Students

July Update from the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office

July 25, 2017 By casdept

The College of Arts and Sciences is excited to announce that Dr. Gary Lee Malecha, professor of Political Science, has taken up his new position as interim dean.

Dr. Malecha, who has been at the University of Portland since 1992, has served on numerous committees at the University, most recently leading the University Ad Hoc Committee on Mental Health in 2016. He provided leadership as chair of the Political Science Department for many years, currently serves as the faculty athletics representative to the NCAA, and has served in many more leadership roles throughout his time at UP. Dr. Malecha is an expert in the area of American politics, teaching courses on U.S. Congress, the U.S. Presidency, public policy, and the politics of food. He was awarded the University’s highest honor for faculty, the James Culligan Award, in 1999 (University of Portland News).

Dr. Malecha agreed to serve the University in this capacity for one year to allow for a national search for the new dean of College of Arts and Sciences.

UP Bioethics Team: National Champions

April 27, 2017 By casdept

In just its second year competing in the Bioethics Bowl, UP’s team won the national competition. Dr. McShane, Philosophy, is the coach of the McNerney-Hanson Ethics Bowl and Bioethics Bowl teams at UP.

This year’s competition was held on April 8 at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. The competition drew 17 teams from around the country to debate a wide array of bioethical issues, including the ethics of international vaccine programs, clinical weight management, complex end-of-life care in the absence of surrogate decision-makers, and HIV disclosure policies.

The team went 5-0 in the competition, defeating University of Miami, Macalester College, Weber State, University of Alabama Birmingham, and, in the finals, Georgetown University.

This year’s Bioethics Bowl was coached by Paddy McShane, Assistant Professor of Philosophy. Debate team members represent wide variety of disciplines:

Elisa Reverman (’17)–Team Captain– Biology major, Chemistry and Philosophy minors
Savannah Collas (’17), Biology major
Carolyn Lutzenhiser (’17), French Studies and Sociology majors
Owen Price (’19), Philosophy and Math majors, Computer Science minor
Kit Tobin (’19), Nursing major, Theology minor
Morgan Wilhelmi (’19), Biology major, Philosophy minor, also helped the debate team prepare for competition.

During competition the team did an excellent job of doing philosophy and of representing UP; they were models of collegiality, intellectual rigor, and moral sensitivity.

SLAC Students 2016-2017

January 24, 2017 By casdept

The Student Leadership & Advisory Council (SLAC) is composed of students representing each department in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are appointed by the Dean of the College in April of each year after being recommended by their department chairs in consultation with the faculty to serve for a one-year term. Students may be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors. Sophomores or juniors may serve for a second term. The Council meets approximately once a month to provide advice to the dean about the programs of the College and to assist with projects. Among the tasks of the Council are the following:

* To suggest how the College may better serve its students and propose new services or events that will promote the College’s academic mission

* To assist departments with curriculum and program reviews, especially by helping to survey students and alumni

* To provide advice about how to improve advising in the College

* To provide advice about the publications, the web site, and the marketing plan of the College

* To suggest programs for inclusion in the College’s many academic programs, including “Integrative Conversations” events

* To present student perspectives to the dean on important issues involving academics and student life

* To manage parts of the communication plan especially reserved for the Student Leadership and Advisory Council To host the annual CAS Senior Toast for graduating seniors and retiring CAS faculty

The following is a list of 2016-2017 SLAC representatives along with their contact information. Feel free to contact your SLAC representative with any questions, comments and concerns about your department.

SLAC Members AY 2016 – 2017
Department/Major	Student Representative	Email
Biology	Raluca Gosman	(gosman18@up.edu)
Chemistry	Emily O’Loughlin	(oloughli17@up.edu)
Communication Studies	Madelyn Edlin	(edlin18@up.edu)
English	Jackie Ott	(ottj17@up.edu)
Environmental Studies	Megan MacInnes	(macinnes19@up.edu)
History	Madison Gottfredson	(gottfred17@up.edu)
International Languages & Cultures	Celeste Lau	(lauc17@up.edu)
Mathematics	Brittani Klindworth	(klindwor18@up.edu)
Performing & Fine Arts	Angel Marie Summers	(summersa19@up.edu)
Philosophy	Hayley Miller	(millerh18@up.edu)
Physics	Meagan Koeroghlian	(koeroghl18@up.edu)
Political Science	Trevor Peralta	(peralta17@up.edu)
Phychological Sciences	Lauren Jones	(jonesl18@up.edu)
Sociology & Social Work	Danielle Dillard	(dillard18@up.edu)
Theology	James Paul Gumataotao	(cruzjam17@up.edu)

