April E-news From the College

Letter From the Dean

Dear Friends of the College,

Welcome to the April 2011 e-newsletter for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Inside A&S.

On April 7, the Gender and Women's Studies Program will host the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Student Research Conference. This annual event highlights and celebrates the incisive work produced by students from all across campus during the previous year.

This year's event features Noël Sturgeon, professor of women's studies and American studies at Washington State University, as keynote speaker. Dr. Sturgeon will discuss, "Avatar and Activism: Ecological, Indians, Climate Justice, and Disabling Militarism," at 4:30 p.m., in the Connelly Center Cinema. The event also is sponsored by the Center for Peace and Justice Education, the Department of Geography and the Environment, and VCLE.

In addition, two academic departments in the College are celebrating important anniversaries this month. Both the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Department of Psychology celebrate their 50th anniversaries this year. Many special events will take place to mark the occasions, and you'll read about them here in Inside A&S.

Further, Villanova will commemorate Earth Day 2011 this month with a series of events that extend beyond Earth Day; please visit this Web site to learn more. The College thanks Paul Rosier, Ph.D., an associate professor of history, for his work to plan and organize the University's celebration of Earth Day 2011, which will feature, among other events, a series of climate change roundtables; a screening of the Academy Award nominated documentary, “Sun Come Up”; and a lecture by Dr. Mark Wallace, professor of religion at Swarthmore College, who will discuss “Religion and Ecology.”

And, finally, the 13th Annual Literary Festival, sponsored by the Department of English, continues to feature some of the nation's most prominent writers and poets. These are events not to be missed. Click here to learn more. All readings are free and are followed by a reception and book signing.

The spring 2011 semester is quickly drawing to a close. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you do to advance the mission of the College and to contribute to our community.

Thank you for continuing to read Inside A&S.

Sincerely,
John A. Doody, Ph.D.
Dean of the College