UChicago News

Garrett P. Kiely appointed to third term as director of University of Chicago Press

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 11:00 -0500

Garrett P. Kiely, a leader in academic publishing who has expanded and elevated the work of the University of Chicago Press, has been reappointed as its director. He will serve a third five-year term beginning Sept. 1.

Kiely will continue to lead the nation’s largest academic press, which publishes award-winning books and journals for both scholarly and general interest audiences. The Press also serves as the largest distributor of academic publications in the United States through its Chicago Distribution Center.

“Garrett’s leadership continues to be essential to the Press at a time of great change in publishing,” Provost Daniel Diermeier said. “In the face of such seismic shifts, Garrett has not only grown the work of the Press and extended its global reach, but fostered a closer connection to the University of Chicago and its faculty.”

The Press publishes more than 350 new books and 73 journals a year including such recent titles as the critically acclaimed Henry David Thoreau: A Life. Long a leading academic publisher in areas of the humanities and sciences, the Press has in recent years expanded its offerings in law and economics and continues to deepen its connection to the mission of the University through new publishing relationships with faculty as well as centers, institutes and labs. Such relationships include a book series with the UChicago-affiliated Marine Biological Laboratory titled Convening Science: Discovery at the Marine Biological Laboratory and KNOW: A Journal on the Formation of Knowledge, a new journal with the Stevanovich Institute on the Formation of Knowledge.

“It is my great honor to work every day with the best people in publishing. Their passion, skill and expertise inspire me and are a reflection of the institution we represent. I appreciate the University’s support for its Press and I look forward to continuing and extending our tradition for excellence,” Kiely said.

In September, the Press will publish the 17th edition of its most famous title, The Chicago Manual of Style, in print and electronic versions. Under Kiely’s leadership, all new works appear simultaneously in print and digital editions, and the Press has expanded its print-on-demand program, which ensures titles are available around the world.

Kiely joined the Press in 2007 after more than 20 years at Palgrave Macmillan USA, a division of St. Martin’s Press, where he served as president, vice president of the Scholarly and Reference Division, and both sales and marketing director. He recently served as chair of a task force that developed a new membership structure for the Association of American University Presses.

Educator Charles Abelmann named director of UChicago Laboratory Schools

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 10:50 -0500

Charles Abelmann, an educator who has led highly regarded independent and public schools and worked on international education at the World Bank, has been appointed director of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

Since 2010, Abelmann has served as head of school at Barrie School in Silver Spring, Md., an independent school for students 18 months through grade 12. He has strengthened academic programs at Barrie, in part by ensuring coordination among divisions and promoting pedagogical innovation. He developed a teaching fellow and intern program, and formed partnerships that attracted guest artists and visiting teachers from other countries. Under his leadership, the school became a convener on important topics in education, and formed local and global partnerships that provided new opportunities for students and faculty to build community and support social responsibility.

Prior to his leadership of Barrie, Abelmann served in a variety of roles for the World Bank, including overseeing its investments in education programs in Indonesia, China and Mongolia. He conducted policy analysis and aided in capacity building with ministries of education and local governments across East Asia and other countries including Latvia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Guatemala and Colombia. Earlier in his career he served as principal of Janney Elementary School, which is part of the Washington, D.C public schools, and was special assistant to the superintendent of the D.C. public schools.

“The Laboratory Schools have a legacy of outstanding and innovative education, and Charlie will provide the strong academic leadership needed to continue and enhance that tradition,” said President Robert J. Zimmer. “He is also committed to fostering vibrant connections between Lab and the rest of the University, which will bring multiple benefits to our community.”

Abelmann, whose appointment is effective July 1, holds a bachelor’s degree in English and religion from Duke University and a master’s degree and doctorate in administration, planning and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has two sons, Tobias and Emilio.

“We have been greatly impressed by Charlie’s passion for education, his breadth of experience and his enthusiasm for collaborating across the Lab community to advance teaching, learning and the development of students,” said David Fithian, executive vice president of the University, who has oversight responsibility for Lab and its director.

As Laboratory Schools director, Abelmann will oversee the nursery school, kindergarten, primary school, lower school, middle school and high school, stewarding their distinctive cultures, supporting their faculties, and encouraging creativity, innovation and ambition. He will be responsible for developing the human and financial resources the Schools need to continue to excel, promoting a community that engages alumni, families, the University and the city of Chicago.

Abelmann said that during his visits to Lab he has been impressed by the confidence of the students, the integration of the arts into school life and the strong sense of community.

“I am excited to join a school with such a rich history and deep connections to the University, and to help chart the path forward to continue a tradition of excellence and innovation,” Abelmann said. “I grew up around university life, and I am eager to be part of a community that is so engaged in the education of children and youth, and that places a high value on questioning and collaboration.”

“Our search committee was unanimous in its enthusiasm for Charlie’s candidacy,” said David Kistenbroker, chair of the Laboratory Schools Board. “His style of leadership is characterized by excellent analytical skills, compassion and a strong vision for education. He has shown an affinity for collaborative work with boards, parents, teachers, staff and students. We look forward to welcoming him to our community.”

American philosopher and educator John Dewey founded the Laboratory Schools in 1896 to test and demonstrate his educational theories. Since then, Lab has continued to be an integral part of the University of Chicago, now serving more than 2,000 students from nursery school through 12th grade.

Abelmann succeeds Beth A. Harris, who has served as interim director since 2016. In a message to the Lab community announcing the appointment, Fithian and Kistenbroker thanked Harris for her work over the last year. Harris served on the Laboratory Schools Board from 2002 though 2015 and was the University vice president and general counsel for 13 years.

Kenton W. Rainey named chief of police for UCPD

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:15 -0500

Veteran Police Chief Kenton W. Rainey has been named the new chief of police for the University of Chicago Police Department, effective July 1.

As chief, Rainey will oversee the approximately 100 members of the full-service, professionally accredited police department and serve as the department’s representative on campus and in the neighboring communities. Rainey also will direct the UCPD’s policing initiatives, develop innovative crime prevention strategies and implement effective community policing programs.

Rainey will report to Eric M. Heath, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Safety & Security.

“One of the many valuable areas of expertise Kenton brings to the University of Chicago is his involvement with creating innovative, community-based policing strategies,” said Heath. “Throughout his law enforcement career, Kenton has worked in diverse communities, where he built strong and positive relationships with community members and successfully implemented new policing programs, resulting in effective policing efforts.”

Most recently Rainey served as the chief of police for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department until his retirement from the role at the end of last year. Rainey also has served as chief of police for the Fairfield, Calif. Police Department and commander of the airport police for the San Antonio Police Department, in addition to leadership roles with several other law enforcement agencies in California and Ohio.

"The University of Chicago is a world-class organization, and it is an honor and privilege for me to have been selected for this position,” said Rainey. “I’m excited to work with the members of the University’s police department, the University’s students, faculty and staff, and area community members so that together we can achieve our public safety mission.”

Rainey, who is originally from Chicago, is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and the University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in organizational management.

Tanika Island Childress named CEO of the UChicago Charter School

Wed, 31 May 2017 16:04 -0500

Tanika Island Childress, a nationally distinguished educator and veteran leader at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute, has been named CEO of the University of Chicago Charter School.

Island Childress will apply her wide-ranging expertise from more than two decades of teaching and leading to continuing the development of UChicago Charter as a model for fostering greater equity and excellence in urban education.

The appointment builds on Island Childress’s 16-year career at the Urban Education Institute, where she most recently served as director of the UChicago Urban Teacher Education Program. Earlier in her career, Island Childress served as the UChicago Charter School’s chief academic officer and director of the UChicago Charter North Kenwood/Oakland Campus, one of the highest-performing non-selective elementary schools in the city of Chicago.

