http://newscenter.iupui.edu/ News about general from Newscenter en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:09:22 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4357/Forbes-Ranks-IUPUI-as-8th-Best-Public-College-in-Midwest http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4357/Forbes-Ranks-IUPUI-as-8th-Best-Public-College-in-Midwest IUPUI is ranked eighth among the 10 best public colleges in the Midwest. That's the conclusion of a ranking of America’s Best Colleges compiled by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), which ranks U.S.-based undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide, the experience of their students, and how much they achieved. According to Forbes, while some college rankings are determined largely by reputation, its rankings emphasize the quality of students a school graduates, as opposed to the quality of students it admits. To construct the list, the staff at CCAP based 25% of the rankings on student satisfaction with their course instruction; 25% on indicators of post-graduate employment success; 20% on the estimated average four-year student loan debt; 16.67% on the likelihood that students graduate within four years; and 13.33% on student and faculty success in winning nationally and internationally competitive academic and research awards. Only a few schools can rank near the very top of its list, Forbes says, but if a college appears on the rankings at all, that indicates it provides a high-quality education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are more than 4,000 college campuses in the U.S., and the CCAP ranks only the top 15% or so of all undergraduate institutions across the U.S. IUPUI placed 404th out of 500 colleges ranked on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Colleges. http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/18/best-colleges-midwest-thought-leaders-top-2009.html   Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4356/IU-School-of-LawIndianapolis-Ranks-44-in-the-Nation-by-Super-Lawyers-Magazine http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4356/IU-School-of-LawIndianapolis-Ranks-44-in-the-Nation-by-Super-Lawyers-Magazine In its first annual ranking of U.S. law schools , Super Lawyers Magazine ranks Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis as 44th in the nation. IU School of Law-Indianapolis is located on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). The law school ranking by Super Lawyers is based on the number of graduates who are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers magazine across the country. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected to Super Lawyers lists. According to Bill White, publisher of Super Lawyers, “We’ve been rating lawyers for nearly 20 years. This puts us in a unique position to shed light on how well schools fulfill the ultimate mission of producing great lawyers. Our approach is simple. We take a snapshot of the top lawyers in the country and ask, ‘What schools produced these lawyers?’ Then we report the results. Our rankings fill an informational gap. It throws a new and unique indicator of quality into the mix. It’s another data point for students to consider before making a big, expensive and life-changing decision.” Schools are ranked according to the total number of graduates named to the state and regional Super Lawyers lists in 2009. In the event of a tie between schools, the cumulative peer evaluation and research scores of graduates are used as tie-breakers. “The recently released Super Lawyers ranking of U.S. law schools, which puts IU-Indianapolis 44th, just one spot behind Notre Dame for the highest ranked school in Indiana, is based on the success of a law school’s graduates,” said IU School of Law-Indianapolis Dean Gary R. Roberts. “Our high national ranking is a tribute both to the great accomplishments and impact of our alumni and to the quality of the education our excellent students receive at this law school right here in the heart of Indiana’s state capital,” he added. Selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, involves a rigorous, multiphase process, according to White. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, and selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The IU Maurer School of Law, located in Bloomington, was also listed in the top 100, ranking 59th. For the complete listing, visit: http://www.superlawyers.com/toplists/lawschools/united-states/2009/   Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_iu school of law indianapolis ii6u5307 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_iu school of law indianapolis ii6u5307 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4351/IUPUI-Chancellor-Charles-R-Bantz-Joins-New-Presidents-Trust-to-Advance-Liberal-Education-as-Source-of-American-Civic-Vitality-and-Economic-Innovation-and-Growth http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4351/IUPUI-Chancellor-Charles-R-Bantz-Joins-New-Presidents-Trust-to-Advance-Liberal-Education-as-Source-of-American-Civic-Vitality-and-Economic-Innovation-and-Growth IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz announced today that he has joined a new Presidents’ Trust formed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities to strongly and collectively make the case for liberal education and its value in today’s world. The Presidents’ Trust is a leadership group within AAC&U’s national