Achievements, accolades, and other items of note from the Clark University community.
November 21, 2024
Takeaways from the English Department’s annual ChowerFest
By Daniella Zoller ’25
The study of literature is now, more than ever, crucial to the next generation, so — what does it mean to be an English Major?
On Tuesday, November 4, nearly 50 people gathered in the English House to find the answer to this question while celebrating the department’s annual “Chowder Fest” event. This occasion brings students, faculty, and staff together for the common interest of hearing what past English and Creative Writing majors are doing with their degrees now and the paths they took to get there.
Guest speakers included Melisa Alves, associate dean for student success and the executive director for career readiness at Clark; Robin Bozik, budget coordinator at Clark; Azariah Kurlantzick, Clark first-year success advisor; Ashley Cataldo, M.A. ’06, curator of manuscripts at American Antiquarian Society; Manal Ahmed ’21, reporter (via Zoom); Brett Iarrobino ’21, M.A. ’22, teacher; and Kira Houston ’23, (via Zoom), outreach coordinator.
Read Full Story on “The Next Chapter”
Clarkathon 2024: A Hackathon to Remember
By Sarthak Chand ’25
Clarkathon 2024 was a milestone event at Clark University this October, where students came together to transform ideas into impactful solutions. Organized by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Club, with support from C4 and the Student Activities Resource Center (SARC), this year’s hackathon took place from October 18 to October 20, bringing 52 participants together under the theme of “Community Improvement.” Over an intensive 36 hours, participants tackled real-world challenges, creating Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) designed to make a positive impact on communities.
Kicking off with a series of icebreakers, Clarkathon 2024 quickly fostered a sense of camaraderie and collaboration. Activities like StackUp and a spirited paper airplane contest helped participants form connections before the coding marathon began. Once underway, the campus was buzzing with creativity and innovation, as teams worked tirelessly to address the hackathon’s theme from diverse angles. The end result? Thirteen impressive MVPs that showcased the talent and drive of everyone involved.
November 7, 2024
Clarkies acknowledged for excellence in GIS
The GIS Pro Conference, the 62nd Annual Conference of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, took place in Portland, Maine from October 7 to 10.
Clarkies Ryan Norton, M.A./GIS ’11, and Katie Walker, M.S./ES&P ’25, were recognized at the conference.
Jack’s paper named ‘editor’s choice’ by microbiology journal
Biology Professor Chandra Jack’s co-authored paper, “Prairie soil improves wheat establishment and accelerates the developmental transition to flowering compared to agricultural soils,” has been selected as “Editor’s Choice” for the November 2024 issue of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology.
October 24, 2024
Professor Donald Spratt receives Passion in Science Award
New England Biolabs, a life sciences company based in Ipswich, Massachusetts, recently presented its Passion in Science Award to Donald Spratt, associate professor in the Gustaf H. Carlson School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and director of Clark’s STEM Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
In presenting the award, New England Biolabs cited Professor Spratt’s launch of Clark’s STEM Outreach Program, which provides an opportunity for underrepresented groups to be exposed and inspired to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Since coming to Clark in 2015, he has invited hundreds of students from local high schools into his lab for tours, workshops, and research experiences. Other Clark science professors have joined Professor Spratt in welcoming local students into their labs as well.
October 10, 2024
Ella Grady ’24 selected to join U.S. Digital Corps
Ella Grady ’24 was selected as part of the third cohort of the U.S. Digital Corps, an early‑career fellowship designed for the next generation of technology talent to serve in the federal government. Grady, who majored in computer science and political science at Clark, will spend the next two years working in the U.S. Geological Survey as a software engineer.
She was one of 70 fellows selected from an extremely competitive applicant pool of over 2,000 applicants from across the country. Learn more on her Digital Corps page.
September 26, 2024
New integrations with IBM Watson, Mendix enhance MSIT concentrations
The Clark University School of Professional Studies has integrated IBM Watson and Mendix platforms into the M.S. in Information Technology (MSIT) program. Students in MSIT generative AI and product development concentrations will now have hands-on access to these cutting-edge technologies, better preparing them to lead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
IBM Watson is known for its advanced capabilities in natural language processing, data analysis, and machine learning, while Mendix is renowned for its low-code application development capabilities.
“By integrating IBM Watson and Mendix, we are not only enhancing our students’ learning experience but also preparing them to lead in a world where AI and digital product development are central to business innovation,” says Jas Gaurav Singh, director of the MSIT program in Clark’s School of Professional Studies.
“This collaboration ensures our graduates are equipped with practical skills and ethical understanding, ready to drive transformative change and create impactful solutions across various sectors.”
September 12, 2024
John Magee named interim provost
John Magee, associate provost and dean of the college, has been appointed interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, President David Fithian announced in a campuswide message on September 11. Magee will fill the role through the 2024–25 academic year.
“Since assuming the role of Dean of the College on June 1, John has very quickly demonstrated strong leadership and skill as an administrator in addressing a number of the challenges and maximizing opportunities before us. I am very grateful that he has agreed to take on even more responsibility and I very much look forward to partnering with him in his new role,” Fithian wrote.
As interim provost, Magee, in consultation with the faculty’s Undergraduate Academic Board, among others, will lead the process of appointing an interim dean of the college.
Graduate School presents annual awards for advising and teaching
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences recently announced its annual awards for teaching assistants, graduate advisors, and graduate teaching.
2024 Teaching Assistant Award Winners
Daley O’Keefe, a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant in the Biology Department, is dedicated to providing stellar instruction and supporting undergraduate students in the teaching and research labs, as well as in the field. Daley demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in her teaching and mentoring. She has a true knack for making all students feel welcomed, comfortable, and valued. Daley has also been an excellent mentor for students in the field, whether helping them conduct their independent research or having them assist with her dissertation research.
Pavlina Ziso, a Ph.D. student in economics, has excelled as a TA, as evidenced by her high evaluation scores and student comments. During the 2022–23 academic year, she was a TA for ECON 265 (Econometrics), one of the most challenging courses for TAs in the Economics Department. She led weekly discussion sessions in a computer lab, where she taught students to use new statistical software that prepares them for research in upper-level electives, honors theses, and capstone projects. Her sessions allowed for more one-on-one interactions and were crucial for many students to better understand the materials taught in class.
2024 Outstanding Graduate Mentoring/Advising Award Winners
Professor David Cuberes is an excellent teacher who plays a key role in the Economics Department’s graduate education. Through his first-year core course, Economic Growth, every Ph.D. student in economics gets to know him at an early stage of their doctoral training. They clearly appreciate David, as reflected in his high teaching evaluation scores and their written comments. Since joining Clark, he has chaired nine dissertation committees and served as a member of eight others. Based on student’s comments, David is seen as a highly dedicated, professional, and empathetic mentor who significantly contributes to the success and development of his students.
Professor Jude Fernando truly embodies the qualities of an outstanding graduate advisor and mentor. He is described by his students as generous with his time, a builder of community, a pedagogical innovator, and dedicated to students’ well-being. Jude is devoted to understanding and meeting the diverse needs of his students and advisees, both individually and collectively. He acknowledges their different cultural backgrounds and learning styles, and strives to provide equal attention and support to all, particularly to those who may need additional assistance. Jude regularly offers students immersive learning opportunities that bridge the gap between theory and practice, which enhances their academic skills and prepares them for impactful careers. His inclusive and supportive approach ensures that every student feels valued and respected.
2024 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award Winners
Professor Yue Gao has been playing a key role in delivering required courses in our fast-growing business analytics and established finance master’s programs. The material covered in Yue’s courses is highly technical and requires quantitative, computer programming, and statistical analysis skills. She incorporates theory-based knowledge into real business applications. She engages students with diverse backgrounds and learning abilities by adapting her teaching activities to students’ backgrounds and levels of proficiency. Yue is highly effective in teaching difficult and challenging subjects with a hands-on, interactive, and engaging approach. She is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and she is a well-respected, well-loved professor.