During her tenure as director of the North Kenwood/Oakland Campus, Island Childress was recognized with a Community School Leadership Award in 2012 from the Federation of Community Schools and a Principal Achievement Award from the city of Chicago in 2013. She also has been recognized as a national leader in non-cognitive and academic development, serving as a member of the Aspen Institute’s Council of Distinguished Educators on Social, Emotional and Academic Development.

“I have big ambitions for UChicago Charter School students, which begin and end with my belief in their ability to learn, grow and succeed,” Island Childress said. “I hope to change the lives of many Chicago students by building on the UChicago Charter School’s strong culture of belief in students’ capabilities, and tradition of teacher learning and accountability grounded in research and data.”

Prior to joining UEI, Island Childress was an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University’s Teaching Practicum and Field Experience Seminar. From 1997 to 2001, Island Childress was also the fourth-grade team leader for the Martin L. King Experimental Laboratory School in Evanston, Ill., where she took on the roles of Language Arts District Representative, School Literacy Committee member, Teachers as Readers Committee member and Sisterhood Project mentor.

“We are so fortunate to have Tanika’s depth of expertise at the helm of UChicago Charter School,” said Sian Beilock, executive vice provost of the University of Chicago and UChicago Charter School interim governing board chair. “Her vision, commitment and compassion will ensure we continue to help students across the South Side of Chicago realize their potential and achieve their goals, in school and in life.”

Island Childress’s appointment is part of UEI’s ambitious plan to improve schooling nationwide by conducting rigorous applied research, training exemplary teachers, operating a high-achieving public school, and designing school improvement tools and training for thousands of schools and classrooms across the United States.

The PreK-12 UChicago Charter School is designed to cultivate culturally aware critical thinkers and leaders, and prepare all of its students for college acceptance and graduation.

Its elementary model was recently the subject of a multi-year study that showed UChicago Charter is effectively addressing educational inequality and closing the achievement gap that has persisted between students of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The study’s findings were published this year in the book The Ambitious Elementary School. UChicago Charter’s Woodlawn campus received a Level 1 school quality rating from the Chicago Public Schools district last year and will open a new high school facility next year with state-of-the-art engineering science labs, a media arts space and a college resource center.

Island Childress has been serving as the interim CEO of the UChicago Charter School since February and will continue developing UChicago Charter as a model of excellence in fostering high school achievement, college attainment and young adult success.

“Tanika brings a unique lens and extremely rare combination of experiences to her new role,” said Sara Ray Stoelinga, the Sara Liston Spurlark Director of UEI. “As the former director of UChicago’s Urban Teacher Education Program, she has deep expertise in what it takes to train and retain high quality teachers within some of the nation’s most distressed communities and challenging classroom environments. She also has a wealth of experience in working directly with UChicago Charter School leaders, teachers, students and families. She is a highly respected and visionary leader who has changed—and will continue to change—students’ educational and life trajectories for the better.”

Island Childress received her bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in psychology from National Louis University in Chicago. She also earned a master’s degree in literacy education from Loyola University and received a leadership fellowship through the Urban Education Institute.

John W. Boyer appointed to sixth term as dean of the College

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 10:00 -0500

John W. Boyer, AM’69, PhD’75, has been appointed to a sixth term as dean of the College, continuing an unprecedented 25-year tenure that has brought historic advances for UChicago’s undergraduate program.

Boyer’s term has been characterized by extensive increases in resources for undergraduates, including a transformation of career development and internship opportunities; the development of a comprehensive study abroad program; significant gains in admissions, diversity and student achievement; and a dramatic increase in financial aid.

“The success of the College is an essential part of the entire University’s strength, and John’s tireless efforts on behalf of the College have been essential to the remarkable undergraduate program we see today,” wrote President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Daniel Diermeier in a message announcing the reappointment. “We are extremely fortunate that John will continue to provide leadership that reflects deep understanding of the College’s history and the highest ambitions for its future.”

“It is an extraordinary honor to be the dean of the College,” said Boyer, the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor of History and the College. “This is a remarkable community of highly motivated people who are extremely talented, and it is a pleasure to teach and to work with them.”

Boyer became the longest-serving dean of the College in the University’s history in 2002, when he was appointed to his third consecutive term. Among the many successes of his tenure, he is especially proud of improvements such as the construction of three major residence facilities in the last 15 years, the reinvention of the College houses and halls as central components of collegiate life, the strengthening of existing general-education courses and the creation of new programs in the Core, and the development of study abroad programs into a signature strength of the College.

Enhancements to admissions and student financial aid are among the most important developments of the last decade, Boyer said. The College has experienced extraordinary increases in its application and yield rates, and has significantly improved student retention. He has seen students benefit enormously from the Odyssey Scholarship Program, established in 2007 with a $100 million gift from an anonymous donor nicknamed “Homer,” followed by a $100 million expansion in 2016, launched with a $50 million gift and challenge from Harriet Heyman, AM’72, and her husband, Sir Michael Moritz. That has enabled a comprehensive approach to student support, which Boyer considers one of the best need-based aid structures for students from families with limited financial means.

“I myself came out of a working-class family,” Boyer said. “My father was a truck driver and an electrician, and my mother was a secretary in a steel mill. I have a significant personal commitment to helping people from modest circumstances gain access to and succeed at the University—not just to get in, but to flourish and to succeed.”

Combining liberal education and career development

Another key investment for Boyer has been in the growth of career development programs for undergraduate students, including the Jeff Metcalf Internship Program, which began in what Boyer describes as “a very modest way” in 1997. “The first year we started the Metcalf program, we had eight internships. This year we’ll have over 2,000,” Boyer said.

The College has also worked with Career Advancement to develop UChicago Careers In, a set of pre-professional training programs designed for students interested in areas such as business, education, entrepreneurship, health, journalism, arts and media, law, public policy and public service, and the STEM fields. The expansion of career opportunities complements the College’s rigorous emphasis on liberal arts, Boyer believes, creating a strong preparation for life after college.

“We now have a career office that’s more extensive and ambitious than most of our peers, and it represents a tremendously valuable investment in our students,” said Boyer.

Boyer’s fifth term, now nearing completion, has seen a number of important academic milestones for the College. It included the introduction of new undergraduate major programs in molecular engineering, computational and applied mathematics, neuroscience, and the development of a creative writing major that will begin next year—the first degree program in creative writing in the history of the University.

One of the College’s enduring strengths is the Core curriculum, which Boyer sees as central to maintaining a common intellectual vocabulary, even as upper-level students gain more academic choices in their specializations. He notes that a large proportion of the College’s science and social science majors take humanities courses beyond the Core requirements. “I think this comes back to our quality of student body—not only their academic talent, but the capaciousness of their understanding of what true learning is. So as long as the faculty is committed to designing and teaching the Core well, there will always be a Core.”

Describing his goals for the next five years, Boyer said he will continue working to develop student life and campus housing, including trying to increase the capacity of campus housing beyond the current 55 percent of all College students. He also hopes that the faculty will give serious thought to rethinking the boundary between undergraduate and graduate study, noting that many seniors are now taking courses at the graduate level. Another priority is a greater integration of field research into more of the College’s programs to give students more exposure to “the work of the world,” citing the Public Policy Practicum and Chicago Studies program’s Calumet Quarter, which provides field experience to environmental studies students, as two examples.

An historian who has written frequently on the history of the University, Boyer completed his book, The University of Chicago: A History in 2015, to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the University’s founding. He is currently working on his new book, Austria 1867-1983, which is part of the Oxford History of Modern Europe series. Boyer, who describes himself as a political and social historian, studies people who tried both to maintain and to change institutions, and he has a particular interest in the Habsburg Empire.

