U.S. Public and Private Higher Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
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VCU: Class of 2024 - Master of Fine Arts Student Explores the Intersection of Voice and Gender Identity
RICHMOND, Virginia, May 16 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
By Dina Weinstein
Giving voice to ... voice, taehee used their Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition to create an immersive experience that connects gender, anatomy, memory and sound.
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts graduate student was featured at the school's Anderson Gallery recently. Their digital media installation featured two audio-visual elements in adjoining dark rooms.
"For both pieces, I thought about how much of gender perception or identity people assign on the voice,
... Show Full Article
RICHMOND, Virginia, May 16 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
By Dina Weinstein
Giving voice to ... voice, taehee used their Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition to create an immersive experience that connects gender, anatomy, memory and sound.
The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts graduate student was featured at the school's Anderson Gallery recently. Their digital media installation featured two audio-visual elements in adjoining dark rooms.
"For both pieces, I thought about how much of gender perception or identity people assign on the voice,but it's also not something you immediately think of as a gender representation," taehee said.
Both dark rooms had wall-size projections. In one, an audio visualizer projected images as it responded to narration or reacted to environmental sounds. In the other, guests could sit on a mirror on the floor to watch a projection of words rising like in karaoke, with the shiny reflection creating a perfect circle. The words were from a conversation with a friend on past experiences and voice changes connected to gender fluidity for those on hormone therapy.
"I used a lot of technologies like speech-to-text function. I wanted to have like a reverse karaoke," taehee said. "So much of my thesis research has been about queer and transgender community and their relationship with voice - and how gender-affirming care and medical care also dissects voice."
Inspiration for the project, which also featured a model of a larynx, included their experiences with a voice coach, readings on opera and homosexuality, and reflections on Korean history and identity - and relating those elements to trans and queer experiences and culture, taehee said.
Born in Korea, taehee spent some of their childhood in California and later moved with their family to Columbia, Missouri, in junior high school. They earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting at the Rhode Island School of Design but developed a strong interest in video and storytelling.
"Even though painting can be so beautiful in itself, you can only see one moment, like a photo," taehee said.
They moved to New York City to work in graphic design and got immersed in zine and artist book-making. They ran a zine collective called Hyperlink Press, which focused on the queer Korean diaspora and online community.
For graduate school, taehee wanted to study digital media, including virtual reality, augmented reality and kinetic imaging. Through zine and book fairs, they had met associate professor Nicole Killian, VCU's graphic design program graduate director, which drew them to Richmond.
Last summer, taehee accomplished a goal to pursue corporate graphic design work along with academic research and their personal projects. They interned at Forbes business magazine, creating graphics to accompany articles.
"I love paper publications, but with digital publication, it is something that needs human interaction in a different format than a book, which is why it aligned with my interest to make weird or very alternative reading experiences," taehee said.
They also turned introspective, investigating and creating personal stories - about being "assigned female at birth, nonbinary person, and my body and medical system that I encounter in my personal life." The resulting book focused on their ovarian cyst rupturing.
"I wrote about it in a perspective like, I didn't know this thing was growing, but it felt like I was almost like an oyster that was growing this pearl. And then my body was generating that, latching on to some idea of femininity, conjuring the idea of how my mom is also trying to understand my queerness," taehee said.
Their time in Richmond featured an array of other experiences. This year, through an internship, taehee created graphics to accompany exhibits at VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art. And throughout their degree program, they conducted research on 3D web coding and digital fabrication - taehee relished having access to tools and machinery that allowed them to create a variety of media and work. Academic highlights included classes on computational media and the politics and theory around extended reality.
After graduation, taehee expects to return to New York City, but they said their professional and artistic passions now have more potential outlets, thanks to the foundation they deepened in their VCU studies.
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/05/master-of-fine-arts-student-explores-the-intersection-of-voice-and-gender-identity
Two LLCC Students Win State Geography Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 16 -- Lincoln Land Community College issued the following news:
Lincoln Land Community College students Sean McCarthy and Quinten Palmer of Springfield were honored at the Illinois Geographical Society's annual awards banquet held in Burlington, Iowa, on April 26.
McCarthy received the Charles Womack Award, which was established to honor the memory and spirit of Charles "Chuck" Womack, geography professor at Lakeland Community College. The award is given to one student who has excelled in both academics and extracurricular activities in the geography program at their
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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, May 16 -- Lincoln Land Community College issued the following news:
Lincoln Land Community College students Sean McCarthy and Quinten Palmer of Springfield were honored at the Illinois Geographical Society's annual awards banquet held in Burlington, Iowa, on April 26.