Professor Yelena Ogneva-Himmelberger exemplifies excellence in graduate teaching through her enthusiastic approach, commitment to hands-on learning, engagement with community projects, responsiveness to student feedback, and continuous focus on her own and her students’ professional development. She recognizes the rapidly growing demand for specialists in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis in development and environment fields, making it essential to teach these valuable skills and expose Sustainability and Social Justice students to various applications of GIS technology. Yelena has forged connections with local government and nongovernment organizations to support community mapping needs while providing students with opportunities to create useful projects that they can integrate into their professional portfolios. Her focus on ethics, equity, and social justice in the GIS profession is particularly impactful.
August 29, 2024
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program recognized as ‘most impactful’
Clark University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program was recently honored by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) with the third-place Triple E award for “Most Impactful University of the Year.”
The Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities promotes cultural change, accelerates organizational development, and amplifies the recognition of excellence in entrepreneurship and engagement. The Triple E Awards are a global recognition of efforts towards the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education.
August 15, 2024
Royo addresses challenges facing higher education in University Business article
Clark University Provost Sebastián Royo has published “Five tips for successful institutional change” in University Business. “It is not an overstatement to claim that higher education in the United States is facing unprecedented challenges that pose an existential threat for many colleges and universities,” he wrote.
Necessary steps for success include collecting data, developing and communicating a clear strategy, examining how budget cuts could improve operations, making strategic decisions for future growth, and prioritizing impact in decision-making.
July 25, 2024
David Hibbett named Distinguished Mycologist
Biology Professor David Hibbett has been named Distinguished Mycologist by the Mycological Society of America (MSA). This award, one of the highest bestowed by the MSA, recognizes an individual who has established an outstanding mycological career. Nominees for the award are evaluated on the basis of quality, originality, and quantity of their published research, and on the basis of service to the MSA or to the field of mycology in general.
Hibbett was presented with this award during MSA’s annual meeting, held in Toronto in June. Joining him at the conference were members of his fungal biology lab, who shared their research at the meeting’s poster presentation session. Learn more about their trip on the Hibbett Lab website.
Emel contributes to study of intensive farming’s impact on pandemics
Jody Emel, professor emerita of geography, has co-authored a study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, examining the social and economic effects of industrialized farming. This type of farming is often thought to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) because of better control, biosecurity, and separation of livestock.
The study, “Understanding the roles of economy and society in the relative risks of zoonosis emergence from livestock,” notes that the effects of intensifying agriculture “are at best uncertain and at worst may contribute to EID (emerging infectious disease) risk” and highlights the expansion of intensive farming and the resulting environmental degradation as factors that can raise EID risks.
The research team also included Tufts University, Royal Agricultural University, University of Wollongong, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and the Institute of Development Studies.
June 20, 2024
Nadia Ward delivers keynote address at school behavioral health conference
Nadia Ward, executive director of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise, delivered the keynote address at the Shared Solutions and Partnerships: Advancing School Behavioral Health in Western Massachusetts conference on May 31. The event, sponsored by the BIRCh Project of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, focused on key strategic planning for school mental health, partnership- and coalition-building across school districts and community agencies, and how to take action, collaborate, and identify a variety of resources.
Gil Pontius leads international webinar on data accuracy
Professor Gil Pontius gave a webinar to the International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) entitled How and why do some authors claim their data and models are good? In the presentation, he offered his insights into the accuracy of data and model assessments and highlighted the work of Clark doctoral students Thomas Bilintoh and Aiyin Zhang, who have been funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA while collaborating also with MapBiomas. The webinar was shown on multiple international platforms with a total of 5,630 participants.
Paul Milionis receives Tom Dolan Service Award
Paul Milionis, executive director of advancement services, has been awarded the 2024 Tom Dolan Advancement Award for Service Excellence. This award is given to an advancement staff member who has shown outstanding performance during the previous 12 months. Their impactful contributions, whether big or small, reflect a holistic and inclusive approach that aligns closely with the office’s mission. The prize includes a $500 cash award.
May 23, 2024
Hanley voted Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year
Danielle Hanley, professor of political science, has been selected by the undergraduate student body as the 2023–2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher of the Year.
In addition, the following faculty will receive honorable mentions for garnering substantial votes and moving testimonies from students:
- Jack Delehanty, Department of Sociology
- Justin Shaw, Department of English
- Matthew Gregory, Department of Sociology
- Olufemi Odegbile, Department of Computer Science
The faculty, chosen from a record 84 individual faculty nominations, will receive their award certificates at a public presentation in the fall.
May 9, 2024
Clark grad students win first prize in affordable housing competition
Two Clark University graduate students were part of the winning team in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Annual Affordable Housing Development Competition.
Rory Carrara ’23, M.A. ’24, and Anna Kathryn Hodges ’23, M.A. ’24, served as project managers on a proposal to transform 10 underutilized parcels in the heart of downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts, into a mixed-use development of 86 carefully crafted homes and communal green space and community space.
The proposal, High Street Homes, was presented by a student team from Clark, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Wentworth Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Way Finders, ICON Architecture, and finance mentor Eastern Bank.
The initiative aims to create five buildings with 86 rental homes, rooftop amenities, first-floor community-centered commercial space, 10,890 square feet of communal green space, and a 3,300-square-foot daycare center. The development proposal features top-tier sustainable energy and water management systems. Room is set aside for gathering spaces in each building, cooking and seating areas on rooftops, and communal lounge space for residents.
“Our project is committed to incorporating the values of Holyoke into every aspect of our design and addressing the needs of tenants through sustainable and inclusive practices to ensure decades of safe and loved homes,” according to the team’s proposal.
Carrara and Hodges are each graduating this month with a master’s degree in community development and planning from the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice.
April 25, 2024
Ruelle receives mid-career excellence award
Professor Morgan Ruelle of the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice has received the Mid-Career Excellence Award from the Society for Ethnobotany. This recognition is given yearly to an individual whose early career has substantially advanced ethnobotany by teaching, publishing, or practical work.
The Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) is for people exploring the uses of plants and the relationships among plants, cultures, and our environment.
April 11, 2024
Arnett is part of Economist Impact report on parenting young adults
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, senior research scholar in the Frances L. Hiatt of Psychology, contributed to “Parenting Young Adults in the US,” a report commissioned by the AARP and prepared by Economist Impact, the research and insights arm of The Economist Group.
“As changing socio-demographic landscapes shape young adults’ (aged 18-34) paths to self-sufficiency and financial independence, more and more parents find themselves engaged in their children’s lives more intensely and longer than expected,” the report’s introduction states. “This briefing article … explores the size and scope of this evolving phenomenon, and discusses its wider impact on the financial resilience and overall health and well-being of parents in the US.”
“Parents grew up in a different era than their kids,” Arnett says in the report. “They might have expectations that are derived from their own experience — when they became financially independent, when they moved out of the household, and when they made adult commitments. And so they might, implicitly at least, have these expectations for their kids. … Parents are adapting … [and many] understand that times have changed.”
March 28, 2024
Biology postdoc publishes article in prestigious journal
Brent M. Robicheau, a post-doctoral fellow in biology, has published “Microevolutionary patterns in ecotypes of the symbiotic cyanobacterium UCYN-A revealed from a Northwest Atlantic coastal time series” in Science Advances.
Students from nearby high school attend special Saturday lecture at Clark
Political Science Professor Suzanne Scoggins recently gave a talk about China to visiting students from Claremont Academy, a public high school near the University in Worcester. This event helped the students fulfill a Saturday requirement for their AP Human Geography class.
After the lecture, the students stayed on campus for lunch in the Higgins Café.
March 14, 2024
Screen studies professor‘s documentary to be released on streaming services
Professor Soren Sorensen’s award-winning documentary, “Omar Sosa’s 88 Well-Tuned Drums,” is being released this month on a number of streaming platforms.