“I’ve probably learned more about how to administer a complex institution from writing about the empire than I have from writing about the University,” Boyer joked. “A university is a huge community of ambitious people who often don’t agree with each other. The job of a dean or department chair, or even a president or provost, is not to modulate discontent but to make it add up to something productive, transformational and forward-looking. I have enormous respect for those Habsburg civil servants who were able to keep the place running and prosperous for centuries.”

Alison Gass appointed Dana Feitler Director of Smart Museum of Art

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 09:41 -0600

Alison Gass, a leading curator of contemporary art and a senior leader at university museums, has been appointed the director of the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art.

Gass will serve as the Dana Feitler Director of the Smart Museum starting May 1, leading the University’s fine arts museum and its thought-provoking exhibitions, distinctive public and arts education programs, varied collaborations with students and faculty, and exquisite collection of more than 15,000 objects.

Gass has been the chief curator and associate director for exhibitions and collections at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University since 2014. Prior to that, she was a member of the leadership team that opened the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University, including serving as the museum’s acting director.

“Ali is an accomplished curator with a strong understanding of the impact a university museum has on campus and in the broader community. Her appointment is essential to growing the arts at the University of Chicago and expanding their role in scholarship and public life,” Provost Daniel Diermeier said.

“I am excited by the University’s commitment to visual arts, interdisciplinary exploration and community engagement,” Gass said. “I look forward to shaping what it means to be a great art museum at a top research university, while helping to define the role of the Smart in the constellation of world-class art museums in Chicago and beyond.”

Gass has curated major exhibitions at the Cantor Arts Center, Broad Art Museum and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She was featured in a 2010 New York Times article highlighting “the new guard of curators,” and is a fellow this year at the Center for Curatorial Leadership. Gass has taught at institutions including the California College of the Arts and the City College of New York.

At the Cantor Arts Center, Gass led the development of an academically engaged exhibitions program, overseeing a re-installation of the museum’s permanent collection. She also organized a major public commission and exhibition project with Trevor Paglen set for later this month. While at the Broad Art Museum, Gass helped establish a global contemporary art program featuring Imran Qureshi, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, Hope Gangloff, Teresita Fernandez, Sharon Hayes and others.

“Ali brings a global outlook and strong passion for art and learning to the Smart and its diverse and interesting collection. I look forward to seeing her elevate the museum and expand its impact at the University and in the community,” said Pamela Hoehn-Saric, MAT’81, chair of the Smart Museum’s Board of Governors.

While Gass has focused on contemporary art as a curator, her approach is rooted in putting art into context and viewing works through the lens of history. Gass traces her interest in curation to the first art history class she took as an undergraduate at Columbia University. In exhibitions, Gass said she focuses on making art feel vital to people’s perspectives on their place in the world. That includes pioneering a residency for artists at the Broad Art Museum focused on land, food, water and energy that connected to Michigan State University’s history as a land grant university and the continued role of agricultural studies.

“Beyond her impeccable taste and daring talent-scouting as a contemporary art curator, Ali Gass understands university art museums and their unique strength to draw on cutting-edge thinking and research done by students and faculty,” said Prof. Christine Mehring, chair of UChicago’s Department of Art History. “She will take the Smart—along with the visual arts that are now bubbling everywhere at the University—into an ambitious future.”

Gass earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbia and holds a graduate degree in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. She began her curatorial career at the Jewish Museum in New York City, then became an assistant curator at SFMOMA. While there, Gass curated the New Work series and a Paul Klee Cubism exhibition.

Steve Coleman mentors aspiring musicians in Logan residency

Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:30 -0600

Chicago-born jazz musician Steve Coleman will tell you that he’s had a handful of exceptional mentors during his decades-long career. So when the alto saxophonist and composer got a call near the end of 2014 informing him that he had received a MacArthur Fellowship, Coleman knew he wanted to do the same for the next generation.

In that spirit of mentorship and community building, Coleman, together with his Five Elements band, recently completed a two-week residency hosted by the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, with emphasis on teaching and performing the improvisational jazz that has defined his career. Coleman and bandmates Jonathan Finlayson, Anthony Tidd, Miles Okazaki and Sean Rickman led workshops for students at UChicago and worked with young musicians in the Chicago Public Schools.

Coleman and his colleagues also spent time at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, playing music and answering questions about their careers. “I think people respond better when they see people who look like them, or who maybe have come from the same type of situation,” Coleman said. “One kid told me he grew up right around where I grew up.”

Coleman first started playing music as a student at South Shore High School, not far from UChicago’s campus. That grew into a career that has spanned four decades and several continents, with Coleman in his work exploring philosophy, the relationship language has with music and improvisational computer software. He leads the nonprofit M-Base Concepts, Inc., and has received a Doris Duke Impact and a Doris Duke Artist Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship.

Coleman’s time at UChicago is part of an expanding set of residencies at the Logan Center that bring artists together with students, faculty and the community, often around the creation of new work. Artists-in-residence have included composer and UChicago alumnus Philip Glass, actress/playwright Anna Deavere Smith, and French filmmaker and artist Agnès Varda. UChicago’s Theater and Performance Studies’ residency program Chicago Performance Lab invites emerging and established ensembles to spend a month in residence at the Logan Center to develop new work and perform throughout Chicago. Jazz flutist Nicole Mitchell is currently in residence, and artist Kapwani Kiwanga’s site specific exhibition opens in January 2017 at the Logan Center.

A passion for music and helping others

Coleman first was a resident at Logan in 2015 and came back again this fall. His talents mesh well with the Logan Center, contributing to the cultural vitality of the South Side through community partnerships and through helping to grow the center’s emerging reputation as a hub for jazz, said Bill Michel, executive director of UChicago Arts and the Logan Center.

“Steve is passionate about both his music and helping others,” Michel said. “He brings a wonderful energy and willingness to explore different avenues and partnerships.”

The residency included partnering with M-Base, Free Write Arts and Literacy, Arts + Public Life at the University of Chicago, the Rebuild Foundation, and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, as well as the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The Reva and David Logan Foundation provided significant support for the residency.

Coleman’s residency culminated in a performance at the Logan Center Performance Hall. Of the band’s seven public performances during the two-week period, including appearances at venues like the Arts Incubator, Stony Island Arts Bank and the Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative, five were free; Coleman wanted to make sure that those who weren’t familiar with his music could have a chance to see him play.

“When you come and you try to have a sustained presence, that makes a different kind of impact than when you just come for one day and then split,” Coleman said. “If people know you’re coming back, it’s a big deal.”

Reflecting on his career, Coleman said he owes a lot to mentors of his own, like Thad Jones, Sam Rivers, Von Freeman and Doug Hammond. Community building is something he has pursued during his career, doing residencies since the mid-’90s, frequently without outside financial support. He says that a main goal of his MacArthur Fellowship is to draw attention to his outreach work, in hopes that he can keep securing financial backing to fund residencies and mentorship opportunities in the future.

During his Logan residency, Coleman said his work with youth at the juvenile detention center stood out. Coleman and his bandmates partnered with Free Write Arts and Literacy for a visit to the detention center, where they were joined by Grammy-nominated rapper and spoken-word artist Kokayi, a longtime collaborator and occasional band member with Coleman. The musicians encouraged youth to try out instruments like the drums and bass, and talked about their own lives and careers.

“At the end, they said they were really, really inspired, and they were really happy that we came,” Coleman said. “Sometimes one visit like that could change the whole thing around.”

University of Chicago Board of Trustees elects two new members

Tue, 03 May 2016 11:00 -0500

At its recent meeting, the University of Chicago Board of Trustees elected new members Frank A. Baker II, AB’94, co-founder and managing partner of Siris Capital Group, LLC, and Guru Ramakrishnan, MBA’88, founder and CEO of the Meru Capital Group. Baker and Ramakrishnan begin their five-year terms at the May board meeting.

