Letters & Sciences Today - Fall/Winter 2016

Today

Letters & Sciences College of Letters and Sciences Highlights Vol. 8 - Fall/Winter 2016

Local Businessman’s Contribution to Impact Creative Writing at CSU and Nationwide (page 10)

English Alum Recognized as MCSD Teacher of the Year (page 4) Why We Give Back to CSU (page 7) Bill LeNoir’s Legacy to Continue through Scholarships (page 11)

Also in this Issue Dean’s Welcome – 2 | Introducing Associate Dean – 2 | In Memoriam – 3 Alumni Spotlights – 4 | Comprehensive Campaign Update – 6 | Community Collaborations – 8 | New Scholarships – 10 Faculty Spotlights – 12 | Grants – 14 | New Faculty – 14 | The RiverWalk Poet – Back Cover

Dean’s Welcome

From the Desk of the Associate Dean...

By Tim Howard

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this issue of “Letters & Sciences Today.” Our cover story spotlights a philanthropic Columbus native who recently contributed one of the largest donations the college has ever received. Mr. Donald L. Jordan, a successful business owner and author, established an endowment that will fund a creative writing Dr. Dennis Rome, COLS Dean. manuscript competition, an endowed professorship in creative writing, and a study abroad service learning program. His major objective with this gift is to provide aspiring and established authors an opportunity to submit manuscripts that encapsulate the values of responsibility, gratitude, generosity, and love. The winning manuscript will be published.

The Donald L. Jordan Professorship will be the second endowed professorship in our college. The importance of endowed professorships was discussed in a recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education: Professors are attracted to endowed chairs because they provide prestige, consistent financial support, and validation of their scholarship and teaching…

Endowed chairs have been a mark of distinction in higher education for centuries… With college budgets increasingly under pressure – particularly at public institutions – endowed chairs and their self-sustained funding are more attractive than ever (November 15, 2016:1, 2).

We are very fortunate to receive this gift, which was motivated by Tim Money, a CSU Foundation Board Trustee and alum, who has been a longtime friend of Mr. Jordan. Mr. Money’s commitment to CSU is unparalleled.

Indeed, there are few institutions that have the high level of community support enjoyed by CSU. In the following pages, you will read more stories about the successes of our alumni and why giving back to CSU is so important to them. I am sure that you will find their stories inspirational.

As the newly appointed Associate Dean, I would like to introduce myself.

A variety of faculty and administrative experiences have prepared me for my work as Associate Dean. For four years I directed the Math and Science Learning Center, supervising math and science tutoring and peer instruction, and directing the Columbus Regional Science and Engineering Fair and the Columbus Regional Science Olympiad. I Dr. Tim Howard, chaired the Mathematics Department twice, Associate Dean of the for a total of about six years, and oversaw College of Letters and Sciences. three comprehensive program reviews. For five of those years I also served as Assistant Director of Judicial Affairs, handling student academic appeals.

As Associate Dean, I will oversee college level processes for course and program proposals; support program assessments, lead a faculty committee working on updates of the college’s promotion and tenure policies and procedures; represent the college on the Academic Standards Committee, which receives various kinds of student petitions and appeals; represent the college when the dean is unavailable; and teach mathematics courses. I will also maintain a variety of faculty and community collaborations related to broadening participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and STEM teacher recruitment, preparation, and ongoing support.

In addition, I’m currently the Principal Investigator on two grants that involve collaborations with faculty in the College of Letters and Sciences with faculty and staff from the College of Education and Health Professions: 1) The Columbus Region Academy of Future Teachers of STEM (CRAFT-STEM), a fiveyear $1.2 million project funded by the National Science Foundation; and 2) Developing Conceptual Understanding of High School Mathematics, a one-year $51,920 project funded through the Georgia Improving Teacher Quality Program.

I also co-direct STEM Honors Camp for middle school students with Dr. Kimberly Shaw. This experience aims to encourage middle schoolers to pursue STEM degrees and STEM careers. Support from several area businesses helps us to provide need-based camp scholarships to children whose families cannot otherwise afford it.

Outside of the university, my main interest is my family. I met my wife here in Columbus, and have two daughters—one in middle school and one in high school.

I’m excited to bring my abilities and knowledge to serve as the College of Letters and Sciences Associate Dean.

Letters & Sciences Today Editor/Writer - Barbara Hunt Circulation Coordinator - Jill Carroll College of Letters and Sciences, LeNoir Hall Carroll_Jill@columbusstate.edu Design & Layout - MidMedia LLC

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Letters & Sciences Today

In Memoriam Dr. Bill LeNoir: A Fond Remembrance

By Glenn Stokes It is safe to say that Dr. Bill LeNoir (1929One of my favorite tongue-in-cheek stories I 2016), Dean Emeritus of CSU’s College of tell about Bill is how he faked his own death in Science, was instrumental in the development order to get a building named after him. Conof Columbus State University. During his tenure tractors were nearing the end of the construcat CSU he saw the growth of a very small junior tion phase of the “New Science Building” as it college of fewer than 1,000 students to a signifiwas called then. Many of us felt that it would be appropriate to have it named for Bill based cant regional university of over 8,000 students.

William C. “Bill” LeNoir was born in Loudon, Biology professor George Stanton (retired) on his many contributions to Science at the a small town in eastern Tennessee and grew up and student Diane Walker (president of University. There were only two problems with on his family farm there. After graduating with a the biology club) with Bill LeNoir in 1977. our plan. First, the State has a policy against the naming of buildings for people who are still degree from Maryville College, he attended the living and the practice at the time was to name buildings for people University of Georgia where he earned a doctorate in botany. In who made significant financial contributions to the University.

1960, he accepted a position on the faculty of Columbus College.