Student Awards Academic Year 15-16

January 24, 2017 By casdept

The following is a list organized by department of student awards received during the 2015-2016 academic year. These awards are the result of hard and diligent work of College of Arts and Sciences Students:

Biology

Blondel Carleton Award in Biology: Natasha McGlaun

Marlene Moore Academic Achievement Award: Saroop Dhatt

Becky Houck Teaching, Mentoring, and Service Award: Hannah Souders

Michael D. Snow Achievement in Undergraduate Research Award: Stephanie Rager

OHSU Murdock Undergraduate Research Program Award: Taylor Zehren

Chemistry

William & Lavina Wilson Award in Chemistry: Noah J. Forrest and Bao Tran N. Nhan

American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry

Dylan A. Nevin

American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chem: Noah J. Forrest

Communication Studies

Paul S. Melhuish Outstanding Organizational Communication Award: Elizabeth A. Miranda

Robert L. Fulford Outstanding Communication Award: Hannes D. Zetzsche

University of Portland Speech and Debate Union Award for Debate Excellence: Anna L. Murphy

English

Louis J. Masson Outstanding English Major Award: Ana Fonseca

Herman Asarnow Award for Academic Excellence in English: Erika N. Murphy

Outstanding Writing Assistant Award: Andrea V. Turel

Environmental Studies

Rev. Arthur Schoenfeldt, C.S.C. Award for Environmental Ethics and Policy: Yannika N. Marquardt

Suzanne S. Fields Award for Environmental Science: Calli P. Vanderwilde

History

Rev. Joseph Powers, C.S.C. Senior Prize in History: Emily A. Dovel

Rev. Erwin Orkiszewski, C.S.C. Outstanding History Thesis: Emily A. Dovel

James T. Covert Leadership Award in History: Caroline E. Harpster

International Language & Cultures

Zertifikat Besonderer Leistung for Outstanding Accomplishment in German: Kristen M. Jakstis

Certificat D’Excellence for Oustanding Accomplishment in French: London S. Ballard Manuel J. Macias Certificado de Excelencia for Outstanding Accomplishment in Spanish: Anna L. Murphy

Narciso Zancanella Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in International Languages & Cultures: Hannes D. Zetzsche

Dr. Kathleen Regan Award for Outstanding Service in International Languages & Cultures: Tori J. Ward

Mathematics

Ron Smit Annual Mathematics Award: Taylor K. Spooner

Emmy Noether Award for Achievement in Mathematical Research: Nikki B. Carter

Performing & Fine Arts

Jerome N. Badraun Outstanding Senior in Theater: Tyler L. A. D. Hunt

Margaret Vance Outstanding Senior in Music Award: Haley M. Mukensnabl

Philosophy

Philosophical Achievement Award for Scholastic Excellence: Madeleine M. Boyle & Nathan L. Seppi

Agora Award for Leadership in Promoting Philosophical Dialogue and Community: Jason P. Smith Franz Mayr Award for Passion and Aptitude for Philosophy: Dylan R. Vahradian

Physics

Paul E. Wack Award in Physics: Tangereen V. Bailey Claringbold

Political Science

Br. Donald J. Stabrowski, C.S.C. Award for Academic Achievement: Talbot M. Andrews

Rev. Claude Pomerlau, C.S.C. Award for Student Leadership: Mariah A. Wildgen

Steven B. Taylor Award for Excellence in Mock Trial: Katherine A. Miller

Social Justice Praxis Award: Josefina S. Duran-Martinez

Psychological Sciences

Sr. Marian Dolores Robinson Award for Achievement in Psychology: Talbot M. Andrews