“Frank and Guru have shown extraordinary commitment for many years to the University of Chicago community and the University’s vital work of research, education and impact,” said Board Chairman Joseph Neubauer, MBA’65. “We look forward to benefitting from their dedication, experience, and professional insights in the years ahead.”

Frank A. Baker II

Baker is co-founder and managing partner of Siris Capital Group, LLC. Siris is a $2.4 billion private equity firm focused on value and control equity investments in data, telecommunications, technology and technology-enabled business service companies.

Prior to forming Siris Capital, Baker was a Managing Director at Ripplewood Holdings, LLC, a global private equity firm. He started his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs & Co. in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group.

Baker has been a major supporter of the College, including the New Leaders Odyssey Scholarships. In March 2016, University recognized a gift of $7 million for the Odyssey program from Baker and his wife, Laura Day. In addition, Baker serves as a member of the College and Student Activities Visiting Committee at the University of Chicago. Baker is a board member of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity and is a former board member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Guru Ramakrishnan

Ramakrishnan is the founder and CEO of Meru Capital Group, a hedge fund adviser based in New York.

Prior to Meru Capital, Ramakrishnan was CEO and co-CIO at Old Lane, LP, a $4.5 billion investment management firm. He co-founded Old Lane in 2005 and built out both the hedge fund and the India private-equity businesses that launched in 2006. Following the sale of Old Lane to Citigroup in 2007 for $900 million, Ramakrishnan went on to become a member of Citigroup’s management committee.

Before co-founding Old Lane, Ramakrishnan was a managing director at Morgan Stanley & Co. in New York, where he was responsible for global equity trading and products. During his 17 years at Morgan Stanley, Ramakrishnan worked in capital markets, investment banking, and the sales and trading side of the business.

Ramakrishnan is a contributing writer to several publications, including the South China Morning Post, Business Line and The Economic Times. From 2005 to 2007, he served on the board of directors of Diversified Global Asset Management, a leading alternatives investment firm, before it was sold to Citigroup in 2007.

He currently serves on the University of Chicago Campaign Council and the New York Roundtable. A member of the Harper Society and Founder’s Circle, Ramakrishnan has provided support to the Division of the Humanities and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Several new members join Fermilab board of directors

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 11:30 -0600

The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, the leading institution for particle physics research in the United States and one of the leading such institutions in the world. For decades, work at Fermilab has led to fundamental discoveries about the elementary building blocks of the universe and likewise about the evolution of the universe. Planning is now underway for Fermilab to build a major facility for the study of neutrinos, one of the most mysterious particles in the universe, enabling it to launch the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

Since the start of 2015, Fermi Research Alliance LLC, a partnership between the University of Chicago and Universities Research Association, has appointed several distinguished new members to its board of directors. Members of the board serve as ambassadors and advisers in support of Fermilab’s ambitious research agenda and play a leading role in the advancement of scientific objectives.

“We are very pleased to welcome these distinguished leaders to the board of directors,” said President Robert J. Zimmer, who chairs the Fermilab board. “Their collective expertise and accomplishments will help to facilitate the lab’s work as a leader in fundamental scientific discovery.”

The newest members of the board are:

Sam Pitroda, former adviser to the prime minister of India on public information, infrastructure and innovation
Steven M. Ritz, professor of physics and director of the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz
Maxine Savitz, vice-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
F. Quinn Stepan, chairman of Stepan Company
John Womersley, chief executive officer of the Science and Technology Facilities Council

Members that will join in January 2016 are:

Kate Gregory, (rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, ret.), former commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of civil engineers
Rolf-Dieter Heuer, president-elect of the German Physical Society and director-general of CERN, 2009-15

“It is a privilege to be working for such an esteemed group,” said Fermilab Director Nigel Lockyer. “Their engagement reflects well on our laboratory's past achievements and bodes well for our future successes.”

Fermi Research Alliance LLC, the operator of Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy, announced in August 2014 that it would restructure its board to better support the laboratory and advance Fermilab’s position as a global leader in high-energy physics—neutrino science in particular. These new members will serve three-year terms as members of the board of directors, which will eventually include up to 15 global business, academic and public leaders.

“This is an exciting time for particle physics in the United States and abroad. Fermilab has all the right ingredients to continue to make important discoveries about our world, train the next generation of scientists and develop cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and grow the economy. The new board will help us in this endeavor,” said Lou Anna K. Simon, vice chair of the Fermi Research Alliance and president of Michigan State University.

University of Chicago names Fountain L. Walker chief of police

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:20 -0500

Fountain L. Walker, an accomplished and widely respected leader in law enforcement and campus security, has been named chief of police at the University of Chicago after a national search, effective Aug. 17.

Walker will oversee the day-to-day operations of the University of Chicago Police Department, including supervision of the department’s approximately 100 state-certified police officers. He also will be responsible for operational enhancements and security technology, as well as support for training and development opportunities for police officers.

“Through his exemplary performance as a UCPD leader, Fountain Walker has demonstrated his commitment to maintaining close and collaborative relationships with the University community and our neighbors,” said Rowan Miranda, vice president for operations and chief financial officer. “He has earned the respect of his peers and the communities we serve, and I know he will excel in his important new role.”

Since 2014, Walker has served as the assistant chief of police and executive director of protective services for UCPD, overseeing safety- and security-related functions at the University’s Laboratory Schools and Charter School. He also has been instrumental in working on global security initiatives and the coordination of security for high-profile events on campus.

“I am excited to continue working with a dynamic group of individuals who work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of everyone we serve,” said Walker. “I also look forward to continuing to build on the relationships I have been able to establish here at the University of Chicago.”

As chief of police, Walker will report to Marlon Lynch, associate vice president for Safety, Security and Civic Affairs, who served as chief of police since 2009. Lynch’s expanded new role includes oversight of risk management and loss prevention for the University’s insured properties; oversight and leadership of the Department of Safety and Security, which encompasses UCPD, environmental health and safety, transportation and parking, and emergency management; and the advancement of strategic civic initiatives, in collaboration with leadership in the Office of Civic Engagement.

“Marlon has been instrumental in restructuring the UCPD to be even more responsive, effective and engaged with the communities the force serves,” Miranda said. “He also has helped to recruit other talented leaders such as Fountain. With their leadership, the University will continue its strong commitment to ensuring that residents of our community have a secure environment in which to live and work.”

Before joining the UCPD, Walker served as police chief at Davidson College in North Carolina, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1994. He graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Matthew Tirrell named Pritzker Visiting Scientist-Inventor-Engineer at Parker School

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 15:44 -0500

The University of Chicago’s Matthew Tirrell has accepted an invitation to serve as the Robert A. Pritzker Visiting Scientist-Inventor-Engineer in Residence at the Francis W. Parker School for the 2013-14 school year.

Tirrell, the Pritzker Director of the Institute for Molecular Engineering, will present a public lecture on Monday, Oct. 28 and will interact with students through the school’s science departments throughout the academic year.

The Parker School is an independent school that serves students from junior kindergarten through grade 12. Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school is based on the progressive educational philosophies of John Dewey and Col. Francis Wayland Parker, emphasizing community and citizenship.

Previous Visiting Pritzker Scientist-Engineer-Inventors from UChicago have included Leon Lederman, the Frank E. Sulzberger Professor Emeritus in Physics and former director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; Paul Sereno, professor in organismal biology & anatomy; Rocky Kolb, dean of Physical Sciences and the Arthur Holly Compton Distinguished Service Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics; Ka Yee Lee, professor in chemistry and director of the Materials Research Center; and Don Hillebrand, director of Argonne National Laboratory’s Center for Transportation Research.

