Thanks for reading our weekly roundup of news and events at the School of Human Ecology. Have something we should know about? Email Public Relations Manager Serena Larkin, or submit your SoHE event via this form. View past issues of news and events here.
In-house highlights
SoHE and CommNS partner on 3 of 6 new SMPH grants
Last week, the Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health announced its 2020 Community Impact Grant awards for initiatives that aim to advance health equity and improve health and well-being throughout Wisconsin. The program funds six new grants of $1 million each, over five years, and SoHE and the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) are partners on three of them.
Community altar project goes virtual in 2020
The Community Altar Project, an annual event driven by Carolyn Kallenborn, the Jane Rafferty Thiele Professor in Human Ecology and the Textiles and Fashion Design Program Coordinator, will be virtual this year. Learn more, including about how to participate.
Espeseth and Covering Wisconsin win $1 million grant
Congratulations to Allison Espeseth and her team at Covering Wisconsin, which was just awarded $1 million in CARES Act funding to aid its work connecting Wisconsin residents with appropriate insurance coverage and other health programs. Read more in this press release from Governor Evers’ office.
SoHE scholars in the news
Addo advises on pandemic relief spending in Newsweek
Newsweek featured 12 leading economic thinkers’ recommendations for reviving the American economy coming out of the pandemic. Dr. Fenaba Addo, the Lorna Jorgenson Wendt Associate Professor in Money, Relationships, and Equality (MORE), was one of them.
Keeler featured on WORT Radio
A Public Affair interviewed Dr. Kasey Keeler, Assistant Professor of Civil Society and Community Studies and American Indian Studies, last Friday, discussing a range of Indigenous issues in North America, including tribal sovereignty, Indigenous climate justice, COVID-19 and voting access in reservation communities, Native authors to read, and more.
Collins speaks with WKOW on nonprofits’ fundraising creativity
Mary Beth Collins, Executive Director of the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, spoke with WKOW (Madison’s ABC News affiliate) about how nonprofits have innovated and pivoted to address budget shortfalls stemming from the pandemic.
Robb talks Halloween spending with NBC 15
Dr. Cliff Robb, Associate Professor of Consumer Science, spoke with NBC 15 News about how and why consumers are spending on Halloween festivities this year.
Gaddis featured on Queens Podcast Lab, Research Minutes podcast from CPRE
Dr. Jennifer Gaddis, the Jane Rafferty Thiele Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of Civil Society and Community Studies, was a featured guest on a recent podcast episode from the Queens Podcast Lab, discussing food politics alongside two other scholars, as well as on the Research Minutes podcast from the Consortium for Policy Research in Education.
WARF Innovation Day, including Ponto, noted on WisBusiness.com
WisBusiness.com noted the upcoming WARF Innovation Day on November 18, scheduled to include SoHE’s own Dr. Kevin Ponto, Associate Professor of Design Studies (details below under “Events”).
Research
Duncan on prenatal mindfulness-based education impacts on postpartum wellbeing
Dr. Larissa Duncan, the Elizabeth C. Davies Chair in Child & Family Well-Being and Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, has published a new paper in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, “Effects of Prenatal Mindfulness-Based Childbirth Education on Childbearers’ Trajectories of Distress.” It confirms a maintenance of benefits for participants, following up with its new wave of data on her work from several years ago that earned coverage in the New York Times, The Guardian, Reuters, and others.
Moskowitz: “Locating the Luxury Knitwear Trade in Scotland’s Landscapes”
Dr. Marina Moskowitz, the Lynn and Gary Mecklenburg Chair in Textiles, Material Culture and Design and Professor of Design Studies, has a chapter in the newly published book, Storytelling in Luxury Fashion: Brands, Visual Cultures, and Technologies. Her chapter, “Locating the Luxury Knitwear Trade in Scotland’s Landscapes,” is linked to a UK-based “Fleece to Fashion” research project for which she is a Co-Investigator, funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Thomas on interventions with African-American nonresident fathers
Dr. Alvin Thomas, Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies, is first author on a new paper in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, “Age-Specific Mechanism of the Effects of Family Based Interventions with African American Nonresident Fathers and Sons.”
Events
SoHE graduate program info sessions
SoHE faculty and current graduate students will be hosting info sessions this month and next about opportunities for graduate study here. A general session covering all programs will take place October 23, and three separate sessions for Consumer Behavior and Family Economics will take place October 12, October 28, and November 10, each with a different area of focus. Pre-registration is required to receive the Zoom participation link.
“Gun Violence Prevention as a Public Health Priority,” with Dr. Alvin Thomas
Virtual event | Monday, October 26, 4:00–5:00 p.m. CT: Members of the UW–Madison community are welcome to participate in a panel discussion on the topic of firearms violence prevention as an issue of importance in public health. Dr. Alvin Thomas will be a panelist, and attendees may submit questions in advance. Learn more and register.
“The Past and Future of School Lunch as a Form of Public Care,” with Dr. Jennifer Gaddis
Virtual event | Tuesday, November 17: As part of the fall lecture series, “Forward? The Wisconsin Idea, Past and Present,” Dr. Jennifer Gaddis will discuss her research on school lunch systems in a talk titled “The Past and Future of School Lunch as a Form of Public Care.” The series is free and open to the public. More information and registration are available here.
“WARF Innovation Day,” with Dr. Kevin Ponto
Virtual event | Wednesday, November 18, 2:00 p.m. CT: Get an inside look at UW–Madison products, services, and technologies that will shape the future of our world at this virtual pitch event, including SoHE’s Dr. Kevin Ponto discussing “Rendering Reality: Enhancing Virtual and Augmented Reality.” This 60-minute event will include four quick pitches, glimpses of cherished UW–Madison places, people, and traditions, and a moderated Q&A session. Learn more, and register.
Plus, view the full online calendar of SoHE-sponsored events.