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March 2007 Points of Pride
Excellence in Our Faculty
and Staff
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Dr. Ann Thorne, professor of journalism, is Western’s recipient of the
2007 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Thorne was selected from faculty who received the James V. Mehl
Award, the Jesse Lee Myers Excellence in Teaching Award or the Governors
Distinguished Professor Award during the past three years. One faculty
member from each public and private college/university in Missouri
receives the award.
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Danielle Hunt,
manager of the educational television services, received a bronze Telly
in the 28th annual Telly Awards for her production of the “Western
Reports" pilot show. Telly Awards are highly respected national and
international competitions that receive over 13,000 entries annually
from all 50 states and many foreign countries. The bronze Telly award
winners typically represent about 18 percent of entrants. The Telly is the
premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV
commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film
productions.
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Jake Noyd,
operations engineer of the instructional media center, and Max
Schlesinger, director of the instructional media center, facilitated the
successful completion of the FCC-mandated transition of Western's
Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) terrestrial
microwave-based television delivery system to the new Educational
Broadband Service (EBS) frequencies.
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Tara Stoll, video
communications producer of the instructional media center, and Danielle
Hunt, manager of the educational television services, received awards of
distinction in the Communicator Awards 2006 Video Competition. Stoll
received her award for the original music she composed for the Western
promotional piece currently running on Western Television. Hunt received
her award for her production of the 2006 United Way Campaign video
“Caring Lives Here.” The communicator awards are international awards
competitions that recognize outstanding work in the communication field.
The Award of Distinction is awarded for projects that exceed industry
standards in production or communication skills.
- Stan Sweeney,
director of student engagement, along with the greek life executive
councils, attended a Greek workshop in Chicago, Ill. By nomination of
his interns, Stan Sweeney won the Steven D. Dalph Outstanding Greek
Professional award for the region.
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Dr. James
Puckett, instructor of chemistry, participated in the Missouri
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s 23rd
Annual Interface Conference. As a member of the conference steering
committee, Dr. Puckett supervised the vendor exhibit area and assisted
with other conference coordination duties. Approximately 650 pre-K
through sixth-grade and 900 seventh-grade through college mathematics
and science teachers attended the conference.
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Dr. Jane
Frick, professor of English, has been appointed to Missouri’s
Communication Arts Grade-Level Expectations (GLE) Review and Update
Advisory Committee, Grades nine-12, for the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education. She also coordinated the “Teaching English in a
Digital World: A School University Partnership of Teachers and
Pre-Service Teachers” symposium at Western’s second annual conference on
Applied Learning in Higher Education. Presenting with Dr. Frick were
pre-service teachers Michelle Anthuis, Mark Henderson, and Lynn Laipple
and area English teacher mentors Rebecca Dierking of Maryville High
School and Stefanie Lyle of St. Joseph’s Benton High School.
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Ellen Kisker, director of nontraditional student services, served as a
judge for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) District IV
Contest in Liberty, Mo. Fifteen high schools from the north Kansas City area were participants. Kisker also provided the program for the March
meeting of the Southside Women’s Business Club. She is also serving on
one of five
United Way Allocations Committees this year.
- Larry Andrews,
professor of criminal justice, was recently appointed as chairman of the
City of St. Joseph-Buchanan County Law Enforcement Commission. The
commission oversees the law enforcement operations of both agencies in
the community. Most recently the commission has been overseeing the
construction of the new Police Department facility in downtown St.
Joseph and the remodeling of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s facility.
Andrews is currently involved in research concerning jail standards from
the federal and state government that relate to operations in St.
Joseph. Andrews will meet this month in Washington, D.C. with federal
officials to review new law and regulations for operations and inmate
space requirements at the Buchanan County jail,
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Geo Sipp,
associate professor of art, had three prints from his “Wolves in the
City”series accepted by Clemson University Center for Visual Art. The
acquisitions are: “The Question,” “Algiers,” and “Oil Fields.”
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Dr. Shauna
Hiley, associate professor of chemistry, and five members of the
Alchemist Club, judged high school science projects at the West Platte
science fair.
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Dr. Konrad
Gunderson, assistant professor of accounting, had his article “A Capstone
Approach for Teaching Financial Instruments in Intermediate Financial
Accounting” published in the Journal of Business and Leadership,
2006, volume 2, pp. 177-185. Dr. Gunderson also took a team of four
accounting students to
Northwest
Missouri State University to compete in Missouri Society of CPA’s annual
“Accounting Jeopardy” competition.