McCarthy received the Charles Womack Award, which was established to honor the memory and spirit of Charles "Chuck" Womack, geography professor at Lakeland Community College. The award is given to one student who has excelled in both academics and extracurricular activities in the geography program at theircommunity college. McCarthy plans to graduate with an associate in arts in May 2025.
Palmer received the Outstanding Community College Two-Year Student Geography Award. This award goes to a student who has excelled in one or more geography classes. Palmer, a geography major at LLCC, will graduate in December 2024, after which he plans on continuing his studies in geography at Illinois State University.
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Original text here: https://www.llcc.edu/news/-geography-awards-24
Penn Fourth-Year Student William Niu Named a 2024 Hertz Fellow
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, May 16 (TNSres) -- The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences issued the following news:
University of Pennsylvania fourth-year undergraduate Zijian (William) Niu has been awarded a 2024 Hertz Fellowship in applied science, engineering, and mathematics by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation.
The Hertz Fellowship provides five years of funding, as much as $250,000, and the "research freedom to pursue innovative ideas with real-world impact." Niu is among 18 to receive the fellowship this year. In addition to financial support, Hertz Fellows have access
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PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, May 16 (TNSres) -- The University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences issued the following news:
University of Pennsylvania fourth-year undergraduate Zijian (William) Niu has been awarded a 2024 Hertz Fellowship in applied science, engineering, and mathematics by the Fannie and John Hertz Foundation.
The Hertz Fellowship provides five years of funding, as much as $250,000, and the "research freedom to pursue innovative ideas with real-world impact." Niu is among 18 to receive the fellowship this year. In addition to financial support, Hertz Fellows have accessto lifelong programming, such as mentoring, events, and networking.
Niu is majoring in biochemistry, biophysics, and physics as a Roy and Diana Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Scholar in the College of Arts and Sciences. Starting this fall, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational and systems biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Niu was born in Kaifeng, China, but spent much of his early childhood in Shanghai. His family immigrated to the United States in 2010 when he was 8, and he grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts.
Niu recently received a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, a merit-based program that provides graduate school funding for immigrants and children of immigrants to the U.S. He was among the 30 chosen as a 2024 PD Soros Fellow; each receives as much as $90,000 for graduate studies. Niu also received the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship, as well as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Niu is interested in the intersection of structural biology and machine learning. Specifically, he aims to develop novel methods for imaging proteins and other biomolecules in their native cellular environments and to leverage that data to build computational models for predicting their dynamics and molecular interactions. At Penn, Niu works with Arjun Raj in the Raj Lab for Systems Biology to develop new computational methods for biomedical image analysis, including a deep learning algorithm for detecting tiny diffraction-limited spots in fluorescence microscopy images obtained from spatial transcriptomics. For this work, he was awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship in 2023. Niu has also worked with Sydney Shaffer in the Perelman School of Medicine on investigating the molecular origins of Barrett's esophagus and its progression toward esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Niu is also a Dean's Scholar, a recipient of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Challenge Award and the William E. Stephens Prize, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 2022, he co-founded the student-led Project Lucid to build awareness and confidence for effective science communication among Penn undergraduates. Niu has also been a teaching assistant and peer educator at Penn, a vice president of the Penn Undergraduate Chemistry Society, and a STEM mentor at underserved Philadelphia high schools. In his free time, he enjoys speedcubing, where he solves the Rubik's Cube and other twisty puzzles as fast as possible.
Niu applied for the Hertz Fellowship with assistance from Penn's Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. He is the sixth Penn affiliate awarded the fellowship since the program was first awarded in 1963.
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Original text here: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-fourth-year-student-william-niu-2024-hertz-fellow
Franklin University Joins Forces With Miles CPA Review to Enhance Access to CPA Amid Accountant Shortage
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16 -- Franklin University issued the following news release:
In response to the significant shortage of accountants and to address the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure, Franklin University proudly announces a strategic partnership with Miles CPA Review. This collaboration introduces a pioneering educational initiative poised to revolutionize access to CPA licensure, combining Franklin University's century-long tradition of educational excellence with the cutting-edge training capabilities of Miles CPA Review.
