M.A.L.S. Newsletter Spring 2015
Transcription
M.A.L.S. Newsletter Spring 2015
M.A.L.S. Newsletter Spring 2015 Thursday, December 18, 2014. On-line registration for spring term will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 and close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2015. As always, you are asked to register early. To register online, students will go to the Hollins Information System on the Web at https://prodssb.hollins.edu. Click on Enter Secure Area. Enter your Hollins User ID number and the PIN (initially student’s date of birth in six-digit form). If you are logging in for the first time, or after having your PIN reset, you will be required to change your PIN. If you have forgotten your PIN, enter your User ID, leave the PIN field blank, and click the “Forgot Pin?” button. You will see a page asking for the answer to your security questions, and with the correct answer, you will be logged in and prompted to reset your PIN. Message from the Interim M.A.L.S. Director Hollins¹ Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program offers the only degree of its kind in Roanoke. Unlike most master¹s degrees, its goal is to broaden interests rather than to focus them on a single field of study. It allows students to explore a variety of subjects while reminding them of the larger aim of liberal education, which is the art of asking good questions. This spring we¹re offering several new classes we think will inspire students to ask good questions. Bad Leadership, Social Movements, and Capital Punishment will take students from the boardroom to the courtroom. Students registering for short term and spring terms will need to pay the $100 nonrefundable enrollment deposit. The deposit may be mailed to the Graduate Studies Office at P.O. Box 9603, Roanoke, VA 240201603. Or the enrollment deposit may be paid online through QuikPay available through the Hollins Information System. During the January Short Term, the art department is offering its Collage class, back by popular demand. This kind of variety, with its diversity of approach and theme, is something in which Hollins takes great pride and also something our students tell us they like. Billing for short and spring terms will be done by February 15, 2015 with payment due by March 10, 2015. Payments not received by March 10 will accrue late fees. We want more students in the region to enjoy the benefits of taking classes in the M.A.L.S. program. That¹s why we’re asking that you tell your friends about the program and urge them to try on a M.A.L.S. class for size. For more information, please contact.... Late Registration: For short term, registration received after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2014 is considered a late registration and must be done manually. Students will be charged a $50 late fee to register after 4:30 p.m. on December 18, 2014. Cathy Koon – [email protected] 362-6326 Joe W. Leedom – [email protected] For spring term, registration received after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2015 is considered a late registration and must be done manually. Students will be charged a $50 late fee to register after 4:30 p.m. on January 23, 2015. 362-6253 Registration Information On-line registration for short and spring terms will open at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014 and close at 4:30 p.m. on 1 Class Schedules VA 24020 or pay it online through QuikPay on the Hollins Information System. Class schedules are not mailed to students. You should verify online that you are registered for the course(s) you desire. Again you will go into the Hollins Information System (HIS), click on Student Services and finally, click on Student Detailed Schedule. Prior to the beginning of the term, you will Once you have registered, changing the number of credit hours may significantly reduce or eliminate the amount of financial aid for which you are eligible. want to view this area for the location of Add/Drop Dates for Short and Spring your course(s) as well as confirm your Terms registration. The last day to drop a short term class without financial responsibility other than the $100 enrollment deposit is Thursday, December 18, 2014 prior to 4:30 p.m. The last day to add a class for short term is Wednesday, January 7, 2015 prior to 4:30 p.m. and the last day to drop a short term class is Wednesday, January 7, 2015 prior to 4:30 p.m. Classroom assignments can be viewed at http://www.hollins.edu/registrar/schedules_ of_classes.shtml. Click on Schedule of classes and select Short Term 2015 or Spring Term 2015 Graduate Schedule. Or, on My.Hollins.edu, click on Graduate Studies tab and select Class Schedule. Classes are filled in the order in which registrations are received. Most classes are limited to 15 students. Early registration is suggested. Students will automatically be waitlisted for classes that are already filled, and are asked to select an alternate in that case. If a space becomes available in the filled course, the student will be contacted regarding his or her preference. If you do not wish to be put on the waiting list, withdraw your registration from the particular course. The