February 27, 2013
- Dr. Yonghu Dai, associate professor of Spanish, recently published a book of translation called “Anthology of Short Stories by Ruben Dario.” The book was published by Lijiang Publishing House (Guilin, China) in January. It belongs to the series of “Famous Authors Famous Translators.” Comprising of 56 short stories, it is considered the most extensive anthology of Ruben Dario’s prose work in China.
Professor Dai became a published translator very early in his academic career. When he was a graduate student at Peking University in China, he published translations of poems by authors in literary magazines and in books his translations of poems by authors such as Gabriel Mistral, Jorge Luis Borges, Rubén Dario, and articles by writers such as Octavio Paz. His translation of Terry Eagleton’s essay, “Capitalism, Modernism, and Postmodernism” (Co-translated with Weijie Song in 1994), has been extensively referenced by Chinese scholars and researchers.
Ruben Dario has been Dr. Dai’s passion for many years. He did his master thesis on the Nicaraguan poet in 1994. In 2004, he published a bilingual anthology of Dario’s poems (Editorial Urbis). The publication of the Anthology of Short Stories by Ruben Dario was made possible by SAU’s summer research grant.
- A research proposal by Dr. Khalil Dajani, chair of the Math & Computer Science Department, was presented to the committee of Arkansas Space Grant Consortium – NASA during its meeting in Little Rock on Friday, Feb 15. Dr. Abdel Bachri was in attendance and announced on behalf of Dr. Dajani that the consortium committee approved funding for his project.
Dr. Dajani’s proposal was discussed for funding among several proposals by faculty from engineering and computer science schools of other Arkansas institutions. Dr. Dajani’s project, entitled “Applications of Quantum Computation Algorithms for Network Communications and Space-based Devices,” received high praise by the space grant personnel, audience and committee and was unanimously approved. Funds will be used beginning in the fall semester.
The grant totals $21,500, and as per Dr. Dajani’s proposal, the monies will be largely used to fund research projects and related equipment and materials for one graduate and one undergraduate student, and includes travel to the NASA Ames quantum laboratory in California. It is also worth noting that with the funding of this project, Dr. Dajani is now qualified to be considered for larger NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) funding.
- Dr. Abdel Bachri, associate professor of physics and a former recipient of several NASA research grants, has been invited by the Space Grant Consortium to spend the week of Feb. 25–March 1 in Washington D.C. to meet with the NASA delegation, and some legislators at Capitol Hill to talk about how NASA programs impact the state. Dr. Bachri, with others from various states, seeks commitment from key lawmakers to push for higher congressional appropriation for Space Grants in the coming year. The Space Grants, established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by NASA, contribute to the nation’s science enterprise by funding space-related research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia.
- This month, Clayton Guiltner, assistant professor of Theatre in Acting and Directing, led workshops at the Region 6 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. The two workshops titled, “Theatre Leadership: How to Get People to Say Yes!” and “Acting Basics: Storytelling Through Blocking,” were presented to theatre college students and professors from theatre programs in five surrounding states. Guiltner also served as an acting respondent to the Irene Ryan acting competition at the festival.
Guiltner is also assisting with research and marketing for the newly formed Big Red Theatre Company in Hollywood, Calif. for the world premiere of “Behind The Lie” a new play written by Nick Rongjun Yu, translated by Claire Conceison, produced and directed by Robert Woods.
- Josh Kee was selected by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to serve on the faculty at the Spring Workshop for Newcomers in Development and the Intro to Personal Solicitation Workshops held in Pittsburgh, Penn. during Feb. 4-7. During these workshops, Kee presented on topics such as Annual Fund Basics, Energizing and Empowering Volunteers, Corporate and Foundation Giving, Stewardship, Personal Solicitation, and High-End Solicitations in the Annual Fund.
- Josh Kee is serving on the CASE District IV Conference Board as the Co-Chair of Registration for the upcoming CASE District IV Conference in Ft. Worth, TX on March 23-26. District IV represents Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
- English and Foreign Languages department members Dr. Sara Day and Dr. Shannin Schroeder are both presenting papers at the joint conference of the Pop Culture Association and the American Culture Association in Washington, D.C. from March 27 through March 30. Day’s paper, entitled “The Constant Orphan: Absent Parents and Eternal Adolescence in The Vampire Diaries,” considers the ways in which vampirism challenges and subverts the conventional treatment of parent-child relationships in literature and culture for young adults. Schroeder’s presentation is called “American Patriotism and the Need for Betsy Ross” and explores the multi-faceted motives behind our continued perpetuation of the apocryphal genesis story of the first American flag. While at the convention, Day and Schroeder hope to meet up with alumni Jill Fennell and Daniel Kasper, who are in graduate programs at Texas Tech and the University of Alberta, respectively, and who were also invited to present at the convention.
- The International Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IJHSS) notified Japhet N. Makia, instructor of writing at SAU, that his dramatic monologue (poem) “His New Duchess?” has been published in the February 2013 issue (Vol. 3, No. 3) of the journal. The journal is published by the Centre for Promoting Ideas, USA. “His New Duchess?” is Makia’s creative critical analysis of Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue “My Last Duchess.” You can download Makia’s work using the following link: http://www.ijhssnet.com/update/index.php/archives.html
- Dr. James Ulmer’s recently published collection of short stories, “The Secret Life,” has been nominated for the John Gardner Fiction Prize.
- Supplemental Instruction (SI) Coordinator Lavana J. Kindle, M.S., and Student Support Services (SSS) participant SAU Senior Kamara Aubrey traveled to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro in February to observe National TRiO Day. SAU SSS Director Eunice Walker nominated Kamara to receive the TRiO Hall of Fame award this year. SSS participants worked hard on their poster to enter the “TRiO Strong” poster contest at ASU, which placed third in the state. An inspiring message by a recent SSS college graduate, a photo with ASU mascot “Howl,” and an ASU campus tour completed the Saturday event held in the Student Union auditorium. Known affectionately as “Mrs. Lavana,” Kindle has been the SI Coordinator at SAU since 2008.
- Dr. Terrye Stinson, professor of accounting, was recently elected to a second seven-year term on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Society of CPA’s Student Education Fund. This Board oversees an endowment of $1 million that provides scholarships to accounting students in Arkansas. Dr. Stinson was also re-elected to serve as president of the board.
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