Congratulations to professor Kecia Thomas, who has been appointed associate dean for leadership development and diversity in the Franklin College:

A professor of industrial/organizational psychology in the department of psychology, Thomas has served on the UGA faculty since 1993.

In 1952, American experimental composer John Cale composed a three-movement composition, Four minutes, thirty-three seconds, or Four thirty-three. Written for any instrument or combination of instruments, the score instructs the performer(s) not to play their instrument(s) during the entire duration of the piece throughout the three movements. The piece purports to consist of the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed, although it is commonly perceived as "four minutes thirty-three seconds of silence".

One form of epigenetic change known as DNA methylation is particularly understudied in this area.

"There's a large amount of evidence that a process known as DNA methylation is a key player in cancer development," Zhong said. "Today's next-generation sequencing techniques give us the data we need to close the gap in this area of research."

Zhong and her team will develop a suite of statistical models to broaden the understanding of how epigenetic patterns are established and maintained during normal development and under different environmental conditions.

Eric Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, whose 2010 book The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery received the Pulitzer Prize for History, will deliver the 2014 Gregory Distinguished Lecture.

One of the blog's favorite American novels and fictional protagonists comes to the Fine Arts Theatre beginning November 6:

University Theatre at the University of Georgia will present "The Great Gatsby," adapted for the stage by Simon Levy from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel and directed by T. Anthony Marotta, on Nov. 6-8 and 12-14 at 8 p.m. with matinee performances Nov. 9 and 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre.

Athletics Association Professor in the Social Sciences and nationally-recognized expert on climate Marshall Shepherd took to the pages of the Washingtom Post last week to point out connections between the latest Ebola outbreak and the challenges presented by climate change:

The Graduate Acting Ensemble in the department of theatre and film studies will present a two-night engagement Oct. 21-22 in the Cellar Theatre of the Fine Arts Building - Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley:

A violent maniac and a neglectful mother walk into a bar, but the only punch lines are the scars they carry with them. Danny wants to fight his way out of this vicious world, and Roberta wants punishment for her awful life choices. When they cross paths one night in a dingy Bronx bar, they might be each other's last hope for redemption.

Imagine you're a major research university, with aspirations for rising in the ranks. Everything from your endowment to annual extramural funding dollars can be included in quantifiable metrics you use to measure your progress. But there are other aspects of your impact that can be more difficult to quantify. For example, how good is the history department? How strong is your art school?

We'll be highlighting a few of the upcoming Spotlight on the Arts events, and first but not least is the UGA Opera Theatre production of 'Hansel and Gretel':

 University of Georgia Opera Theatre will present "Hansel and Gretel" in a three-night engagement Nov. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall.

The Concert on the Lawn has become a fall tradition on North campus, and the Hodgson Wind Ensemble will present the fifth installment this Friday, Oct. 17 at 12:30 p.m.

Enjoy an hour of good fellowship and fun at this free concert by the Hodgson Wind Ensemble and director of bands Cynthia Johnston Turner!