last day to drop a spring term class without financial responsibility other than the $100 enrollment deposit is Tuesday, February 3, 2015 by 4:30 p.m. The last day to add a spring term class is Wednesday, February 11, 2015 by 4:30 p.m. The last day to drop a spring term class is Wednesday, March 4, 2015 by 4:30 p.m. Completion of an add/drop form is required for students who wish to drop their classes. These forms are available through the Graduate Studies Office and on My.Hollins, Graduate Tab, forms. Once the term has begun any student dropping a course will be responsible for paying tuition based on the following chart: Students may add and drop classes online only during open registration. Once online registration has ended, you must follow the procedures outlined under the Add/Drop section of this newsletter in order to drop a class. Your account must be paid in full prior to registering for the upcoming term. Withdrawal Date Spring Term 2015 WD through the end of the 2nd week following the start of classes – February 19 WD through the end of Mail your $100 enrollment deposit to the Graduate Studies Office, Hollins University, P.O. Box 9603, Roanoke, 2 Tuition Due Hollins 10% the 3rd week – February 26 WD through the end of the 6th week – March 19 Beginning March 20 Students and Authorized Users will receive email notification that an e-bill has been generated. Notification will be sent to a student’s Hollins email address and, if desired, notification can be sent to an Authorized User’s personal email address. Ebills will be generated monthly by the 15th of each month. The e-bill provides: 50% 75% 100% To drop a class once the term has begun, students are required to present the appropriate paper work. Any student dropping a course after Wednesday, March 4, 2015 is required to formally withdraw from the course. A withdrawal form must be completed (available in the Graduate Center or on My.Hollins, Graduate Tab), signed by your professor and the manager of graduate services. “WD” will appear on your transcript for the course. You will remain responsible for tuition and fees according to the chart. an easy to read format a central location for current account activity, making payments, and viewing bills the ability to designate a third-party to view the bill and make payments access to view real-time account activity and balances access to view previous bills The e-bill is located in the Hollins University Information System (HIS) secure portal through the Hollins QuikPAY link. It is important to recognize that the e-bill, like a mailed paper statement, is a snapshot in time. Activity on a student's account may have occurred after the bill has been generated. Therefore, it is recommended that students periodically check their account on QuikPAY. Tuition and Fees Tuition for the M.A.L.S. program is $365.00 per credit hour or $1,460.00 per course. The technology fee (charged to all students attending Hollins) is $162.50 per term for full time students and $81.25 per term for part time students. Students can permit others to receive email notifications regarding their electronic bill (e-bill) and allow others to make electronic payments on their behalf by adding an Authorized User on QuikPAY. For further instructions and additional information regarding Hollins QuikPAY, please refer to the QuikPAY On-Line Billing & Payment User Guide located on HIS under the Hollins QuikPAY link. Note: With proper documentation, licensed teachers currently employed by a school system may be eligible for a $100 discount per course. Proper documentation is a letter on school letter head from the principal or other official documentation from the school system (i.e., voucher). Documentation must be updated annually. Students are required to pay tuition and fees in full or have approved financial aid for any outstanding balances by the due dates. There is a late payment charge of 3% per month added on any balance not paid by the due date. In addition, a hold flag will be placed on a student's account if the balance is 30 days past due, which will prevent future registration and receipt of an official transcript and/or diploma. Students will not be admitted or allowed to return to campus until all outstanding balances are FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE Bills are not mailed to students. Students are notified through their Hollins’ email account when they have outstanding balances. BILLING POLICIES: The online billing statements serve as the official bill of the university. 