The Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio seeks an assistant professor in the area of applied linguistics/TESL to begin Fall 2014, pending budgetary approval. We seek a scholar with expertise in one or more of the following areas: computer-assisted language learning, second language literacy, second language learning, language teacher education, sociolinguistics, language assessment, or other related areas.

The department offers a Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language, a MA in Teaching English as a Second Language, a MA in Bicultural-Bilingual Studies with concentrations in bilingual education and bicultural studies, a graduate certificate in TESL, and a BA in Mexican American Studies. It also provides undergraduate and graduate programs for teacher certification as well as support courses for other programs in the University.

Responsibilities include: Teach graduate and undergraduate courses, advise masters and doctoral degree students, pursue an active research agenda, and contribute to the university and community through service activities.

Required Qualifications: Doctorate in Applied Linguistics, Educational Linguistics, Language & Literacy, Education or an appropriate discipline. University-level teaching experience. Evidence of research agenda in one or more of the areas listed above. ESL/EFL teaching experience.

Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, experience advising graduate students, proficiency in a language other than English, evidence of publications in one or more of the areas outlined above.

Appointment to begin Fall 2014, pending budgetary approval. Salary is competitive.

Applicants must submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, three publications or writing samples, a teaching philosophy statement, and names and contact information of three referees addressed to Dr. Wayne E. Wright, Chair, Applied Linguistics/TESL Search Committee. Applications may be submitted via the following e-mail address: Sylvia.Hernandez2@utsa.edu. A review of applications will begin October 1, 2013, and will continue until position is filled. Applicants who are selected for interviews must be able to show proof that they will be eligible and qualified to work in the United States by time of hire. UTSA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Two days after starting work as the new director of INDS, Stephen Freeland traveled to Washington DC to present a public lecture on the emerging science surrounding the possibility of other life in the universe. This lecture was invited by the Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which welcomed a diverse group of politicians, scientists and members of the general public to a Q&A about the implications of this work.

The research about which Dr. Freeland spoke falls under the emerging science of astrobiology (https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/about-astrobiology/) which, by placing together insights from the traditional scientific disciplines, is rapidly forming a consensus picture that life should not be as rare as was once thought. In fact the focal point of the lecture were "three clues consistent with extraterrestrial life."

A full description of this event, together with a video of the event, can be found here:

www.aaas.org/spp/dser/events/archives/lectures/2013/Exoplanets/Exoplanets6_19_2013.html

Since Spring 2012, students of Jill Wrigley’s INDS 430 Food Systems Seminar learn about the intersecting benefits, problems and challenges generated by modern food systems. Now, thanks to a BreakingGround grant (umbcbreakingground.wordpress.com),  students in Spring 2014 will get their hands dirty while challenging their minds and forging new relationships beyond the classroom.

Two thirds of the new course will be spent in small group work devoted to various projects on and off campus. Each project asks students to propose or enact some improvement of the food system at UMBC or in a neighboring community or schools. Examples include (but are not limited to):

Growing Microgreens at UMBC:  What are the nutritional advantages of microgreens and how can we deliver them to plates of fellow UMBC students?  This project will integrate horticulture, entrepreneurship, marketing/communications and policy.

Edible Campus: The K-12 community is creating edible schoolyards in schools across the country, and globe.  Why not edible campuses? Students selecting this option will research how and where UMBC might develop this idea.

Garden Pals with Neighboring schools and communities:  Students will utilize the UMBC Biology Greenhouse to grow vegetable seedlings for transplant into container or in-ground gardens at various partner sites within the K-12 community.

What’s on Our Plate at UMBC?: Students selecting this option would undertake a “community food assessment” of the food provided to them at UMBC using an adapted version of the Real Food Calculator created by Real Food Challenge, or using an instrument of the students’ own design.

Food waste and food recovery at UMBC:  How can UMBC             reduce food waste and alleviate hunger and promote health in the           Baltimore region?  

Kevin Maxwell ’02, has been appointed chief executive officer of Prince George’s public schools. As CEO, Maxwell will be tasked with turning around the struggling school system and closing the achievement gap so it is more aligned with surrounding county systems.