Dean's note: A round of applause
March 3, 2022
As a recent transplant from Arizona, I’ve been anxious for months about the Michigan winter. After the storm that brought us a foot of snow in one day, I can safely say I’ve learned to embrace it. That doesn’t mean I’m not desperately looking forward to spring though!
A lot of really exciting things have happened at JMC, despite the snowfall. Professor Salvador Vidal-Ortiz delivered the inaugural Stephen O. Murray Scholar-in-Residence lecture. He gave a fascinating glimpse into the interconnection of Murray as a scholar and a person, based on materials he has reviewed thus far in the archives.
Professor Amy Simon was honored with the prestigious Teacher-Scholar Award. This award is made to only six members of the tenure system faculty at the rank of assistant or associate professor who have earned the respect of students and colleagues for their devotion to and skill in teaching.
Both the university and the college are gearing up for several important events. On March 15, our annual Give Green Day will invite Spartans near and far to give to MSU in a number of ways. For those wishing to see their gifts support JMC students and programs, there are four options to choose from: JMC Emergency Scholarships, JMC Career Exposure Programs, Human Rights Lab and Race in 21st Century Americas Conference.
I am looking forward to Madison’s Signature Event, the Jack Paynter Lecture, established in honor of Jack Paynter. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Dr. Susan Collins, a political science professor at the University of Notre Dame. Collins’ lecture is aptly titled “The Spartans and the Ancient Regime.” If you can’t make it in person, catch the livestream at 6 p.m., March 24.
JMC is also hosting the Twelfth Biennial Conference on Race in 21st Century Americas; the virtual event is scheduled March 29-30, with the new addition of a student day scheduled in person on March 25. This year’s conference theme is “Race and Rights: Empowering Our Communities.” Our very own Professor Rashida Harrison is chairing this conference with additional JMC support from Professor Anna Pegler-Gordan, Professor Linda Sayed, Assistant Dean Brian Johnson and Director of Development Rocky Beckett.
Our students have been busy racking up accolades as well. Qing Guan (IR and SRP) is MSU’s nominee for the James C. Gaither Jr. Fellows Program. Three of MSU’s four Truman Scholarship nominees are from JMC, including Elyse Baden (PTCD and SRP) Ishaan Modi (SRP) and Gabriel Sandoval (CCP). Elyse Baden is also one of MSU’s two nominees for the Udall Scholarship. This is a very impressive group!
Other Madisonian students making news include Troy Distelrath (SRP and CCP) and Dylan McGinnis (SRP) who both received awards for their submissions to the Martin Luther King Jr. Advancing Inclusion through Research Award. Congratulations!
Please keep your eye out for my monthly Dean’s note. I’ll do my best to keep you updated on the many activities underway in the JMC community.
Cameron Thies
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor