Letters and Sciences Today - Spring/Summer 2018

Today

Letters & Sciences College of Letters and Sciences Highlights Vol. 11 - Spring/Summer 2018

Recognizing Our Supporters and Their Impact (page 2)

COLS Boasts Educator of the Year & Faculty Cup Winner (page 4) International Influences (page 5) Faculty & Staff Retirements (page 14) Inaugural Cuba Study Abroad (page 16)

In this Issue

Introducing New Provost – 3 | Faculty Spotlights – 8 | Student Spotlights – 9

Alumni News – 12 | Programs/Events – 16 | Community Partnership – 19 | Lab Science Facilities Update – back cover

Dean’s Welcome

When I arrived at Columbus State University four years ago, it did not take long for me to witness the extraordinary support from the Columbus community for CSU. The relationship between the community and CSU is unparalleled.

I wanted our kind supporters of the college to witness firsthand the transformative effect their generous gifts have on our students and their families; so, in April, the college hosted an inaugural Donor Appreciation Luncheon to thank our supporters and provide them the opportunity to meet scholarship recipients and see the impact of their philanthropy. Over 60 donors, students, faculty and staff attended the event, which included testimonies from donors on why they support CSU and from several students and faculty who described the rewarding opportunities that scholarships/grants have provided them. All of us in the college are very grateful. On behalf of the students, staff and faculty in the college, I wish you a wonderful summer!

Dr. Dennis Rome, COLS Dean.

COLS Donor Appreciation Luncheon Spotlight

Left: Nicholas Wilson, a chemistry major and the recipient of the RC Cola International Prem Virmani Scholarship, shared the impact of the scholarship on his studies.

Above right: Dr. Joseph Zanga (donor and member of the COLS Leadership Council) stands with students from the Competitive Premedical Studies Program, Jared Bies and Jocelyn Cañedo, and program director, Dr. Katey Hughes.

Below right: Members of the LeNoir family, including Jane LeNoir, her sister-in-law Harriette Buchanan, Bob Buchanan, and daughter Kathy LeNoir, reunited with former and current Biology professors Bill Birkhead, Flora Clark and Glenn Stokes.

Left: Donald “D.L.” Jordan gave insights into his decision to establish the Donald L. Jordan Endowment at CSU to continue his legacy of creative writing that incorporates the values of responsibility, gratitude, generosity, faith, and love.

Right: Donors Mario and Zaiga Mion met Korie MacDougall, recipient of the Mario R. Mion Political Science Honors Scholarship.

Left: Sgt. Donald Bush (alum and donor) caught up with Ansley Strickland (recipient of the Thomas Keith Slay Memorial Scholarship) and COLS Asst. Dean, Bridget Downs.

Letters & Sciences Today Writer – Barbara Hunt | Editor & Circulation Coordinator – Jill Carroll College of Letters and Sciences | LeNoir Hall | Carroll_Jill@ColumbusState.edu Design & Layout - Shelby Kellin

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University-Wide News Meet Dr. Deborah Bordelon, CSU’s New Provost Dr. Deborah Bordelon started in mid-February as CSU’s new Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and is second in command to the President.

Prior to coming to CSU, she was the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Governors State University in Illinois.

Before moving to Illinois, Dr. Bordelon held teaching and administrative posts at Nicholls State University and Xavier University in Louisiana. She has a doctorate in special education, a master’s in education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, all from the University of New Orleans.

Dr. Bordelon has more than 30 publications or grants to her credit. She is a member of the Hall of Fame in the College of Education and Human Development at University of New Orleans, received Top Ten Researchers and Grant Recipients Recognition at Nicholls State University, and received the “Excellence in Praxis” Service Learning Faculty Award at Xavier University of Louisiana. She has attended the Executive Leadership Academy at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Harvard Graduate School of Education Institute for Dr. Deborah Bordelon, CSU’s Management and Leadership in Education, and the American Council on Education, new Provost and Executive Vice Office of Women in Higher Education 77th National Leadership Forum on Women President for Academic Affairs.

Administrators.

