EDUCATION NOTES
OF NOTE
UTD announces new vice president: Bruce Gnade, a professor in the electrical engineering and chemistry departments at the University of Texas at Dallas, has become UTD's vice president for research and economic development. Dr. Gnade's strong record of research in materials science and his experience coordinating a major campus construction project are key aspects of his qualifications for the role. He will report to UT Dallas President David Daniel. Dr. Gnade came to UTD in 2003 from the University of North Texas, where he was chair of the Materials Science Department. Prior to that, he was a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense, and a visiting scientist at the University of Maryland at College Park.
AT&T contracts with Dallas County colleges: AT&T Inc. announced an optical and voice services contract with Dallas County Community College District. Under the terms of the 10-year contract, AT&T will provide high-speed network access at the district's locations throughout Dallas County. The expanded bandwidth will bear terminal- and Web-based applications such as always-available Internet access, audio- and videoconferencing, streaming audio and video.
THINGS TO DO
UTD offers views of Mercury on Wednesday: The Texas Astronomical Society and Women in Physics student organization at the University of Texas at Dallas will set up solar telescopes with special filters so the public can safely view Mercury as it transits the sun on Wednesday. Mercury's tiny orbit keeps it so close to the sun that it's tough to observe, said Faranak Zarnani, a Women in Physics member. Every few years, however, its orbit aligns with Earth's, making it easier to see as it glides in silhouette across the Sun's face. The astronomical event, which won't happen again until 2016, will begin at 1:12 p.m. and still be in progress at sunset. Viewing from the field next to UTD's Classroom Building West, on Rutford Avenue north of Drive A, is free. For information, call 214-995-7947 or e-mail faranak.zarnani@utdallas.edu.
Interior design branding expert to speak at TCU: Texas Christian University's department of design, merchandising and textiles is hosting a Green Honors Chair Lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday at TCU's Sid Richardson Lecture Hall 1. The featured speaker will be Janine James, experimental branding and culture-building expert and founder of The Moderns, a multidisciplinary solutionist think tank. For more information, visit www.demt.tcu.edu or call 817-257-7499.
Exhibit provides snapshot of Dallas ethnic communities: The Dallas Public Library is hosting an exhibit called "People of Dallas: A Confluence of Cultures." The exhibit explores the unique experiences and cultures of many different ethnic groups who call Dallas home, telling their stories through photographs, newspapers, books, government publications, campaign materials and more. The exhibit is on display in the seventh floor reading room of the Texas/Dallas History and Archives Division through Nov. 30.
Texas author to speak at TWU: Award-winning author Jane Roberts Wood of Argyle will present "About Writing: These Things I Know" at the 16th annual Joyce Thompson Memorial Lecture. The Denton County resident's lecture will be at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the auditorium of the Multipurpose Classroom and Laboratory Building, on Bell Avenue on Texas Woman's University's Denton campus. Mrs. Wood's Texas trilogy - The Train to Estelline, A Place Called Sweet Shrub and Dance a Little Longer - won recognition throughout the United States. She has been honored by the Texas Institute of Letters and is a fellow of both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public. For more information, call 940-898-3748.
Holocaust scholar to speak at UTD: Drawing on his research and experience as an expert witness in Holocaust denial trials, Dr. Christopher Browning will present two talks during the annual Einspruch Holocaust Lecture Series Nov. 12-13 at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Browning, the Frank Porter Graham Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the author of numerous books and articles on the subject, including Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland, Collected Memories: Holocaust History and Postwar Testimony and Nazi Policy, Jewish Works, German Killers. He is also a fellow at the National Humanities Center and has given expert testimony in several international court cases. Dr. Browning's first talk, at 2 p.m. Nov. 12 in the UTD Conference Center auditorium, is titled "Holocaust Denial in the Courtroom: The Historian as Expert Witness." The session will be followed by an author's reception. The second talk, at 9 a.m. Nov. 13, also in Conference Center Room CN 1.206, will be "Hitler and the Decisions for the Final Solution." The lectures are free and open to the public; however, reservations are requested. Call 972-883-2100 or e-mail holocauststudies@utdallas.edu.
ACHIEVERS
-Several Dallas residents are serving as student leaders at Oklahoma State University. Laura Montgomery, Perry West and Janna Nelinson are serving as resident assistants, while Mark Cassara is serving as a community facilitator. Jacqueline King and Clay Kimbrough are serving as hall government representatives. Bill Lacava is serving as Residence Halls Association Co-National Communications Coordinator in the Department of Residential Life at Oklahoma State University.
-A University of North Texas graduate is featured on the Oct. 15 issue of Library Journal. Shikun Jiang - who represented the Class of 2005 in this year's "Placements & Salaries" feature - earned her master's degree in information science in the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences.
IN DISD
Redistricting hearings set for this month: The Dallas Independent School District has scheduled redistricting hearings that have become necessary because of the annexation of the Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District. The redistricting is for the single-member districts that elect members to the DISD Board of Trustees. The public is invited to provide input on how the Wilmer-Hutchins ISD area should be added to the Dallas ISD single-member districts. Hearings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Wilmer City Hall, 128 N. Dallas Ave. in Wilmer; 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Community/Senior Center, 500 West Hickman St. in Hutchins; and at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at the DISD Administration Building, 3700 Ross Ave. in Dallas.
DISD to recognize veterans: The Dallas Independent School District will recognize central staff employees who are military veterans at its annual Veterans Recognition event at 10:45 a.m. Friday, at the Administration Building flagpole, 3700 Ross Ave. Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and Board of Trustees President Jack Lowe will address the veterans and lay a wreath at the base of the flagpole, while a student from Oliver Wendell Holmes Humanities/Communications Academy plays taps. The Bryan Adams High School JROTC will raise the colors and lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and students from James Madison High School will sing "The Star Spangled Banner." Many other activities are planned at district schools this week.
Parent academies set for this month: Students, parents and the community in DISD Area 6 are invited to attend the Area 6 Parent Academy from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Moisés E. Molina High School, 2355 Duncanville Road. Offered in English and Spanish, the academy will provide instructional and general information about the district, its programs and services and is designed to meet the needs of the Area 6 community. Workshops to be offered include overview of district policies and programs, beginning computer classes, tips on performing better on tests, gang awareness, the importance of attending parent conferences and information about resources available to help students pursue a higher education. The next academy will target students in Area 4 and is scheduled for Nov. 18 at Conrad High School, 7502 Fair Oaks Ave. For more information about upcoming parent academies, call 972-925-3970.
Schools to close for Thanksgiving break: The Dallas school district has announced that Nov. 20-21 are teacher staff development days and nonschool days for students. All schools and administrative offices in DISD will be closed November 22-24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Classes resume Nov. 27.