Division of Student Success staff honored by prestigious industry groups
Kamala Kiem, associate provost for student success and dean of students, has announced recent accomplishments of key members of the Division of Student Success team.
Milly de la Cruz, associate director for academic support and care, received the Emerging Leader Award from the American Council on Education’s Women’s Network in Massachusetts. She was recognized for her dedication to supporting women and promoting leadership in the community. In her role at Clark, she provides holistic support to students and helps eliminate barriers to their success. She is also the primary staff member working on basic need initiatives such as chairing the Emergency Funding Committee, managing Swipe Out Hunger, and more.
Prior to her work at Clark, de la Cruz was a Student Success Coach working mainly with women-identifying students and mothers at Bristol Community College, supporting them in their pursuit of an associate’s degree. “Milly’s constant positivity and kindness have made a significant impact in our division and with our students,” Kiem said.
Domenica Perrone, director of Community Engagement and Volunteering, has received the PRME Alumni Award in recognition of her contributions and impact in the greater Worcester community.
The Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a United Nations-supported initiative founded in 2007 that aims to raise the profile of sustainability in business and management education through seven principles focused on serving society and safeguarding our planet. The School of Management at Clark University is a PRME signatory. PRME engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic, environmental, and social goals while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning academic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact.
The PRME Alumni Award is given annually to Clark alumni who have applied the PRME principles of ethical behavior, corporate sustainability, and social responsibility in their personal and/or professional life.
Danielle Morgan Acosta, Ph.D., has received the Presidential Citation Award from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), of which she served as president from 2020 to 2021. This award is given at the discretion of the ACPA president based on their observation and direct work with the individual. The honor, one of the association’s highest, is rarely bestowed upon members of the association; it the recognizes lifelong service and extraordinary contributions to the profession of student affairs, particularly to ACPA.
“Danielle’s tenure as president of one of our major student affairs professional associations cannot be overlooked,” Kiem said. “She led our profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most difficult times of our profession. Congrats, Danielle!”
February 22, 2024
Davidson’s new study examines pension obligation bonds
In a newsletter about pension reform, Reason.org highlighted a new paper by Geography Professor Mark Davidson in which he conducted a case study on pension obligation bonds (POBs) by analyzing recent issuances from three Massachusetts municipalities. The paper also sheds light on the illusory effect of pension obligation bonds on funding ratios and their potential to obscure the need for pensi6on reforms.
February 8, 2024
Sperling co-authors essay on Russian ideology of ‘traditional values’
Political Science Professor Valerie Sperling has co-authored a new essay, “Soviet Legacies in the Kremlin’s Take on Women’s and LGBTQ+ Rights,” published by the Kennan Institute.
In the essay, to understand the implications of Vladimir Putin’s statements on women’s rights and his silences on LGBTQ+ people’s rights in Russia, Sperling and her co-authors analyze the Russian ideology of “traditional values” in the service of the war and look at what Putin said — and did not say — at his end-of-the-year press conference and televised Direct Line call-in show.
“In the years leading up to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s rhetoric became increasingly homo-and transphobic, with repressive consequences,” they wrote. “In 2021, Putin claimed that teaching children about gender fluidity was akin to a crime against humanity, and in 2022, he justified the full-scale invasion as resistance to the West’s attempts to ‘destroy [Russia’s] traditional values,’ alleging that Russians who cared about ‘so-called gender freedoms’ and opposed the war were, in essence, traitors.”
The Kennan Institute is the premier U.S. center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange.
January 25, 2024
Toby Sisson’s work on display in Worcester Black History Project exhibition
As part of Black History Month, the Worcester Black History Project has organized “Catch the Fire,” an exhibition of works by Black artists — including Toby Sisson, associate professor and director of the Studio Art program. Sisson will also give a talk during the exhibition’s opening reception.
The exhibition will be on display in the Krikorian Gallery at the Worcester Center for Crafts from Feb. 1 to 29; the opening reception, including Sisson’s talk, will be on Feb. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The reception is free; registration is encouraged.
In a Worcester Magazine article about “Catch the Fire,” Sisson said she submitted works from her ongoing series, “An American Journey.” The works, mixed-media collages composed of photographs, maps, prints, and text, explore her father’s journey along the Mississippi River Valley from the rural south to the urban north in the early 20th century.
“He was part of the Great Migration, the movement of 60 million Black Americans that shaped the cultural, social, political and economic landscape of America.”
Read about the exhibition in Worcester Magazine →
January 11, 2024
Sperling co-authors open-access work on climate change’s impact on Russia
Valerie Sperling recently contributed to an open-access publication, Russia in a Changing Climate, WIREs Climate Change. This was created by 17 Russia specialists, including Sperling, who are part of the PONARS Task Force on Russia in a Changing Climate.
“We intend this piece as ‘one-stop shopping’ for up-to-date research on how climate change is affecting Russia, and how Russia is affecting climate change, including via its war against Ukraine,” Sperling says. “For research purposes, the article ends by identifying gaps in knowledge, many of which the task force hopes to fill in coming years. For teaching purposes, we hope the article might prove useful to people seeking a single summary article on Russia for their syllabi.”
The Program on New Approaches to Research and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia) is a network of more than 140 academics, mainly from North America and post-Soviet Eurasia, advancing new approaches to research on security, politics, economics, and society in Russia and Eurasia. Its core missions are to connect scholarship to policy on and in Russia and Eurasia and to foster a community, especially of mid-career and rising scholars, committed to developing policy-relevant and collaborative research.
María Acosta Cruz delivers keynote at literature conference
María Acosta Cruz, professor of Spanish in the Language, Literature, and Culture Department, delivered the keynote speaker at the Jornadas de Literatura Puertorriqueña (Days of Puerto Rican Literature) conference sponsored by the Department of Hispanic Studies of the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus. This year’s theme was “Puerto Rican Literature Written by Women: A Tribute to Magali García Ramis.” García Ramis is one of the most famous living Puerto Rican woman writers and also spoke at the event, which will take place November 15, 2023.
Professor Acosta Cruz’s lecture, “De tierra y huracanes: Un acercamiento ecocrítico a la obra de Magali García Ramis” (“Of Earth and Hurricanes: An Ecocritical Reading of the Works of Magali García Ramis”) is part of her upcoming book, “Disaster Nation: An Ecocritical Study of Puerto Rican Culture Across Five Centuries.” The book explores how Puerto Rican culture (history, literature, and arts) from 1508 to 2023 has interpreted and represented the disasters the nation has experienced due to its climate and ecology. The book will be published by Rutgers University Press as part of the “Critical Caribbean Studies” series edited by Yolanda Martínez-San Miguel, Carter Mathes, and Kathleen López.
December 7, 2023
Amy Richter honored as a Hometown Hero
History Professor Amy Richter has been named a Worcester Magazine “Hometown Hero“ for her work in the community. She was recognized for her work with Simon Says Give, which provides a range of services to youngsters from underserved neighborhoods, and the Clemente Course in the Humanities, where she leads a group of professors who teach academic seminars to adults who didn’t have access to a college education due to socioeconomic challenges.
“It doesn’t seem heroic to do something that is so personally satisfying,” Richter said.
Read more in Worcester Magazine »
Covino recognized by Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Stefanie Covino, program manager of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, housed at the George Perkins Marsh Institute, was awarded the John H. Chafee Heritage Award by the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC).
“The Blackstone Watershed Collaborative has become the de facto environmental arm of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor,” said Donna Williams, BHC board member and president of the Blackstone River Coalition, who nominated Covino for the award. When the BHC shifted from federal to nonprofit funding, its resources and ability to focus on the river were reduced, Williams said, but Covino “reinvigorated the Blackstone watershed environmental community.”
John Chafee served as governor of Rhode Island from 1963 to 1969, was U.S. Secretary of the Navy from 1969 to 1972, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1995, serving until his death in 1999. the John H. Chafee Heritage Award honors the late Senator’s legacy and recognizes individuals, groups, or students who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.
