Meeting, Shaping the Future of Higher Education: An Invitation to Lead, in Washington, D.C.

TOM SHIELDS, associate dean for academic and

student affairs; Kate Cassada, associate professor of education; Dave Myers, adjunct associate professor of education; and Dionne Ward, assistant professor of education, sat on the panel “Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K–12 School Leader Development” at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, chaired the panel.

STEPHANIE SPERA, assistant professor of climate

change and remote sensing, and David Salisbury, associate professor of geography and the environment, received a $705,261 grant from NASA for the three-year project “Quantifying the Effects of Forest Cover Changes on Provisioning and Regulating Ecosystem Services in the Southwestern Amazon.”

23

BOB SPIRES, assistant professor of education,

co-published “Cambodian Youth Perspectives on Social and Educational Barriers” in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and “Effects of the Post-It Note Strategy on Reading Achievement among Eighth-Grade Students with Learning Disabilities” in Becoming: Journal of the Georgia Middle School Association. Spires and Monti Datta, associate professor of political science, will travel to Assam, India, for grant-funded research on successful anti-trafficking tactics conducted by religious sisters in the region.

RANIA SWEIS, associate

professor of anthropology and international studies, published “Doctors with Borders: Hierarchies of Humanitarians and the Syrian Civil War” in the International Journal of Middle East Studies. Sweis discussed the film Freedom Fields as part of a public panel at the Margaret Mead Film Festival at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

LAUREN TILTON, assistant professor of digital humanities, and Taylor Arnold, assistant professor of statistics, in partnership with Harvard Libraries, received a $50,000 grant from “Collections As Data: Part to Whole,” a University of Nevada Las Vegas initiative supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The UR team will receive $37,388 for their part of the project, “Images as Data: Processing, Exploration, and Discovery at Scale.”

KAYLIN TINGLE, sexual misconduct prevention

educator, co-published “Trends in mental health service utilization among LGB+ college students” in the Journal of American College Health.

ARMOND TOWNS, assistant professor of rheto-

ric and communication studies, published “The (Black) Elephant in the Room: McLuhan and the Racial” in the Canadian Journal of Communication and “Plastic Empowerment: Financial Literacy and Black Economic Life” in American Quarterly. Towns was appointed associate editor for the Journal of Cultural Economy.

KARINA VAZQUEZ, director

of community-based learning, and Martha Wright, assistant curator of academic and public engagement, published “Bridging Gaps and Disadvantages: University Students using Museums in Spanish as a Practice towards Inclusion” in University Museums and Collections Journal.

DIONNE WARD, assistant professor of education;

Kate Cassada, associate professor of education; Dave Myers, adjunct associate professor of education; and Tom Shields, associate dean for academic and student affairs, sat on the panel

24

“Undergraduate Leadership Studies Curriculum and K–12 School Leader Development” at the global meeting of the International Leadership Association in Ottawa, Canada. Sandra Peart, dean of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, chaired the panel.

CAROLINE WEIST, assis-

tant professor of German studies, was named one of four Research Fellowship winners by the American Society for Theatre Research for her book project “Refiguring Volkskörper: Disability and Critical Corporeality on the Twentieth-Century German Stage.”

DAVID WILKINS, E. Claiborne Robins Dis-

tinguished Professor in Leadership Studies, received the Daniel Elazar Distinguished Federalism Scholar Award from the American Political Science Association in recognition of distinguished scholarly contributions to the study of federalism and intergovernmental relations.

JAMELLE WILSON, dean of the School of Profes-

sional & Continuing Studies, presented “Leading Authentically” at the Virginia Foundation of Independent College’s Women’s Leadership Development Summit in Richmond. Wilson moderated Virginia Commonwealth University’s 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week keynote event “Reflections on the Fierce Urgency of Now.” DOUGLAS WINIARSKI, pro-

fessor of religious studies and American studies, won the 2019 Outstanding Article Award from the Communal Studies Association for “Seized by the Jerks: Shakers, Spirit Possession, and the Great Revival” in the William and Mary Quarterly.

MARTHA WRIGHT, assistant curator of academic

and public engagement, and Karina Vazquez, director of community-based learning, published “Bridging Gaps and Disadvantages: University Students using Museums in Spanish as a Practice towards Inclusion” in University Museums and Collections Journal.

ERIKA ZIMMERMANN DAMER, associate professor

of classical studies, published In the Flesh: Embodied Identities in Roman Elegy in the Wisconsin Studies in Classics series (University of Wisconsin Press).

The following includes employment status changes for full- and part-time faculty and staff from Nov. 1, 2019, to Jan. 31, 2020.