During his 35 years in Columbus, he and his wife Jane raised their At about that time Bill was diagnosed with lung cancer and three children Kathy, David and Mollie. He and the prognosis seemed grim. Several members Jane were married for 60 years. of the faculty and administration sprang into action and petitioned the legislature and the Over the years, Bill held a myriad of Board of Regents to allow us to name the positions ranging from chair of a division to building after Bill and to do it as quickly as president and almost everything in between. possible so that he could be there during the Whenever there was a vacancy in leadership dedication. We were successful and the buildBill was usually the “go-to” man to fill it. He was recognized for his strength as a leader ing was named William C. LeNoir Hall. and respected as a professional.

When Bill went in for his surgery, his docI first met Bill during my interview on tors did a follow-up x-ray to help guide the CSU Emeritus Dean of Science, Dr. Bill LeNoir. surgeon but discovered that the “tumors” were campus in 1983. I found him to be quiet, soft spoken, and sincere with an engaging sense of in fact shadows caused by pneumonia; he humor. He spoke slowly and deliberately and, as I learned over would be fine after a round of antibiotics. But the building had the years, with a conviction to stand by his word. In my second already been named and Bill lived to see it for the next 20 years! year on the faculty, Bill asked me to serve as his Assistant Dean After his retirement in 1995, Bill and Jane returned to his famin the College of Science. I served in that role with Bill until his ily farm in Loudon where Bill remained active as a biologist, as a retirement over a decade later. farmer and as an advocate for local environmental and historical Bill was definitely a positive mentor to me. He taught me to initiatives. consider carefully the impact of my words when I spoke, to wait The world was a much brighter place with Bill in it and we will a day before sending a memo if it was written while angry, and all miss him greatly. to try and look at all sides of an issue before making a decision.

(See page 11 for announcement of the creation of The William C. His guidance and the example he set have served me well in and Jane LeNoir Endowment for Life Sciences.) the 20 years since he retired.

Roll Tide, Billy McGee! (1937-2016) In 1964, when Billy McGee was hired to teach history at (then) Columbus College, he had no way of knowing how he would contribute to its success and growth or that he would work there for 35 years, retiring in 1999. Today, he is remembered not just for the persimmon tree named in honor of him near the entrance of Faculty Office Building, but also for achieving the status of Associate Professor of History, receiving the Distinguished Professor of the Year Award (1968-1969), and developing Columbus State’s athletics program.

Billy McGee was a member of the Columbus College Athletic Board from 1970 until 1986 and Chairman of the Athletic Committee from 1975 until 1986. For 10 years he was a repre-

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sentative to the NCAA, and he was the Columbus College representative to the South Atlantic Conference where he battled to keep this six-team conference of Georgia schools alive, being a key player in transition to present conference membership. As a member of the Athletic Board, he was instrumental in maintaining Columbus College’s athletic program during some very lean years, and was a true leader and friend of the athletic program. In February 2003, he was inducted into the Columbus State University Athletic Hall of Fame for his leadership.

He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama and was a lifelong Crimson Tide fan.

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Alumni Spotlights Stefan Lawrence – Teaching to the Soul of Children

By Kara Robinson College of Letters and Sciences alum, Kenneth Stefan Lawrence (B.A. English Secondary Education ‘09, M.E.D. English ‘12), was recently named the 2016 Teacher of the Year for the Muscogee County School District. Lawrence, a Northside High School graduate, has taught English and Advanced Placement English at Carver High School for 6 years. He wants to help his students understand that education is their ticket to whatever it is they want to do in the world, and for them to realize that they are in control of their own life narratives.

The greatest resistance Lawrence experiences is breaking through what he calls “an anti-education environment.” He sees his primary goal as fighting for the souls of children who live in a culture that does not value education. He is a man on a mission.

In addition to teaching English, Lawrence coaches basketball at Carver. He views basketball as more than just a competitive, recreational sport. He uses it as a teachable Stefan Lawrence, Muscogee opportunity to show his players that it is “the perfect blend County Teacher of the Year. of individualism, charisma, flair, and team work, much like the world we live in.” In his leisure time, Lawrence plays football (via video games), watches movies/documentaries, and listens to a variety of music genres, adding that he is a huge fan of Johnny Cash.

What is it that sets Lawrence apart as a teacher? According to him, his distinction can greatly be attributed to his faith. Lawrence is frequently reminded of Proverbs 22:1 and his father’s admonition to maintain and value a good reputation. He also values the words of Frederick Douglass, a social reformer and statesman, who realized that “knowledge forever makes a man unfit to be a slave.”

These influences—as well as Lawrence’s commitment to fix broken boys so that they do not become men in need of repair—collectively contributed to his selection as Teacher of the Year.

COLS Graduates Pursue Prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowships

By Alex Jones This fall, two Columbus State University Earth and Space Sciences alumni were selected for the second cohort of the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program in Georgia: Buffy Cook (‘15) and Zach Edwards (‘12), pictured at right.

The fellowship program primarily recruits recent graduates who have backgrounds in the STEM disciplines.

Cook was on the Geology track within the Earth and Space Sciences program while Edwards was on the Astrophysics and Planetary Geology track.

Each Fellow receives $30,000 to complete an accelerated Master’s program and teacher certification and then commits to teach for three years in Georgia schools that are most in need of strong, experienced STEM teachers.

After obtaining a Master’s of Science from Louisiana State University, Edwards began looking for career paths outside of full-time research. “I fell in love with education and public outreach,” he explained, “and Dr. Kim Shaw [CSU physics professor] pointed me to this program.”

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COLS Alumni—So Proud of You! Trinity Chavira (B.A. English Secondary Education ’15) teaches English full-time in South Korea after participating in the TESOL program in Busan, South Korea.

Suzanne Carney (B.S. Chemistry ’16) was recently hired by Cott Beverages in Columbus.

