On September 30th, Women's and Gender Studies professor, Dr. Kristen Abatsis McHenry released her first book,

The Green Solution to Breast Cancer: A Promise for Prevention. For McHenry, this book is an amazing accomplishment and reading her name on Amazon seemed a little surreal. "Early in my academic career, I struggled, and my research topics were not always viewed as politically important," McHenry said. "But it's a game-changer when you publish a book; it puts you on the map."

Urban Studies: A Brand-New Minor

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Professor Andrea Klimt joins seventeen students as the y e mbark on th e first-ever Intro to Urban Studies class. The class is one of several from the Urban Studies  minor, which is being offered for the first time this semester . The minor developed from an interest in interdisciplinary connections and involves several departments - Art History, Literature, Economics, Sociology/Anthropology, etc. "UMass Dartmouth is located in between two post-industrial cities," said Sociology Professor Gloria de Sá. "Future generations are responsible for these cities, and they must learn to deal with the stakeholders."

When Jacob Miller learned about the minor, he began to seriously 

consider adding it to his busy schedule. Like Professor de Sá, Miller believes that Umass Dartmouth is an optimal place to study urban environments. And he also believes that the minor compliments his studies well. "Being an English major and a Political Science major, I am constantly reading about cities and thinking about policies related to them," Miller said. "This minor will allow me to get a deeper knowledge of urban environments."

 

The Urban Studies minor will create a deeper knowledge for all of the students. And in doing so, it brings together theory and practical applications. Students can expect to explore and experience the surrounding cities, look at the process of change, and use their skills to make a difference. "The Urban Studies minor works towards creating sustainable cities," Klimt said. "It's really about helping to create communities for the people who actually live there." 

While leisurely searching the LinkedIn job postings last April, Meg Cichon found her newest opportunity - a job opening for a science editor at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The Lincoln Lab is a Department of Defense Research and Development Laboratory that conducts research and development aimed at solving problems critical to national security. As the science editor, she works on science-heavy articles daily and helps to communicate about the Lab's projects, which include air and missile defense, space surveillance technology, tactical systems, biological and chemical defense, homeland protection, communications, cyber security, and information sciences.

Cichon, an alumna from the Master's in Professional Writing Program, seized this great job opportunity when she wasn't even aggressively job-hunting. She always keeps her eye out for new, exciting opportunities. "I wasn't in dire need for a new position, but I always keep my eye on the LinkedIn job boards for new opportunities," Cichon said. "You never know what can pop up." So she applied for the job, and she was offered the position after the second interview. "I had felt good about the interviews, and the office seemed like a good atmosphere and fit," Cichon said. "I wanted the job, so those phone calls were a huge relief and very exciting."