Faculty-Staff Achievements, Nov. 7, 2010
Honor
Linda Simon, professor of English, delivered the 40th annual William James Lecture, titled "William James's Transitions," Oct. 27 at Harvard University's Lamont Library.
In her talk Simon looked at the last decade of James's life, when he wrote his major philosophical works, but left unfinished the book he thought would stand as his greatest contribution: "another immortal work," he told his brother the novelist Henry James, that he hoped would settle "the Universe's hash." Simon focused on the questions that occupied James's last years, as well as on the intellectual transitions that led him to his final project.
Co-sponsored by the Harvard Divinity School, the lecture was in conjunction with the Houghton Library's current exhibition, " 'Life is in the transitions': William James, 1842-1910," on view through Dec. 23, 2010. Simon curated the exhibition.
According to Harvard officials, the William James Lecture on Religious Experience was established in 1968 and has been delivered annually since 1970. With this year's lecture, Simon joins a group of celebrated scholars that includes Carol Gilligan, Martha Nussbaum, Cornel West, Arthur Kleinman, Cushing Strout, and Richard Niebuhr, all past lecturers.
Activities
Dennis Conway, director of Campus Safety, was one of 10 people named an "ambassador" this year by the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau. Ambassadors earn notice for bringing conferences and group meetings to Saratoga Springs. This year's group will be honored by the bureau at a Nov. 10 reception. Conway headed an effort by the Skidmore Department of Campus Safety, which hosted the 57th annual conference of the Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Association (NCUSA) June 27-30 on campus. Approximately 150 people (including a number of Skidmore staff) representing 70 colleges and universities attended the conference. Famed pathologist Dr. Michael Baden was keynote speaker and sessions on a number of topics. Conway is a director-at-large with NCUSA.
Robert D. Shorb, special assistant to the dean of admissions and financial aid, was recently appointed to the Mansfield University Foundation Board of Directors. Shorb, a 1976 Mansfield graduate, is an active alumnus, having served previously on the University's Alumni Board, including two years as president, recipient of two alumni awards, and commencement speaker for the university.
Publications/Performances
Victor Cahn, professor of English, will star in "Sherlock Solo," a play that he wrote, on Friday through Sunday, Nov. 12-14, at Home Made Theater in Saratoga Spa State Park. In this performance, the great Sherlock Holmes emerges from retirement to relate an undisclosed case that takes place in the absence of his traditional narrator, Dr. Watson. Click here for ticket information.
Gordon Thompson, professor of music, has added a new entry, "The Who and 'My Generation': November 1965" to his blog, hosted on the Oxford University Press Web site.
In the News
Ron Seyb, associate professor of government, was a source for election-night news analysis on WNYT-News Channel 13, the region's NBC affiliate.
Bob Turner, associate professor of government, was a source for "Both parties celebrate wins," published Nov. 4 in the Glens Falls Post-Star; and "Factors lead to Gibson victory," published Nov. 4 in The Daily Gazette.