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Western faculty presentations at the Applied
Learning in Higher Education
conference included: Dr. Shauna Hiley, associate professor of chemistry,
“MWSU Chemistry Student Mentor/Laboratory Assistants: A Service Learning
Success;” Dr. Mike Ducey, associate professor of chemistry, “Engaging
Students with Research Problems: Applied Learning in the General
Chemistry Laboratory;” Dr. Steve Klassen, associate professor of
mathematics, Developing the Actuarial Student;
Deborah Becker, instructor of computer science,
“University-Industry Technology Transfer in Action;” Dr. Jeff Poet,
assistant professor of mathematics, and Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology and department chair, “Synthetic Biology: Using Distance
Collaboration in Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research;” Dr. Kenneth Dagel, associate professor of geography, "Developing a Sense of Place:
The Importance of the Spatial Perspective in Landscape Appreciation;"
Russ Phillips, instructor of
psychology; Jim Grechus, professor emeritus of health, physical
education, and recreation; Amy Saxton, student; Dr. Ken Dagel, associate
professor of geography; Tom Pankiewicz, instructor of English; and Dr.
Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin, professor of English; entitled “Outdoor
Semester: Teaching Towards Multiple Intelligences.”
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Dr. Jason
Baker, associate professor of biology; and Dr. David Ashley, professor
of biology, developed and presented a one-day infectious diseases
workshop for the combined area health education centers of northwest
Missouri and Kansas City, Mo. Daisy Buntin, biology student, played a
vital role in coordinating this program for 40 area high school and
college pre-health students. Five other current and past Western biology
students provided laboratory assistance for the program.
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Dr. David
Ashley, professor of biology; and Shelly Cox, Missouri Department of
Conservation naturalist volunteer, collaborated to present an entomology
workshop for an estimated 30 area 4-H students and their parents as part
of a series of workshops to help the students prepare their entomology
collections for a statewide competition. Dr. Ashley also presented a
seminar, Introduction to Biospeleology and Conservation Monitoring, to
members of the Kansas City area Grotto. Members of this caving
association have invited Dr. Ashley to collaborate on research projects
involving cave biota in the extensive Carroll Cave ecosystem.
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Dr. George Yang,
associate professor of engineering technology, presented a paper
“Delivering Manufacturing Technology Education through an Innovative
Curriculum” at the 2007 College Industry Education Conference of the
American Society of Engineering Education conference held in
Palm Springs,
Calif.
The paper was co-authored with Dr. Jinwen Zhu, assistant professor of
engineering technology; and Dr. Virendra Varma, department chair and
professor of engineering technology.
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Dr. Tim Miller, assistant professor of
mathematics, attended the International Conference on Technology in
Collegiate Mathematics in
Boston,
Mass. He presented a talk entitled “Power Series Solutions for
Differential Equations with the TI-89.”
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Kit Blake, instructor
of education, presented a paper entitled “Using Partner Dialogue
Journals for Promoting Reflection, Text Comprehension, Engagement in the
Classroom Community while Developing Literacy Pedagogy” at the
Association for Teacher Educators Annual Conference held in San Diego,
Calif.
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Dr. Cindy Heider, interim
dean of professional studies presented a paper, “Using Leadership Traits
and Emotional Intelligence to Develop Beginning Teacher Dispositions and
Skills,” at the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education
annual meeting in New York City. She also presented a poster session,
“Highly Qualified Teachers: The Challenge of Out-of-Field and Not Fully
Certified Teachers,” while at this same conference.
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Bill Wines,
associate professor of business, presented a paper entitled
“Observations on Leadership: Moral and Otherwise” at the annual meeting
of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics at the Hilton
Netherlands Hotel in Cincinnati. While at the meeting, he also sat on a
panel that
discussed and critiqued Uchitelle’s new book “The Disposable American:
Layoffs and Their Consequences” (Knoph, 2006).
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Faculty
attended a workshop entitled, “The Art of Grantmanship.” Hosted by the
council on Undergraduate Research in Washington, DC. The following
faculty members were in attendance: Suzanne Kissock, assistant professor
of criminal justice; Crystal Harris, assistant professor of nursing;
Jeremy Warner, instructor of communication studies; Dr. Stephen Morris,
assistant professor of philosophy; and Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of
nursing. In addition to networking opportunities with colleagues,
attendees had the opportunity to meet in small groups with program
officers from federal funding agencies such as the National Science
Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the National Endowment
for the Humanities.