“It is a great honor to be selected as Provost and Executive Vice President at Columbus State University,” Dr. Bordelon said. “It was evident during my campus visit how consistent and strong the commitment to student success and academic excellence is across the university. I am excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the faculty, staff, students, and community to promote the high quality educational opportunities at CSU.”

COLS Alumnus Honored at Annual President’s Recognition Dinner The Columbus State University Alumni Association presented the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award to Dr. A.J. Jain (B.S. Bio/Chem ‘86) during CSU’s annual President’s Recognition Dinner in April.

This award, named for CSU’s first president, is presented to a graduate who has most lived up to the high standards set by the award’s namesake. It is considered the most prestigious award given annually to an alumnus.

The award recognizes Dr. Jain’s outstanding professional and personal achievements. He is a certified plastic surgeon in Columbus, GA, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He attended The Medical College of Georgia after graduating from CSU and opened his practice in 1998. Dr. Jain has served as president of the Muscogee County Medical Society and as a delegate to the Medical Association of Georgia. He has also been an advisor to CSU’s Competitive Premedical Studies Program and has mentored many students interested in the medical Sommer Bundy (President of CSU’s Alumni Association Board of field.

Directors) and CSU President Chris Markwood present Dr. A.J. Jain Two other awards were presented during the banquet. with the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award in April.

Rick Alexander, retired business owner of Alexander Electric and longtime supporter of CSU, received the Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award. CSU President Chris Markwood presented Superintendent David Lewis and the Muscogee County School District with the President’s Community Partnership Award.

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COLS Student Receives Faculty Cup Honor Michael Rohly (B.S. Biology/Math ’18) was awarded the Faculty Cup, the highest award given to a student at CSU, during the Scholastic Honors Convocation. His work at CSU has been noted by faculty mentors as an example of a transformative path to achievement, especially as a firstgeneration college student. Rohly has been awarded several research and travel grants, leading to research opportunities that include work at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and at Johns Hopkins University. He plans to continue his academic career to become a physician and researcher.

Dr. Owen Named Educator of the Year

Recipient of the 2018 Faculty Cup, Michael Rohly (Biology/Math double major).

Dr. Jim Owen, Professor of English, was named CSU’s 2017-2018 Educator of the Year at the annual Scholastic Honors Convocation in April. This recognition is awarded by the Student Government Association and based on student body nominations.

Dr. Owen has a Ph.D. in English Literature from University of Virginia and has been teaching at CSU for 23 years. After all his years of teaching at Columbus State, he never imagined he would be named Educator of the Year.

“I was surprised when my name was called,” Dr. Owen said. “I appreciate the fact that the students chose me out of many outstanding faculty members at CSU,” he said. “I’ve worked most of my adult life in higher education, and this is the highest teaching honor I’ve received.”

Dr. Owen is passionate about his profession. He likes to offer new faculty members advice about teaching. “I used to tell new faculty members that teaching is a skill; we practice it, but we never perfect it,” Dr. Owen said.

“Chances are, we never do as good a job as we think we have done on a good day; conversely, chances are we never have done as bad a job as we think we have on a bad day.”

CSU Educator of the Year, Dr. Jim Owen, Professor of English, relaxes by playing the guitar, both locally and regionally.

Other Faculty Award Recipients Several COLS faculty received awards during the 2018 Faculty & Staff Recognition and Excellence Awards at the Lumpkin Center in May: • Kevin Burgess – Biology (Faculty Research and Scholarship Award; Chappell Graduate Teaching Award) - Top Left • Courtney George – English (CSU Teaching Excellence Award) - Top Right • Carey “Scott” Wilkerson – English (Creative Endeavors Award) - Middle Right • Stephanie da Silva – Psychology (Teaching Innovation Award) - Bottom Left • Kyongseon Jeon – English (International Educator of the Year) - Bottom Right

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International Influences Dr. Houbin Fang Presents at University in China Dr. Houbin Fang, Associate Professor of Mathematics, was invited by the Department of Early Childhood Education at Fujian Normal University (FNU) to give a presentation in December 2017. The presentation was titled “Early Childhood Education: Curriculum, Practicum, Assessment, and Beyond.” Hailed as the province’s “cradle of teachers,” FNU is a key institution of higher education in Fuzhou, Fujian, China, with a century-old history and highly respected tradition.

CSU Professor’s Opera Performed in Germany

Playbill for The Ariadne Songs by CSU faculty playwright/librettist Carey Scott Wilkerson.

Early spring semester, Professor Scott Wilkerson was in Frankfurt, Germany, to attend the European premiere of The Ariadne Songs, a short opera based on his play Ariadne in Exile with a score by his collaborator, Angela Schwickert, and his own libretto. Featuring award-winning Los Angelesbased actress Charlotte Gulezian and European soprano Manuela Strack, the piece was performed (in English) in January at the Konservatorium Frankfurt and was produced in cooperation with the Junge Oper Rhein Main.

Dr. Houbin Fang, Associate Professor of Mathematics, presenting at Fujian Normal University.

Yusani River Expedition View a video of Dr. Kevin Burgess and others on a Yasuni River Expedition! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=botejfcmsBA). Yasuni is a river in eastern Ecuador and is considered the most biologically diverse place on the planet.

Featured in the video are Dr. Burgess (Biology Professor of Ecological Genetics), Prof. Alvaro Perez (former CSU visiting scholar and Herbarium Curator at Catolica University, Quito, Ecuador) and Lauren Whitehurst (CSU Masters in Natural Sciences - Biology track graduate student).

Lauren Whitehurst (pictured front, left), Samanthan Worthy (CSU M.S. biology graduate – pictured front, right), Prof.

Alvaro Perez (standing) and other researchers on the Yasuni River.

Dr. Zdeslav Hrepic: Keynote Speaker Abroad Dr. Zdeslav Hrepic, Professor of Earth and Space Sciences, embraces exploring seeming contradictions: philosophy of physics, spirituality of personal development, and research of education. As a conference presenter, he is also wowing audiences here and abroad.

Eager to take the best of the insights from many different fields and domains, he gladly accepted the invitation by a university in his home Letters & Sciences Today

country of Croatia to participate in a project that compares school systems across the globe. His role focused on the similarities and differences between the United States and Croatia with the idea of identifying the beneficial practices and avoiding the pitfalls and drawbacks seen in the past school reforms of either country.

This collaboration formally started in summer of 2016. Dr. Hrepic ran a 2-day workshop at the University of (Continued on page 6)

Dr. Zdeslav Hrepic, Professor of Earth and Space Sciences.

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(Continued from page 5) Zadar, Croatia, about school reforms and initiatives in the US; the role and position of principals in schools, business, and community; and implementing productive educational leadership strategies, both reformguided and reform-independent.

The workshop was such a hit that he was invited back the next year, both to give a lecture to graduate students and as the keynote speaker of the conference!

When Dr. Hrepic returned in December 2017, his 2-hour talk was so well received he had to extend the question/answer period by an additional 1.5 hours. Clearly, the audience appreciated what he had to say about reforming the curriculum, the role of principles in school reform, and U.S. versus European educational leadership.

His collaboration started when the University of Zadar initiated the process of developing a graduate

program designed for business executives and educators who desire to become high school principals.

Dr. Hrepic has a bachelor’s in Physics and Polytechnics Education from the University of Split (Croatia), a master’s degree in Physics with a focus in Physics Education, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction – his graduate degrees are from Kansas State University (KSU). Prior to coming to CSU in 2009, he taught at Fort Hays State University (Kansas), KSU, and various middle schools in Croatia.

Because of his background and experience (as a student, teacher and professor in both systems), Dr. Hrepic was able to give personal examples from middle school and college in both Croatia and the U.S. Attendees peppered him with questions about best practices and innovations just as much as about the pitfalls to avoid.

They also showed particular interest in his personal transition between the

systems.

Dr. Hrepic is a professor who focuses not only on what he teaches but also on how he teaches. He is the consummate “teaching professor” and says he employs “a constructivist paradigm of learning.” He uses interactive educational technology as much as possible combined with methodologies of Socratic inquiry and peer instruction. He likes to balance the hands-on experiences of active learning in labs with deeper analytical and investigative discussions in the lecture, accompanied with simpler class demonstrations.

Over the years, his interests have often focused on technology and teaching including the use of tablets and interactive software specialized to real-time classroom interaction.

His work in this domain has also resulted in several keynote speaking engagements both at national and international conferences.

This Year’s Fort European Scholar Digs Fossils Dr. Hugo Martín-Abad, CSU’s Fort Scholar in European Studies, is a visiting professor from Spain who taught classes, conducted research and gave lectures at CSU during spring semester 2018. His field of research is paleontology, or the fossil record of animals and plants.

His research partner at CSU was Dr. Michael Newbrey, a lecturer in the Department of Biology and whose areas of specialization include ichthyology (the study of fish) and evolution. See sidebar story on their research together.

Dr. Martín-Abad’s areas of specialization are similar. He studies all animal and plant fossils of the Cretaceous period (late Mesozoic era), but especially that of fish. He has earned all his degrees from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain: bachelor’s degrees in Biology and in East Asian Studies, master’s degree in Paleontology, European Ph.D. in Paleontology, and Expert on University Teaching.

For someone so young (earlythirties), Dr. Martín-Abad is well 6

published: 1 book, 7 chapters in books, and 14 peer-reviewed journal articles, including articles in Nature and Geoheritage.

His knowledge of the fossil record is encyclopedic, and he focuses most of his research in the Las Hoyas locality in Spain, a fossil site that is interpreted as similar to the Florida Everglades or Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp. He has been conducting research at Las Hoyas for 14 years.

According to Dr. MartínAbad, there are several exceptional Cretaceous fossil sites around the world, with China’s Jehol Biota traditionally considered to be the oldest and best due to the preservation of its fossils. What Dr. MartínAbad and others doing research at Las Hoyas in Cuenca, Spain, have unearthed are fossils even (Continued on page 7)

Dr. Hugo Martín-Abad conducts field work at the Las Hoyas fossil site in Spain. Las Hoyas is much like the Florida Everglades and is one of the major locations in the world for extracting fossils of the Cretaceous period.

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(Continued from page 6) older and sometimes in near perfect condition, including that of the most complete and best preserved primitive Mesozoic mammal ever found in Europe, which has provided new information on the origin and evolution of structures, such as hair, so typical of mammals.

While Spanish is his native language, he speaks near fluent English, and also communicates well in French and Japanese. Prior to coming to CSU, his scholarly appointments included positions at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), and Jurassica Museum -

University of Fribourg (Switzerland).

He also conducted an important part of his research at the Field Museum of Natural History (Chicago), the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France), and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology (Alberta, Canada).

Dr. Newbrey and Dr. Martín-Abad’s Joint Research Dr. Michael Newbrey and Dr. Hugo Martín-Abad’s joint research project focuses on the evolution of the age and growth biology of fishes in response to climatic changes during the last 150 million years. One of Dr. Newbrey’s relevant innovations in the field of paleontology is the identification and interpretation of growth cessation marks in skeletal elements of fossil fishes (just like the rings in the trunk of a tree). These marks allow scientists to calculate the biological age and growth rate of extinct fishes, which in turn provide a lot of information about the population dynamics of these fishes and their adaptation to particular environmental conditions. While these kind of studies are common in existing fishes, they had never been attempted in fossil fishes.

The two professors have been doing research together since 2011, when Martín-Abad (not a doctor back then) went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller (Alberta, Canada) because he was interested in applying Dr. Newbrey’s ideas to

the study of fossil fishes from the Spanish locality of Las Hoyas for his Ph.D. thesis. Since then, their research has become a project of colossal proportions, as more fossil fishes are included. Their latest addition to the project are coelacanths, a very special group of fishes that includes only two species alive today, which are considered “living fossils” because their appearance has not changed much in over 100 million years. In fact, they were believed to be extinct until 1938, when a fisherman found the first living coelacanth. Scientists know very little about these fishes because they live in deep waters and their sightings are very rare. In this sense, Dr. Newbrey and Dr. Martín-Abad’s research might provide a completely new source of data to understand the biology of these mysterious animals.

This project has taken them to visit fossil collections of some of the most important Natural History Museums around the world, such as the Muséum

National d’Historie Naturelle in Paris (France), the Natural History Museum in London (UK), the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago (USA), or the American Museum of Natural History in New York (USA). The project has also involved numerous students in biology, geology and paleontology, including students at CSU.

Drs. Michael Newbrey and Hugo Martín-Abad primarily research the Cretaceous period (late Mesozoic era).

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Faculty Spotlights Dr. Amanda Rees Receives Stand Alone Geographic Educator Award Amanda Rees, Professor of Geography, has been awarded the 2018 Helen Ruth Aspaas SAGE Innovator Award, which recognizes outstanding and innovative Stand Alone Geographic Educators (SAGE). Rees joined CSU in 2005 as a lone geographer. In the last 13 years, she has established a geography minor along with the Columbus Community Geography Center (CCGC). The CCGC partners geography classes and community organizations to: • raise awareness about important community problems and resources; • inform community and neighborhood planning processes; • support community organizing; and • empower communities to make positive change.

In 2014, Rees edited the e-book Thriving as a Stand-Alone Geographer: A Handbook in conjunction with the Association of American Geographers. SAGE is part of the Association of American Geographers (AAG). Founded in 1904, the AAG is an international professional Dr. Amanda Rees, Professor in the Department of History and geography organization with over 10,000 members in 100 nations.

Geography.

Donald L. Jordan Endowed Professor in Creative Writing

By Dr. Judi Livingston, Chair of the Department of English CSU’s Department of English is pleased to welcome Dr. Allen Gee as the inaugural Donald L. Jordan Endowed Professor in Creative Writing. In addition to teaching courses in the English Department, Dr. Gee will oversee the Donald L. Jordan Prize in Traditional American Writing as well as a biennial writing conference and study abroad experiences that emphasize service-learning. This endowed professorship was made possible by a generous gift to the College of Letters and Sciences by Mr. Donald L. Jordan of Columbus, Georgia.

Dr. Gee earned his M.F.A. from the University of Iowa’s Writers Workshop and his Ph.D. from the University of Houston. He has spent the past 14 years at Georgia College where he most recently served as the Acting Coordinator of Georgia College’s Graduate and Undergraduate Creative Writing Programs. He is the author of the essay collection, My Chinese America, and he is currently working on two book-length projects: At Little Monticello, an authorized biography of James Alan McPherson, the first African-American writer to win a Pulitzer for fiction, and Iron Road, a novel about Chinese-American railroad workers in the 19th century.

Dr. Allen Gee, the inaugural Donald L. Jordan Endowed Professor in Creative Writing.

Dr. Jacob Holt Scores Congressional Fellowship Hundreds apply; few are chosen. Dr. Jacob Holt, Assistant Professor of Political Science, is one of the chosen few and the first CSU recipient of a Congressional Fellowship. This was his fifth time applying. Typically, academic scholars come from research institutions, rated R1 or R2 (highest research and higher research). Columbus State is not a research institution but a teaching institution, which makes his winning even more significant.

The Congressional Fellowship Program, started in 1953 by the American Political Science Association, is highly selective in its choice of “political scientists, journalists, federal employees, health specialists, and other professionals” to bring to Washington to work on congressional staffs. Annually, about three academic scholars win with another three or so in other areas.

Dr. Holt’s nine-month commitment will begin November 2018 with a one-month workshop, during which he will be interviewed for various congressional openings, then await offers by those committees and offices looking for fellows. During his congressional assignment he will participate in ongoing seminars and enrichment programs.

