Michael Liberty named associate vice president and chief safety officer

Michael Liberty has been named associate vice president of environmental health and safety and chief safety officer after a nationwide search. An expert in exposure assessment and reducing worker risks, Liberty has been serving in an interim role since December 2022.

Nancy Bennett, founding director of the Center for Community Health and Prevention, retires

Nancy “Nana” Bennett, a professor of medicine and of public health sciences and the founding director of the Center for Community Health and Prevention, is retiring. A nationally recognized expert in disease prevention, immunization, health equity, and community health, Bennett joined the University in 1988. “Long before our broader society recognized the vast inequities in health across our nation and the world, [Bennett] was doing the yeoman’s work of connecting with and advocating for marginalized populations,” says Medical Center CEO Mark Taubman.

Creating supportive college communities

In her latest book, Cultivating Trauma-Informed Practice in Student Affairs, Tricia Shalka, a trauma scholar and associate professor of higher education at the Warner School of Education and Human Development, shares both her personal and professional insights gained from a decade-long exploration into trauma among college students.

We celebrate the scholarly and service contributions of University community members to their fields. Recent award recipients include:

• Lauren Ghazal, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing, has been chosen as a STAT Wunderkind, a “next-generation scientific superstar,” in a national contest that singles out young, high achievers from top research institutions.
• Rachel Glade, an assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences and of mechanical engineering, has been named a 2023 Packard Fellow by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
• Ehsan Hoque, an associate professor of computer science, is the first author on a paper that received the 10-Year Impact Award from the Association for Computing Machinery’s pervasive and ubiquitous computing (UbiComp) community.
• Ann Leonhardt-Caprio, an assistant professor of clinical nursing and program coordinator of the University’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, received the Leadership Legacy Award from the American Heart Association for her work on local and national levels.
• Lainie Ross, chair of the Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics and director of the Paul M. Schyve, MD, Center for Bioethics, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
• David Turnbull, the Laser–Plasma Interactions Group Leader at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, has been awarded the 2023 Thomas H. Stix Award for Outstanding Early Career Contributions to Plasma Physics Research.
• Mitchell Wharton, an associate professor of clinical nursing in the School of Nursing, was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing’s 2023 class of fellows.

Celebrating faculty, staff, and student honors: If you have news to share about a faculty or staff member, student, or department/unit that has recently achieved a significant professional accomplishment or received a prestigious national or international honor, please let us know so we can consider it for a future listing of awards and honors.

‘From WRUR to the Paris Air Show’: Adam Konowe's career journey

Join Adam Konowe ’90, senior vice president of Edelman Business Marketing, today, November 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Greene Center, for a conversation on his career journey through radio, television, advertising, PR, and marketing.

School of Nursing virtual panel on NP specialties

Are you an aspiring nurse practitioner looking to embark on a rewarding healthcare career, but unsure which specialty path to take? Join the School of Nursing on Wednesday, November 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for a virtual panel discussion and hear from experienced NPs and healthcare professionals who will discuss the role, as well as the unique challenges and rewards associated with each specialty. Register to attend and receive an application fee waiver to use when you apply. Contact the School of Nursing admissions office with questions.

Apply for community-engaged learning faculty grants

Deadlines for community-engaged learning faculty grants are fast approaching. If you are currently teaching, or are interested in teaching a community-engaged course in the future, consider applying for financial support. Contact andrew.thomas@rochester.edu with questions. Review grant information and apply here.

Discounted Amerks tickets

The Rochester Americans are offering all University faculty, staff, retirees, and their families the chance to purchase discounted tickets for the 2023–24 season, subject to availability. Tickets can be purchased online using the promo code “UR.” Visit the Discounts and Perks website for additional information.

Unlock the secrets of crafting a standout resume with Headhunter on Tap

Bring your questions and join Barbara Grossman ’77 and Jay Berger, co-founders of Paradigm Partners, for “Headhunter on Tap,” a conversation on resumes and all things career-related. The virtual event takes place today, November 3, at noon. Register now.

Join the Kafka Prize reading group

The Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize committee is hosting a reading group for this year’s winning book, Happy for You by Claire Stanford. Stanford will be visiting the University on December 1 for a reading and reception. The reading group meets on Friday, November 3, 10, and 17, from 1:15 to 2 p.m. in the Humanities Center Lounge, Rush Rhees Library. Free copies of the book are available to those who register, up to 25 participants; snacks will be provided during meetings.

Workshop: ‘Beyond ChatGPT: More Innovative AI Tools’

“Beyond ChatGPT: More Innovative AI Tools,” the last session of the hands-on ChatGPT workshop series hosted by the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, takes place Wednesday, November 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Sloan Auditorium, Goergen Hall. Register to attend. Don’t forget your laptop.

Experience a variety of cultures at the Global Fair

As part of International Education Week, student organizations and students from different cultural backgrounds will be showcasing their cultures at the Global Fair on Friday, November 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. in Hirst Lounge, Wilson Commons. Booths will offer food, memorabilia, cultural attire, and more to help students learn about other cultures and spread awareness. Sign up for a booth here.