This past Sunday I was in Millett Atrium with over 50 other people and the  Dean's Student Advisory Board who had organized and were hosting the 2015 Mission Statement Awards. Congratulations to senior David Holm, Motion Pictures, for receiving the first Mission Statement Award. Our other top nominees were: Paige Dobkins, Elizabeth Schoppelrei, Angie Loyd, Gwendolyn Reynolds, Dana Moorman, Mindy Hartings, Pamela Cone, Hannah Williamson, Kristina Burris, Kwanza Jasper, Bryan King, Brigette Barger, Kelsey Weitz, Jonathan Jacky, John Aghishian, Carmen Rodriguez, Erin Evans, Murad Abdallah, Prentiss Haney, Natasha Liptak, Stephanie Patino-Garfias, and Raechel Romero.  Thank you to our new Director of Student Retention Becca Salay and CoLA alum Rob Boley for their lively panel participation and thank you to the DSAB for organizing this wonderful event.

Model UN's award-winning tradition continues! This year's team earned 6 Outstanding Position Papers and a Distinguished Delegation (top 10%) Award, plus a brilliant briefing at the Netherlands Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Congratulations to all of the students on the 2015 Model UN team and special thanks to Political Science faculty advisors Donna Schlagheck and Vaughn Shannon for leading the team to their 36th year of consecutive success!

Congratulations to Ben Hirt and Maan Broadstock, both Modern Languages, for receiving a University Center for International Education (UCIE) Seed Grant ($2,000 each) for curriculum development. I know they will make good use of that funding!

If you are looking for something fun to do next weekend, look no further! I have two great options for you.

• From April 23 to April 26, WSU's Dance Ensemble will host its Spring Dance Concert which will include a wide range of music and dance styles and will feature guest performances by Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II and Dayton Ballet II. For tickets call 775-2500.
• On Friday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m., come to Schuster Hall for CELIA's fourth annual Poetry and Music Concert, which is free and open to the public. This concert will examine how World War I influenced classical music - what an intriguing concept! Kudos to Dennis Loranger, Music/English, and Barry Milligan, English, for this great collaboration.

Julie Tollefson, International & Comparative Politics

Melissa McCarthy, International & Comparative Politics

Ummey Tabbassum, International & Comparative Politics

Daniel Clark, International & Comparative Politics

This week's featured New Faculty is History Assistant Professor, Natasha McPherson. She earned her undergraduate degree in American Studies from Spelman College, an all-women's historically black college in Atlanta.  She received her master's degree and Ph.D. in History from Emory University. Natasha teaches an African-American Studies Survey and upper-level courses on African-American History and Urban History and African-American Studies Oral History and Traditions.  One of her favorite things about Wright State is that she can really connect with all of the first generation college students. She was one herself and is happy to be part of creating opportunities for them. Welcome Natasha!

Center for Liberal Arts Student Success (CLASS) Update:  

• Meet and Greet Director of Student Retention Becca Salay was April 16.
• We are interviewing for 2 new academic advisors. Three candidates will be making presentations in the CoLA Large Conference Room:
• Friday, April 17, 9:15 a.m. - Brittany Erwin
• Monday, April 20, 2:30 p.m. - Pamela Beatty
• Wednesday, April 22, 10:30 a.m. - Laurel Gilbert

I hope you will be able to attend these sessions!