Olin College - The Link

News You Can UsE
Candidates' Weekend is Finally Here!
It's the time of year the community has been waiting for – Candidates' Weekend. Olin will welcome a total of 166 candidates to campus over the next two weekends -- 83 candidates will be here this weekend. The detailed schedule of events is now available. Contact Melissa Trotta with any questions.

Revised Schedule of Events for End of Semester
As a result of feedback received from faculty, students and administration, the Office of the Provost has announced the following revisions to the academic calendar:

Summer Book Selected
Provost David Kerns has accepted the recommendation of the Summer Book Program Advisory Committee to use Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains for the summer 2005 reading. Thanks to Committee members Jonathan Cass ('08), Debbie Chachra, Mel Chua ('07), Rod Crafts (chair), Sutee Dee ('06), Ben Linder, Caitrin Lynch, Sara Marshall ('07), and Alex Wheeler ('07).

Notification of Costs
The StAR Center recently released the Notification of Costs 2005-06 for the class of 2006, 2007 and 2008 to students. This can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate attachment by class. As a reminder, bills are sent to the attention of the student for the fall and spring semesters. If you have questions or would like to receive a hard copy, please contact Katherine O'Keefe, student account manager at 781-292-2346.

Olin College is Hiring
The College is currently seeking qualified candidates for several positions. Employees are reminded that HR is always happy to accept referrals.

3/7: Frank Rooney, Ph.D. - Candidate for Mechanical Engineering
3/14: Timothy E. Allen, Ph.D. - Candidate for Bioengineering
3/16: Christopher Lee, Ph.D. - Candidate for Mechanical Engineering

Additional detail, including speaker topics and abstracts will be sent via email as theses dates approach. All community members are invited to each faculty candidate seminar.

Faculty Candidate Seminar - Christine Valle, Ph.D.
Dr. Valle is currently a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a candidate for a faculty position in mechanical engineering. Here are the specifics regarding her visit to campus:

Date: Monday, February 28
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: AC 113
Topic: “Flaw Characterization in Damaged Components using Broadband Ultrasonic Signals”
Click here for her bio and abstract.

Professor Spence Co-Hosts Cryptology Talk
The Babson College Math/Science Division will present a seminar hosted by Professor Gordon Prichett of Babson College and Professor Sarah Spence of Olin College on Cryptology and Coding Theory: Putting Mathematics to Work. The event will take place Thursday, March 3 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Babson College in Olin Hall, room 220.

Ever wonder how websites such as eBay and PayPal keep your financial information private? Curious about why your CD player can still play CDs with small scratches? Cryptology and coding theory hold the keys to these secrets. Cryptology is the science of making and breaking secret codes, and coding theory is the study of correcting errors that occur when data are transferred. In this talk, Professors Spence and Prichett will introduce you to some basic ideas used in these fascinating areas, intrigue you with a couple of stories surrounding cryptology used in WWII, and maybe even convince you to take our introductory cryptology and coding theory course next fall. Please join us for refreshments and discussion after the talk.

IT Tech Talk - “Women and Technology Professions”
On Tuesday, March 1, the Olin College Information Technology department will host a panel discussion on “Women and Technology Professions” as part of the IT Tech Talk speaker series. The panel will feature Judy Bergeron, vice president and partner of MTS Services, Cynthia Golden, executive director of Professional Development for Educause, Dr. Tracey Leger-Hornby, associate CIO and ITS director at Brandeis University, Karen Sullivan, education coordinator for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), and Kathryn Hughes, vice president of Marketing for Jenzabar, Inc.

This event will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Olin College auditorium. Inquires should be directed to Mary Fitzpatrick.

Announcing IT Drop-In Sessions
Information Technology is pleased to announce the following drop-in sessions for faculty and staff. Whether you are a new or experienced user, these sessions will be informal, where attendees are invited to “drop-in” to ask questions, stay as long as they like, and interact with other members of the community who are also using these tools.

All drop-in sessions will be held in the IT training room in the IT Suite – OC LL 10. Please mark your calendar, if you are interested.

- Cognos Report Writing
Facilitator: Lannie He
Dates: Friday, March 25
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.

- Blackboard
Facilitator(s): Mary Fitzpatrick, Kim Round
Dates: Wednesday(s), March 9 and March 23
Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

- Introduction to Jenzabar
Facilitator(s): Mary Fitzpatrick, Judith Cohen
Dates: Friday, March 11
Time: 10:00-11:30 a.m.