Read more from the Blackstone Heritage Corridor »
Nadia Ward gives keynote at conference on mental health in schools
Nadia Ward, director of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise at Clark University, presented the keynote address at the 2023 Conference on Advancing School Mental Health.
In her talk, she explored the root causes of the nation’s youth mental health crisis and how technology presents new opportunities for reimagining a system of care that is responsive to the needs of all students. She also discussed how to navigate the digital mental health landscape as well as promising new approaches, digital health tools, and resources that can be used to support mental health professionals in their work with youth and families.
Each year, the Conference on Advancing School Mental Health brings together leaders, practitioners, researchers, family members, advocates, and other partners in the school mental health field to share the latest research and best practices. The conference emphasizes a shared school-family-community agenda to bring mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention to students and families as part of a multi-tiered system of supports. The conference is hosted by the National Center for School Mental Health.
November 16, 2023
Agreement with Seven Hills Foundation increases student internship opportunities
Clark University is partnering with the Seven Hills Foundation and its six affiliate sites for student internship opportunities, which will be open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Internships may be based in a number of areas, including clinical, educational, community, technology, business, finance, and human resources. Most opportunities are unpaid, but funding may be available through the Career Connections Center. In addition, students will be eligible to get credit through the Academic Internship Program.
Seven Hills is the premier provider of comprehensive supports for people with significant life challenges.
Goldberg presents family relations conference keynote
Psychology Professor Abbie Goldberg presented the keynote address at the National Council on Family Relations Conference on Nov. 10.
While the conference was held in Florida, Goldberg chose to present at a satellite location at the University of Illinois as her talk, “The Effects of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation on Families,” focused especially on Florida. “I am beyond grateful to the anonymous donor whose generosity facilitated the creation of a satellite where people who did not feel safe in, or did not want to travel to, Florida could gather,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Also at the conference, Goldberg was formally inducted as a National Council on Family Relations Fellow.
DiIorio’s new play has staged reading at New Jersey Rep
Theatre Arts Professor Gino DiIorio’s new play, “Seeds of Doubt,” was read as part of the New Jersey Repertory Company’s Monday Night Salon Readings series.
The play tells the story of two women: Julie, a former activist who is now a research scientist, and her daughter, Simone, who is disillusioned with the complacency of her mother’s generation.
November 2, 2023
Graduate School recognizes outstanding teaching assistants
The Clark University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences recently presented its annual teaching awards. Two graduate teaching assistants were honored for their commitment to Clark students and faculty.
Arman Bajracharya, a doctoral student in geography, “always and consistently goes, and has gone, above and beyond,” according to Professor James Murphy, director of the Graduate School of Geography.
In nominating Bajracharya for the award, Murphy wrote, “Arman rises to such a level of excellence with regard to their curricular and pedagogical contributions, at such an early stage of their career. As Arman advances toward the completion of his Ph.D. studies, he will be sorely missed as a crucial pillar of support for lower and upper-level classes in the Graduate School of Geography.”
Prasanth Prakash Prabhu, a doctoral student in biology, was nominated for the award by Professor Deborah Robertson, chair of the Department of Biology, and Mandy Gaudreau, introductory biology laboratory coordinator. “Not only is Prasanth an excellent teacher, but he is also an excellent team member,” they wrote. “He regularly helps to create lab activities and materials, assists other introductory Biology teaching assistants and professors, and always with a smile on his face.”
In addition, Robertson and Gaudreau praised Prabhu for upholding universal design learning in his lab by “differentiating his approach to delivering both instructions and biological concepts, and always seeking new ways to help students understand complicated material.”
Covino recognized for work with Blackstone Watershed Collaborative
Stefanie Covino, program of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative at Clark’s George Perkins Marsh Institute, has been named a 2023 River Advocate by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. Covino was recognized for her“energy and skill in building a broad and inclusive network to care for the Blackstone River.”
“This is exactly the kind of work I strive for,” Covino wrote on Instagram. “I’m honored to receive [this award] and continue to work with the amazing partners that make this watershed collaborative possible.”
October 19, 2023
Clark alumna named an outstanding woman in business, describes overcoming old-boys network
The Worcester Business Journal has named Claudia Russo ’82 to its 2023 list of Outstanding Women in Business.
Russo started in a job in office furniture sales on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, with an annual salary of $12,000. “Back then, they didn’t let women in sales,” she said. “They let you in retail, but they weren’t going to let you be in the commissioned, high-paying jobs.” She started her own business, Workplace Resource Ltd., in 2000.
Hayley Haywood ’09, assistant provost for organizational learning, was a member of the Outstanding Women in Business judging panel.
Read more in the Worcester Business Journal »
October 5, 2023
Power-Greene contributes chapter to book on fascism in the U.S.
History Professor Ousmane Power-Greene has written a chapter in a recently published book, “Fascism in America: Past and Present,” which was published in September by the Cambridge University Press.
Power-Greene’s chapter, “‘No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA’ — African American Activists Fight Fascism, 1960–1980s,” explores the contours of Black antiracism and antifascist activism from the 1960s to the 1980s, from struggles against white supremacist collusion with the FBI and local police to assassinate black activists to the fight against state policies, such as forced sterilization of poor Black and Latina women, or the “ghettoization” of Black people in the 1970s.
September 21, 2023
Alumna receives prestigious Heinz Award for the Economy
Clark University alumna Leah Penniman ’02, M.A. ’03, has received a 2023 Heinz Award in honor of her commitment to training the next generation of Black and Brown farmers and increasing the number of farms owned and operated by people of color.
Read Penniman’s profile by the Heinz Awards »
Established to honor the memory of U.S. Senator John Heinz and to celebrate the vision and the spirit that produce achievements of lasting good, the Heinz Awards recognize individuals making contributions to the Arts, the Economy and the Environment. There are six recipients annually, with two recipients in each of the three categories.
Clark magazine profiled Penniman in 2016. Read “Soul Proprietors: Alumni farmers plant seeds of social justice” »
September 7, 2023
Women’s soccer team awarded United Soccer Coaches Academic Award
The Clark University women’s soccer team has a College Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches in recognition of their effort in the classroom from the 2022–23 academic year.
United Soccer Coaches annually celebrates the academic achievements of teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full academic year.
August 24, 2004
Computer science student presents research at international human-computer interaction conference
Jonah Scudere-Weiss ’24 and Computer Science Professor John Magee recently attended the 2023 Human-Computer Interaction International Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where Scudere-Weiss presented “Parsing Pointer Movements in a Target Unaware Environment.”
Scudere-Weiss was the lead author of the paper, which focuses on analyzing the movements of the mouse pointer for valuable insights into a computer user’s mental status in digital environments. Co-authors included Magee and Abigail Wilson ’24 from Clark, as well as Will Lee and Danielle Allessio from UMass–Amherst. The research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Bolduc addresses annual conference on student employment
Julie Bolduc, director of the Office of Student Employment, presented “Strengthening the Student Experience through On-Campus Employment” at the 2023 conference of the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators (NEASEA) in July.
NEASEA is a nonprofit organization that supports student employment through the exchange of ideas, professional development, and the promotion of student employment administrators and their programs.
In her talk, Bolduc discussed the need for inclusive hiring practices and the importance of training supervisors to ensure that all students have a level playing field when seeking on-campus jobs. She also provided a framework for successful student worker onboarding, and stressed the need to foster a culture of feedback that goes both ways.
“I am extremely proud of the work we do at Clark to build an intentional, skill-building experience for students,” Bolduc said. “We are trying to build a more intentional onboarding experience for students that will help both students and supervisors to build stronger working relationships. I was honored to share our work with the NEASEA conference.”
August 3, 2023
Butler appointed to Swedish working group on peace and dialogue
Political Science Professor Michael Butler has been appointed by the Folke Bernadotte Academy to a four-year term on the new International Working Group on Dialogue, Peace Mediation and Peace Processes.
