The Provost’s Awards Lecture Series for the fall 2016 semester kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1, with Dr. Thomas Loewenheim, a Fresno State music professor who was presented the Excellence in Teaching Award last spring.

Loewenheim’s lecture, “How Music Could Make the World a Better Place: The Transformative Power of Classical Music,” will be the first of seven presentations on three dates this fall in the Henry Madden Library (Room 2206). All lectures will be held there from 3:30 – 5 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Presented by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the lecture series honors and showcases the recipients of the 2015-2016 Provost’s Awards.

“The Provost’s Awards Lecture Series provides the awardees an opportunity to present, share and discuss their work with the campus,” said Dr. Lynnette Zelezny, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fresno State.

At the opening session Thursday, Loewenheim will discuss classical music’s effect on individuals, communities and the world as seen through his experience as a professional classical musician and a music educator. He will perform several short pieces with members of his cello studio.

The other sessions are:

Oct. 12: Dr. Carmen Caprau of the College of Science and Mathematics, the recipient of the Distinguished Achievement in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity Award, and Una Mjurka, assistant professor of art and design, the recipient of the Faculty Service Award, will each speak.

Caprau’s lecture, “Why Knot,” will discuss Knot Theory, which analyzes a tangible object and develops it into a body of mathematical knowledge with many applications in other areas of math and science, and using it to introduce students to mathematical research.

Mjurka’s lecture, “Ceramics and Community: Building Connections through Art,” will discuss the roles that ceramic materials play in the development and sustainability of various cultures.

Nov. 10: Four recipients of the Promising New Faculty Award will speak: Drs. Larissa Mercado-Lopez of women’s studies, Bhupinder Singh of physical therapy and Cathy Yun and Lisa Bennett of literacy, early, bilingual and special education.

Mercado-Lopez’s lecture, “Doing Work That Mat(t)ers: How Empowered Mothers Make Empowered Faculty,” will challenge the misconceptions on academic mothers and discuss how her personal experiences as a mother/scholar positively affected her teaching, service and relationships with colleagues.

Singh’s lecture, “Broadening the Scope of Health Care Students: Challenges and Opportunities of the Central Valley,” will discuss the importance of addressing Valley health care needs.

Yun and Bennett’s lecture, “Change Begins with the Word YES: Seizing Opportunities and Engaging in Doing,” will discuss their three years at Fresno State and how seizing opportunities has led to positive changes at the University.

For more information, contact Randy Aoki at 559.278.2636 or raoki@csufresno.edu.

(Copy by Jose Diaz, University Communications news assistant.)

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