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College of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
| May 2006 | Volume 1, Number 8 |
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In This Issue:
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Dean Continues his Efforts in the Middle East 
According to a May 2006 article in The Oregonian, federal officials say it is "crucial to national security and growing the economy"
to encourage U.S. students to become fluent in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian and Korean. To that end, President Bush has proposed a $114 million
National Security Language Initiative that would provide instruction and training for language teachers of kindergarten through college-age students.
The past several years at PSU have witnessed a steady growth in students asking for opportunities to study the history, languages, literatures and politics of the Middle and Far East, and we have expanded programs and classes to meet these exciting new intellectual demands.
In April 2006, Dean Marvin Kaiser made his third trip to the Middle East meeting with Arab alumni, and corporate, higher education and government officials.
This is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen relationships and build program partnerships with higher education institutions in the Middle East. As student interest continues to grow,
the opportunities for collaboration among CLAS, our Arab alumni and Middle Eastern higher education institutions are indeed exciting.
Photo: Marvin Kaiser, John Damis and PSU GCC Alumni Communication Students Present Papers at Regional Conference 
Portland State was well represented at the annual conference of the Northwest Communication Association (NWCA) held April 13-15, 2006, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Students from the department of Communication
presented papers on topics ranging from cell phone communication to the framing of the war in Iraq. Faculty members Susan Poulsen, department chair, J. David Kennamer and Cynthia-Lou Coleman held a panel on undergraduate research.
Left photo: Communication students who presented their research included: (seated) Dani Sonehocker, Aaleeya Spence and Kathryn Winkler, and (standing, from left) Wynde Dyer, Sally Schindler, Mami Kikuchi, Erin Snider, Ashley McMahon and Alisa Poul.
Right photo: Graduate students attending the conference included: (from left, front) Mike Pacchione, Andrea Fulta, Mary Jean Williams, Dan Lauth (behind), Jeff Pearson, Jon Schroeder and Imran Haider.
Geology Professor Awarded Mercator Guest Professorship to University of Goettingen Georg Grathoff, Research Assistant Professor in Geology, has been awarded a one-year Mercator guest professorship to the University of Goettingen, Germany, by the DFG (German Federal Funding Agency). His reasearch project supports the study of nano-scale weathering processes in soils developed in tills of varying ages in the Dry Valley, Antarctica and the Sierras, as well as in soils in the Oregon coastal dunes. The Georg-August University of Goettingen is one of the most prestigious universities in Germany, founded in 1734. Georg Grathoff's role will be to advance their research on clay minerals and nano-minerals soils and to bring the study of environmental mineralogy to their environmental geology program. He will implement the techniques he has developed at PSU in a course and a workshop at the German university. Grathoff leaves in August 2006, returning in August 2007.Visit Georg Grathoff's web page Read about Goettingen
Portland State prides itself on its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The three components of sustainability – economy, society and environment –
form a dynamic system that works toward solving interconnected societal problems both large and small.
Portland State's commitment to sustainability can be seen campus wide, every day.
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On May 8th fifteen CLAS faculty received Length of Service Awards.
Associate Professor Donald Truxillo has been elected a Fellow in the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the society's highest honor. Professor Truxillo is an authority on the development and validation of personnel tests. The members of SIOP are dedicated to understanding, measuring and improving the lives of workers and their work environments. Professor Kerth O'Brien, Psychology, recieved the 2006 Faculty Community Engagement Award at the sixth annual Civic Engagement Awards on May 18th. Keynote speaker Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps, discussed the importance of engaged citizenship and the university's commitment to community. Professor O'Brien's award was for his research on Project EQUALED: Exploring the Quality of African-American and Latino Experiences with Doctors. He serves as Co-Principal Investigator along with Somath Saha, MD, MPH, of OHSU.
Assistant Professor Jennifer Ruth, English, has published Novel Professions: Interested Disinterest and the Making of the Professional in the Victorian Novel.
Associate Professor Leerom Medovoi, English, has published Rebels: Youth and the Cold War Origins of Identity.
During this year's Rose Festival, Maria L. Alanis Ruiz, program coordinator for Chicano-Latino Studies, will be knighted an Honorary Dame under the Banner of the Rose by the Royal Rosarians. Maria receives this honor for her many contributions to the City of Portland.
Assistant Professor Christina Hulbe, Geology, was appointed by the National Academy of Sciences to its scientific committee on Antarctic research, the scientific standing group on
physical sciences. This is a six-year appointment.
Associate Professor Cynthia-Lou Coleman, Communication, has been named editor of the journal of the Northwest Communication Association. The journal publishes peer-reviewed scholarship from a spectrum of communication
topics. The current journal features a range of research from communication between twin siblings to Jewish identity in cinema.
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences provides the intellectual heart of an excellent education in any discipline by exploring ideas that influence, teach and expand our knowledge of ourselves, our society, our world and our future. Please consider supporting the college by making a gift to one of the Dean's Funds. The Dean's Fund for Excellence helps strengthen academic programs, provides scholarships for students, improves classrooms and laboratories, advances the excellence of our faculty and helps the college reach out to our alumni and friends. The Dean's Fund for Scholarships responds to the extensive growth of promising students who seek financial assistance. Scholarship support helps the College to recruit, retain and reward the best and brightest students.
Make your investment in a bright future by giving to one of the Dean's Funds.
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