Mario Small appointed next dean of Social Sciences Division

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00 -0500

Prof. Mario L. Small has been appointed dean of the Social Sciences Division for a five-year term, President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum announced. Small’s appointment takes effect on July 1.

Small is currently professor in sociology and the College and chair of Sociology. Recognized as a leading sociologist of his generation, Small’s research focuses on the creation of community and social capital in urban spaces. He joined the faculty in 2006.

In a joint email to Division faculty, Zimmer and Rosenbaum wrote that they were seeking a scholar and leader who would work with faculty to define the division’s intellectual and educational direction, while building support for the division. An elected advisory committee of Social Sciences faculty recommended Small for the post.

“This demanded a dean with outstanding scholarly credentials, who was a collaborative leader for the faculty, and who would work with other deans, the provost and the president to help build and fulfill the highest aspirations of the University. In appointing Mario to this position, we are confident in his ability to be such a leader,” the president and provost wrote.

“The Division has produced many of the most important ideas in social science over the past 100 years,” Small said. “I am honored by this opportunity, and I hope to serve the Division to the best of my abilities.”

Small succeeds John Mark Hansen, the Charles L. Hutchinson Distinguished Service Professor in Political Science and the College, who is stepping down after two five-year terms as dean. The president and provost praised Hansen for exceptional service.

“Mark has shaped the Division, appointing more than half of its current faculty while dean, and has helped transform the educational experience for graduate students and undergraduates alike. As professor, chair, dean and deputy provost, Mark has been emblematic of the values of the University of Chicago,” they wrote.

Small, a native of Panama, earned his bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in 1996 and his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University in 2001, working with William Julius Wilson. He served on the faculty at Princeton University from 2002 to 2006.

Small is the author of two books, Villa Victoria: The Transformation of Social Capital in a Boston Barrio (Chicago, 2004) and Unanticipated Gains: Origins of Network Inequality in Everyday Life (Oxford, 2009), and nearly two dozen articles and chapters. Villa Victoria received numerous honors, including the C. Wright Mills Award for Best Book and the Robert E. Park Award for Best Book. Unanticipated Gains also received the C. Wright Mills Best Book Award, making Small the sole two-time recipient in the history of the award.

Small is currently studying institutional approaches to urban disadvantage, formal and informal systems of support among low-income mothers, and help-seeking behavior among students in higher education. He led a team that recently launched the Urban Portal, an initiative to bring together the University’s disparate programs of urban research into a powerful force for transformational scholarship on urban issues.

Small also has served as associate editor of the American Journal of Sociology and is currently editorial board member of Social Science Quarterly, City and Community, and Sociological Forum, a council member of the American Sociological Association, and a trustee of NORC at the University of Chicago.

Gloria Graham named Assistant Vice President for Police Services, Assistant Chief of Police

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:57 -0600

Gloria Graham, a leader in campus law enforcement, has been named Assistant Vice President for Police Services and Assistant Chief of Police at the University of Chicago. She will begin on Feb. 1, 2012.

In her new role, Graham will provide day-to-day oversight of the University of Chicago Police Department and serve as second-in-command to Marlon Lynch, Associate Vice President for Safety & Security and Chief of Police.

Graham is currently Chief of Police at the University of Tennessee, where she has established internal and external community partnerships that have led to effective crime prevention and community education programs focused on the needs of faculty, students and staff, Lynch said.

Before joining the University of Tennessee, Graham was the Assistant Chief of Police at Duke University and a police captain at the University of Southern California. Graham holds a BA in Justice Studies from North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Graham’s appointment comes after a national search, and interviews with faculty, staff and students.

“Gloria has both the leadership and the experience to help guide law enforcement in a complex community that includes the campus, the Medical Center and surrounding neighborhoods,” Lynch said. “Adding her to our leadership team will allow me to focus on a multi-faceted approach to safety that includes transportation, technology and community partnerships.”

Derek Douglas to join University as Vice President for Civic Engagement

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:35 -0500

Derek Douglas, who serves as President Obama’s senior adviser on urban policy, will join the University of Chicago as its next Vice President for Civic Engagement, beginning in January.

Since 2009, Douglas has served as a Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, directing the Domestic Policy Council’s urban policy. In that role, he has been one of the chief architects of the White House’s agenda to strengthen the nation’s cities and metropolitan areas. A Yale-trained attorney, Douglas also has served important roles in the New York State governor’s office, the Center for American Progress and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

At the University, he will lead the institution’s continuing efforts to act in partnership with its city, region and the nation. In recent years, through initiatives such as the Urban Education Institute, the University has sought to engage issues of importance in ways that promise to enhance the quality of life for residents and enrich the work of University faculty and students through research, education and direct engagement.

“We have taken important steps to expand the University’s civic partnerships and create a broader intellectual and cultural engagement with the City of Chicago, as a model for understanding the potential for the relationship between a great urban research university and the city within which it is situated,” University President Robert J. Zimmer said. “Derek’s expertise, energy and vision will help us develop this potential, while expanding our ambitions for this work.”

At the White House, Douglas worked closely with senior leadership and cabinet secretaries to coordinate the work of 16 federal agencies on issues of importance to the nation’s cities and metropolitan areas, as well as partnering with mayors and governors across the nation. He spearheaded initiatives such as the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative and the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, and helped develop national policy on issues related to economic and community development, affordable housing, transportation, K-12 education, urban health, public safety, entrepreneurship, public-private partnerships and more.

Much of his work has taken place at the intersection of the public, private and philanthropic sectors. Douglas believes public-private partnerships are key to the future of cities and said a major university has a special role in that sphere.

“The renowned intellectual resources of the University of Chicago — together with its commitment to issues such as urban education, urban health, youth violence, and economic and community development — put it in a unique position to provide innovative leadership for its host community. As a major anchor institution, it also has a singular role in catalyzing economic growth and opportunity, as we have seen in projects such as the Harper Court redevelopment,” Douglas said.

“I am excited to join President Zimmer and his entire team to build upon the strong foundation of work already underway,” Douglas said. “I’ve spent my entire career working passionately on these issues. This is a tremendous opportunity and an honor for me.”

Douglas will oversee the Office of Civic Engagement, created in 2008 to bring under one umbrella community affairs, and local and state government relations while expanding the University’s intellectual and cultural engagement with the City.

He will work with University leadership on initiatives such as the efforts underway to catalyze retail development on 53rd Street and other key areas, overseeing the University’s many economic development partnerships.

Working with the faculty and local officials, he will help facilitate research connections between the University and the City and surrounding region. He will continue to build the University’s relationships with South Side communities and organizations. And he will work with faculty members and University officials to promote and project efforts already underway that bring analysis and application together on matters of broad interest to the community.

In recent years, the University has launched major initiatives that deepen its involvement with Chicago, in particular Hyde Park and neighboring communities. The Urban Education Institute brings together the University-operated charter school campuses, teacher training programs, and groundbreaking research in order to improve educational outcomes for students in Chicago and beyond. The University’s Medical Center is working in partnership with South Side health clinics, hospitals and physicians to strengthen the health care resources available to community members.

Faculty members in the School of Social Service Administration are collaborating with city officials to better understand and reduce youth gun violence. The University also announced this fall the creation of an “arts incubator,” located in the Washington Park community, which will bring together University and community artists.

The University has worked closely with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and its four local aldermen to align and promote development efforts on the City’s South Side. Those talks resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding, signed in September, that promises increased investment and a focus on economic opportunity for local residents.

Last month, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development cited the University’s participation when it awarded a $30.5 million Choice Neighborhoods grant for the redevelopment of the Grove Parc housing development. HUD also cited several other University initiatives in Woodlawn among their reasons for choosing Grove Parc from a national pool of 64 applicants.

