1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Transylvania announces molecular biologist and geneticist Sean B. Carroll as fall Kenan Lecture speaker

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—“Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species” will be Sean B. Carroll’s topic when he presents Transylvania University’s Kenan Lecture on Wednesday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Haggin Auditorium in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center. The lecture is free and open to the public. Carroll is professor of molecular biology and genetics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Wisconsin. His research focuses on the genes that control animal body patterns and play major roles in the evolution of animal diversity. Discoveries from his laboratory have been featured in TIME, US News & World Report, The New York Times, Discover, and  Natural History. A 2009 NOVA special to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species was based on Carroll’s books, Endless Forms Most Beautiful  and The Making of the Fittest. He served as scientific consulting producer for the program. Carroll was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2009 and to the National Academy of Sciences in 2007. He received the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize from the Society of Developmental Biology and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received a B.A. degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis and a Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts Medical

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Transylvania’s last orientation and registration for the class of 2013 is Saturday, July 18

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2009-10 Student Orientation Leaders LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University welcomes members of the class of 2013 to campus Saturday, July 18, for the final student orientation and registration event, following one each in April and June. To help new Pioneers prepare to start college, Transy offers three registration and orientation days for incoming first-year students. At these sessions, incoming students meet for the first time with their University 1111 class groups and then register for their first classes. University 1111, or Academic Career Skills, is a required course that continues the orientation to college life throughout students’ first term on campus. During the course, classes made up of 12-14 students meet with a faculty mentor and an upperclass student mentor, called a Student Orientation Leader. Topics of discussion include the philosophy of a liberal arts education, study habits, learning skills, goal setting, time management, selection of a major, career choices and planning and personal development. President Charles L. Shearer leads one University 1111 class. While students meet with their University 1111 groups, information sessions are offered for parents. In the afternoon, an information fair and campus and residence hall tours for incoming students and their parents are offered.

Transy’s student newspaper names new editor, staff

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Grace Chambers LEXINGTON, Ky. – Transylvania University senior Grace Chambers has been named editor-in-chief of the school’s student newspaper, The Rambler. Chambers, of Lexington, will take over the reins of the weekly publication after serving as opinion editor and news editor. “We are going to work hard to make The Rambler the most relevant, informative and thought-provoking news source possible for the Transy community,” said Chambers, an English major. Chambers’ top priority as editor-in-chief will be providing more aggressive reporting and broader coverage of campus life, she said. Chambers replaces Sara Thompson, who graduated in May. “There is so much happening here at Transy and so much to write about,” Chambers said. “I look forward to working with a very talented staff to look closely into campus issues and better reflect the life of a Transy student.” Senior Melissa True, of Corinth, is the new managing editor. She served as news editor during the 2008 winter and fall terms before studying abroad in England during the 2009 winter term. “After coming back from studying abroad, one of the things I’m looking forward to about Transy is returning to The Rambler staff. I’m excited to start working on it again,” True said. Student media adviser Terri McLean will continue to work with the all-volunteer staff. She spent 25 years in the newspaper business, including a 21-year stint at the Lexington Herald-Leader. “I’m really proud of The Rambler’s progress this past year

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Transylvania student volunteers time to children in Lexington and Belize

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Moore with a Peruvian child during her semester abroad in fall 2008. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Samantha Moore, a rising senior at Transylvania University, is spending part of her summer helping children in Lexington and abroad in Belize. A sociology major and Spanish minor from Cadiz, Ky., Moore recently spent a week volunteering at the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington’s Camp Haven, a free camp for children ages 7-12 whose parents are incarcerated. “The camp fosters a safe environment for the children to express themselves through artwork and guided focus groups,” Moore explains.“Having this unique shared experience removes any fear of being ‘different’ and lets kids just be kids.” Moore will spend the month of August in Belize, where she will live at Liberty Farm, an organic farm that is part of the Liberty Foundation, a residential facility for abused, neglected and abandoned children. The farm is a member of World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farming (WWOOF), an organization that helps people share more sustainable ways of living. WWOOF connects volunteers with organic farms around the world that will host the volunteers and provide lodging and meals in exchange for working on the farm. Moore will learn a variety of skills including sustainable farming practices and carpentry. Liberty Farm provides food for the orphanage and sells produce to help fund the orphanage. Volunteers on the farm will also have opportunities to volunteer at the orphanage and work with the children. Moore was awarded a

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