Newsletter Volume 12 Issue 10 - May 2026 | | |
Lunch Colloquium with Sally Wolff King
Monday, May 18, 2026
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Sally Wolff King
Woodruff Health Sciences Center Historian Emerita
MONDAY, May 18, 2026
The Luce Center
825 Houston Mill Road -- Room 130
11:30am-1:00pm
“William Faulkner in Holly Springs (University Press of Mississippi, 2025)”
William Faulkner in Holly Springs describes places and people in a small Mississippi town and defines how newly identified individuals and locales affected Faulkner’s writings. This new information about Faulkner’s sources helps elucidate how he often created: by absorbing and drawing from the history of places, people, and the surrounding culture. Wolff sees evidence of Faulkner in Holly Springs and shows how he transformed what he found there into some of his greatest works, including The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom, Intruder in the Dust, and Requiem for a Nun.
About Sally Wolff King:
Sally Wolff King, who earned her doctorate in English from Emory University, taught and served in the administration at Emory for forty-five years. She previously published four books about Southern Literature and three others about Emory University history. One of her earlier Faulkner books titled Ledgers of History: William Faulkner, an Almost Forgotten Friendship, and an Antebellum Plantation Diary, has been called “one of the most exciting literary finds in recent history,” and “a major discovery in Faulkner scholarship.”
| | Athens Pizza Meet / Greet / Eat! | | |
Athens Pizza Meet / Greet / Eat!
Saturday, May 16, 2026 -- Noon
1341 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Join us to relax and enjoy talking and eating with old and new friends. This is an opportunity to get out of the house, buy yourself a nice lunch, meet other Emeritus members, and have a little fun. Significant others are always welcome!
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Justice Leah Ward Spears inspired us with insightful perspectives from her many years of experience as a Justice and the transition to university president. In the lecture, “Beyond the Rule of Law: Cultivating Civic Virtue in a Divided Nation.”
To view a video recording please click here. Keep in mind the recording is unedited so you may want to fast-forward through the beginning preparations to get to the actual lecture.
| | Photo credit to Ron Gould for the following: | | University Senate and Faculty Council News | | |
EMORY UNIVERSITY FACULTY COUNCIL
March 17, 2026
I. Proposal to create a new standing committee to advise on government compliance
(Ben Reiss and Deepa das Acevedo)
This proposal was tabled.
II. Presidential Search Listening Session
(Usha Rackliffe, PSC member, and Noëlle McAfee, Faculty Council Chair)
A member of the Presidential Search Committee listened to opinions of faculty attendees as to what should be looked for in a new University President. Many of the comments urged the selection of a President with a strong academic background, in addition to administrative experience.
EMORY UNIVERSITY SENATE
March 24, 2026
I. Presentation: Provost’s Strategic Framework and Institutional Priorities
Provost Badia Ahad presented an overview of a strategic framework and how it is guiding
institutional decision-making around priorities, resource allocation and alignment of work
in service of the institutional mission and goals we aim to advance. The Provost also shared
updates on leadership searches, research seed funding initiatives, civic reasoning
programming, experiential learning opportunities, the formation of an Academic AI Task
Force, and development of finance academies for faculty, staff and leaders.
II. Presentation: Policy 4.87 – Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment
Melissa Hall, Terrie Estes, and Deepika Bhatia presented updates to Policy 4.87 addressing
Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment. The policy establishes an enterprise-wide
framework for identifying, disclosing, and managing potential conflicts related to financial
interests, external professional activities, and institutional responsibilities. Updates to the
policy include expanded disclosure expectations, clarification of outside employment
guidelines, and implementation of the Insight disclosure system.
III. Officer Elections
President McAfee opened nominations for President-Elect and Secretary. Jehu Hanciles
and April Flint were elected by unanimous consent as President-elect and Secretary
respectively.
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EMORY UNIVERSITY FACULTY COUNCIL
April 14, 2026
I. Governmental Compliance Advisory Committee (GCAC)
(Presenters: Ben Reiss and Deepa das Acevedo)
The Council reviewed and subsequently passed a revised proposal to establish the GCAC as a new standing committee of the Faculty Council.
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Charge: The committee will serve as a confidential advisory body to the Provost and senior leadership on governmental policies or regulatory developments affecting Emory’s academic mission.
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Membership: The committee will consist of five regular faculty (Associate Professor or above), three tenured and two non-tenured. The Chair will be appointed by the Chair of the Faculty Council for a three-year term. Members will serve one-year renewable terms, with a requirement that at least one member be replaced annually to ensure gradual renewal.
II. Compensation Update
(Presenter: Bill Wuest, Chair of the Subcommittee on Compensation)
An update was provided regarding faculty compensation structures. Detailed discussions followed regarding current trends and upcoming benchmarks for the next fiscal cycle.
III. Faculty Hearing Committee (FHC)
The Council reviewed the governing resolutions and principles regarding the FHC (as amended May 6, 2022).
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Purpose: The FHC is tasked with presiding over hearings and making findings of fact regarding the termination, suspension, or transfer of tenured faculty.
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Principles Governing Termination: Under the September 2025 Statement of Principles, continuous appointments may be terminated for:
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Resignation or Retirement.
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"Adequate Cause," including moral delinquency, neglect of duty, incompetence, or permanent incapacity.
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2025-2026 Membership: The current panel includes representatives from OC, RSPH, ECAS, SOM, SON, GBS, Theology, and Law, with terms staggered through 2029.
- There are currently no active cases before the committee.
IV. Resolution: Payments to Human Research Participants
The Council discussed and adopted a resolution regarding Policy 7.28, which requires the collection of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for research participant payments.
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Concerns Raised: Faculty reported that the policy deters participation among vulnerable populations, lacks secure infrastructure for SSN storage (HIPAA compliance), and imposes ethical burdens that may terminate research.
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Key Provisions of Resolution:
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The University must consult with faculty and research staff to review the policy.
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Findings must be communicated in standardized "lay language."
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Immediate Action: Ongoing studies using gift cards are to be permitted to proceed without transitioning to the ClinCard system until the review process is complete.
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Status: Resolution tabled.
EMORY UNIVERSITY SENATE
April 21, 2026
I. Committee Reports
a. Athletics & Recreation
Presented by Tina Chang
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Athletics Highlights: Emory maintains 19 varsity sports with a record of 34 national championships and 230 UAA championships. To date, there are 248 academic All-Americans.
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Woodruff P.E. Center: 13,000–14,000 visitors per week.
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SAAC: 3,000 visitors per week.
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Participation: 84% of the student body meets HHS guidelines for active adults.
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Future Focus (2026-27): The committee plans to focus on member recruitment, involvement, and a review of the committee's core purpose following a needs assessment conducted in Fall 2025.
b. Community Life Committee
Presented by Jehu Hanciles
The Senate passed a motion (re DEI) that calls for the Senate to engage with university leadership to:
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Explore avenues for the restoration or continuation of functions that demonstrate Emory’s commitment to its members.
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Review resource distribution and opportunities.
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Address how members are treated in terms of belonging and implementation of values.
II. Resolution on Equitable Parking Fee Structure
Presented by Liz Carlino, Staff Council
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The Proposal: Recommends a tiered parking fee structure to replace the current flat rate of $55/month.
- The proposal passed, but amended to read that the current parking fee structure ($55 dollars per month for all) be re-examined with a clear eye towards a progressive fee structure, to benefit lower waged employees.
III. Resolution on Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Cameras
Presented by Michael Krayyem, SGA
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Background: Concerns were raised regarding the installation of Flock cameras (ALPR technology). Over winter break, the Emory Police Department added 300 cameras across the Atlanta and Oxford campuses.
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Privacy & Safety Concerns: The resolution highlights the potential for data sharing with outside agencies like ICE, putting undocumented community members at risk. A "DeFlock" petition has garnered over 700 signatures.
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Proposed Resolutions:
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Work with the administration to ensure that no data from the Flock cameras is shared with ICE.
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Call on the administration to explain the reasoning for the camera installments.
- Resolution was passed.
IV. Motion to Protect Community from DHS Overreach
Presented by Michael Krayyem, SGA
After discussion, this motion was tabled.
Submitted by Jeffrey Lichtman
| | Emeritus College Walking Group | | |
If you’d like to get in the habit of walking on a regular basis, please join us at 9:30 on Thursday morning, May 7, 2026 at Mason Mill Park (1340 McConnell Drive, Decatur -- near the DeKalb Senior Center) for our first walk.
There are numerous parks with walking trails in the area e.g., Hahn Woods and Lullwater Park, W.D. Thompson Park, Frazier-Rowe Park and Briarlake Forest Park, but Mason Mill is one of the closest parks and offers miles of paved trails and plenty of free parking.
If interested in joining us on May 7 or in the future, please contact Ann E. Rogers (ann.e.rogers@emory.edu).
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Association of Retirement Organizations
in Higher Education
Cultivating Social Connections and Support Systems in Retirement
with Marc Schulz
Wednesday, May 06, 2026 3:00 PM, EDT
Location: Virtual
To Register Click Here
EVENT DETAILS:
3:00 PM EDT, 2:00 PM CDT, 1:00 PM MDT, 12:00 PM PDT
“The quality of your relationships is the single biggest predictor of happiness.” – The Good Life
Join Marc Schulz, co-author of The Good Life, for an engaging and uplifting conversation about how to stay connected and supported in retirement. Drawing on insights from the landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development, Marc will share practical tips and inspiring stories to help you nurture friendships, strengthen community ties, and create a life filled with meaning and joy. This session is perfect for retirees in higher education who want to thrive socially and emotionally in this exciting new chapter.
The Speaker:
Marc Schulz is the author (along with Robert Waldinger) of the New York Times Bestseller, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness (2023), which is being translated and published in over 45 languages around the world. Dr. Schulz is the Associate Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an 87-year-old longitudinal study of human flourishing in two generations of individuals from over 700 families. He is also an award-winning Professor of Psychology who holds the Sue Kardas PhD 1971 Professorship in Psychology at Bryn Mawr College and directs Bryn Mawr’s Data Science Program. He completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at U.C. Berkeley and postdoctoral fellowships in clinical and health psychology at Harvard Medical School.
| | MedShare Volunteer Opportunity | | |
If you’d like to join this group, we are volunteering the second Thursday afternoon of each month. Upcoming sessions: May 14, and June 11, 2026 . Registration on the MedShare web site is required.
To register:
Visit the MedShare event registration page at: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0319&console_type=event&ht=1&res_code=EmoryEmeritus
Click the "Sign Up" button for your event and enter your email and first name. If you don't have a MedShare volunteer account, you'll be prompted to create one.
Select the listed event and click “Register."
For registration issues, questions or information about carpooling, please contact Marianne Skeen, marskeen@comcast.net.
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Elaine Walker
Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Congratulations are in order! Elaine was one of three Emory faculty members recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
To view a full story from the Emory News Center please click here.
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Timothy Albrecht
Professor of Music Emeritus
Timothy's new book was just published -- Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier II: Keyboard Reflections.
The book will be available on Amazon.com.
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New members are the lifeblood of any organization.
Please make a special effort to welcome them to the EUEC!
Laurie Burton
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Wendy Greene
Professor of Surgery, Emory School of Medicine
Craig Hill
Goodrich C. White Professor of Science
Ellen Idler
Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor Emerita of Sociology
Judith Miller
Associate Professor, Department of History
Vandana Dua Niyyar
Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Marie-Claude Perreault
Associate Professor of Cell Biology, School of Medicine
Sumathi Srivatsa
Assistant Professor of Endocrinology, Internal Medicine
| | Some Upcoming Events at Emory in May 2026 | | |
2026 Visual Arts Capstone Exhibition
"Tiny Worlds: A Journey Through Interconnected Identities"
Emory University Visual Arts Gallery, 700 Peavine Creek Dr. Atlanta, GA 30322
On view: April 28 - May 10, 2026
Opening Reception: Tues., April 28th, 5:00-8:00pm
Artists: Anvitha Suram, Dorien Johniken, Nacole Rhodes, Risa Lippe, Soph Guerieri, and Sydney Holden
"Tiny Worlds: A Journey Through Interconnected Identities" is an art exhibition featuring the capstone works of graduating seniors in the Emory Visual Arts program. Structured as a collective exhibition composed of individual solo presentations, the show brings together six distinct artistic voices that each explore identity through intimate, layered, and often personal lenses. Across mediums and approaches, the works examine how identities are constructed, fragmented, remembered, and reimagined—tracing connections between the personal and the collective, the historical and the contemporary, the internal and the external. Moving between dreamlike states, cultural memory, and material experimentation, Tiny Worlds invites viewers to consider how seemingly small, individual experiences reflect broader systems of meaning and belonging.
The exhibition will be on view April 28 - May 10, 2026 at the Emory University Visual Arts Gallery. Join us for an opening reception on Tuesday, April 28 from 5-8 pm.
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Sunday FUNday: Flower Myths
Ackerman Hall - M C Carlos Museum
Sunday, May 3, 2026, 12 – 4pm EDT
Flowers weren’t just beautiful to the ancient Greeks—they were filled with meaning and myth. The anemone plant was said to spring from the tears of Aphrodite, the narcissus flower tells the story of a young man who fell in love with his own reflection, and the cypress tree is closely tied to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the moon. In honor of Mother’s Day, explore the floral myths connected to Greek goddesses and heroes and make a myth-inspired paper flower arrangement or wearable flower craft to give to someone special.
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Details and other information, as well as additional campus events, can be found on the Emory Events Calendar.
If you'd like to share an event/program of interest before the next newsletter
please contact Dianne Becht Dianne.becht@emory.edu
| | Exploring the Campus with Dianne | |
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The building with a wall of windows from last month's exploration is the Health Sciences Research Building (HRSB-II) located on Haygood Drive near Druid Hills High School.
The eight-story, 350,000-square-foot building houses more than 1,000 researchers, including 130 principal investigators, from across a variety of specialties including: pediatrics, biomedical engineering, Winship Cancer Institute, cardiovascular medicine, the Emory Vaccine Center, radiology and brain health.
To read more and view a short video tour of the building, please click here.
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Let's go from looking at something large to something quite a bit smaller. The photo below is a section of railing on a stairway landing at an entryway to this particular building.
Every time I go by this spot I stop to admire the beautiful patterns in the marble.
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Where will you find this on the Emory campus?
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Emory University Emeritus College
The Luce Center
825 Houston Mill Road NE Room 206
Atlanta, GA 30329
http://www.emory.edu/emeritus
Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Inquiries should be directed to the Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Bldg, Atlanta, GA 30322.
Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).
Should you need this document in an alternate format, or require a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at 404-727-9877 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).
Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.
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