initiative, Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP): Excellence for Everyone as a Nation Goes To College. “IUPUI’s commitment to liberal education for the 21st century is exemplified by our Hesburgh award-winning Principles of Undergraduate Learning,” Bantz said. “Adopted by our faculty more than a decade ago, the principles both define expectations for skills all our graduates should have and reinforce the value of a liberal education.” The 82 members of the LEAP Presidents’ Trust are leaders from all sectors of higher education and are committed to advocating for the vision, values, and practices that connect liberal education with the individual and societal needs of the twenty-first-century. Through regional and national meetings and their own advocacy efforts, Trust members will engage with campus members and those outside of higher education about the core purposes and practices of liberal education. They are all also providing leadership for advancing reforms in the practice of liberal education both on campus and with other groups and organizations with which they are affiliated. In 2009-10, the core priority areas for the Presidents Trust include: -Making the economic case for liberal education -Making—and fulfilling—the civic case for liberal education -Engaging first-generation families and new Americans with the meaning and value of liberal education -Integrating liberal arts and professional preparation on campus -Charting a new direction for assessment and accountability     “Chancellor Bantz is already providing valuable leadership speaking out and ensuring that IUPUI students are receiving the kind of college education that will best prepare them for success in today’s competitive global economy—an engaged and practical liberal education,” said AAC&U President Carol Geary Schneider. See www.aacu.org/leap for full list of Presidents’ Trust members. About LEAP Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) is an initiative that champions the value of a liberal education—for individual students and for a nation dependent on economic creativity and democratic vitality. The initiative focuses campus practice on fostering essential learning outcomes for all students, whatever their chosen field of study. LEAP is AAC&U’s primary vehicle for advancing and communicating about the importance of undergraduate liberal education for all students. LEAP seeks to engage the public with core questions about what really matters in college, to give students a compass to guide their learning, and to make a set of essential learning outcomes the preferred framework for educational excellence, assessment of learning, and new alignments between school and college.   About AAC&U AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises 1200 member institutions--including accredited public and private colleges and universities of every type and size.   Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_bantz000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_bantz000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4355/IUPUI-Scores-Highly-In-Effective-Educational-Practices-Survey-Shows http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4355/IUPUI-Scores-Highly-In-Effective-Educational-Practices-Survey-Shows IUPUI stands out in a national survey of effective educational practices in colleges and universities in the active and collaborative learning benchmark, when compared to similar institutions and other research universities. The findings are part of the 2009 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Specific items from the active and collaborative learning scale where IUPUI scored highly are: Made a class presentation Worked with other students on projects during class Participated in a community-based project as part of a regular class On the Enriching Educational Experiences benchmark, comprised largely of activities and experiences, IUPUI first-year and senior students scored higher than peer institutions and other research universities in several important areas:  First-year students (and to a lesser extent seniors) are far more likely to report they have “participate[d] in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together. Seniors are much more likely to report they have been involved in a “culminating senior experience (Capstone course, senior project or thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.).” Both first- year students and seniors are more likely to report the have been involved in “community service or volunteer work.” These kinds of activities and experiences, according to experts, are the sorts of high-impact practices that contribute to student learning and success. One opportunity for improvement is in the area of diversity experiences for first-year students. First-year students at IUPUI were noticeably lower than students at peer institutions and other research universities in their responses to two questions: -“[Had] serious conversations with students of different religious beliefs, political opinions or personal values” -“[Had] serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own” The School of Liberal Arts is piloting a program that is designed to address this issue.   