Newsletter - Grambling State University
Transcription
Newsletter - Grambling State University
Newsletter A publication for alumni and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences Vol. 1 ISSUE 1 From... Dean Connie Walton We have a lot of exciting activities planned for this academic year. These activities include accreditation visits, seminars, plays, exhibitions, and workshops. At the end of the previous academic year, notifications were received that we were successful in receiving reaffirmation from three national accrediting bodies. The graduate program in public administration received reaffirmation from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The theatre program’s accreditation was continued with the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). Our computer science program was reaffirmed by the computing division of the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET). This semester, the engineering technology department is continuing preparation for the November visit of its accrediting agency, the technology division of ABET. Two programs will be reviewed for reaffirmation, Electronics Engineering Technology and Drafting Design Technology. We welcome your support! Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (318)-2744006. Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana Fall 2008 Arts & Sciences faculty teach dual enrollment classes at Grambling High G Dr. Pamela Payne and Grambling High students enrolled in English 101 course rambling High School students are enrolled in three classes taught by Grambling State University professors as a part of the Louisiana Early Start Program. The classes are Calculus I, Freshman Composition I, and Fundamentals of Physics I. These students will receive high school credit as well as earn college credit from GSU. Grambling State University’s participation in the Early Start Program is being led by Dr. Robert Dixon, the provost and vice-President of academic affairs. Dr. Dixon states, “The University is pleased to provide collegelevel course work for Grambling High School students. The courses in which the high school students are currently enrolled should afford them an accelerated beginning to their university studies.” Dr. Pamela Payne, assistant professor of English, is teaching Freshman Composition I (English 101) to seven eager senior high school students. The students are engaged in critical thinking, reading, reacting, and writing. “My students tend to welcome the opportunity to study at a more advanced level and have nearly determined what they want to major in when attending college full time. There is one who wants to study pharmacology and another that wants to be a doctor. The coursework is not watered down to make special allowances for the high school students; instead, expectations are just as high as it is for the college freshman,” says Dr. Payne. Mr. Eugene Taylor, instructor in the mathematics department, is teaching Calculus I (Math 153), with eleven students enrolled. He is covering topics that include limits, derivatives, and applications of derivatives. Mr. Taylor shares, “Some material is challenging but the students are working hard.” Dr. Avaine Strong, department head of physics, is teaching the Fundamentals of Physics I class (Phys 109). The lecture is taught at Grambling High (Continued on page 8) College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter 2 Dr. Connie Walton Editor Dr. Felix Ifeanyi Editor Mrs. Sandra Andrews Lee Graphic Designer Department Heads Art Ms. Donna McGee Biology Dr. Felix Ifeanyi Chemistry Dr. Danny Hubbard Acting Head English Dr. Jennifer McMullen Engineering Technology Dr. Olusegun Adeyemi Family and Consumer Sciences Research & Service Quick conducts research on brain tumors Cancer, one of the deadliest diseases afflicting the American public, currently lacks curative therapy and treatments. Dr. Quincy Quick, an assistant professor, in the department of biological sciences, investigates the cellular and molecular properties associated with the resistance of primary brain tumors to chemo and radiation therapy. The resistance of these tumors to treatment is supported by epidemiological studies that have shown primary brain tumors have a 71% mortality rate within the first twelve months of diagnosis. In an effort to identify new chemotherapeutic agents to combat this disease, Dr. Quick studies novel experimental drugs for their therapeutic efficacy and potential clinical applications on malignant brain tumors. His most recent work is published in Dr. Quincy Quick the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Experimental Oncology. Dr. Quick was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $17,500 from the American Society for Cell Biology for his work relating to the investigation of brain tumor cell metastasis. He is a 2008 recipient of an American Association for Cancer Research Minority-Serving Faculty Scholar Award given by the American Association for Cancer Research. Acting Head: Dr. Glenda Island Foreign Languages Dr. Ruben Gonzales Acting Head History Dr. Roshunda Belton Honors College Dr. Ellen Smiley Math/Computer Sciences Dr. Brett Sims Music Dr. Larry Pannell Physics Dr. Avaine Strong Political Science/PA Dr. Rose Harris Sociology/Psychology