Jodyi Wren named interim director of Greene Center: Jodyi Wren has been named as interim executive director of the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections and interim assistant vice provost for career education initiatives. Wren currently serves as director of advising and career communities and has led the career education advising and communities services and programs to support our students and young alumni in designing their lives. Wren assumes this position immediately and will serve until a permanent executive director is hired, likely in late summer or fall 2022. Joe Testani, formerly executive director of the Greene Center, stepped down from the position to serve as deputy to President Sarah Mangelsdorf.
Online course on creating inclusive learning environments: The University is partnering with ACUE, which is hosting an online course on creating inclusive learning environments. The first focus is on faculty who teach, advise, or train graduate students. The faculty cohort will participate in the online course together—and will be brought together before and after the course for conversation, peer mentoring, and support.
The course is 10 weeks long, consisting of five modules that each take about two hours to complete. This typical time commitment includes time to review module content, engage in discussions with colleagues, plan and implement a practice, and complete a written reflection—the estimate is a total of 20 to 30 hours over the 10-week period.
Learn more on this FAQ. If you have further questions on the program, contact Melissa Sturge Apple, vice provost and University dean for Graduate Education. Contact Kris Lantzky-Eaton, assistant dean of graduate education, if you’re interested in participating.
Reminder—AS&E all-staff meeting today: Dean Donald Hall will host an all-staff meeting for AS&E from 3 to 4 p.m. on Monday, February 14. Hall will provide a general update and deans Gloria Culver, Wendi Heinzelman, and Jeff Runner will share a brief presentation on their strategic plans. The meeting will be via Zoom only. Please note, you will not receive a calendar invite for this meeting.
Attend a community forum on student mental health: A series of community forums are being offered to gather ideas and feedback about student mental health and wellness at the University. The wisdom gathered will be used to create change in our campus culture and practices related to mental health. It is vital that we include the voices of the faculty and staff who have an important role in supporting student mental wellbeing.
Forums will be held THIS WEEK for staff (Tuesday, February 15) and faculty (Thursday, February 17). Complete the registration form or submit your thoughts through the feedback form if you cannot attend. All sessions will be held via Zoom. Brought to you by the President’s Coalition on Student Mental Health & Wellness.
Culver Conversations: Dean Gloria Culver is hosting a series of casual forums for students and staff on an alternating basis. Staff are invited to the next gathering at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 17, in the Humanities Center, Conference Room D. Each session is an hour long, with no set agenda. Have questions? Contact Elizabeth Valderrama at elizabeth.valderrama@rochester.edu. Registration is required.
Update from the Center for Education Abroad: The Center for Education Abroad continues to restart international education programs for students. This semester, the center welcomed the first group of incoming exchange students since spring 2020. It also successfully sent 65 students abroad for the spring 2022 semester. Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students to the Center for Education Abroad to apply for summer and fall 2022 programs.
Ocean conservationist Alexandra Cousteau to speak to University community: Ocean conservationist and environmental activist Alexandra Cousteau will be the featured speaker in the next installment of the University’s “Difficult Conversations as a Catalyst for Change” series. The granddaughter of famed French explorer Jacques Cousteau will join Donald Hall, the Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences & Engineering, on Thursday, March 3, at 7 p.m. EST in Strong Auditorium on the River Campus. The event will be streamed live via Zoom. Register here to attend.
Language Center anniversary celebration: The Language Center cordially invites you for its fifth-anniversary celebration at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the Language Center or virtually. Opening remarks by Dean Jeff Runner will be followed by a conversation with a very special panel. Join in the celebration of this important milestone and learn more about the center, its services, and its accomplishments. Registration is required. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at (585) 275-5156 or by email at tvaldez@ur.rochester.edu.
Help connect Jewish graduate students with Hillel: UR Hillel (pluralistic Jewish life on campus) is striving to better support and connect with members of our Jewish graduate student community. Please consider sharing this link with your program’s graduate student community so that students can learn more and connect with Hillel.
Nominate a colleague for an ACE Award: The University community is invited to nominate AS&E staff members who exemplify the University’s vision and values and go above and beyond their job to make AS&E and the University ever better. Successful nominations will highlight specific examples of tasks, projects, or activities where staff are exceeding their core functions. Staff can be nominated more than once, and winners will be chosen on the first of each month by Dean Donald Hall.
