Current News
New leadership for four of Connecticut College´s interdisciplinary centers
June 03, 2008
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Three of Connecticut College's interdisciplinary academic centers have new directors and an interim director will lead the college's Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity during the 2008 - 2009 academic year.
Each of the college's interdisciplinary academic centers encourages the exploration of important issues across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Through four of the centers, students can earn a certificate beyond their bachelor's degree by completing a two-year program of coursework, a summer internship and a senior integrative project, in addition to major requirements.
"The interdisciplinary centers provide our students with a unique academic opportunity and support a sharing of ideas between students and faculty across the disciplines," Dean of the Faculty Roger Brooks said. "The new center directors are strong, accomplished leaders who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the college."
Center directors serve for a term of three academic years. The new directors are:
- Ozgur Izmirli, the Jean C. Tempel '65 Associate Professor of Computer Science at Connecticut College, will direct the Ammerman Center of Arts and Technology. Izmirli, who has served as the associate director of the center since 1999, specializes in digital signal processing, music perception and cognition modeling and computer-user interfaces for musical applications.
- Doug Thompson, professor of geology in the department of Physics, Astronomy and Geophysics, has been named the Karla Heurich Harrison '28 Faculty Director of the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies. Thompson, a professor at the college since 1997, is an expert in geomorphology and hydrology and focuses his research on understanding how flowing water and the resulting turbulence influence the physical channel characteristics created by these processes.
- Sunil Bhatia, associate professor of human development, will direct the Holleran Center for Public Policy and Community Action. Bhatia, a professor at Connecticut College since 1999, has published more than a dozen articles and book chapters on issues related to language, self, immigrant identity and cultural psychology. His most recent book, "American Karma: Race, Culture, and Identity and the Indian Diaspora," is based on an extensive ethnography of the middle-class Indian diaspora in Southern Connecticut. In 2006, Bhatia started Friends of Shelter Associates (FSA), a local chapter of the Indian nonprofit organization, Shelter Associates, an organization dedicated to raising funds for the construction of community and individual toilets in Indian slums.
- Sufia Uddin, assistant professor of religious studies, will serve as the interim director of the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity while the Center's director, religious studies professor David Kyuman Kim, is on sabbatical. Uddin, who joined the Connecticut College faculty in 2007, specializes in Islamic studies, religion in south Asia, women and religion and religious identity politics.
Additionally, Robert Gay, professor of sociology, is returning from sabbatical to resume his position as director of the Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts. Frederick Paxton, the Brigida Pacchiani Ardenghi Professor of History at Connecticut College, had served as the interim director.
Among the most selective private liberal arts colleges in the nation, Connecticut College enrolls 1,900 men and women from 41 states, the District of Columbia and 71 countries. The college is known for putting the liberal arts into action through interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning. Founded in 1911, the college operates under an 86-year-old honor code. The college is located at 270 Mohegan Ave, New Lo
For more information contact: Amy Martin (860) 439-2526; a.martin@conncoll.edu