Penn State Great Valley Library Blog

JSTOR (the scholarly journal archive) has launched JSTOR Africa as “part of JSTOR’s mission to create an archive of scholarly literature and extend access to the archive as broadly as possible, we are proud to announce that JSTOR has adopted a plan to waive participation fees for any academic or not-for-profit institution on the continent of Africa. This plan affects new participants, as well as institutions that currently participate in JSTOR.”

The plan will provide three years of free access to institutions in Africa participating in the program. JSTOR’s provides a rationale for selecting the continent of Africa as follows:

“We understand that there are many other regions of the world and many institutions that would benefit from a similar policy. We have limited this access plan to Africa in part because barriers to sustainability and access are so broadly similar across this region. The Open Africa Program is the latest initiative we have taken in the last few years to address issues of affordability, utility, sustainability, and access.

JSTOR has taken steps to make access to the archive more accessible to the developing world, including an access plan for countries outside the United States that extend savings off of standard JSTOR participation fees based on criteria established by the World Bank’s analysis of Gross National Income (GNI).”

Learn more about this exciting initative by logging onto: www.jstor.org/about/africa/openafrica.html

Presented by
Dr. Sandi L. Dinger

Monday, April 3, 2006
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Penn State Great Valley
Safeguard Scientifics Building
Musser Auditorium

How can leaders best encourage each colleague’s strengths and talents to make contributions that promote performance beyond expectations within their organizations? The most effective leaders

- are alert to individual needs and diversity of strengths and talents.
- provide appropriate challenges and learning experiences unique to each individual.
- use delegation to help develop followers.

Learn practical strategies for demonstrating these key leadership behaviors during this presentation. Faculty are encouraged to bring their classes to this event.

Light refreshments will be served following the discussion.

Sandi L. Dinger (Ph.D., State University of New York at Binghamton) is currently Associate Professor of Organizational Management and Director of the Organizational Management Program at Eastern University. Her research interests include personality and individual differences, leadership in sports contexts, and charismatic/transformational leadership. Dr. Dinger has published her research in top-tier journals such as The Leadership Quarterly.

To Register, RSVP by Friday, March 31st to Cathy O’Neill at cxo10@psu.edu or 610-648-3248.

Penn State Great Valley’s Diversity Action Council is sponsoring “Playback for Change — Isms and Phobias: Experiencing Diversity” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in the Musser Auditorium of the Safeguard Scientifics Building on campus.

Playback for Change is a Philadelphia-area troupe of actors and musicians that presents an interactive, improvisational theatre performance in which the real-life experiences of the audience are the subject matter. In this performance, audience members will have the opportunity to hear and tell personal stories about “isms and phobias” and see them embodied by the Playback troupe. Through the telling and re-enactment of these stories, an intellectual discussion about diversity is transformed into a heartfelt experience, and the community can become stronger and more welcoming to all.

The free event is open to the public.
R.S.V.P. to Elayna McReynolds at exm148@psu.edu or (610) 648-3294

Washington, D.C. — Tanya Furman, professor of geoscience at Penn State, received a 2005 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

The award honors individuals and institutions that have enhanced the participation of underrepresented groups — such as women, minorities and people with disabilities — in science, mathematics and engineering education at all levels. The program is supported and administered by the National Science Foundation, and individual awards include a $10,000 grant for continued mentoring work.

Furman, who also is associate director of Penn State’s Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering and Development in Africa, received the award for working to identify best practices for organizations wishing to develop mentoring programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She developed an innovative series of programs that promise a substantial effect on increasing underrepresented students considering STEM-based career opportunities and has built collaborative relationships at other academic institutions that now use her programs.

Her work helps to increase minority and female student participation in geosciences. Furman focuses on designing research opportunities that engage African-American students and encourage them to pursue graduate studies.

Tolerance.org, winner of the Webby Award for Activism and Electronic Multimedia Awards for both Education and Public Service, provides:

Daily news about groups and individuals working for tolerance and fighting hate;

Guidebooks for adult and youth activists;

Practical resources for parents and teachers; and

Entertaining and educational games for young children.