President Outlines Eight Steps To Improve Campus Climate

In a Nov. 8 email to the university community, President Farnam Jahanian released the findings of the Task Force on Campus Climate and identified its eight areas of focus moving forward.

“The task force’s work uncovered serious concerns that require our attention,” Jahanian said. “There have been accounts of ‘divisive, hostile, and generally non-inclusive behavior by individuals in positions of structural power,’ most notably affecting staff and graduate students. Furthermore, they found that women and underrepresented minorities also were unduly affected by these incidents and by climate issues across the board.

“To begin to combat these challenges, the task force has made five broad recommendations and identified eight areas of focus, outlined in their reports. They lay out an aspirational vision for a community in which “all groups have equal access to resources along with the opportunity to work collaboratively in problem-solving and advancing CMU’s mission.” 

The eight areas of focus, or action items are: 

1. Form an implementation steering committee to prioritize and oversee execution of the action items;
2. Create an office under the provost dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion;
3. Create a Target of Opportunity Fund to support recruitment and retention;
4. Develop five-year strategic equity, diversity and inclusion plans for academic and administrative units;
5. Develop and improve policies and processes for faculty, staff and leadership searches, service, awards and recognitions;
6. Improve awareness programming, training and communication;
7. Expand faculty and staff leadership development; and
8. Increase and sustain investment in student success and experience.

“This work matters,” Jahanian said. “My entire senior leadership team and the deans are committed to this, but we cannot do it alone. Each one of the actions we commit to take today will require the support and participation of everyone on campus. We all bear responsibility to build and sustain a campus climate in which each one of us can experience a sense of belonging, feel empowered to contribute our best work and have that work recognized and valued.”

Read Jahanian’s full message.

Celebrity Chef Justin Warner Visits Campus Nov. 14-15

Nationally celebrated chef and restaurateur Justin Warner is visiting Carnegie Mellon to serve up some rebellious eats to the campus community today and tomorrow, Nov. 14-15. His appearance is presented by Chartwells Higher Education and Carnegie Mellon Dining Services.

Warner is the season 8 winner of the Food Network Star and has appeared on several cooking programs, including Cutthroat Kitchen, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Beat Bobby Flay and Guy’s Grocery Games. Working in restaurants since he was 15, he earned a position as Captain at Danny Meyer’s restaurant, The Modern, and at age 27 opened his first now Michelin-rated restaurant, Do or Dine.

Meet Warner and experience his creative culinary creations at one of three events on campus:

• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Nov. 14: Chef Justin Pop-Up Lounge, Kirrr Commons, Cohon Center (open to all members of the CMU community);
• 5 - 9 p.m., Nov. 14: Chef Justin Mixology All-You-Care-To-Eat Reception, Schatz Dining Room, Cohon Center (open to all members of the CMU community); and
• 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nov. 15: Chef Justin Schatz Dining Room Lunch Take-Over (open to faculty, staff and graduate students only).

Find out more.

Support the Food Drive; Cans Across the Cut, Nov. 18

There's still time to support Carnegie Mellon’s 26^th Annual Food Drive, sponsored by Staff Council.  Look for the food donation barrels located around campus to make your non-perishable food donations. Cash donations can be made online. You also can bring a jar of peanut butter to the Parking & Transportation Office, where your donation will enter you in a raffle to win a free month of parking or VIP Parking for one month (one entry per jar).

This year's drive ends with the annual Cans Across the Cut event from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18. Sign up your team to compete to see which group can gather the most canned goods and/or cash. The goal is to create a line of canned goods that stretches across the Cut.

Last year, the CMU community donated $28,160 in monetary donations and 7,298 pounds of food, including 445 pounds of peanut butter and 1,156 snack bags for kids, to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Since the CMU’s first food drive in 1994, the monetary and non-perishable donations made by the campus community have helped to provide over half a million meals to local communities.

Support CMU's Food Drive. Donate today!

Toys for Tots Program Now Underway

Carnegie Mellon Police and the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Civic Engagement (SLICE) are once again teaming up to support the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the local area. New unwrapped toys can be dropped off at several locations around campus. You also can make a monetary donation to the program by dropping your gift in the cash box in Entropy in the Cohon University Center. Additionally, you can shop the Amazon Wish List and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly to the SLICE Office.

Donations are being accepted now through Friday, Dec. 13. The drop-off locations are:

• University Police (300 South Craig Street);
• SLICE Office (Cohon University Center);
• CyLab (CIC Second Floor);
• FMSB (Service Response Desk);
• Wean Hall (Room 4212);
• Pittsburgh Technology Center (Technology Drive);
• Tepper Quad (3rd Floor Graduate Office);
• Mellon Institute (3rd floor Security Desk);
• UTDC (Henry Street);
• Software Engineering Institute (Main Lobby);
• Warner Hall (Enrollment Services);
• Hamburg Hall (Room A-101);
• Hunt Library (Main Lobby);
• NREC (40th Street); and
• Posner Hall (Room 150).

For more information, email the SLICE Office at slice@andrew.cmu.edu.

Watch the New Episode of Modern Musicking

Episode 5 of the Modern Musicking show's second season sits down for a deep dive with Thomas Douglas, director of opera and choral studies, and takes you to an underground limestone mine for a student showcase featuring the Exploded Ensemble's 2017 immersive performance experience.

Modern Muskicking, created by School of Music Professor Lance LaDuke, features members of the School of Music performing and discussing instruments, music history and careers. The content is aimed at high school students as a recruiting tool and some of the episodes include guides for high school music teachers.

Watch Episode 5.  And find out more about Modern Musicking.

Exchange Grand Opening Nov. 19

Join Dining Services at The Exchange on the first floor of Posner Hall from 2 - 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 19 for a grand opening celebration! Explore the new space, enjoy samples from the menu and get an airbrush tattoo or a custom caricature. Cast your vote for two of the signature sandwiches and share what you love about The Exchange! 

Neuroscientist Aryn Gittis, an associate professor of biological sciences in the Mellon College of Science and member of the Carnegie Mellon Neuroscience Institute, has been awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation to advance her research on new treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease. Under the grant, Gittis will collaborate with the University of Minnesota’s Jing Wang. They will test electrical stimulation protocols Gittis developed at Carnegie Mellon for therapeutic effects in Parkinson’s models. A current treatment for some patients with Parkinson’s disease is deep brain stimulation, where the patient undergoes surgery to implant electrodes in their brain. When the electrodes stimulate neurons in the basal ganglia, the patient gets relief from their symptoms. But, as soon as the stimulation stops, the symptoms come back. “The fact that the symptoms come back when you turn the electrodes off means we are not fixing the problem, just masking it,” Gittis said. “We’d like to figure out a way to fix the brain so it doesn’t always need the stimulation.” Find out more.

Marc DeGraef, professor of materials science and engineering, has been elected a fellow of the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) for his outstanding contributions to the practice of metallurgy, materials science and technology. The award includes a life membership to TMS and is considered its most prestigious award. DeGraef’s research interests lie in the area of microstructural characterization of structural intermetallics and magnetic materials. His current focus is on the development of experimental and modeling techniques for the quantitative study of magnetic domain configurations in a variety of materials, including ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, magnetic thin films and patterned structures. DeGraef is co-director of the J. Earle and Mary Roberts Materials Characterization Laboratory.

Thomas Cortina, assistant dean for undergraduate education in the School of Computer Science, has been named a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). He is one of 62 computer scientists worldwide to be recognized this year for their outstanding contributions. Cortina is one of nine members selected for their educational contributions to computing. A faculty member since 2004, Cortina became assistant dean in 2012, overseeing a rapid expansion of the undergraduate program. He helped launch the popular CS4HS workshop for computer science high school teachers, and ACTIVATE workshops for science, technology, engineering and math teachers in the Pittsburgh region. He has been active in ACM’s Special Interest Group in Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) and currently serves on the ACM’s Education Advisory Committee. Find out more.

President Releases Final Report from Task Force on CMU Experience

In an email to the university community, President Farnam Jahanian released the final report of the Task Force on the CMU Experience, detailing the accomplishments of the past three years, and sharing a path forward for this important institutional priority. 