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Dave Brown, director of
counseling center, was a member of the Founders’ Day panel along with
other campus administrators and directors and also provided a session on
stress management during a training session for Resident Assistants.
Steve Potter, liscenced counselor, and Brown attended the monthly
Partners in Prevention (PIP) meeting at Missouri University in Columbia,
and then hosted the local PIP campus coalition the following week. As a
part of the joint effort to address problematic drinking and youth,
Brown represented the university at the monthly meeting of the Drug-Free
Community Coalition.
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Dr. Jim
Okapal, assistant professor of philosophy, presented a paper, Ethics in
an Introductory Biology Class, at the 16th annual conference for the
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics.
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Dr. Joanne
Katz, professor of legal studies, along with two senior research
students, presented at the conference on Applied Learning in Higher
Education held on Western’s campus. The presentation was entitled
“Faculty-Student Research: Restorative Justice.” Student, Blair Dudley,
presented on her research, “Restorative Justice in Police Academy
Curriculum: A National Perspective.” Student, David McDonald, presented
on the research he is currently doing entitled “The Growth of
Restorative Justice in Missouri Juvenile Courts.”
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Dr. Todd
Eckdahl, department chair and professor of biology, was invited to give
two presentations at his undergraduate alma mater, the
University
of Minnesota, Duluth. He spoke to the biology department and medical
school about the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT), and
synthetic biology as opportunities for undergraduate research.
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Faculty
members were able to attend a workshop offered by the Grants Resource
Center (GRC), a division of the American Association of State Colleges
and Universities (AASCU). The workshop, entitled, Successful Proposal
Development Workshops, provided the opportunity for participants to
learn about proposal preparation, project coordination and the
communication practices necessary for sponsored programs success. Among
the attendees were Dr. John Rushin, professor of biology; Dr. John
Ellis, assistant professor of education; and Dr. Mark Mikkelsen,
associate professor of philosophy.
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Linda Garlinger,
director of career development, conducted a Business Etiquette Seminar
for the International Association of Administrative Assistants.
Garlinger, Kathy Kountz, career services administrative assistant; and
Jeff Wilson, coordinator of student employment, coordinated a Career
Fair in the Fulkerson Center. Nearly 85 companies and 300 students
attended. Garlinger, Kountz and Wilson coordinated campus interviews for
Missouri Lottery, Walgreens, Federal Reserve Bank, Black & Veatch,
Consolidated Electrical Distributors and the Southwest Company.
Garlinger also conducted a resume workshop for social work majors.
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In
conjunction with the
St. Joseph
School District, four faculty members have submitted a project proposal
to the National Science Foundation to provide professional development
activities for local science teachers. Dr. John Rushin, professor of
biology; Dr. John Ellis, assistant professor of education; Dr. Michael
Ottinger, associate professor of physics; and Dr. Teddi Deka, associate
professor of psychology, worked in cooperation with Jay Meyers, St.
Joseph School District Science Coordinator to develop a funding request
to the Discovery Research K-12 Program. If funded, the project will
provide paid teaching assistantships for undergraduate students as well
as pedagogical in-service training for area teachers.
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Dr. John
Rushin, professor of biology, and Dr. Gerald Zweerink, professor of
chemistry, are co-directors of the Missouri Junior Academy of Science (MJAS)
District Paper Competition. Twenty- six local high school students
presented papers in the 29th Annual District III MJAS Paper
Competition held in Agenstein Hall.
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Dr. Steve Klassen, associate professor of mathematics,
assisted with the chapter level contest of the national MathCounts
program hosted by Western for elementary and middle school students.
Student Julie Allen was the reader for the competition.
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Dr. Zhao Zhang,
associate professor of engineering technology, participated in the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
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Dr. Nannette Wolford,
associate professor of physical education; and Margie Miller of the St.
Joseph School District, presented a Grade Level Expectations workshop at
Northwest Missouri State University. Area physical education and health
teachers, administrators, and nurses were in attendance. Wolford’s
methods and techniques of Dance and Gymnastics class invited 20
home-schooled children to campus for gymnastics instruction and
activity. They also hosted a clinic for the Wyatt Park gymnasts at their
facility.
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Dr.
Jitendra Tewari, assistant professor of business, attended the business
and behavorial sciences annual conference in Las Vegas. At the
conference, Alyssa Smith, marketing major, presented a paper entitled
“Advancing the Teaching of Pricing in Basic Marketing Texts,” which she
co-authored with Dr. Tewari.