- Dreamweaver Web Publishing
Facilitator(s): Brad Lovas, Kim Round
Dates: Wednesday(s), March 2 and March 30
Time: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Eighth International Symposium on Business and Spirituality
On March 22, Babson College will host an International Symposium on Business and Spirituality. The event will focus on adding value to your business and on the improvements spirituality can have on profits and well-being. Featured Speakers will include Linda Mason, founder and chairman of Bright Horizons Family Solution, Ben Cohen, co-founder and former CEO of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, and Aaron Feuerstein, president of Malden Mills. Those interested in attending should register online. Space is limited.

Psychic Fair
On March 4 at 8:00 p.m., Babson College will hose a Psychic Fair. The event will take place in the Reynolds Campus Center. If you would like to attend please RSVP to Beth Hoag by March 3 at 4:30 p.m.

Amei Wallach Visits Babson
New York Art Critic Amei Wallach will be at Babson College on Tuesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. for a screening and discussion of SHIRIN NESHAT. The showing of this stunning film by an acclaimed Iranian artist and filmmaker will take place in the Sorenson Theater. Contact Burl Hash for more information.

Babson's Center for Women's Leadership Hosts Dr. Lois Frankel
Babson's Center for Women's Leadership Author Series will present a leadership discussion with Lois Frankel, Ph.D. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 15 in the Olin Auditorium, Olin Hall, Babson College at 5:30 p.m. The free event will be followed by a networking and book signing reception 6:45 p.m. Attendees are asked to register online.

Dr. Frankel will discuss why some people move fluidly through their careers while others stagnate, the most common career killers, how to differentiate yourself from the pack, what makes change so hard for some people and why women act like girls. She will also present eight ways to get ahead without sacrificing your femininity.

Dr. Frankel is the president of Corporate Coaching International. For over 20 years she has traveled around the globe helping organizations achieve their business goals by maximizing use of their human capital. Her most recent book, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make that Sabotage Their Careers, touched a chord with working women around the world making it a national bestseller translated into seven different languages. Her next book, Nice Girls Don't Get Rich: 75 Avoidable Mistakes Women Make with Money will be released by Warner Books in April, 2005.

Introduction to B&W Photography
A two-session commitment is required for this black and white photography workshop. The instructor is David Akiba. Session I will be held March 5 from 2:00 -7:00 p.m. and will focus on using a camera, exposing and developing film. The second session will be held March 12 from 2:00 -7:00 pm and focus on using enlargers and printing photos. The workshop will take place in Trim Hall, room 222. The lab fee is $50, which includes all materials, film, paper, chemistry, and use of 35mm camera. Those interested in participating should registration at the Sorenson Offices in Park Manor South or call 781-239-5622. This workshop is open Babson/Olin students, staff, faculty and MBA partners.

Babson College Police Sponsor Basic Physical Defense for Women
The Babson College police are offering a four week class designed to develop and enhance your options of self defense. Classes will be held Wednesday evenings beginning March 2 at Babson College in Olin Hall, room 225 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Registration forms are available at Reynolds Campus Center, Trim Dining Hall, Olin Campus Center, Horn Library, Olin Hall and the Public Safety Office. You can register online by contacting Officer Greg Bach. The class is limited to 25 participants.

Olin/HR Training Update Available
The Olin/HR Training update is now available. Faculty and staff may sign up for a number of seminars, including vegetarian cooking and avoiding fad diets, Excel, Access and Outlook computer training, and courses on leadership, presentation skills, interpersonal communication, and much more. Contact Beth Schirick if you require additional information.

We are very pleased that she will be providing her experience and expertise to help guide the development of our academic program as it relates to pre-law education, and the advising and mentoring of students. We are extremely grateful for her voluntary service.

Olin Welcomes Dr. Ted Ducas
Dr. Ted Ducas has been appointed as a Visitor to Olin for the spring 2005 semester. Dr. Ducas is a Professor of Physics at Wellesley College where he concentrates on laser spectroscopy and biological applications. Professor Ducas is collaborating with Olin faculty to develop an introduction to engineering experience at Wellesley that would serve as a "bridge" to pursuing further engineering studies. While working at Olin, he will be located in OC 329.

HR Welcomes New Staff Assistant
Elaine Drobnis joined the Olin community on February 22 as the Staff Assistant in Human Resources. Elaine comes to Olin from OXFAM America, where she was the Divisional Administrator for the Operations Department. Prior to that, Elaine held administrator positions at American Express Financial Advisors and Fleet Boston Financial. She has many years of administrative experience in all facets of Human Resources. Elaine graduated Cum Laude in 2003 from Boston University's Metropolitan College with a B.S. in Management Studies.

Located in the Olin Center, suite 300, Elaine can be reached at extension 2409 and by email at elaine.drobnis@olin.edu.