{"id":19367,"date":"2023-01-30T19:59:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T19:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-news\/?p=19367"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:00:12","slug":"maccolades-for-january-2023-a-presidential-promotion-published-student-research-lifetime-honors-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/2023\/01\/maccolades-for-january-2023-a-presidential-promotion-published-student-research-lifetime-honors-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Maccolades for January 2023: a presidential promotion, published student research, lifetime honors and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. Below are highlights from December 2022 and January 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A presidential promotion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

President Joe Biden <\/span>named<\/span><\/a> Macalester graduate <\/span>Tsione Wolde-Michael \u201908<\/b> the executive director of the President\u2019s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Wolde-Michael, director of the <\/span>Center for Restorative History<\/span><\/a> at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., is the youngest and first Black person to lead the committee. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve spent my career as a public historian launching large-scale projects from the ground up and working to transform understandings of our nation\u2019s past,\u201d Wolde-Michael said in a statement. \u201cPresident Biden\u2019s new executive order supports telling a fuller, more expansive American story through the arts and humanities; it recognizes that these areas are essential to the vitality of our democracy while centering equity, accessibility and the inclusion of historically underserved communities in an unprecedented way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her new role, Wolde-Michael will lead a 25-person committee that will advise the president on policy goals, partnership opportunities and programs to increase support for libraries, museums, humanities and the arts. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrapped in honor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anthropology Professor <\/span>Arjun Guneratne<\/b> has long worked a<\/span>mong an ethnic group known as the Tharu, who are Indigenous people of lowland Nepal. To congratulate him on 33 years of research on the Tharu, and for his publications about Tharu society and culture, the Chitwan branch of the Tharu Welfare Society, the Tharu Culture Museum, and the Tharu Women\u2019s Assembly jointly organized a ceremony with speeches, flowers, tea, and cookies. <\/span>Dr. Guneratne<\/span> was presented with a white turban, a public recognition of high status. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a tremendous honor, and I\u2019m grateful to all of them for this significant recognition of my work, which is more important to me than any academic distinction that has come my way in the 33 years I\u2019ve been in the business of research and teaching,\u201d Professor <\/span>Guneratne said. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From classroom to publication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mac students <\/span>Bess Connolly \u201925<\/b> and <\/span>Kyra Layman \u201925<\/b> published their <\/span>paper<\/span><\/a>, \u201cPinkwashing Power: Performative Action in LGBTQ Rights Legislation in Germany, Mexico, and Nicaragua,\u201d in the Winter 2023 issue of the <\/span>Tri-Co Law Review<\/span><\/i><\/a>. The article explores the theme of social movement deradicalization and critiques elected officials who are given credit for incremental LGBTQ+ gains, even when those same officials act as obstacles to achieving LGBTQ+ rights legislation.  Connolly and Layman completed the research for their article in Paul Dosh\u2019s Foundations of Comparative Politics course.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A writing champion for all<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Macalester Academic Excellence (<\/span>MAX<\/span><\/a>) Center received the 2023 <\/span>Martinson Award for Innovation<\/span><\/a> from the <\/span>Small Liberal Arts Colleges-Writing Program Administrators. The award committee recognized <\/span>writing counselor <\/span>Jake Mohan <\/b>and the writing tutors for initiatives championing the needs of multilingual writers and equitable writing practice<\/span>s. In particular, the committee noted MAX\u2019s success in engaging faculty in changemaking efforts. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/span>I am thrilled that Jake has been recognized for the excellent work he does to support the teaching of writing across campus,\u201d said <\/span>Dr. Britt Abel<\/b>, the director of writing at the Serie Center for Scholarship and Teaching<\/span>. \u201cJake is a leading voice for equitable writing pedagogy at Mac, and in his work with peer writing tutors at the MAX Center, he intentionally creates a space that centers student empowerment and equity. The tutors he guides have responded with passion and thoughtfulness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comic contribution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Macalester graduate<\/span> Ashley Allen \u201921 <\/b>contributed to <\/span>DC\u2019s Legion of Bloom #1<\/span><\/i>, a <\/span>forthcoming comic book anthology<\/span><\/a> from DC Comics. \u201cI\u2019m featured alongside a huge roster of rockstar writers and artists,\u201d Allen said. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a fan of comics and I was incredibly lucky to have the chance to write a story for Poison Ivy, one of my favorite characters.\u201d Allen noted that a visual storytelling class with <\/span>Prof. Matt Burgess <\/b>rekindled her love of writing: \u201cIn the class, we wrote a comic book and I really enjoyed the process, prompting me to look into how to become a comics writer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A first-of-its-kind book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Chris Wells,<\/b> professor and chair of environmental studies, co-edited a new book titled <\/span>Nature\u2019s Crossroads: The Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota<\/span><\/i><\/a>. <\/span><\/i>The book features an interdisciplinary team of distinguished scholars who aim to fill gaps in Minnesota\u2019s environmental history. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe environment is in everything, even in cities, even in places where all you see is concrete and human ingenuity,\u201d Prof. Wells <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>. \u201cAs a discipline, environmental history highlights the ways that we\u2019re bound together, both in ways that we can see and also in ways that are largely invisible unless you know where to look. We\u2019re all living inside the same ecosystems, but all too often we\u2019re not aware of the ways that we depend on them or the ways we remake them as we go about our everyday lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading in good faith<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush \u201986<\/b> was named president and CEO of <\/span>Interfaith Alliance<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>This national interfaith organization serves members from 75 faith traditions and belief systems and is dedicated to protecting the integrity of both religion and democracy in America. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime leader in the interfaith sphere. \u201cAmerica is at a crossroads,\u201d he said in a<\/span> press release<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>\u201cAs the Religious Right works to tear down the boundary between religion and government, American democracy and the rights of individuals to control their own destiny are under attack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacob Worenklein, board chair for Interfaith Alliance, noted, \u201cAmerican democracy and our commitment to an inclusive future face unparalleled challenges not seen in generations, and there is no doubt in my mind that Paul will lead our movement forward with fierce devotion, integrity, and vision.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A persuasive case for excellence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Macalester\u2019s debate team competed at Georgetown University\u2019s Intercollegiate Policy Debate tournament with great success. In the varsity division, <\/span>Ella Williams \u201926<\/b> and <\/span>Sam Price \u201925 <\/b>defeated two Gophers from the University of Minnesota in round eight of the tournament to advance to elimination rounds as the 24th-seeded team. Ultimately, Williams and Price bowed out to a duo from Georgetown University in the double-octafinalist round. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An artistic triumph<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lela Pierce \u201908, <\/b>a Macalester graduate and visiting assistant professor of sculpture, was awarded the prestigious <\/span>Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship<\/span><\/a>. This fellowship supports early-career Minnesota and New York City-based artists across eight artistic fields who generate new work that takes creative risks in expanding, questioning, experimenting with or reimagining conventional artistic forms. Fellows receive $50,000 over two years to fuel their time and expenses for the creation of new work, artistic development and professional artistic career development.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe persistent practice of imagining transformation is vital for seekers of freedom,\u201d wrote Pierce in her fellowship statement. \u201cOscillating between 2D, 3D, and 4D (sonic\/performance\/film), I currently create spaces, images and situations that expand \u201cinbetweenness,\u201d borders and places of transition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A prestigious lecture in chemistry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation presented Macalester\u2019s Chemistry Department with a <\/span>Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions<\/span><\/a> award. This $18,500 grant supports bringing a leading researcher to campus to give at least two lectures in the chemical sciences. <\/span>Dr. Richmond Sarpong \u201895<\/b>, a chemistry professor at University of California Berkeley, will give his Dreyfus Lecture on Feb. 7. A portion of the award also supports the summer research of two undergraduate students working <\/span>with mentors in contemporary chemistry.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tenure extended<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Four professors who teach courses ranging from International Storytelling to International Trade and Multinational Corporations<\/span> were awarded tenure<\/span><\/a>. They are: <\/span>Matt Burgess<\/b>, English; <\/span>Gabriel Lade<\/b>, Economics; <\/span>Getiria Onsongo<\/b>, Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science; and <\/span>Felix Friedt<\/b>, Economics. Prof. Burgess<\/span> is a writer who specializes in novels, short stories, and screenplays. Prof. Lade<\/span> is an expert in environmental economics who studies policies that affect the transportation fuels market and policies related to water quality. Prof. Onsongo<\/span> is an expert in the field of bioinformatics with a primary focus on clinical genomics and agricultural informatics. Prof. Friedt specializes in international and transportation economics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to be considered for future Maccolades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you know recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month\u2019s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this<\/span> Maccolades form<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>For recent book publications, please use this<\/span> book publication form<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. Below are highlights from January 2023.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1077,"featured_media":19369,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-newswire","mediatype-articles"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"fields":{"article_type":[8],"flickr_photoset_id":"","youtube_id":"","square_thumbnail":false,"press_photos":false,"story_title":"","story_caption":"","rotations":false,"maps":false,"marker_title":"","marker_text":"","geographic_location":false,"feature_embed":"","custom_link_url":"","news_icon_name":"","image_options":false,"main_feature_story":"","custom_image":false,"custom_feature_title":"","custom_feature_caption":"","custom_markup":"","custom_markup_link":"","custom_markup_title":"","custom_markup_caption":"","byline":"","post_thumbnail_style":"default","press_downloads":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1077"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19367"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30951,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19367\/revisions\/30951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}