Emergency Web site
The FBI informed federal officials this week that al-Qaida is looking at colleges and other locations that are considered poorly defended as possible targets for terrorist attacks. U.Va.’s Emergency/Critical Incident Web site serves as a source for news, warnings, emergency telephone numbers and facts about being prepared in the event of a disaster, including a terrorist attack: www.virginia.edu/emergency/

U.Va. estimates show Fairfax over 1m mark
The total number of Virginia residents is growing steadily in the first decade of the 21st century, and for the first time in the state’s history, the population of a single locality — Fairfax County — may be more than 1 million. New annual estimates from the University’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service show Fairfax County at 1,006,300, more than twice the 428,400 population of the state’s second-largest locality, the city of Virginia Beach.

Much of the state’s growth is spreading from Northern Virginia west along the Interstate 66 corridor and south along both U.S. 29 and Interstate 95. Loudoun County, growing at 21.3 percent between 2000 and 2002, is the state’s fastest-growing locality. Growth is also occurring in the Interstate 64 corridor between Charlottesville and Richmond, said Julia H. Martin, director of demographic research.

But Southside, Southwest Virginia, the western Shenandoah Valley and the Northern Neck in the east all are losing population.

Morrish on team proposing World Trade center design
Architecture professor William Morrish is on the international “Think” team that is one of two finalists for a design proposal for rebuilding the World Trade Center site. The proposal for a World Cultural Center incorporates cultural and educational centers in two steel lattice towers and includes plans for four memorials at various levels and parks and commercial development at the edges of the site.
Morrish will speak informally about the Think proposal April 7 (time and place to be announced).

Medical Center gets new COO
Margaret M. Van Bree has been appointed chief operations officer for the Medical Center, effective this month. Van Bree, who has more than 15 years’ experience in hospital administration at academic medical centers, will be responsible for overseeing Medical Center operations.

Before joining U.Va., Van Bree served as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Fairview-University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis from 1999 to 2002. She has held management and academic leadership positions at Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, Columbia Lakeside Hospital, University of Cincinnati Hospital and West Virginia University Hospital. She received her Ph.D. in public health from Tulane.

Looking for a few good faculty leaders
A committee has been formed to conduct a nationwide search for vice president of research and graduate studies, which Dr. Ariel Gomez currently holds on an interim basis.

David Brautigan, director of the Center for Cell Signaling and a microbiology professor, is chairman of the committee. Other members are: Anita Jones, professor of engineering; Dr. Arthur “Tim” Garson, vice president and dean of the School of Medicine; Milton Brown, assistant professor of chemistry; Karen Van Lengen, dean of the School of Architecture; George Hornberger, associate dean for the sciences in the College; Richard Miksad, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science; Tom Skalak, professor and chairman of biomedical engineering; Robert Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs; and Yoke San Reynolds, vice president for finance.

Candidates from U.Va. and outside institutions are encouraged to apply. U.Va. faculty may also submit nominations. Send names of possible candidates to Frank DiGiacomo at fad2a@virginia.edu or Lea Moore leamoore@virginia.edu.
The process is expected to be completed this spring. For details, visit http://www.virginia.edu/provost/.

A position for an assistant dean of students is also open, to begin July 1. This assistant dean will have special responsibility for providing support to and advocacy on behalf of Asian-American and Asian-Pacific-American students and student organizations. The job includes identifying students’ needs and implementing programs and services. An important component will be helping lead efforts in building diversity, including possibly teaching in the area of Asian-American studies.

Applications should include a letter of interest specifically addressing the position, a current resume and the names and contact information of three professional references. Send materials to: Assistant Dean Search Committee, Office of the Dean of Students/ Orientation and New Student Programs, P.O. Box 400181.

Brown College also offers two opportunities for U.Va. faculty to make an impact on undergraduates’ experience, with positions beginning in August. Applications are due by Feb. 28.

Director of studies: advises and oversees student governance and assists in all Brown College programs. The position is half-time, with a contract for up to three years. The director will maintain an affiliation with a home department or program.
Resident faculty fellow: takes part in the Brown College community, including frequent common meals and participating in or helping lead cultural and social programs. Housing provides an apartment in the residential college, with rent partially subsidized.

For details, contact Carl Trindle, principal of Brown College, at cot@virginia.edu or
P. O. Box 610 Newcomb Station, Brown College.

Weaver developing software for medical records
Medical software must ensure the privacy of patients’ medical records while providing health professionals with access. It’s a tough job that’s about to get tougher. In April, a new federal law will take effect that seeks to tighten the security of medical records, said Alf Weaver, U.Va. professor of computer science.
There are myriad challenges in designing the system. It must be flexible enough, for example, to cope with growing numbers of patients, physicians and communication devices, as well as outside specialists, pharmacists and insurance companies.

