Dean for Diversity

“CHUM’s Student Fellowships enable seniors engaged in thesis or senior project research to work with Faculty Fellows at the Center for a semester.  Should you know of juniors who plan to undertake senior research and whose projects relate generally to the themes of “Fact and Artifact” or “Visceral States” (affect studies), please inform them of this opportunity” –JM.

Student Fellowship Center for the HumanitiesCalling Class of 2012Application Deadline:  March 25, 2011Please visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/chum and follow the Student Fellowship link for applicationAll members of the junior class are invited to apply for a semester-long Student Fellowship at the Center for the Humanities during the 2011-12 academic year. Wesleyan’s is among the first such university humanities centers established and serves to bring together Wesleyan faculty, students and visiting scholars for extended exploration of selected subjects. Our 2011-12 themes are “Fact and Artifact” (Fall semester) and “Visceral States: Affect and Civic Life” (Spring semester).  Descriptions of these themes are appended below.

Four Student Fellowships are awarded by the Center’s Advisory Board for each semester.  Student Fellows share an office at the Center and take part in Center activities. Among these events are the Center’s Monday lecture series; colloquial discussions on Tuesdays, 10:30-1:00; and occasional Center conferences. One course credit is awarded for a Student Fellow’s participation in the Center’s activities.

Applicants for a Student Fellowship must be planning to do a senior project (an honors thesis) on a topic related to the Center theme for the year.  The project need not be underway at the time of the application.  The themes, “Fact and Artifact” and “Visceral States: Affect and Civic Life,” are broadly construed and connect with projects and problems across the disciplines. Faculty Fellows who will work at the Center during Fall semester are Professors Aksamija (Art History), Autry (Sociology), Fullilove (History), Stark (Sociology and Environmental Studies), and Tucker (History, SISP, FGSS). Faculty Fellows who will work at the Center during the spring semester are Professors Chakravarti (Government and Social Studies), Kauanui (American Studies and Anthropology), Rodriguez Mosquera (Psychology), Visvardi (Classical Studies), and Wright (African American Studies and History). There will also several Visiting Research Fellows and Postdoctoral Fellows.

Applications for student fellowships are due at the Center by
Wednesday, March 25th.We will let you know of the Center Advisory Board’s decision by April 6.  If you have any questions, please call the Center at extension 3044.

38th Annual Latino Medical Student Association – Northeast Conference – Feb 25-26, 2011
SAVE THE DATE
For The 38th Annual Latino Medical Student Association – Northeast Conference

The Latino Medical Student Association-Northeast will be having its Annual Regional Conference at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine from Friday February 25th to Saturday February 26th. We are writing to invite you to come and join us this coming February. During the conference, experts in their fields will be invited to speak on social and medical issues facing the Latino community.

The theme this year is ¡Cuidense Mi Gente! Promoting Wellness in Underserved communities. We are elated to have as our keynote speaker Dr. Angela Diaz the Program and Research Director of Mount Sinai’s Adolescent Health Center.
Some of the activities for medical students include workshops on:
Clinical Research in Underserved Communities
Latino Mental Health
Medical Boards Prep
A Residency Exhibition Panel
And many more!

Our annual conference is a wonderful opportunity for LMSA members across the region to network and meet other students and physicians. Furthermore, during our Delegates Meeting, the regional E-board will recognize some members and an LMSA-NE chapter by providing scholarships and the Chapter of The Year Award.

For more information and the updated agenda, please visit our website:

http://www.nblho.com/conference-info

Registration for the conference is now available online at:

http://www.nblho.com/conference-reg

If you have any questions, please contact the Conference Coordinator at: conference@nblho.com

Warm Wishes,
Miguel Yaport and Joanna Parga
LMSA-NE Conference Chairs

PS–> Although our name has officially changed to LMSA, we are still
in the process of changing our logo and website. Please continue to
visit www.nblho.com; sorry for the inconvenience.

Paid and Unpaid Summer Internships: Northfield Mount Hermon Upward Bound Summer Academy Positions. June 13th –July 29th, 2011. Tutor-Counselor Interns and Work-Study positions. Help supervise students in dorm and recreational activities, tutor students, teach an elective or small section, assist with trips and events. These are residential positions that are excellent for college or graduate students interested in careers in education, social justice or counseling. See our website for more details and application materials.

http://www.nmhschool.org/upward-bound-program-employment

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until ten positions are filled. There is also the opportunity to serve for a whole year in our program or other youth programs through the Americorps Program. See info below.

The Upward Bound Program at NMH is a federally funded (Department of Education) initiative designed to provide low-income students with the skills and motivation needed to succeed in college. College bound youth live and learn on the Mount Hermon campus in the summer. Rigorous academic, cultural and social programs help increase their skills and motivation for college.

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Academic Year -YouthServe AmeriCorps Positions
Are you passionate about helping youth and committed to social justice? Join YouthServe AmeriCorps, and spend ten months designing programs for youth and young adults in Franklin and Hampshire Counties.

YouthServe AmeriCorps members support young people through a variety of youth agencies in Western Massachusetts. YouthServe members are trained in Positive Youth Development Theory and use that theory to create positive programming and opportunities for youth to be meaningfully involved in their communities. YouthServe members implement programs that empower youth by building their skills and their confidence. YouthServe members inspire youth achievement by modeling a professional, enthusiastic, and compassionate attitude toward community involvement.
Members must be at least 21 years old and U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful Permanent Residents.~ Youth work experience is recommended, but not required. Some work history is necessary, and members must have a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation. YouthServe does not discriminate on the basis of color, race, national origin, sex, age, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, religion, or disability. All materials will be furnished in alternate formats upon request.

