JUNE 23, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Mascari named director and chief of the Department of Public Safety

Senior Lieutenant Paul A. Mascari has been named director and chief of the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, the university announced today. Mascari, who has been with DPS since 2004, most recently served as interim associate director since September 2013, following the retirement of Larry Rickard, who served as director and chief for 13 years and left Marquette to become director and chief of the Department of Campus Safety and Security at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

Mascari was instrumental in the process that led to the passage of 2013 Wisconsin Act 265, which grants Marquette the authority to enter into agreement with local law enforcement to operate a university police department. While the law gives the university authority to commission a police force, additional steps remain before the university would decide to operate DPS as a police department, including opportunities to engage with the broader Marquette community and neighborhood stakeholders and after details are determined with local law enforcement. As chief, Mascari will lead that process in collaboration with senior university leadership.

As interim associate director of DPS, Mascari led the operational, training, administrative and auxiliary activities of nearly 90 uniformed public safety personnel, four civilian employees and 100 student employees.

Currently a reserve member of the United States Coast Guard, Mascari previously served in the U.S. Marines until his honorable discharge as a Weapons Platoon Sergeant in 2002. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a master's degree in public service with a specialization in criminal justice administration from Marquette.

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2. Marquette researcher receives $2.6 million grant to fund brain studies

Dr. John Mantsch, professor and chair of biomedical sciences in Marquette University's College of Health Sciences, has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that will fund research on the effects of stress in drug addiction relapse.

"Despite decades of research, there is still no FDA-approved medication for the treatment of cocaine addiction," Mantsch said. "This is due in part to fundamental gaps in understanding neurobiological processes that promote drug relapse, which we aim to address."

Mantsch's co-principal investigator is Dr. Cecilia Hillard, professor and director of the neuroscience research center at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

"This grant award is further evidence of emerging institutional and regional strength in neuroscience research," said Dr. William Cullinan, dean of the College of Health Sciences at Marquette and director of Marquette's Integrative Neuroscience Research Center. "Given the current competitive landscape for funding at NIH, the award is a testament both to the importance of research coming out of these labs and to the value of collaborative relationships among these investigators."

According to Mantsch, the research – funded over five years – has three specific aims. The first is to study endocannabinoid receptors – molecules that transmit the effects of the brain's intrinsic marijuana-like system and become highly activated following stress. The second is to examine the effects of stress on cocaine-seeking behavior and mechanisms of regulation of that behavior. Finally, the investigators aim to determine how stress-induced alterations in these neural circuits lead to relapse into cocaine use, focusing within a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex, which is critical to higher-order cognitive and executive functions including decision-making.

Mantsch and colleagues believe the series of studies has implications beyond understanding drug-seeking behavior and addiction.

"By defining mechanisms by which stress alters regulation of the brain's motivation and reward system, we will be in a position to better understand the wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions in which this same system is altered," Mantsch said.

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3. Marquette en Madrid study abroad program to begin new partnerships in
fall 2015

Beginning fall 2015, the Marquette en Madrid study abroad program will form new partnerships with the University of Comillas and Saint Louis University to allow students from a broad range of disciplines, including communication, nursing and engineering, to take part in the program. The University of Comillas is a Catholic, Jesuit institution in Madrid that has educated students for more than 100 years.

Students interested in studying in the Marquette en Madrid program will continue to work with Marquette's Office of International Education. The Marquette en Madrid summer program will continue in its current format, with students being led by Marquette faculty.

"These improvements will allow for many more students to study and gain a once-in-a-lifetime global experience in the heart of one of Europe's greatest cultural capitals," said Terence Miller, director of the Office of International Education.

According to Miller, the partnerships were formed after conducting focus groups with students returning from Madrid during the past few years. "These changes reflect our desire to be responsive to our students' needs," he said. The new partners will take the place of the university's current partner institution, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Marquette students remain eligible for financial aid just as they did previously while studying in Madrid. All Marquette scholarships and financial aid apply to the Marquette en Madrid program, as they do for more than 50 Marquette study abroad programs.

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4. Custodial, mail services changes will go into effect July 1

In an effort to further the strategic plan themes of "Enhancement of Organizational Effectiveness" and "Sustainability of Valuable Resources," the Department of Facilities Services will be making adjustments to some campus-wide custodial and mail services. Effective July 1, custodial services – including trash removal and vacuuming – in private offices and cubicles will take place once a week. Common and public spaces, including reception areas, will continue to receive services based on the current schedule, as no changes in service will be made to these areas. Employees in private offices and cubicles are encouraged to use common area trash receptacles for food items.

