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The Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center sponsored a lecture by Harvard University assistant professor of economics Roland Fryer, titled “Toward a Unified Theory of Black America,” on Jan. 31. Fryer, whose work focuses on understanding racial inequality through quantitative research, spoke to a crowded Chapel audience about several of his past studies as well as his current project, which provides students in urban public schools with monetary incentives for good academic performance.

Former governor of Iowa, presidential hopeful and Hamilton alumnus Tom Vilsack ‘72 has recently signed on to teach at Drake University’s School of Law. The university announced that in May, Vilsack will teach an interim course on legal issues relating to renewable energy and rural development.

Professor of Chemistry Tim Elgren presented "Halogenase and Oxidative Dehalogenase Activities of Sol-Gel Encapsulated Peroxidases" on Jan. 31 at the "Metals in Biology" Gordon Research Conference in Ventura, Calif. The work presented was done this past summer in collaboration with Hilary Gamble '07, Kathryn Hansen '07 and Marielle Matthews '09. Their efforts focused on the development and characterization of novel biologically active materials which are capable of catalyzing the degradation of toxic halogenated compounds. A grant from the National Science Foundation funds the work.

Two groups of highly selective, small liberal arts colleges and universities have developed a series of measurements to gauge the effectiveness of their alumni relations efforts. The metrics examined a wide range of alumni engagement activities and include alumni council representation. Of the twenty-five schools who responded to the survey, Hamilton’s 246-member Alumni Council is, by a wide margin, the most inclusive.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued to Hamilton College a special ruling that allows the college to invest charitable remainder trusts with its endowment. These charitable gift vehicles will benefit from increased diversification and growth potential. 

Art history professor Stephen J. Goldberg presented a lecture titled "Memory, Authenticity, and Identity in Contemporary Chinese Art," as part of the Spring 2007 Art and Art History Lecture Series at Colgate University on Jan. 31.

Playwright John O’Keefe returns to Hamilton College with a new evening of work on Saturday Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Fillius Events Barn. The performance, "Two Songs," features O’Keefe’s “Sunshine’s a Glorious Bird” and the world premiere of his adaptation of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” The play is free and open to the public.

The Diversity and Social Justice Project sponsored a lecture by Los Angeles Times writer Scott Gold titled "Covering Katrina: The Ethics and Politics of Our Own Natural/Human/Political Disaster" on Monday, Jan. 29. Gold, who filed reports from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and its immediate aftermath and has continued to cover the effects on the city for the Times, spoke about his experience as well as the role of journalism in covering stories like Hurricane Katrina. Gold’s lecture was accompanied by remarks from Sean Sullivan '07, who worked on news stories dealing with the storm’s effects during his internship with Nightline this past summer.

The award winning Euclid and Degas string quartets will present a concert on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. in the Fillius Events Barn, Beinecke Student Activities Village, on the campus of Hamilton College. The program will include string quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Alberto Ginastera and will feature the central New York premiere of Ludi, a work for two string quartets by Hamilton Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Armando Bayolo.

Hamilton College Art Director Cathy Brown has been named to Graphic Design USA Magazine's "People to Watch in 2007." Graphic Design USA is a monthly news magazine for graphic designers and creative professionals. Brown, who joined Hamilton's Communications & Development office as art director in 2002, had previously worked as a freelance graphic designer who counted Hamilton among her clients. In the January, 2007 issue highlighting her award, Brown was asked where she turns for inspiration. She said "Inspiration is everywhere: in the landscape, in the retail sector, on the Web, in art of any kind and in magazines and books. One of the best aspects of working with a group versus freelancing is the ability to talk about a project with colleagues - good ideas often originate with joint thinking."