“In my original charge to the task force, I asked them to begin by considering near-term, actionable recommendations for enhancing the CMU experience, with a particular focus on the student experience," Jahanian said. “But over the years, task force members dug into more complex issues that required sustained effort. As a result, we launched more than 60 initiatives across five broad categories: (1) catalyzing a culture shift; (2) engaging the campus community; (3) investing in people to support a culture shift; (4) innovating spaces; and (5) investing in resources and services.”

While the task force’s work has been completed, Jahanian said efforts to enhance the CMU experience will continue in units and departments across the university, under the oversight of the provost and the vice president for student affairs.

“Enhancing the CMU experience has become a campus-wide movement rooted in our shared humanity and my hope is that, no matter your role in our community, you each find ways to contribute,”  he said.

Read the president's email and see the five notable accomplishments he listed.

Giving Tuesday Is Dec. 3; Help Make a Difference for the CMU Pantry

Giving Tuesday — #givingCMUday — is when the Carnegie Mellon community comes together to make a lasting impact on the area of CMU that means the most to each of us. This year’s effort is now underway — your gift starting today through Dec. 3 will be counted, and faculty and staff have a special challenge opportunity to make a difference for students.

“I give because I want our students to understand that their dreams and aspirations are within reach and anything is possible,” said Stanley Krowitz, Cohon Center administrator at CMU.

Last year, more than 300 faculty and staff members like Krowitz joined #givingCMUday by supporting every area of CMU — from scholarships to undergraduate research to ballroom dancing.

Your commitment to Carnegie Mellon’s students, initiatives and educational experience makes learning, discovery and personal growth possible for our community.

Your #givingCMUday gift to any area of CMU will count toward the faculty and staff challenge and help unlock a special contribution. If 350 faculty and staff members make a gift to any CMU fund for Giving Tuesday, a supporter will give $5,000 to the CMU Pantry, improving undergraduate and graduate students’ health and well-being across the university.

Together, faculty and staff members like you make life-changing experiences possible. Learn more about the impact of Giving Tuesday and make your gift now at cmu.edu/givingcmuday.

CMU Joins National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity

Carnegie Mellon has joined the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) as an institutional member. The NCFDD is an independent professional development, training and mentoring community of faculty, post-doctoral students, graduate students and staff from more than 450 colleges and universities.

To claim your sponsored membership, go to www.FacultyDiversity.org/Join and select Carnegie Mellon University from the list of members. Select “Activate my Membership” and complete the registration form using your Carnegie Mellon email address (i.e., @cmu.edu or @andrew.cmu.edu). A confirmation/welcome email will include an “Activate Account” link.

To help new members get started, NCFDD is hosting a webinar session today (Nov. 21) from noon to 1:30 p.m. Consider registering for “Making the Most of your NCFDD Membership: Exploring Classic and Creative New Ways to Advance Your Professional Development” after you set up your membership account.

Support Toys for Tots Through Dec. 13

Carnegie Mellon Police and the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Civic Engagement (SLICE) are once again teaming up to support the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the local area. New unwrapped toys can be dropped off at several locations around campus. You also can make a monetary donation to the program by dropping your gift in the cash box in Entropy in the Cohon University Center. Additionally, you can shop the Amazon Wish List and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly to the SLICE Office.

Donations are being accepted now through Friday, Dec. 13. The drop-off locations are:

• University Police (300 South Craig Street);
• SLICE Office (Cohon University Center);
• CyLab (CIC Second Floor);
• FMSB (Service Response Desk);
• Wean Hall (Room 4212);
• Pittsburgh Technology Center (Technology Drive);
• Tepper Quad (3rd Floor Graduate Office);
• Mellon Institute (3rd floor Security Desk);
• UTDC (Henry Street);
• Software Engineering Institute (Main Lobby);
• Warner Hall (Enrollment Services);
• Hamburg Hall (Room A-101);
• Hunt Library (Main Lobby);
• NREC (40th Street); and
• Posner Hall (Room 150).

For more information, email the SLICE Office at slice@andrew.cmu.edu.

HR To Launch Series of Strategic Plan Projects

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is launching a series of strategic plan projects that will transform the delivery of HR services. The first in this series of changes will go live on Dec. 4.

The 2019 enhancements include changes to Staff Hiring, Compensation, Activity Pay and One-Time Payment, and Post-Hire actions like promotions. These enhancements, along with future changes to systems, processes and policies, will allow OHR to focus on providing campus with effective, sustainable, efficient and reliable HR support aligned to the university’s strategic plan and human capital priorities.

HR System Outages

To accommodate these enhancements, OHR has planned an extended system outage for both Workday and Taleo from 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 27 through 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

If you have questions or concerns about in-process transactions, please contact a member of your HR team or the Human Resources Service Center at 412-268-4600 or hr-help@andrew.cmu.edu.

Support and other Resources

• Improved HR Service website with Payroll Deadlines and other key information
• Human Resources Teams — listing by college/division
• New Process Training for Staff web pages with a robust library of training and reference materials
• Frequently Asked Questions about these key enhancements

Frew Street To Close for Cleaning Nov. 29

Frew Street will be closed for cleaning from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 29. The cleaning will include the clearing of the top of the wall on the flagstaff hill side of the street. Signs will be posted.

Did You Know?

Fred Rogers was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon in 1976. Above, he receives his hood with the late CMU President Richard Cyert at right. Below, Rogers addresses the commencement crowd on the College of Fine Arts lawn.

Kathy Borland took the scenic route to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on a career path that starts and stops at Carnegie Mellon University.

Born and raised 90 miles north of Pittsburgh, Borland believed life had more to offer than her tiny hometown of Oil City, Pennsylvania. A talented artist with an insider’s knowledge of carpentry — her grandfather and uncle built furniture for a living — she began venturing off to Ontario, Canada, each year hoping to catch a glimpse of the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

“I loved the set designs and costumes,” she said, “but you could never get tickets.”

When legendary British actress Maggie Smith had the lead role in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” Borland camped out overnight to be first in line for any forfeited tickets that might go on sale the day of the performance. She awoke the next morning to find herself surrounded by dozens of other ticket hopefuls, one of whom was a CMU student whose passion for the university would prove contagious.

“I started talking with this guy standing beside me about how much I wanted to work in theater, and he started telling me all about what a fantastic education I could get at CMU,” she said.

The next trip she made was to Pittsburgh, where she walked into CMU’s costume shop and met Professor Barbara Anderson. The two hit it off, Borland said, and after showing her portfolio, she got accepted into the set and costume design program.

Shooting for the Moon

Borland first worked on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a student assistant to Anderson, who designed and created costumes for the popular children’s television program and remains one of Borland’s lifelong friends.

“Fred [Rogers] was good with music, interpersonal relationships and that whole kid thing, but he wasn’t a visual person,” she said. “He didn’t realize that often what he was writing was very difficult to do visually and financially. He would write shows that required incredibly difficult costumes, and Barbara would have to execute it.”

Among the more memorable ones were a bass fiddle costume; a dinosaur costume for Purple Panda, who “already was a guy inside a Purple Panda costume” as Borland was quick to point out; and two half-moon suits for actors who would form the whole moon when they stood together.

“How do you put a guy in a half moon?!” Borland howled, recalling how they rose to such challenges.

After graduating with her Master of Fine Arts degree, Borland set off for Los Angeles. A friend in television was planning to give her his job so he could move on to something else, but homesickness led to her return within a year.

She later found work in New York City, thanks to CMU’s strong networks in the business on both coasts, but “beelined it” back to the ‘Burgh when Mister Rogers’ producer called to tell her the show's art director had just quit.

Keeping It Together

“Nobody thought Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood would last 30 years!” Borland exclaimed. “The set was old, and I don’t mean ‘old’ as in trying to maintain an antique table. We were trying to maintain antique cardboard and tape, things that were only meant to last a day. It was all very fragile.”