Matt Perry (B.S. AstrophysicsPlanetary Geology ’13) has been hired by the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center.

Dominique (Watson) Hodge (B.S. Applied Mathematics ’09) recently defended her Ph. D. in biostatistics at Emory University.

Chidera Ogbonna worked in the Center for International Education for more than a year as a grad assistant and graduated with an MPA in May 2016. A few months ago, he started work at the Institute for International Education (IIE) in Houston, Texas. IIE is one of a handful of internationally known international education organizations.

Heather Greene-Edmunds, an 8th-grade ELA teacher at Harris County Carver Middle School, recently received a Golden Apple Award for teaching. This award is presented weekly by Kinetic Credit Union and WRBL News to area teachers who are nominated by students, parents, or colleagues for their excellence in the classroom.

Katherine “Katie” Hinzman (B.A. History/Art History ’15) participated in the CSU in Oxford Visiting Student Program during spring 2014. Last year, she completed an M.A. in Art History at the University of Oxford and this fall began at the University of York, which offers an internationally recognized Ph.D. program.

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Alumni Association Recognizes Several COLS Graduates

Three COLS alumni were honored at the annual Alumni Recognition Awards luncheon - (left-right) Mollie Newman (receiving award from Alumni Association President Sommer Bundy), Denise Yardley, and Bruce Baldwin.

The CSU Alumni Association hosted its annual Awards Recognition Luncheon as part of this year’s homecoming festivities. Three College of Letters and Sciences alumni were recognized: Dr. Denise Yardley (B.S. Biology ’83; Excellence in Alumni Achievement Award – honors prominent alumni with records of exceptional career or personal achievement), Bruce Baldwin (B.S. Criminal Justice ’79; Excellence in Alumni Achievement Award), and Dr. Molli Newman (B.S. Biology ’05; Young Alumni Award – for alumni who have graduated in the last 15 years in recognition of a commitment to excellence in post-collegiate life and a significant or ongoing commitment to extraordinary work, research, volunteerism or service to CSU).

Dr. Yardley is a Senior Investigator in the Breast Cancer Research Program at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, TN, where she serves as principal investigator on numerous breast cancer clinical trials. She is a recipient of the American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award.

Mr. Baldwin is the owner and president of Baldwin Consulting Services, specializing in litigation support, background investigations, and investigative due diligence.

He has consulted for various government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Newman received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and is currently pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship, both at Auburn University. She works in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and serves on the Community Garden Advisory Board at Auburn.

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Comprehensive Campaign Update

New Lab Science Facilities – Building Your Legacy with Named Gift Opportunities Rendering of the new lab science building (on left), adjacent to the existing LeNoir Hall. (Source: 2WR+Partners, Lord Aeck Sargent)

The final planning for construction of the new laboratory science building and renovation of the existing LeNoir Hall on CSU’s main campus is being conducted, with construction due to start in spring 2017.

The new and revamped facilities will provide additional lab space for the departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Earth & Space Sciences. The buildings will accommodate more than 2,000 students per semester and relieve lab course scheduling “bottlenecks,” thereby improving student progression and graduation rates. The project will provide much-needed research space for faculty and students, enhancing recruitment of graduate students and faculty, and improving the university’s competitiveness when seeking largescale grant funding.

These facilities also provide opportunities for named gifts, with 10 teaching labs, 2 research spaces, student work space, the Dean’s suite, and the new building available to be named. To date, $1,531,000 has been raised toward the goal of $2,000,000 in private funds, required as a match for the $11,870,000 state allocation.

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The following naming opportunities are available: New Lab Science Building Building........................................................................................... $500,000 First floor: • Geology (core teaching lab)............................................................ $50,000 • Environmental Science (core teaching lab)..................................... $50,000 Second floor: • Anatomy & Physiology (upper teaching lab) (Name taken)............. $50,000 • Microbiology (upper teaching lab) (Name taken).......................... $50,000 Third floor: • General Chemistry (core teaching lab)............................................ $50,000 • Organic Chemistry (upper teaching lab)......................................... $50,000 LeNoir Hall Renovation First floor: • Robotics (upper teaching lab).......................................................... $50,000 • General Biology (core teaching lab)................................................ $50,000 • Student work space.......................................................................... $10,000 Third floor: • Dean’s Suite..................................................................................... $75,000 • Physical Chemistry/Biochemistry (upper teaching lab)................... $50,000 • General Chemistry (core teaching lab)............................................ $50,000 • Research spaces (2)................................................................ $10,000 each For additional information on naming opportunities in these facilities, please contact the College of Letters and Sciences Development Office at 706-565-7874.

Letters & Sciences Today

Why Do I Give Back to CSU? James Alexander (B.S. Biology ’95); owner, The Real Deal Dill Pickles Why do I give back to CSU? As I got older, I realized that there were students like me whose parents couldn’t afford to pay for their college, but who insisted they went to college.

What made it hit home was seeing my family members go through college without help; this gave me a chance to see other students who experienced the same situation as me – working their way through college.

Why is it important for alumni to give back?

Alumni should invest in future generations and help make it possible for students to complete their degree and go on to be successful. There’s only a few things you can affect when you’re an outsider; one thing you can affect is the type of student that’s attracted to CSU – students who are determined to succeed.

What was my experience at CSU like?

When I started at CSU, it was still Columbus College.

Most students would return home on the weekends and didn’t participate in campus activities. There were few incentives to stay on campus. In my junior year in the Biology department, I realized it was a place I wanted to stay, even after hours. The faculty opened my eyes to how much they cared about our performance. They provided access to labs and classrooms on weekends; they came after hours to help with study groups.

