Volume 3 | January 26, 2018
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KALEIDOSCOPE EVENING SET FOR MARCH 2
The college’s banquet, designed to honor our distinguished alumni, will be held Friday,
March 2, at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The evening is held at the end of Arts and Sciences Week, which highlights the many programs and activities of
the college.

The Kaleidoscope Banquet begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at
6:45. Dress is business attire Faculty and staff may attend at the reduced rate of $50 per person.To make reservations please visit here by Feb. 23. The following will be honored as distinguished alumni:
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA

Allyson Reneau earned her bachelor’s degree in communication at OU before commuting to Harvard University for her master’s degree in international relations. The mother of 11 and co-founder of Victory Gymnastics in Norman also graduated from the NASA-sponsored 2014 International Space University in Montreal and interned at the Naval War College, FAA Commercial Spaceflight Office and NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Kevin Bales co-founded the NGO Free the Slaves after going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders. The results of this research became his book Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Currently, Bales serves as a professor of contemporary slavery in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham.
Lisa Riggs is a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison, and Lewis, Inc. Her areas of specialty include civil litigation, mediation, medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability law. Riggs earned her bachelor’s degree in political sciences and her master’s degree in sociology from OU, and earned her juris doctorate from Georgetown Law Center. After practicing for many years in the D.C. area, Riggs moved home to Tulsa in 1996.
Marvin Williams i s a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are obstetricians who completed additional training in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care of complicated pregnancies. He completed a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center, where he also completed his obstetrics-gynecology residency. Williams served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Medical Corps, and earned the Bronze Star Medal in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V.
 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The 2018 Distinguished Service Award goes to the Merrick Foundation for their continued support of the College of Arts and Sciences, the university and educational, cultural and public health initiatives across the state.
OU NAMED TOP 50 BEST COLLEGE FOR LATINO STUDENTS
The University of Oklahoma has been named a top 50 best college for Latino students by Latino Leaders   ,  a magazine dedicated to connecting and inspiring future leaders. The publication honors academic institutions that have excelled in serving the Latino student population.
COLLEGE WEBSITE REDESIGNED
The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to launch its newly redesigned website, ou.edu/cas . The primary objectives of the site development effort were focused on aesthetics, simplifying content and increasing the visibility of the college. The new design also allows for streamlined menus, clear navigation and a responsive layout for all platforms. 
SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA, OU RESEARCHERS EXPLORE THE MAGNIFICENCE OF FUNGI IN NEW EXHIBITION
The fascinating kingdom of fungi is on display in Science Museum Oklahoma’s smART Space galleries in a new exhibition developed in partnership with the University of Oklahoma’s Natural Products Discovery Group. Decomposition: Discovering the Beauty and Magnificence of Fungi opened Dec. 26 and runs through Aug. 12. In development since early 2017, the exhibition explores the uses, benefits and beauty of fungi through numerous fungal samples, live decomposition displays and a journey into the research of the OU NPDG and its Citizen Science Soil Collection Program.
STUDENT TRAVEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION
Did you know the College’s Student Travel Assistance Program application is now electronic? The College of Arts and Sciences makes available a limited amount of travel funding each year for outstanding undergraduate students with a declared major in the college and graduate students making strong progress toward completion of a degree program in the college. Please direct your students to apply for funding via OrgSync .
ZARROW FAMILY FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENT CENTER OPENS IN BIZZELL LIBRARY
Located on Lower Level 2 of Bizzell Memorial Library, the  Zarrow Family Faculty & Graduate Student Center  is a space dedicated to supporting the research and teaching needs of OU faculty and graduate students in a central campus location. Users must use their OU ID to gain entry.
RECENT BOOKS
MARIA DEL GUADALUPE DAVIDSON: CURRICULUM AT THE CROSSROADS 
Maria del Guadalupe Davidson , associate professor and director, Women’s and Gender Studies , and core affiliate faculty member Kirsten Edwards , assistant professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies,  explore the ways in which college curriculum is complicated, informed, understood, resisted and enriched by women of color. This collection is relevant to the current conversation within higher education, which looks to curriculum to aid in the development of a more tolerant and just citizenry. Women of color have long theorized the failures of injustice and the promise of inclusion; as such, this text rightly positions women of color as true "experts in the field."
FACULTY RECOGNITION
ROBERT CON DAVIS-UNDIANO NAMED MOST OUTSTANDING LITERATURE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
World Literature Today director Robert Con Davis-Undiano was dnamed "Most Outstanding Literature Artist of the Year 2017” by the Hispanic Arts Council of Oklahoma. Davis-Undiano has been involved in publishing 13 books and 60 articles. Currently, he serves as the director of OU’s Latinx Studies Program and as series editor for the Chicana & Chicano Vision of the Américas at the University of Oklahoma Press. His recent book, Mestizos Come Home! Making and Claiming Mexican American Identity ,  won the 2017 International Latino Book Award  for “Best Latino Focused Nonfiction Book.”
DAVID HAMBRIGHT NAMED ASLO FELLOW
David Hambright , professor of biology and director of Environmental Studies, has been named a Fellow of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography for having achieved excellence in his contributions to the society and the aquatic sciences. The 2017 ASLO Fellows will be honored at the 2018 ASLO Summer meeting in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
DAVID VISHANOFF AWARDED NEH FELLOWSHIP
David Vishanoff , associate professor, Religious Studies, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for his project “Psalms of the Muslim Prophet David: Arabic Edition and English Translation,” which will bring to light a curious and little-known alternative version of the Psalms.  
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED AT CONFERENCE
Department of Communication faculty and graduate students presented a total of 27 scholarly papers or other presentations at the National Communication Association Annual Convention in Dallas late last year. Many department members received recognition, including Cameron Piercy (graduated), William Howe (second-year Ph.D. student), Ryan Bisel (associate professor), Michael Kramer (department chair), Ioana Cionea (assistant professor) and Brittney Wallace (graduate teaching assistant). Elena Bessarabova, associate professor, is serving as the NCA Social Cognition Division chair-elect, Social Cognition Division, and Norman Wong, associate professor, is serving as the NCA vice chair, Health Communication Division. 
FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITION PROGRAM WINS WRITING PROGRAM CERTIFICATE
OU's First-Year Composition Program has won a Writing Program Certificate of Excellence from the Conference on College Composition and Communication. This honor is only extended to a select number of writing programs in the country. Learn more about OU's FYC program
RESEARCH
$11,967 - STATE OF OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

