Join U of M Faculty April 10 for an Evening of "Great Conversations"
For release: April 1, 2003
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey

Interested in discussing America's favorite pastime? Wish you could discuss the war on terrorism with a political science expert? Want to know the future for artificial intelligence or computers in the classroom?

On April 10, you can chat with experts on these and other subjects, when The University of Memphis presents "Great Conversations," a combination of dinner and discussion with some of the top professors from the College of Arts and Sciences.

The event will be held at The University of Memphis Conference Center and Hotel, 3700 Central Avenue. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner and conversation.

For a $65 fee, participants can choose among 21 topics. Reservations are necessary and must be made by April 4. For reservations or more information about "Great Conversations," call 901-678-1618. Checks may be mailed to The Alumni Center, 635 Normal, Memphis, Tennessee, 38152. Participants may select three topics, ranking them in order of preference.

Topics for the dinner are:

• "Social Capital in Memphis Neighborhoods" with Dr. Phyllis Betts, associate professor in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy
• "The U.S. and the War on International Terrorism" with Dr. Shannon Blanton, assistant professor of political science
• "Africa's Challenges and Opportunities for the World, for America" with Dr. York Bradshaw, professor and chair of sociology
• "Idyllic America in Rodgers and Hammerstein" with Dr. Barbara Ching, associate professor of English and director of the Marcus W. Orr Center for the Humanities
• "The Future is Here: Brains, Minds and Software" with Dr. Stan Franklin, Dunavant professor of computer science and co-director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems
• "Our National Pastime: Baseball and America" with Dr. John Haddock, professor of mathematics and interim vice provost for academic affairs
• "The Memphis-in-China Program" with Dr. Charles Hall, associate professor of English
• "Recent Myths About the American Family" with Dr. Joseph Hawes, professor of history
• "The 'Engaged Scholar' Redefines University Outreach" with Dr. Stan Hyland, head of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy
• "Gangs in Memphis" with Richard Janikowski, professor and chairman of the department of criminology and criminal justice and director of the Center for Community Criminology and Research
• "Mid-America: Earthquakes Where They Shouldn't Be" with Dr. Arch Johnston, professor and director of the Center for Earthquake research and Information
• "Legible Ashes: the Common Ground of Poetry and Law" with Dr. Mary Leader, assistant professor of English
• "Studying and Celebrating Civil Rights in the Extended Classroom" with Dr. Jerome Lewis-Blakemore, associate professor and director of social work, and Dr. DoVeanna Fulton, assistant professor of English
• "A New Diversity: Latinos in Memphis" with Dr. Marcela Mendoza, senior researcher in the Center for Research on Women
• "Assessing and Treating Problem Gambling in the Mid-South" with Dr. Andrew Meyers and Dr. Jim Whelan, professors of psychology
• "Writing the Self" with Shara McCallum, assistant professor of English
• "Think Globally About Place" with Dr. Wanda Rushing, assistant professor of sociology
  
• "The Astrophysics of Black Holes" with Dr. Joan Schmelz, professor of physics
• "The Living Wage Controversy in Memphis" with Dr. Barbara Ellen Smith, director of the Center for Research on Women, and Dr. David Ciscel, professor of economics
• "The Role of the Military in the War on Terrorism" with Lt. Col. Gregory Tubbs, professor and head of Army ROTC at the University
• "The Evolution of Human Sexuality" with Dr. Jerry Wolff, professor and chairman of the biology department

The purpose of this event is threefold: to educate the Memphis community about the far-reaching research taking place at the University; to foster an appreciation of The U of M's mission as an urban research institution dedicated to improving the quality of life in Memphis and the Mid-South; and to highlight the University's participation in Memphis' growing role as a global city by spotlighting the college's outreach programs. Proceeds will go toward faculty development and community outreach initiatives.

More details are available at this Web site: cas.memphis.edu/conversations

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