Mentor-student relationships were developed and there was much interaction outside the classroom. Faculty invested in your goals in life and what they could do to help us get there; they wanted to foster the growth of their students. I looked forward to going to class; I formed a comradery with my professors. I know experiences that my friends’ children have had at other institutions and they don’t compare to the experience a student can have at CSU. What impact do I hope the scholarship I established (with fellow alum Dr. Andy Houston) will have?

We want to be able to ease the mind of a college student who may be wondering how they’re going to get money for the next semester. We hope to alleviate their need to work and reduce their stress. Think about how much more they can accomplish if they don’t have a part-time job. Maybe it gives a single parent three more hours at home with their children.

Some impacts may go unspoken, but we know that they’re taking place. We hope that the students we impact may pay this forward and help others down the road.

Why is CSU a first choice for students?

CSU has not outgrown itself or forgotten its roots. Despite the many changes on the campuses, expanded dorms, new buildings, and new programs, we haven’t forgotten our beginnings as Columbus College – a top-level Division II school that provides a quality education. We’ve kept the principles in line with the education and experience offered now. Other schools become more of a business entity, rather than maintaining the educational focus; we’re not churning out graduates without providing them a quality experience.

I get the same feeling now on the campus as I did 21 years ago when I graduated. I think that’s why CSU attracts students today, especially non-traditional students.

Jill Carroll, College of Letters & Sciences Development Director Why do I give back to CSU? The primary reason I give to CSU is to support students, to help them get to the finish line here.

How do I see the impact of giving on campus?

I’ve seen giving benefit our students in many ways. In the sciences, research awards enable students to purchase supplies for their scientific research and it covers the cost of travelling to conferences to present their results. I’ve heard from students who have received scholarships and seen how appreciative they are for financial support in completing their degree.

Donations from alumni and friends to the Friends of Letters and Sciences fund over the years have enabled us to award at least five summer scholarships a year for juniors and seniors to help them to finish their degree in a timely manner. Internal research has shown that a lot of our students face stumbling blocks at this point in their degree, and we aim to reduce those obstacles.

What makes giving back rewarding to me personally?

Giving back is rewarding to me because I believe I’m helping students achieve their personal aspirations regarding their education and future career, and this in turn means we’re meeting future workforce needs.

Supporting the College of Letters & Sciences With the help of our alumni and friends, the College of Letters and Sciences is able to provide scholarships and other significant opportunities that help make CSU a First Choice for students, faculty and supporters.

Tax-deductible contributions to our scholarship funds or other programs can be made online at ColumbusState.edu/Giving. For more information about our programs and initiatives, please contact Jill Carroll, Development Director: 706-565-7874; Carroll_Jill@ColumbusState.edu.

Letters & Sciences Today

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Community Collaborations Dr. Shannon Godlove—Medieval Mentor in Residence

By Arianna Marealle Even before Shannon Godlove earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Illinois, she was preparing for a life dedicated to rigorous academic pursuits. Her love for Medieval Literature began at a young age.

At her high school, exceptionally good students were occasionally allowed to teach a class, so she had the enriching opportunity to teach six class periods of World History, and she chose such intriguing topics as the Magna Carta, feudalism, and castles. Godlove said, “I decided that I wanted to be a professor when I decided I wanted to be a Medieval Studies Major.”

Now she is Dr. Godlove, Assistant Professor of English and head of the Medieval Studies program at CSU. In addition, she has recently become a Faculty in Residence at Broadway Crossing on RiverPark Campus.

Dr. Shannon Godlove, Assistant Professor of English.

Although Dr. Godlove resides in the freshman dormitory, she also assists upperclassmen. She lives among students, interacting with them on a daily basis, whether it is to attend events with Resident Life, go to student performances, or offer mentorship to those who need it. Her presence among

students is intended to break down the walls between faculty and students, giving them the intimate experience only a smaller institution can provide. She makes the argument that, as a professor who is primarily teaching on main campus, she can be a “bridge between the two campuses.”

Life as a Faculty in Residence is anything but dull for Dr. Godlove.

Each month, she hosts exciting social and educational events for students, whether it’s a pumpkin carving at the end of October or a trip to the Columbus Museum in November. Dr. Godlove even holds office hours in her own apartment for students who would like to stop in with questions or concerns.

When asked what advice she would most like to give to her students, she said, “Talk to your professors.” Her new position allows her to bring this advice to life.

CRAFT-STEM Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships The CRAFT-STEM Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships of $14,500/ year were awarded to seven College of Letters and Sciences students for 2016-2017: Autumn Evilsizer (Biology); Austin Sellers (Earth and Space Sciences); and Kimberly Apple, Alexander Medina, Avery O’Bryan, Amber Terrell, and Josh Tracy (Math).

Scholarship funds are provided by the National Science Foundation, which seeks through this award to encourage talented science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors and Current Noyce scholars (left to right) – Amber Terrell, Kimberly Apple, Alex Medina, Avery O’Bryan, Austin professionals to become Sellers, Autumn Evilsizer, and Josh Tracy.

K-12 STEM teachers.

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Letters & Sciences Today

“The Stories of Psychology,” a Collaborative Approach to Storytelling During fall semester, Dr. Chris McCollough, Assistant Professor of Communication, and Dr. Stephanie da Silva, Professor of Psychology, conjoined classes to develop a collaborative project involving storytelling in the sciences.

“The Stories of Psychology,” the project’s title, demonstrated that concepts that sound too complicated to understand are easy to understand if told as a story.

During the course of the semester, psychology students learned about the art of storytelling while public relations students practiced the skills of translating scientific stories into mass media productions. Six digital short stories— meant to convey obscure psychological concepts in relatable ways for a general audience—were scripted, filmed, and shown.

Those attending the screening learned about polydipsia, behavioral contrast, autoshaping, generalization, superstition, and mediating behavior.

For example, what do you think of when you hear the term autoshaping? An average person might assume that it has something to do with fixing a car. But with a story about conditioned learning, the term comes alive and is both easy to understand and remember.