Dr. Charles Humphrey Speech and Theatre Dr. King Godwin Please address inquires to: Office of the Dean, COAS GSU Box 4260 Grambling, LA 71245 Art professor serves as panelist Mr. Rodrecas Davis, assistant professor of art, was invited to serve as a panelist at the annual meeting of the Southeastern College Art Conference that was held in New Orleans September 24- 27th. The panel focused on The Black Male: (Re)Examining Visual Identity. The session was chaired by professors from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Mr. Davis addressed Post Modem Discourse: Pop Culture, and the Cut & Paste Aesthetic. He discussed the impact satellite television and the internet has had on society’s understanding of Black males. The audience was informed that the images that appear in pop culture icons help to frame people’s understanding of Black males, resulting in these images being found in varied places such as African townships and Japanese street-corners. Mr. Davis indicated that all of this is reflected, analyzed and critiqued in Contemporary Rodrecas Davis Art by artists; and that these artists work to not allow stereotypical images be a constant in their art but rather strive to include diversity. The Southeastern College Art Conference has a mission to promote the visual arts in higher education. This organization was founded in 1941 and represents a 12 state area. Mr. Rodrecas Davis is a faculty member at GSU since Fall 2007. 3 Public administration faculty presents at national meeting Dr. Charles L. Mitchell, associate professor of political science and public administration, had two papers accepted for presentation at the 2008 American Political Science Association (APSA) annual meeting that was held in Boston, MA, August 28th-31st. The meeting was organized into fortynine program divisions and had 7200 in attendance. Dr. Mitchell’s first presentation was a part of the Teaching & Learning in Political Science Division and was titled Informatics Assessment Techniques for Evaluating Gains in Synthetic and Analytic Abilities. The second presentation was a part of a joint panel hosted by the Information & Politics Division and the Public Administration Division. It focused on Incrementalism, e-Government, and the Rate of Technological Change. He was also invited to chair two panels. Dr. Charles Mitchell Translator services provided to district attorney’s office As a result of the growing Hispanic population in northern Louisiana, Lincoln and Ouachita Parishes have found the need to utilize the skills of translators. Mrs. Nancy Reeves, has provided translation services to the Ouachita Parish department of Social Services, the Lincoln Parish District Attorney’s office, and the City of Monroe. In her role with the district attorney’s office, Mrs. Reeves has the responsibility of A making sure the defendant, witnesses, and lawyers understand what is being said. Her understanding of the Hispanic culture enables Mrs. Reeves to provide clarification on legal aspects that may be foreign to an individual who is not familiar with the judicial system in the United States. Mrs. Reeves is an assistant professor of Spanish at Grambling State University since 2007. Science faculty submit grant proposals team of science and mathematics faculty under the leadership of Dr. M.A. Himaya, Dr. Felix Ifeanyi, and Dr. Parashu Sharma recently submitted three grant applications for over 5.9 million dollars to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant proposals include the renewal Minority Access for Research Careers (MARC) application for $2,663,322, the renewal Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) application for $1,306,714, and the renewal Bridge application for $1,948,080. The three programs are housed in the department of biological sciences. The common goal of these grant proposals is to supplement student training in an effort to increase competitiveness for admission into, and completion of Ph.D. degrees in biomedical sciences at research intensive institutions. These programs have been successful in training students who have gone on to complete Ph.D. degree programs in biomedical and quantitative sciences. Excellence in science teaching The second annual Honoring the Teachers Banquet was held in the Black & Gold Room at Grambling State University on September 25, 2008. Eighteen middle and high school teachers, representing five school districts, were recognized for their participation in the Polymers, Plastics, and Recycling Workshop that was held on the campus of Grambling State University during the summer of 2008. The banquet and workshop were sponsored by the Louisiana Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching Program. In May 2006, the Shell Oil Company in partnership with the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching joined with the State of Louisiana to establish two regional collaboratives for excellence in science teaching. The two collaboratives were formed in joint partnership agreements with four prominent universities. The collaborative partnership in North Louisiana was formed between Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University. The mission of the collaborative is to provide science and mathematics teachers with education enhancements and support systems that will improve student performance in science; and ultimately increase the number of students pursuing science and engineering related careers. The project director at Grambling State University is Dr. Danny Hubbard, head of the department of chemistry. The teacher coordinator is Ms. Natalie Hendrix, biological sciences instructor. College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter 4 COAS faculty involved in SACS reaffirmation process From left to right: Milford Greene, Michelle Williams-Young, Parashu Sharma, Tabbetha Dobbins, Uju Ifeanyi, Melissa Aldredge, Walter Davis; Back row, left to right, Brett Sims and Avaine Strong C ollege of Arts & Sciences (COAS) faculty are playing an important role in the university’s preparation for the 2010 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation visit. Dr. Parashu Sharma, professor of mathematics, is chairing the Quality Enhancement Planning (QEP) Team with several COAS faculty as members. SACS requires a university to develop and institute a quality enhancement long-term plan for increasing the effectiveness of some aspect of its educational program. The plan should impact all students and its development should involve input from all stakeholders. An institution is free to select and implement a topic which best serves its mission and vision. Using university data, three possible QEP topics have been identified. They are: (i) writing skills, (ii) mathematics skills, and (iii) reading and critical thinking skills. Surveys have been distributed to recent GSU graduates, GSU alumni chapters, employers of GSU alumni, faculty, emeriti faculty, and the University of Louisiana System Board Members. Data from the surveys and focus groups will be compiled and a topic selected. The QEP team will then work to develop and implement a plan that will enhance the effectiveness of student learning related to the selected topic. For additional information please contact Dr. Sharma at [email protected] or Mrs. Michelle Williams-Young at [email protected]. For details of the SACS requirement for the QEP, please visit their website at www.sacs.org. Sociology professor works on Mississippi Delta project Dr. J. Russell Willis Dr. J. Russell Willis, associate professor in the sociology/psychology department, is currently serving as a research consultant on a project titled Race and Place: Patterns and Dynamics of Poverty in the Texas Borderland and the Lower Mississippi Delta. He is sharing his expertise on poverty in the Mississippi Delta with the project directors, professors at LSU and Texas A & M. The research is funded for three years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 2006, Dr. Willis has been spending holidays and summer months in the field gathering data and performing ethnographic research. He assesses trends in the social activity and living conditions of persons in the lower Mississippi Delta and determines the degree of unequal access to healthcare services/providers in the region. The lack of economic opportunities is also quantified. At the conclusion of the study, the results will be published. Departmental Activities 5 Chemistry department receives board of regents funding The department of chemistry recently received notification that a proposal titled Acquisition of Accessory Equipment to Enhance Grambling State University Chemistry Labs was funded in the amount of $98,020 by the Louisiana Board of Regents. This proposal was reviewed by a panel and ranked 10th out of 49 proposals. The funded project will upgrade equipment that supports freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior level chemistry laboratory courses and facilitate the implementation of new experiments. Equipment that will allow students to perform reactions under dry or inert conditions using microscale quantities will be purchased. A temperature controller accessory with multiple cell racks will also be purchased for the UV-Visible Spectrophotomer that is housed in the department. This accessory will enable faculty and students to perform experiments that require the analysis of samples at specific temperatures. Dr. Pia Albuquerque is the principal investigator for this project and Drs. Frank Ohene, Bobby Burkes, and Tony Perry are co-principal investigators. Each of the investigators is faculty in the department of chemistry. Theatre department commemorates 70th anniversary of theatre productions Bobby Burkes, Tony Perry, Pia Albuquerque, and Frank Ohene 2008-09 Art Department Gallery Schedule September 2 – October 2 Coatney and Friends October 13-November 12 African Art November 14 – December 12 TBA January 12 – February 6 Annual Faculty Exhibition February 9 – March 6 Guest Artist March 9 – March 27 High School Student Show March 30 – April 24 The cast of Crowns Seventy years ago the first production, Old Man Pete, was performed at Grambling. This play was directed by the late Dr. Floyd L. Sandle. On November 18 and 19, theatre majors at GSU will have the opportunity to perform in Old Man Pete. This special event will have as honorary guests, colleagues and students of Dr. Sandle. In commemoration of this anniversary, special events are planned throughout the academic year. Crowns, by Regina Taylor, opened the season with performances September 