Dr. Holt will teach online in fall 2018 and take a leave of absence from CSU in spring 2019. Prior to coming to CSU in 2016, he earned his B.A. from Middle Tennessee State University in 2004 and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2013; he taught at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. When asked what he hoped to get out of this Fellowship, he replied, “to write articles about the experience, gain greater insight into Dr. Jacob Holt, Assistant Professor of Political Science. how things work in Washington, and enhance the basis of my research.”

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Student Spotlights PIC Math Students Excel at Regional Competition Isabella Nunez and Selena Pierce, students from CSU’s PIC Math (Preparation for Industrial Careers in Mathematical Sciences) program, placed second in the poster competition at the fall 2017 Annual Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium held at Albany State University.

A PIC Math course is designed to increase awareness among mathematical sciences faculty and undergraduates about non-academic career options in mathematics and to provide research experience working on real problems from business, industry and government. The students worked on a project submitted by MetroPower (Norcross, GA), an electrical contracting company that performs a variety of electrical, mechanical, and low voltage services in the southeastern U.S. Nunez and Pierce analyzed the data available to find trends that would help better understand the multiple factors that contribute to a project significantly varying from planned net profit.

Through a PIC Math course, students learn how to interact in a business setting, manage deadlines, produce technical documents, and think critically to find solutions with mathematical Isabella Nunez and Selena Pierce stand by their award-winning poster. rigor. By the end of the course, students produce a solution to the project problem and complete a written, oral (video), and poster summary of their work. The partners from industry, business and government provide regular consultation and feedback to the students and faculty. Students present their work to partners and at conferences.

Chris Gass Wins GAMG Student Project Award Christofer Gass, a Columbus State University senior majoring in art history, recently received a state-wide award for his work on the Columbus Museum’s Common Grounds exhibition. Gass was awarded the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries’ 2018 Student Project Award at the GAMG annual conference in Rome, GA. The Common Grounds exhibition focuses on the last remaining original public green space in Columbus – an area known as South Commons. The exhibition ran from July 1 through November 5, 2017, and was seen by approximately 16,000 people.

Gass’ role in Common Grounds began as an intern and grew into lead curator for the exhibit. He scoured documents, archaeological reports, and maps for information on the area to develop themes, provide recommendations on layout, and help choose maps and artifacts to display. He was also the primary author for the footnoted exhibition gallery guide and developed a survey that enabled visitors to provide feedback on future uses of South Commons.

“It doesn’t feel like work, because it is fun,” explained Gass. “I like to bring things to life that are part of history – things that people aren’t able to see anymore due to development. Being able to create a snapshot of the past that people are able to understand is really important to me.”

As a geography minor, Gass also worked with Dr. Amanda Rees of CSU’s History & Geography department to analyze the data provided by the visitors to Common Grounds. The results were used as part of a larger research project by Dr. Rees’ urban geography class, which was presented to Friends of the South Commons. The advocacy group will use the information to seek funding opportunities that would help preserve the South Commons. This real community impact that Gass’ work could have on the future of South Commons helped distinguish his project from others.

On their decision to award Gass the prestigious award, the GAMG’s award committee wrote, “Specifically, the committee felt that the impact of this student’s work on all levels of this important community project raises this nomination above the rest. His dedication to the work and the impressive results in helping shape the future of this space provide excellent examples of solid student-directed work for museums far outside the scope of this specific project.”

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Gass was nominated for the award

by Rebecca Bush, Curator of History and Exhibitions Manager at the Columbus Museum. Bush worked closely with Gass on the Common Grounds exhibition.

“When I met Chris, I immediately knew he was a talented and thoughtful student who was eager to dive into the world of museums,” said Bush. “It was a joy to mentor Chris during his internship to create this civic dialoguefocused, engaging exhibition. Statewide recognition for his work is welldeserved.”

The Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries is a statewide organization dedicated to serving Christy Crisp, GAMG Awards Chair; GAMG award nominator Rebecca Bush, a diverse membership in a way that Curator of History/Exhibitions Manager, The Columbus Museum; Christofer Gass, establishes a responsive network, GAMG student project award winner; and Jose Santamaria, GAMG President. provides a resource base, and promotes professionalism so that Georgia’s museum community is strong, effective, and proactive. It is comprised of more than 200 members including individuals, businesses, and art, history, natural history, and science museums. The GAMG awards, given each year at the annual conference, recognize outstanding achievement by the institutions, friends, and supporters of the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries.