The Office of Civic Engagement also has promoted dialogue among scholars, City leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and more, through its Future of the City symposiums and smaller community forums.

“I have had the great fortune to tour much of the country over the last two and a half years and hear the concerns and ideas of people throughout our cities and metropolitan areas. I look forward to diving deeper into that conversation at the University and with a wide variety of Chicagoans,” Douglas said.

Douglas earned his BA in Economics from the University of Michigan, and a JD from Yale University. He was a law clerk for Judge Timothy Lewis at the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit before joining the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, where he litigated issues concerning educational equity, school choice and affirmative action.

He joined the Washington office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where he worked with a number of government officials on issues ranging from legislative strategy to nomination hearings. From there he went to the Center for American Progress as Associate Director for Economic Policy and Director of the Economic Mobility Program. He then was appointed director of the Washington office of the Governor of New York, where, among other duties, he worked closely with the chancellor of the State University of New York on priorities in higher education.

Douglas grew up in southwest Michigan, about 90 miles from Chicago. His wife, Ellen Douglas, grew up in the City, with roots in Hyde Park and on the North Side. They will be moving to Chicago with their two young daughters.

Arts and Public Life Initiative to deepen University's engagement with local arts community

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:05 -0500

The University of Chicago is launching an ambitious new effort to enrich its cultural interactions with the city and local artists.

The Arts and Public Life Initiative will foster collaboration and conversation between the University and the civic, cultural and artistic communities of Chicago, with a focus on the South Side. As part of the initiative, the University will open a new arts incubator in the Washington Park neighborhood.

Renowned artist Theaster Gates, who is currently Director of Arts Programming, resident artist, and lecturer at UChicago, will lead the initiative.

As Director of Arts and Public Life, Gates will work to realize the initiative’s major goals: advancing artistic ambition through a program of artist residencies, amplifying cultural assets by promoting interactions between artists and cultural institutions on the South Side and the University’s faculty and students, and inspiring creativity in youth through apprenticeship programs and enhanced K-12 arts education efforts.

“Arts and Public Life is a way of framing how we imagine our relationship with our neighbors,” Gates said. “It also gives us a chance to hone in on ways that the University’s friendship to the South Side could be extended, and think about how the facilities at the University and the vast artistic knowledge that surrounds this place could act as platforms by which other emerging artists in the city could benefit.”

The new initiative reflects the University of Chicago’s dedication to exploring the role of the arts in an urban research university, said Larry Norman, Deputy Provost for the Arts.

“We continue to be committed to building thoughtful, genuine relationships with artists and arts organizations throughout the city, especially in our neighboring communities. Under the leadership of Theaster Gates, the Arts and Public Life Initiative stands poised to deepen our impact in and strengthen our ties to the vibrant arts communities and cultural life of Chicago’s South Side,” Norman said.

'A catalyst for community development'

The Arts and Public Life Initiative’s flagship project, the Washington Park Arts Incubator, is designed to enhance collaboration among University faculty and students and the arts community in Washington Park by providing space and resources for artists, youth and members of the community.

The Washington Park Arts Incubator will be housed at 301 E. Garfield Blvd., a two-story, terra-cotta building that dates to the 1920s.

3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell gave essential support to the project, which will reinforce other arts and community development efforts currently under way in the neighborhood.

“Programs that expose young people to the possibilities of the art world have the power to transform not only their lives, but also the communities in which they live. That’s why cultural venues like the Washington Park Arts Incubator are so important for the South Side,” Dowell said. “The adaptive reuse of this historic building along Garfield Boulevard will help contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the boulevard and the neighborhood as a whole.”

Slated to open in late 2012, the incubator will feature space for performances, exhibitions and community conversations; a design workshop dedicated to teaching arts skills to youth in the community; and studios for three Chicago-based artists of color and women artists, who will be awarded one-year residencies.

“We are deeply committed to strengthening ties to the community and to the city of Chicago. The Arts and Public Life Initiative allows us to build on this important work, which is already under way at the University,” said Sonya Malunda, Senior Associate Vice President for Community Engagement. “The Washington Park Arts Incubator has the potential to act as a catalyst for community development by bringing together artists, youth, members of the University community and residents of our local communities. We are grateful for Theaster’s vision and Alderman Dowell’s support of this singular project.”

'The right man for that job'

Gates has garnered international acclaim for his work as an artist, which includes performance and installation art as well as more traditional sculpture. His art practice often engages diverse communities and has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago; the Milwaukee Art Museum; and will be featured at the 2012 Armory Show, the Seattle Art Museum and Documenta 13. He was invited to participate in the 2010 Whitney Biennial, a major honor for early-career artists.

Gates, who grew up on Chicago’s West Side and studied urban planning at Iowa State University, is also engaged in an ambitious effort to revitalize his own neighborhood. By converting several buildings on his block into multipurpose arts spaces, Gates hopes to create a vibrant cultural corridor in Grand Crossing, located just south of the University.

Arts and community leaders praised the University’s choice of Gates as Director of Arts and Public Life.

“Theaster is the perfect person to lead such a groundbreaking initiative because of his heartfelt and innovative approach to issues of civic collaboration and community building. He has already demonstrated tremendous leadership within Chicago on these issues working on his own volition, so to attach himself to as robust a framework as the University of Chicago seems to me a dream pairing,” said Michael Darling, the chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Monica Haslip worked with Gates at Little Black Pearl, the arts education nonprofit she founded in North Kenwood/Oakland. “I think he’s going to do extraordinary work, especially with the Washington Park Arts Incubator. He’s one of few that understands the complexity of that work. I think he can really help to transform that community, and his presence is going to be felt immediately,” she said. “He’s the right man for that job.”

Pritzker appointed chair of the University of Chicago Charter School board

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:00 -0500

Margot Pritzker has been appointed governing board chair of the University of Chicago Charter School, effective July 1.

As chair, Pritzker will lead the Charter School’s 17-member governing board, which provides oversight to the school’s four South Side campuses. Pritzker has served on the governing board since July 2007.

“The University of Chicago Charter School contributes directly to the neighborhoods around us, while it provides a platform for ideas and practices that can help schools across the city and around the nation,” said University President Robert J. Zimmer. “Margot Pritzker’s breadth of vision and her deep belief in the power of education make her an ideal leader for this important position.”

“We have a proven educational model and the replicable tools for teachers and children. This has already had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on public school education, here in Chicago and throughout the country,” Pritzker said. “I am deeply committed to this endeavor and look forward to working with our equally dedicated board, faculty and community to continue this essential work.”

The Charter School’s governing board includes faculty and leaders from the University of Chicago and the Urban Education Institute, parents from each of the Charter School’s campuses, and community leaders. The board reviews school performance, provides financial oversight and offers guidance on key personnel.

“Margot has an unparalleled commitment to improving the quality of schooling for children and families on the South Side of Chicago and for sharing what we learn with schools across Chicago and the nation,” said Timothy Knowles, the John Dewey Director of the Urban Education Institute. “We are thrilled she has agreed to chair the board of the University of Chicago Charter School.”

Pritzker plays a vital role in numerous philanthropic initiatives worldwide. She is the founder and president of WomenOnCall.org, an online network that helps connect women with volunteer opportunities. She has worked to improve opportunities for youth in the developing world through her involvement with the Ashesi University in Ghana, Asian University for Women in Bangladesh and the Acumen Fund. In addition, Pritzker has overseen the establishment of schools in the Himalayas and Afghanistan.

She is a director of the Pritzker Early Childhood Foundation, a trustee of the Aspen Institute and a board member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Pritzker received her BA from Northwestern University and her AM from the University of Chicago.

The Charter School is operated by the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Institute and serves 1,700 public school students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 at its four campuses. Using curriculum and programming developed at UEI, the four campuses aim to prepare students for success in four-year colleges.