3 purposes. Changing the number of paid in full. The university reserves the right to officially withdraw students with past-due balances. credits registered, once a term begins, may result in lowering or loss of financial aid funds. Students with a delinquent account, who are no longer attending the university, will be contacted in writing by the Business Office. Students will be expected to pay their outstanding balance in full. If a student does not respond, his/her account will be referred to a collection agency, where it may also be sent to credit bureaus for reporting purposes. The university also reserves the right to pursue legal action in order to collect the balance of the debt. If an account is placed with a collection agency, a student will be responsible to pay all collection charges, including interest and attorney fees, in addition to their outstanding balance. Once an account is placed with a collection agency, a student will no longer be able to negotiate with the university. The student must deal directly with the collection agency. Remember that students must remain in good academic standing in order to receive financial assistance. Keep the following information in mind when planning for the spring term. Health Services All students who are enrolled full-time will be charged $350 for the year, $175 per term, for health services. Health Services provides assistance for general medical as well as mental health issues. A brochure describing the services, hours, and more is available from the Graduate Center. All full-time students who plan to use Health Services will need to provide medical forms to their office. The forms are available in the Graduate Center, in Health Services, or on the Graduate Studies tab of My.Hollins. Stop by the office to pick up information on health services or request the information be mailed. We are pleased to be able to provide these services to our students. The Business Office accepts VISA debit/credit cards, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards for payment on student accounts. As a reminder a 2.75% convenience fee will be charged when using any credit card to make payments on student accounts. There is no convenience charge for e-payments drafted from your checking or savings account. We will also accept checks which you can mail to the Business Office – PO Box 9658, Roanoke, VA 24020. If you mail a check please include your student ID. You can also pay your account in cash at the Cashier Window in the Business Office (basement of the Cocke Building). Campus Parking If you do not have a current parking sticker do not delay – obtain a parking sticker before your first class. New students will have an opportunity to obtain theirs during orientation. (Be sure to have your license plate number with you.) Parking permits may be obtained from the Campus Safety and Security office located in Botetourt Hall. They are open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A parking sticker for the academic year is $75.00. Financial Assistance Students desiring to apply for financial assistance should contact that office directly at (540) 362-6332 or by email at [email protected]. During the academic year, nine credits per term are considered full-time, with six credits being considered part-time for financial aid purposes. During the summer a minimum of six credit hours is considered full-time for financial aid Students who are only enrolled in courses that meet at the Roanoke Higher Education Center will need to complete a RHEC Student Parking Permit form. All information 4 requested on the form must be provided. The form is presented at the 2nd floor reception desk for processing. The hangtag can be picked up at the 2nd floor reception desk as well. This is for RHEC lots 2 and 4 only. You will want to check in frequently to stay up-to-date on campus events and announcements. Should you have difficulty logging in, please contact the computer help desk at 7777 on campus or 362-6538 from off campus. New students will obtain their user name and password at orientation. Students who need to stop by campus and make use of the library, computer lab, etc. and are not attending any classes on campus for the fall term may contact the Graduate Studies Office to ask for a temporary parking permit to be used only during the term in which the student is enrolled only in courses meeting at the Higher Education Center. Students enrolled in courses that meet at both Hollins and the Higher Education Center will need to obtain a regular Hollins parking permit and a RHEC hangtag as well. Textbooks – Available Online Students may purchase their textbooks online. Ordering them online saves you time and provides a convenient purchasing option as you simply select your class schedule from the available courses and the corresponding textbooks will be available for view. My.Hollins Along with access to new and used textbooks, you can now rent your textbooks! If the faculty has not yet selected textbooks, you will receive that message. As it gets closer to the beginning of the term, you may want to check with the faculty member and find out if he/she will be requiring any books; some faculty do not require book purchases any longer and instead encourage students to check out what is needed from the Library. My.Hollins is the official form of communication for everyone to use at Hollins. It provides a single access to Hollins Web Services and gives everyone personalized informational links, applications, and communications tailored to their individual role(s) within the Hollins community. Hollins email is accessible through My.Hollins. Students are expected to regularly review email sent to their Hollins account. This is the means through which offices on campus will communicate with you. This is where you will