SACUA seeking nominations for temporary member
The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs is seeking nominations for a temporary member to serve from Oct. 9 through Jan. 22, 2024. The new member joining the nine-member executive arm of U-M’s central faculty governance system will temporarily replace Lindsay Admon, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Medical School, who will be away on maternity leave. Any Senate Assembly member can submit nominations to the Faculty Senate Office at facultysenateoffice@umich.edu through noon Oct. 2. Nominees must be a current Senate Assembly member. Senate Assembly members will vote on the new member via electronic ballot over a three-day period from Oct. 3-6. The Senate Assembly consists of 77 elected faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses.
Registration open for annual Connecting the Dots Conference
Registration is open for the 18th annual Connecting the Dots Conference, which will share useful tips and strategies to help university employees effectively manage personal and professional responsibilities. This year the event offers a series of six free, virtual presentations Oct. 10-12. There are two 90-minute Zoom presentations at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. They include topics such as staying grounded in today’s hectic world, learning a new way to support physical flexibility and mobility and parenting stories from a panel of U-M peers. There are tips on caring for aging loved ones and more. Register for Connecting the Dots.
Campus Fire Safety Month activities set for Sept. 18-21
The Know 2 Ways Out campaign calls attention to the need, in case of fire, for everyone to identify two potential escape exits when entering a space. Environment, Health & Safety is partnering with the Division of Public Safety and Security, Student Life Facilities and the Ann Arbor Fire Department to share important fire safety information. A simulated smoke trailer will be at various campus locations Sept. 18-21 challenging faculty, staff and students to find two ways out and experience how fast a space fills with smoke during a fire event. Participants will enter the trailer, which is set up like a home environment, and fire safety personnel will share key safety information. Then the trailer will fill with simulated smoke so participants can experience how difficult it can be to locate a safe exit for escape during a fire. The trailer will be at Ingalls Mall, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 18; the Palmer Field track, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 19; Northwood IV, 4-6 p.m. Sept. 20; and Northwood V, 4-6 p.m. Sept. 21. Visit the Environment, Health & Safety website for more information.
Anti-Racism Research & Community Impact Faculty Fellows named
The 2023 Anti-Racism Research & Community Impact Faculty Fellowship provides instrumental support to early career faculty to advance their anti-racism scholarship. Informed by ongoing discussions with anti-racism scholars at U-M, the fellowship aims to address a critical need — to successfully advance in the tenure and promotion process while concurrently supporting their efforts to utilize their expertise to fight systemic racism through policy advocacy, practice, teaching or community partnerships. The fellowship provides funding to support research and public engagement that align with the aims of the initiative. This year’s fellows are Melissa Borja, assistant professor of American culture in LSA; P. Paul Chandanabhumma, assistant professor of family medicine in the Medical School; Fernanda Cross, assistant professor of social work in the School of Social Work; Apryl Williams, assistant professor of communication and media, and of the Digital Studies Institute in LSA; Tian An Wong, assistant professor of mathematics in the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, UM-Dearborn; and Megan Threats, assistant professor of information in the School of Information. Read about their fellowship projects.
Anti-Racism Collaborative awards Graduate Research Grants
The Anti-Racism Collaborative, administered by the National Center for Institutional Diversity, has awarded 21 summer research grants, totaling more than $100,000, to U-M graduate students and graduate student teams. Along with the NCID, the student focused grant initiative is co-sponsored by the Rackham Graduate School and the Center for Racial Justice in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and aims to support research projects focused on racial inequality, racial equity and racial justice while advancing graduate student progress toward degree. Additionally, the program provides ongoing professional development and support to the grantees. Recipients include master’s and doctoral students from a wide range of fields and disciplines, such as information science, women’s and gender studies, environmental justice, music theory, and education. The NCID, Rackham and CRJ will host opportunities for the campus and broader communities to engage with award recipients and learn more about their research during the 2023-24 academic year. See a full list of the 2023 grant recipients and their projects.
— Compiled by James Iseler and Katie Kelton, The University Record
