Story and Source Ideas for Journalists
11/06/2017
This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of University Relations, 978-934-3224. For more news about UMass Lowell, visit www.uml.edu/pressroom. Please note that contact names below are for the media and are not for publication.
Sources of the week
UMass Lowell faculty experts are available to discuss:
- President Trump’s job performance over the year since his election and what he needs to do to improve his approval rating, which is the lowest of any president at this point in their term in more than 50 years;
- Election Day insight on high-profile races around the nation, including for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, along with local contests in Massachusetts and analysis of the results;
- CVS’ plans to buy Aetna for $66 billion – a move that would be the largest American health insurance deal ever – as the drug-store chain releases its latest earnings report today;
- What U.S. scientists hope to achieve at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which begins today in Bonn, Germany.
Contact UMass Lowell media relations if you need an expert source on any subject.
Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Returns to Campus
When and where: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 3:30 p.m. River Hawk Shop, University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: Boston Marathon bombing survivor and UMass Lowell graduate Roseann Sdoia will return to campus to talk about her new book, “Perfect Strangers: Friendship, Strength and Recovery After Boston’s Worst Day” at a free event for the campus and public. The memoir recounts her journey since the 2013 Boston Marathon and the life-altering relationships she formed within minutes of being injured in one of two blasts near the finish line on April 15, 2013. Sdoia is a Dracut native who built a 25-year career in real estate after graduating from UMass Lowell with a degree in business in 1991. Autographed copies of “Perfect Strangers” will be available for sale at the program.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
‘Hands-On History’ Program to Teach Public about Water Power
When and where: Saturday, Nov. 11, 1 to 4 p.m. Tsongas Industrial History Center, Lowell National Historical Park, Boott Cotton Mills Museum, 115 John St., Lowell
What: The Tsongas Industrial History Center – a partnership between UMass Lowell’s College of Education and Lowell National Historical Park that educates thousands of schoolchildren and teachers annually about the American Industrial Revolution – has launched “Hands-On History,” a free series for the public that explores the impact of the era. In the upcoming program, “Waterpower Lab,” participants will build a replica of a canal system and experiment with water wheels to learn how water produces energy. Ideal for families with young children, programs in the series will be held the second Saturday of each month through the end of the school year. Members of the public who would like more information should visit www.nps.gov/Lowell.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Free Concert Spotlights Medieval and Renaissance Music
When and where: Wednesday, Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Durgin Hall, South Campus, 35 Wilder St., Lowell
What: The UMass Lowell Chamber Singers will perform a free concert of music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, showcasing the rich harmonies and intricate melodies of songs from these periods. The ensemble of student vocalists will be accompanied by fellow students playing instruments popular during these eras. Open to the campus and community, the event is presented by UMass Lowell’s Music Department and Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program. Members of the public who would like more information should email Paula_Telesco@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
Event Aims to Advance Women’s Leadership Roles
When and where: Friday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell
What: Internationally renowned health-care leader Ellen Zane, the first woman CEO of Tufts Medical Center, will headline “Women and Leadership in a Changing World.” The event – presented by UMass Lowell and its international partner Queen’s University Belfast – will explore the challenges and benefits of increasing the ranks of women leaders in public office, private industry and higher education. Sessions will include a discussion on achieving pay equity and networking opportunities will allow participants to meet professional peers. Panelists will include UMass Lowell Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Julie Chen; Elizabeth Altman, former vice president of business development for Motorola Mobile Devices and now a professor in UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business; and Professor Emeritus Paula Rayman, whose expertise includes work and inequality, and gender and science. Members of the public who would like more information or to register should visit www.uml.edu/conferences/womens-leadership-conference-2017 or email Victoria_Denoon@uml.edu.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
NBC Political Correspondent to Look Back, Ahead at Trump’s Term
When and where: Friday, Nov. 17, 3 p.m., doors open at 2:30 p.m. University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell
What: NBC News and MSNBC National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki will look back at the 2016 vote and ahead to the 2018 mid-term elections at a free event open to the public. Kornacki’s talk, “The Trump Election One Year On: Did it Change Everything?” follows on his visit to campus last November when he presented “Election 2016: What the #&^! Happened?” immediately after Donald Trump won the presidency. In May, Kornacki was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at UMass Lowell’s Commencement. A Groton native, Kornacki took dual-enrollment classes at UMass Lowell as a high school senior. The program is presented by UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
‘Ideas & Images’ Exhibit Explores the Art of Printmaking
When and where: Exhibit runs through Wednesday, Nov. 22, at the University Gallery, Mahoney Hall, South Campus, 870 Broadway St., Lowell
What: “Ideas & Images,” a free exhibit open to the university community and public, features a mix of eclectic art including lithographs and silk-screened prints from an array of contemporary artists on loan to UMass Lowell from the LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies. The show is curated by UMass Lowell Art and Design Prof. Stephen Mishol and Gallery Coordinator Deborah Santoro. Gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contacts for media: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu or Deborah Santoro, gallery coordinator, 970-934-3491, Deborah_Santoro@uml.edu