Reliance on supernatural explanations for major life events, such as death and illness, often increases rather than declines with age, according to a new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin and published in the June issue of Child Development. “As children assimilate cultural concepts into their intuitive belief systems — from God […]
Fall 2012
UTeach-Liberal Arts Goes Global
Applying top teacher-training principles into different cultural frameworks Inspiring. Knowledgeable. Passionate. These descriptions often tumble forth when people are asked to recall their favorite teacher. Good teachers help students pass tests, but great teachers spark critical thinking, bring subjects to life and encourage students to pursue their passions. Since 2001, The University of Texas at […]
Teenage Alcohol Abuse May Be Cause, Rather than Effect, of Isolation and Poor Grades
Rather than gaining “liquid courage” to let loose with friends, teenage drinkers are more likely to feel like social outcasts, according to a new sociology study from The University of Texas at Austin. The study — conducted by Robert Crosnoe, professor of sociology, and Aprile Benner, assistant professor of human development and family sciences — […]
Hope for Peace in the Middle East
Jason Brownlee, associate professor in the Departments of Government and Middle Eastern Studies, has received a $109,484 grant to examine peace-building efforts in Egypt. The funding, provided by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), will enable Brownlee to determine whether the rise in Egypt’s anti-Coptic violence comes from underlying social tensions or from lack […]
Sweet Success for Liberal Arts Entrepreneurs
It’s not unusual to hear a liberal arts student say, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could make money doing what I love?” But the logistics of launching a business — from starting a portfolio to developing a marketing plan — can make the very notion of embarking on a new venture seem downright intimidating. […]
Words with Friends
Pro Bene Meritis 2012 The Pro Bene Meritis Award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts. It is given each spring to alumni, faculty and friends of the college who are committed to the liberal arts, who have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pursuits, or who have participated in service […]
What Big Eyes You Have
Maximum running speed is the most important variable influencing mammalian eye size other than body size, according to new research from anthropology associate professor Chris Kirk and physical anthropology doctoral student Amber Heard-Booth. “If you can think of mammals that are fast like a cheetah or horse, you can almost guarantee they’ve got really big […]
UT Historian Leads Major Tejano Curriculum Project
UT History Professor Emilio Zamora is playing a key role in an innovative new public-private partnership to bring Tejano history into Texas public schools and public spaces. Zamora is collaborating with Professors Cynthia Salinas and María Fránquiz from the College of Education. The Tejano History Curriculum Project — sponsored by the Tejano Monument, Inc., a […]
Pioneering Heart
Pro Bene Meritis 2012 The Pro Bene Meritis Award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts. It is given each spring to alumni, faculty and friends of the college who are committed to the liberal arts, who have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pursuits, or who have participated in service […]
From History to Haiku
Pro Bene Meritis 2012 The Pro Bene Meritis Award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts. It is given each spring to alumni, faculty and friends of the college who are committed to the liberal arts, who have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pursuits, or who have participated in service […]
On the Record
Pro Bene Meritis 2012 The Pro Bene Meritis Award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Liberal Arts. It is given each spring to alumni, faculty and friends of the college who are committed to the liberal arts, who have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pursuits, or who have participated in service […]
And the 2012 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Awards Go To…
Eight faculty members from the College of Liberal Arts received the 2012 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the UT System Board of Regents’ highest teaching honor, which recognizes extraordinary educators from system institutions. The University of Texas at Austin instructors, who represent a diverse set of disciplines and expertise, each received monetary awards of $25,000. The […]
Lebermann Foundation Announces $2.5 Million Gift to Nationally Ranked Plan II Honors Program
The Lebermann Foundation, established by former University of Texas System Regent and Plan II student Lowell H. Lebermann Jr., is donating $2.5 million to The University of Texas at Austin to help recruit top students for the Plan II Honors Program. Recently ranked among the top honors experiences in the country, Plan II is a […]
TOWER Transforms Classrooms
Large-format courses can provide students with rapid feedback and personalization for the ultimate learning experience A new education platform developed at The University of Texas at Austin is helping answer two critical questions about classrooms of the future: What’s the best way to use online technology in higher education? And how can we increase student […]
Bridge to Tomorrow
Students, faculty and visitors will soon cross this sky bridge from the Student Activity Center to the new Liberal Arts Building, where workers are putting finishing touches on labs, classrooms and other gathering spaces that maximize student/faculty collaboration while minimizing environmental impacts. Located on the East Mall near San Jacinto Street, the building is designed […]
Books: Fall 2012
Fall 2012 titles from our college community.
Whatever Happened to the American Dream?
International historian Jeremi Suri looks back at America’s greatest visionaries to show how our nation can achieve greatness again Some of America’s greatest triumphs were built on dreams. Without dreamers, Neil Armstrong wouldn’t have walked on the moon, proving the sky isn’t the limit. Steve Jobs wouldn’t have transformed the way we work, play and communicate through […]
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Alexander D’Jamoos, a Liberal Arts Honors/International Relations and Global Studies sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts, spent his summer climbing Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Born in Penza, Russia, he grew up in an orphanage for children with disabilities. At age 16, he was adopted by an American family and moved from Russia to […]
Memories for the Future
When humans learn, their brains relate new information with past experiences to derive new knowledge, according to psychology research from The University of Texas at Austin. The study, led by Alison Preston, assistant professor of psychology and neurobiology and research affiliate in the Center for Learning and Memory, shows this memory-binding process allows people to […]
Third Time’s the Charm for Keene Prize Recipient
Fiona McFarlane, a James A. Michener Center for Writers (MCW) graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, has won the $50,000 Keene Prize for Literature for her short story, “A Fortunate Man.” A finalist in 2010 and again in 2011, McFarlane finally took the grand prize this year when her story was chosen […]
Pennebaker Honored by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology
James Pennebaker, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology, is the recipient of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s (SPSP) Distinguished Scholar Award — the society’s highest honor. Pennebaker showed that writing about personal trauma and other negative life experiences can positively affect physical health and psychological well being in the long term. […]
South Asia Institute Initiates Partnership with Women’s University in Pakistan
The South Asia Institute (SAI) at The University of Texas at Austin has initiated a three-year partnership with Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU ) in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, which is made possible by a $999,600 grant from the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. The partnership will concentrate on the professional development of FJWU faculty members, […]
History Alumnus Awarded Pulitzer Prize
In Brief: History When graduate students in the History Department met with John Lewis Gaddis on March 6, they thought they were going to participate in a discussion with an eminent Cold War historian. They did not realize they were meeting with a soon-to-be Pulitzer Prize-winner. Gaddis, the Robert A. Lovett Professor of Military and […]
The Pleasure Principle
New neuroscience research shows cocaine abuse hijacks the brain’s reward system Imagine biting down on a juicy cheeseburger after a long day of yard work, or taking a swig of ice-cold water on a hot summer’s day. That immediate rush of euphoric bliss is the body’s way of saying, “Yes, please!” Like a well-oiled machine, […]
Moving Forward in the Face of Challenge
Higher education has seen its share of challenges over the past half-decade. The global financial crisis that began in 2007 sent tremors across every campus in the country, causing us not only to tighten our belts but to rethink fundamental models of teaching, research and service that have guided our mission for more than a […]