Thanks to a $250,000 grant from Microsoft Corp., Weaver and a team of researchers will work over the next two years on the software, which they plan to demonstrate in the U.Va. Health System in November 2004. The design will allow the software to be shared with other institutions for testing, improvement and expansion, Weaver said.

‘CardioVillage’ Web site wins award
CardioVillage, the cardiovascular medical education Web site founded and run by U.Va. cardiologists at the Health System, won its third national award in the last year, the 2002 Medicine on the Net Web Excellence Award.

Created in 1999, CardioVillage offers Web-based continuing medical education for cardiologists and other healthcare professionals. The site was recognized for its extensive information that is balanced, accurate, well-organized and credible. The site enables physicians, nurses and students to customize content to meet their individual needs. Case presentations, tutorials and courses include interactive imagery and self-assessments that enrich and reinforce learning.

The site, found online at www.cardiovillage.com, won an honorable mention for outstanding content by a hospital or health system. The award was sponsored by COR Health LLC, an international publishing company.

Calling all actors — and an ace in-line skater
The Heritage Repertory Theatre has set the lineup for its 30th summer of entertainment, and auditions are scheduled for Feb. 15.

Productions include the award-winning plays, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” and the musical gala, “Return to the Forbidden Planet.”

In the Helms Theatre, HRT will stage the play, “Fully Committed.”

Roles are available in all shows. For “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” HRT is looking for singers and dancers who can also play musical instruments, and one man who is an ace in-line skater.

Fun with engineering at open house
Who knew that JELL-O was the stuff of science? The colorful dessert will help demonstrate protein diffusion in gels, a process used by the pharmaceutical industry to purify drugs.The demonstration is one of many planned for the annual open house at the University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is especially suited to middle-school and high-school students interested in science and technology. The open house will be held at the Engineering School Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Student-led tours will be held throughout the day. Free parking will be available in the lot behind the engineering school.

Advance registration is requested, but visitors may also register that day in the lobby of Thornton Hall. Online registration is available on the Web at http://www.seas.virginia.edu/openhouse.

Awarding CVC charity
Several U.Va. employees and departments were recognized for their volunteer service in this year’s Combined Virginia Campaign.

• The vice president for development and public affairs: With a 98 percent participation rate, the unit won the Jean Holiday Award for greatest participation per vice presidential area.

• For largest average gift per vice presidential area: The Office of the President won the Hovey Dabney Award.

• The Wahoowa Award, for greatest increase in participation: The award went to the School of Nursing, up 23 percent from a year ago.

• The Campaign Spirit Award was given to the offices of the vice president for management and budget and the vice president for finance.

• David Cattell-Gordon, director of community relations for the Cancer Center, received the Heart and Soul Award.

• Individual spirit awards went to Cleva Maggio, Medical Center; Leanna Marshall, Patient Financial Services; Tina Jones, School of Medicine; Cathy Dean, Engineering School; Susan Levine, Darden School; Celestia Hollen, Arts & Sciences; Joyce Chewning, Facilities Management; Peggy Smith, Development; John Gress, Plastic Surgery; Bill Fornadel and Susan Fogler, Continuing and Professional Studies; and Dana Rivera, Community Relations.

The U.Va. Volunteer Service Award for the United Way’s Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring, given for the greatest participation per vice presidential area, went to the vice president for management and budget group, spearheaded by Facilities Management. The Medical Center won the U.Va. Volunteer Spirit Award, and individual spirit awards were given to Chris Willis of Facilities Management and Gloria Smith of the Medical Center.

Scholars to discuss consumer culture
Sometimes it seems like everything is for sale, doesn’t it? Perhaps it is. U.Va.’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture is sponsoring a spring speakers’ series titled “The Commodification of Everything” to consider whether this extreme marketplace philosophy will lead society to good ends or strip away many of its highest values. The program will shed light on the forces that are driving society to transform almost everything — from education to religion — into objects for sale. All discussions, open to the public, will be at 3:30 p.m. in Minor Hall auditorium.

The first two events are:

Feb. 13. Juliet Schor, Boston College. “From Cool to Commodified: Targeting the American Child.”

Feb. 27. George Ritzer, University of Maryland. “The McDonaldization of Society.”
Info.: www.virginia.edu/iasc or call 924-7705.

Poet David St. John here as Rea Visiting Writer
David St. John, award-winning poet and professor of English at the University of Southern California, will present a reading and a talk as this semester’s Rea Visiting Writer in poetry.

St. John, whose newest book, “Prism,” was published last year, will read from his work at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 in the U.Va. Bookstore. His talk on the craft of poetry will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Newcomb Hall Commonwealth Room. During the week, he’ll also meet with students in the creative writing program. For details, call 924-6675.