Sometimes the knob would fall off a door on one of the sets when Rogers would go to open it. Or the brown picket fence would come back from storage sans pickets. Having a world-class education in every type of adhesive comes in handy during times like these.

“The knob was held on with joint compound and other stuff. It had already been put back on about 50 times, so the screws wouldn’t hold,” Borland said. “What was great about having an education in theater was that you learned how to fix things quickly and on the spot. And you also learned to have six other backup plans ready, in case that first thing you tried didn’t work.”

The bathroom fixtures presented a different kind of challenge.

“We broke the sink one night while installing the set, and the show was scheduled to tape the next morning,” Borland said. “The fixtures were purchased in the 1970s and they were mint green, so you couldn’t just run out to Home Depot and get a new one. You had to know how to paint a sink, or a tub, or a toilet in a way that the paint wouldn’t peel, not to mention match it to the color of the other fixtures.”

Rogers knew it was important for children to see consistency each time they tuned in, Borland said, from the bathroom sink to the living room curtains to his "coming in through the door, singing that song and putting that sweater on." As art director, Borland’s real challenge was to leave her ego and her artistic sense at the door.

“What he was doing was creating a safe place for children to go every day, where they would get the love and respect they needed,” she said.

Giving Back

Borland remained art director until Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood ended its 33-year run. Nearing retirement but not yet ready for it, she returned to her beloved alma mater where she now works as a campus security guard for the CMU Police Department.

Borland had developed close ties with the CMUPD over the years while trapping feral cats on campus for the purpose of getting them spayed or neutered. Her prior experience working in an educational environment as an art teacher, problem-solving skills and knowledge of the campus grounds landed her the job, which she said lets her give back to the university that gave her so much.

“I love CMU!” she said. “CMU got me out of Oil City. It gave me lifelong friendships, and it gave me all those wonderful years working with Fred [Rogers].”

While some may find it a stretch to go from art direction to campus security, Borland doesn’t see it that way.

“When I stand in the middle of campus, I can look this way and see WQED where I spent all those wonderful years, and I can look that way and see where Fred lived,” she said. “I really just moved over a few feet.”

Moving Forward

When Rogers passed in 2003, Borland said he left a vacuum that no person, group or philosophy has filled.

“He was so remarkable. As soon as you walked into a room, he wanted to know all about you. He truly cared,” Borland said. “And what was truly remarkable was he was absolutely the same person off camera as you saw on camera, except he took the sweater off and put the glasses on.”

She hopes people will carry on his legacy by being kind to one another, a message she feels is more relevant today than ever.

“Social media has made it easier for people to be anonymously cruel. There’s a distance that has allowed people to be less kind,” Borland said.

“Kindness was the gift Fred shared through television, and it’s a gift we can share through all media.”

Beth Kotarski loves data — it’s helping her to improve health care for students at Carnegie Mellon University.  

The Executive Director of University Health Services joined CMU in 2015 and has been leading collegiate health care services for almost 30 years. During that time, the adoption of electronic medical records has provided Kotarski with the data she needs to make a difference.

"The ability to cull more data has been so helpful," said Kotarski, who cited administering flu shots as an example. She said electronic tracking helps her and her staff map out a plan to help vaccinate the university community and to quantify the benefits of doing so.

"We have a small staff and a small space and can only offer a finite number of shots during appointment hours," Kotarski said. "I really wanted to make sure our most vulnerable student population gets served first [for flu shots]."

Kotarski was able to partner with Human Resources to bring Giant Eagle to campus for faculty and staff vaccination clinics so she and her staff were able to serve more students.

"Our goal this year is to have 1:4 of our total student population vaccinated, to provide a robust herd immunity," she said. "Flu shots are real-time savings of sick days from school, projects completed … there are so many secondary effects, from protecting our students with asthma or who might be undergoing chemotherapy. We have an empathetic group of students here at CMU that understands protecting each other is important."

Kotarski loves when small changes can make a big impact. Her own research interests center around eating disorders, and she has been working to shine the light on some of these challenges with female-identified students at CMU.

"We have an empathetic group of students here at CMU that understands protecting each other is important."

Treatment is complex and very important once a student is in the throes of an eating disorder, Kotarski said. Her aim is improve prevention and screening. A search of the electronic medical records found that less than 1% of female-identified students were screened for eating disorders in the clinic. After adopting a screening tool for eating disorders, Kotarski identified nearly 10% of female-identified students as having risk for disordered eating. 

"This has been profound," Kotarski said. "We are hopeful that more uniform screening, such as the type we do for eating disorders, will help students share their concerns more readily with us as their health care provider."

The higher number of students with eating disorders is in line with national averages for university populations, which can range from 12-20% for female-identified students struggling with binge eating, bulimia, purging or excessive exercising. Kotarski said many eating disorders are related to violence or other traumas in the home, intimate partner violence or even genetic causes. The culture, which puts high value on appearance and beauty ideals, also plays a role.

"We are hopeful that more uniform screening ... will help students share their concerns more readily with us as their health care provider."

In 2016, Kotarski was invited to speak before Congress about the stressors in the college student population related to adverse childhood experiences and trauma. 

"It was an honor," she said, "and what I realized from that experience is that we need to start intervening and advocating for children long before they get to college."

Kotarski began to think about community building and how a sense of belonging can contribute to positive outcomes.

"We just started something at CMU called the Peer Body Project," she said. "It's a big deal."

The project is part of a national, evidence-based campaign offering training to students, helping peer educators push back against appearance ideals.

"This 'thin ideal' can make us feel objectified," said Kotarski, who is optimistic that the Peer Body Project will help bring campus together as a learning community to change the culture. "This is one of the few programs known to reduce eating disorder risk on college campuses."

She is looking ahead to expanded capabilities once University Health Services can relocate to the new building being planned for student health and wellness services.

“The new space will allow us to connect students more fluidly to the services of our collaborating campus partners,” Kotarski said, noting that the shared space and shared resources can offer more comprehensive care. "There's lots to do."

 Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.  

Fred Gilman and Kathryn Roeder have been selected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of several highly regarded journals, including "Science." Fellows are elected by their peers to honor their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

• Gilman, the Buhl Professor of Theoretical Physics and dean of the Mellon College of Science from 2007-2016, was recognized for his work elucidating the fundamental nature of CP violation and his sustained and successful leadership in the particle physics and cosmology communities. Gilman has a record of national and international professional service and leadership. Most recently, he served for six years as chair of the committee overseeing the construction of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. From 1999 to 2005, he chaired the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel, which advises the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy (DOE) on setting the nation's priorities for particle physics. For over a decade he was one of three senior advisers designated by the DOE under the U.S.-China Agreement on Cooperation in High Energy Physics. This led to new Chinese facilities and increased collaboration in particle physics experiments in both China and the United States.
• Roeder, the UPMC Professor of Statistics and Life Sciences, is being recognized for her distinguished contributions to statistical genetics and genomics methodology, her outstanding research in genetics of autism spectrum disorder and her contribution to statistical theory for mixture models. Roeder started her research career in biology but was soon drawn to statistics. Her first major data project was in DNA forensics, helping to solidify the credibility of this form of evidence in the judicial system. As her scientific career advanced, Roeder transitioned to developing statistical and machine learning tools for finding associations or patterns in data. She focuses on high dimensional inference problems with applications such as analyzing variation in the whole human genome and how it relates to disease. Her work has contributed to a better understanding of schizophrenia, autism and other genetic disorders. Roeder has published more than 150 scholarly articles and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019.

Gilman and Roeder are among 33 AAAS Fellows who have called CMU home. They will be inducted on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, during the AAAS annual meeting in Seattle.  Learn more about Gilman and Roeder.