NEW HIRES FACULTY SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES BIOLOGY Priyanka Mittapelly Postdoctoral Research Associate CHEMISTRY Neda Ojaghlou Postdoctoral Fellow SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY Chris Upton Visiting Lecturer in Anthropology THEATRE AND DANCE Vicki Davis Visiting Instructor of Theatre ROBINS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Shane Emmett Entrepreneur in Residence, Dean’s Office MBA PROGRAMS Moira Lethbridge Executive in Residence STAFF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES Odette Blaisdell Wood, Metal, and Tech Lab Technician, Art and Art History Quinn Sherman Music Technology Specialist ADVANCEMENT Megan Bishop Administrative Coordinator, Office of Major Gifts ATHLETICS Alex Day Video Coordinator Collin Lozo Facilities and Events Assistant Trevor Mendelson Assistant Football Coach Kiamesha Otey Assistant Women’s Track and Field Coach Keion Robinson Public Relations Assistant Bridgette Robles Assistant Director, Public Relations Chris Williams Director, Athletics Equipment Operations BUSINESS AFFAIRS CAMPUS SERVICES Richard Bollinger Cook II, Heilman Dining Center

Daniel Boyd Cook I, Heilman Dining Center Katie Fraker Concierge, Events, Conferences, and Support Services Cody Gray Concierge, Events, Conferences, and Support Services Cooper Moelchert Cook, The Cellar Nathan Nero Utility Associate, Heilman Dining Center Dillon Oakes Stores Associate, Heilman Dining Center Diana Vasquez Becerra Café Associate, Richmond on Broad Café Danielle Wyerman Event Assistant, Events, Conferences, and Support Services CONTROLLER Katie Ruff Director of Financial Accounting and Reporting

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT Jocelyn Hermosilla Administrative Coordinator, Residence Life and Undergraduate Student Housing Laura Hood Administrative Coordinator, Westhampton College Dean’s Office

MOVES FACULTY SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES JOURNALISM Brian Palmer Visiting Lecturer of Journalism ROBINS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ACCOUNTING Ihab AbuZayda Visiting Instructor EXECUTIVE EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION Bob Piazza Visiting Instructor

RETIREMENTS 53 YEARS FRANK EAKIN

Arts & Sciences faculty (Religion) Frank Eakin ranks among the longesttenured faculty members in the history of the University. As a graduate of the Richmond Class of 1958, his relationship with UR spanned eight decades.

Eakin died on Sunday, Jan. 26.

41 YEARS GLENN PRUDEN

Dining Services Administration HANK STEARNS

Heilman Dining Center

40 YEARS SUSIE REID

University Facilities – Support Services

STAFF

39 YEARS

FACILITIES Rodney Cox Custodial Floor Technician

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS PROVOST Malorie Olivier Administrative Specialist

Taylor Hayes Roofer Apprentice

BUSINESS AFFAIRS CAMPUS SERVICES Kolby Ferguson Utility Associate, Heilman Dining Center

33 YEARS

Dylan Moore Cold Food Production Cook II, Heilman Dining Center

32 YEARS

Malik King Boiler Plant Operator – REACT Mary Otto Custodian HUMAN RESOURCES Theran Fisher Director of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness

Jon Mykich Lead Stores Associate, Heilman Dining Center

ROB DOLAN

Robins School faculty (Economics)

GEORGE SOULERET

University Facilities — HVAC

JERRY STEVENS

Robins School faculty (Finance)

26 YEARS ROBERT KENZER

Lindsey Stagner Compensation Specialist

James Wallace Lead Cook, Heilman Dining Center

Arts & Sciences faculty (History)

SECURITY Walter Jackson Parking Enforcement Officer

Sheldon Williams Cook I, Richmond on Broad Café

24 YEARS

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Zoe Rahsman Administrative Assistant, Undergraduate Admission Leah Wiseman Assistant Director of Communication and Marketing, Undergraduate Admission INFORMATION SERVICES Christina Shepperson Technical Support Consultant, User Services Specialists

FACILITIES Mark Beatty Manager, Engineering Services Elena Mileva Custodial Supervisor John Whitty Landscape Supervisor PLANNING AND POLICY Suzanne Hofmann Special Project Coordinator

KATHY MOORE

Westhampton College, Dean’s Office

20 YEARS JOHN GUPTON

Arts & Sciences faculty (Chemistry)

17 YEARS BETTY PRINCE

Westhampton College, Dean’s Office

15 YEARS BEVERLY VAN BOVEN

The Cellar

PEOPLE

We offer a warm welcome to our new colleagues and congratulations to colleagues taking their next steps.

410 Westhampton Way University of Richmond, VA 23173

OVERCOMING DISTANCE University officials are closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19.

The campus community will continue to be notified via email as new information becomes available.

In the meantime, visit RICHMOND.EDU/ CORONAVIRUS for the latest COVID-19 policies, updates, and FAQs.

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues, None of us could have predicted at the start of the spring semester that we’d be where we are today. That’s why it was important to all of us who play a role in the production of Spider Insider that we continue to deliver to you stories of faculty and staff and your extraordinary work. From celebrating UR Downtown’s 10th anniversary (Page 10) to taking an inside look at the completed arts facilities renovations (Page 4) to honoring so many of you who have ensured the University’s vital work continues during this unprecedented time (Page 2), it’s all here between these pages.

We hope you enjoy receiving this issue of Spider Insider at home, and that it helps foster a sense of connection — indeed, normalcy — during this tumultuous time. Producing it certainly did for us.

I look forward to the day we’re back together again on the beautiful campus we so love. Until then, take care of yourself and each other.

Cheryl Spain Editor