While students majoring in psychology and communication were learning about storytelling and crafting mass media productions, faculty in those disciplines formed a faculty book group to discuss the topic of stories as well, and read Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs a Story. Drs. McCollough and da Silva also lead the book group.

Psychology and public relations students with Dr. Stephanie da Silva (bottom row, fourth from right).

Guest Speaker Dr. Fernando Operé The Department of Modern and Classical Languages welcomed Dr. Fernando Operé in celebration of Hispanic Awareness month and in conjunction with the Center for International Education’s International Learning Community.

Dr. Operé gave two lectures. The first, titled “Patagonia, Then and Now,” examined a six-week trip from Chaco provinces in the northeast of Argentina to Tierra del Fuego in the south. The result of the trip was the book, Anotado al margen. Cuaderno de ruta.

The second lecture was about his book of poetry entitled Around the World in 80 Poems, A Bilingual Poetry Reading. He wrote the poems when he

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Dr. Fernando Operé, recent guest speaker.

traveled around the world as a professor on the Semester at Sea program.

Dr. Operé is a professor in the Department of Spanish, Italian and

Portuguese at the University of Virginia.

He is also the Director of the Latin American Studies Program and the Director and Founder of the Hispanic Studies Program in Valencia, Spain; the Conference on Argentinian Literature in Argentina; and the UVA Spanish Department Theater Group. Professor Operé has published ten books of poetry, and given readings and poetry workshops in the US, Spain, Mexico, and Argentina.

His lectures at CSU were made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Claudia Stephenson, a supporter of CSU’s Spanish program and a member of the College of Letters and Sciences Leadership Council.

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New Scholarships & Endowments The Donald L. Jordan Endowment for Traditional American Writing

Signatories of the newly established endowment to support creative writing at CSU. (Photo credit: Tamma Smith Photography.)

Cover photo: CSU President Dr. Chris Markwood presents a plaque of appreciation to Mr. Jordan for his generous contribution to CSU.

Mr. Donald “D.L.” Jordan, a Columbus businessman and author, recently made a significant contribution to the College of Letters and Sciences to support creative writing.

The donation, which included a cash gift and income-producing investment property, is equivalent to a $3 million endowment. Generating $120,000 annually, it will be used to encourage and promote writing that honors the traditional American values of responsibility, gratitude, generosity, faith, and love.

The funding will support three programs at CSU: I. The Donald L. Jordan Prize in Traditional American Writing This open manuscript competition, open to published and unpublished writers nationwide, awards annual prizes for the top entries that best represent the traditional American values of responsibility, gratitude, generosity, faith and love. The winner will have the work published by Columbus State University Press and distributed nationally. The contest will be judged by an eminent American writer.

II. The Donald L. Jordan Endowed Professorship in Creative Writing A professorship in creative writing would support CSU’s Department of English by supplementing the salary of a faculty member who would teach courses and oversee the execution of The Donald L. Jordan Prize in Traditional American Writing and a writing conference every 2-3 years on campus to publicize writing that honors traditional American values.

III. The Donald L. Jordan Study Abroad Service Learning Program This program supports a group of up to ten students and two faculty members to travel to a developing country for up to two weeks and engage in a humanitarian project. Working with an established agency, the group will collaborate with local organizations and health departments to provide much needed support by building awareness through educational presentations in schools and in communities. Program participants will engage in life-changing work and will stay with host families.

Following the trip, students will write about their experience and reflect on how the traditional American values of responsibility, gratitude, generosity, faith and love can be used for the good of others.

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A signing ceremony was held in late September to celebrate the generous donation, the largest single gift to the college and one of the largest to CSU, and recognize Mr. Jordan’s passion for creative writing that encompasses traditional values.

Throughout his career as a developer and general contractor, Mr. Jordan found time to pursue his love of writing. One of his books, The Creation: A Letter, is a short narrative about simple human virtues that was penned for his grandchildren. It encourages us to share our beliefs with our children or grandchildren and serves as a model for how to do so.

Mr. Jordan states, “In contemporary fiction we are quickly losing the spirit of generosity, faith and love that personified the characters of our great American writers. I am so concerned about the literature in our nation and the direction we are going with the voices kids are hearing and the movies they are seeing.” He hopes that his endowment will encourage writers and, perhaps, help them to have a career in writing.

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The William C. and Jane LeNoir Endowment for Life Sciences The children of CSU Emeritus Dean of Science, Dr. Bill LeNoir, and his wife, Jane – Kathy, David and Mollie – established The William C. and Jane LeNoir Endowment for Life Sciences at CSU as a tribute to their father’s dedication to the Biology Department and university for more than thirty years.

This fund will support scholarships for full-time juniors and seniors majoring in biology at CSU who have a financial need and a minimum GPA of 3.0. The endowment memorializes Dr. LeNoir’s commitment to, and passion for, life sciences. It is only fitting that his legacy of supporting faculty and students will continue through the scholarships that bear his name.

(See ‘In Memoriam’ section on page 3 for a reflection on Dr. LeNoir’s legacy at CSU.)

Bill and Jane LeNoir, namesakes of a new endowment to support scholarships in the life sciences.

Biology Alumni Scholarship Fund James Alexander and Dr. Andy Houston (both B.S. Biology ‘95) established the Biology Alumni Scholarship Fund in spring 2016 to provide $1,000 annually to at least one CSU biology student in their sophomore, junior, or senior year with a 2.5 GPA. Now established in their careers (James is the owner and operator of The Real Deal Dill Pickles, a local company that produces pickled products for area restaurants and for retail sale; Andy operates his own dental practice in Columbus), the alumni felt compelled to give back to CSU to support students with financial needs. Having struggled to pay their own way

through college, James and Andy understand the plight many students face during their studies.

