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 Dennis Yasutomo, professor of government, was invited in May to give a public lecture at the Eminent Speakers’ Forum at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines. Yasutomo addressed bank officials and staff members in a session, “Past, Present, Future: Lessons from ADB’s Founding for Our Future,” sharing his insights about the founding years of ADB, including the bank’s creation and early history. Yasutomo, has written extensively on Japan and the Asian Development Bank. The forum is intended to facilitate exchange of ideas among ADB staff and expand understanding of the history of the ADB.
 John Davis, Alice Pratt Brown Professor of Art, was selected to be among the featured speakers at the 2013 New Orleans Antiques Forum, hosted by the Historic New Orleans Collection August 1 through 4. The four-day forum, themed “Opulence and Intrigue: Exoticism in the 19th Century,” will examine the proliferation of non-Western styles in decorative arts and architecture. The forum will feature talks by nearly a dozen art experts. Davis’ talk, on August 3, will examine the American artists who traveled to Palestine, Syria and Egypt in search of history and exoticism, beginning with the earliest panorama painters who created massive, cinema-like experiences of the Holy Land. The Historic New Orleans Collection created the New Orleans Antique Forum to further knowledge and appreciation of decorative arts and to promote cultural tourism following Hurricane Katrina.
Janine Olthuis ‘08, who is near completion of her doctorate in clinical psychology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, recently received the Brian Dufton Memorial Prize for Outstanding Graduate Achievement in Psychology, presented by the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS). Olthuis, who has a distinguished record of achievement in her young academic career, was one of two winners of the prestigious award this year in a particularly strong field of candidates, noted Susan Marsh, executive director of APNS, in the award letter. “The decision-making process was particularly difficult,” she said. “You were selected as one of the winners on the basis of your excellent academic record and demonstrated commitment to a career as a psychologist.” Olthuis was presented with the award, which includes a $500 prize and one-year membership to APNS, during the association’s annual meeting on May 31.
Nina Antonetti, assistant professor of landscape studies, was recently elected to the Board of Trustees for the Conway School, a graduate program in sustainable landscape planning and design. Antonetti also serves on the Conway faculty as a Distinguished Visiting Historian of the Landscape.
 Anne Angen Gershon ’60,
professor of pediatrics and director of the Division
of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Columbia University
College of Physicians and Surgeons, was recently presented
with the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal Award from the Sabin
Vaccine Institute honoring her outstanding research on
vaccines against the varicella zoster virus (shingles)
and her public health work. “Dr. Gershon’s research was critical to the
widespread adoption of the varicella vaccine, which prevents
chickenpox,” according to the award press release. Ten
years after the varicella vaccine was recommended in the
United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention reported as much as a 90 percent drop in chickenpox
cases, and a varicella-related hospital admission decline
of 71 percent. The Sabin Gold Medal Award, now in its 20th
year, annually honors public health professionals who have
made extraordinary contributions to the field of vaccinology
or a complementary field. The award commemorates Dr. Albert
B. Sabin, who developed the oral live virus polio vaccine.
Gershon was honored and presented with the award during
the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases annual
conference on April 23.
 Barbara Wallace
Grossman ’69, professor of drama at
Tufts University, and her husband, Steve Grossman, Treasurer
of the State of Massachusetts, will be presented with
the Community Service Award by the Synagogue Council
of Massachusetts (SCM) on June 11, in recognition of
their public service. Barbara Grossman “understands and has a tremendous sense
of responsibility to give back to academia,” notes the
award announcement on the SCM blog. “Barbara strives
to make a difference for members of our society who have
been forgotten or marginalized. Her leadership in Holocaust
remembrance and advocacy for GLBT rights and respect
are well-documented.” The SCM brings together the Jewish
community for learning, dialogue and collaborative action.
The Grossmans will be honored, alongside Steffi Karp,
founder of LimmudBoston, during “A Tree of Life: One
Community, Many Branches,” at Temple Emanuel, Newton,
Mass.
Sarah E. Thomas '70, the
first woman and non-British citizen in four centuries to
lead Oxford University's Bodleian Libraries, was recently
appointed vice president for the Harvard Library. Thomas,
a member of the Oxford faculty, previously served as university
librarian at Cornell. "Sarah Thomas is a leader in her field
with an exceptional record of success running major academic
libraries," said Harvard University Provost Alan M. Garber
in a press release announcing Thomas' appointment. "She is
uniquely capable of building on the progress we have made
thus far in responding to the evolving expectations of the
21st century scholar." After graduating from Smith, Thomas
earned a master's degree in library science from Simmons
College and a doctorate in German literature from Johns Hopkins
University.
 Lucy Lippard '58, a
leading voice in contemporary art and ethical activism, delivered
the commencement address and received
an honorary doctorate at Otis College of Art and Design (Los
Angeles) during its commencement ceremonies on May 11. Lippard
began her career as an art critic, and gained early notoriety
as an advocate for underserved groups, eventually working
with artists' groups such as the Artworkers' Coalition, Ad
Hoc Women Artists, Artists Meeting for Cultural Change, The
Alliance for Cultural Democracy and WAC (Women's Action Coalition).
Lippard is the author of 20 books on contemporary art and
cultural criticism, and a novel.
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People News is a column for publicizing
the achievements, distinctions and notable activities of people in the Smith
community, PeopleNews welcomes your submissions. If you -- or someone you know
in the Smith community -- have recently received an award, participated in
an interesting event, or are involved in an important endeavor, please
let us know. |
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