The FBA, the Swedish government’s agency for peace, security, and development, offers scholars a unique platform for scientific exchange. International research working groups constitute an informed circle of recognized academic experts conducting empirical research on FBA’s areas of focus, with opportunities for collaboration, consulting, grant funding, and policy-relevant research.
Butler’s expertise — on topics including negotiation and mediation, intervention, and post-conflict reconciliation — “will allow me to contribute to the FBA’s development and implementation of best practices on mediation and dialogue, as well as peace processes around the world,” he said.
Butler has also been invited to submit an abstract for consideration for FBA Research Day 2023, which will take place on September 28 in Stockholm. This event marks the inauguration of the FBA International Research Working Groups 2023-2027.
Morgan Acosta recognized as one of Salem State’s ‘40 Under 40’
Salem State University recently celebrated dozens of alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession, community, and/or Salem State University, and one of the “40 Under 40” honorees was Danielle Morgan Acosta ’05, MAT ’06, associate dean for student success–student engagement at Clark, who earned a Master of Education from Salem State in 2009.
“I’m grateful to be recognized for this honor,” Morgan Acosta said. “My experiences at Salem State as a student and young professional gave me a strong foundation and instilled in me a passion for students, mentorship, and service, which I bring with me every day to my work at Clark.”
July 6, 2023
Tyler Simms to coach at NCAA College Basketball Academy
Clark University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tyler Simms has been selected as a coach for the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Academy being held in Memphis, Tennessee, later this month.
Academy coaching staffs will be composed of Divisions II and III, NAIA, and junior college men’s and women’s college basketball coaches and high school coaches. Coaches for the men’s academy were selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in coordination with the NCAA. On the women’s side, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association facilitated the process for member coaches to apply to work at the academy.
The College Basketball Academy is the only event NCAA Division I coaches are permitted to attend for evaluation purposes during this period.
The academies will let prospective student-athletes participate in a sample of the college basketball experience. These developmental summer academies pair high-level basketball competition with life skills instruction.
In addition to playing in games, participants and their parents or chaperones will attend life skills courses about NCAA eligibility and compliance; the recruiting process; name, image, and likeness opportunities; agents; the Transfer Portal; and the pathway to professional basketball opportunities.
Spellane named interim regional director of Small Business Development Center
Clark University has announced the appointment of Robert P. Spellane as the Interim Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Clark University. In this role, he will lead the center’s initiatives to guide and support aspiring and existing small business owners while contributing to the region’s broader business ecosystem.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with a talented team of advisors across Central Massachusetts and am energized by our entrepreneurs and their dreams,” Spellane said.
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network comprises six regional offices located strategically throughout Massachusetts. SBDC business advisors foster the start, growth, and sustainability of small businesses by providing high-quality, in-depth advising, training, and capital access and connecting clients to the community, including chambers of commerce, community development corporations, and economic development organizations.
Perrone named 2023 Commonwealth Heroine
Domenica Perrone, director of Community Engagement and Volunteering at Clark, was named a Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Commonwealth Heroine awards.
Each year the Commission partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and their communities. Each legislator is encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service, who are making a big difference in their communities but not necessarily making the news.
Perrone was nominated by Massachusetts Sen. Robyn Kennedy, MPA ’21.
Perrone and the Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2023 was celebrated on Friday, June 23, in the Great Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House.
June 8, 2023
Luxembourg Program students showcased in German publication
Seven students participating in the May Term in Luxembourg through the Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Luxembourg Program spent time in St. Vith, Belgium, and their visit was highlighted in the Grenz-Echo, a German language daily newspaper published in Eupen, Belgium.
The students are enrolled in Exploring Identities Across Borders: From Tourism to Ethnography — Unlearning American Exceptionalism, a course taught by Luxembourg Program Director and Psychology Professor Michael Bamberg. During their visit to St. Vith, they visited the city’s history museum as well as the Royal Athenäum. The Clark students had the opportunity to meet with students of the Royal Athenäum as well as seven partner high schools, and joined the Belgian students in their afternoon classes.
Bamberg told the Grenz-Echo that the visit to St. Vith was a success and that the Clark students started to think of themselves as ethnographers instead of tourists, which is the first learning objective of this four-week visit to the Belgian, German, and Luxembourg border regions.
May 25, 2023
Clark, Worcester State participants earn diversity and inclusion certificates
Thirty-five Clark and Worcester State University staff, students, faculty, and alumni graduated from the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program this May. Launched in 2014, the program is sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the President’s Office.
The professional development opportunity allows participants to engage in authentic, critical dialogue and in-depth examination of diversity, difference, power, and privilege, with the goal of gaining knowledge and still to work more effectively in an intercultural, diverse environment.
This year’s Clark graduates included Ashley Caruso, Vishwa Chhatbar, Stefanie Covino, Chris Davey, Amy Daly Gardner, Amanda Desai, Amanda Edson, Dorothy Erickson, Pam Fenn, Sarah Gould, Logan Hennessy, Jessie Darrell Jarbadan, Matt Johnston, Lauren Kendzierski, Meredith King, Hilary Laraba, Shadi Maleki, Lydia Mann, Susannah Marcucci, Sarah McMaster, Thomas Morgan, Paul Phillips, Sarah SanGiovanni, Ariana Sarmiento Fielding, Suzanne Scoggins, Sribhagyam Srinivasan, Kerri Stearns, and Rose Wine.
Worcester State graduates included Elena Arranz Alonso, Mark Beaudry, Sonela Demirazi, Sue Foo, Josh Katz, Sarah Potrikus, and Sarah Valois.
May 11, 2023
Justin Shaw publishes chapter in Arden Shakespeare book
English Professor Justin Shaw recently contributed a chapter, “‘The Blank of What He Was’: Dryden, Newton, and the Discipline of Shakespeare’s White People,” to an anthology of essays published under The Arden Shakespeare imprint.
According to the publisher, “White People in Shakespeare: Essays on Race, Culture and the Elite” (Bloomsbury, 2023) examines what part Shakespeare played in the construction of a “white people” and how his work has been enlisted to define and bolster a white cultural and racial identity.
April 27, 2023
Manson named artistic consultant for MidAmerica Productions
MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International are pleased to announce the appointment of Cailin Marcel Manson as their new artistic consultant for the 41st season at Carnegie Hall and the international concert residencies abroad in 2023 and 2024.
In his new role, Manson will bring his wealth of experience and creativity to consult and bring new ideas and repertoire suggestions for the upcoming MidAmerica Productions season at Carnegie Hall and the MidAm International residencies in 2024.
“I am both inspired and driven by what MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International have done over the last 40 years,” Manson said. “I am compelled to be a continuing and consistent part of that: crafting and curating those life-changing musical experiences into a season and stewarding the excellence of MidAmerica Productions and MidAm International into its future.”
Along with his roles as director of the music program, director of music performance, and associate professor of practice at Clark, Manson is music director of The Keene Chorale, music director of Barn Opera, and artistic director of the New England Repertory Orchestra. Recently, with MidAmerica Productions, Manson led the New England Symphonic Ensemble and selected choirs — including the Clark University Choir — and soloists Soprano Eilana Lappalainen, Mezzo-Soprano Margaret Lattimore, Tenor Abraham Bretón, and Bass Daniel Sumegi in Verdi’s Requiem at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall to a sold-out house on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
In addition to consulting, Manson is scheduled to appear in the MidAmerica Productions 2024 season at Carnegie Hall, as well as on the MidAm International Concert Residency in Paris in 2024, where he will conduct Faure’s Requiem with the Orchestre Symphonique Bel’Arte de Paris.
Cailin Marcel Manson studied voice performance at Temple University, and opera performance and orchestral conducting at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.
Clark seniors named to Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most esteemed academic honor society in the United States. Established in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. The society embraces freedom of inquiry, and liberty of thought and expression.
