May 17, 2007
Etc: Campus news and notes
LEGAL LIGHTS: Three current or former School of Social Work students played key supporting roles in the successful effort to secure passage of the new family leave act signed into Washington state law recently. Under the law, workers will get $250 a week for up to five weeks to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. California is the only other state with paid family leave.
Diane Arnold, an MSW advanced standing student, is interning this year at the Economic Opportunity Institute, a nonprofit policy analysis and advocacy organization in Seattle, whose policy director, Marilyn Watkins, led the Washington Family Leave Coalition. Melissa Bailey, MSW ’06, is legislative aide to Representative Mary Lou Dickerson, the primary sponsor of the House bill. Angenie McCleary, second year MSW day student, has been an intern in Dickerson’s office.
POSTER ARTIST: Marvin Oliver, professor of American Indian Studies, has been named the poster artist for the 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market. Oliver, a glass artist, sculptor and printmaker, also teaches in the UW School of Art. The poster is based on an original fused glass artwork called Shaman Tells the Raven’s Tale. The piece uses a southwestern color palette, but a classic Northwest Coast style. The Santa Fe Indian Market is an annual exhibit that features 1,200 artists from about 100 tribes who show their work to an estimated 100,000 visitors in Santa Fe, N.M. This year’s event is Aug. 18 and 19.
COMMITTED PROFESSIONAL: Edwina Uehara, dean of the School of Social Work, has been honored with the Edith Abbot Award from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration, where she received her doctorate. The award is presented every two years to a graduate who shows exceptional long-term commitment in the field of social work over the course of his or her career. Additionally, the recipient demonstrates a strong commitment to social change, leadership in an agency or community, creativity in nontraditional or innovative approaches to practice, contributions to the field in research and publications, and/or demonstrated professional skills.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Allan Hoffman, professor in the departments of bioengineering and chemical engineering, will receive the 2007 Founders’ Award from the Controlled Release Society, recognizing a lifetime of achievement in controlled release for drug delivery. This award provides international recognition for a body of work that has yielded outstanding contributions. . . . The Western Psychological Association has presented its 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award to Irwin Sarason, professor emeritus of psychology. The award is presented for contributions to the science of psychology
CREATIVE RESEARCH: Magda Balazinska, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, was named one of the 2007 Microsoft Research New Faculty Fellows. Each fellow receives a cash award of $200,000 to stimulate and support creative research. The fellowship also provides access to software, conferences and Microsoft Research facilities. Balazinska’s research tries to make sense of data pouring in from sensor networks such as traffic monitors or electronic radio tags. She is one of five new fellows selected from about 100 applicants.
