University of Mississippi eGrove Liberal Arts Newsletters Liberal Arts, College of 2019 The iewV from Ventress - 2019 University of Mississippi. College of Liberal Arts Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/libarts_news Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, Life Sciences Commons, Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation University of Mississippi. College of Liberal Arts, "The ieV w from Ventress - 2019" (2019). Liberal Arts Newsletters. 10. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/libarts_news/10 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Liberal Arts, College of at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Liberal Arts Newsletters by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 2018–19 Academic Year The University of Mississippi The View from Ventress News from the College of Liberal Arts | libarts.olemiss.edu Arabic Language Flagship “Here in Oxford, at the University of Mississippi, is one of the best Arabic programs in the country.” —JOHN CHAPPELL Rhodes Scholar finalist and Arabic Flagship graduate John Chappell (BA international studies n 2018 the Department of Modern Languages was learners with the ambition and determination to make and Arabic ’19) photographed fellow awarded an Arabic Flagship Program, sponsored by the positive changes in all sectors—public and private—through students riding in a caravan on the Erg National Security Education Program, a federal a well-grounded, balanced view of the Arab region.” Chebbi Dunes of Tafilalet, Morocco. I initiative to create a wider and better-qualified pool of US The Flagship provides funds to hire new faculty, add citizens with foreign language and international skills. The courses and experiences, and increase study-abroad federally funded languages currently offered at 21 opportunities. universities are Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish. “When UM started teaching Arabic in 2008, we modeled our program on the Chinese Flagship. We believe we’ve Our modern languages department is the only one in the been Flagship-quality for years,” said Daniel O’Sullivan, nation with both Arabic and Chinese Language Flagship chair of modern languages. programs. Chinese was established in 2003. “Majoring in Arabic at UM was a great decision because “UM is a de facto hub of critical language learning in teachers and peers pushed me to excel,” said Cynthia Bauer, America,” said Allen Clark, associate professor of Arabic and who also majored in international studies. “I read Arabic codirector of the Arabic Flagship Program. “We believe we literature and conducted ethnographic research. The program have the number-one Chinese and Arabic Flagship programs brought me to a level able to converse in Arabic with anyone in the US, unrivaled. We recruit a strong pool of language on the street. It is hugely important for my career.” To read more about this program and students, turn to page 18. more stories, photos, and videos at libarts.olemiss.edu FROM THE National Honor for DEAN the Honor Society nly 10% of US colleges and universities Lee M. shelter a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the Cohen, Onation’s oldest undergraduate honors PhD organization. The UM chapter, started in 2001, recognizes students with outstanding academic performance in liberal arts classes through a faculty nomination process. PBK gives a Certificate of Recognition to six t is difficult for me to believe that this fall will 2019 Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony outstanding chapters every three years: two public mark the start of the 5th year that I have had the universities, two private universities, and two liberal honor of working on our beautiful campus as the I arts colleges. The UM chapter was recognized as one of two outstanding chapters at a public university. dean of the College of Liberal Arts. As I look through this newsletter, I feel a sense of pride and “The diligence of our faculty and PBK officers in identifying and following up with qualified students gives us amazement of our accomplishments. In fact, each one of the highest national acceptance rates,” said Sandra Spiroff, associate professor of mathematics and PBK year I think, “It can’t get any better than this,” and chapter president. “Our website and promotional materials earned us praise at the national PBK meeting.” each year, to my delight, I am proven wrong. “Tremendous support from the Chancellor’s office and the College of Liberal Arts indicates the value the As I reflect on the last year, one word comes to mind: university places on a liberal arts education,” said Luanne Buchanan, instructional associate professor of excellence. Realizing academic excellence is not easy; Spanish and PBK secretary-treasurer. V it is admired because it is difficult to attain. For example, this year our university had its “Very High Research Activity” (R-1) Carnegie Classification renewed, placing us, once again, as one of the premier research universities nationwide. This is important for a number of reasons. Specifically, it Rhodes Finalists impacts how