The inaugural Biology Alumni Scholarship recipients, Jesse Hunt (a junior majoring in biology and chemistry on the premed track) and Michael Rohly (a senior majoring in biology and math), were presented their awards by James and Andy at a reception on campus recently.

(See ‘Why I Give Back’ section on page 7 for James Alexander’s testimony of his philanthropy.)

Biology graduates, James Alexander (far left) and Andy Houston (far right), present inaugural awards from the scholarship fund they established to biology students Michael Rohly and Jesse Hunt.

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Faculty Spotlights Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Samuel Abegaz, Returns from Ethiopia

By Arianna Marealle In September 2015, Dr. Samuel Abegaz, Associate Professor of Chemistry, began a teaching and research position as a visiting professor in Africa. Dr. Abegaz was awarded sabbatical leave from CSU so he could accept the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the State Department. This opportunity allowed Dr. Sam Abegaz, him to return to his home country Associate Professor of Ethiopia to teach at Addis Ababa of Chemistry.

University (AAU).

The Fulbright Scholarship, named after United States senator J. William Fulbright, is an exclusive scholarship granted to only 800 upstanding students and teachers each year. Dr. Abegaz was one of a small number of scholarship recipients from the United States to visit Ethiopia.

During his stay at AAU, Dr. Abegaz taught undergraduate courses in both English and Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. He taught undergraduate courses in Instrumental Analysis, as well as a graduate course in Research Methods. He also conducted collaborative research on atmospheric pollution, food science, and nano technology.

In addition to these responsibilities, Dr. Abegaz participated in several activities that contributed greatly to the advancement of AAU. These included assisting as a Co-Principal Investigator in the development of a successful World Bank grant proposal ($6 million) to the African Center of Excellence in Water Management; travelling to eight universities across Ethiopia to instruct over 400 faculty members on how to develop a research proposal and conduct scientific research; giving seminars in the area of environmental and analytical chemistry; and collaborating and publishing research findings in peerreviewed journals.

According to Dr. Abegaz, his upbringing in Ethiopia, combined with his experiences in various other countries, has influenced the way he teaches both American and foreign students at CSU. When asked about his early endeavors as a student in both Belgium and India, Dr. Abegaz says that he “also experienced culture shock” there and that this exposure to different cultures has given him a greater ability to empathize with his own students now.

“It’s a life changing experience,” he says about travelling under the Fulbright Scholarship. “Go there.

See the world. We need our students to go beyond the classroom and compete on a global platform,” Dr. Abegaz encourages. He says that he hopes to see more faculty and students apply for scholarship and study abroad opportunities in the future.

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Study Abroad—Learn About the World and Yourself It’s been said that THE most transformative experience for a student is studying abroad. Without a doubt, it is experiential learning at its best.

Study abroad involves taking a course for credit where all or part of the course involves studying in another country. Unless the purpose of the study abroad is to learn a foreign language, most of CSU’s study abroad courses are taught in English. CSU offers many study abroad opportunities, both short term (usually one to four weeks) and long A church high in the clouds and term (semester long or yearlong). on top of a volcano in Quito, Taking a study abroad course over Ecuador. (Photo by Columbia Renix.) spring break is a popular choice for students because it is short (a week) and affordable for most students.

In spring 2017, COLS will offer three such study abroad opportunities: •

•

•

CSU in Andros Island (The Bahamas)—an ecology course taught by Dr. Cliff Ruehl CSU in Andros Island (The Bahamas)—a contemporary health issues course taught by three faculty and involving a spay/neuter clinic for the pets of island residents CSU in Belize—a history course taught by Dr. Doug Tompson

Study abroad courses being offered by COLS in May and summer 2017 include the following, most of which are three to four weeks long: • CSU in Australia (Ecology)—Dr. John Barone • CSU in Southern Spain (Spanish)—Dr. Bobby Nixon • CNU International Summer School in Kwangju, South Korea (Various Subjects)—Dr. Seon Jeon • CSU in Busan, South Korea (TESOL Practicum)—Dr. Seon Jeon • CSU in Mexico (Spanish)—Dr. Alyce Cook • CSU in Oxford III term (Biology)—Dr. Kevin Burgess CSU is involved in two different South Korean study abroad programs, both facilitated by Dr. Jeon. One involves CSU students taking courses in English (such as organizational behavior, economics, or horticulture) at Chonnam National University (CNU) in Kwangju, South Korea. The other involves CSU students teaching English at Busan Global Village, Inc., a summer camp for South Korean students who want to learn English.

Over the years, faculty in the College of Letters and Sciences have offered study abroad courses in a wide variety of countries ranging from India, Ethiopia, Italy, and Germany to Ireland, South Africa, Tanzania, Australia, and Costa Rica.

In addition to these shorter programs, CSU offers semester and year long programs as well. Because CSU owns the Spencer House in Oxford, England, Oxford-accepted CSU students can take courses at Oxford University and can do so at the same cost as if they were attending CSU! The Center for International Education (CIE) oversees most of CSU’s study abroad programs. More information can be found at https://cie.columbusstate.edu/index.php.

Letters & Sciences Today

A History of Campaign Pins: Key to the White House On November 3, Dr. Fred Gordon—Chair of the Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Administration—began his library talk on the history of campaign buttons (pins) by quoting John Adams: “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other.”

Adams’ dread describes America’s political scene today: two parties at bay with one another. This undergirding of Dr. Fred Gordon the American political system wearing his campaign is reflected in the campaign button tie. memorabilia this country has produced, beginning with GW printed on pins in George Washington’s time.

It wasn’t until the 1896 election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan that campaign buttons became not only standard fare but also fairly uniform in size—small—that is, until the mid-20th century. That’s when larger buttons began to appear.

Beginning also in mid-century, campaigns began producing buttons featuring first ladies, such as Mamie Eisenhower and Pat Nixon.