30 – October 3. On November 4- 7, the Big Bad Musical opens. This play was written by Alec Strum and is a comical musical in which the Big Bad Wolf is on trial in Fairy Tale Land. In this musical the audience will serve as the jury. The theatre program has 60 majors and 30 minors. The department also has 21 students pursuing a minor in dance and 18 pursuing a minor in deaf education. The theatre program continues to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST). TBA April 27 – August 28 GSU Student Show Gallery Hours M – F 8:00-4:30 Large groups/special needs accommodations please call (318) 274-2274 Persons interested in supporting the gallery may call 318-274-2274 or e-mail [email protected] for information on becoming a “Friend of the Arts”. College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter 6 N Reaching Back Alumni reaching back to biology majors athaniel Washington, Jr. and Rufus Harris, Jr., members of the Alabama Chapter of the Grambling University National Alumni Association, established a book award for GSU students in 2007. The two wanted to recognize the achievements of students who are preparing to make a difference in the world. Two awards of $500 are made annually to junior/senior level biology majors who are residents of the Birmingham, Alabama-metro area. The recipients for this year’s award are Ms. Christina King and Mr. Andrew McCoy. Both students are classified as juniors. Mr. Washington is a 1978 general science education-biology concentration graduate, and is the CEO of Washington Appraisal Services, LLC. Mr. Rufus Harris is a 1962 graduate of GSU and is a retired educator from the Birmingham City School System. The president of the Alabama Chapter of the Grambling University Alumni Association is Mr. Lonnie Smith. Nathaniel Washington, left and Rufus Harris, right Alumnus’ work featured in opening art exhibit Caddo Parish School System. At a closing reception held on October 2nd, Lovelace had an opportunity to reminisce with former professor and head of the department of art, Dr. Thomas Richardson. Dr. Richardson remembers that Lovelace was “a serious student, a little older than his classmates because of time spent in military service.” Fondly referred to by his classmates as “the old man”, Lovelace excelled in painting, drawing, crafts and ceramics. Those early interests are apparent in the works he produces today. Lovelace works in a variety of media: oil, watercolor, paper mache’, Left to right: Walter Coatney, Thomas Richardson, and Charles Lovelace copper tooling, ceramics, pastels and sculpture. From September 2-October 2, 2008, According to Dr. Richardson, “Tethe department of art hosted an exhibi- nacity was the key to success for tion of works by Mr. C. E. Lovelace Lovelace.” Active in the arts throughand Mr. Walter Coatney of Shreve- out his career, Lovelace’s works have port, LA. been exhibited in museums and galler After a stint in the military Mr. ies throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Charles Lovelace enrolled in the art Mississippi. He is a member of the program at GSU. He graduated with Bossier Art Association and PAMOJA a bachelor of arts in art education in Art Society. 1964 and went on to teach art in the Mr. Walter Coatney, who exhibited with Lovelace, also has past associations with Grambling State University. Although he graduated from Southern University at Shreveport he has taken classes at GSU on several occasions and also considers himself a Grambling Alumnus. His artistic creations reference his interests in nature, antique collecting, and football. Painting, sculpture, and drawing are the major art forms Coatney pursues. He has exhibited his works in various venues throughout the south. Coatney is also affiliated with the PAMOJA Art Society, as well as the Louisiana Wood Carving Society and the Creative Art Connection. Dr. Thomas Richardson was head of the department of art during its formative years. He influenced the lives of many young artists and remains supportive of former students like Lovelace and Coatney. Throughout the years he has attended exhibitions by both artists. During his tenure as department head, Dr. Richardson was instrumental in establishing a gallery space in Dunbar Hall. Student Activities 7 GSU Art graduates aim higher Two spring 2008 graduates from the art program have been accepted into graduate programs. Mikwonjilian Antwih, a Monroe Michigan native, is attending the School of Fine Art at the University of Dundee in Scotland. Her plans include the completion of the Master of Fine Arts and the further pursuit of a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Fine Art. Mikwonjilian has a future goal of producing children books that are tailored for the hearing impaired. Jack Thompson, a native of Houston Texas, is attending the Savannah School of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. He is pursuing his interest in Character Design and Animation at the graduate level. Jack was inspired by the work of Ernie Barnes, GSU professor- Larry Holston, and GSU alumnus Cbabi Bayoc. Both graduate programs have rigorous acceptance criteria, which is a testament to the education that Jack and Mikwonjilian received. With this education, they are showcasing the legacy of Grambling State University