government officials, independent or the first time ever, UM boasts four finalists for prestigious Rhodes Scholarships to study at the analysts, and academic groups perceive our University of Oxford in England. And, Jaz Brisack is our 26th—and first woman—Rhodes Scholar! institution. It gives us recognition as a significant FThe win puts UM in the top 10 public institutions in the nation for the number of Rhodes Scholars— player on the national research stage. It helps recruit tied for first with Vanderbilt among SEC schools. and retain faculty as well as increase the quality of the student body. Finally, in a competitive market, Brisack, a general studies major minoring in journalism, public policy leadership, and sociology, is a the R-1 label can significantly help our already strong Truman Scholar with a long history as a champion for human, civil, and labor rights. President of the reputation. However, the pursuit of academic College Democrats and a frequent contributor to the Daily Mississippian, she participated in the Sunflower excellence is more than achieving a prominent Freedom Project. national ranking. It is striving to better understand Jarvis Benson, an international studies and Spanish major, president of the Black Student Union, and Truman ourselves and the world around us. It is maximally finalist, is active with civil rights, voting rights, immigration, and education issues. developing one’s intellectual capacities to achieve professional and personal success, and ultimately John Chappell, an international studies and Arabic major, 2017 Barksdale Scholar, and Mississippi Votes to serve humanity. cofounder, works on issues of international human and civil rights. We are strong because of the many talented and hardworking individuals who were part of the 2018-19 In addition, Chinelo Ibekwe, a 2018 chemical academic year in the College of Liberal Arts. We are engineering graduate from Lagos, Nigeria, was also strong because of the generations of alumni who a Rhodes finalist for West Africa. Abhijaya have come through the College. Our alumni are Shrestha, a mechanical engineering student making meaningful contributions to society and all from Nepal, was a semifinalist in the Global sectors of the economy. Rhodes Scholarship category. I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter, and gain a “Our pride and joy are immeasurable,” said renewed sense of pride in what is happening on Douglass Sullivan-González, professor of history campus to prepare the next wave of graduates. V and dean of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. “That our university has produced four finalists for the prestigious Rhodes scholarship means that our faculty and COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS staff have worked with some incredible scholars ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD who have stood up to the questions of the day, Dr. J. Steven Blake (Chair), Kathryn Black, Adam Broome, and the world has taken notice.” V Bradford Cobb, Dr. Mark Craig, Dr. Mike Edmonds, Robert Harper, Russell Hensley, John Jacobson, Ken Lackey, Jarvis Benson (from top left), John Chappell, Gary McGaha, Steven McKinney, Johnny McRight, Chinelo Ibekwe, and Jaz Brisack. Marilyn Mulherin, Gail Russell, Frances Smith, Sanford Thomas, Leah Thomson, Al Williams The View from Ventress 2 2019 Barbour Center Engages and Inspires The Department of Political Science is home to the new Haley Barbour Center for the Study of American Politics. Joseph Haney (from left), Abby Wood, Ed Goeas (president and CEO of The Tarrance Group), Julia Johnson, Governor Haley Barbour, Shelby Focused on campaigns and elections, the Center is Maynor, Krista Perkins, Bailey Griffin, Cally Perkins, and Professor Conor Dowling discuss survey research and strategy at BGR Group in designed to attract students entering many fields Washington, DC. with opportunities to learn about American politics and civic responsibility through classes, interactions programming. Students participate in a range of undergraduate, and has never left. A thread running with political practitioners, and internships. The topics and experiences to prepare for engagement in through his career is activity in campaigns and mission is to promote a more engaged citizenry and the American electoral process as citizens or as elections, and it is this aspect that we hope the inspire students to take an active role in government. political party activists, paid campaign advisers, or Barbour Center reflects.” “We don’t think that every student from the Haley electoral process managers. Barbour’s life in politics began in 1968 as a field Barbour Center for the Study of American Politics will “The current climate of American politics suggests the organizer on Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign. Rhodes Finalists become a congressman, or even an alderman,” Barbour need for young people to engage in the election From 1973 to 1976, he was executive director of the said. “There will be campaign managers, physicians, process and be prepared for the reasoned, respectful Mississippi Republican Party.