Bulletin: April 2017

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April 2017 Contents

• NDMU News
• News by School
• Upcoming Events
• LNDM Library

NDMU News

NDMU Becomes First Maryland University to Join the Small World Initiative (SWI)

NDMU recently had the distinction of being honored as the first university in the state of Maryland to join the Small World Initiative (SWI). SWI gathers some of the world’s top universities who support and source the discovery of new antibiotics.

Lead by Assistant Professor of Biology, Dr. Jennifer Kerr, NDMU, as part of the SWI will acts as an advocate for long-term involvement in the sciences, allowing upper-level biology students to continue working on antibiotic-producing bacteria identified by undergraduates in the 200-level introductory microbiology classes. By joining the SWI, the University is addressing a worldwide health threat – the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, and it’s providing NDMU students the hands-on research needed for future professional careers in the drug industry. 

Spring Break at the United Nations

A group of NDMU students spent their spring break at the United Nations in New York. The theme for this year was “women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.” Our students took part in numerous panels and saw firsthand how the UN operates.

Among the students who took part in the trip, Micah Castelo, ’18. “I think this experience helped me become a more global citizen. It is important to be aware of the problems outside of our own country and other people’s perspectives.”

Gerriza Balmes, ’19, who also participated, shared her sentiment, “I also hope to become a voice for my fellow women as I eventually enter the male-dominated STEM work field as a leading researcher for neuroscience.”

This opportunity was an enlightening experience for all involved and the experience is sure to help these women in their future endeavors.

Third Straight Year, Morrissy Wins Maryland State Portz Award

For the third year in a row, a Notre DameMorrissy student was awarded the Portz Award for Outstanding Student in a Four-Year Honors Program. Micah Castelo ’18 was presented with the prestigious award at the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Conference in March. The award is based on student GPA, writing samples, letters of recommendation, and service to the student's honors program, university, and community. Lillian Doyle ’17 was also awarded at the 2017 MCHC Conference with Outstanding Student Abstract for a Presentation. Six Morrissy Honors students in all traveled with Morrissy Director Dr. Jeana DelRosso to the conference and presented their original research to honors students and faculty from across the state.

Morrissy Plays Host to Tokyo's Aoyama Gakuin Women's College

Five students and a faculty member from Notre Dame's partner school Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College in Tokyo spent nine days on campus in March. Hosted by Dr. Jeana DelRosso and the students of the Morrissy Honors Program, the Aoyama group attended Women's College and ELI classes, toured the campus and surrounding areas, and took day trips to Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Washington, DC, and New York City. The students stayed in the residence halls, ate in the dining hall, and presented their original research to the honors students. The Aoyama students built strong bonds with the Morrissy students and provided a cultural exchange opportunity that students from both colleges will remember for years to come.

Innovative NDMU Course Garners National Attention

A new NDMU Honors Course, “Caregiving at the End of Life,” will be featured in a national research project highlighting innovative teaching methods in the field of Interfaith Studies. The course employs a variety of contemplative practices and other experiential methods to help both nursing and non-nursing students care compassionately for people facing death.

The course was developed and is co-taught by Dr. Wakoh Shannon Hickey, assistant professor of religious studies, and Hannah Murphy Buc, MSN, RN, assistant professor in the School of Nursing. They welcomed two researchers, Dr. Trina Jones of Wofford College and Cassie Meyer of the non-profit organization Interfaith Youth Core, to observe a class meeting and interview both students and instructors about their experiences in the course.

The research project is sponsored by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion.

Loyola Notre Dame Library News

Design Your Own Pop-UP Class!

Hold a pop-up class in the library! The purpose of a pop-up class is to provide specialized information in a format conducive to active group learning. Pop-up classes can be a great way to draw attention to specific programs on campus, or market new skills to students in a fun, creative way. Our librarians are here to help you set up a pop-up class of your own design! Previous examples include a 3-D modeling class and “Beats & Bytes,” a session about using specialized software to create and manipulate music. 

Learn More at Loyola Notre Dame Library

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