University of Texas at Austin sociologist and Population Research Center affiliate Chandra Muller and economist Sandra Black have received a $3.2 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to study the effects of cognition on health, mortality, education and employment from high school and beyond. The three-year grant will support a Muller-led study that […]
Spring 2013
Clements Center Will Promote Diplomatic History and National Security
Clements Center Will Promote Diplomatic History and National Security The William P. Clements Jr. Center on History, Strategy and Statecraft is being established at The University of Texas at Austin to train leaders in the history of national security and diplomacy and to honor the legacy of one of the most influential statesmen in Texas […]
Liberal Arts Introduces 10-Month Master of Economics
A new 10-month master’s degree program offered by the Department of Economics will provide a rigorous curriculum and quantitative training to those seeking more economic expertise in a variety of fields. The first cohort will be admitted for the 2013-14 academic year, with classes beginning in July 2013. An undergraduate degree in economics is not […]
Books: Spring 2013
“The Cult of Pythagoras: Math and Myths” University of Pittsburgh Press, Oct. 2012 By Alberto A. Martínez, associate professor, Department of History “Encountering America: Humanistic Psychology, Sixties Culture, and the Shaping of the Modern Self” Harper Perennial, Dec. 2012 By Jessica Grogan, English MA ’02, American Studies Ph.D. ’08 “Lady Bird Johnson: An Oral History” […]
Teaching Teens That Bullies Can Change Reduces Aggression
Teaching teens that people have the potential to change can reduce aggressive reactions in peer conflicts, according to a new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin. The study, published in the February 2013 issue of Child Development, has important implications for bullying interventions in public schools. “When adolescents believe the world is […]
End of Austin
Will rapid growth destroy the city’s weird and charming vibe? Walk by a magazine rack and take a look at the headlines. Chances are, you’ll find Austin gracing a “best city” list. Among its many accolades, the Texas state capital has been named the “best city to start a small business,” “best city for retirees,” […]
Restore Rundberg
Sociologist Works to Reduce Crime in Austin Neighborhood Struggles in the Rundberg neighborhood of Austin are evident at deteriorating apartments and trash-strewn vacant lots. But pride and hope are plentiful too, as many residents spruce up their homes, pitch in at community parks and enjoy new recreation centers. Alarming police statistics reveal another layer of […]
Help Wanted
Policy report shows minimum wage lifts women out of poverty, boosts consumer spending In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama made a bold claim: “Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to […]
Long Live the Jane Austen Frenzy!
As “Pride and Prejudice,” first published in 1813, celebrates its 200th anniversary, Jane Austen is repackaged to appeal to a new generation of readers On the highbrow end, organizations and libraries around the world are busy hosting academic conferences and readings to celebrate the bicentenary. On the pop culture side, Hollywood is about to release […]
It’s Just the Beginning
For three years Life & Letters magazine has marked our progress toward the dream of a new College of Liberal Arts Building, and with this issue we celebrate the realization of that dream and the hard work and dedication of those who made it possible. Although the construction phase is for the most part complete, […]
Picture Perfect
Breakthrough research in image enhancement technology leads to free online tool What began as an effort to better understand how animal and human visual systems work has led to a revolutionary method for enlarging and enhancing photos that is being made available, free of charge, from the Center for Perceptual Systems. Wilson Geisler, center director […]
Longer Days for Telecommuters
New study shows boundary blurring between work and home With fluctuating gas prices and the increasing call for work-life balance, telecommuting has become a benefit touted by some companies. Yet according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin, for most telecommuters it may be adding extra work hours to their day. […]
The Fate of the Book, Up Close
A high-resolution image of a louse captivates team members of a project that brought together the Department of English, the Texas Advanced Computing Center, and the Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology in a collaborative effort to draw attention to the Texas Institute for Literary and Textual Studies’ “The Fate of the Book” symposia by […]
Trouble in Paradise or Domestic Bliss?
Shared spaces may reveal a surprising amount of information about a couple’s relationship, according to a forthcoming study led by Lindsay Graham, a psychology graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with Sam Gosling, professor of psychology and author of “Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You,” and a team of […]
A Space to Call Home
Take a walk through the new College of Liberal Arts Building, and the building feels as fresh and modern as it feels warm and lived-in—an impressive feat for a place that just opened in January. “This is our shot at greatness,” says Randy Diehl, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “This building ensures that […]
Retiring Faculty 2013
Henry Dietz Government Dietz, the Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Government, taught at the university for 41 years. A specialist in Latin American politics, he studied urban poverty and politics, civil-military relations, and parties and party systems. Among his many teaching awards, he was inducted into the university’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers in […]
Life Lessons from the Great Books
Students explore themes that have shaped modern civilization For any of life’s challenges, there is a Great Book to offer valuable insight. From Homer’s “Odyssey” to Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” to George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” the world’s greatest tomes have touched on themes that are as relevant today as when they were written. Tracing the ideas, stories […]
Ancient DNA Opens Aztec Cold Case
For centuries, the fate of the original Otomí inhabitants of Xaltocan, the capital of a pre-Aztec Mexican city-state, has remained unknown. Researchers have long wondered whether they assimilated with the Aztecs or abandoned the town altogether. According to new anthropological research from The University of Texas at Austin, Wichita State University and Washington State University, […]
Undergraduate Writing Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service
In 1993 the Undergraduate Writing Center opened its doors to students of all majors in need of help on various writing-intensive projects—from research papers to résumés to scholarship application statements. To celebrate its 20-year anniversary, the writing center hosted its first large-scale symposium titled “The Future of Writing Centers” on Feb. 22-24. The event featured […]
Dedman Distinguished Scholars Endowment Increases to $20 Million to Support Scholarships
The College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin now has a unique recruiting advantage — full scholarships covering tuition, books, room and board, study abroad and internship opportunities. “The Dedman Distinguished Scholarship is the premier scholarship in the College of Liberal Arts and one of the most generous in the nation,” […]