*Book by English professor wins award*
“The Story of Joy” by College of William and Mary English professor Adam Potkay was recently named a co-winner of the Harry Levin Prize awarded by the American Comparative Literature Association.
Potkay, recipient of the Plumeri Award for Faculty Excellence, was designated the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Humanities in August 2008.
The full title of his winning book is “The Story of Joy: from the Bible to Late Romanticism.” It was published in 2007 by the Cambridge University Press and outlines an intellectual and literary history of joy, namely the treatments of joy in works of literature, philosophy and religion.
*College involved in state Supreme Court initiative*
The Institute of Bill of Rights Law at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law and the National Center for State Courts based in Williamsburg, Va. announced March 6 the formation of a new joint project — the Supreme Court Initiative.
The initiative will undergo projects to enhance the visibility of state supreme courts and create vehicles for public education about their work. It will do so by forming a website, convening task forces and running conferences that focus attention on state supreme courts.
*Business school receives A+*
The faculty of the College of William and Mary Mason School of Business received a perfect grade from students for a second straight year.
The Mason undergraduate program ranked 20th among all schools and 10th among public schools included in Business Week’s 2009 Best Undergraduate Schools ranking. The program was also featured in the ranking as one of the best schools for return on investment in the accompanying story, “Return on Investment: Public Schools Rock.”
*Global Inquiry Group formed*
A new multidisciplinary study group has been established with the intent to explore the use of algae as a source of biofuels. The group was formed by professor Elizabeth Canuel of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and colleagues, and funding was received from the College of William and Mary.
Their “exploratory Global Inquiry Group,” or e-GIG, grew out of the collaborators’ ongoing interests in developing sustainable sources of energy and lessening the environmental impacts of energy use.
Joining Canuel in the projects are professors from the departments of chemistry, applied science, physics, marine science, economics, public policy, biology, environmental and aquatic animal health.
The 2009 ranking included 101 schools. The faculties of 20 schools received perfect marks of “A+,” with the College being one of only two public schools to receive this mark.
*Delegate seeks another term in the General Assembly*
Delegate Bill Barlow (D-64th) announced on Monday, March 9th that he will seek another term in the General Assembly, according to the Virginia Gazette.
Barlow currently practices law in Smithfield. His district includes the cities of Williamsburg and Franklin, along with the counties of Surry, James City, Southampton, and parts of Isle of Wight. He serves on the Courts of Justice, General Laws and Militia, Police and Public Safety committees of Smithfield.?
“The national economic environment has created the most challenging state budget situation in decades,” Barlow said in a release announcing his campaign. “Yet I remain committed to the fiscal values that make Virginia great: investing in core governmental responsibilities such as public education, public safety, and a health care safety net.”
*Williamsburg mayor paid $20,000 to help with St. Augustine festivities*
St. Augustine, Fla. recently hired Williamsburg Mayor Jeanne Zeidler to help prepare for festivities celebrating its 450th birthday in 2015, according to the Daily Press.
Zeidler will be paid $20,000 for 160 hours of consulting work, funded by the Tourist Development Council of St. Johns County where the city is located. St. Augustine sought Zeidler because of her leadership as executive director of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary celebrations in 2007.
“I’m really just helping them get started and will help them figure out what they can learn from our Jamestown celebration,” Zeidler said.
St. Augustine was established in 1565 by Spanish colonists. Jamestown was founded by the English in 1607.