find out if your account has been assessed. Please make sure you are checking it or have it forwarded to your personal email account. When you are ready to order, visit http://www.ecampus.com/hollins. If you have any difficulty, a phone number and email address are available for you to contact the vendor directly. Library Services for OffCampus Students There is much information available through My.Hollins. Graduate students will find most of the forms commonly needed, schedule of courses, the newsletter, the Graduate Catalog, the Graduate Student Handbook and more through the Graduate Studies tab. Students taking Hollins classes at a distance have easy access to information about library services on the “Off-Campus Students” webpage. Find information on 5 research assistance, access to library materials and other useful tips at http://www.hollins.edu/library/services/offca mpus.shtml. Graduate Studies tab, and be approved by the directing faculty member and the manager of graduate services. Independent Studies and Essays Advising Independent studies and essays must be registered manually and both require additional paper work. The course registration form, contract for independent study, and essay guidelines are available on the Hollins web site at http://www.hollins.edu/grad/pdfforms/study.pdf. They are also available through My.Hollins.edu, Graduate Studies tab. Students who need assistance with registration should contact Cathy Koon (362-6326 or [email protected]). Students who need academic advising should contact the advisor for their concentration. Humanities: Dr. Larry Becker [email protected] or 362-6529 The independent study contract must be signed by the student, directing professor, and program director before submitting it and the registration form to the Graduate Center. Independent studies are most often registered for four credits, but may be taken for as few as two credits depending on the study itself and the student’s needs. Social Sciences: Dr. Jong Ra [email protected] or 362-6448 Visual & Performing Arts: Matt Marshall [email protected] or 362-6308 Interdisciplinary Studies: Dr. Edwina Spodark [email protected] or 362-6310 Leadership: Dr. Ed Lynch [email protected] or 362-6475 Independent studies are not meant to replace courses currently being offered or soon to be offered. They are intended to allow students to pursue areas of interest not currently available through classes, working one on one with a professor in the field. Incomplete Course Work Hollins’ policy on incomplete course work states that students with incompletes outstanding from the fall term must have them replaced with letter grades prior to March 10. Students with incompletes outstanding from the spring and summer terms must have them replaced with letter grades prior to October 10. After the date that applies to the appropriate term, incomplete work without approval for an extension will convert to the grade of “F”. Any request for an extension must be submitted on the appropriate form, available in the Graduate Center or on the Hollins website at http://www.hollins.edu/grad/pdfforms/incomplete.pdfor on My.Hollins, Essay proposals, with the approval of the directing professor, are due with the registration. Additional signatures will be obtained once submitted to the Graduate Center. Students will be contacted if there is any problem with approval. (Students and directing professors should keep a copy of the proposal for their records). Honor Code Have you completed an Honor Code form? If not, you need to do so. Once signed, the Honor Code is in effect throughout your course of study at Hollins University. Forms 6 are available on My.Hollins.edu, Graduate Studies tab. New students will be given the form to complete at orientation. Inclement Weather When classes are cancelled due to inclement weather, you can find the latest information by calling the Graduate Center’s phone line or the off-campus information line 362-6400. Or you may check on one of the following media outlets for information: My.Hollins, WDBJ-TV7, WSLS-TV 10, WSET-TV 13, Sunny FM-93, WROV, WYYD, WJJS, WZBL-The Bull, WFIR AM-96, WXLK-K92, WSLS Star Country, WVBE Vibe 100, WSLQQ99, or WVTF FM-89 Public Radio. If classes held on campus are closed, so are Hollins’ classes offered at off-campus locations. Are you planning to Graduate in May? If so, here’s what you need to know! You must submit an Intent to Graduate form to Cathy Koon by March 1 to be considered a candidate for May graduation. (This form is included in your essay guidelines packet of information.) The essay: You may continue working with your directing professor until March 2, 2015, at which time the essay is due in the Graduate Center to be reviewed by a second reader. The final document, ready for binding, is due in the Graduate Center by 4:30 p.m. on May 4, 2015. There is a fee of $15.25 for binding the essay. Short Term 2015 Academic Calendar – Short Term 2015 Short Term Begins Mon., Jan. 5 Last Day to Add/Drop Wed., Jan. 7 M. L. King, Jr. Day (classes in session) Mon., Jan 19 Short Term Ends Fri., Jan. 30 Grades due for short term Fri., Feb. 6 Graduation Fee: A $110 graduation fee helps to offset processing costs, including preparation of the diploma. This nonrefundable fee is assessed in the final term for all students being tracked for degree completion. Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Course Offerings for Short Term 2015 Classes are subject to change at the discretion of University Administration. Classes begin Monday, January 5 Classes end Friday, January 30 Specific information will be sent to you regarding academic regalia and participation in the ceremony during the spring term 2015. Commencement will be held Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. ART 524: Collage (4) CRN: 14828 Waldrop Collage is an influential and ubiquitous creative practice. We will explore a wide variety of materials, processes, and designs in both two- and three-dimensional media. Projects investigate formal, technical, and conceptual issues – including sources of imagery, art-making systems, and narrative. Class time is devoted to studio work, critiques, demonstrations, and slide lectures. Change of address or telephone number Please let the Graduate office know if you have a change of address or telephone number. Please email [email protected] with any changes. 7 No experience is necessary. Lab fee provides some materials for the course. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:30-8:30 p.m. POLS 518: Controversial Issues in American Politics (4) CRN: 14802 Ra This course addresses selected controversial issues in American politics today. While we are concerned with the substantive contents of the issues, our emphasis will be on the political backdrop of these issues. Hence we deal with the partisan and other alignment of interests on a given issue and the institutional and structural elements of the U.S. government, which provide the arena for the politics to be played. Finally, we analyze the impact of the decisions, likely decisions, and non-decisions on the political, economic, social, and moral aspect of the American public. The class format is that of a debate on each issue. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:00-9:00 p.m. BLI 550: Leading From the Core – Advanced Intrapersonal Explorations (4) CRN: 14800 Schnurman-Crook This course is designed to be taken only after completing leadership foundations. This course is built around experientiallybased skill development. Students will work on deepening their intrapersonal awareness, developing insights through dyadic pairings, and beginning to understand group dynamics through participation in a communication skills group. Modules on the following leadership skills will help students develop core leadership capacities: deep listening, difficult conversations, conflict management, feedback loops, and negotiation. The course culminates in participants’ developing an alignment between their goals and leadership capacities, and on beginning a mentoring relationship that they will carry forward beyond the end of the term. Hybrid Course Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 502 Spring Term 2015 Academic Calendar – Spring Term 2015 Classes Begin Wed., Feb. 4 Last Day to Add a Class Wed., Feb. 11 President’s Day (classes in session) Mon., Feb. 16 Founder’s Day Convocation, 4:30 Thurs., Feb. 19 Last Day to Declare Pass/Fail/Audit Wed., Mar. 4 Last Day to Drop a Class Wed., Mar. 4 Spring Recess (no classes) Mon.-Fri., Mar. 23-27 Honors Convocation, 4:30 p.m. Tue., Apr. 28 Last Day of Classes Tue., May 12 Reading Day Wed., May 13 Spring Term Examinations Thurs.-Mon, May 14-18 Grades Due for Graduating Students Tue., May 19 Commencement Exercises, 10:00 a.m. Sun., May 24 HUM 566: Films and Their Literary Sources (4) CRN: 14801 Stevens Why is it that no one ever says, “The movie was better?” This course explores the interrelationships between literature and film with an eye to understanding the complex dynamic between words and images. Among the films and their literary sources examined closely during the course are Wuthering Heights, The Shawshank Redemption, It Had to be Murder (Rear Window). Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:00-9:00 p.m. Grades Due for Non-Graduating Students Mon., May 25 Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Course Offerings for Spring Term 2015 Classes are subject to change at the discretion of University Administration. Classes begin Wednesday, February 4 Classes end Tuesday, May 12 8 ART 519: PAINTING (4) CRN: 28023 Waldrop The course emphasizes learning and using the fundamentals of color and composition for bold visual communication. Materials and methods of oil paint are explored. Pictorial space and light are central concerns to the translation of content into form. Class periods are devoted to: demonstrations, slides, and critiques. Evaluation is by portfolio. Lab fee may apply for materials provided by instructor. Tuesday 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 502 HUM 550: Special Topics: The History of Film (4) CRN: 27985 Marshall This course surveys the history and development of Cinema as an art form and covers all the major movements and key figures within Film history. The Hollywood Studio system, International film and