The newly launched program offers 30 credits at the highly
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 16 -- Franklin University issued the following news release:
In response to the significant shortage of accountants and to address the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure, Franklin University proudly announces a strategic partnership with Miles CPA Review. This collaboration introduces a pioneering educational initiative poised to revolutionize access to CPA licensure, combining Franklin University's century-long tradition of educational excellence with the cutting-edge training capabilities of Miles CPA Review.
The newly launched program offers 30 credits at the highlycompetitive rate of $99 per credit hour, compared to typical costs ranging from $500 to $1000 per credit hour. Specifically designed for U.S. undergraduates who require these additional credits to fulfill the 150-credit requirement for CPA licensure, this initiative significantly lowers the financial barriers often associated with advancing in the accounting profession. Additionally, the program broadens the pathway for individuals aiming to transition into accounting careers. All participants will receive full access to extensive CPA review resources and study materials, ensuring they are thoroughly prepared for the CPA exam. This CPA Prep access is included with the microcredential at no additional charge.
"Through our strategic partnership with Miles CPA Review, we're not merely meeting the academic requirements of our students; we're significantly boosting their career prospects," stated Dr. Godfrey Mendes, Senior Vice President, Franklin University. "By infusing practical, industry-relevant content into our curriculum, we're arming our graduates with the sophisticated skills necessary to thrive in today's dynamic accounting field."
Varun Jain, CEO of Miles, shared, "By drastically reducing the costs associated with CPA preparation to nearly 80% below traditional programs, this partnership not only makes becoming a CPA more attainable but also streamlines the entire learning and preparation process. Our aligned courses and free review materials ensure that candidates are not just prepared but are set up for success."
The new microcredential will be the latest addition to Franklin University's Marketplace catalog of in-demand subject areas that provide learners with the opportunity to match their ability levels and career paths with specific courses and credential pathways. For further details about this innovative micro-credential program, please visit http://www.milescpareview.com
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About Miles CPA Review
Miles CPA Review, the flagbearer for accountants, boasts a network of over 55,000 alumni. Miles has partnered with the Big 4 and top public accounting firms to address their talent needs. Miles also partners with leading U.S. universities to integrate STEM courses into accounting programs which not only elevates the appeal of accounting as a career but also proactively combats the trend of declining enrollments. http://www.milescpareview.com
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About Franklin University
Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
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Original text here: https://www.franklin.edu/about-us/pressroom/news/2024/franklin-university-joins-forces-miles-cpa-review-enhance-access-cpa
Every Week is Harvest Season in Western-Designed Hybrid Farm
LONDON, Ontario, May 16 -- Western University issued the following news:
By Jeff Renaud
Climate change and severe weather are the primary challenges facing year-round berry production in Canada. Western University professor Joshua Pearce and the Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology (FAST) research group have devised a food security solution to address these global threats by developing a net zero energy farm, which extends the growing season of berries and greatly exceeds average Canadian yields.
Currently in its first full year of operation at the Environmental Sciences Western Field Station,
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LONDON, Ontario, May 16 -- Western University issued the following news:
By Jeff Renaud
Climate change and severe weather are the primary challenges facing year-round berry production in Canada. Western University professor Joshua Pearce and the Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology (FAST) research group have devised a food security solution to address these global threats by developing a net zero energy farm, which extends the growing season of berries and greatly exceeds average Canadian yields.
Currently in its first full year of operation at the Environmental Sciences Western Field Station,the Western-led project combines a photovoltaic (solar panel) shielded outdoor farm with an Agrotunnel, which is an indoor growing system that houses high-density vertical aeroponic (growing plants in the air) and hydroponic (growing plants in water) hybrid systems that use high-efficiency, spectrally optimized LED grow lights.
The Agrotunnel, provided by industry partner Food Security Structures Canada, and the agrivoltaic farm - one that combines solar energy and crop production - are supported, in part, by a $1 million grant from the second phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, funded and supported by the Weston Family Foundation.
"Our solution provides an extremely high-density, resilient method to obtain year-round healthy fruit and vegetables at a minimum production cost," said Pearce, the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at Western Engineering and Ivey Business School. "The system is completely modular, scalable and adaptable to various locations and extreme climate conditions."
The year-round farming system, as conceived, can be attached to retail locations like grocery stores to provide zero-mile food supply, nearly anywhere in Canada.
Following last year's testing, Pearce and the team have experimental evidence that the Agrotunnel works physically to produce year-round berries, but the economics can be a challenge depending on the location because of electricity costs.