Overall, the national survey shows that a variety of colleges and universities have shown steady improvement in the quality of undergraduate education, as measured by students’ exposure to and involvement in effective educational practices. In examining trends, the researchers used several key quality measures: NSSE’s “Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice” as well as the percentage of students who participate in high-impact practices such as learning communities, service-learning, study abroad, and research with faculty. They found that 41% of institutions showed positive trends on at least one quality measure for first-year students, and 28% did so for seniors. For first-year students, two benchmarks saw the largest number of institutions with steady improvement: active and collaborative learning, and student faculty interaction. Positive changes were found at public as well as private institutions, at doctorate- and master’s-granting universities as well as undergraduate colleges, and at institutions in all size categories. “Our findings provide compelling evidence that colleges and universities can improve the undergraduate experience, and that positive change is not limited to certain institutional types,” says Alexander C. McCormick, NSSE director and associate professor of education at Indiana University. “These are not just isolated upticks, they are patterns of steady improvement over a period of several years.” The study also examined patterns of decline and found they were extremely rare. “Seeing steady improvement at a large number of institutions but hardly any instances of decline suggests that these changes reflect intentional improvement efforts. Some institutions have made improvement a priority, and they are achieving it,” says McCormick. The survey annually provides diagnostic, comparative information about effective educational practices at participating colleges and universities. Five key areas of educational quality are measured: 1) Level of Academic Challenge, 2) Active and Collaborative Learning, 3) Student-Faculty Interaction, 4) Enriching Educational Experiences, and 5) Supportive Campus Environment.   Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_education.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_education.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4352/McIntosh-Named-2010-Rotary-World-Peace-Fellow- http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4352/McIntosh-Named-2010-Rotary-World-Peace-Fellow- Dr. Ian McIntosh, Director of International Partnerships at IUPUI and faculty member in the Department of Anthropology, has been named a 2010 Rotary World Peace Fellow. Rotary World Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities. Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution. As part of this distinguished award, Dr. McIntosh will spend three months next summer at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand at the Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution. "There is no one more deserving of this honor than Ian, whose entire career has been dedicated to advancing cross-cultural understanding and cooperation, whether this was through his work with Aboriginal land rights in Australia, reforestation in Armenia, the global NGO known as Cultural Survival, or his leadership of IUPUI’s international partnership program," said Susan Buck Sutton, Associate Vice Chancellor of International Affairs at IUPUI, Chancellor's P:rofessor of Anthropology, and Associate Vice President, Office of the Vice President of International Affairs, Indiana University. The purpose of the Rotary Centers program is to: Support and advance research, teaching, publication, and practical field experience on issues of peace, goodwill, causes of conflict, and world understanding Inspire people to work for a culture of peace and tolerance while enhancing their capacity, knowledge, and skill by generating interaction between practitioners and academics Provide advanced international education opportunities in the area of peace and conflict resolution Provide a means for The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians to increase their effectiveness in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, leading to world understanding and peace Dr. McIntosh's research interests focus on issues of truth and reconciliation in global perspective and he teaches a class at IUPUI that utilizes a unique 'reconciliation barometer' to shed light on the quest for reconciliation through treaties, peace accords, apologies, reparations, truth commissions, trials and memorials. In partnership with the Scholars at Risk Network of New York University, and Human Rights Works, he coordinates the “Voices at Risk, Visions of Hope” speaker series at IUPUI. This series provides opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students to interact via video-conference with some of the world’s most distinguished scholars who, as a result of their advocacy for human rights and justice in their homelands, have been forced to take refuge in the USA.   Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_mcintosh.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_mcintosh.