Kiron Skinner recently co-authored an op-ed published in the Jerusalem Post calling for Jews and African-Americans to once again join forces to fight bigotry and persecution. In the Nov. 20 piece, “Time to rekindle the tradition of mutual support,” Skinner writes about the need for a resurgence of the 1950s “golden age of black-Jewish relations, during which time Jews and African-Americans fought side by side for civil rights.” Skinner notes that Jews made up almost half of those who led the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer, when hundreds of activists organized to register black voters, and three – two Jews and one African-American – were murdered by local police connected to the KKK. “It’s time for Jews and African-Americans to renew our proud tradition of mutual support that sustained our peoples through some of history’s greatest challenges,” she writes. “By joining forces, championing each other, and leveraging our combined power to speak and stand up for what’s right, we will ensure that future generations enjoy a world free of bigotry and persecution.” Skinner is director and the Taube Professor in the Institute for Politics and Strategy. Read the op-ed.

Hamerschlag Hall Project Achieves LEED Gold Certification

The MakerWing project in Hamerschlag Hall, now home to Tech Spark, is the latest creative expression of CMU’s Sustainability Initiative.

The 40,000 square-foot, complex, multi-phase renovation of the B and C levels in Hamerschlag Hall has earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its sustainability and energy-efficient features. 

The project, which consolidated machine shops in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and electrical and computer engineering, provides a community space where students, faculty and staff from across campus can build and create to bring their ideas to life. The completed project includes machining, a wood shop and carbon fiber shops, and labs for electronics assembly, rapid prototyping, advanced manufacturing, micro manufacturing, micro-electro-mechanical systems and robotics, to name a few. 

The MakerWing's wood shop.

Among MakerWing’s green highlights are water efficient fixtures that reduce water usage by 30% over conventional levels; energy efficient heating and cooling systems that reduce energy consumption by 20%; energy efficient lighting that saves approximately 50% of electricity usage; and over 30% of the building materials were manufactured regionally and with recycled materials. 

The MakerWing is now among the more than 20 CMU buildings and renovation projects that have received LEED Certification.

Learn more about Tech Spark and CMU's Sustainability Initiative. 

Support the Children's School Book Fair, Dec. 7-13

Do your holiday shopping at the Barnes & Noble at the Waterfront and support the Children's School! The Children's School Book Fair will run from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, and will feature activities, storytime and a concert. Can't make it that day? Any purchases made online at bn.com/bookfairs Dec 7-13 will benefit the Children's School when you use the book fair #12562096 at checkout.

Who’s New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members, who recently joined the university.   

• Christina Grogan, Temporary Employment Service;
• Felicia Lucot, social media producer, Marketing & Communications;
• Ryan Pasko, training specialist, Finance Training and Communications;
• Gary Russell, technician II, Robotics Institute;
• Shay Badolato, event planner II, SEI, OCOS Communication Services;
• Maria Deiuliis, MICV Lab Technician, MCS Dean’s Office;
• Suzanne Aleva, senior administrative coordinator, Electrical & Computer Engineering; and
• David Blauth, transportation manager, shuttle/escort, Parking & Transportation Services.
  

Talk to the Provost Dec. 12

Provost Jim Garrett’s last open office hour this fall is from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12 in the CCR East on the first floor of Warner Hall. No appointment is necessary; first-come, first-served.

Garrett has held several open office hours this fall. He encourages members of the university community to use the time to discuss what’s on your mind,  and to share your experiences, ideas and aspirations for Carnegie Mellon. 

Last Call: Please Support Toys for Tots Through Dec. 13

Carnegie Mellon Police and the Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Civic Engagement (SLICE) are once again teaming up to support the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program. The program collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the local area. New unwrapped toys can be dropped off at several locations around campus. You also can make a monetary donation to the program by dropping your gift in the cash box in Entropy in the Cohon University Center. Additionally, you can shop the Amazon Wish List and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly to the SLICE Office.

Donations are being accepted now through Friday, Dec. 13. The drop-off locations are:

• University Police (300 South Craig Street);
• SLICE Office (Cohon University Center);
• CyLab (CIC Second Floor);
• FMSB (Service Response Desk);
• Wean Hall (Room 4212);
• Pittsburgh Technology Center (Technology Drive);
• Tepper Quad (3rd Floor Graduate Office);
• Mellon Institute (3rd floor Security Desk);
• UTDC (Henry Street);
• Software Engineering Institute (Main Lobby);
• Warner Hall (Enrollment Services);
• Hamburg Hall (Room A-101);
• Hunt Library (Main Lobby);
• NREC (40th Street); and
• Posner Hall (Room 150).

For more information, email the SLICE Office at slice@andrew.cmu.edu 

As a child growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bob Reppe loved building model towns with Legos and working on his father’s electric trains. Today, he’s a cornerstone and conductor of Carnegie Mellon University’s growing campus master plan.

“I’ve been building since I was 2 years old. Every year for Christmas I got homemade pajamas and a Legos set. I’ve always been interested in building and doing things,” he said.

As senior director of planning and design, Reppe has played a leading role in a dozen major campus renovation and construction projects during his 14 years in Campus Design and Facility Development. His portfolio includes the Gates and Hillman centers, Scott Hall, the Cohon University Center addition, the Hamburg Hall renovation, the Tepper School building, the recently completed ANSYS Hall and the Tata Consultancy Services building, which is set to open this spring.

“What’s great about this job is that you see big ideas come to fruition. I see it through the planning and design process, I see it evolve and I see it get built,” he said.

The planning and design process for a building is long and complex, Reppe said, and requires much collaboration among many stakeholders, from faculty, staff and students to architects, neighborhood groups, construction companies and Pittsburgh agencies such as City Council, the Planning Commission, review boards and utility companies.  

“The Tepper Quad project took 5½ years to complete,” he said. “That shows you how long the planning takes. It takes a lot of minds and a lot of collaboration among entities to form and execute a plan.”

“What’s great about this job is that you see big ideas come to fruition.”

Reppe said the Tepper Quad project has been his most challenging.

“Tepper was a once-in-a-lifetime project. It changed the campus, and probably is one of my favorites,” he said.

Reppe and the CDFD team think of themselves as translators.

“We’re translating what construction means to a faculty member who needs a new lab. We’re translating faculty and student needs to architects and designers, and we’re translating the design to the city for permits. We’re the lynchpin in making all those things happen for all those disparate groups and interests. It’s an interesting world of bringing everyone together,” he said. 

In addition to his Pittsburgh campus dossier, Reppe has helped to manage the design process for university buildings in Rwanda, China and Silicon Valley.

“We’re making sure the buildings carry CMU’s DNA,” he said. “We want the facilities to align with our brand and foster interdisciplinary collaboration and interconnectedness. We want the buildings to feel and look like they are Carnegie Mellon buildings.”

Reppe is currently working on plans for a new Health & Wellness Center at the Skibo Gym site and new residence halls at Fifth Avenue and Clyde Street, Fifth and Neville Street, and Forbes Avenue and Beeler Street.  

“I like working for the greater good. What we’re doing here is changing the world. It’s exciting to be part of that and to help enable that to happen. That makes me excited to come to work every day,” he said.

“We are working on the shoulders of giants like Henry Hornbostel and Michael Dennis, incredible architects and designers who have created these quality buildings that are built to last 100 years. Not everybody does that.”  

As these new projects get underway, Reppe will soon begin work on an updated campus master plan to succeed CMU’s 2012 blueprint. The new campus master plan, which must be presented to the city for approval by April 2022, is a 10-year guidebook of future construction projects.

“I like working for the greater good. What we’re doing here is changing the world.” 

In compiling the new master plan, Reppe will be holding many town halls and meetings with various campus stakeholders to discuss opportunities to renovate and expand. More than 90 meetings were held prior to completing the 2012 master plan.

“It all takes time, but it’s super important. We have a commitment to doing things correctly. We’re going to tell people what we’re going to do. They might not agree, but we want them to know about it,” he said. 

Since his junior year in high school, Reppe knew he wanted to be a city planner. He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth in urban planning and international relations, and earned his master’s degree in urban design at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1996, he joined the City of Pittsburgh as an urban designer under Mayor Tom Murphy.

In 10 years at the Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, Reppe helped to create master building plans for the Hill District, Southside Works and the North Shore, which included PNC Park and Heinz Field. He took the lead on the Somerset at Frick Park housing development.