Often, slogans and symbols on the buttons reflected issues of the time period, with some buttons also involving double entendre. Here are some examples: This button from Teddy Roosevelt’s campaign provided a visual to its play on words.

Thomas Dewey’s campaign disparaged Democrats.

Since Clinton was from Hope, Arkansas, this button presented two meanings to the word “hope.”

Obama’s campaign pins reflected a historical context.

To accompany his talk entitled “Key to the White House,” Dr. Gordon provided a collection of his campaign buttons. The pins in the display case were organized into six themes, ranging from early standardized pins and the Progressive period, to those of the New Deal and modernism.

Letters & Sciences Today

CSU at Oxford: The Swinging 60s in Britain

By Arianna Marealle During the summer of 2016, two CSU professors—Dr. Michele McCrillis of the Department of Art and Dr. Gary Sprayberry of the Department of History and Geography—co-taught a study abroad course in Oxford, England, entitled The Swinging 60s in Britain.

The course was cross-listed as Special Topics in Art History (an upper level history course) and as Comparative Arts ITDS 1145 (a lower level arts course). From June 21 – July 7, ten CSU students were housed in the CSU Spencer House in Oxford where most classes were held. However, they were able to extend their experience beyond the classroom and travel throughout England to important cultural sites.

Students with Michele McCrillis (second from right) and Gary Sprayberry (fourth from right) outside the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Both professors and students enjoyed a walking tour with Oxford historian, Chris Day, and made two field trips to London and one to Liverpool. In Liverpool, they engaged in educational sightseeing and explored sites made popular by the Beatles (the Cavern Club, Strawberry Field, and Penny Lane). They also enjoyed an authentic fish ‘n chip lunch in the City Center before visiting the Tate Liverpool’s collection of British Pop and Op Art. There, students gave presentations in front of art pieces they had researched.

Students had the same opportunity in London, presenting their research at the Tate Britain and Tate Modern on collections by Warhol, Hockney, and others. McCrillis also arranged for the students to have a private appointment at the National Portrait Gallery in London where they examined photographs and archival material, including David Bailey’s iconic 1960s Box of Pin-Ups. According to Dr. Sprayberry, the class used “music, radical politics, film, photography, pop art, and fashion as lenses through which to examine the history and culture of Britain during the turbulent decade of the 1960s.”

The opportunity to experience these pop cultural aspects in their country of origin greatly enhanced the student learning experience.

“Students were able to experience firsthand art and the environments that created them,” said McCrillis. She also noted that her collaboration with Dr. Sprayberry added dimension to the course. “Team teaching with Gary Sprayberry, a 1960s Americanist, allowed us to explore the transatlantic nature of popular culture and politics.”

The students certainly appreciated their experience abroad. Two Art History majors provided their opinions of the trip: “Learning about something in theory can be very informative, but coupling that information with the reality of walking the same streets where artists and musicians lived and worked, or where riots took place, gives a perspective like no other,” said Kayla Staubitz. Isaac Sabelhaus remembers each unique experience. “It offered me the chance to look at the world from a perspective that was not innate within me,” he explained.

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Grants

C O LS Welcomes New Faculty

Dr. Monica Frazier: Giving Everyone a Chance

By Alex Jones Dr. Daniel Holt

In summer 2016, Dr. Monica Frazier was the recipient of a College of Letters and Sciences Research Incentive Grant that she used to collaborate with other faculty to participate in the Southeast Alliance for Persons with Disabilities in STEM (SEAPD-STEM).

This initiative was one of only 37 projects to receive the NSF Dr. Monica Frazier, INCLUDES (National recipient of a COLS Science Foundation Research Incentive Inclusion across the Grant.

Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science).

The project mixes together 21 institutions of higher education that are focused on the goal of increasing the number and quality of persons with disabilities in the STEM workforce through excellence in STEM education and training. Columbus State University will partner with the University of West Georgia, Kennesaw State University, and Gallaudet University to form one of four committees on this project. Dr. Frazier is in charge of this program at Columbus State.

The program involves working alongside disabled STEM students and getting them internships to provide on-thejob experiences so they can more easily get jobs. Dr. Frazier hopes to have ten to twenty students at the program’s inception though it may be a while before the project is in full swing. Currently, the program is part of an 18-month pilot project that, if it works, would be eligible for more funding.

If funded again, CSU and the other organizations in the SEAPD-STEM could be one of five programs selected for up to $12.5 million each in funding in the firstever national INCLUDES initiative.

Dr. Frazier plans on recruiting to the program high-achieving, collegequalifying high school students with disabilities who are interested in STEM areas.

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Dr. Daniel Holt, Assistant Professor of Biology, earned his B.S. at Loyola University of New Orleans and his Ph.D. from Auburn University. Elsewhere, Dr. Holt has taught Environmental Science, General Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology. Dr. Holt joins the Department of Biology where he will teach Principles of Biology as well as a variety of classes for biology majors and serve as a research mentor for senior biology majors.

Dr. Kerri Shelton Taylor, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from The University of Akron and her M.S. in Chemistry from The University of Kentucky.

Dr. Taylor’s research focuses on developing prospective anti-cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Kerri Shelton Taylor

Dr. Alan Dahl

Dr. Alan Dahl, Temporary Lecturer of Sociology, received an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, and Ph.D. from the University of Texas. Before coming to Columbus State, Dahl taught at Northwestern, the University of Kentucky, James Madison University, Georgetown and American University.

Dr. Stacey Sloan Blersch, Assistant Professor of Hydrology, earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and her Ph.D. from the State University of New York, Buffalo. Dr. Blersch also has 15 years of experience as a watershed and restoration planner in the private and public sectors in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Dr. William “Scott” Gunter, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, earned his undergraduate degree in Geosciences at Mississippi State University, and an M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences and Ph.D. in Geosciences from Dr. Stacey Sloan Blersch the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University.

