June 1 - New continuing education dean; seeing galactic metal through the dust
Section 1
June is Pride Month, and this is Pride Week. UCI’s LGBT Resource Center has events continuing through Friday. Illustration by Rene Gauthier-Butterfield
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
“I am thrilled to work with the talented team at DCE and to partner with the UCI faculty to provide innovative programs that advance professional skills and knowledge required for the future,” says Kristine Collins.
Kristine M. Collins appointed dean of Division of Continuing Education
The current vice president of university partnerships at Circuit Stream Inc. – a Calgary-based virtual reality education start-up focused on delivering online courses in partnership with North American universities – was selected following a continentwide search. Collins, who will assume the UCI post on Aug. 22, held a range of administrative management roles at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies between 2015-22. “Education doesn’t end at graduation, and for thousands of students across Orange County, our Division of Continuing Education provides multiple learning opportunities for personal and professional growth over the span of their lifetimes,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “We are excited to have Kristine Collins join us to lead and advance this vital service for our alumni and the entire greater community.”
UCI-led astronomy team finds evidence of galactic metal shrouded in dust
A UCI-led study of five nearby galaxies found more metal than expected in the intergalactic medium, a result that would have been difficult to achieve without the power of viewing infrared radiation through thick galactic dust. NASA’s SOFIA airborne observatory enabled the international team of astronomers to gather infrared emissions data during a multiyear campaign.
Team-based model in pharmacy and medicine delivers cost-effective, personalized patient care
The role of the pharmacist is evolving beyond dispensing medication to addressing the increased intricacy and cost of supporting the wellness of the country’s aging and diverse population by working directly with caregivers. “A strong working relationship between pharmacists and physicians is necessary to optimize personalized care,” says Joyce Yu-Chia Lee, health sciences clinical professor. “This team-based holistic approach, or collaborative care model, prioritizes patient safety, improves outcomes and helps reduce costs.”
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
UC celebrates 50th anniversary of Pell Grant
June 23 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pell Grant program, and throughout the month the UC is joining advocates from across the country in celebrating the milestone while underscoring the need for Congress to double the Pell Grant maximum award. Visit Double the Pell to learn how you can participate in the campaign that begins today. Contact Crystal Martinez (Crystal.Matinez@ucdc.edu) and Carl Welliver (Carl.Welliver@ucdc.edu) in the UC's Office of Federal Governmental Relations to access the UC Partners Toolkit that includes collateral, sample messaging and other helpful information and tools to support advocacy.
Reported COVID-19 infection levels nearly 6 times higher than last Memorial Day
Millions of Americans traveled for Memorial Day weekend at levels not seen since before the onset of the pandemic. But that did not mark a return to normalcy in this sense: Confirmed COVID-19 cases were nearly six times higher than last Memorial Day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And we are now in the eighth straight week of rising COVID cases.
EVENTS
Pride Week (sponsored by LGBT Resource Center)
- An Evening with Mercury Stardust, Thursday, 5 p.m.
- Button making, Friday, 1 p.m.
Strategies to Promote Safe Learning with Emily Owens
Friday, 9 a.m. (sponsored by Harvard Kenneth School of Government Program in Education Policy and Governance)
The Metaverse's New Diversity Industrial Complex
Friday, 2 p.m. (sponsored by Information and Computer Sciences)
Stella Zhang New Venture Competition Grand Finale
Friday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
Hansori’s 2nd annual Spring Showcase
Friday, 7 p.m. (sponsored by Hansori Traditional Korean Drumming Club)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
How Patsy Takemoto Mink, the First Woman of Color in Congress, Helped Craft Title IX
Time, June 1
Co-author: Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, professor of Asian American studies
COVID-19 AMA: Transmission Rates Rise In Southern California, Whether Mask Mandates Work, Long COVID In Older Adults, And More
KPCC (audio), May 31
Guest: Dr. Shruti Gohil, professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention
Most Countries Stopped Requiring COVID Tests for Air Travel. Why Hasn’t the US?
Healthline, May 31
Cited: Karen L. Edwards, professor and chair of epidemiology
COMMENCEMENT CORNER
#IamUCI: Q&A with Class of 2022 graduate Andrew Norman
Diagnosed at 8 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Andrew Norman spent many years of his childhood undergoing chemotherapy and remaining indoors to avoid pollutants. The La Habra native was pulled out of high school because of “chemo brain,” a temporary cognitive impairment related to cancer treatment. He attended a continuation school but relapsed and had to pull out. He took several high school equivalency tests before finally passing and enrolling at Fullerton College. He transferred to UCI as a psychological science major in 2020. Norman hopes to eventually go into social services and provide students the psychological support in school that he lacked.
Graduating this year? Share your UCI story and photos! Tag us with #IamUCI on Instagram and Twitter.