CLARK HALL GOES GREEN
Clark Hall, which opened in 1932 and houses the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library, is 67 percent more energy-efficient after Delta Force—a team of UVA engineers and technicians who focus on conserving resources—reviewed and retrofitted its systems. The team reduced the building’s annual energy expense from around $1.2 million to about $450,000, and prevented the emission of over 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. The environmental sciences department worked to address air temperatures in office spaces, consolidate appliances, and reduce lab energy consumption. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded Clark Hall its “LEED Silver” certification, the first such project recognized in Virginia.
NEW DEAN FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
In November, the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences selected Keisha John as the inaugural associate dean for diversity and inclusion after a national search. A scientist by training, John had been serving as director of diversity programs for UVA’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs since 2015. “I am humbled to be invited to join Dean Baucom’s leadership team,” John said. “I look forward to working with students, staff, and faculty from across Arts & Sciences to collectively accomplish the shared goal of establishing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture.”
DEAN IAN BAUCOM APPOINTED TO A SECOND TERM
UVA Provost Tom Katsouleas announced in September that Ian Baucom was re-appointed as dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. His second term will start after his first term ends in 2019, and will continue into 2024. “Over the past four years, Ian has made remarkable advances for the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Under Ian’s leadership, more than 150 renowned faculty members have been hired, the New College Curriculum pilot was launched in 2017, and significant investments have been made in the Graduate School through the University’s Strategic Investment Fund,” Katsouleas said.
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS EXPAND
Incoming College students interested in education abroad have two new types of programs to choose from. In addition to UVA’s London First program, now in its third year, first-year students have the opportunity to spend their first semester in either Shanghai, China or València, Spain. In addition, starting this summer, undergraduate students from UVA and other universities will have the opportunity to combine for-credit liberal arts study, critical skills development (like coding), and an internship experience in their choice of Cape Town, South Africa; Berlin, Germany; or Lisbon, Portugal thanks to an exciting new collaboration with iXperience, a global education provider. Students in the "iX Immerse" program will explore UVA liberal arts coursework built on four key themes: history and politics; environment and sustainability; health and society; and arts and music. As components of their summer abroad, these students will also take advantage of iXperience’s blend of internship experience and “boot camp” style skills training.