The Lambda of Massachusetts Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was established at Clark University in 1953. Every spring, a select group of seniors who exemplify excellence in the arts and sciences, great character, and high potential are invited to join the chapter. Selection is made on the basis of outstanding academic achievement, demonstrated breadth and depth of studies in the liberal arts, intellectual curiosity and integrity, and tolerance for diverse views.
Members of the Phi Beta Kappa Class of 2023 are:
| Hattie Carolan | Jill Cass | MacKenzie Johnson | Meghan Hines | Sarah Miller |
| Holly Gilson | Kelsey Heyel | Maggie Herlihy | Mischka Altucher | Savannah Croft-Levin |
| Isabel Kelly | Kira Houston | Mahdi Boulila | Natalya Loughrin | Sindi Tane |
| Isabelle Raskin | Kristina Deverdzic | Maisie Kramer | Noah Rowan | Sophie Alienello |
| Jack McPadden | Liam Swiggard | Matt Lee | Raquel Jorge Fernandes | Talia Harlow |
| Jenna Hendrickx | Lilah Feitner | Max Macort | Rose Delogu | Tatiana Schmid |
| Jessie Garbeil | Lily Palmer | Megan Freitag | Sara Wheeler |
April 13, 2023
Tricker earns Mellon Foundation Fellowship; selected to First Book Institute
In March, Professor Spencer Tricker was awarded a short-term Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship to conduct research at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California. He will complete the fellowship this summer, examining the papers of American author Jack London; this research will be incorporated into Tricker’s book project.
Tricker has also been selected as one of eight participants for the First Book Institute, a selective workshop focused on helping emerging scholars publish their first book with a premier academic press. His book project is titled “Imminent Communities: Liberal Cosmopolitanism and Empire in Transpacific Literature.” The First Book Institute, held in early June, is hosted by Penn State University’s Center for American Literary Studies.
In July, Tricker will present a keynote lecture at a conference on pioneering Asian Canadian author Winnifred Eaton (a.k.a. Onoto Watanna). Held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the conference is titled “Onoto Watanna’s Cattle at 100: Indomitable Women in the West During Chinese Exclusion.”
Goldberg named NCFR Prestigious Fellow
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has conferred its prestigious fellow status on Abbie E. Goldberg, Ph.D., the Jan and Larry Landry University Professor at Clark.
At NCFR, she has made significant and sustained contributions, most notably as the chair of the Feminism and Family Science Section, as well as serving across a number of search committees, and review boards. In recognition of her achievements, she has received two of NCFR’s Jessie Bernard Awards for Feminist Scholarship.
NCFR Fellows are nominated by their peers and are selected by the NCFR Fellows Committee. Dr. Goldberg will be recognized as a new fellow at the 2023 NCFR Annual Conference, Nov. 8-11 in Orlando, Florida, where she will also be a featured plenary presenter.
March 30, 2023
Semerdjian named Kaloosdian Mugar Professor
Elyse Semerdjian has been appointed the Stephen and Marian Mugar and Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian ’52 Chair in Modern Armenian History and Armenian Genocide Studies at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Semerdjian, a professor of Islamic World/Middle Eastern History and Chair of the History Department at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, teaches a broad range of courses on gender, sexuality, social history, culture, and politics of the Middle East. A specialist in the history of the Ottoman Empire and Syria, she has published on gender, law, violence, and Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
March 16, 2023
Professor Yazdanparast earns award from Journal of Consumer Behaviour
Dr. Atefeh Yazdanparast, associate professor of marketing, was recently named a Reviewer of the Year for the A-ranked Journal of Consumer Behavior. To earn this award, reviewers must be nominated by a member of the editorial team; those nominations were then evaluated by the editors in terms of both quantity of reviews and quality of reviews as rated by the associate editors.
February 23, 2023
RWU Law School names Clark alum as chair of Board of Directors
Judge Brian P. Stern, associate justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court and a member of the Clark University Class of 1988, has been elected chairperson of the Roger Williams University School of Law Board of Directors.
“RWU Law plays an active and vital role in our legal community,” Stern said. “I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Board and to support the university’s students, faculty, as well as law school’s mission overall.”
Cynthia Caron joins Land Portal Board of Directors
Cynthia Caron, associate professor of international development and social change in the International Development, Community, and Environment Department, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Land Portal Foundation for a three-year term.
“I most look forward to becoming part of a community of practice and working with and learning from others who have a strong commitment to the large range of issues we confront in the land sector,” Caron said. “In working with others, I hope to find ways to strengthen the vital services provided by, enhance the role of, and contribute to the sustainability of the Land Portal Foundation. Personally, I hope to work with new Land Portal partners and potentially colleges and universities.
“There is tremendous potential for the Land Portal with respect to agenda setting and thought leadership when it comes to how land is situated in international development.”
February 9, 2023
Atefeh Yazdanparast named associate editor of consumer behavior journal
Atefeh Yazdanparast, associate professor of marketing in the School of Management, has been named associate editor of the Journal of Consumer Behaviour.
Yazdanparast’s research interests include the social psychology of consumer decision-making; digital technology and decision-making; and sensory marketing. At Clark, she teaches courses in digital marketing analytics, marketing research, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy.
The Journal of Consumer Behaviour, established in 2001, is a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of how different factors impact how individuals purchase, use, and dispose of goods and services.
Clark alum’s thesis recognized by Massachusetts Governor’s Council
During the Jan. 25, 2023 meeting of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council, Councillor Paul DePalo recognized Michael Mischley ’22, MPA ’23, who was in attendance. DePalo noted that Mischley wrote his capstone thesis on the Council, and had come to observe the meeting.
Governor Maura Healey commended Mischley for his work and thanked him for engaging with government.
Alum named to Office of United States Trade Representative
Kenneth Schagrin ’84 has been named Assistant United States Trade Representative for Services & Investment in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
In this capacity, he is responsible for implementing innovative U.S. trade policy regarding services, digital trade, and investment initiatives. His responsibilities also include facilitating bilateral investment treaties and relevant policy in the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the G20, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations.
January 26, 2023
Clarkies hold Day of Service
Members of the Clark community participated in a Day of Service on Jan. 19 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteers visited Pernet Family Health Service to paint, organize, and clear out library and study space as part of a project organized by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Community Engagement and Volunteering.
See photos from the Day of Service »
January 12, 2023
Clarkies named ‘Women to Watch’ in Worcester
Worcester Magazine named five Clarkies to its “Worcester Women to Watch in 2023” list, which highlights 20 women who are making an impact on the city.
Congratulations to:
- Robyn Kennedy, MPA ’21; state senator for the 1st Worcester District
- Andrea Munar, MAT ’15; principal of the Nativity School of Worcester
- Domenica Perrone MBA/CDP ’20; director of Clark’s Office of Community Engagement and Volunteering
- Clare Robbins, MPA ’23; assistant city clerk for the City of Worcester
- Jeanette Tozer, M.A./CDP ’13; affordable housing trust fund manager for the City of Worcester
Blackstone Watershed Collaborative contributes to Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environment Affairs has released the first statewide assessment detailing how Massachusetts people, environments, and infrastructure may be affected by climate change and related hazards through the end of the century.
The Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment evaluates 37 climate impacts across five sectors — human, infrastructure, natural environment, governance, and economy — and seven regions of the Commonwealth, and will directly inform the first five-year update to the State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan, expected to be released this fall.
The Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, housed at Clark University’s George Perkins Marsh Institute, served as a reviewer and contributor of the assessment. Stefanie Covino, M.S./ES&P ’15, director of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, celebrated the report’s release.
“This is big news in the state environmental world,” Covino said, “as it provides the most up-to-date analysis of how the state is affected by climate change hazards, with a focus on impacts to our most vulnerable residents.”
December 21, 2022
Sangermano named a Kavli Fellow
Geography professor Florencia Sangermano has been named a Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, and recently participated in an Israeli-American Symposia held with the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities.
