Notable & Quotable
He Li, professor of political science, published an article, “Chinese Discourse on Constitutionalism and Its Impact on Reforms,” in the September 2017 issue of the Journal of Chinese Political Science, and a book chapter, “China’s Rise in Latin America: Myths and Realities,” in “China, the United States and the Future of Latin America” (New York University Press, 2017).
Russell Olwell associate dean and professor in the School of Education and Social Policy interviewed with Zippia.com about what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. He offered tips on what skills young graduates need when they enter the workforce and how technology will impact the field of education over the next five years.
William Wians, professor of philosophy, delivered the opening keynote address at the 2018 Fonte Aretusa conference in Siracusa, Sicily, on June 6. His topic was ‘Violence and the Origins of Beauty’. Prof. Wians discussedthree figures closely associated with the Greek city of Syracusa on Sicily: Aeschylus, whose play “Prometheus Bound” was produced in the city’s outdoor theater around 405 BC; the poem of Empedocles, who was born in nearby Acragas; and the philosopher Plato, who spent 13 years in Siracusa in a failed attempt to produce a philosopher king out of the local ruler Dionysius the Second.
Dr. James Kaklamanos, associate professor of civil engineering, was one of two earthquake engineers interviewed by Interesting Engineering on the multitude of buildings that collapsed in Turkey and Syria following the devastating earthquake.
He Li, professor of political science, waspart of a panel on “Sino-Latin American Relations in the Era of Trump” on April 19, 2017, atCornell University. Sponsored by the university’s Latin American Studies Program and the SC Johnson College of Business’ Emerging Markets Institute, the panel explored the growing uncertaintyof multilateral relations amongthe United States, China, and Latin America since the election of President Donald Trump. Li is an expert on Chinese political thought and Sino-Latin American relations.
William Wians, professor of philosophy, served as co-editor of two recent volumespublished by the scholarly publishing house Brill. They are“Reading Aristotle,” a collection of original essays on the ancient Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle (co-edited by Ron Polansky at Duquesne University), and “Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy,”volume 32 of a leading series in ancient philosophy (co-edited by GaryM. GurtleratBoston College).
Isabelle Cherney, dean of the School of Education and Social Policy, was quoted in a March 20, 2018, article in Fatherly, an online magazine for dads, about the relationship between gender and toy selection. Cherney said studies show it is fathers, not mothers, who tend to pigeonhole their sons into choosing stereotypical male toys. “Studies, over and over, show the mothers are really open. They don’t mind if their boys are playing dress-up,” she said. “One of the reasons it’s so hard for boys to play with more feminine toys is that the fathers are very reluctant to let their boys play with feminine toys. Some still believe that playing with feminine toys might turn a boy homosexual. There is a stigma. It’s very subtle. But kids pick that up.”
Brittnie Aiello co-authored “’Grandma is the next best thing to mommy:’ Incarcerated motherhood, caring relationships, and maternal identity” in the International Journal of Care and Caring. Features incarcerated mothers’ separation from their children and conflicted feelings toward caregivers.
Mechanical Engineering Department assistant professors Anthony Di Carlo and Rickey Caldwell Jr., and former student Courtney Videchak ’19, have co-authored the paper, “Optimization of Spatially Distributed Soil Conductivities for Horizontal Ground Heat Exchanger” which has been accepted by the journal Applied Thermal Engineering.
Merrimack Assistant Professor Dan Vlahos, a founding member of Design Museum Everywhere, has recently been selected to serve a three-year term on the Design Museum Council for the Design Museum Foundation.
Debra Michals, assistant professor and director of women’s and gender studies, was interviewed for a March 9, 2018, segment on WBUR radio about a new study that claims bones found on Nikumaroro Island in 1940 very likely belong to famed aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared over the Pacific in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Because the new study, by researcher Richard Jantz, relied on reinterpreting an original analysis of the bones more than four decades ago rather than the bones themselves, which long ago disappeared, Michals said his study is not likely to close the book on the case. “The mystique around the disappearance of Amelia Earhart will lead a lot of people to that conclusion — that without the real bones, how do we know?” she said.
In August, assistant professor of strategy Rodrigo Bandeira de Mello’s book chapter, “Corporate Political Strategies,” was published in Oxford University Press.
Assistant professor of communication and media, Melissa “Mish” Zimdars, was featured on Newsy television to discuss how more news sites are sharing partisan messages while “masquerading” as local news sites.
Assistant Professor Rickey Caldwell contributed to a recent Zippia panel, Understand How the Pandemic Changed the Job Market. Caldwell was among thousands of experts surveyed across many different fields and his market insights were featured on the main page.
Christine Shaw, Ph.D., professor of practice in graduate education, assisted the Linwood Ambulance in North Woodstock, NH, to obtain a SAMSA grant that will allow for more training and professional development opportunities for first responders. This project will create 20 new EMTs and educate an additional 230 EMTs on topics including mental health, opioid addiction, and substance abuse. This will also provide education to recertify all EMTs that take the education.
Kyle McInnis, associate dean and professor of health sciences, was featured on a segment of Channel 4’s “Eye on Education” March 2, 2017. The piece highlighted the success of McInnis’ Active Science program, which integrates physical activity, technology and academic achievement in school-age children. “We’ve found that physical activity in children is at an all-time low, and we need creative and innovative ways to get kids moving,” McInnis said.
Karen Haydenhas been promoted from associate to full professor in the department of criminology, which she also chairs. Hayden joined the Merrimack faculty in 1997 and earned tenurein 2001. Her areas of interest include girls, women and crime; rural crime; society and law; and cultural criminology. She is working on two books, one on society and law, and the other onimages of rural people and rural crime in popular culture. Haydenholdsbachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from theUniversity of New Hampshire and a Ph.D. in sociology from Northeastern University.
Associate Professor of Marketing Joseph R. Stasio was featured on MoneyGeek’s Expert Advice series, Factors That Influence the Cost of Car Insurance and Steps to Find Cheap Auto Insurance.
Director of Campus Music Activities Hugh Hinton is the winner of the 2021 Choir Master Prize in choral conducting. This award is given each year to the person who earns the top score in the National Choir Master certification examination.
Associate Professor Joseph Stasio was featured in WalletHub’s piece about Farmers Insurance. Stasio teaches in the marketing department at Merrimack’s Girard School of Business.