"Every week in the Agrotunnel, harvest season is upon us, and the future of Canadian farming is ripe with possibility," said Pearce.
To improve the economics, and decrease, or even eliminate, the electricity costs, the Agrotunnel and surrounding area at the field station are covered with adjustable partially transparent solar photovoltaic arrays, which were designed by Pearce and his team. The agrivoltaic arrays, a series of solar panels, are part of the Western Innovation for Renewable Energy Deployment (WIRED) experimental testbed. All of the WIRED designs are completely open-source hardware and use some 3D-printed parts, both tantamount to many of Pearce's engineering projects.
Agrivoltaics is a portmanteau of 'agriculture' and 'photovoltaics.' While harnessing solar energy, the arrays are also used as shields to protect the outdoor plants from extreme weather, creating a microclimate to conserve water while providing all the electricity needed to run the lights, water pumps and heat pumps (used for heating and cooling) inside the Agrotunnel.
The strawberries, blueberries, honeyberries, gooseberries, boysenberries and others grown at the field station are monitored with artificial intelligence, including computer vision systems, to monitor moisture, carbon dioxide levels and high energy efficiency. The berries are also tested in agrivoltaics systems under different strengths of solar cells to find optimal conditions for outdoor growth as compared to indoors.
'Light' bulb moment
Boosting food productivity and power by optimizing the use of sunlight addresses a wicked problem in Canada and around the world. If the project delivers the way it is expected to, the impact on global food security is limitless.
"Our moveable Agrotunnel, Better Grow Lights and aeroponic/hydroponic growing system, combined with Dr. Pearce's unique agrivoltaics system, creates an energy efficient, climate-controlled growing space that can handle severe climate and Canadian weather," said Kim Parker, president and CEO of Food Security Structures Canada. "This project addresses food insecurity by empowering individuals and communities to grow their own food locally, year-round, regardless of climate or location."
Launched in 2022 by the Weston Family Foundation, the Shepherd phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge awarded $1 million each to 11 research teams to develop ideas for extending the growing season of berries. Each team only has 18 months to build and test its proof-of-concept ideas before the next phase of the challenge, which will see this group of 11 reduced to four teams.
"At the heart of this competition lies the belief that the fusion of collaboration and broad expertise is the key to solving complex challenges in agriculture," said Garfield Mitchell, Weston Family Foundation chair. "Our grantees bring out-of-the-box, yet achievable, ideas to the table, and we are excited to see the innovations that arise from their shared passion and collaboration."
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Original text here: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/05/agrivoltaic-tunnel-farm/
DC Students Claim 10 Medals at Skills Ontario 2024 Competition
OSHAWA, Ontario, May 16 -- Durham College issued the following news:
Durham College (DC) students competed against students from across the province to demonstrate their abilities in their fields at the three-day 2024 Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto.
Thousands of high school and college students participated in this event, including more than 20 DC students who represented a wide range of disciplines, from coding and photography to auto service and restaurant service. In each category, students brought all of their skills and experience from DC to the different challenges set before them.
In
... Show Full Article
OSHAWA, Ontario, May 16 -- Durham College issued the following news:
Durham College (DC) students competed against students from across the province to demonstrate their abilities in their fields at the three-day 2024 Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto.
Thousands of high school and college students participated in this event, including more than 20 DC students who represented a wide range of disciplines, from coding and photography to auto service and restaurant service. In each category, students brought all of their skills and experience from DC to the different challenges set before them.
Inaddition to DC taking home more than twice as many medals as last year - jumping from four medals in 2023 to 10 in 2024 - one student, Alexander Harley who was awarded gold in Auto Service Technology, will be moving on to Skills Canada Nationals Competition in Quebec.
Sydney Rack won a bronze medal in the Horticultural/Landscape category and said winning was a blur. "I honestly didn't even grasp that we placed until later that night," Rack said. "It's definitely strange because we all hope to win but I don't know how many of us expected it."
Photography silver-medal winner, Brooke Warner, attributed her learning at Durham College to her win. "I definitely think there were a lot of different aspects of the competition and my ability to think on my feet and the things I learned from my product class helped me succeed and I felt very prepared for it."
Students are now looking towards their futures and how this award and training for the competition will help them in their future careers.
