Hope you are all getting used to typing 2017 -- it's the New Year. Of course many of our friends will be looking forward to the Year of the Rooster, which is coming up.

The good news from the National Science Foundation continues, with word that Nora Sylvander's DDRI proposal has been favorably reviewed by NSF. Nora's adviser is Kendra McSweeney. This is "two for two" for the department and a great record of success for our graduate program. Nora is currently making plans to get a jump on her field work. As you know, these DDRI awards are a significant vote of confidence in the quality of the PhD dissertation project and are designed to allow the student enhanced resources to expand the scope of what could otherwise be accomplished. They are (as we have seen in our own faculty searches) a highly competitive early marker of a top quality project.

Congrats Nora and Debangana!

Next week marks the beginning of classes, and also the visit of our first job interviewee who will be here January 11-13. Please participate in the events associated with this visit.

Always delighted to share news you might send me.

MOK