Leaders from across the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) testified Nov. 26, 2012, at the kickoff of the governor’s budget hearings.  

In an initiative that has art imitating life, one college student deals with an abusive boyfriend while another denies she has an eating disorder, and a high school student faces an unplanned pregnancy. These situations were presented to graduate students in Mary Banach’s social work class by actors, in a cross-curriculum collaboration with the theater and dance department.    

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, more than 1,200 Americans die every day from smoking. But an even more startling statistic is that every single day at least 2,400 people under the age of 25 begin smoking. And, almost no one over the age of 25 ever starts smoking.  

That means UNH’s participation in the Nov. 15 Great American Smokeout  is more important than ever; the national event sponsored by the American Cancer Society challenges people to stop smoking cigarettes for 24 hours, hoping their decisions will last forever.

Janet Polasky has been in orchestras since high school. She played in college, at Carlton College, at Stanford, and during graduate school in Brussels. Now, as a member of the Portsmouth Orchestra, she’s getting ready to play Carnegie Hall.

A professor of history and women’s studies, Polasky, who plays the bassoon, is one of a handful of UNH employees who will take the hallowed stage on Nov. 29 for a one-night performance of “The Christmas Rose” featuring actress Jane Seymour, composer Tim Janis '91, and a cast of 400 performers in an evening of music, dance, and drama.

To illustrate the central principle of automotive user interfaces, his area of research, Andrew Kun reaches into his pocket.

“This,” says the UNH professor, tapping his iPhone. “It’s great, and we’ve all gotten used to carrying our whole office with us. But we shouldn’t be using them when we’re driving.”

What made you want to get into the HR field? 

I had graduated with an accounting degree and had an opportunity to work within the corporate benefits delivery business for General Electric Company. I learned a great deal and really enjoyed the work.  The corporate benefits delivery organization supported all active and inactive employees for the General Electric company. 

Four enduring campaigns will guide UNH into the future, President Mark W. Huddleston said during his State of the University address delivered Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012.

Huddleston outlined the four campaigns during his talk: UNH 2020, the long-range strategic plan; a comprehensive fundraising campaign; UNH Works for New Hampshire, a bid to have state funding restored; and a campaign to restructure governance within the university system.