About the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute: The mission of UEI is to create knowledge that helps produce reliably excellent schooling for children in urban America. The organization prepares outstanding urban teachers and leaders through the Urban Teacher Education Program; conducts rigorous research to improve policy and practice, anchored by the Consortium on Chicago School Research; operates four campuses of the University of Chicago Charter School, serving students across the South Side of Chicago; and provides tools, analytics and training to improve schools nationwide through UChicago Impact.

Daniel Shannon appointed to fourth term as Graham School dean

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:58 -0500

Daniel Shannon, now completing his 15th year as Dean of the William B. and Catherine V. Graham School of General Studies, has been reappointed to a fourth term.

“We are delighted Dan has agreed to serve another term as Dean,” said Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum. “The faculty review process confirmed that Dan’s dedication to continuing studies, ability to establish connections with divisional and professional school faculty, and tireless pursuit of new programs at home and abroad made reappointment the right decision for the Graham School and the University.”

The Graham School extends the University’s intellectual mission to a broad community of students who seek professional skills or personal development via part-time and flexible programs of study.

Graham fosters the University’s rigorous approach to learning and scholarship in the form of graduate degrees, certificate programs, and open courses in the humanities, arts, and sciences. It provides visiting high school and college students with opportunities to study at the University through the Summer Session administered by the school.

The Graham School’s international footprint has grown in size and diversity, spanning administrative training for Chinese government officials to clinical trials training for Spanish pharmacy undergraduates.

“I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to continue to build on the foundation my colleagues and I have constructed over the past 15 years,” Shannon said. “The challenges associated with an expanding international footprint, the exploration of technology to extend our programs both domestically and internationally, and the needs for new, innovative degree and non-degree programs are energizing.”

Prior to taking the helm of the Graham School in 1996, Shannon served as dean of continuing education and professor of government and public administration at both the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and California State University-Dominguez Hills, Carson, Calif.

Shannon is a former national president of the University Continuing Education Association, and in 1997 won its prestigious Julius M. Knolte Award for extraordinary contributions to continuing education. He also has written widely on the subject and served as the editor of The Continuing Higher Education Review. Prior to joining the University, Shannon was named a Kellogg Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Richard M. Daley appointed distinguished senior fellow at University of Chicago Harris School

Tue, 24 May 2011 10:54 -0500

Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, one of the nation’s most prominent urban leaders, will bring his extensive policymaking experience to the University of Chicago as a distinguished senior fellow at the Harris School of Public Policy Studies.

The five-year appointment, Daley’s first commitment since leaving public office on May 16, will take effect July 1.

Daley will coordinate a guest lecture series that will include a variety of perspectives and approaches concerning the major issues facing cities in the 21st century. The 10 annual guest lectures, beginning with the 2011-12 academic year, will bring policymakers from around the globe to debate critical urban policy challenges, and to help train future policy leaders at Chicago Harris. As Chicago’s longest-serving mayor, Daley will add an important voice to the University’s ongoing conversations about the future of cities.

“The students and faculty at the University of Chicago benefit from a culture of open debate, in which a diverse range of scholarship and practical experiences comes together in the search for knowledge and solutions,” said University President Robert J. Zimmer. “By bringing in urban policy leaders of many perspectives, Mayor Daley will help foster illuminating discussions about how our cities can flourish, and will provide University of Chicago students with valuable educational experience.”

Citing the University of Chicago’s history of vital contributions to Chicago, Daley said he looks forward to engaging with researchers and young leaders who are committed to forming a vision for the future of cities.

“The University of Chicago has been a leader in developing new approaches to address the evolving needs of cities,” Daley said. “I am honored to add my voice and experience to that important work. As I’ve always said, cities that continue to rely on old methods and common practices will almost certainly lose their footing in our growing global economy.”

Daley’s new role will provide students and faculty at the Harris School and across the University with insights on subjects such as urban education, law enforcement, civic planning and economic development, said Harris School Dean Colm O’Muircheartaigh. "There isn’t a policy practitioner out there with more strategic vision and hands-on experience with the ins and outs of running a city today than Richard M. Daley,” O’Muircheartaigh said. “Bringing the country’s most experienced mayor into Chicago Harris enriches our policy school and complements our rigorous scholarship. I am delighted that, as a university embedded in a great city, we are able to benefit from this unique resource.”

First elected mayor of Chicago in 1989, Daley announced last fall that he would not seek re-election after more than 22 years as mayor and nearly 40 years in elected office. As mayor, he has been widely recognized for efforts to help improve Chicago’s public spaces, urban design, educational system, public safety, public libraries and business development. Daley’s tenure in office has influenced scholars and other leaders in defining the role that mayors can play in addressing the problems confronting America’s largest cities.

Daley’s affiliation with the University of Chicago comes as the University continues broad-based efforts to expand its programs on a range of challenges confronting modern cities.

As part of this effort, the Harris School founded its Urban Policy Initiative in 2009 to foster new research relevant to Chicago and other urban environments around the world, and to train the professionals who will lead these cities. In addition to Daley’s visiting scholar position, the Harris School currently is in the process of hiring five new faculty members to conduct urban-related research.

The Urban Policy Initiative also partners with a number of efforts within disciplines across the campus, such as the Urban Health Initiative, the Crime Lab, the Urban Education Institute, Chicago Booth’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and a new University of Chicago Urban Network dedicated togenerating collaborative social science research.

“The University of Chicago is committed to engaging with its urban environment, and the participation of the former mayor will greatly enhance its capacity to do so,” said O’Muircheartaigh. “The future of cities will determine the future of civilization; students and faculty across the whole University will have a keen interest in participating in these conversations.”

Following Tuesday's announcement, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a statement on Daley's new appointment.

"On behalf of the entire city of Chicago, I congratulate Mayor Daley on his appointment at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy Studies. I am confident that Mayor Daley will bring to his new role the wisdom, insight and experience of his more than two decades in office. I am thankful that he will be participating in the ongoing dialogue as we all work to make Chicago a safer, stronger city."

Payne to serve as interim Chief Education Officer for Chicago Public Schools

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:56 -0600

Chicago Public Schools interim Chief Executive Officer Terry Mazany has appointed one of the University’s leading experts on urban school reform, Charles Payne, as interim Chief Education Officer of the nation’s third-largest school system.

The appointment, announced at a news conference Friday at Fiske Elementary School in the Woodlawn neighborhood, will last through the end of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s term in May.

Payne, the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Social Service Administration, said his primary task for CPS will be to lead the process of writing a new educational plan for the district.

“We can begin to vet and explore some ideas that will help the next mayor and chief executive officer get off to a faster start,” Payne said.

Payne is a member of the University’s Committee on Education and an affiliated scholar with the University’s Urban Education Institute. UEI has a long history of doing research on Chicago Public Schools, as well as operating four charter school campuses, preparing teachers and developing new approaches to help improve education in urban areas. Scholars from UEI have held a number of important advisory and leadership roles for CPS.

Payne also has provided expertise for the Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community, a project involving ten public schools in the Woodlawn neighborhood, as well as families and community groups. He said that his experience working in schools would be one of the greatest assets he brings to the new role.

“I know, at a very deep, personal, professional level, what these kids can do,” Payne said. “And I know what teachers and principals can do when they get the proper support.”

Mazany said that Payne’s service to CPS is a natural outgrowth of the strong ties between the University and the school system.

“This is a further testament to the University’s commitment to improving urban education, and to its deep partnership with Chicago Public Schools,” Mazany said.

Payne, whose academic work also has looked at the civil rights movement and issues of social change, has written a number of important books on inequality and urban school reform. He is the author of So Much Reform, So Little Change (2008), which looks at the ways in school reform in Chicago is an unfinished project.

