Students in the Spotlight
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Jennifer Hooper, Master of Arts in Intermedia Student, Partners with Local Firm to Develop BAT Bus Schedule App
Posted September 26, 2012
A University of Maine student is making it easier for her fellow students to catch the bus. Jennifer Hooper, a Master of Arts in Intermedia student, recently partnered with local company Sephone Interactive Media to develop the Community Connector app. Finding it difficult to navigate to the BAT online bus schedule on her phone, Hooper created a prototype for the application in one of her classes. The Community Connector app includes complete route and schedule information, and can even show the user the nearest stops to their location. Hooper says of the experience, “Sephone transformed my ideas into a real app that benefits the Bangor community. That’s the best part.” For her work, Hooper won the first ever President’s Research Impact Award at the 2012 GradExpo in April, which she shared with her advisor Dr. Owen Smith of the Intermedia MFA Program. For the full press release, please click here. -
Doctor of Philosophy in History Alumna, Dr. Shannon Risk, Interviewed Helen Hunt on NBC Reality TV Show
Posted September 26, 2012
University of Maine Graduate Dr. Shannon Risk received her Doctoral Degree in History in 2009 and is currently an assistant professor of history at Niagara University. Risk was chosen to interview acclaimed actress Helen Hunt on NBC’s new genealogical reality show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” (March 23). “Who Do You Think You Are?” follows well-known celebrities as they seek to learn about their family history. The decision to have Risk interview Hunt was based on Risk’s doctoral dissertation regarding 19th century woman suffrage movements in Maine and New Brunswick. Hunt’s great-great grandmother was instrumental in the fight for women’s voting rights, and was included in Risk’s manuscript. On the T.V. show, Risk taught Hunt about her great-great grandparent’s lives and actions. Dr. Risk said of the experience, “It was nice for me to be a part of Helen’s journey of discovery.” Dr. Shannon Risk is also a former Fulbright scholar and has published two books. For the full story, please click here.
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Robert Gee, Doctor of Philosophy Candidate in History, Becomes Member of Gradhacker
Posted September 26, 2012
Rob Gee, a Ph. D. candidate in the History Department, has recently become a permanent member of the gradhacker community. Gradhacker is a popular InsideHigherEd.com blog written by graduate students for graduate students addressing topics such as technology, professional tasks, wellness related topics, and productivity. Gradhacker’s mission statement describes the site as, “dedicated to creating a community of grads who can benefit from hearing the stories, tips, and challenges of others who are experiencing the same things.” Gee’s first post is titled “Community, Wellness, and the Economy: It’s What’s for Dinner” and discusses food, cooking and the benefits of joint meal preparation for academic communities. You can read Gee’s post here. -
Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies Student, Ana Cecilia Mauricio, Featured in Peruvian Newspaper
Posted September 26, 2012
Ana Cecilia Mauricio, a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies student, was featured in an interview published by El Comercio, Peru’s leading newspaper. Mauricio teamed up with another Peruvian graduate student from Yale University to organize the first conference on the Lima culture of the first millennium A.D. The newspaper called the two students, “a new generation of archaeologists, trained in (Peru) with foreign doctorates, who bring a new vision to carry out their work and understand a country as complex as Peru.” Mauricio was recently awarded a prestigious National Geographic Society Waitt Grant. According to the National Geographic website, “The National Geographic Society/Waitt Grants Program funds projects that require venture capital, supporting exceptional projects while foregoing a time-consuming peer-review process.”