today’s independent film movement will be analyzed and the future of the medium in the digital age will be considered. Tuesday 6:00-9:00 p.m. GEOG 503: Geopolitics (4) CRN: 27983 Bohland This course serves as an introduction to contemporary geopolitical issues of globalization, sovereignty, nationalism, war, legitimacy, and hegemony. Key issues include: the nature and production of political sovereignty, the intersection between the nation and new global forms of government, the future of cosmopolitan democracy, the roots of geopolitical thinking, and the role of the United States within the world system as global “imperial” hegemon. The goals of the course are to highlight key geopolitical issues present within the international affairs and for students to develop their own views informed by analysis of course readings and classroom discussions. Tuesday 6:00-9:00 p.m. LIT 508: Writing Fiction and Memoire – The Craft of the Art (4) CRN: 27986 Cockrell This class is for inexperienced writers as well as for those who want intensive practice in the techniques of creative narrative, including: developing the narrative voice (who’s telling this story?); crafting lively dialog (we eavesdrop on the neighbors); building three-dimensional characters (banishing Snidely Whiplash); word choice and rhythm (being gorgeous); point of view (whose head are we in anyway?); sense of place and time (what did the barbarian hero eat for breakfast?). Each week we will concentrate on one of these techniques through discussion, classroom example, and practice. Monday 6:00-9:00 p.m. HUM 500C: Heritage Core - The Detective in Film and Literature (4) CRN: 27984 Stevens Beginning with the Oedipal myth, the course explores detective fiction in the context of literary tradition by surveying the figure of the detective in various transformations ranging from Sophocles to Thomas Harris, as well as in films by Alfred Hitchcock, John Houston, Fritz Lang, Roman Polanski, and others. Wednesday 6:00-9:00 p.m. POLS 550: Special Topics: Public Administration (4) CRN: 27987 Lynch Otto Von Bismarck is reputed to have said that there are two things people should never see being made: sausage and legislation. He might have added public policy to that list, since the methods and systems for making it often seem unattractive. Pundits from all political stripes have great fun ridiculing bureaucracy and 9 bureaucrats. But without them, good ideas would never become reality. This course will introduce the student to the basic concepts of conceptualizing and making public policy. We will do this both by reading and discussing readings on both domestic and foreign policy, and by discussing current issues. Online course and the current reality of capital punishment in the United States. We will begin with a careful study of relevant Supreme Court cases since 1972, including some of those most recently decided. What exactly are the constitutional issues? We will also look at the process whereby certain crimes and criminals are chosen for execution. How important are factors such as geography, demographics, gender, race, and class? Besides the usual historical and legal sources, we will also work with a memoir, films, and some popular media. Students will be asked to research an individual case where there is doubt about the guilt of the convicted person. Monday 6:00-9:00 p.m. SOC 550: Conflict and Social Change: Who? What? How? (4) CRN: 28049 Valentine What constitutes a social movement? How, when and where do they form? Who joins social movements and why? How are social movements organized? What strategies do social movements use? How do social movements interact with major social institutions like the state and the media? Finally, how do social movements impact individuals and society? In addressing these questions, we will look to a wide range of historical and contemporary examples globally and in the U.S. Online course SOSC 550 (2): Bad Leadership CRN: 28046 Niles Kellerman’s book, Bad Leadership, is only the beginning. What are the essential elements of business leadership? What are the common – and the most critical – downfalls of leadership at the individual and organizational levels? We will explore fundamentals of organizational leadership through the lens of the bad, the wrong, and the ugly. You can expect group-based activities, historical and current case studies, and collaborative assignments in this course along with the opportunity to select one book to add to the reading list for yourself. Wednesday 6:00-9:00 p.m. SOSC 500C: Heritage Core: Research Methods in Social Science (4) CRN: 27988 Ra This course has a twofold focus: developing critical skills of analyzing scholarly research works and learning various methods of social scientific research. Tuesday 6:00-9:00 p.m. M.A.L.S. Faculty Information SOSC 550 (1): Special Topics: Capital Punishment (4) CRN: 28047 Atwell America’s death penalty policies are some of the nation’s most contested issues. Capital punishment seems to provide a focus where legal, moral, ethical, political, and religious principles are brought to bear. This course will try to stop a bit aside from the usual categories of debate and – among other things – examine the history Mary Welek Atwell holds a PhD in American History from Saint Louis University. She taught at Hollins for fifteen years and recently retired from Radford University where she was a Professor of Criminal Justice. She has published four books dealing with capital punishment. Jon Bohland is an assistant professor in PSCI and International Studies and is trained as a political and cultural geographer. His 10 interests are in social and political theory, geographies of memory, critical geopolitics, tourism and sport, and nationalism. Dean of Student Academic Support Services at DePauw University and, more recently, the MBA Director at Radford University. Chris currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity and works from his home in Roanoke where he lives with his wife, Stefanie, and their two children. Amanda Cockrell is a novelist and director of the Hollins graduate program in children’s literature. Her most recent novel is “What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay.” She has received fiction fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. J. O. Ra is professor of Political Science who has taught and conducted research in the areas of American national government, elections and voting behavior, media and politics, women and politics, political parties, and political socialization. Ed Lynch, a former aide to President Ronald Reagan and frequent commentator on politics in Virginia, is the John P. Wheeler professor of Political Science at Hollins University. Abrina Schnurman-Crook is the Executive Director of the Batten Leadership Institute. She holds a certificate in management from Darden, a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Virginia Tech, and is a licensed professional counselor. Abrina’s primary interests revolve around experiential methods for improved conflict management and negotiation as part of a participant’s leadership development through intrapersonal and interpersonal awareness. Matt Marshall received both his M.A.L.S degree and his M.F.A in Screenwriting degree from Hollins University. He teaches Film Appreciation and History at the University of Virginia and has been an active film composer for over 10 years, specializing in classic silent film score. Matt most recently won the grand prize at the Rhode Island International Film Festival for his horror script "The Portrait." He is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of film at Hollins University. Brent Stevens did his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina and received his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. He received his M.A.L.S. degree from Hollins, and is thrilled to return to Hollins as Director of the Writing Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. His intellectual interests include the American South, British Romanticism, and visual rhetoric. He spends his spare time playing basketball, playing legos with his three children, and adding plots to the graveyard of popular culture that is his brain. Christopher Niles has built a 25-year career around leadership education and strategic program development, working primarily in higher education, at both large and small campuses, along with consulting and training for corporations and not-for-profits. He earned his B.S. in business administration from the University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Indiana University. With a background in experiential programming and a passion for creativity, Chris has designed and delivered a wide range of innovative programs across the country ranging from stand-alone workshops and intensive retreats to semester-long courses. Chris has been a Lecturer at Indiana University, an Assistant Shari Valentine, after spending years in the politics and legal fields, Shari returned to school to complete her doctoral work at Texas A & M University in the study of Race, 11 Class, Gender and Political Sociology. Her professional experience includes work as a political consultant, grant writer, nonprofit administrator and legal assistant. Shari is a lifelong activist in arenas including women’s rights, election law and environmental policy among others. She is Native American in lineage and practice and loves animals, theater, and music. Annie Waldrop, based in Roanoke, VA completed her MFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore and a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also studied at Parsons School of Design in New York. She is currently working on a solo exhibition for summer 2015 at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Contact Information for the Graduate Studies Staff: Cathy Koon, Manager of Graduate Services (540) 362-6326 [email protected] Dawn Barnett, Graduate Programs Assistant (540) 362-6575 [email protected] Joanna Schroeder, Administrative Assistant (540) 362-6257 [email protected] Holiday Closings: Hollins will close on Wednesday, November 26 at 4:30 p.m. and reopen on Monday, December 1 at 8:30 a.m. Hollins will close on Tuesday, December 23 at 4:30 p.m. and reopen on Monday, January 5, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. 12