Sangermano is one of 185 Kavli Fellows chosen from across the country. She specializes in conservation biology, GIS, remote sensing, and landscape ecology. Her research interests lie in the application of geospatial analysis and satellite remote sensing to evaluate changes in the earth system, and to assess their effect on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Kavli Frontiers of Science symposia bring together outstanding young scientists to discuss exciting advances and opportunities in a broad range of disciplines. Annual symposia are held for young scientists in the U.S., and bilateral symposia have included young researchers in the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, China, Indonesia, India, Israel, and South Korea.
First-year students find Common ground in dystopian graphic novel
Graphic novel writer Damian Duffy and illustrator John Jennings recently challenged Clark students to think about the future’s challenges through storytelling.
The two adapted Octavia Butler’s 1993 dystopian science fiction novel “Parable of the Sower” into a modern graphic novel, which is the focus of this year’s Common Academic Experience, a program created to acquaint new students with Clark academics by focusing on a single text or film. This year’s Common Academic Experience culminated on Nov. 3, when Professor Betsy Huang and Professor Spencer Tricker co-moderated a discussion with Duffy and Jennings, who participated virtually.
December 8, 2022
Niu, Tricker named North Star Collective Fellows
Shuo Niu, professor of computer science, and Spencer Tricker, professor of English, have been named fellows of the New England Board of Higher Education’s North Star Collective program for BIPOC early career faculty.
Previous North Star Collective Faculty Fellows were professors Justin Shaw (English) and Asha Best (Geography).
The North Star Collective, of which Clark University is a founding member, is a part of NEBHE’s broader reparative justice initiative, which is committed to restoring, nourishing, and uplifting BIPOC faculty in the region as well as supporting leaders as they transform institutions around racial equity.
Goldberg is keynote speaker at family mediation conference
Professor Abbie Goldberg delivered the keynote address at the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation’s 21st annual Family Mediation Institute, held virtually on Dec. 1 and 2.
Goldberg’s lecture, “Divorce Involving LGBTQ Parents and Parents of Trans Children: Research and Consideration for Mediators,” addressed same-sex marriage, drawing on her 17-year longitudinal study of lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families; divorce and parenting time where one partner identifies as trans; and divorce and parenting time when a child is trans. She also provided guidance for mediators seeking to support clients in such cases.
November 22, 2022
‘COVID Posse’ research published in PLOS Global Public Health
A study conducted by biology professors Nathan Ahlgren and Philip Bergmann and sociology professor Rosalie Torres Stone about the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized groups has been published in PLOS Global Public Health.
For “County-level societal predictors of COVID-19 cases and deaths changed through time in the United States: A longitudinal ecological study,” the professors mined information from vast amounts of publicly available data to explore the progress of the pandemic over time and how it has affected different demographic groups. The Clark researchers determined that relationships between racial/ethnic, demographic, health, and socio-economic factors and COVID-19 case and death rates changed over time in the U.S.
November 10, 2022
Faculty honored for achievements as teachers, advisers, and scholars
Clark University faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding work as teachers, advisers, and researchers. The annual awards were presented during an Oct. 19 ceremony at Harrington House.
“Exceptional work is taking place across the University in our classrooms, labs, offices, and departments,” Provost Sebastián Royo said in a message to the community, “and it is essential that we pause to acknowledge and celebrate it.”
“All of the nominees were incredibly worthy, and their amazing achievements should be celebrated as well,” he added.
The ceremony also honored faculty members who received promotions during the 2021–22 academic year.
Read more and view the complete list of honorees »
Clarkies explore link between psychology and business success
Three Clark alums returned to campus to share how an educational background in psychology has helped them manage teams in a wide range of industries and areas, from public health and pharmaceuticals development to fashion retail to corporate-level management and human resources. They joined the Career Connections Center and the School of Management on an Oct. 19 panel that was part of the CCC’s Business, Marketing, Finance, and Consulting Career Exploration Week.
The participating alumni included Zach Walsh ’16, MBA ’17, human resources manager at NIC+ZOE; Sehar Mahmood ’08, senior manager, solutions squad lead, and project manager at Pfizer; and Jacklyn Mellen ’04, executive development/learning and development manager/marketing at The TJX Companies.
October 27, 2022
Williams to deliver keynote at symposium on climate resilience in Central Appalachian Forests
Professor Christopher A. Williams, director of environmental sciences at Clark, will deliver a keynote address, at the Natural Areas Association’s virtual symposium, “Nature’s Front Line: The Role of Natural Areas in Climate Resilience in Central Appalachian Forests,” on Oct. 28.
Williams’ presentation, “Conservation of Forest Carbon as Climate Protection: Assessing Opportunities and Limitations,” will address what we know about baseline carbon uptake in forests of the U.S., provide insights into the underlying science, and spotlight some tools available for practitioners. In addition, Williams will discuss the value of forest conservation for climate protection, and what can be claimed as a nature-based climate solution.
Bhachu presents at Royal Society
Parminder Bhachu, professor of sociology, recently spoke at a dinner of the Fellows of the Royal Society in London. In attendance were scientists and physicists who worked on CERN’s Large Hadron Collider and the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment that discovered the Higgs boson, sometimes referred to as “the God particle.”
Bhachu was seated with Sir Tejinder Virdee, best known for originating the concept and overseeing the construction of the CMS experiment, about whom she wrote in her book “Movers and Makers.”
October 13, 2022
Huang authors essay for new collection on American horror
English Professor Betsy Huang has contributed a chapter to The Cambridge Companion to American Horror. Her essay, “SF and the Weird,” examines the way two related genres, science fiction (SF) and the weird, deploy horror to critique the sources and expressions of “American horror” – namely, the dark side of American exceptionalism and the social and environmental consequences of its imperialist projects. Taking horror seriously, the book surveys America’s bloody and haunted history through its most terrifying cultural expressions.
The collection of essays opens up the body of American Horror — through literature, film, TV, music, video games, and a host of other mediums — and gathers the leading scholars in the field to dissect the gruesome histories and shocking forms of American life.
Through a series of accessible and informed essays, moving from the seventeenth century to the present day, explores one of the liveliest and most progressive areas of contemporary culture. From slavery to censorship, from occult forces to monstrous beings, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in America’s most terrifying cultural expressions.
September 29, 2022
BCMB student earns top honor at Protein Society event
Emma Kane, a doctoral candidate in the biochemistry and molecular biology program, won the poster contest at the Protein Society 36th Annual Symposium recently held in San Francisco.
Kane, who works in Professor Donald Spratt’s lab, presented the collaboration between Aaron Muth’s lab at St. John’s University and Spratt’s lab in which they are optimizing the therapeutic targeting of a protein called gankyrin to address its overexpression in various cancers.
September 15, 2022
BCMB students meet 2021 Nobel Prize winner
Doctoral student Ariane Borges and Kim Nguyen ’22, who both work in Professor Arundhati Nag’s lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, recently attended the LEADS Conference in Washington, D.C., where they met David MacMillan, the 2021 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, and other Nobel laureates.
September 1, 2022
Professor Mark Turnbull honored by American Chemical Society
Chemistry Professor Mark Turnbull has been named at 2022 Fellow of the American Chemical Society. This designation is awarded to ACS members who have made exceptional contributions to the science and profession and have provided excellent volunteer service to the ACS community.
August 18, 2022
APA–Clark Workshop returns to campus
For the first time in three years, Clark welcomed psychology teachers from across the country to campus for the American Psychological Association–Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers. During the conference, 25 educators heard from master teachers, enhanced their teaching skills, learned about groundbreaking research by Clark faculty, and networked with their peers.
This year’s presenters included Clark Psychology Professors Alena Esposito and Andrew Stewart; Jeanne Turner of Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa; and Michael Sandler of Arlington High School, Arlington, Massachusetts. Onarae Rice, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Furman University, delivered the keynote address.