both nationally and internationally. Mikwonjilian Antwih, #242 Jack Thompson, Sax Man Grambling student studies in Belgium Anitra McGowan, right, and friend Anitra McGowan, a senior majoring in French, spent last July in Belgium. She studied at one of its most prestigious universities, the University of Liège. Anitra applied for this experience by completing an application with the Council of Development of French in Louisiana (CODFIL). CODFIL facilitates exchange programs which improve the knowledge of French by identifying agencies that fund study abroad opportunities. Ms. McGowan is the first Grambling student to receive a summer scholarship from the Belgian government. This scholarship paid for tuition, lodging, meals, and provided a stipend. The three-week intensive French program in Belgium allowed Anitra to advance her language skills and learn about the culture. “As great as the school and people were, the town was just as amazing. The people of this rural city town were so down to earth, I felt like I was right back in the South. I didn’t know much about Belgium before I left, but now I know so much about it I can’t wait to return. This was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life,” says Anitra. This is the second study abroad experience for Anitra. She spent a semester in 2006 in Paris, France. College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter 8 Science professor and student projects support military operations During the summer of 2008, a computer science faculty member and two students participated in research programs at the Air Force Research Laboratory located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Y.B. Reddy and Curshana Tolliver worked in the Sensors Directorate. This directorate is charged with the development of technology that will contribute to the success of military missions and aid in homeland security. Dr. Reddy’s project focused on the use of Game Models in Cognitive Networks. Curshana’s work targeted O LANdroids Robotics. Sparkle Springfield worked in the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. This directorate develops advanced materials and manufacturing technologies for use in air and spacecraft. Sparkle built carbon nanotube models. Dr. Y.B. Reddy is a computer science professor at GSU since 1986. Curshana Tolliver is a sophomore mathematics major from Houston, Texas. Sparkle Springfield is beginning her second year of studies as a chemistry major. Her home town is Berkley, California. Left to right: Curshana Tolliver, Y. B. Reddy, Sparkle Springfield Carter G. Woodson History Club hosts lecture n October 7, 2008 the Carter G. Woodson History Club hosted a lecture by Arthur Lee Ford, Junior. Mr. Ford discussed his recent book entitled When the Whippoorwill Sang: A Memoir of Rural Life during the Twilight of the Segregated South, and enthusiastically answered questions from the audience. During the lecture the lives of share-croppers who resided in Bossier Parish were remembered. He reminded attendees that these individuals played an important role in the economy of the nation. The author shared with the audience how the title of the book was conceived. He indicated that as a young boy, he noticed that when the sun set, all of the birds that were singing during the day were silent and the whippoorwill called. He felt that this bird was singing to him. Thus, Whippoorwill Sang became a part of the title. The Carter G. Woodson History Club was organized in 1974, under the administration of Dr. Minnie T. Bailey, retired history department head. The club is named after Carter G. Woodson, the father of African American History, and sponsored by the history department. The purpose of the organization is to enhance the scholastic atmosphere of the university. Membership is open to all persons with an interest in history. Kari Davis, club president Jimmy McJamerson, advisor (Continued from page 1) School while the students come to Carver Hall to complete the laboratory portion of the class. This semester, ten students are becoming intimately acquainted with principles/theories in mechanics and thermodynamics. “The students seem to be excited about the dual enrollment classes. They are looking forward to the 2nd six weeks of classes. The college professors who teach these classes fit in very well with our high school environment,” says Principal Greg Williams. These classes offer a more challenging program for high school students who have excelled academically. Most importantly, this experience helps to ease the transition from high school to college. The high school students are developing a level of confidence that will be instrumental in their future success in college. To participate in the Louisiana Early Start Program, a high school student must be at least 15 years of age and classified as a junior or senior. In addition the student must be on track for completion of the Regents/TOPS high school core, and must have earned a minimum score on PLAN or the ACT test. The score needed is determined by the course. Grambling State University’s Early Start Program is managed by the director of enrollment management, Mrs. Karen Lewis. For additional information please contact her at (318)-274-2614.
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