Staff edition

November 1, 2023

The end of daylight saving time at 2 a.m. Sunday will bring an extra hour of sleep. Even so, 62 percent of Americans say they would like to see the twice-per-year time changes eliminated permanently.

Dig deeper as CAS senior professorial lecturer Brenda Chow explains how “falling back” and “springing forward” impacts our health and whether a more natural schedule is better suited for our circadian clocks.

Campus leaders will provide an overview of safety and support resources available to the AU community during a webinar for students, staff, and faculty on Friday, November 3, at 11 a.m.

Why it matters: AU is committed to supporting and keeping our community informed. Topics will include enhanced security protocols to address recent events, updates on ongoing investigations, personal safety practices, and how to engage with a spectrum of well-being resources. 

Now in its sixth year, DC Math Circle has a proven formula for success: enrichment + engagement = an exponentially good time. Sponsored by AU’s Department of Math and Statistics, the free weekly enrichment program is aimed at DC area students who want an opportunity to collaborate with math-minded peers.

Why it matters: CAS professor Jeff Adler says the program is an opportunity to nurture kiddos in our community with a knack for numbers.

SOC3, AU’s in-house communications agency—launched with a gift to the Change Can’t Wait campaign—recently marked its first anniversary. “Rarely have I experienced this much joy and creativity in a course,” says Isis Amusa, SOC/BA’ 23, a member of the second cohort and guest on SOC’s Media in the Mix podcast. Learn more about the experiential learning opportunity from those doing the work.

After his Eagles finished an undefeated 6-0 in conference play this season, AU field hockey’s Steve Jennings has been voted the Patriot League Head Coach of the Year for a record 11th time. In his 25th season with the program, Jennings owns a staggering 110-20 record in league competition. His team landed four players on the All-League teams, including Charllene Boshoff, who was named Defensive Player of the Year.

🔎Open enrollment runs through Monday, November 13. Attend information sessions and office hours with benefits providers to learn about your options.

🍁Lace up your sneakers for the AU-Airlie 5K Fun Run and Fall Festival at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 11.

👂Tell us something good: Were you a first-generation college student? AU Now wants to hear your story. Send us a note.

🤝AU’s Office of Community and Government Relations welcomed neighbors to campus for a movie night and moonlight arboretum tour last week.

🤓 Workday trainings on AsuccessfulU are now open. AU’s new enterprise resource planning system launches in January.

📸Faculty and staff can make an appointment for their official portrait on Wednesday, November 15, from 3:30–5:30pm in MGC 200.

🎧Tune in to Coloring Outside the Memos, the Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning’s podcast about qualitative research.

🏆Diana Burley, vice provost for research and innovation, discusses AU’s Outstanding Inclusive Technology Policy Changemaker Award. This year’s recipient is Zach Tudor, associate director of the Idaho National Laboratory.

🎼Tickets to enjoy jazz, chorus, and symphony musical performances on campus in November are just $10 for faculty, staff, and their children.

📚CAS professor Laura Beers offers a new take on George Orwell’s classic novel 1984 in CNN Opinion.  

🌟From Barbie to Beyonce, the writer’s strike, and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, it’s been a blockbuster year in entertainment, say experts in Kogod’s business and entertainment program.

🏅Nominations for the 2024 alumni awards are open. Share stories of changemaking Eagles by Wednesday, November 8.

🦅Jill Black, SOC/BA ’83, Change Can't Wait campaign committee member, has an endowed an SPA scholarship to advance student entrepreneurship.

🥳Cheers to five years. Changemakers across campus share well wishes with AU’s Sine Institute of Policy and Politics.

🔍 SOE professor Jennifer Steele spoke with USA Today about the increasing partisanship in the US on education issues.

📢Did you know: Along with running his own ad agency, Kogod professor Jesse Kirshbaum will serve as a juror for the next Clio Awards—the “Grammys of advertising.”

More News

Thursday, November 2, noon, virtual 

Join the crew of the groundbreaking new Broadway musical, which features the first-ever all-Filipino cast, for a conversation about inclusivity and innovation in the arts. Event features coproducer Don Mike Mendoza, SOC/BA ’10, MA ’17, and is moderated by CAS professor and playwright Aaron Posner.  

Friday, November 3, 8–10 p.m., Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre  

Directed by Shanara Gabrielle and Angelisa Gillyard, this contemporary reimagining of epic tales from Ancient Greece by the Department of Performing Arts includes a whirlwind of events. Tickets are free for students with current ID. Tickets for faculty, staff, and alumni are $10.  

Monday, November 6, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Abramson Family Founders Room

Join SOC for this inaugural lunchtime event featuring Professor Natalie Hopkinson, who will chat about her public scholarship, which activates music, museums, storytelling, and public policy. Pizza will be provided. 

Monday, November 6, 5:30 6:30 p.m., Abramson Family Founders Room

Former members of Congress Martin Frost and Tom Davis, coauthors of The Partisan Divide: Congress in Crisis, join Steve Scully, SOC-SPA/BA ’82, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center, for a conversation about the political divide.

Monday, November 6, 7 p.m., Bender Arena 

The Eagles open the 2023–24 campaign against the Longwood Lancers. Watch in-person or follow along on ESPN+.  

Tuesday, November 7, 6–8 p.m., Abramson Family Founders Room

On Election Day, the former US representative from Pennsylvania will speak about his time in Congress and his work with Unite America tackling political polarization.  

Thursday, November 9, 3–5 p.m., Mary Graydon Center, room 200 

Library of Congress innovator in residence Jeffrey Yoo Warren will discuss his use of archival photographs, maps, film, and audio recordings to build immersive digital models of historic Chinatowns. Food will be provided. 

Tuesday, November 14, 6:30 p.m., Doyle Forman Theater

Journalist and author Tre’vell Anderson will discuss their new book, which explores the history of transgender visibility in TV and film.

More Events

🏫AU Students and Staff Talk International Admissions

Voice of America News interviewed Evelyn Levinson, director of international admissions, Ekaterina Simonova, Kogod/BS ’27, and Yasemin Sayar, CAS/BA '27, about how international students can approach the process of studying in the US.

😊SOE’s Antonio Ellis on Accessibility and Belonging

The senior professorial lecturer and director of the Institute for Education Equity and Justice coauthored with Leon Burns, president and CEO of Open Technology Group, an opinion piece about diversity, equity, and inclusion in Diverse Issues in Higher Education.        

Have a story? Share it with editor Adrienne Frank.