Lecture examines business, environment relationship

A Harvard business professor and Missoula native will discuss the relationship between economics and the environment during the next installment of the President's Lecture Series at UM.

Forest Reinhardt will deliver his lecture, "Global Natural Resource Markets: Perspectives from Business Strategy" at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in the Montana Theatre of the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. The event also will serve as UM's annual Brennan Guth Memorial Lecture.

In addition, Reinhardt will present a seminar, "The Environment and Business: A Case Study," from 3:40 to 5 p.m. that day in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. The seminar will be held in conjunction with UM's Philosophy Forum.

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UM to offer global public health minor

The Montana Board of Regents recently approved a new interdisciplinary minor in global public health at UM.

Coursework in the minor will emphasize a global perspective on issues of public health policy and science and applications to international and domestic situations. Students will learn about public health challenges such as parasitic and vector-borne diseases, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, tuberculosis, climate change impacts, trauma and violence, avian influenza, obesity and the role of indigenous healers. 

Courses will use insights from disciplinary approaches that include epidemiology, anthropology, biology, political science, community health planning, communication studies and ethics.

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Washington Post reporter named Pollner professor

Washington Post popular culture critic Hank Stuever will be the 2012 T. Anthony Pollner Professor at UM's School of Journalism.

Stuever will teach a course on pop culture coverage and will mentor students working at the Montana Kaimin, the campus newspaper.

The Pollner professorship was created in 2000 to honor the memory of UM alumnus Anthony Pollner. It brings to campus each fall a nationally prominent journalist who teaches for the semester in the journalism school.

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BCP to offer associate degree in early childhood education

The Bitterroot College Program of UM has partnered with Montana Western in Dillon to offer an associate of applied science degree in early childhood education.

Students will enroll in Montana Western's Early Childhood Education program but take courses at the BCP facility in Hamilton. To enroll students must follow both Montana Western and BCP admission procedures.

The program will begin in autumn semester 2012, and applications must be submitted to BCP Enrollment Services by June 15.

For specific admission and program information, call Kathleen O'Leary in BCP's Enrollment and Advising Services office at 406-375-0100 or email kathleen.oleary@umontana.edu.

Lecture features climate change, polar bear expert

A noted polar bear biologist will present the second installment of the spring semester Natural Resource and Environmental Policy Forum at UM.

Ian Stirling of the University of Alberta will deliver "The Ecology of Polar Bears, Climate Warming and the Effects on Human-Polar Bear Interactions" at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in Urey Lecture Hall.

The presentation, which is free and open to the public, will focus on how climate change may cause more human-bear conflicts as ice becomes less available. It will be held in conjunction with the International Human-Bear Conflicts Workshop.

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Authors to present reading, workshop at UM

Award-winning writers Barry Lopez and Debra Gwartney will present a reading and workshop on Friday, March 23, at UM.

The writers, co-editors of "Home Ground: Language for an American Landscape," will give a nonfiction reading at 7 p.m. in UM's North Underground Lecture Hall. A book signing will follow the reading.

Gwartney also will present a craft lecture on memoir writing from 12:10 to 1 p.m. that day in McGill Hall Room 210. Both events are free and open to the public and are sponsored by UM's Creative Writing and Environmental Studies programs. The events are installments of the UM President's Writers-in-Residence Series.

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Taste the world at UM international festival

Get ready to travel the world without leaving Missoula.

This year's International Culture and Food Festival at UM will offer a taste of everything from Italian pasta puttanesca to Indonesian mung bean dessert. Festivalgoers also can take in entertainment such as Polynesian and Tajik dance performances, children's games and crafts from around the world.

With the theme "A Taste of Traditions," the event will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, in the University Center. Admission costs $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 to 12.

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Performance of 'The Pomegranate Seed' at UM March 19

Performing artist Cosy Sheridan will present "The Pomegranate Seed" at 7 p.m. Monday, March 19, in the University Center Theater at UM. The performance is free and open to the public.

"The Pomegranate Seed" is a narrative chronicling one woman's journey into the symbolic underworld and her emergence as a more vibrant and empowered person. Sheridan created this one-woman show in 2004 and has toured colleges and universities throughout the U.S. She also performs at benefits for women's issues.

Originally written as a final project for an undergraduate degree in psychology, "The Pomegranate Seed -- An Exploration of Appetite, Body Image and Myth in Modern Culture" blends together Sheridan's own experiences and the stories of other women. The show addresses eating disorders and body image issues as well as difficult sexuality issues that young women encounter as they grow into maturity.

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UM offers interdisciplinary course in Ireland

UM's College of Arts and Sciences invites students to study abroad this summer in Dublin, Ireland, as part of a course focused on the biological basis of language, language evolution and their connection to neuroscience.