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The counseling center
staff remained busy maintaining case loads, teaching classes, and
providing presentations and seminars. Lindsey Barnes, counseling center
practicum student, developed and initiated a weekly student
psycho-educational group. The group, which was well-attended, will run
for seven weeks and will address barriers to good relationships. Dr.
Vincenza Marash, diversity and women’s issues counselor, and Dr. Russ
Phillips, assistant professor of psychology, continued their weekly
groups on mindfulness meditation.
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Dr. Jim Huntermark,
assistant professor of psychology, and faculty mentors in Vaselakos
hosted a day at the Glore Museum for students in vaselakos. It was a
time for students to learn and engage with faculty outside the
classroom.
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Dr. Evelyn Brooks,
professor of nursing; Dr. Jim Huntermark, assistant professor of
psychology; Dr. Doug Eicher, associate professor of education; and Evan
Noynaert, associate professor of computer science, came together and
made spring break survival kits for the residents of Vaselakos Hall.
Excellence in Our
Students
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Alyssa
Smith, marketing major, presented a paper entitled “Advancing the
Teaching of Pricing in Basic Marketing Texts,” which she co-authored
with Dr. Jitendra Tewari, assistant professor of business. Smith
presented the paper at the Business and Behavorial Sciences annual
conference in Las Vegas.
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Blair
Dudley presented on her research, “Restorative Justice in Police Academy
Curriculum: A National Perspective,” at the conference on Applied
Learning in Higher Education held on Western’s campus. David McDonald
presented on the research he is currently doing entitled “The Growth of
Restorative Justice in Missouri Juvenile Courts.”
Excellence in Our
Programs
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The
29th Annual Mid-America Regional Science and Engineering Fair was held
in the Fulkerson Center where 44 students from six area high schools
presented individual research projects. Thirty-four faculty members and
students judged the projects. The top two overall winners from the fair
will compete in the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in
Albuquerque, N.M. in May.
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Carl Conard, a 1995 computer science graduate,
presented a computer science colloquium entitled “Managing Biomedical
Meds: Handles Terrorist Attacks.”
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Prairie
Lands Writing Project, Western’s National Writing Project site directed
by Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English, recently sponsored two events
as a part of its ongoing partnership with the St. Joseph School
District: A symposium at the Troester Media Center about internet safety
issues and the potential of using Web 2.0 tools in area schools to 50
area educators; High School Writing Day with 18 teachers and 180 high
school juniors and seniors from 14 area schools participating.
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Western
co-sponsored the first Thursday Downtown Noontime Concert Series at the
First Presbyterian Church. The concert featured Steven Moellering ‘00
and Yukiko Hirano. The piano duet performed a four–hand piano recital.
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The music
department hosted its first jazz festival in the Blum Student Union.
Four bands from
Missouri
were in attendance for this inaugural event. Immediately following the
last scheduled band, students had the opportunity to attend clinics for
their specific instruments. These individual master classes were
conducted by the Western instrumental faculty. Those involved were Lee
Harrelson, assistant professor of music and theory coordinator,
trombone; Stephen Molloy, brass ensemble, trumpet; Mark Elting,
commercial recording techniques and computer music applications,
percussion; and Bob Long, assistant professor of music and director of
jazz studies, saxophone. The festival concluded with a short performance
of the Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bob Long. During the concert
individual performance awards for the day were announced to the
audience.
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Western and
St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association (SJAMTA) held their annual
Monster Piano Concert. Under the direction of Brenda Foster and Martha
Chesney, 70 students performed on eight pianos in the SJAMTA Monster
Concert in the Potter Hall Theater for an audience of approximately 250.
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The health, physical
education and recreation department sponsored the American Heart
Association Jump Rope for Heart. The event raised over $21,000 for the
American Heart Association.
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Jeff Hinton, assistant
professor of music and director of bands, and the music department set
up the display at the Missouri Music Educators’ State convention where
5,000 high school juniors and seniors attended.
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The department of
engineering technology held the third annual Engineering Ethics Seminar
on Western’s campus. The seminar was attended by engineering students
and faculty. The presenters were: Merrill Watt, P.E., former President
of the Kansas City Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers
and Dr. Virendra Varma, department chair and professor of engineering
technology.
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Campus Activities Board
(CAB) and the Non-Traditional Student Center combined forces to put on
family movie night. “Cars” was the movie shown, with pizza and soda
provided. Several non-traditional students brought their children to
this event.
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Residence Council
hosted the Cary Judd concert in the Food Court. It was open to all
students and approximately 75 people attended.
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