News Briefs

Tartans Ranked 15^th in Preseason Soccer Poll

Carnegie Mellon’s women's soccer team will start the year ranked 15^th in the 2022 Preseason Top 25 Poll released by the United Soccer Coaches last week.

The Tartans, who advanced to the sectional semifinals in the NCAA Division III playoffs last year, will be led by two-time All-American forward Alex Adams and sophomore forward Maria Askounis, last year's University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year. Adams led the Tartans in goals and points the past two seasons.

The team opens the season at fifth-ranked William Smith College on Sunday, September 4. The Tartans’ home opener is at 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 9 vs. Wittenberg. CMU hosts ninth-ranked Johns Hopkins University at 1 p.m., Sunday, September 11.

Find out more about the Tartans.

Employee Referral Program Seeks Staff Recommendations

Carnegie Mellon’s Staff Employee Referral Program (ERP) encourages current employees, through rewards, to refer qualified external candidates for open full-time and part-time staff positions at CMU. 

Eligible staff members who submit a referral to positions in the ERP will receive a one-time monetary reward of $500 to $1,500 depending on the position. The reward payment is contingent upon the referred candidate’s hire, completion of their provisional period and meeting all requirements set forth in the Staff ERP Guidelines [pdf]. Visit the Careers website to learn more about the program, the qualifying positions, eligibility requirements and how to make a referral.

The Employee Referral Program page provides several resources, including FAQs about the program.  If you are a hiring manager who is interested in including your open position in the ERP, please review the program guidelines and reach out to your HR Recruiter.

CMU Creates New Minor in Immersive Technologies

Carnegie Mellon is launching a new minor in immersive technologies in arts and culture, designed to connect CMU students from diverse backgrounds and enable them to explore the expansive possibilities of immersive technologies.

As immersive experiences and augmented realities increase in work and leisure, young innovators are needed who can blend technological skills with creative imagination and critical humanistic practice. In response to this need, Carnegie Mellon's Department of Modern Languages and IDeATe, the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology network, have collaborated to launch a new minor in Immersive Technologies in Arts & Culture.

Students in the Immersive Technologies in Arts & Culture minor will be hybrid technologists, media-makers, and storytellers who can create mediated experiences at the intersection of technology, design and the humanities. They will be equipped with the social consciousness, global awareness, and cross-cultural skills needed to forge positive new paths for immersive media going into the future.

“We are excited to launch this new minor with the Department of Modern Languages, which brings together the humanities, the arts, and technology,” said Susan Finger, associate dean of IDeATE. “The minor is designed to connect CMU students from diverse backgrounds and enable them to explore the expansive possibilities of immersive technologies.”

Pittsburgh-based De Fer Coffee & Tea to Open in Hunt Library

De Fer Coffee & Tea is joining CMU Dining Services this fall at the Maggie Murph Café in Hunt Library. Opening day is Monday, August 29.

De Fer Coffee & Tea was founded in 2016 by CMU alumnus Matt Marietti, a 2010 Tepper School graduate, and his wife Vanessa. They have since grown to six cafes, including their flagship location in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District, where they roast all of their coffee in-house daily. Operating the café in Hunt library holds special meaning for Marietti, who spent countless hours drinking coffee, studying and preparing for a career that would ultimately lead him back to Carnegie Mellon.

“It’s an incredible honor to be back at Carnegie Mellon in this capacity — running a business and putting into practice all that I learned while I was here in grad school," Marietti said.  "I know firsthand how important convenient, wholesome food (not to mention caffeine) is to college students, faculty and staff. I am so excited to again be a part of this incredible community.

De Fer Coffee & Tea focuses on unique, sustainably sourced specialty coffees, blended loose teas and simple-yet-tasty house-made food, including scones, muffins, cookies, paninis, smoothies and parfaits. In addition to their retail business, De Fer supplies coffee to many local cafés, restaurants and bakeries and ships coffee and goods nationally. 

Learn more about De Fer Coffee & Tea.

Traffic Alert: Tech Street to Close August 31-September 1

Tech Street will be closed from 6 a.m. –  6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31, and Thursday, September 1. The closure will enable crane assembly for the ongoing Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics project.

