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AU SOC Professor Named Hometown Hero for Charity Work With Students

The Washington Mystics honored American University assistant professor of communication Gemma Puglisi as a “Hometown Hero” on Tuesday, July 8 for her work with the United Nations (UN) Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign to prevent malaria. The award, given before the Mystics game against the Fever, was in recognition of Puglisi's work with 20 students in her public relations portfolio class, who created campaigns to raise awareness of Nothing But Nets.

“Her students are lucky to have a leader in Gemma, a teacher who helped them to prepare a professional portfolio showcasing their work before graduation,” said the Mystics announcer before the Verizon Center crowd. “Her kind spirit and work with the campaign has allowed the Nothing but Nets campaign to raise awareness in groups they might not have been able to reach. The Washington Mystics salute Gemma for all of her work with the campaign and wish her the best of luck in her future efforts.”

The PR portfolio students were asked to work in small groups to create unique public relations campaigns for Nothing But Nets , an idea Puglisi got from former student Kate Kovarovic, who interned at the UN Foundation during her time at American University . Through outreach to the D.C. and American University communities, Puglisi and her students were able to land 436,100 media impressions which allowed Nothing but Nets to reach a far greater audience.

"It's so hard for me to find the right words to describe all of this,” she said. “I was so surprised and honestly, honored to have received the recognition outside the classroom.”

Puglisi was joined at the game by two of her PR portfolio students, Halley Ofner and Kimberly Beauman.

“My students are such an inspiration and I was so thrilled that they were a part of it,” added Puglisi. “They deserve so much and I'm honored to have been their professor. My thanks to the Mystics and the UN Foundation for recognizing what we do each day as teachers.”

Nothing But Nets is a grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. The campaign, which sends bed nets to villages in Africa, has teamed up with the Mystics, the WNBA, the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated.

“I was very excited to be working with such a worthy campaign,” said Ofner, who graduated in May with a degree in public communication. “It was so upsetting to hear about the death and illness that comes from an insect and how preventable that illness could be if only funds were available.”

While the project demanded that students create a strong PR campaign with little money, Beauman, who also graduated in May, found that a little ingenuity and targeted campaigns allowed them to get the word out. “ Especially on a campus as active and civic-minded as AU, it is easy to get the public involved and excited about activities that benefit a charity,” said Beauman, who now plans to attend the London School of Economics to work towards a masters in Politics and Communication.

Fourth of July History and Pageantry

Grandiose displays of fireworks, parades, and concerts are hallmarks of celebrating the Fourth of July. According to James Heintze, American University librarian emeritus and author of The Fourth of July Encyclopedia (McFarland, 2007), little has changed since 1776 in terms of how we celebrate America’s birthday.

“The fireworks, the parades, the music, the costumes date all the way back,” Heintze said. “The degree and character change with the times, but the patriotism is always the same.”

Heintze has compiled one of the most extensive databases about the Fourth of July. The database documents selected celebrations and events that have occurred from the first Fourth of July in 1776 to present day.

Heintze has also chronicled how each American president celebrated the Fourth of July. John Adams and his descendents boast the longest family legacy of celebrating the Fourth of July, but one of the most unconventional observances of the holiday goes to our 27th president.

“In 1911, William Howard Taft celebrated the Fourth of July in one of the most unique ways experienced by one of our presidents,” Heintze said. “He went to Indianapolis, which was the farthest west any president to that date had traveled to celebrate. In honor of his visit, the people of Indianapolis held a locomotive collision. A grandstand was built for Taft to get the best view of two unoccupied trains smashing into each other at full-throttle speed.”

AU's Kogod School of Business Launches Two New Master of Science Degrees

American University’s Kogod School of Business will offer two new graduate degrees, the master of science in finance (MSF) and the master of science in finance and real estate (MSF&RE), starting with the 2008–2009 academic year. The programs, which add to Kogod’s graduate offerings in business administration, accounting and taxation, will allow students to concentrate on and fine-tune the technical and analytical skills required of finance and real estate specialists.