"Events like Skills Ontario are incredible opportunities for our students to move beyond the classroom and put their knowledge and skills to the test in a fun and competitive environment," said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic. "I am proud of all of the competitors and appreciate the time and support our faculty and staff put into ensuring our programs are preparing students for success in their fields."
The full list of DC winners includes:
* Alexander Hartley - Gold, Auto Service Technology
* Hanukshan Murugesu Pillai - Gold, Restaurant Service
* Nicholas Simard -Gold, Metal Fabricator - Fitting (Welding)
* Ryan Boldy - Gold, Coding
* Brooke Warner - Silver, Photography
* John France - Silver, Coding
* Megan Terry - Silver, Heating Systems Technician
* Sophia Lourenco - Silver, Aesthetics
* Destry Young - Bronze, Auto Service Technology
* Sydney Rack and Payton Archer - Bronze, Horticultural / Landscape (Team of 2)
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Original text here: https://durhamcollege.ca/uncategorized/dc-students-claim-10-medals-at-skills-ontario-2024-competition
CUNY-Graduate School of Public Health: PhD Student Michael Ierardi Receives Prestigious AIHA Award
NEW YORK, May 16 -- The City University of New York's Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy issued the following news release:
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), through the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF), has recognized PhD student Michael Ierardi with its highest scholarship and professional development honor, the President's Leadership Award, which includes a $10,000 stipend to use toward his continuing research and career development.
To qualify for the President's Leadership Award, applicants must demonstrate scientific, literary, and research
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 16 -- The City University of New York's Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy issued the following news release:
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), through the American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF), has recognized PhD student Michael Ierardi with its highest scholarship and professional development honor, the President's Leadership Award, which includes a $10,000 stipend to use toward his continuing research and career development.
To qualify for the President's Leadership Award, applicants must demonstrate scientific, literary, and researchacumen in industrial hygiene, environmental, and occupational health disciplines. They must also demonstrate a strong propensity toward leadership, volunteerism, and problem-solving, and they must show a genuine passion for using their knowledge, experience, and talents to make a tangible and positive impact on worker health and safety.
Ierardi exceeds these qualifications. He has been engaged in studying the complex relationship between the environment and human health for more than a decade. He began publishing peer-reviewed articles while a master's student in industrial hygiene at CUNY SPH and a full-time human health risk assessment consultant. He has led the local AIHA student group section at CUNY SPH as president and served as a teaching assistant for various courses, guiding and mentoring the next generation of industrial hygienists. Working with Associate Professor Brian Pavilonis and others, he developed and co-taught EOHS 625: Hazard Evaluation and Instrumentation and various lectures for EOHS 623: Principles of Industrial Hygiene. He has been an invited speaker at numerous conferences and other events. He has also been an active volunteer within AIHA in various forums, including the Metro New York Chapter, the Social Concerns Committee, and the Minority Special Interest Group as a member, and the PR(IH)DE Special Interest Group as the founding member and chair since July 2022.
Over the course of his master's and now doctoral education, Ierardi has come to recognize that psychological stressors in the workplace are just as important as the "more traditional" chemical, biological, and physical hazards he has studied and addressed. Moreover, he has recognized that the mitigation of psychological hazards such in the workplace as incivility and excessive job demands has historically not received equal attention from industrial hygiene/occupational and environmental health and safety (IH/OEHS) professionals. He is committed to ensuring the integration of occupational health psychology more fully into industrial hygiene and safety through his research and advocacy. And he's starting at the educational level: with Pavilonis, he is working to create an interdisciplinary curriculum, including courses in qualitative research methods, epidemiology, and exposure/risk assessment, that will lead to the design and implementation of control measures to safeguard mental health and well-being in real-world workplaces.
"I want to acknowledge the people who have come before me in this field and paved the way," says Ierardi. "And I'm deeply appreciative of the support I've gotten from CUNY SPH and in particular, from my mentor, Professor Pavilonis, as well as from my ChemRisk and Integral colleagues over the years."
"One more thing," he says. "I've been working full time and pursuing my graduate education part-time since 2017. I would really like to thank the friends and family who continue to be there for me all this time."
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Original text here: https://sph.cuny.edu/life-at-sph/news/2024/05/15/phd-student-michael-ierardi-receives-prestigious-aiha-award/?_gl=1*o9najz*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk0Mjg1MDEwNS4xNzE1ODYyNzQ4*_ga_6XD2NXSRSN*MTcxNTg2Mjc0NS4xLjAuMTcxNTg2Mjc0NS4wLjAuMA..