Biology Majors Publish Breakthrough Study Columbus State University biology majors recently published a paper that could ultimately save lives by treating infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. Students involved in the 20152017 study were John Spencer, Rowan Pitts, and Rachel Pearson, along with their professor, Dr. Lauren King.

The students focused on alternative therapies to treat Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterium that causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia, burn and wound infections, and septicemia.

From their study, they discovered that a particular peptide was effective in killing the bacteria that are resistant to most antibiotics. A growing public health crisis, infections with A. baumannii commonly result in limited treatment options and sometimes death.

The paper, entitled “The Effects of Antimicrobial Peptides WAM-1 and LL-37 on Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii” is currently published online, and will be in the next print issue of the journal Pathogens and Disease.

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John Spencer, Dr. Lauren King, Rowan Pitts, and Rachel Pearson first presented their research at a national conference in June 2017.

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Student Wins Award at International Barcode of Life Conference Columbus State University graduate student, Lauren Whitehurst, recently won the Genome Award for Best Poster Presentation at the International Barcode of Life Conference at Kruger National Park in South Africa. The prestigious scientific meeting brings together nearly 500 delegates from 73 nations to share ideas in DNA barcoding.

“Winning this award underscores the international recognition that this research is receiving,” said Lauren’s supervisor, Dr. Kevin Burgess, Professor of Ecological Genetics in CSU’s Biology Department.

Whitehurst’s poster, entitled “Developing a DNA barcoding pipeline for the identification and prevention of invasive plant propagules entering the Port of Savannah,” focused on preventing invasive species from entering the Port of Savannah in Georgia by using DNA barcoding.

“The Port of Savannah receives container shipments from all over the world, and sometimes these cargo ships accidentally bring in the seeds of noxious weeds from Lauren Whitehurst doing field collections of invasive plants while different areas,” said Dr. Burgess. “Since we cannot easily in Africa. determine what the seeds are or if they are potential noxious weeds, Lauren uses a genetic technique called DNA barcoding that can be used to identify what types of seeds are entering the US, should they be of concern, and how many are incoming. Her work will assist U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents in their goal of preventing invasive species from entering the port and being transported elsewhere in the country.”

Whitehurst, a graduate student in the Biology Department at CSU, attended the conference with Dr. Burgess and CSU lecturer, Dr. John Hanson. The group participated in field collections of invasive plants in an African savanna as part of a pre-conference workshop on LifeScanner, a user-friendly way to use DNA barcoding to identify unknown samples.

COLS Students Score Awards on Tower Day Columbus State University’s Tower Day, held in April, is an annual celebration of CSU undergraduate research and creative endeavors. Students gave 20-minute presentations, facilitated poster sessions, displayed their art, or gave performances. More than 200 presenters participated in the symposium. Students in COLS received five of the top seven awards for panel presentations and poster presentations.

Award of Excellence for the Tower Day Presentation The Distribution and Host Preference of Cassytha liformis (Love Vine) of Andros Island, Bahamas Lead Presenter: Abby Grace Moore; Co-Presenters: Ashley Murphy, Jaleesa DeJesus and Jack Hovey Mentor: Dr. Julie Ballenger (Biology) and Dr. Daniel Holt (Biology)

Award for Best Oral Presentation Three-Dimensionally Printed Models for Blind and Visually Impaired Chemistry Students Lead Presenter: Candice Tate Mentors: Dr. Rajeev Dabke (Chemistry) and Dr. Cindy Ticknor (Honors Dean)

Highest Award for Poster Presentation Mechanism of Triazolium Salts on Breast Cancer Cells Lead Presenter: Jared Bies Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Meyers (Chemistry) (Continued on page 12) Letters & Sciences Today