Reppe spends much of his free time enjoying Frick Park and, of course, tinkering with home projects. An outdoorsman, he enjoys snow skiing, swimming, biking, running and soccer — he’s coached his son’s youth team for 15 years. And he still builds with Legos.

“My wife got me a Lego set for my 50^th birthday,” he said. “It’s a Boba Fett’s Slave 1 collector set. Very cool.”

 Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.   

Liz Vaughan, associate dean of student affairs, has been named the inaugural James and Sharon Rohr Director of Civic Engagement, a new position that will bring additional energy and resources to CMU's burgeoning efforts to connect students with their interests in the Pittsburgh region and across the globe. Rohr, chairman of CMU's Board of Trustees, and his wife, Sharon, endowed the directorship in the Division of Student Affairs this year. Vaughan has consistently championed the university's civic engagement initiatives and demonstrated her commitment to community service throughout her 16-year career at CMU. She is the co-creater of PACE, a collaborative initiative that nurtures peer-to-peer student work around civic engagement, and leads the Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (SLICE) organization. SLICE achievements have included the Service Saturdays program, in which students volunteer with nonprofits around Pittsburgh; an annual Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event for communities most vulnerable around the world; and the launch of the CMU Pantry in 2018, which assists CMU students experiencing food insecurity. Find out more.

Philip LeDuc has joined the Beckman Foundation's Scientific Advisory Council, which supports young researchers with grants for innovative, high-risk, high-reward research projects. LeDuc will provide advice to the foundation and recommend changes or new avenues for impactful funding. LeDuc is a former recipient of the Beckman Young Investigator Award (2005) and has served the foundation in many roles since completing his award, including reviewing proposals for multiple programs and most recently serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellows Program. LeDuc is the William J. Brown Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In his lab, he works at the intersection of mechanical engineering and biology by envisioning cells and molecules as systems that can be investigated with some of the same fundamental approaches used on machines, such as planes and automobiles, looking for unifying principles. Find out more about LeDuc.

Srinivasan Seshan, professor and head of the Computer Science Department, has been named a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) “for his contributions to computer networking, mobile computing and wireless communications.” Seshan, who joined the CSD faculty in 2000, served as the department’s associate head for graduate education from 2011-2015 and was named department head in 2018. His research focuses on improving the design, performance and security of computer networks, including wireless and mobile networks. He and his research group have developed ways to more efficiently transfer video content over the internet, and have worked on new architectures that would make the internet more trustworthy and better able to evolve as technology changes. The ACM will formally recognize its 2019 fellows at the annual awards banquet, June 20, 2020, in San Francisco.   

Historic Season Ends at National Semifinals

Carnegie Mellon's women's soccer team posted a record-setting season this year, advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III championship tournament for the first time in school history. Playing perennial power Messiah College in the semifinals, they took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Messiah tied the game late in the second half and regulation play ended in a 1-1 tie. There was no scoring through two overtimes and the Tartans fell in a penalty kick round by the score of 3-1. 

"We improved so much during the year," said Maddy Lui, a sophomore defender majoring in mechanical engineering. "We've worked so hard and sacrificed so much. We kept pushing every game, and with that mentality, we earned the right to be here."

CMU finished the season with a 14-5-3 record. Learn more about the Tartans.

Who’s New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members, who recently joined the university. 

• Shelli Bowers, receptionist, University Health Services;
• Adam DiMenno, project manager, Campus Design and Facility Development;
• Pamela Eichenbaum, special projects manager, President’s Office;
• Timothy Farley, senior systems/software engineer, Vice Provost & Chief Technology Office;
• Andrew Levitsky, research associate II, Neuroscience Institute;
• John Marecic, shuttle/escort driver, Parking and Transportation Services;
• Allison McLachlan, executive assistant I, Associate Dean for Research; and
• Mollie Wild, software engineer, Robotics Institute.

Enhancements to HR Systems, Processes Successfully Implemented

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) successfully implemented the first in a series of strategic plan projects designed to transform the delivery of HR services on December 4 as scheduled.

As shared in an article on November 21, the 2019 enhancements will allow OHR to focus on providing campus with effective, sustainable, efficient and reliable HR support aligned to the university’s strategic plan and human capital priorities.

Want to Learn More?

• See the new Process Training for Staff webpages with a robust library of training and reference materials for those involved in the Staff Hiring, Compensation, Activity Pay and One-Time Payment or Post-Hire processes.
  • For questions about training, please contact professionaldevelopment@andrew.cmu.edu.
• See Frequently Asked Questions addressing these recent changes culled from socialization meetings conducted in the months leading up to the December 4 go live.
  

Support and other Resources

• Contact a member of your HR team or the Human Resources Service Center at 412-268-4600 or hr-help@andrew.cmu.edu.
• See the improved HR Service website with Payroll Deadlines and other key information.
• See the OHR Strategic Plan webpages for more information about OHR’s Strategic Plan priorities and goals.

Modern Musicking Looks at Computer Music with Roger Dannenberg

Episode 7 of this season's Modern Musicking Show features the world of computer music with Carnegie Mellon  School of Computer Science faculty member Roger Dannenberg, a segment about composer Libby Larsen and  a student showcase featuring Ivan Plazačić.

Joshua Hoey’s unique approach to housing helps students find their place at Carnegie Mellon University.

Hoey, who has been CMU’s assignments coordinator for Housing Services for three years, says it’s an exciting time to be part of the team because of all the new growth happening on campus.

“Over the next three years, CMU is scheduled to either re-open or construct three brand new housing facilities,” he said. “If you’re a current first-year student, you’ll actually have a new housing option available to you every year that you’re here.”

Hoey’s first priority is to ensure successful room selection for students, but he brings much more to the job than an ability to “count heads and beds.”

“This position appealed to me because it was very unique in the fact that it was a balance between administrative savvy and relational skills,” he said.

Hoey’s prior work as the director of Residence Life at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, as well as his own experience at Grove City College, enable him to relate well to first-year students as they adapt to college life.

“In my first year of college, I thought about transferring every day,” he said. “High school was easy for me, but the academics in college were more challenging than I had bargained for. I was also on the football team, but that wasn’t giving me what I wanted socially in terms of feeling a sense of connectedness or belonging.”

A residence hall director noticed Hoey kept his door open a lot and was always warm and friendly toward people. He suggested to Hoey that he would make a great resident assistant (RA), so he gave it a try.

Becoming an RA brought out the best in Hoey. His leadership and developmental skills flourished. He dropped football, changed majors and started getting up early to get work done instead of saving it for the end of the night when there were more distractions.

“Having a mentor and being committed to overcoming the obstacles was a transformative experience for me,” Hoey said. “Taking small incremental steps in the right direction and being willing to ask for help are so important. I went from being on the social periphery and struggling academically to being on scholarship my last two years and really feeling like I had my finger on the pulse of campus life.”

Students often seek out Hoey for his advice here at CMU, and he says working with them is the best part of his job.

“I just watched our new campaign video ‘Make Possible,’ where you can see some of the things our students are doing. They are ridiculously talented. It’s just wild!” Hoey said.

“It’s what I love about working at a university — this world of ideas, of possibility. It helps keep me young.”

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.   

Tiziana Di Matteo, professor of physics and a member of the McWilliams Center for Cosmology at Carnegie Mellon, has been awarded a grant from the Astrophysics Theory Program at NASA to make predictions about colliding supermassive black holes and test Einstein’s theory of gravity with observations of a space-based gravitational wave detector. The grant will allow Di Matteo to study the growth of massive black holes across cosmic history by carrying out simulations of galaxies and black hole formation across the full history of the universe. “At the center of each galaxy, there is a powerful black hole that’s millions or billions of times more massive than the sun,” Di Matteo said. “These galaxies move toward each other, and sometimes they collide with each other. Observing the gravitational waves produced during these super-collisions is what will help us understand whether Einstein was right in these extreme environments.” Learn more.