There will be road signs at the intersections of Tech and Frew streets, as well as Tech and Margaret Morrison streets. Flaggers will be stationed at both ends of Tech St.  

The road closure signs and barriers will be removed at 6 p.m. on both days allowing traffic both evenings and nights.

Nominate the Next Class of Honorary Degree Recipients

Nominations are now open for candidates to be considered for an honorary degree from Carnegie Mellon, one of the highest distinctions the university bestows on an individual.

Recipients serve as an inspiration to the CMU community, especially to members of the graduating class. Honorary degree recipients reinforce the significant scope of the university and enhances the commencement ceremony by highlighting the importance of the university in the world. Learn more about the honorary degree nomination process and past recipients.

Each year the university seeks to honor a diverse cohort of individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their professions, to the United States and to the world, and whose life and work are broadly connected to the highest aims and aspirations of the university. Nominees must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Achieved pre-eminent levels of distinction in their fields and demonstrated extraordinary achievements, with a preference for those with a clear affiliation or connection to CMU;
• Established record of exemplary service to the world, to the nation, to our region, or to society; or
• Displayed an extraordinary commitment of service to Carnegie Mellon, with a demonstrable positive impact on the university and its community.

Please submit nominations no later than September 2 using the online form. If. You have questions, contact Kate Lippert, director of the Board of Trustees office, via email at klippert@andrew.cmu.edu.

Sign Up Today to Join the First CMU Heart Walk Team 

On September 17, Carnegie Mellon’s Employee Resources Groups (ERGs) will sponsor the first CMU Heart Walk team to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA). The Pittsburgh Heart Walk will take place in Point State Park (check-in at 8 a.m.; walk begins at 10 a.m.), and participants can complete either one or two laps around the park.

The Heart Walk is AHA’s premier event and helps to:

• Save the lives of kids born with congenital heart defects and adults struggling with heart disease;
• Teach thousands how to save lives through CPR training; and
• Fund the next heart and stroke medical breakthrough.

Visit the CMU team page to join our team or donate to the team or an individual walker.

Also, if you are not familiar with the ERGs at CMU, please visit the ERG website to learn more and get involved.

Last Call: Andy Nominations Due August 31

The deadline to submit nominations for the Andy Awards has been extended to August 31. Carnegie Mellon’s university-wide staff recognition program, named the Andy Awards for Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon, are a tribute to the spirit of teamwork and dedication embodied by staff at CMU. Individuals and teams of colleagues whose work has had a significant impact on the university are recognized for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence through the Andy Awards program.

Awards are given in six categories:

• Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion;
• Commitment to Excellence - Rookie < 3 years, Veteran > 3 years;
• Commitment to Students;
• Innovative and Creative Contributions;
• Spirit; and
• Teamwork and Collaboration - Standing Team and Special Project Team.

Find out more about the awards and how to submit a nomination. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, August 31.

Who's New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members this week.

• Dazya Mitchell, Coulter Welcome Center Manager, Communications & Marketing;
• Jessica Druga, Assistant Director, Student Services, Tepper School of Business Masters Program;
• Athena Folino, Housefellow and Coordinator of Residential Education, Residential Education;
• Nicole Deckard, Housefellow and Coordinator for Residential Education, Residential Education;
• Assegid Hafebo, Early Child Educator, HR Operations;
• Amber Dinsmore, Early Child Educator, HR Operations;
• Abigail Rossman, Coordinator of Student Support Resources, Community Health & Well-Being;
• Charles Flemming, Technician II, Robotics Institute, National Robotics Engineerging Center;
• David Christopher, PC Engineering Manager, SCS Computing;
• Hayley Kosar, Early Childhood Educator, HR Operations;
• John Graver, Security Officer, University Police;
• Jasmine Torres, HR Generalist I, Human Resources;
• Julia Parker, Media Services Administrative & Lending Center Coordinator, Media Services (Comp Services);
• Kathleen Davies, Customer Success Analyst, Desktop Support (Comp Services);
• Mabrouka Bessghaier, Research Associate, Qnrf Awards;
• Megan Szymanski, Early Child Educator, HR Operations;
• Ross Macklin, Assistant Men's Soccer Coach, Athletics & Physical Education; and
• Sara Sanchez Collado, Early Child Educator, HR Operations.