Titled "Brain, Mind and the Literary Imagination," the three-credit course will be taught by the College of Arts and Sciences Dean Christopher Comer in addition to professors from Trinity College, University College Dublin and St. Patrick's College. The course runs from May 24 to June 9.

Students will investigate how information about the brain and cognition can lead to an understanding of literary creativity and the appreciation of literary work. Practicing writers and critics will lead discussions. Students can take advantage of Dublin's abundant resources, including the National Theatre, museums and galleries.

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CAPS hosts suicide-prevention seminar

Counseling and Psychological Services at UM will hold a training seminar Friday, March 23, on how to assist someone having suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Brian Krylowicz, CAPS director, will lead the free seminar, "Help Someone -- Help Yourself: First Responder Training," from noon to 1:30 p.m. in University Center Room 329. It's open to all UM students, faculty and staff.

The seminar is designed to raise awareness about suicide issues on campus and present several basic strategies and techniques that can be helpful when dealing with suicide situations.

Participants will learn how to assist students, colleagues and friends who are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts; become familiar with available services such as CAPS and the national suicide hotline; and learn how to refer those in need of professional help.

CAPS also will offer the seminar on Thursday, April 12. Call 406-243-2809 to reserve a spot for either day.

Spring WellCheck at UM rescheduled

UM will host the spring WellCheck blood draw Wednesday through Friday, May 30-June 1, in University Center Rooms 330-333. WellCheck previously was scheduled for April 17-18, but those dates have been canceled.

WellCheck is open to UM employees, spouses and dependent children 18 and older on active employee medical plans, as well as retirees, spouses and dependent children 18 and older on retiree self-funded medical plans. Retirees and spouses on New West Medicare (MAPP) are not eligible. 

More information, including times and how to register, will be available soon.

UM Foundation kicks off faculty, staff giving campaign

Excellence. Sustainability. Leadership. Engagement. These are some of the characteristics that describe UM, the values that draw people to campus and define UM as extraordinary.

The UM Foundation kicks off the 2012 UM Faculty and Staff Giving Campaign by asking faculty and staff to think about how they define the spirit of UM, while encouraging them to help ensure these attributes continue to inspire future students.

Throughout March and April, faculty and staff volunteers from all areas of campus will talk with their peers about the importance of private support and the power of giving back.

The goal of the campaign, led by management and information systems Professor Jerry Evans, is participation. Currently, about 16 percent, or close to 400 faculty and staff, contribute to the campaign each year. This year, Evans hopes participation will top 20 percent.

"On campus, we have the advantage of seeing the need for private support firsthand -- most notably in the students we interact with daily," Evans said. "As faculty and staff, we also have the opportunity to do something about these needs. Modest gifts can collectively add up to something transformational."

Last year, Evans' entire department agreed to direct their contributions to an area that they were mutually passionate about: the School of Business Administration Career Development program. Their gifts, of various sizes, helped support a program that positively impacts all business students. Evans encourages others to consider this model: faculty or staff uniting, together, on behalf of a shared passion.

For more information about the 2012 UM Faculty and Staff Giving Campaign, call Lauren Clark, director of Annual Giving -- External Campaigns for the UM Foundation, at 406-243-2456, email lauren.clark@mso.umt.edu or visit the campaign website. 

Dinner benefits Japan Rising Opportunity scholarship

The Japanese Student Association at UM hosted a fundraising dinner March 3 at the First Presbyterian Church in Missoula to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The event raised $3,737 for the Japan Rising Opportunity Scholarship established to assist future UM students from the Tohoku region that was most affected by the disaster.  

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Staff compensation workshops scheduled

UM staff are encouraged to attend one of two workshop addressing staff compensation issues. "Understanding Staff Compensation" will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, and Thursday, March 29, in Lommasson Center Room 154.

Sheila Wright with Human Resource Services will explain the Montana University System staff compensation plan. Topics will include when and how available compensation components are used, how job titles and hiring ranges are established, how across-the-board raises are determined and more.

Gallery displays new MFA thesis exhibitions

The School of Art and the Gallery of Visual Arts at UM will present two Master of Fine Art thesis exhibitions from Thursday, March 22, through Thursday, April 19.

The gallery will host an opening reception for exhibitions by Michael Flynn and Sarahjess Hurt from 5 to 7 p.m. March 22. All events and exhibitions are free and open to the public.

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'Sound is Place' exhibit opens in UC Gallery

"Sound is Place," an exhibit featuring work by local artist Burke Jam, will be on display Monday, March 26, through Friday, April 20, in the University Center Gallery at UM.

The gallery will host an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, and an artist lecture is slated for 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, in the UC Theater.

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President Engstrom's office hours

President Engstrom welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Call 406-243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment.

President Engstrom's scheduled office hours for spring semester are:

• Friday, April 27: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 30: 2-4 p.m.