Professor IAN MORRIS, may be a specialist in ancient history, but it was his own past that caught up with him more recently. Morris, professor in classics and history, was the subject of an item published in Time Out Chicago magazine last week. Question: ”There’s a rumor floating around the University of Chicago that a professor of ancient history and archeology once played guitar in Iron Maiden. Is this true?” The answer was, well, almost. It turns out that Morris, who was a professor at the University of Chicago before joining Stanford’s faculty in 1995, played lead guitar with several bands in and around Birmingham, England, when he was a student in the late ’70s. Iron Maiden was looking for a new guitarist and Morris sent a demo. He didn’t get that gig, but his backup plan has worked out pretty well.
Archive for September, 2009
Stanford joins forces with its peers
“There’s something very authentic about universities working together to share knowledge,” says LISA LAPIN, assistant vice president for communications at Stanford, and a founder of Futurity, an online channel covering the latest scientific research taking place at 35 American and Canadian universities. Lapin calls the site an ad-free, agenda-free approach to reporting discoveries in science, engineering, the environment and health. “Futurity is a direct link to the research pipeline. If you want a glimpse at where research is today and where it’s headed tomorrow, Futurity offers that in a very accessible way,” Lapin says.
In a statement issued Sept. 4, President JOHN HENNESSY and the leaders of seven other universities called on policy makers to step up their support for universities to promote global health. They issued a statement in advance of the first annual meeting of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) in Bethesda, Md., which took place Monday and Tuesday. In addition to Hennessy, the statement was signed by the presidents of Boston University, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, the University of California and the University of Washington, as well as the principal of McGill University. The inaugural CUGH annual meeting was titled “Future of global health: Funding, development, research, education.”
Memories of the Farm: Valerie Jarrett; other teachable moments
- A Stanford Quad photograph of First-Friend-to-be Valerie Jarrett as an undergraduate student with her dormmates from Olivo-Magnolia, now known as Ujamaa.
Gracing the cover of the September/October issue of Stanford magazine is alum VALERIE JARRETT. In a profile written by alum ROY JOHNSON, Jarrett, White House adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison, aka “First Friend,” calls her undergraduate experience on the Farm “the best years of my life . . . except for the four coming up.” There’s a great Stanford Quad photo of Jarrett and her dormmates from Olivo-Magnolia, the African American theme dorm now known as Ujamaa. And speaking of fabulous photos: Photographer ROD SEARCEY, Class of ’84, walks readers through a portrait gallery of some of the most memorable teachers and administrators from his undergraduate years. Titled “Teachable Moments,” the photo essay features President Emeritus DONALD KENNEDY, history Professor ESTELLE FREEDMAN, psychology Professor EWART THOMAS and former dean of admission FRED HARGADON, among others . . .
- Elaine Ray
LIve long and prosper
The good news is that we’re living longer, but for many that reality carries its own worries. LAURA CARSTENSEN, professor of psychology and director of the Center on Longevity, says don’t worry, be prepared. Her new book, A Long Bright Future, attempts to shed the myths about aging that keep us from taking the necessary steps to ensure that our golden years are healthy, fulfilling and financially stable.
Meet the new Resident Fellows
Resident fellows, who live with their families in residence halls, recently held their first retreat with DEBORAH GOLDER, the new associate vice provost and dean of residential education. Two new RF couples were appointed this year: STEPHEN STEDMAN, senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and his wife, CORINNE THOMAS, will be living in the newly renovated Crothers Hall. ROD TAYLOR, lecturer in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric, and KRISTEN TAYLOR, program administrator in Mechanical Engineering, will be resident fellows in Naranja .
Weinstein heads to Washington
JEREMY M. WEINSTEIN, an associate professor of political science, has been appointed director for democracy at the National Security Council. Weinstein, who is on leave from Stanford, is a faculty member at FSI’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law and the Center for International Security and Cooperation. His academic research focuses on Africa, civil wars, ethnic politics and the political economy of development. Weinstein follows four other FSI scholars to the Obama administration. Political Science Professor MICHAEL MCFAUL and ELIZABETH SHERWOOD-RANDALL, a former senior research scholar at CISAC, also work at the NSC. Law Professor MARIANO-FLORENTINO CUELLAR serves on the White House Domestic Policy Council, and PAUL STOCKTON, a former CISAC senior research scholar, is an assistant secretary of defense.
Building 170′s Green Team
The Building 170 Green Team pilot project to increase building sustainability through individual effort has officially ended, but the savings continue, according to TOM FENNER, the deputy general counsel affectionately referred to as Capt. Compost. Fenner recently reported that daily electricity use in Building 170 is down approximately 20 percent since the project began in the spring. Power-saving settings on computers, smart power strips, timers, education, and the decommissioning of unnecessary equipment and excess lighting all contributed to the savings. According to FAHMIDA AHMED, manager of sustainability programs, this inaugural pilot is serving as a foundation for the design of the Department or Building Level Sustainability Program. In addition to the General Counsel’s office, Building 170 houses the Vice President for Public Affairs and the Provost’s Budget and Faculty Affairs offices.
