February 2013

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News & Events

Lengnick helps write “Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture” report
Academia and Activism speaker series
Men’s basketball receives bid to USCAA national championship
Charlottesville Mix & Mingle
WWC Alumni Business Directory
Learn, Laugh, Live: Weekend@Wilson 2013
In the media
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Lengnick helps write “Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture” report

Ever wonder just how much a professor’s sabbatical can contribute to a discipline’s body of knowledge, or for that matter to society as a whole?

Consider the sabbatical of sustainable agriculture and environmental studies professor Laura Lengnick, who spent the 2011-12 academic year as a visiting scientist on the National Program staff of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Lengnick’s work is a major part of the report “Climate Change and U.S. Agriculture: Effects and Adaptation,” the first USDA publication to address agricultural adaptation to climate change. One of the report’s five lead authors, Lengnick herself is the lead author on the adaptation chapter in the report, which was mandated by Congress as technical input to the 3rd National Climate Assessment. See this recent article in The Atlantic.

The USDA report is expected to inform public policy development, research and technical development programs, technical advice and education programs on agricultural adaptation to climate change for at least the next five years.

On Feb. 8, Lengnick was the keynote speaker at a major conference in Pittsboro, N.C. The day before, she appeared on N.C. Public Radio’s “The State of Things.” More recently, she was interviewed by David Hurand on WCQS-FM.

In mid February, Lengnick headed north for two events in Maryland. On Feb. 15, she gave a research seminar at the Sustainable Agriculture Speaker Series of the USDA-ARS Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. The talk was given to research scientists at the USDA’s largest research station. The next day, Lengnick spoke at the winter meeting of the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association. In addition, she and her work have been featured in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

To read more about Lengnick’s work during her sabbatical, see the current issue of Owl & Spade.

Academia and Activism speaker series

A Feb. 25 presentation by Catharine Stimpson launched an Academia and Activism speaker series, leading up to the April 27 inauguration of President Steven L. Solnick.

Stimpson, University Professor and Dean Emerita of the Graduate School of Arts and Science at New York University, gave a talk titled, “For the relief of the body and the reconstruction of the mind: Thought and Action in the Service of Feminism.”

Other speakers in the Academia and Activism series are Alan Jenkins, Executive Director of The Opportunity Agenda, on April 1 and Nithya Raman, Director of Transparent Chennai at the Centre for Development Finance in India, on April 15.

The campus inauguration ceremony for Solnick, Warren Wilson’s seventh president, begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27.

For more information on the Inauguration and the Speaker Series, call 828-771-2083.

Men’s basketball receives bid to USCAA national championship

The men’s basketball team has received a bid to the USCAA National Championship hosted by Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, Pa. The bid is the first USCAA Championship appearance for the men’s basketball team in school history. WWC is one of seven at-large selections into the ten-team field. The Owls finished the regular season with eight straight wins and a 15-10 overall record despite the fifth toughest strength of schedule.

Marquee victories over NAIA opponents Virginia Intermont, Berea, and local rival Montreat helped propel Warren Wilson into a tournament bid. The brackets are available here, and tournament play is scheduled to begin on February 27. The championship game is scheduled for March 2. All games are played at Penn State Fayette in Uniontown, PA.

Visit the USCAA site for more information. If you want to watch the games, tune into the live video feed.

Charlottesville Mix & Mingle

Kendra Powell ’99, former WWC admission counselor, hosted an alumni Mix & Mingle on Feb. 19 in the latest town she calls home—Charlottesville, Va. Alumni, friends, spouses and partners gathered at Beer Run, a local pub co-owned by John Woodriff ’98. John donated veggie nachos and a hummus platter, and there was a pint special. Laura Rice Currier ’08, traveled all the way from Richmond, Va. to attend.

There were alums from every class between 1998 and 2008, with the exception of 2003. “Everyone was so excited and had such a great time; we’ve started planning the next one—outside and when the weather’s warm,” Kendra reported.

You, too, can host a Mix & Mingle in your town. It’s easy, fun and we’ll help get the word out. If you’re not sure how many alumni live in your area, don’t hesitate to contact us. For help with planning an event or if you have any questions, contact Director of the Annual Fund and Communications Dustin Rhodes ’95: 828-771-2088 or drhodes@warren-wilson.edu.

WWC Alumni Business Directory

The alumni office is in the process of preparing an online directory of alumni-owned businesses. This directory will feature all types of businesses owned by our alumni in the U.S. and abroad. If you would like to be featured in this directory, please email your name, class year, business contact information (including website and email) and one sentence that best describes your business to alumni@warren-wilson.edu. The online directory will be linked on the WWC website. For questions, contact the alumni office at the above email or call 866-992-2586.

Learn, Laugh, Live: Weekend@Wilson 2013

Mark your calendar for June 28-30 and plan to attend Weekend@Wilson, a fun weekend where alumni, parents and friends participate in interesting and useful workshops and stay in the dorms while enjoying the summer beauty of the Swannanoa Valley. Registration will open in early May. For more information, email Ally Wilson.