Faculty and Staff News

FACULTY AND STAFFNEWS

Melissa Burns-Cusato (behavioral neuroscience) published an article, “A role for endogenous opiates in incubation behavior in ring neck doves (Streptopelia risoria), in Behavioural Brain Research (February 2021). Her co-authors were Josh Rieskamp ’15, Madeleine Nagy ’19, Arpit Rana ’ 21, Will Hawkins ’21, and Sierra Panting ’19.

Robyn Cutright (anthropology) has two new books. The Story of Food in the Human Past: How What We Ate Made Us Who We Are (University of Alabama Press, 2021) uses case studies from recent archaeological research to talk about food in human prehistory. It is, says Cutright, “the kind of book that archaeology professors might assign in undergraduate classes, but it’s also something that nonspecialists interested in archaeology or food might enjoy.” Her other book is a co-edited volume aimed at specialists, Ancient Households on the North Coast of Peru, with co-editors Ilana Johnson and David Pacifico (University Press of Colorado, 2021).

William R. Levin (art history, emeritus) received the SECAC President’s Service to the Arts Award at its 2020 meeting, conducted online. He is only the second person to receive this recognition, first bestowed in 2005. SECAC, formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference, has an international membership today numbering about 1,000 individuals and 120 institutions. Levin’s citation noted his longtime active participation at SECAC’s annual meetings as session chair and as presenter (including a research paper read at SECAC’s December 2020 event), his numerous scholarly publications, his substantial material commitment to the assorted visual-arts vocations in general and to SECAC in particular, and—not least—his friendly encouragement and diligent mentoring of members of the rising generation of professionals.

Eric Mount (religion, emeritus) has a chapter, “A Lover’s Challenge to America,” in Christian Ethics in Conversation: A Festschrift in Honor of Donald W. Shriver Jr., 13th President of Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (Isaac B. Sharp and Christian T. Iosso, eds., Cascade Books, 2020). Mount’s title comes from Shriver’s Honest Patriots: Loving a Country Enough to Remember Its Misdeeds. TENURE AND PROMOTION

The Centre board of trustees granted tenure and promotion to associate professor to six members of the faculty and announced two promotions to full professor at its April 2021 meeting. The promotions go into effect in September.

Tenured with promotion

Maria Apostolova-Mihaylova (economics & finance) has an M.B.A. in finance from Montclair State University and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Kentucky.

Laura Chinchilla (Spanish) has a Ph.D. in comparative and world literature from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Mark Galatowitsch (biology) has a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Azita Osanloo (English and director of the Writing Center) has a Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from Florida State University.

Tara Strauch (history) has a Ph.D. in American history from the University of South Carolina.

Johann Van Niekerk (music) has a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of Washington.

Promoted to full professor

Nathan Link (music) has a Ph.D. in music history from Yale University.

Ian Wilson (German), also promoted to the rank of full professor, has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

KIRK TEACHING AWARDS

Centre’s 2021 Kirk Teaching Awards for excellence in teaching, selected by the dean, associate dean, division chairs, and the president, went to Azita Osanloo (English and director of the Writing Center), Laura Chinchilla (Spanish), Jamie Shenton ’06 (anthropology), Patten Mahler (economics & finance), Kari Young (chemistry), and KatieAnn Skogsberg (behavioral neuroscience). Although normally three are presented each year, six were presented this year since none were given in 2020 due to the pandemic. CENTRE SCHOLARS

Centre Scholars are two-year rotating appointments that recognize teaching excellence, scholarly work, and service to the Centre community. Named in 2021 were Willie Costley ’00 (Spanish), Amanda Falk (biology), Tara Strauch (history), Brett Werner (environmental studies), and Lesley Wiglesworth (mathematics).

STAFF SERVICE AWARDS

Although the annual recognition dinner held every May was not held this year due to COVID-19, the 2021 awards were presented at a special lunch held at Craik House.

Horky Awards for exceptional service by members of the facilities management staff went to Charlie Todd (HVAC technician), Kurt Abbott (lawn management), and Sheila Stull (custodian currently in Craik House).

The 2021 Recognition Awards went to Kathe Andrews (sponsored research specialist), Jamey Gay (head athletic trainer), and Kathy Jones (director of student health).

The 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence honored four: Robyn Cutright (anthropology and interim director of the Center for Teaching and Learning), Lenny Demoranville (chemistry and shepherd of the Olin Hall expansion), Kendrick Durham (dean and interim vice president of student life), and Megan Haake Milby ’03 (alumni and family engagement).

The 2020 Presidential Awards for Excellence honored two, Cindy Arnold and Yvonne Morley (both office of then retiring president John A. Roush). No other staff service awards were presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.

SGA AWARDS

The Student Government Association presents two awards. The 2021 Hundley Award, given to a staff member who goes beyond the call of duty, went to Marsha Edelen (student health). The 2021 Mount Award, given to a professor who exemplifies dedication and leadership beyond the classroom, went to Shana Sippy (religion).

RETIREMENT

Phillip Anderson will retire in July as a maintenance mechanic after more than 17 years at the College. He received a Horky Award in 2008.