English Professor Jane McCafferty has authored a “sleepcast” for the evidence-based meditation app Headspace. Titled "River City," the podcast aims to put listeners to sleep by guiding them through a relaxing visualization of Pittsburgh, complete with myriad bridges and houses nestled into hills. McCafferty read the piece live during Headspace’s recent “Happy Healthy America” tour stop in Pittsburgh. “I love podcasts,” said McCafferty, who also has had her own personal experiences with insomnia. “I was told the piece had to have strong images and nothing plotted — that it had to be plot-less. I read the story to a crowd and was told people fell asleep, including Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster, despite it being pretty cold in the Headspace tent. It’s a strange assignment — 'write something that will put people to sleep' — but I had fun." McCafferty is the author of four books: “Director of the World and other stories,” which won the Drue Heinz prize; “One Heart,” a novel; “Thank You For the Music,” a second book of stories; and “First You Try Everything,” another novel. She teaches a variety of fiction and non-fiction courses. Listen to “River City.” 

Robert F. Murphy, the Ray and Stephanie Lane Professor of Computational Biology and head of the Computational Biology Department, has been elevated to fellow status in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest technical professional organization. Fellow status is a distinction reserved for select members who have demonstrated extraordinary accomplishments in an IEEE field of interest. The IEEE cited Murphy “for contributions to machine learning algorithms for biological images.” Murphy’s career has centered on combining fluorescence-based cell measurements with quantitative and computational methods. In the mid-1990s, his group pioneered the use of machine learning to analyze microscope images of subcellular structures. His group’s work over the past 20 years led to the development of the first systems for automatically recognizing all major organelle patterns in 2D and 3D images of cells and tissues, and for building generative models of subcellular organization directly from images. Find out more.  

Institute Offers New Master's Degree in International Relations & Politics

Carnegie Mellon's Institute for Politics and Strategy (IPS) has launched a new Master of Science in International Relations and Politics program (MS IRP) and is accepting applications for its first cohort to begin in fall 2020.

"The Institute for Politics and Strategy is uniquely situated as a university-wide institute at a top research university dedicated to interdisciplinary work. The MS IRP provides students with the resources they need to understand, navigate and lead in our rapidly changing political landscape," said Kiron Skinner, IPS director and the Taube Professor of International Relations and Politics.

Through the full-time, two-year program, IPS seeks to train the next generation of political scientists to examine and understand domestic and international government institutions and processes in the 21st century's continuously changing global political structure. Find out more.

CMU, Air Force Partner To Advance Materials Science Research

In an effort to push forward the state-of-the-art in materials science research, Carnegie Mellon and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) are establishing a collaborative Center of Excellence. The center will leverage the strengths of the two institutions to develop next-generation aerospace materials, establish a pipeline of research talent with both AI and materials science expertise, and advance the materials science field by integrating AI into materials research and design. 

The five-year, $7.5 million joint Center of Excellence, named Data-Driven Discovery Of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems (D³OM²S), is supported by an award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.

“CMU is uniquely positioned to incubate this type of cross-disciplinary research, as we have deep expertise in both materials characterization and discovery, as well as computational science and machine learning,” said Liz Holm, a professor in materials science and engineering and the center’s principal investigator. Find out more.

Carnegie Mellon System Locates Shooters Using Smartphone Video

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have developed a system that can accurately locate a shooter based on video recordings from as few as three smartphones.

When demonstrated using three video recordings from the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and hundreds wounded, the system correctly estimated the shooter's actual location — the north wing of the Mandalay Bay hotel. The estimate was based on three gunshots fired within the first minute of what would be a prolonged massacre.

Alexander Hauptmann, research professor in CMU's Language Technologies Institute, said the system, called Video Event Reconstruction and Analysis (VERA), won't necessarily replace the commercial microphone arrays for locating shooters that public safety officials already use, although it may be a useful supplement for public safety when commercial arrays aren't available.

One key motivation for assembling VERA was to create a tool that could be used by human rights workers and journalists who investigate war crimes, terrorist acts and human rights violations, Hauptmann said. Find out more.

Webinars Aim To Ensure Your Digital Content Is Accessible

CMU’s Digital Accessibility Committee is providing a new series of webinars to help creators of documents and websites ensure that digital content is accessible to people with and without disabilities. If you write Word or PDF documents, create PowerPoint presentations, or build or update websites, these webinars are for you. They are organized in such a way that you can select the webinars most relevant for the work you do. 

• Digital Accessibility for Document Creators
• Digital Accessibility for Web Developers 

These pre-recorded webinars are available to all faculty and staff. Please help us ensure that our campus is as digitally accessible as possible by taking advantage of these great online resources. Learn about CMU's Office of Disability Resources.

Did You Know?

Five of the six CMU fall sports teams advanced to post-season play in 2019. Here's the lineup:

• Women’s Soccer – NCAA Semifinalist;
• Men’s Cross Country – finished 18th at the NCAA Championships;
• Women’s Cross Country – finished 24th at the NCAA Championships;
• Volleyball – advanced to the first-round of the NCAA Championships; and
• Football – selected to play in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.
• Learn more about CMU athletics.

Nate Frezzell is fired up and ready to help you set attainable fitness goals for the New Year.

From balance, strength, flexibility and cardio workouts to cycling and restorative yoga, Frezzell teaches every type of group exercise class on campus and is one of nine fitness trainers at CMU who can prepare individualized workouts to meet any need.

There’s even an app for that. Delta Trainer, co-founded by CMU student Matt Spettel and his childhood friend Gabe Madonna, is free; all you need is an iPhone and an Apple watch. Delta Trainer records the progress you are making in your workout by tracking your movements and then provides feedback in real time. No Apple watch? No worries. Watches can be rented through the app for the duration of your training.

“Delta Trainer is fun and interactive, and we have a ton of different exercises. We can build anyone a workout from the ground up. You don’t even need a gym membership,” he said.

As a kid Frezzell was weak and skinny, he said, but he really wanted to play football. The first time he tried lifting weights, he could only bench-press the bar with no weights on it. By sticking to a plan, he made himself stronger without making himself slower, he said, and his efforts paid off. Not only did he play sports in college but he proved himself to be a formidable competitor against student-athletes who went on to play professional football. Other athletes noticed and began asking him how they could achieve similar results, so he started helping them out, even through their injuries.

“Injuries are inevitable when you’re an athlete," he said. "Not only did I learn how to continue exercising through injuries, I also learned how to not get injured in the first place and live a pain-free life while keeping fit. So, even if you have back issues or a knee issue you've been dealing with, whatever it is, we can work around that."

A personal trainer and health coach certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Frezzell has coached and trained both athletes and non-athletes of all ages since 2003. His first client at CMU was a student who had never done a jumping jack. He said his most inspiring clients are often 60-, 70- and 80-year-olds who insist on staying active.

“I see them on the track warming up to run a 100-meter dash, and I think, ‘Wow! I want to still be running when I’m in my 80s, too!’” he said.

Whether you like to lift weights or hate going to the gym, Frezzell says becoming a healthy person starts with setting attainable goals and following a plan. A variety of fitness resources are available on the athletics website, from group class schedules to how to use the weight room to nearby running and walking trails. 

Members of the campus community are invited to help kick off “Healthy Campus 2020” at noon on Jan. 16 in Wiegand Gym. Frezzell and his colleagues from Delta Trainer, along with interns from the University of Pittsburgh seeking clients, will be on hand to answer questions and lead a group walk around the gym.

“Exercise is my life,” Frezzell said. “I love helping people get healthy and reach their goals. I know it’s my job, but it really isn’t work for me.”

Need some motivation? Take the Fitness Challenge! Sign up and receive a free pair of sunglasses for your commitment to exercising for 20 minutes four times a week for six weeks. The Fitness Challenge starts Jan. 27 and ends March 8.

Jim Herbsleb has been named the new director of the Institute for Software Research in the School of Computer Science. A faculty member for 17 years, Herbsleb has served as the institute's interim director since August. Herbsleb holds degrees in computer science, psychology and law, and is best known for his research on collaboration and coordination in large-scale software engineering projects. He also has worked to develop and test a theory of coordination that unites the technical and human aspects of software development. Herbsleb has addressed such topics as how development teams can function and collaborate even when they are geographically dispersed. He also has explored issues related to open-source development, both in individual projects and in large-scale ecosystems of interdependent projects. His honors include the 2016 Outstanding Research Award presented by the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Software Engineering and SCS's 2013 Allen Newell Award for Research Excellence. Find out more.

