News Briefs

Installation Ceremony Officially Welcomes CFA Dean, Heads

Mary Ellen Poole was officially installed as Carnegie Mellon’s 13th Stanley and Marcia Gumberg Dean of the College of Fine Arts (CFA) in Kresge Theatre last Thursday, Sept. 29.

Provost James H. Garrett, Jr. called the installation event "a true celebration of the arts" during a week that CFA announced the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art's future move, the dedication of the Jill Watson Studio in the School of Architecture, and the dedication of the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion.

Before her own installation, Poole, who joined the college slightly more than a year ago from the University of Texas at Austin, introduced and welcomed three new heads to the CFA family — School of Architecture Head Omar Khan, School of Drama Head Robert Ramirez and School of Music Head Jonathan Bailey Holland. 

Garrett and President Farnam Jahanian closed the day's activities by welcoming Poole back to the stage for her own installation. Jahanian presented Poole with a "quaich," (pronounced quake, pictured above) a Scottish drinking vessel that traditionally signifies welcome. He introduced her to the audience as the 13th CFA dean amid a standing ovation.

Read more about the installation.

Employee Resource Groups to Sponsor Second Annual Winter Necessity Drive Through Oct. 21

Help support CMU's employee resource groups (ERGs) by donating items during their Winter Necessity Drive. Donations will benefit Veterans Place, a Pittsburgh-based organization that empowers veterans to transition out of homelessness and helps at-risk veterans become engaged, valuable citizens who contribute to their communities.

With your generous support, the ERGs are collecting;

• Hats, gloves, scarves and socks, new with tags, in men's, women's and children's sizes
• Unopened toiletries

To Donate:

• Drop off items Oct. 20 and Oct. 21 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Cohon University Center's Wean Commons (first floor, outside of the Connan Room). 30-minute free parking is available in the East Campus Garage.
• Purchase items via the Clothing Drive Registry by Oct. 21.

Take Cybersecurity 101 During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and  this year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber.”  CMU’s Information Security Office (ISO) is celebrating with content and events designed to help you learn about recent cyber threats and how we work together to defend against them. 

The ISO has developed Cybersecurity 101, a cybersecurity awareness training course to prepare members of the university on how to effectively play a part in protecting CMU institutional data and information systems. Throughout this course individuals will learn how to identify security risks and understand what steps need to be taken in order to proactively protect themselves and the university from cyber threats.

Cybersecurity 101 contains seven training modules:

• Our Organization
• Classify and Protect Information
• Choose Strong and Secure Passwords
• Use the Internet and Email Responsibly
• Recognize Phishing and Email Scams
• Protect Remote and Mobile Computing
• Report Security Incidents

Learn more and access the course on Canvas.

Attention Staff: Learn About CMU’s Master in Professional Writing Program

The English Department’s master’s degree in professional writing program will be holding a hybrid information session at 1 p.m., Friday, October 14, for CMU staff who are seeking to become more effective communicators.

The Master in Professional Writing program teaches professional students to create and execute verbal and visual information strategies (including for print, online, social media and multimedia) and develops their skills for careers as writers, communication specialists and information designers. The first and preferred master’s degree application deadline is Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The English Department is waiving the GRE requirement for all applications submitted for fall 2023.

Please RSVP here by Thursday, October 13. Find out more about the MAPW program.

Join the CMWA;  Fall Reception is October 18

The Carnegie Mellon Women’s Association (CMWA) will hold its Fall Membership Reception from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, October 18 in the PNC Foundation Room on the second floor of the Tepper Quad. The reception will be an opportunity to connect with members across the university, ideate the future of the CMWA and enjoy a social event back on campus. Members must register by October 11.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the CMWA, or renewing your membership, please do so online. The CMWA celebrates the diversity and achievements of women at Carnegie Mellon while building a greater sense of community life on campus. The CMWA connects and supports members through networking opportunities, social gatherings and educational programming throughout the year.

CMWA membership contributions directly support the CMWA annual scholarships awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who demonstrate a commitment to their communities. Last academic year, the CMWA awarded scholarships to seven deserving students representing all CMU schools and colleges.

Find out more about the CMWA.

EHS Offers CPR/AED Training

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is offering CPR/AED training classes this semester. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac arrest, when to activate the EMS system, and how to do CPR.

Hands-on training will enable those who attend this class to become familiar with an AED and to successfully operate it in an emergency. Participants who complete the training will receive a two-year certification from the American Heart Association.

Training sessions will be held:

Wednesday, October 12
10 a.m.  – Noon
Facilities Management Services Building, EHS Conference room 307
Register through SciShield (formally BioRaft)

Thursday, November 10
10 a.m. – Noon
Facilities Management Services Building, EHS Conference room 307
Register through SciShield (formally BioRaft)

Who's New at CMU?

Carnegie Mellon welcomes the following new staff members this week.

• Amy Wodnicki, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Bobbi Wheaton, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Courtney Cox, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Darren Koch, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Kaitlyn Herron, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Iris Townsend, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Jenna Bielewicz, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Jeffrey Rice, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Jonathan Wilson, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Luke Modrak, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Laura Partridge, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Lindi Pastorius, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Lucille Cheng, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Alyssa Sterling, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Martin Richter, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Michele Orr-Gray, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Sarah Varghese, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Shatae' DeVaughn, Part-time Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Adam Kohlhaas, Communications Manager, School of Computer Science Development;

• Christine Rutkowski, HR Retirement Administrator, HR Benefits;

• Jacob Taylor, Financial Analyst, Financial Services Group (Comp Services);

• Stephanie Lange, Receptionist,  School of Design;

• Adam Butta, Development Associate - I, Mellon College of Science Advancement;

• Andrew Deuley, Systems Software Engineer, Application Development (Comp Services);

• Bruce Ruffing, Laborer I, Facilities Management and Campus Services;

• Heidi Bachner, Human Resources Business Partner II, Human Resources;

• Ivy Jackson, Academic Advisor, Tepper School of Business Undergraduate Programs;

• Jennifer Bonfili, Manager, Financial Analysis/Accounting, University Budget and Financial Planning;

• Julia Franzetta, Admissions Officer Central, Undergraduate Admissions;

• Katherine-Marie Robinson, Assistant Design Researcher, SEI Ai Team 4;

• Kevin Owen, Nanofabrication Process Engineer, Electrical & Computer Engineering;

• Macie Chess, Research Associate II, Biological Sciences;

• Mythri Sundar, Temporary Employment Service, HR Operations;

• Priyanka Kochhar, Administrative Assistant, CyLab;

• Shawn Paratto, Temporary Employment Service, HR Operations; and

• Ala Tannir, Adjunct Instructor, Architecture.