March 2021, Vol 2, Issue 4

MacricostA&S
News

Western Connecticut State University

STEM Grant to Chemistry Student

Henry Valle-Ayala Awarded $2000 Grant for Research

Henry is a senior in the Chemistry-Biochemistry ACS program and Kathwari Honors Program. He will use the grant to support his senior research (mentored by Dr. Greco) on using DNA to monitor and analyze protein binding and conformational events that could be used to develop treatments for common illnesses such as psoriasis, eczema and asthma.

Henry is a first-generation college student dedicated to giving back to his community. At WCSU, he serves as Minorities in Medicine Fundraising Chair, as Chemistry Club Educational Outreach Chair, and as a WCHN Danbury Hospital Education Ambassador. Henry is also an EMT, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Pharmacy Technician.

This grant was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor dedicated to supporting underrepresented students in STEM.

WCSU Psychology Student

Becca Collins accepted into Columbia University School of Nursing

WCSU student Becca Collins, has been accepted into the Columbia University School of Nursing. The specific program is an accelerated joint Masters (MDE)/Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) on the Pediatric Primary Care track.

Becca was also accepted into the Honors Program at Columbia Nursing, which includes a $20k scholarship. In total, she received $90k to attend Columbia Nursing. Becca is grateful to WestConn and Dr. Mary Nelson of Psychology, who graciously wrote several letters of recommendation.

WCSU Writing Department

Several Points of Good News from Writing

Anthony D’Aries, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the MFA in Creative and Professional Writing, recently spoke at the Newtown Public Library about teaching creative writing and literacy in correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and hospitals. Anthony’s essay, “Memorial Day,” which was selected as a finalist for the New Millennium Writing Award and the Hippocampus Creative Nonfiction Contest, will be published by Grub Street literary magazine in April.

Professor Oscar De Los Santos and Professor Kelly L. Goodridge presented “When the Historical Fantastic Isn’t Enough: An Examination of Project Blue Book the TV Series” at the Northeast Popular Culture Association’s annual convention (virtual; October 24, 2020). Oscar’s essay is titled, “Project Blue Book Meets the Flatwoods Monster” and Kelly’s, “Another Spin ‘Round The Roswell Incident a la Project Blue Book.” A combined version of the essays is published in “The Critical Weird” section of the Talking the Weird website.

Assistant Professor of Journalism John Roche recently interviewed Margaret Brennan, the moderator of Face The Nation, CBS' top-rated Sunday morning news program, for a profile published in Connecticut Magazine.

The piece focused on Brennan's views about the state of journalism in these unprecedented times, her thoughts on the news media's evolving role, the impacts of the pandemic and the political divisiveness that marked 2020 and the start of this year, and her own path into a career in journalism.

Read the interview here.

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