Campus Currents

December 17, 2018

Performers from Mother's Bliss, Mother's Woe

Awards for Student Theatre Performances

A number of FSU students who participated in the Communication Arts Department's Fall production of Mother's Bliss, Mother's Woe have been recognized by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region 1 for their hard work and will be attending the festival at Cape Cod Community College January 29 - February 3.

The awards are as follows:

Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Nominees & Alternates:

Nominees:
Danielle Amanita (Joan D'Arc)
Monique Plante (Saint Brigid)
Diego Rocha (Father McConnell)

Alternates
Sam Wayson (Fingy Connors)
Marielle Sciore (Peg Horan)

Merit Award for Outstanding Sound Design: Stephen Donnelly

Merit Award for Outstanding Marketing/Promotion/Front of House: Erica Linnell

Recognition for Contribution in technical theatre:
Nada Shaaban (Stage Manager)
Brittany Yates ( Assistant to Scenic Design/Set Crew Chief)
Hallie Livengood (Assistant to Costume Designer/Costume Crew Chief)

FSU Launching New Major in Hospitality & Tourism Management

Framingham State University is preparing to launch a new major in Hospitality and Tourism Management for students interested in pursuing careers within the food, travel and international tourism industries. The new bachelor’s degree program will officially be available to students starting in spring 2019, after being approved by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education on December 11th. The University hired Dr. John Palabiyik earlier this year to oversee the launch of the new major, which is the first of its kind in the State University System.

“We are very excited to be able to offer this new in-demand major to our students,” says FSU President F. Javier Cevallos. “The job prospects in the hospitality industry are very strong in this region.”

The University has been seeking to create a major in hospitality and tourism management ever since it acquired the Warren Conference Center & Inn in Ashland in 2016. The 65-acre property provides students with access to a professional event and conference center to hone their skills and learn the trade. In addition to the new major, the University will also be offering an online hospitality certificate program for employees who are already in the industry and looking to advance their careers.

Palabiyik, who began offering an Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism course this semester in anticipation of the approval of the new major, says Framingham State is ideally situated to offer a successful program.

“The University’s location just 20 minutes outside of Boston provides students with close access to an international tourism hub,” says Palabiyik, who also offers his introductory course online. “Combine that with our ownership of the Warren Conference Center and Inn and all the pieces are in place for a truly dynamic program.”

The new major is housed within the University’s College of Business. Palabiyik, who has an MBA and a PhD in Hospitality Administration, has begun establishing ties to local industry leaders.

“These businesses are waiting for our students,” says Palabiyik. “I plan to facilitate lots of networking and internship opportunities so students already have a foot in the door by the time they graduate.”

Palabiyik’s plans for the program include establishing a student Hospitality Club, a weekly speaker series featuring industry professionals, field trips to visit major companies in the region, and a faculty led study abroad opportunity focused on hospitality. He has also been in touch with universities from other countries in an effort to reach international students who may be interested in the program.

Giving Tree Support

Thank you to all of the members of the Framingham State community who helped our Student Involvement and Leadership Development office sponsor 86 families as part of this year's Giving Tree program! All the gifts have been handed in, checked, and re-checked! It took 1 pick-up truck, 3 SUVs, and 5 staff members to deliver the gifts to The United Way of Tri-County.

Look out for the program next October as SILD seeks to increase its commitment to even more children!

Focus on 1968 - Final Moon Landing in Context Event of the Fall Semester

By Thom Duda, Publications Intern

During a panel discussion for the final Moon Landing in Context event of the semester, Professor Lori Bihler from the History department noted the similarities in the political climate during 1968 and now.

Dr. Bihler recalled how her mother, who had been 22 in 1968, had said that “it’s just like 1968,” when looking at all the modern protests taking place, such as the Women’s marches that followed the 2016 presidential election.

In the wake of the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, and a turbulent election, the climate of the United States was charged enough that “people were just taking to the streets,” Bihler said.

“There was a feeling of anger, a feeling of chaos and a feeling that no one knew who was in charge," Bihler said, referencing her mother as she described the various protests occurring at that time.

Other participants in the multidisciplinary panel discussion included Dr. Martel Pipkins, Dr. Wardell Powell, Dr. Erika Schneider, and Dr. Bridgette Sheridan. Although not directly related to the moon landing of 1968, the events of the period require a multidisciplinary connection in order to better illustrate the root causes for the social upheaval that had occurred at the time, something that needs to be done in this current time as we face similar social changes and tensions.

Dr. Irene Porro, director of the Christa McAuliffe Center and Moon Landing in Context Project, said at the beginning of the event that the “moon landing didn't happen just in a vacuum or in a box outside of society," and just like then, there is a need to “bring our thinking to a different level and make those connections” between all the events happening even now.

Upcoming Events Sponsored by Career Services

Spring 2019 Save the Dates

Enterprise Holding, Inc., Career Day—On-Campus Interviews, Thursday, February 7, 2019, 9:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m., Foster 102
Full- time career and summer internship positions available. Job descriptions are on Ramtrack. Pre-registration required. Call the CSER office at 508-626-4625 to schedule your 30 minute interview.

Curiosity Unleashed STEM Career Event, Thursday, February 21, 2019, 4:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m., MC Forum
STEM Panel — Employers will speak about the work they do and the types of employment opportunities in their particular STEM fields.
Speed Networking — Students will meet diverse employers to discuss their STEM career interests.
Resume Critique — Employers will do a quick resume critique of
students’ resumes to help them understand how to best highlight their skills and experience in the highly competitive STEM job market.

The Math Works Career Day , Wednesday, February 27, 2019
1:30 p.m.—2:30 p.m. Information Session, MC Alumni Room
2:30 p.m.—3:30 p.m. (Q+A), MC Alumni Room
Hear about the many opportunities at Math Works. All majors
welcome! Please call the career services and employer relations
office to find out more information! Preregistration required.
Call the CSER office at 508-626-4625.

Spring Job and Internship Fair, Tuesday, March 26, 2019, 4:30 p.m.– 6:00 p.m., MC Forum
Come to this great networking event! Full-time and Internship
positions available. Over 55 employers from the business, human services,
non-profit, and STEM field’s will be featured. Bring your resume.
Dress professionally.

MERC Education Fair, Thursday, April 18, 2019 , 9:00 a.m.– 2:30 p.m., at B.U.
Come to the largest education fair in New England - Over 100 school systems and agencies attend! Save the date for this annual recruiting event that brings together teaching candidates and school systems across the country for networking and job opportunities in public/private schools. Must register at: www.merccareerfair.com

Notable Accomplishments

-Professor Ani Gjika’s translation of Negative Space, a double-volume of poetry by the Albanian writer Luljeta Lleshanaku, has been longlisted for a PEN Translation Prize.

Here’s a link to the announcement: https://pen.org/2019longlists/

Upcoming events

Baseball vs Bridgewater State

Thursday, March 28, 2024

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Bowditch Field Athletic & Cultural Complex

Organized by: Athletics

Women's Lacrosse vs Fitchburg State

Saturday, March 30, 2024

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Maple Street Field

Organized by: Athletics

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