YouthServe makes reasonable accommodations for interviews and service.

Full information and application available at [ http://www.dialself.org/americorp ]http://www.dialself.org/americorps

Or contact:
Kate Allen, YouthServe Director
Phone: 413 774 7054 x106
Email: [ mailto:americorps@dialself.or ]americorps@dialself.org

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until all 18 positions are filled.

Dear student,
I am passing on information about the 2011 ECAASU Conference. Please note, the Diversity Office is not sponsoring this event, but simply sharing the information with you. Please contact the organizers (see below) if you would like to attend the conference. – Renee Johnson-Thornton, DDSE

Invitation to the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU) Conference
February 18-19, 2011
Hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst

The ECAASU Conference is one of the oldest intercollegiate student networks in the nation, serving various
colleges and universities since 1977. The first movement began at Yale University, where a small group of 150
students met to develop a system of support for collegiate Asian American student organizations.

The mission of ECAASU is to:
STRENGTHEN Asian American student organizations through intercollegiate
communication to serve the educational and social needs of Asian American students,
ADVANCE the social equality of minorities by eliminating prejudice and discrimination,
defending human and civil rights, and combating racism and hate crimes through activities
permissible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
ENCOURAGE Asian Americans to participate in the electoral process through nonpartisan
voter education/registration and “get out the vote” drives that are not restricted to one election
period and are executed in more than five states,
PROMOTE community-building and understanding among Asian Americans with different
nationalities and people of color.

Since its inception during the late 1970s the conference has expanded to serve multiple purposes. Conference
organizers have offered educational workshops, leadership training seminars, professional career counseling,
facilitated social networking opportunities, and featured various rising talents in our ceremonies. To further
inspire attendees, prominent keynote speakers have been brought in to address pertinent issues within the
Asian American community. Due to these many offerings, the conference has skyrocketed in popularity
attracting anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 students per assembly.
One of the primary objectives of the conference is to encourage intergenerational dialogue between members
of the Asian Pacific American community and also facilitate increased cross cultural dialogue between all
members of the African, Latino, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) populations. This conference was
designed to be a haven for learning and cooperation. Through various approaches, conference organizers have
strived to inspire our guests to recognize and appreciate the relationships in our connected backgrounds,
experiences, and perspectives.

For more information about speakers, workshops, entertainers, accommodations, logistics, and how to register please feel free to visit our website at http://www.ecaasu2011.org.

Shu Tokita Prize – Application due April 15, 2011

Shu Tokita Prize
For Students of Color Studying Literature
The Shu Tokita Prize, established by friends and relatives of Shu Tokita, ’84, will be awarded to one or two students of color majoring in literature, or in area studies with a focus on literature, who demonstrate need for substantial financial assistance. Recipients will be selected on the basis of commitment to the study of literature as evidenced in the content and quality of their essays, and financial need. Awarded to one or two sophomores and/or juniors for the remainder of their time at Wesleyan, the Prize is usually $1,500 per year. The recipient(s) of the Shu Tokita Prize will receive the annual award at the start of the following fall semester, that is, for their junior and/or senior year(s).
The Prize was established in memory of Shu Tokita, Class of 1984, who passed away in January of 1989 from leukemia. He had received a B. A. in English Literature from Wesleyan University and an M. A. in Japanese Literature from Tsukuba University. He studied literature as a pursuit that spoke to his life, and from which he gained insights and, ultimately, strength. The Prize seeks to reflect Shu’s interest in literature and his belief that it should be accessible to people of all backgrounds; thus, the Prize is focused on supporting students of color, for whom the study of literature, Shu’s family and friends felt, is often considered a “luxury.” Through the Prize, we hope to encourage and assist Shu Tokita recipients in their decision to pursue literature as an academic endeavor. We hope that they will likewise share their insights and wisdom with their communities. Current Wesleyan student winners of the Shu Tokita Prize are Jessica Capeda ’11, Nina Moore ’11, and Marsha Jean-Charles ‘11
ELIGIBILITY:
1. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident, who is a full-time Wesleyan sophomore or junior and is African American, Asian/ Pacific American, Latino American, or Native American, is eligible to apply.
2. The applicant must be in need of substantial financial aid.
3. The applicant’s major or focus of study must be in literature. Applicants may be affiliated with the following departments: English, College of Letters, or area studies, e. g., East Asian Studies concentrating on Chinese or Japanese literature.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
The selection is based on the submitted 750-word essay on one of the two topics stated below, and on financial need, and not on academic standing.
Essay topics:
1. How do you plan to use your major, or focus of study, to make literature more accessible to people of all backgrounds?
2. What is your response to someone who asserts that a major in literature is “impractical?”
SELECTION: Selection is based on review of applicant’s written essay and financial need.
DEADLINE for submission of applications: Noon, April 15 (Friday)ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIZE WINNER: In time for the prize reception in May.
TO APPLY: Prize application form is attached. For further information, please contact the campus coordinator of the Shu Tokita Prize committee, Alice Hadler (Butterfield B 310, x 2832, ahadler@wesleyan.edu, campus mail: English Dept., 294 High St.). Please submit your application and essay as an email attachment to Prof. Hadler by the April 15 deadline.

The Root – now accepting nominations for BHM issue
The Root, an online magazine that delivers news from the African American perspective, is looking for young African American stars to feature in their Black history month issue. They are specifically looking for innovative students between the age of 16 and 21. More information can be found at http://www.theroot.com/views/are-you-rising-star-future. You may contact my colleague, Abdul Ali, at abdul.ali@theroot.com if you have specific questions.

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