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4350/Kathleen-Grove-Receives-Professional-Award-of-Merit http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4350/Kathleen-Grove-Receives-Professional-Award-of-Merit The Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy recently presented an Award of Merit to Kathleen Grove, director of the IUPUI Office for Women. The association recognized Grove for her service to the profession in Indiana during its fall conference in October. Grove served for six years as a representative for marriage and family therapists on the Indiana Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health Counselor Licensing Board. She served as vice-president of the board in 2003 and president in 2004. The IUPUI director is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. She also is licensed as an attorney having earned a degree from Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. Grove has served as director of the Office of Women since 2004. Prior to taking her current position at IUPUI, she was a therapist at The Julian Center, a local shelter and counseling center for victims of domestic violence and trauma.   Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_kathleen s. grove closeup.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_kathleen s. grove closeup.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4349/From-the-Desk-of-the-Chancellor-Nov-16-2009 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4349/From-the-Desk-of-the-Chancellor-Nov-16-2009 The Chancellor’s Professors are some of the most dedicated and distinguished faculty members at IUPUI. I meet regularly with them to hear their ideas. A few months ago, they suggested that the campus invest in giving a boost to the research of faculty at the associate professor level—particularly for researchers whose work holds promise for moving to a new level of prominence in the field or discipline. Thus, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award. Vice Chancellor for Research Kody Varahramyan administers the selection process. Full-time faculty within the first three years of promotion or appointment to the rank of associate professor are eligible. A department chair, dean, or associate dean nominates the candidate and outlines the prospects for the person’s research to earn national or international recognition. Each year, up to three $1,000 cash awards will be given campuswide. The 2010 Research Frontiers Trailblazer Award winners will be recognized at IUPUI Research Day, to be held on April 9, 2010. For more detailed information about eligibility, criteria, and making nominations, go to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.   Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_chancellor-charles-r-bantz-small pic00000000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_chancellor-charles-r-bantz-small pic00000000.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4348/PhD-PreDoc-Student-Is-Running-Faster-than-Ever-These-Days--Literally http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4348/PhD-PreDoc-Student-Is-Running-Faster-than-Ever-These-Days--Literally Christine Davis is a PhD Pre-Doc student at the Indiana University School of Social Work, operates a case management consulting firm that specializes in helping elderly clients remain in their own homes, and is running faster than ever – literally. Now in her early 60s, Davis uses running to keep her life in balance as she juggles the responsibilities of work and being a student. But don’t picture Davis as a weekend-jogger. Instead, think of a lightening bolt streaking down the track in the 100-meter dash. In 2008, Davis was named a USA Track and Field Masters female Athlete of the year and to say the least, 2009 has been a very good year for Davis. She is ranked as one of the top 10 runners in her age group in the country and this past August she held her own against competitors from around the country at the National Senior Games in San Francisco. There, she finished 5th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 16.21 seconds. She also finished 7th in both the 200-meter dash and the long jump. What’s more she even managed to shave a fraction off her previous best time in the 100-meter race she set at the World Masters Games in Melbourne, Australia, when she was in her mid-50s. During the months leading up to the national games, Davis competed in a series of track meets to gauge her times and the competition. Among the events she entered was the Indiana Senior Games. There, she walked off with five first places in the 50, 100, 200-meter races along with the long-jump and shot put competition. “I always liked running,” said Davis. Her interest in running started as a child in Alabama, where she was the fastest in her elementary school located in a town near Montgomery. She ran track in high school and then attended a university that did not have a track team. She became involved with the sport again through her children. Her daughter and son both attended Lawrence Central High School and both were runners. Her daughter was a state champ in the 100 and 200-meters and long jump and received a full-scholarship to Arizona State University to be on a track team there. But by the 1980s, Davis was competing again participating in the Scarborough Peace Games that featured teams from Indianapolis and athletes from the Toronto area. In the years since then, her daughter has become her coach. “We were on her track circuit for years and years…and now she is my coach,” Davis noted. After the Peace Games was disbanded, she ran in the Hoosier State Games until those were discontinued as well. She has participated in the Indiana Senior Games in recent years. “I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics,” Davis noted. Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics in Rome and was her idol. “I had dreams of running on the same team with Wilma Rudolph at Tennessee State University where Rudolph attended college. A trip to the World Master’s Games in Melbourne, Australia in 2002 ( she finished 8th in the 100-meter dash) and going to the national senior games in San Francisco gave her a taste of what it might have been like to have been in the Olympics. For more than 30 years, Davis has been involved with rehabilitation services, working with the elderly and the disabled. She recently decided to concentrate in the area of geriatrics because of the aging of the population, a decision that led her to the School of Social Work’s Pre-Doc PhD program, which is designed to allow students to explore their interest in doctoral education. Her business, Davis and Associates, assists elderly clients with a range of issues from coordinating medical services to helping the get the support services they need to remain in their homes, Davis explained. As she watched her parents’ age, she became motivated to help others find the help they need to remain in their homes so they can avoid going into institutions like nursing homes. “That’s my whole goal of the agency that I run, is to keep people in their homes and help them find the supports that they need.” Last semester Davis took a course looking at theories on aging, one of which looked at how activity affects aging. “That was a theory I believe in – to be active mentally and physically,” Davis said. I feel that it is so important for people to keep going.” And that’s exactly what Davis intends to do. Her next major competition she hopes to compete at is the Hawaii Senior Games next October. Competition for Davis gives her an incentive, a reason to run. “I don’t want to get out there and just jog,” Davis said. Competing allows her to run against others, but in a sense she is really competing against herself to see how far she can go as a sprinter. The training helps her spiritually, mentally and physically. “I have clients that I have to take care of but at the same time, you have to take care of yourself, too. It’s really crucial to do that.”     Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_christine (2).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_christine (2).jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4344/African-Burial-Ground-Project-Director-Prolific-Author-Earn-Lifetime-Achievement-Awards-at-African-Studies-Conference http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4344/African-Burial-Ground-Project-Director-Prolific-Author-Earn-Lifetime-Achievement-Awards-at-African-Studies-Conference An anthropology professor from The College of William and Mary and a history professor from the University of Texas at Austin are the recipients of inaugural lifetime achievement awards presented during the 1st Public Scholars in African Studies International Conference on Globalization. The conference was held Oct. 29-31, 2009, at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Michael L. Blakey, Ph.D., the National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Anthropology at William and Mary, received the Africana Studies Distinguished Public Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors Blakey particularly for his 12-year role as scientific director of the New York African Burial Ground Project. Toyin Falola, Ph.D., the Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor in History at UT Austin, received the Africana Studies Distinguished Global Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award that recognizes an individual who can more accurately be described as the “quintessential scholar’s scholar,” and someone whose scholarship has had a significant impact on the global academy. IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz presented both awards during the awards dinner held Oct. 31, 2009, at University Place Conference Center and Hotel on the IUPUI campus. Both Blakey and Falola received unanimous votes from the subcommittee that evaluated the dossiers and portfolios of award nominees. Blakey embodies the very notion of public scholarship, particularly with his work to move the New York African Burial Ground Project “from a national secret to a national monument,” according to IUPUI Professor Bessie House-Soremekun, Ph.D., the conference organizer. Blakey’s methodical work as a bio-archaeologist was central to the Burial Ground Project, in terms of understanding the people, their lives, and where they came from. His 200-person team worked with the remains of more than 400 individuals and a million non-burial artifacts The William and Mary professor arranged and participated in lab tours, site visits and community forums about the burial ground project. He gave numerous media interviews and public lectures, and was a focal point in a PBS series broadcast in 1996. It was particularly fitting that Falola received the Global Scholar Lifetime Achievement award at this time because this is the year that he has achieved his goal of publishing more than 100 books, House-Soremekun said. “A genre-bender of extraordinary talent, (Falola’s) contributions are wide-ranging and have covered all aspects that we label as Africana Studies, from history to literature, economics to political economy, religion to culture, and even the creative zones of poetry and the memoir,” House-Soremekun said. During the conference Falola presented a luncheon keynote speech on the topic “Africana in the Margins: The Past and