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USM Media Studies Program Presents 2009 Kathryn Lasky Public Service Award

The University of Southern Maine Media Studies Program presented the 2009 Kathryn Lasky Award for Public Service to Scot C. Nisbet of Portland. This annual award is given in memory of USM Professor Kathryn Lasky, who passed away in 2006, a co-founder of the USM Media Studies Program. Believing that learning should extend beyond the classroom, Lasky developed the required senior-year Service Learning Practicum. During the Practicum students assist Maine service organizations with their media needs. The award is given to “the media studies student whose performance in the major exemplifies the highest achievement within the goals of the program and whose work in the practicum demonstrates the best uses of media in service to the community.”

A graduate of Southern Maine Community College and the University of Southern Maine, Nisbet developed Nisbet Productions, a small production company that has produced and created films for entertainment and non-profit organizations such as Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.

For more information about Nisbet and to view his films, see www.nisbetproductions.com

Director of Stonecoast M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing Receives Robert Fitzgerald Prosody Award

Falmouth resident Annie Finch, director of USM’s Stonecoast M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing, has received the Robert Fitzgerald Prosody Award for her lasting contribution to the art and science of versification.

This is the 11th Robert Fitzgerald Prosody Award given annually by the West Chester University Poetry Conference in which Finch was an original core faculty member.

Finch graduated from Oakwood Friends’ School, a Quaker boarding school in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1973 and then studied at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Great Barrington, Mass., before earning her B.A. in English literature from Yale University in 1979. In 1983 she earned her M.A. in creative writing at the University of Houston. Finch then entered the graduate program in English and American literature at Stanford University, where she earned her Ph.D. in 1990.

Finch self-published her first book of poetry, “The Encyclopedia of Scotland,” in 1982. Salt Publishing has since reissued it. Her subsequent books of poetry include “Eve” (1997), “Calendars” (2003), and the epic libretto “Among the Goddesses” (2009). In 1997 she founded the influential international listserv “WOM-PO: Discussion of Women’s Poetry.” In 1994 she moved to Maine, where she is currently professor of English and director of the Stonecoast M.F.A Program in Creative Writing at the University of Southern Maine.

HTY 394 - History of Modern Egypt, new course to be offered by USM President Selma Botman in spring 2009, Wednesdays 700-930 p.m., President’s house, Gorham, enrollment limit: 15 students

The Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts at USM launches its first exhibition from Monday, January 26 to Thursday, March 19. The exhibition, “Turning Pages,” will be on display in the 7th Floor Reading Room of the Glickman Family Library in Portland and will showcase the works by 50 former USM students, all practicing book artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours.

Corthell Hall was the location for CAS Student Recognition Day on April 22, 2008. The hall was full to overflowing with families, friends, and faculty members as 65 students were present to receive their awards. In all more than 90 awards were conferred this year recognizing outstanding student achievement across the College. Biology Professor Dave Champlin addressed the convocation with his thoughts on the obligation (or not) for awardees to give back as a result of their success and his humorous personal strategies for encouraging snow melt and early spring. A reception followed in the Art Gallery where the BFA Thesis Exhibition of student work was on display. Click here for a look at the program and a list of awards and recipients. 2007-08 CAS Scholarship and award recipients

On Tuesday April 29, 2008 CAS honored Betsy Sholl, Maine's Poet Laureate and USM faculty member in Creative Writing. The festive evening, attended by colleagues, friends and family, featured Betsy reading several of her favorite poems and some new work. Poets Annie Finch, Stuart Kestenbaum, and April Ossman also read from their own work, a poem of Betsy's and an evocative ancient piece. The celebration continued with the presentation to Betsy of a fountain pen and laurel wreath, and concluded with a champagne toast and refreshments. The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to have Betsy Sholl as a member of our faculty

2008 CAS Faculty & Staff Awards

CAS Outstanding Teacher/Scholar Award

Vincent Markowski, Psychology

CAS Emerging Teacher/Scholar Award

Joel Seah, Art

CAS Staff Service Award

Christopher MacWhinnie, Art

CAS Outstanding Faculty Academic Advising Award

Patricia M. O’Mahoney-Damon, Biology