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CAS in the Media Arts and Sciences Media Headlines

CAS in the media: November 16, 2012

Digital technology and culture
Elections aftermath
History
Honoring CAS alumni
Outreach
Veterans


These links are provided for your information only. The College of Arts and Sciences makes no claims or warranties regarding the accuracy of information or validity of opinions offered on third-party websites.

CAS in the media: November 9, 2012

Cryptozoology
Elections and politics
Modeling water use
Urban sociology
  • The neighborhood effect
    The Chronicle of Higher Education / featuring William Julius Wilson (Ph.D. ’66, sociology)


These links are provided for your information only. The College of Arts and Sciences makes no claims or warranties regarding the accuracy of information or validity of opinions offered on third-party websites.

Graduate student chosen from 200+ to present research in Italy

Mara Riley
Mara Riley

By Miesha Swensen, College of Arts and Sciences communication intern

Graduate student Mara Riley was selected for a rare honor this fall, thanks to her unique research comparing the effects of breastfeeding and infant formula on infant health.

“Out of more than 200 abstracts, she was the only student selected to present her data in an oral presentation rather than a poster,” said Shelley McGuire, Washington State University nutrition professor/lactation physiologist and Riley’s advisor. “This is something Mara should be very proud of.”

McGuire is the principal investigator on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant that funded Riley’s research.

Riley gave her presentation at the biennial International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (ISRHML) conference in Trieste, Italy, in September.

“To be able to showcase data from my research to that group of professionals really made me feel like the research had come to life,” she said.

Riley’s research focuses on infant health and gastrointestinal microbiota by looking at the two feeding modes, breastfed and formula-fed, and changes in infant health over time. She collected saliva, milk, and feces from 23 woman-and-infant pairs in the Pullman/Moscow area and analyzed the bacteria present in each of the samples.

Riley was awarded the Young Investigator Travel Award from ISRHML, which made it possible for her to attend the conference. The award recognizes junior investigators who have shown outstanding scientific research in the study of milk and lactation. She also received funding from the Carl H. Elling Endowment in the WSU School of Biological Sciences to support her research and travel expenses.

Riley and McGuire collaborate with University of Idaho lactation physiologist Mark McGuire and his lab.

Gift of Helm works provides insight into creative process

By Debby Stinson, Museum of Art

The Washington State University Museum of Art has received an $82,000 gift of work by late Northwest artist Robert Helm (M.F.A. ’69). The donation, by Robert and Shaké Sarkis, consists of 82 works on paper created 1975–99.

The Sarkises have amassed what is arguably the most comprehensive collection of Northwest and West Coast art. Robert Sarkis and WSU Museum of Art director Chris Bruce have known each other for more than 30 years. In addition to this gift, the couple previously donated other works by Helm to the WSU permanent collection.

“We are thrilled to add this amazing portfolio of drawings by former WSU fine arts faculty member Robert Helm to the Museum of Art and thank Robert and Shaké Sarkis for their generous gift,” said Jill Aesoph, director of development for the museum. “It is through such gifts that we have been able to build a permanent collection with more than 2,500 distinctive works of art, which will be part of the WSU experience for years to come.”  Continue story →

Endowment honors Sam Reed’s 45 years of public service

Sam Reed
Sam Reed

Washington State University’s College of Arts and Sciences will establish an endowment to fund the Sam Reed Distinguished Professorship in Civic Education and Public Civility in honor of Reed’s distinguished record of public service. He will retire from public office as Washington’s 14th secretary of state in January 2013.

Reed received his bachelor’s degree in social studies and master’s degree in political science from WSU.

“Much of my grounding in political science, history, and politics came from mentors and professors in my undergraduate and graduate school years at Washington State, and I am so happy to think that future generations will benefit from a Reed Professor,” Reed said. “I am delighted that Washington State University is creating a Sam Reed Distinguished Professorship in Civic Education and Public Civility.”
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