Professional Notes

Carolyn Dienhart, a junior majoring in psychology, has been invited to present her project, “Let Them Play! Why Overemphasis on Formal Play and Organized Sports May Have Negative Effects on Children,” at the Private College Scholars poster session in February. Her project was voted as the top poster at the Inquiry Research Symposium at UST in September. Dienhart conducted her research at the summer basketball camps organized by Dr. John Tauer, Psychology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, who served as her mentor on the project.

Dr. Kim Vrudny, Theology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, is the artist behind the upcoming "30 Years / 30 Lives: Documenting a Pandemic" photography exhibit that will be on display for the World AIDS Day Vigil. The vigil will be held Nov. 30 at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minn. Vrudny traveled to South Africa, Thailand and Mexico, in addition to the United States, to collect stories and photographs from individuals who have experienced HIV/AIDS, either through an infection, care or loss of a loved one, or humanitarian response. Also participating in the vigil are Robert Strusinski, St. Thomas’ Liturgical Choir founder, and Dr. James Callahan, professor emeritus, Music Department, College of Arts and Sciences, who will perform contemporary American music written by composers impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.