TARGETED SURVEYS FOR PEPPERED SHINER IN THE KIAMICHI, LITTLE, GLOVER AND MOUNTAIN FORK RIVERS

The Peppered Shiner is designated a “species of greatest conservation need” by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and is endemic to rivers in the Ouachita Mountains in Oklahoma and Arkansas. This project will fund the survey of 100 sites in the Kiamichi, Little, Glover and Mountain Fork Rivers in southeast Oklahoma, specifically targeting Peppered Shiner habitat.
$118,544 - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

THE INFLUENCE OF VAPER AND SMOKER IDENTITIES ON YOUNG ADULT SMOKERS WHO USE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

This two-year study examines young adult smokers who begin using electronic cigarettes to assess how their vaping behaviors and beliefs change. The findings from the study will help the FDA understand how to regulate electronic cigarette marketing messages and to assess the effectiveness of smoking cessation messages in young adult smokers who vape.
$20,500 - MEDSCAPE, LLC

RISK LITERACY CME PARTNERSHIP

T he goal is to provide education on effective ways to communicate disease-related and treatment-related risk information to patients. The program reviews evidence-based research on factors that often influence informed decision-making among patients, physicians and allied professionals.
MICHAEL MUMFORD (PSYCHOLOGY)
$124,902 - BINGHAMPTON UNIVERSITY

COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND COLLECTIVE PLANNING FOR THE U.S. ARMY

Organizations have become technologically more complex over time. As a result, it has become more difficult for leaders to formulate viable plans. This problem is particularly significant for the U.S. Army for two reasons. First, the nature and complexity of missions has increased. Second, the traditional military planning model continues to evolve. Recognition of these points has led the Army to begin exploring new models for planning.
$32,551 - STATE OF OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

POPULATION BIOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY OF THE LESSER PRAIRIE- CHICKEN

This species has lost a considerable extent of its former geographic range — ,by some estimates over 90 percent — and seen sharp population declines. The project will work to provide data and analysis to establish range-wide protections and guidelines in an effort to protect the species.
$110,000 - AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, PETROLEUM RESEARCH FUND

SYNTHETIC UTILITY OF CASCADE REACTIONS INVOLVING DIAZO SYNTHONS

Inspired from enzymatic cascade reactions found in nature, Sharma Lab researchers are developing catalytic cascade reactions, which are innovative tools for synthesizing value-added chemicals with high efficiency, selectivity and atom economy.
HANK JENKINS SMITH (POLITICAL SCIENCE)
$40,000 - SANDIA LABORATORIES

ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND PREFERENCES FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY PROGRAMS AND POLICIES: 2017

This research is aimed at understanding Americans’ views on nuclear security and related issues of relevance to the goals of reducing global nuclear dangers and pursuing global nuclear strategic stability. For over a decade, OU has maintained a unique program for the collection of systematic, nationwide surveys of public and elite perceptions of nuclear security concerns, issues and options. Using data from these surveys, OU researchers will evaluate the manner in which U.S. residents’ views have evolved on matters of nuclear security, including nuclear conflict, deterrence and international efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.
IN THE NEWS
SOONER MAGAZINE FEATURES BILL ENDRES
Assistant professor of English Bill Endres was featured in Sooner Magazine . He is one of a few scholars using digital technology to document and share ancient manuscripts. Endres’ 3-D images have made it possible for people worldwide to experience the St. Chad Gospels.
DOUG GAFFIN RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES
Research on scorpions by Doug Gaffin, David Ross Boyd Professor of Biology and interim dean of the Honors College, was highlighted in The New York Times . Gaffin's research tested how scorpions react to ultraviolet and blue-green light.
SPECIES NAMED AFTER KATHARINE MARSKE
A new species of beetle has been named for Katharine Marske , assistant professor of biology, to acknowledge her contribution toward understanding the evolution of New Zealand's biota.  
DEADLINES AND FEATURED EVENTS


Jan. 26
Sabbatical applications for Fall 2018 only or Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 (two-semester sabbatical) are due from academic units to the Dean's office

Feb. 5
Deadline to enter new course changes not associated with program modifications, certificates or minors into Courseleaf
Feb. 8
World-renowned poet Nikki Giovanni will be delivering a lecture for the African and African American Studies Lecture Series in honor of Black History Month at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center. For more information visit the college web site.




Feb. 16
Sabbatical leave reports from Fall 2017 only or Spring 2017 and Fall 2017 (two-semester sabbatical) are due to the Dean's office.
Feb. 22
New York Times  best-selling author Ibram X. Kendi will be delivering a lecture for the African and African American Studies Lecture Series in honor of Black History Month at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center. For more information visit the college web site.