School of Computer Science junior Harlene Samra is the inaugural recipient of the Scott Robert Krulcik Scholarship in Computer Science. Established by the Krulcik family in honor and memory of their son after his untimely death last winter, the merit-based Krulcik Scholarship acknowledges and rewards a current undergraduate student in the School of Computer Science for being a leader with a positive attitude, an insightful and compassionate scholar, an innovative contributor to the SCS community and an inspiring peer mentor — the core traits, attitude and approach that Scott, a 2018 graduate, embodied. “Harlene closely mirrors what Scott brought to this place: a warm, sunny, positive disposition, and always willing to help. She's been an integral part of our CS Academy outreach project, echoing Scott's own contributions to that program,” said Mark Stehlik, teaching professor, assistant dean for outreach and co-founder of CMU’s CS Academy.  Find out more.

The accolades for filmmaker Ralph Vituccio keep rolling in. Haenyeo, a virtual reality film produced by Vituccio and directed by alumnus Jaehee Cho, won first place in the Best Virtual Reality Experience category at VRE Fest in Rome. The film is about an ancient South Korean culture in which women dive for shellfish without the aid of oxygen tanks. The VR piece was funded by the Google-Tribeca Film Festival’s “5 Elements of Nature” Immersive Film Program. Vituccio’s documentary on the Haenyeo was selected for the Doctors Without Borders Film Festival and the Rome Independent Film Festival. He was invited to screen the documentary and present at the Ethnographic Film Festival of Paris in April. The documentary follows the last five remaining Haenyeo from the tiny island of Marado located in the Korean Strait. Both the Haenyeo virtual reality film and the Haenyeo documentary can be viewed at the Askwith Kenner Global Languages and Cultures Room in the Tepper School building. Hours are 3 – 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You also can schedule an appointment by sending email to ML-KennerGlobal@andrew.cmu.edu. Vituccio is an assistant teaching professor in the Entertainment Technology Center.

CMU Couple Makes National News with “Baby Yoda”  

Briana and Sean McGowan’s first newborn baby came into the world with a splash at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital on Friday, Dec. 13. Jackson River McGowan made national news dressed up as one of Magee’s “Baby Yodas” in celebration of the release of the new Star Wars movie, “The Rise of Skywalker.” 

In a nursery full of babies wearing Baby Yoda outfits, Briana, Sean and Jackson were featured on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “Fox & Friends,” CNN, “Inside Edition” and ABC News, among other national outlets. Baby Yoda was introduced as a Star Wars character in the recent Disney+ release of “The Mandalorian.”

Sean said he and Briana are big Star Wars fans. They announced their pregnancy on Facebook at Disney World, where he was wearing a Star Wars shirt that read, “I am the Father” with a Darth Vader mask and Mickey ears. Jackson’s original due date was Dec. 20, the date of the movie release.

“Jackson became the real baby version of ‘Baby Yoda’ and I was jealous that he had more fame than me on the third day of his life than I’ve had in 30 years,” Sean said.

Briana is a donor relations specialist in University Advancement and Sean is assistant director of Employer Relations at the Career Center. Mother, father and baby are doing fine.

May the force be with them.

Strumming in the New Year

For the past five years, Carnegie Mellon has created new arrangements of "Auld Lang Syne" to honor the school's Scottish roots. This year, Madi Lippmann, a master's degree student in the School of Music, arranged the piece performed by graduate students Alyssa Hensley, Katelyn Croft and Caroline Haines and sophomore Alice Statham, all of whom study with Gretchen Van Hoesen, artist lecturer in Harp.

See previous arrangements.

99 Days to Buggy 100

Today (Jan. 9) is the 99^th day until the 100^th anniversary of one of Carnegie Mellon’s most celebrated traditions. Sweepstakes, better known as the Spring Carnival Buggy Races, will celebrate its centennial April 17-18, 2020. The CMU tradition is unlike any other.

Since the first Campus Week in 1920, when “chariots” were built to race around campus, student groups have been working year-round, using their engineering skills, design expertise and penchant for interdisciplinary collaboration to secretly build, modify and refine the most aerodynamic, torpedo-like vessel they call a “buggy.”

“Buggy doesn’t exist anywhere else. It’s a 100-year love of creation and collaboration,” said Olivia Keller, a senior chemical engineering major, pusher and chair of this year’s Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Sigma teams. "It’s part of the CMU experience."

Learn more about this CMU tradition unlike any other.

Who’s New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members.

• Nicole Eichmeier , Temporary Employment Services;
• Jennifer Beck, project manager, Campus Design and Facility Development;
• Eli Bulger, research associate II, Neuroscience Institute;
• Brittany Foster, academic coordinator, Heinz College;
• Ryan Gordon, dispatcher, University Police;
• Lydia Heyliger, assistant director, planning and delivery, programming for online programs, Tepper School;
• Fabiana Licata, sales consultant, University Stores;
• Jun Liu, research programmer/analyst, Robotics Institute;
• Kyle Love, talent engagement adviser, SEI;
• Lindsay Mapes, assistant softball coach, Athletics Department;
• Jason Matuszewski, AV principal technician, Computing Services;
• Sharon Mudd, senior cybersecurity operations researcher, SEI;
• Richard Panzenbeck, AV senior technician, Computing Services;
• Elizabeth Stark, early child educator, Cyert Center; and
• Teraya White, academic & career adviser, Statistics & Data Science Department.

Learn Something New at University Libraries

Data visualization, gerrymandering and zine-making are some of the workshop topics at University Libraries this semester. The workshops, which are offered by the Libraries each semester, are designed to help attendees learn a new skill, deepen their understanding of a specific topic, or gain exposure to an unfamiliar technology, tool or technique.

Unless otherwise noted, all workshops are held in the Den at Sorrells Library, on the fourth floor of Wean Hall. Workshops are available at no charge and are open to Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff and students. Seating is limited and registration is required.

For a complete list of workshops and to register online, visit library.cmu.edu/workshops. If you’re not able to attend a workshop, but would like to learn about the topic, please contact University Libraries. Librarians and subject specialists also are available to schedule additional workshops for classes, or facilitate one-on-one meetings.

Neuro Week To Celebrate Brain Research at CMU 

The Neuroscience Institute will celebrate innovations in brain research at Carnegie Mellon with a series of research symposiums, showcases, panel discussions and lectures, Nov. 4-8. 

The week begins with a welcome breakfast followed by a symposium on leveraging technology to beat brain disease. CMU alumnus Robert Bowser from the Barrow Neurological Institute will give the keynote address. Later in the week, the Neuroscience Institute will award the Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Science to renowned neuroscientist Eve Marder of Brandeis University.

As the birthplace of artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, CMU brain scientists have had real-world impact for over 50 years. From the creation of some of the first cognitive tutors, to the development of the Jeopardy-winning Watson, to recent cutting-edge work on the genetic basis of autism, Carnegie Mellon has been, and will continue to be, a leader in the study of brain and behavior.

Here’s a glance at the week’s featured events

Nov. 4
Welcome Breakfast
9 – 10 a.m., Simmons Auditorium B, Tepper Building

Symposium: Leveraging Science and Technology To Beat Brain Disease
10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Simmons Auditorium B, Tepper Building 

Nov. 5
Neuroscience Institute’s Presidential Fellows Showcase
4 – 6 p.m., Steinberg Auditorium, Baker Hall A53

Nov. 6
Celebration honoring Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, the George A. and Helen Dunham Cowan Professor in Auditory Neuroscience
4 – 6 p.m., Citrone Room, Tepper Building 5600 

Nov. 7
Panel Discussion: Diversity in Science
2 - 3:30 p.m., Connan Room, Cohon University Center 

Andrew Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Sciences Lecture
4 – 5:30 p.m., Rashid Auditorium, Gates Hillman 4401

Nov. 8
Victor Bearg Lecture: The Neuroscience of Laughter by Sophie Scott
12 – 1:30 p.m., Kresge Theater, College of Fine Arts

Find out more about Neuro Week and the Neuroscience Institute.  