August 4, 2022
Juan Pablo Rivera honored for recent publications
Spanish Professor Juan Pablo Rivera has received honorable mention from the International Latino Book Awards for two books published in Spain last year: “La hermosa carne: El cuerpo en la poesía puertorriqueña actual,” a collection of essays, and “En Invierno la Batalla,” a book of poetry.
The international Latino Book Awards honor authors, translators, and illustrators for their books written either in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
Clark alumna named distinguished scholar at premier research university in Canada
Jacqueline Sullivan ’95 has been named the 2022 Graham and Gale Wright Distinguished Scholar at Western University in London, Ontario. An associate professor of philosophy, she is a philosopher of science with training in history and philosophy of science and neuroscience. A primary aim of her current research is to understand the processes by which cognitive neuroscientists seek to establish facts about the neural underpinnings of human cognition and behavior using rodent models of health and disease. She is the principal investigator on “The Philosophy of Neuroscience in Practice,” funded by an Insight Grant from Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and is currently working on a book and series of articles based on this project.
After graduating from Clark, Sullivan earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.
July 21, 2022
Busson-Hall hosts podcast on finding the ‘silver lining’
Clark University Trustee Ingrid Busson-Hall ’96 has launched “This Is My Silver Lining,” a podcast that shines a light on ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Her co-host is Kathleen Merrigan. In each episode, guests share their stories of resilience, courage, optimism, and gratitude.
You can listen to episodes on the “This Is My Silver Lining” website or find them wherever you get your podcasts.
Florencia Sangermano named a TRELIS fellow
Florencia Sangermano, assistant professor of geography, has been named a Training and Retaining Leaders in STEM-Geospatial Sciences (TRELIS) Fellow. The TRELIS Program, funded through the National Science Foundation, is designed to provide professional development for academic women in the geospatial sciences.
Sangermano was one of almost 50 applicants for the fellowship, which is a program of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science.
July 7, 2022
DiIorio’s new play to be performed in September
Theatre Arts Director Gino DiIorio’s new play “Scab” will be produced by Premiere Stages at Kean University in Union, N.J., from September 8 to 25.
“Scab” tells the story of Gilda, a middle-aged woman, who has to train Eduardo, a young Mexican man, how to be a shop foreman when her factory plant moves to Mexico. Over the course of a week, they discover that their assumptions regarding personal expectations and cultural differences are not always correct.
Visit the Premiere Stages website for more information.
Cynthia Enloe appointed visiting professor at the University of Cambridge
Professor Cynthia Enloe has been appointed the Diane Middleton and Carl Djerassi Visiting Professor in Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge for the university’s Michaelmas Term, mid-October through early December.
The appointment involves giving a public lecture at Cambridge, and also supports Enloe’s current research, which is a book project — “Twelve Feminist Lessons of War” — inspired in part by her efforts to make feminist sense of the Ukraine war.
Mira Ormsby named assistant director of Office of Sponsored Programs and Research
Mira Ormsby has joined the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) as assistant director.
She first joined Clark in 2016 as the grants coordinator and clinical program assistant in the Department of Psychology. She also has experience as a consultant working with various federal agencies (Energy and Defense departments, and NASA) to redesign their business processes, and has conducted policy implementations and inspections for FEMA-funded projects.
In this new role as assistant director, Ormsby will be assisting OSPR Director Lisa Gaudette in federal grant and contract review and submission, grant database management and reporting, and federal grants prospecting.
Professor Jing Zhang voted president-elect of Digital Government Society
Professor Jing Zhang, associate dean of the School of Management, was elected president-elect of the Digital Government Society this spring. She will remain in this role for the 2022–23 year, and then serve two years as president.
The Digital Government Society serves the interests of a community of scholars and managers interested in the development and impacts of digital government. Its mission is to “foster the use of information and technology to support and improve public policies and government operations, engage citizens, and provide comprehensive and timely government services.” The group includes members from all industry sectors.
Hamid Dolatsara facilitates first NFT for sale by Clark students
Professor Hamid Ahady Dolatsara of the School of Management has facilitated the first non-fungible token (NFT) put up for sale by Clark University students. As part of his 2022 summer Blockchain and Cryptocurrency course, Dolatsara taught students how to create and sell NFTs. They were tasked with creating a simple — but interesting and unique — NFT submission. Dolatsara then selected the first one to sell, which was partially created by Python codes.
Dolatsara works to provide hands-on experiences for students that focus on the design and development of blockchain through programming, which can then be applied to business applications. He also teaches topics such as hash functions, cryptocurrency, transactions, marketing, and trading.
View Clark’s first NFT submission »
June 23, 2022
Betsy Huang reappointed as Dean of the College
Provost Sebastián Royo recently announced that Betsy Huang has been reappointed as associate provost and dean of the college. Her second three-year term began on June 1, following a review coordinated by the Undergraduate Academic Board, with input from faculty, administration, and staff.
“Dean Huang’s accomplishments in her first term are impressive,” Royo said. “She has achieved this while continuing to foster her own academic and research passions. As dean of the college, Betsy is a model of empathetic leadership and support for students and faculty, serving Clark with deep care and abiding professionalism. I look forward to continuing to work with her in this capacity.”
Clark to host 2025 Economic Geography conference
Clark University has been selected to host the 7th Global Conference on Economic Geography, organizers announced at the close of the 2022 conference in Dublin this month.
The Graduate School of Geography at Clark is one of the only geography programs in North America to publish an international, peer-reviewed journal, Economic Geography, which was established in 1925 by then-president Wallace Atwood and is currently edited by Professor Jim Murphy. Economic Geography ranked No. 2 among geography and economic journals in the 2020 ISI Social Sciences Citation Index, which ranks the prestige of peer-reviewed journals globally.
Clark alum awarded a Princeton in Africa fellowship
Heran Abiy ’21, M.A. ’22, has been awarded a 2022–23 Princeton in Africa fellowship with the Kucetekela Foundation in Lusaka, Zambia.
Abiy majored in sociology as an undergraduate, with a minor in global environmental studies and a concentration in comparative race and ethnic studies. She earned her master’s degree in community development and planning through Clark’s Accelerated Degree Program.
Abiy is one of 27 Princeton Fellows working with 17 organizations in 13 African countries. Princeton in Africa is an independent, non-profit organization affiliated with Princeton University. Our mission is to develop future leaders dedicated to African affairs and create a network of alumni that are connected to the continent personally and professionally.
June 8, 2022
Clark selected to participate in AAC&U’s Curriculum-to-Career Innovations Institute
Clark University is among 54 institutions selected by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to attend the 2022 Curriculum-to-Career Innovations Institute, Aug. 11 through Dec. 16. Co-directed by AAC&U and IBM, this virtual institute will focus on supporting campus efforts to strengthen connections between college learning and workforce preparation and to develop productive campus-industry partnerships.
School of Professional Studies announces student and faculty awards
School of Professional Studies students and faculty were honored for their accomplishments at a May 20 awards ceremony held at the AC Hotel in Worcester.
“It is fitting that the School of Professional Studies recognizes and celebrates faculty and students together since the school is distinguished by deep and ongoing collaborations between teachers and learners,” said John G. Labrie, dean of the SPS and associate provost for professional education.
New trustees bring investment, business expertise to the board
Clark University has announced the addition of Donella Brockington ’73 and Arlene Morris ’92 to its Board of Trustees.
Lee Plave ’80 has also been reappointed to the Board.
Chair-elect Gary D. Labovich ’81 notes that in addition to their deep commitment to Clark, Brockington and Morris bring with them valuable business and governmental experience that will help inform the Board’s decision-making.
More Accolades
Faculty Books and Creative Works
Clark scholars publish books on a wide range of topics and produce creative works for stage, screen, and exhibition.
Faculty Grants and Contracts
Interested in faculty grants and contracts? The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research keeps an updated list.
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