Rob Clark comments on bipartisan ‘Manufacturing Universities’ bill
The Manufacturing Universities Act of 2015 would establish a program within the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) charged with designating 25 schools as “Manufacturing Universities.”

University named Tree Campus USA for fifth straight year
The University’s Horticulture and Grounds Department achieved the Tree Campus USA title by again meeting the program’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures toward trees, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning projects.

Mellon Grant helps River Campus Libraries establish Digital Humanities Institute
River Campus Libraries has been awarded a $100,672 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund a pilot program designed to strengthen librarians’ competencies in digital scholarship. “21st Century Skills: Digital Humanities Institute for Mid-Career Librarians” will launch during the summer of 2015.

Testani named assistant dean, executive director of Gwen M. Greene Career and Internship Center
Joe Testani succeeds Burt Nadler, current director of the Greene Center, who announced his intent to retire last year after 16 years in the position. Testani will join the University in June 2015.

Late Poet Laureate helped celebrate Plutzik Centennial
From the archives: Philip Levine, former poet laureate of the United States, was a keynote guest when the Department of English’s Plutzik Reading Series celebrated its centennial in 2012. The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet died Sunday at the age of 87.

Eastman professor Paul O’Dette, alumnus Bob Ludwig win Grammys
O’Dette, professor of lute, won for Best Opera Recording, and Ludwig, alumnus and mastering engineer, took home three Grammys: Best Surround Sound Album, for his work on Beyoncé; Best Engineered Album Non-Classical, for Beck’s Morning Phase; and Album of the Year.

Posse Foundation founder and president to deliver the 2015 College Commencement Address
Deborah Bial, founder and president of The Posse Foundation, one of the most comprehensive and renowned college access and readiness programs for urban high school students in the United States, will deliver the 165th College commencement address.

EPA recognizes University for waste-reducing efforts
The WasteWise program helps organizations and businesses apply sustainable materials management practices to reduce municipal and industrial wastes. WasteWise participants reported preventing and diverting a total of nearly 7.6 million tons of waste from being disposed in landfills or incinerators in 2013.

Anthony Kinslow named associate vice president for human resources
Tony Kinslow will join the University in March and succeeds Chuck Murphy, who retired on Feb. 2 after 17 years at the University. Kinslow’s duties will encompass human resources programs and services for every division of the University.

Ainslie: ‘Taking Meckling’s vision into the future’
The University celebrated Andrew Ainslie’s appointment as dean of the Simon Business School at an investiture ceremony at the Interfaith Chapel on Feb. 3. During the ceremony, President Joel Seligman presented Ainslie with a Dean’s Medal in recognition of his leadership.