CAMPUS NOTES

Confirmation of UCSB’s participation in a faculty and student exchange program with four top European Union (EU) universities took the shape of two agreements signed earlier this month on campus. Underpinning creation of a new European M.A. degree, called the Erasmus Mundus Global Studies program, the pacts establish full or partial scholarships by the EU for recent UCSB global and international studies graduates to study in Europe for varying lengths of time. One faculty member from UCSB and one from the Erasmus Mundus consortium would also be exchanged with the EU underwriting the cost. UCSB is the only university in the United States presently participating with the European universities of Leipzig, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Wroclav, Poland; and the London School of Economics. See <www.global.ucsb.edu> for more details.

Leo Cabranes-Grant, associate professor of dramatic art, won the top playwriting award in 2005 from the prestigious Puerto Rican Institute of Culture for his original play, “The Art of Painting.” The drama about the island’s society in the 18th century will be produced in March.

Paul Valenzuela, associate director of communications services, was installed last month as president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West, a 150-year-old organization devoted to preserving California’s historical sites.

Sociologist Mark Juergensmeyer, director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, has co-authored and edited “Religion in Global Civil Society” (Oxford University Press, 2005), which examines the different ways in which religion intersects with an emerging civil culture.

Dr. Julie Barnes, formerly clinical veterinarian for the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, has been appointed campus veterinarian after serving six months as interim vet. She also acts as relief vet for the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Ann Bermingham, professor of history of art and architecture, is the acting director of the University Art Museum while a replacement is recruited for former Director Bonnie Helm. Bermingham joined the UCSB faculty in 1993.

Melissa Dase, a three-year employee and former assistant business manager in the Development Office, has been promoted to research specialist where she will also serve as a training and technical lead person.