Future of Globalization.” The theme of the Public Scholars in Africana Studies conference was “Rethinking Economic Development in the Context of Globalization: Entrepreneurship, the Knowledge Economy, and Sustainable Development. About 575 people participated, House-Soremekun said. His Royal Majesty, Oba (King) Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Nigeria, was the keynote speaker for the awards dinner. Gbadebo discussed “The Changing Role of Nigeria in the 21st Century Knowledge Economy.” The conference featured outstanding scholars from universities and colleges representing Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. IUPUI conference sponsors included the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Celebration Committee; the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI; the Office of the Assistant Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research; Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Lifelong Learning; the Committee on African and African American Studies; the Office of the Vice Chancellor for International Affairs; the African American and African Diaspora Studies Program; and the Olaniyan Scholars.   Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_toyin falola final_dsc8883[1]0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_toyin falola final_dsc8883[1]0.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4345/History-of-Muslim-America-Makes-Publishers-Weekly-Best-Books-List http://newscenter.iupui.edu/4345/History-of-Muslim-America-Makes-Publishers-Weekly-Best-Books-List An Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) professor’s history of Muslims in the United States is on the Publisher’s Weekly list of Best Books of 2009. Edward E. Curtis IV’s book, “Muslims in America: A Short History,” published in October 2009 by Oxford University Press, Inc., traces the history of followers of Islam in America from the 18th century to post 9-11 America. “This accessible history by a scholar who is not among the usual academic talking-head experts on Islam brings breadth and nuance to an important subject,” Louisa Ermelino writes in the Nov. 2, 2009, Publisher’s Weekly online article about the 100 books chosen for the Best Books list. Professor Curtis “has authored a fine and succinct history that spans centuries. ...Unmatched for its breadth of sources, this is also one of the few books in the field to cover both immigrant and indigenous (African-American) American Muslims. ...Photographs, chronology, edited selections from chosen narratives, and a Further Reading Section provide useful jumping-off points for the reader, who will undoubtedly be intrigued by Curtis's compelling little read,” says the Publisher’s Weekly review. Curtis, who has written or edited five other books, begins the first chapter of the 168-page paperback for general readers with the story of the 1730 or 1731 arrival in Annapolis, Md., of a West African Muslim aboard a slave ship. “Americans generally think of Muslims as immigrants who are fresh off the boat. This book shows that they have been part of America before the United States was founded,” said Curtis in an e-mail interview. “It recovers the essential role of Muslims in U.S. history and incorporates them into our common notion of who we are as Americans. By unearthing our shared past, the book provides us with new memories of who we have been and new hopes for what we might become.” The preface of the IUPUI professor’s book includes the author’s recounting of a modern-day news story. Curtis tells of a neighbor’s 2007 campaign to prevent the installation of foot baths in the new terminal of the Indianapolis International Airport. The neighbor, according to a newspaper report, considered installation of the baths, proposed to serve African Muslim cabbies who regularly washed their feet before performing their daily prayers, “fraternization with the enemy.” “I have written this book so that non-Muslim Americans may come to understand Muslim Americans just a little better,” Curtis writes. At IUPUI, Curtis is a professor of religious studies in the School of Liberal Arts. He teaches several courses, including “Intro to Islam,” “African American Religions,” “Religion and Racism,” and “Islam in America;” and he directs the Jordan Summer Abroad program. Curtis, who earned a doctoral degree at the University of South Africa, holds a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a bachelor’s from Kenyon College. The Millennium Chair of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, Curtis is currently a Fulbright Fellow and working as Visiting Professor of American Studies at the University of Jordan. As for “Muslims in America” making the best 100 books list, “I feel proud, grateful, and a little bit lucky,” Curtis said, “My hope is that it helps me get my message across to more people. The story of Muslim Americans is the American story. Like every other group of people, they are not angels or demons, but ordinary (and sometimes extraordinary) human beings who have contributed to the making of America.”   Note to Reporters and Editors: Edward E. Curtis IV can be reached for interviews via e-mail at ecurtis4@iupui.edu; voice or video call by Skype at Regan.Zwald in Amman, Jordan; or by phone at 011-962-6-79-796-9426.   Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/60_sq_curtis book signing photo.jpg http://newscenter.iupui.edu/images/200_curtis book signing photo.jpg