“Finance is inherently a field in applied mathematics and economics, and we have positioned our programs to help students succeed in that environment,” said director Phil English.

By taking an extra year’s worth of classes, undergraduate students in either program will earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees almost simultaneously. They will have a competitive edge over other students in terms of experience with challenging situations, their understanding of the finance decision-making process and their marketability.

Both the MSF and MSF&RE degrees require completion of 33 credit hours and are offered full- or part-time. Two new classes are featured, Fixed Income and Financial Modeling, as well as some current course offerings. Some discontinued courses, including Quantitative Methods in Finance, are being reintroduced. The new degrees also offer a preparation course for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 exam. The CFA charter, which a candidate earns after passing three CFA exams, designates excellence for professionals in the global investment community.

"We ultimately envision a highly quantitative program, with dedicated sections taught [according to] the format that AU has established for graduate-level studies in business: night classes, summer classes, few or no weekend classes and some hybrid offerings,” English said. “One particularly nice feature is the FIN 685 classes. They are tailored to meet current topics and techniques critical to success. We can change these classes to ensure our students are current and competitive."

AU Grad Wins Gold Student Academy Award for her Documentary about Rwandan Reconciliation

Laura Waters Hinson, a 2007 graduate of American University’s School of Communication (SOC), won the gold prize for best documentary at the 35th Annual Student Academy Awards ceremony June 7 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif. Hinson wrote, produced, and directed her award-winning film, As We Forgive, while pursuing her master of fine arts degree.

Hinson was one of 11 students from across the nation to receive cash prizes and trophies during the ceremony. The prizes were presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars. Winners get $5,000 for gold medals, $3,000 for silver medals and $2,000 for bronze.

As We Forgive, narrated by actress Mia Farrow, tells the story of Rwanda’s rebirth through reconciliation. Overwhelmed by an enormous backlog of court cases, the Rwandan government returned more than 50,000 perpetrators to the communities they helped destroy during the 1994 genocide. Without the hope of justice, the people of Rwanda turned to reconciliation as a solution. The film focuses on the personal stories of Rosaria and Chantal, two Rwandan women who came face to face with the men who slaughtered their families.

Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana, a leading advocate of reconciliation in Rwanda, was Hinson’s inspiration for the film. He established a project in Rwanda through which ex-prisoners built homes for genocide survivors and the families of those who lost their lives.

Hinson is taking her film on a screening tour across the country. Screenings have already been held on Capitol Hill and at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Hinson is president of Image Bearer Pictures in Washington, D.C. Before her filmmaking career, she was a director of creative arts and outreach at Church of the Resurrection in Washington, a development coordinator for the Discovery Health Channel, and a research assistant for MSNBC host Chris Matthews.

Hinson, a native of Destin, Fla., is the daughter of Edmond and Nina Waters and a 1997 graduate of Fort Walton Beach High School. She graduated magna cum laude from Furman in 2004 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication and political science. She received her master of fine arts degree in film and electronic media at SOC in 2007. The film was her thesis project. She is a resident of Capitol Hill.

During the June 7 ceremony, student awards were presented by Jason Reitman, director of 2007 best-picture nominee Juno; cinematographer Caleb Deschanel; Emmy-winning director Todd Holland; and academy president Sid Ganis.

Established in 1972, the Student Academy Awards are intended to support young filmmakers. Past winners include Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis, John Lasseter, and Trey Parker.

American University Appoints New Provost: UMBC's Scott Bass Selected to be the New Chief Academic Officer

Following a national search, American University President Neil Kerwin has named Scott A. Bass as the university's new provost. Bass is currently vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). He will start July 1.

As chief academic officer, Bass will provide leadership for AU's six schools and colleges, University Library, Washington Semester, AU Abroad/Abroad at AU, the Center for Teaching Excellence, Enrollment, Institutional Research and Assessment, Sponsored Programs, the Registrar and the Career Center.

