CAMPUS NOTES

The campus’s annual United Way campaign will kickoff next month with a walk-a-thon on Thursday, January 15. That day also marks the beginning of Candy-gram sales, which will continue through February 2 for delivery on Valentine’s Day. The 2009 campaign will continue through February 28 with the theme “So Many Ways to Give.” The campus hopes to raise $125,000 for local people in need. For information, go to <www.ia.ucsb.edu/uw>.

Richard Mayer, a professor of psychology and of education, has received the 2008 Distinguished Applications of Psychology to Education and Training award from the American Psychological Association. He also received the Presidential Citation in honor of his leadership in the field of educational and cognitive psychology.

Claudine Michel, chair and professor of black studies and director of the Center for Black Studies Research, has received the 2008 Haitian Studies Association Service Award in recognition of her commitment to the advancement of Haitian studies.

David Seibold, a professor of communication, is a recipient of the Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award from the National Communication Association. The award recognizes his “dedication to excellence, commitment to the profession, concern for others, vision of what could be acceptance of diversity, and forthrightness.”

Sven Spieker, an associate professor of Russian, Germanic, Slavic, and Semitic studies, has published “The Big Archive: Art From Bureaucracy” (MIT Press, 2008).

Mario T. García, a professor of history and of Chicana and Chicano studies, has published “Católicos: Resistance and Affirmation in Chicano Catholic History” (University of Texas Press, 2008).

Melanie O. Matson is the new director of UCSB’s Rape Prevention Education Program. She serves as the primary resource for students affected by sexual assault or domestic violence.

Katie Houseknecht has joined the Office of Community Relations as an administrative assistant. Before coming to UCSB, Houseknecht worked at Sonatech, Inc., an underwater acoustics and sonar business.