Jennifer Parker Talwar and David Livert, who serve as researchers for Penn State Lehigh Valley's Center for Community and Organizational Research, along with a team of students and research assistants, presented the findings of the study, "2008 Portrait of Latino Business Owners and Professionals," at a press conference held Nov. 20, at The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC). The study was commissioned by the Latino Economic Council (LEC) of LVEDC as part of a larger effort to increase the visibility and success of Latino business owners and professionals in the region. (more)
The Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) is seeking nominations for its 2009 Humanitarian Service Award, created in 1985 to honor a person who has provided outstanding service to African-American citizens of Pennsylvania, especially at Penn State and in Centre County. The award will be presented at the 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, Thursday, Jan. 15, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus. (more)
Penn State faculty and staff are invited to submit funding proposals to the Equal Opportunity Planning Committee (EOPC) to advance the University's diversity goals as stated in Penn State's diversity strategic plan, "A Framework to Foster Diversity at Penn State: 2004-09." The deadline for summer 2009 programs is Dec. 12 and, for academic year 2009-10 programs, Jan. 16. (more)
Three African American artists who are part of the exhibit "Something to Look Forward To" will give a talk at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4 in the HUB Auditorium, at the University Park campus. The event is free to the public, and refreshments will follow in the Robeson Gallery, across from the Penn State Bookstore in the HUB-Robeson Center. (more)
Penn State Hazleton's next installment in the Cultural Events Series will take place as Taikoza, a group performing on a variety of Japanese instruments, takes the stage in the Slusser/Bayzick Building at 8 p.m. Mon., Dec. 8.
Susan Crampton-Frenchik was appointed as coordinator of the International and Intercultural Programs Office at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and has joined the faculty as a French instructor. As the coordinator of International and Intercultural Programs at Penn State Fayette, she is excited to "guide students as they expand their cultural and academic horizons." (more)
Winona LaDuke, Native American environmental activist, spoke to the Penn State Abington community last month on environmental justice from a Native perspective. The talk covered topics from climate change to food security, to energy consumption to the economy, and landed on the message: make change, embrace it, and "think big" when it comes to the future. LaDuke, with her quick wit and Minnesota accent seemed to captivate as well as motivate the students, staff, and faculty in the audience. (more)
Rebecca Kukla, professor of philosophy and obstetrics and gynecology, University of South Florida, will present "The Transformation of Women's Health Care into Reproductive Medicine: A Cautionary Tale," from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library, University Park. This lecture is free to the public. (more)
Penn State's Board of Trustees approved (Nov. 21) the granting of honorary doctorates to George Koob, professor and chair of the Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders at The Scripps Research Institute, and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. A pioneering researcher in the field of substance abuse and stress, Koob investigates the neurobiological basis of emotional behavior focused on the theoretical constructs of reward and stress. His work explores the neural bases of motivation, reinforcement and behavioral responses to stress and addiction. Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey is the first woman and the first African-American to head the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, America's largest philanthropy devoted to health and health care. (more)
Steven R. Parker, assistant professor of environmental technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is assisting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in evaluating an agency-sponsored financial-management publication for American Indians. Parker, an acknowledged advocate for American Indians in preparing for agricultural terrorism or an outbreak of avian influenza, was asked to ensure the guidance manual is sensitive to American Indian culture. (more)
