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Summer 2015College of Languages, Literature andSocial SciencesIN THIS ISSUEASSOCIATE DEANNEW FACULTYScholarship OpportunitiesFACULTY NEWSUpcoming College EventsGRADUATE STUDENT NEWSUNDERGRADUATE NEWSLLSS HONORS PROGRAMRETIREMENT NEWSDONOR NEWS1

Summer 2015The Generosity of our StudentsNeither student knew me, nor neither hadanything to gain by taking time out of their ownundoubtedly busy days. Seeing someone whoappeared to be in need, however, eachgenerously offered help.Just a few days later, I was welcomingprospective new students to our campus. Aspart of the event, we had asked several of ourbest students if they would volunteer to be partof a student panel to answer questions. Five ofthem rolled out of bed, put on their dressclothes, and showed up in the Student Union at9 o’clock on a Saturday morning to talk withthese students and their families. The 25.00gift card we offered them as thanks in nomeasure repaid them for the time they put inthat day, and no money in the world would beenough to compensate them for the empathyand understanding they extended to these highschool visitors.Dr. Barbara Schneider, Senior Associate DeanA couple of weeks ago, I Ieft a meeting on thehealth science campus and headed to RocketHall for the next meeting. I got there with aboutten minutes to spare, and decided to makegood use of my time by adding a quart of oil tomy poor old car since I was driving toIndianapolis at the end of the workday.I thought about these instances of generosityoften as the semester came to a close.That quart of oil, after riding around in my backseat for a week, had wedged itself under thepassenger seat. I was sprawled across the floorof the car, feet sticking out the open door, andwas trying to dislodge it when a studentapproached me.One of the things we strive to inculcate in ourstudents is a sense of responsibility for thecommunities in which they live. These studentsdemonstrated that sense in concrete actions.Maybe that means we’ve done our job. Maybeit means their parents have. In any event, Ihope as they returned home this summer theytook with them a corresponding sense of thegenerosity of their faculty.“Ma’am?” he asked. “Are you okay? Is thereanything I can do to help you?”I emerged with the quart of oil in my hand,assured him I was fine, and thanked him.Three minutes later, my hood propped open, Iwas carefully pouring the oil into the tank whenanother student came by.Ma’am?” she asked. “Are you okay? Is thereanything I can do to help you?I showed her my empty quart of oil, assured herI was fine, and thanked her.2

Summer 2015New Faculty IntroductionDr. Broxmeyer is excited to be in Toledo andespecially enjoys the small town feel comparedto New York. Being in Toledo, for example, hehas seen students at the grocery store andother local ventures. He said he was drawn toToledo, in large part, because during hisinterview it was clear that the university anddepartment of Political Science and PublicAdministration were balanced. “I was excitedabout the opportunity to be in a departmentthat was collegial, cared about students andresearch. It is a great balance.” In all of hiscourses, he enjoys engaging students aboutlocal, state and national issues related topolitics as well as how politics influences othersocial and cultural livesDr. Jeff Broxmeyer joined the department ofPolitical Science as an assistant professor inJanuary 2015. He earned his undergraduatedegree in Political Science from the Universityof Wisconsin, Master of Philosophy and PoliticalScience and Ph.D. in Political Science from theGraduate Center-CUNY. His work examines thepolitical wealth accumulation in Americanpolitical development. Using correspondence,census tax and land records, governmentreports, investigations, and newspapercoverage, he compares the career trajectoriesof four prominent New York political figuresduring the Gilded Age. He said, “I wanted tolearn how these politicians built fortunes as riskto career in some cases.”Faculty NewsDr. Kim Nielsen, a professor in the DisabilityStudies Program, has been invited to participatein discussion sessions and other events duringthe Smithsonian’s Festival ADA: 25 Years ofDisability Rights. The Festival will take place onthe terrace of the National Museum ofAmerican History from July 24-July 26, 2015. Itis part of the national effort to commemoratethe 25th anniversary of the signing of theAmericans with Disabilities Act and will includemany events over the several day period.In June, he received Honorable Mention for theWalter Dean Burnham prize from the AmericanPolitical Science Association's Section on Politicsand History for his dissertation "Politics as aSphere of Wealth Accumulation: Cases of GildedAge New York: 1855-1888." Dr. Broxmeyer saidhe felt completely honored that his dissertationhad been forwarded to the selection committeeby his mentor at CUNY and his dissertation wasrecognized.3