Among his other works are Getting What We Ask For: The Ambiguity of Success and Failure in Urban Education (1984), which looks at the variety of ways problem students can respond to different teachers; and I’ve Got the Light of Freedom: The Organizing Tradition and the Mississippi Freedom Struggle (2nd ed., 2007), which is a story of the civil rights movement from the activists’ point of view. He is co-author of Debating the Civil Rights Movement (2nd ed., 2006) and Time Longer Than Rope: A Century of African American Activism, 1850-1950 (2003).

Payne has received a number of awards for I’ve Got the Light of Freedom, including the outstanding academic book from the magazine Choice; the outstanding book award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights in the United States; the Lillian Smith Award from the Southern Regional Council and the McLemore Prize from the Mississippi Historical Society. He also received an Outstanding Academic Book award from Choice for Getting What We Ask For.

Payne received a BA in Afro-American studies in 1970 from Syracuse University and a PhD in sociology in 1976 from Northwestern University.

He joined the UChicago faculty after having served as professor of African and African American studies and history and Bass Fellow at Duke. He previously served as professor of African American studies at Northwestern University, and was on the faculties of Haverford College, Williams College and Southern University.

From 1982-86, Payne was executive director of the Urban Education Project in Orange, N.J. As the founding director, he was responsible for program and curriculum development as well as fundraising and staff supervision.

The program in Orange connected disadvantaged students with careers based on technology. His work there increased his interest in school reform, a research focus that continued after he moved to Chicago to become a faculty member at Northwestern.

McDade named Deputy Provost for Research and Minority Issues

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:05 -0600

Dr. William McDade, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care and Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs at the Pritzker School of Medicine, has been named to a three-year term as Deputy Provost for Research and Minority Issues, Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum announced.

McDade, who is well known for recruiting and supporting young scholars at Pritzker, will work across the University to create a “diverse, vibrant, and welcoming environment for the most talented scholars,” Rosenbaum said. McDade’s work will address undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty.

He will serve as co-chair of the Diversity Leadership Council, which examines issues of diversity as they relate to University staff, alumni and surrounding communities. He also will continue to be active as a researcher and teacher.

“Bill is … devoted to recruiting underrepresented minorities to Chicago’s rich educational environment,” Rosenbaum wrote in a message to faculty.

Rosenbaum also thanked Kenneth Warren, the Fairfax Cone Distinguished Service Professor in English Language and Literature. Earlier this year Warren completed his second term in the position, which he helped define after its creation in 2005.

After earning a PhD in Biophysics and Theoretical Biology from the University of Chicago and an M.D. from the Pritzker School of Medicine, McDade was appointed an assistant professor on the Chicago faculty in 1994.

He focused on research early in his career, breaking new ground on the structure and polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin. But his interest in medical education and advocacy for underrepresented communities soon took on new emphasis.

For more than 15 years, he has served on the admissions committee at Pritzker, helping to recruit and retain minority students. He was named Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs in 2001.

McDade created the Bowman Society, an advising organization named for pioneering faculty member Dr. James E. Bowman. The Society prepares young minority scholars, from high school students through junior faculty, for academic medicine careers, through a bimonthly lecture series and other opportunities to learn from senior scholars from Chicago and other institutions.

He also has held leadership roles in many professional organizations, including President of the Chicago Medical Society, chairman of the American Medical Association, chairman of the Minority Affairs Consortium and a member of its Council on Medical Education; a Director of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Illinois State Medical Society.

“I’ve been very interested in the development of human potential,” McDade said. “I’m a believer in pipeline programs that test the idea that you can alter the future of young scholars by putting them in a productive situation. We want to have them grow through our system.

“There are wonderful scholars out there, who will prosper in an environment that inspires interdisciplinary thinking like this. We need to be proactive in identifying them, but I can’t do it on my own,” McDade said. “This has to be a community effort.”

Holly Humphrey, Dean of Medical Education at Pritzker, said that as the school benefits from McDade’s work and leadership in his new position, it will undertake a national search to find his replacement as Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs.

For more information on diversity initiatives at the University of Chicago, see http://www.uchicago.edu/diversity/.

Cates appointed Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:13 -0600

Damon Cates, MBA’05 and a former member of the alumni relations and development staff at the University, has been appointed Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, and Executive Director of the Alumni Association.

Tom Farrell, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, said Cates will focus on integration, collaboration and a commitment to effectively engaging the UChicago community in the life of the University on a sustained basis. Cates will begin on Jan. 17.

Cates is a graduate of Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA Program. During more than seven years on staff at the University, Cates managed the Fund for the Law School, the Chicago Booth Annual Fund, and UCMC's Forefront Fund.

In the five years since leaving Chicago, Damon has worked for Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania in senior advancement positions.

“With Damon we get the best of both worlds: someone who both understands Chicago and its culture, and who has enjoyed success at two of our peers’ most prominent programs in both alumni relations and annual giving,” Farrell said.

—Steve Kloehn

Rasul named Director of Neighborhood Schools Program

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:00 -0500

Shaz Rasul, Managing Director of the Chicago Public Schools/University of Chicago Internet Project, has been named Director of the University’s Neighborhood Schools Program. Rasul also will manage the Gear–Up Program that provides academic enrichment to students at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy and Kenwood Academy High School. He will begin his new position Monday, Nov. 1.

Rasul, SM’08, AB’97, has a wide array of experience working with schools as a teacher trainer, curriculum integration expert, and an IT consultant for nearly a decade. He has worked with more than 35 public schools and the CPS Technology Magnet Cluster Program to help strengthen technology integration efforts throughout greater Chicago.

A Hyde Park resident, Rasul has been instrumental in mentoring various Neighborhood Schools Program students, and he worked closely with teachers and school administrators to find the best ways to utilize technological resources that would make a transformative impact in the classroom. Rasul also served in the U.S. Peace Corps, where he developed and facilitated workshops for teachers and school management committees in South Africa on the post–Apartheid curriculum.

“We are delighted to have Shaz Rasul join our team as director of such a worthwhile program that helps to enhance our education outreach efforts,” said Sonya Malunda, Associate Vice President for Civic Engagement. “The Neighborhood Schools Program provides support to more than 40 schools, community centers and the administrative offices of local elected officials. It is our goal to link these partners to the vast array of University resources to improve the quality of life within the community.”

Founded more than 30 years ago, the program provides opportunities for University of Chicago students to assist in classrooms, community centers and government offices. In addition to classroom instruction, students also do individual and group tutoring. The program not only connects the University’s public school partners to campus resources but also offers a way for students to gain invaluable, hands–on experience by working in the community.

“It has been the greatest of pleasures to work with Shaz and to experience his practical solutions to very difficult, daily problems of the city schools,” said Donald York, the Horace B. Horton Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics, who has worked with Rasul as a co–director of CUIP. “I and all of our staff members wish him the very best in his new position.”

Bernadette Butler, Principal of William H. Ray Elementary School, located in Hyde Park, said Rasul has a sound ability to work with many different constituencies to handle the various educational needs within the community.

“I have worked with Mr. Rasul for the past three years in his leadership capacity with CUIP,” said Butler. “He worked over months, tirelessly, facilitating the process of how to upgrade our technology hardware at Ray School. During that project, Mr. Rasul had to work with parents, teachers and community members to address technology needs.”

Rasul succeeds long–time program director Duel Richardson, who retired in June after 34 years of building the University’s ties with the community. Richardson was an early staff member of the Office of Civic Engagement when it was created in 1974 as the Office of Community Affairs.

“As a college student at the University, working in the Neighborhood Schools Program gave me my first opportunity to help schools in a meaningful way,” said Rasul. “I am humbled by this appointment as this is an excellent way to help nurture and build upon our partnerships in the community while supporting the University’s commitment to public education.”