News from Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Princeton Review once again listed Transylvania University among the top 15 percent of the nation’s four-year colleges. “We selected these colleges primarily based on our high opinion of their academics,” according to the Princeton Review, which includes Transylvania in its book, “The Best 380 Colleges – 2016 Edition.” The Princeton Review—known for its college admissions, tutoring and test prep services—also conducted independent surveys of students at the country’s top schools. The report characterized Transylvania students as “passionate, involved, kind and intelligent.” There also is a collaborative culture at the school and “strong sense of community.” One of the students surveyed said professors are extremely accessible and “care about their students on a personal level.” The Princeton Review noted: “Individual attention is paramount at Transylvania University.” Additionally, a psychology and philosophy double major said students “care about each other and are ready to stand together to support a cause or a friend in need.” The survey also highlighted the many ways to get involved in groups and activities both on and off campus, and it mentioned Transylvania’s dynamic learning opportunities. Students can expect a rigorous, high-quality education at this liberal arts school, which “emphasizes interdisciplinary work” and fosters critical thinking. Plus, students commented on the ideal location of Lexington, which offers amenities such as “a rich culture of art” and dining and entertainment opportunities— furthermore, downtown is within walking distance of campus. In addition to including Transylvania in the Best

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University on May 23 graduated the first group of majors from its new neuroscience program. These students are poised to further their educations in graduate or professional school or join the workforce after taking an interdisciplinary approach to a range of scientific and philosophical issues—from artificial intelligence to how the brain functions and how it makes us who we are. Transylvania, which started the program in the fall of 2013, now has 35 neuroscience majors. Courses are as varied as Foundations of Computer Science, Behavioral Pharmacology and Music Cognition. The program allowed graduating senior Tiara Harris of Maysville to combine her three main areas of interest: biology, psychology and computer science. She said the major gave her a well-rounded perspective. “In my four years here, the liberal arts have taught me that there are many different viewpoints to solve a question,” she said. After graduation, Harris wants to focus on not only neuroscience but also education, possibly through Teach for America. She hopes to eventually land a job in the new field of neuroeducation. Senior Brooke Newman of Lexington said her neuroscience major provided an opportunity to learn the brain’s biology as well as understand, from a psychological standpoint, why we do what we do. “I’m also a psychology major, so the two played in very nicely to each other,” said Newman, who plans to apply to graduate programs in either neuroscience or clinical psychology. This year’s other

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LEXINGTON Ky.—Transylvania University will continue its commitment to foster interreligious dialog with the 2015 Moosnick Lectureship in Judaic Studies on Tuesday, April 28. Susannah Heschel, the Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College, will present “Scholarship and Ethics: How Do Jews and Christian Connect?” at 7 p.m. in Carrick Theater. “Susannah Heschel’s research exemplifies the mission of the Moosnick lectures, which are important for Lexington because they afford an opportunity for Jewish and Christian communities to intentionally engage topics of common interest,” Transylvania religion professor Paul Jones said. Heschel, who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, has authored numerous books, including “The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany” and “Abraham Geiger and the Jewish Jesus.” She also holds a Guggenheim Fellowship and is writing a book about the history of European Jewish scholarship on Islam. Transylvania hosts the Moosnick Lectureship in partnership with the Lexington Theological Seminary. On Wednesday, April 29, Heschel will present “The Life and Legacy of Abraham Joshua Heschel: Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity” at the Ohavay Zion Synagogue. The 7 p.m. talk is about her late father, who was a well-known scholar and involved with the civil rights movement. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Carrick Theater is in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center, and free parking is available in an adjacent lot. Transylvania’s Moosnick Endowment sponsors the lectureship.

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Two current Transylvania students and one 2014 graduate have been awarded three of the 23 Alpha Lambda Delta Fellowships offered to the honor society’s 275 chapters nationwide. Seniors Nashwin Laungani, from Lexington, and Emily Martin, from Florence, Ky., as well as Raisa Tikhtman ’14, from Lexington, received the annual fellowships for the 2015-16 academic year. The awards offset the expense of pursuing a graduate or professional degree. Nashwin Laungani Raisa Tikhtman Emily Martin “One of our newest Alpha Lambda Delta chapters, chartered in 2009, has produced more scholarship and fellowship winners than any other chapter during its six year history,” said Glenda Earwood, executive director of National Alpha Lambda Delta. “With this year’s three winners, the number of ALD winners from Transylvania has reached 14. That’s amazing, and we are so proud of these students.” Professor Mike Nichols, who is the chapter adviser, also said he is proud of the recipients. “For the past two years we have received three graduate fellowships—more than any other chapter—and we are competing with major research universities. In addition to having wonderful students, I also credit our faculty for their encouragement and the thoughtful letters they write in support of our students.” For the 2015 competition, National Alpha Lambda Delta reviewed one of the most qualified applicant pools ever. Applicants were predominantly graduating seniors and came from a broad cross section of chapters. The national Fellowship Reader’s Committee, a group of volunteers from

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