Also effective July 1, mail services will pick up and deliver mail only once daily, and the use of building-wide mailboxes will be discontinued. Certain buildings will be exempt from this change, including the Al McGuire Center, Alumni Memorial Union, Dental School, Eckstein Hall, Straz Tower and Zilber Hall; they will continue to receive mail services twice daily and building-wide mailboxes will remain operational. All others should plan their mail distribution accordingly.

Please contact Jerry Kohn, assistant director of facilities services, at (414) 288-5280 with any questions.

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5. Marquette Crew members qualify for All-American teams

Several members of Marquette Crew qualified for the American Collegiate Rowing Association All-American and Academic All-American teams. Jennifer Varallo was selected for the 2014 All-American Third Team. Varallo is the first Marquette rower to ever be chosen for one of the ACRA All-American boats.

The team also had seven athletes qualify for the ACRA Academic All-American teams. Jacob Dahleen, Ellen Jegen and Varallo all qualified for the Academic All-American First Team for having a GPA of 3.85 or above. Diana Arroyo, Kathyrn Longee, Daniel Otterson and Sarah Weiss all made the Academic All-American Second Team for having a GPA between 3.5 and 3.84.

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6. Post Office in Union Station will be closed July 7-9 for maintenance

The Post Office in Union Station will be closed from Monday, July 7, through Wednesday, July 9, due to maintenance work. MarquetteCard Services will be temporarily relocated to the AMU, 157. Pre-paid/pre-stamped mail under 13 oz. and pre-paid UPS packages will be accepted in the AMU, 157. All other services, including bus ticket and shipping supply sales, will be postponed until Union Station reopens.

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7. Register for Marquette Athletics Backyard BBQ by June 25 for discounted tickets

The Marquette community is invited to a Backyard BBQ on Tuesday, July 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Central Mall. Attendees will have the chance to meet Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski, Women's Basketball Head Coach Carolyn Kieger and student-athletes from various sports. The event will feature face painting, bouncy houses and tailgate-style food.

Register online or by calling (414) 288-7431 by Wednesday, June 25. Tickets are $15 per person before the June 25 deadline and $18 per person after June 25. Children six and under receive free admission.

For questions or special needs, contact University Special Events at (414) 288-7431.

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8. New yoga opportunity available through Employee Wellness

Employee Wellness is offering a new yoga opportunity that combines therapeutic yoga and meditation practices. Participants will integrate basic yoga postures, breath awareness and optional meditation. This class is ideal for beginners and intermediates looking to take time out of their busy schedules for relaxation and reconnection with themselves.

This four-week class will be offered every Tuesday from July 8 through July 29, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Cramer Hall, 50. It offers 45 minutes of yoga practice, including relaxation poses, followed by 10 minutes of optional meditation at the end of class. Classes will be taught by Gretchen Baumgardt, instructor of theology, who has an extensive background in spirituality and teaches yoga from a holistic perspective.

Register online. For more information, contact Kristin Kipp, wellness coordinator, at (414) 288-5607.

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9. Faculty and staff participated in national weight loss challenge

More than 80 Marquette employees and friends and family members of Marquette employees completed a 12-week national weight loss challenge through HealthyWage. Marquette participants lost a total of 823 pounds, and 32 participants lost five percent or more of their weight. Marquette also had one of the top three teams nationwide: Team Too Legit To Quit, made up of Yolanda Webb, professional development coordinator for exercise science; Florence Greenhill, college division counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program; and three family members, placed second in the nation and won $5,000.

For every 10 people who signed up for Marquette, $100 was donated toward an internal prize pot. Eight lucky winners who lost 5 percent or more of their weight were awarded a check for $100. A short presentation of the checks was made Friday, June 20.

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10. Female volunteers needed for clinical orthopedic study

Female volunteers are needed for a study examining the biomechanics of movements related to ACL injuries in active, young adult females. Individuals who qualify must be between the ages of 18 and 25, have normal lower extremity function and gait, no current lower extremity injuries, and no prior history of knee surgery. The research will be conducted at the MCW Center for Motion Analysis (CMA) in Greenfield, Wis.

This study has been approved by Marquette's Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects. For more information about research participant rights, contact the Office of Research Compliance at (414) 288-7570.

Those interested in participating should contact Jessica Fritz, OREC research engineer, at (414) 288-0695.

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