Provost Sets Office Hours for Students, Faculty, Staff

Provost Jim Garrett has three remaining dates this fall to meet with students, faculty and staff on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.

Garrett encourages members of the university community to use the time to discuss what’s on your mind, and to share your experiences, ideas and aspirations for Carnegie Mellon. 

Office hours, below, will be held in the CCR East on the first floor of Warner Hall.

Friday, Nov. 1, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 15, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 12, 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Emergency Response Drill Set for Nov. 5

From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, members of the university’s emergency preparedness and response team will conduct an emergency response drill at Scott Hall. This practice exercise is designed to simulate a hazardous materials release. It is intended to practice and test the university’s emergency response protocols, in coordination with external emergency agencies to help ensure the safety and well-being of our community. 

This is only a drill. The CMU community will NOT be in any danger.

As part of the exercise, emergency vehicles and response activities will be inside and near Scott Hall. Signage will be posted nearby to remind members of the community that a drill is in progress. Classes and events in Scott Hall and nearby buildings will not be impacted.

If you have questions about this emergency response exercise, contact Melaine Lucht, associate vice president and chief risk officer, at mlucht@andrew.cmu.edu.  

Benefits & Fitness Fair is Wednesday, Nov. 6          

Learn more about CMU benefit plans at the annual Benefits & Fitness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom. Representatives from the benefit plans and the Office of Human Resources will be available to answer questions. Open Enrollment for 2020 benefits began Monday and ends Nov. 18. Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review your benefit coverage options and make selections for the upcoming calendar year.

Human Resources Service Center staff members will be located in the McKenna Room during the Benefits & Fitness Fair to assist with processing of Open Enrollment in Workday. For enrollment assistance, please come prepared with your Workday login information, including your mobile device for DUO authentication.

The fair also includes fitness demonstrations, free health screenings, raffles and giveaways.

Giant Eagle will be administering flu vaccinations at no cost to faculty and staff members. To obtain your flu vaccine, you will need to present your CMU ID card. No appointments are required for flu vaccinations during the Benefits & Fitness Fair. Remember to bring your Giant Eagle Advantage Card to receive a $5 credit.

Dining News: Exchange To Reopen Nov. 6

The Exchange, which has been closed for renovations since May 2019, will re-open for business on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The updated design features an open kitchen environment, expanded seating and a refreshed look. 

Located on the first floor of Posner Hall, The Exchange has been an integral part of the Carnegie Mellon community for 17 years. A favorite dining location for students, faculty and staff, The Exchange is known for its exceptional customer service, custom deli sandwiches, made-to-order salads, housemade soups and hot entrées. The core menu remains unchanged, but the renovation allows the team to expand the menu of daily specials, including homestyle favorites like meatloaf and mashed potatoes, jambalaya with Cajun rice and chicken gorgonzola. Find out more.

Seeking Nominations for Engineering Staff Awards

The College of Engineering Staff Recognition Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the college's annual Staff Recognition Awards program, which honors staff for their outstanding leadership, innovation, continued excellence and spirit.  For more details on the process, including nomination criteria and a list of eligible staff members, visit the awards website.  The online nomination deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13. 

Maureen Rolla is turning the spotlight on Carnegie Mellon’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Writing Awards.

Founded by University Professor of English Jim Daniels, the writing awards program gives high school and college students in western Pennsylvania an opportunity to share personal experiences with difference and discrimination through poetry and prose.

Rolla joined Daniels in 2018 as an administrative coordinator and has worked with him to expand and diversify the program’s footprint. They reached out to more schools, teachers and administrators in the region, launched a series of email communications to help build awareness and attract entries, and refreshed the print and online promotional materials.

“We have a growing contact list of 550 people from 54 high schools and 20 colleges in the western Pennsylvania region. There’s a good mix of urban, suburban, public, private, religious and charter schools,” said Rolla, who earned her bachelor’s degree in English at CMU.

Rolla takes part in judging the entries as well as a member of a preliminary panel that includes student writers from CMU’s English Department, the School of Drama and the School of Computer Science. She said the team looks for pieces that are relevant, impactful and have concrete details that make the student’s experiences come alive.

“I strongly believe in the power of sharing our personal experiences through writing.”

She also has helped to establish a fall speaker series on campus.

“The speaker series brings in two established authors who are writing about themes that are relevant to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Writing Awards. It gives students a way to engage with authors who are writing about these issues and it brings attention to the awards,” Rolla said. 

Last year, the program attracted a record 215 entries, and this year it received 181 entries from a record-high 24 high schools and seven colleges and universities. Two of this year’s winners are from schools that had never submitted entries before.

“I strongly believe in the power of sharing our personal experiences through writing. Anything we can do to provide that avenue for students and to help them see writing as a safe outlet for self-expression and sharing is really important,” Rolla said.

Rolla said Daniels has hosted writing workshops at several area schools, including Allderdice and Woodland Hills high schools, and Pittsburgh Milliones/University Preparatory School.  He hopes to do more of those moving forward. She attended the one at Woodland Hills.

“It’s crucial to connect with students and teachers where they are and with what they need.”

“To see the bravery of these students to stand up and read their work telling their stories was very impressive to me,” she said.

Rolla is working with Daniels to develop a fellows program to help conduct more writing workshops in schools.

“Jim is very dedicated to the awards program and committed to the role of writing in breaking down barriers,” she said. “Our goal is to grow and deepen the engagement with students and schools. It’s crucial to connect with students and teachers where they are and with what they need.”

Throughout her career in publishing, higher education and in several roles at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Rolla remained connected to her alma mater. She has participated in the Dietrich College’s “Under Construction” panel discussion on careers and has been a guest speaker on careers for humanities majors. While at the Carnegie Museums, she was involved in the launch of CMU’s IDeATE program.

Returning to CMU was the right choice for two reasons, she said.

“First, to continue the work I’ve been doing at the museums to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s very important in Pittsburgh. And two, to come back to a place where I have such strong ties and formed lifelong friendships. Writing and literature have always been important in my life,” she said.

Have a suggestion for Staff Spotlight? Send it to piperweekly@andrew.cmu.edu.    

Two members of the SEI’s Software Solutions Division (SSD) have been elected to leadership positions in the IEEE Computer Society (CS). Forrest Shull, the SSD’s assistant director of empirical research, was voted IEEE CS 2020 president-elect. Grace Lewis, an SSD principal researcher, was elected to the IEEE CS Board of Governors. The IEEE CS is one of the best-known resource organizations for technology professionals. The organization offers a range of conferences, journals and training programs.

• Shull, an IEEE senior member, has been a long-time society volunteer. He has participated in committees and is serving a term on the Board of Governors. Shull is a former editor-in-chief of the IEEE Software journal and former associate editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. In 2018, Shull was elected the society’s first vice president. As president, starting in January 2021, he will oversee IEEE CS programs and operations and sit on most IEEE CS program boards and committees as a non-voting member.
• Lewis is the lead of the Tactical Technologies Group initiative at the SEI, where her interests include edge computing, internet of things (IoT) security, software architecture and emerging technologies. Lewis has a long history of service with the IEEE CS, including being an IEEE senior member, treasurer of the IEEE Computer Society Technical & Conference Activities Board Executive Committee, and the executive vice-chair for the IEEE Computer Society Technical Council on Software Engineering. In January 2020, she will begin serving on the IEEE CS Board of Governors, which sets the society’s strategy and direction, provides policy guidance and reviews performance.

Find out more.

Emanuela Grama has authored her first book,  “Socialist Heritage: The Politics of Past and Place in Romania.” Published by Indiana University Press, the book explores Bucharest’s histories of ethnic and social diversity and its politicians who attempted to silence those histories during and after the communist regime (1947-1989).  Grama, a native of Romania, is an associate professor of anthropology and history who is passionate about researching the country’s complex history.  She joined CMU’s History Department in 2013. Find out more.