Summer 2015Both a Helen Keller biographer and prominentscholar in disability history, Dr. Nielsen’s work iswidely read and cited by disability and otherscholars throughout the academic community.At the festival she will discuss her book entitled“A Disability History of the United States”,which traces disability and the treatment ofdisabled persons prior to European arrival tothe present and highlights how race, class andgender all intersect with disability. She joinedthe university in 2012.and conduct research, especially in applieddecision making areas such as medicaldecision making in elderly.Undergraduate NewsGraduate Student NewsLaVelle Ridley, a third-year English major andAfricana studies minor, was selected as aresearch fellow for the 2015 Schomburg-MellonHumanities Summer Institute in New York City.The highly competitive summer institute onlyaccepts 10 rising seniors each year toparticipate in projects at the Schomburg Centerfor Research in Black Culture. The institution isthe world’s leading research center devoted tothe preservation and dissemination of materialson the African and African Diaspora experience.Chandrima Bhattacharya, an experimentalpsychology doctoral student, recently accepteda tenure-track faculty position as an AssistantProfessor of Cognitive Psychologyat the Palm Beach Atlantic University, in WestPalm Beach, Florida. The position will allowChandrima to continue pursuing her researchinterests in decision making processesunder risk as well as the neurologicalunderpinnings of risk perception andrisky decision making. Chandrima was able toobtain this competitive position through herdevelopment of her research and teaching skillsat the University of Toledo under the guidanceof her mentor, Dr. John D. Jasper. Chandrimamentioned she is "very excited about her newposition” and would like to continue to teachWhen asked why he chose to major in English,Ridley explained, “I chose to major in English(with a concentration in General Literature) andminor in Africana Studies because I have asincere passion for both of these areas of thehumanities. I love to read and write critically,investigate the nuances of a text, and learnabout the history of the African Diaspora andthe impact it has on me, my community, andthe world at large. Literature influences andinforms how and what I see in the world and it’ssomething I truly excel at. Also, there are plentyof skills one gains from majoring in thehumanities, skills useful in any job or career.”4

Summer 2015Upon graduating, Ridley plans to pursue a PhDin English Literature; among his top choices arethe University of Michigan, NorthwesternUniversity, and the University of Virginia.Ridley’s research currently focuses on theintersection and performative nature of socialidentities (e.g. race, class, gender, and sexuality)in contemporary African American literature.His goal is to carry on this research in graduateschool, possibly branching out to Black Britishand Caribbean literature and to eventually atenure track position as a professor of English.and community service. The awards winnerswere:James Kitson – EconomicsKeevan Hazel – English Language and LiteratureHannah Kissel – Foreign LanguagesTim Kosmyna – Geography and PlanningSamantha Scott – HistoryKirby Jewell – Political ScienceAlex Buhk – PsychologyDanielle Stamper – SociologyPaul Fuzinski - AnthropologyMonica Klonowski – Women’s and Gender StudiesJohn Burkardt – Disabilities Studies ProgramRobert Worthington – Law and Social ThoughtRidley believes that the College of Languages,Literature & Social Sciences “is the most diversecollege on UT's campus, not only regardingstudents, but also faculty/staff experience,academic and research opportunities, and postgraduation employment. The degrees conferredupon LLSS students enable us to pursue a greatvariety of career paths. We have great facultyand administrators that are not only supportiveof student endeavors and achievements, butare proud of them, too.”Kirby Jewell, Political Science, was selected asthe 2015 College of Languages, Literature andSocial Sciences’ Outstanding Student.Sam Duling, a dual major in Political Science andEconomics, and Melanie Krose, an Englishmajor, were awarded the Dean’s Essay Prize.Congratulations to all of our very fine students.RetirementsHonors and Awards in LLSSChristine Habrecht has retired from theuniversity after 33 years of service. She beganworking at the university in the 1980’s as a parttime instructor, teaching English Composition Iand II and Organizational Report Writing. In1988 she became an academic adviser underAssociate Dean Gertrude Robertson in theCollege of Arts and Sciences, located at thattime in Gillham Hall. In 1999, she becameDirector of Student Services for undergraduatesin Arts Sciences, and in 2001, Assistant Dean,continuing in that role for the Colleges ofLanguages, Literature and Social Sciences;Communication and the Arts; and NaturalSciences and Mathematics.At the annual Honors and Awards Ceremonyheld on May 8th, eleven undergraduate studentsacross the college were recognized for theiroutstanding academic achievements, universityProfessor Sunday E. Ubokudom retired fromthe Department of Political Science and PublicAdministration in May. He joined the faculty ofthe University of Toledo in 1995 after serving5