Dr. Gunter will teach introductory and advanced courses in weather and climate.

Dr. William “Scott“ Gunter

Dr. Diana Ortega-Ariza, Assistant Professor of Geology, earned her undergraduate degree in Geology from the National University of Colombia in Bogota, Colombia, an M.S. in Geology from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez, and her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Kansas. Dr. Ortega-Ariza will teach courses in sedimentology, stratigraphy and introductory geology.

Ms. Natalia Naman Temesgen, Temporary Lecturer of English, is a playwright and teacher based in her hometown of Columbus, GA. Her plays have been produced in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, and come spring 2017, at the Springer Opera House in Columbus.

She received her B.A. in English from Princeton University and her M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Dr. Diana Ortega-Ariza

Letters & Sciences Today

Dr. Ryan Lynch, Assistant Professor of History, specializes in the history of the Islamic Middle East, focusing his research on the foundational period of Islamic history, such as the early Islamic conquests, the establishment of the earliest Islamic states, the Islamization of the region, and the Arabic historiographical tradition. He earned his DPhil in Oriental Studies (Islamic History) from the University of Oxford.

Ms. Natalia Naman Temesgen

Dr. Rachel Mittelman, Temporary Lecturer of History, received her Ph.D. from the University of Memphis in 2014. Her research focuses on Ancient Mediterranean History, specifically identity, ethnicity, ceramics, and the relationship between Egyptians and Libyans during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Her research interests include Levantine religion, archaeology, and history; ancient Near Eastern medicine; and the history of fakes/forgeries in Egypt.

Dr. Jacob Holt

Dr. Nathan Combes, Assistant Professor of Political Science, received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego in 2016. He teaches courses in Comparative Politics, Quantitative Methods, International Relations, and American Politics, with focuses on African Politics and Public Health. Nathan received a number of teaching awards while at UCSD.

Dr. Ryan Lynch

Dr. Daewoo Lee, Assistant Professor of Political Science, received his Ph.D. in Joint Public Policy from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and the Department of Political Science at Indiana University. Dr. Lee also holds a Master’s degree in international relations and international economics from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree from Hanyang University in South Korea.

Dr. Markus Weidler

Dr. Jacob Holt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, spent the last three years as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2013. His research focuses on parties in American legislatures.

Dr. Rachel Mittelman

Dr. Markus Weidler, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, is a native of Berlin, Germany, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. He then taught at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, for two years. His special interests include the dynamics and different manifestations of extremist thought associated with the notions of fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism.

Ms. Kristen Campbell

Ms. Kristen Campbell, Temporary Lecturer of Psychology, earned her B.S. in Psychology and her M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Georgia Southern.

She also completed the Teaching Emphasis that was offered through the Master’s Program at Georgia Southern, where she shadowed and served as a guest lecturer in several courses including Introduction to Psychology, Principles of Learning, Lifespan Development Psychology and Psychology of Human Sexuality.

Dr. Nathan Combes

Dr. Daewoo Lee

Dr. Aisha Adams, Assistant Professor of Psychology, earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Cognitive/Experimental Psychology from the University of Georgia.

Following her doctoral work, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, TX, where she worked to promote equality and diversity among the faculty and student body, earning her the Distinguished Faculty Award by the Black Student Leadership Initiative.

Dr. Brandt A. Smith, Assistant Professor of Psychology, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at El Paso. His research interests include the causes and cessation of intergroup conflict, and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on learning and memory. Secondary research interests include the use of alternative quantitative methods (non-parametric, robust statistics, and Bayesian methods) for data analysis.

Letters & Sciences Today

Dr. Aisha Adams

Dr. Brandt A. Smith

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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 10 Columbus, Georgia 31907

4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907

Dr. Nick Norwood, the RiverWalk Poet

By Alexander Jones

A section of the poem “Powerhouse,” by Nick Norwood, on the RiverWalk retaining wall.

Amid the backdrop of the roaring waters of the Chattahoochee, a new sculpture has taken its place along the Chattahoochee RiverWalk. Dr. Nick Norwood, professor of English and director of the Carson McCullers Center, recently composed a poem entitled “Powerhouse” that has been installed as a sculpture that stretches across the top of a retaining wall near the Eagle & Phenix Mill.

Marc Olivié, CEO and President of the W. C. Bradley Company, and his wife, Marleen De Bode Olivié, commissioned the sculpture about a year ago. Columbus State art professor, Mike McFalls, approached Dr. Norwood about poems that could potentially be used for the sculpture.

Rather than adapting an existing poem, Dr. Norwood chose to fashion

“Powerhouse” from lines from several different poems to form a brand new one.

The poem reads: “now that you are here/ amid crag and gleam/ mist-rise and vapor/ dark jade frothing/ into white lace/ here where the rains/ come to gargle/ spit jets of spray/ see herons creep/ smokestacks peer/ through high windows/ spirits sleep/ spool and spindle/ shaft and shackle/ tie-snake and eagle/ sit still/ as an old powerhouse/ and mind your moorings/ the river roaring”

There is purposefully no punctuation and no capitalization.

The poem is written in short, easily identifiable phrases. “We like that

many readers will stumble upon it,” conveyed Dr. Norwood, “…try to figure out what it is, and start reading it from wherever they happen to stand.”

Like the river itself, the poem has had many shifting forms. “An early version was somewhat longer,” Dr. Norwood explained, “another was a little shorter.”

The final version has drawn both recognition and accolades. Columbus State is obviously proud of the work, but Historic Columbus is as well. The project recently won a preservation award at its 50th anniversary and annual meeting. “We had a lot of fun,” Dr. Norwood stated, “and we’re very happy with the response we’ve received from the community.”