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Thomas Wilson, the Elizabeth J. McCormack Professor of History, presented a talk on conceptions of heaven and god in Confucian ritual discourse on April 17 at the University of Rochester.

For many Americans the devastating earthquake that shook Nepal on April 25 seems a world away. But it has hit close to home for three Hamilton students who are natives of the country and have families there. The three – Priti Kharel ’18, Ujjwal Pradhan ’15 and  Sharif Shrestha ’17 – are raising funds for relief and working with the International Students Association (ISA) and other Hamilton student organizations to raise awareness of the tragedy that has left more than 5000 dead.

Professor of English Doran Larson recently discussed the importance and value of prisoner education on  To the Point, a Public Radio International-hosted and KCRW-produced program, in a segment titled “Should we let more prisoners take college classes?” The April 24 show featured both Larson and one of his students, Attica inmate John J. Lennon whose op-ed in support of education for prisoners recently appeared in The New York Times.

Anne Dinneen, director of investments since 2004 at the James Irvine Foundation in San Francisco, has been named chief investment officer at Hamilton College. Dinneen, who worked previously at Barclays Global Investors, Thomas Weisel Partners and Banc of America Securities, will manage the college’s $922 million endowment and planned giving assets. She will assume her position at Hamilton on May 15.

Associate Professor of Government Sharon Rivera and Lecturer in Government David Rivera were members of a panel that discussed “Russia, the West, and the War in Ukraine” on April 16 at the Center for European Studies at Syracuse University.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Myriam Cotten attended the Scialog conference “Molecules Come to Life” at Biosphere 2 near Tucson, Az., March 12-15. Scialog was a multi-disciplinary gathering of physicists, chemists and biologists sponsored by Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Pioneering civil rights attorney Mary Bonauto ’83 appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 28 to argue Obergefell v. Hodges, a case that could determine whether same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. Obergefell combines four challenges to same-sex marriage bans, from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan.

Peter J. Rabinowitz, the Carolyn C. and David M. Ellis ’38 Distinguished Teaching Professor of Comparative Literature, published “Toward a Narratology of Cognitive Flavor” in the Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Literary Studies, edited by Lisa Zunshine.

While many people recognize the value of a college education, not all appreciate the art behind educating. The Hamilton community has been fostering dialogues this year as part of the inaugural Talk About Teaching (TAT) series. Associate Dean of Faculty Penny Yee, who helps coordinate the variety of events, described the purpose of the series as “drawing attention to the practice of teaching at the college.” The events take place across campus, with noontime gatherings almost every Tuesday.

Associate Director of Physical Plant for Building Services William Huggins received the Outstanding Engineering Professionalism Award, given by the Mohawk Valley Engineers’ Executive Council (MVEEC). The award was presented at a banquet on April 23 at the Roselawn in New York Mills, N.Y.