"Dr. Bass has developed an impressive knowledge of contemporary higher education through his work at UMBC and in previous positions," said President Kerwin. "As a key member of UMBC's senior management group, Dr. Bass has been deeply involved in all significant aspects of the university's academic mission, and he has played a central role in shaping the strategic plan, which includes faculty development, undergraduate programs and enrollment management.”

Bass earned a combined doctorate in psychology and education from the University of Michigan, where he also earned an M.A. in clinical psychology and a B.A. in psychology. A nationally known gerontologist, Bass has written or edited eight books, 45 articles, earned a Fulbright Research Scholarship to Japan and is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. He has served as co-editor of Aging and Social Policy and on the editorial boards of several other journals. In 2004, he was a visiting professor at Stanford University.

Two American University Juniors Named 2008 Truman Scholars

Molly Kenney and James Valvo, juniors in the School of Public Affairs, have been named 2008 Truman Scholars by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in recognition of their commitment to a life of public service, leadership and academic accomplishment. The prestigious scholarship provides the students with $30,000 for graduate studies.

This is the second year in a row that American University has produced two Truman Scholars. The students will receive their awards at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Mo., on May 18.

A former chef at a top four-star restaurant in Detroit , Mich. , 2008 Truman Scholar James Valvo traded his knives for textbooks. At AU, Valvo has developed an interest in government ethics and legislation and currently works full time for Americans for Prosperity as an assistant for policy and public affairs. With his Truman Scholarship, Valvo plans to pursue a law degree and hopes to land a position as a senior legal consultant for a senator on the appropriations, finance or budget committees.

Scholar Molly Kenney is a law and society major, minoring in communications, from Medway , Mass. As co-president of the Peace and Empowerment Project (a student club), she dramatically increased the budget through fund raising and lobbying, which enabled the group to fund business and life skills training for three African women. Kenney has her sights set on law school and has focused her work on prisoner rehabilitation. She has interned with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and participated in an alternative spring break trip focused on prison justice. Kenney is currently studying abroad at the London School of Economics.

American University Named to 2007 President’s Honor Roll for Distinguished Community Service

American University has been named to the 2007 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. AU was recognized in the “With Distinction” category. This marks the second time AU has received the accolade as in 2006, the university was named to the honor roll with distinction for general community service.

A total of 528 schools were named to the honor roll. Of those schools, only 127, including AU, were recognized in the "With Distinction" category. Schools receiving this recognition provided exceptional community service during the past year contributing their time, resources, energy, skills and intellect in service to America. A full list of the schools is available at www.nationalservice.gov/honorroll.

Some of AU’s community service efforts that serve disadvantaged youth, the focus of this year’s honor roll, include:

- Service-Learning courses offered through AU schools and colleges, such as a writing course that addressed school equity issues;

- D.C. Reads, an off-campus literacy project aimed at improving the reading level of children in grades K-8;

- Facilitating Leadership in Youth, a summer camp that engages young people outside of the school year to strengthen their learning using creative, fun and recreational activities;

- Alternative Break Program, including a trip to Chicago focused on working with urban youth;

- Latino Youth Conference, a yearly event promoting Latino culture, identity, and student leadership among high school students in the Washington, D.C. area;

- DC Today...DC Tomorrow, a local community organization dedicated to fostering leadership in the District’s inner-city youth through service learning.

For more information about all of AU’s community service programs, visit AU's Office of Campus Life website.

American University Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through a Week of Community Events

Peace Corps In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's outstanding legacy of service to others, American University has created Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and other events meant to strengthen the connection of the university and its students with the community. American University will honor Dr. King by hosting several events throughout the week.

These events include:

Students from American University 's Community Service Center will participate in MLK Day Service Project, spending the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday visiting senior citizens at the Emmaus Center for the Aging. They will be delivering groceries and helping with projects around the center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At Remember, Reflect and Renew: A Community Gathering, the American University community will come together on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Kay Spiritual Life Center for a special ceremony honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will feature faculty, staff and student speakers as well as selections by the AU Gospel Choir. The gathering hopes to bring the community together to redidicate everyone to the values shared with Dr. King - social justice, ethics, diversity and service.

For a full listing of events, visit AU's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

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