Rev. John B. Delaunay, C.S.C. Award for Outstanding Psychology Major: Jesse Dunn

Susan Baillet Award for Outstanding Neuroscience Minor: Kelsey A. Kincaid

Sociology & Social Work

Joseph S. Gallegos Award: Lydia Laythe

Dorothy Day Award: Jessica Fuller

Robert W. Duff Award: Erin Bell C. Wright Mills Award: Natasha McGlaun

Jim Short, Jr. Award: Ryan Mealy

Theology

Rev. Richard Rutherford, C.S.C. Award: Jessica A. Brown

Henricus & Antonia Baasten Memorial Award: Geoffrey R. Sasser

Fullbright Awards

May 2, 2016 By casdept2

The College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to share news that five CAS students (four graduating seniors and one alumnus) have received Fulbright Awards this academic year:

Caroline Harpster – History & German Studies double major, with minor in Education
Kristen Jakstis – dual CAS degrees: Environmental Science (BS) and German Studies (BA)
Jonathan Squires – Organizational Communication
Josefina Duran-Martinez – Spanish 2nd major, Social Justice minor in CAS (primary school is Education)
Emily Dovel – History (double minor in Political Science and Gender & Women’s Studies)

Thank you for the mentoring and advising that helped inspire these students. The liberal arts and sciences CAS graduates and alumni continue to engage the great issues of our age with tremendous grace and the greatest of gifts: a liberal arts education informed by the Holy Cross mission. Thanks to all faculty and staff who helped in the preparation and application stages.

Please feel encouraged to drop these gifted CAS students a note of congratulations. More information is included on the UP website.

SLAC Snacks Success

May 2, 2016 By casdept2

SLAC students served 20 dozen cookies, and massive amounts of coffee and lemonade to students studying for finals on Sunday night, April 24^th. SLAC Snacks has become a greatly appreciated tradition each fall and spring semester the Sunday night before finals. CAS would like to thank Dean Harrington for allowing the SLAC students space in the library for this event each semester.

First-Ever UP Bioethics Bowl Team

April 19, 2016 By casdept2

In recent past years, UP held intramural ethics bowl events, but this year they engaged in intercollegiate competition. This year’s efforts and team travel were generously sponsored by the McNerney-Hanson Endowed Chair in Ethics, the Philosophy Department, and the School of Nursing.

The team competed in the National Bioethics Bowl, April 8-10, at Case Western Reserve University. In competition, UP was the only team to go undefeated in the preliminary rounds—defeating University of Maryland Baltimore County, Ripon College, and San Jose State University—securing an advancement to the quarterfinals, in which UP fell to Macalaster College. During the Bowl, students debated a wide array of bioethical issues, including the ethics of uterine morcellation, state-sponsored newborn bloodspot biobanks, medical deportation, neuroenhancement, postmortem genetic testing, and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) advance directives.

This year’s team members hail from a wide variety of disciplines:

Megan Berg, Biology major, Spanish minor
Madeleine Boyle, Philosophy/ Math
Emma Brooks, Nursing
Savannah Collas, Biology
Lucas Gushikuma, Nursing
Elisa Reverman (team captain), Biology major, Chemistry and Philosophy minors

During competition, and throughout the conference more generally, the team did an excellent job of representing UP; they were models of collegiality, intellectual rigor, and moral sensitivity.

In the fall, UP will begin building a new Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl team (which will compete on a wider array of ethical issues).

Nihat Cem Inan Will Perform His Valedictorian Speech

April 7, 2016 By casdept2

Nihat Cem Inan, raised in a UP supporting family, is a double major in Electrical Engineering and Music and has also been selected as the Valedictorian for Commencement Ceremony II. Instead of giving a full speech as Valedictorians typically do, he will be playing the piano. His piece of choice will be Étude Op. 10, No. 12 in C minor, known as the “Revolutionary Étude,” by Frédéric Chopin. Nihat will be performing for the second commencement ceremony on May 1st, in the Chiles Center.

Bioethics Bowl Team Compete in 2016 Bioethics Debate Bowl

April 4, 2016 By casdept2

Bioethics Bowl Team: Dr. Patricia McShane (Philosophy) will lead a team of six students to compete in this year’s Bioethics Debate Bowl, part of the National Undergraduate Bioethics Conference at Case Western University, 4/8-10.

Good luck to the following students!

Megan Berg, Biology major, Spanish minor
Madeleine Boyle, Philosophy/Math
Emma Brooks, Nursing
Savannah Collas, Biology
Lucas Gushikuma, Nursing
Elisa Reverman (team captain), Biology major, Chemistry and Philosophy minors