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Award of Excellence for the Tower Day Poster Presentation Comparison of Age and Growth Biology of 34 Million Year Old Sting-Rays From North Dakota to the Extant Dasyatis Pastinaca Lead Presenter: Persia Tillman Mentor: Dr. Michael Newbrey (Biology)

Award for Best Poster Presentation An Archaeological Approach to the Abercrombie Mound Remains (1RU61), Russel County, Alabama Lead Presenter: Chance Seckinger; Co-Presenters: Emma Mccabe, Gabriel Hart, Michaela Mallett, Sabrina Rodgers and Valerie Parker Mentor: Professor Danielle Neale (Earth & Space Science)

Above: Chance Seckinger stands next to his awardwinning poster on the Abercrombie Mound Remains.

Left: COLS Psychology major Robert Wright is ready to answer questions about his research concerning optimism. His poster was entitled “Hitting the brick wall of optimism with the sledgehammer of impossibility.” His faculty mentor was Dr. Stephanie da Silva.

Alumni News CSU Graduate to Attend Middlebury Summer Language School Sometimes the influence of a grandfather can be profound on a young man.

When he was a boy, John Zachry heard his grandfather, Emory Ford Cavender, talk about World War II and heard him speak some German commands and phrases around the house. His grandfather had learned just enough German to survive during wartime, and the sound of the language reminded John of his grandfather, who passed away a few years ago.

And it was a few years ago that John started studying German at CSU even though he had already completed the foreign language requirement for his

BA in history. In fact, he had minored in Spanish. He discovered he so loved the German classes he took from Professor Russ Eno that he took all four German courses CSU offers. He then decided he wanted more instruction in German and applied to the worldfamous Middlebury College Language Schools. He was accepted.

Middlebury College offers intensive summer language programs in 11 languages at the undergraduate and graduate level. For over 100 years, Middlebury has been the premier program for foreign language instruction for military leaders, government officials, and business executives. The language schools

use an immersion-based approach to language instruction and acquisition.

Students must sign and abide by Middlebury College’s “Language Pledge,” promising to use their target language exclusively during the duration of their time at the School, which is typically 6-8 weeks.

In 1915, Middlebury established its first language school (German) and has expanded to include other schools, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

The latest school added was that of Hebrew (2008).

After completing Middlebury’s Summer Program in German, John (Continued on page 13)

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(Continued from page 12) hopes to study abroad for a year, work on a master’s degree, and eventually work for the CIA or state department, a good occupational choice for someone with a love of history and a strong background in foreign languages. Between now and then, he keeps up with his German acquisition by listening to German music, reading books in German, and watching German TV shows and films. His grandfather’s influence is boundless.

Drawing of John Zachry’s grandfather, Emory Ford Cavender, with his “dog tags.”

John Zachry, graduated CSU Fall 2017, accepted to Middlebury College, Summer 2018.

Recent Graduates on the Move Martha Newell-Kinsman, B.S. Biology ‘13 (on the left in photo, at right), attended graduate school in Hawaii. She was selected for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program through the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. This program awards one-year paid fellowships and matches qualified graduate students with hosts in the legislative and executive branch of federal government. Graduate student recipients must be interested in ocean or coastal resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Beginning February 2018, Newell-Kinsman now serves as a natural resources legislative assistant for Congressman Don Young (R, Alaska).

Drew Wilson, B.S. Psychology ‘06 (shown at right), finished his master’s at Erasmus University in 2015 (Learning and Performance Psychology) and is now an adjunct at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany where he teaches courses to future teachers of English.

The Department of History and Geography currently has three of its M.A. graduates (Doug Allen, ‘14 – shown at left; Rachael Cofield, ‘15; and Mark Sciuchetti, ‘15) pursuing Ph.D.’s at Florida State University, as well as one B.A. graduate (Bert Melix, ‘16) pursuing an M.S. GIS there. Doug Allen and Rachael Cofield are working on their dissertations. Allen is studying race and place, particularly socio-spatial strategies and tactics of anti-racist resistance. He is the student representative of SEDAAG (Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers) and the Vice-Chair of the Graduate Student Affinity Group for the AAG (American Association of Geographers). Cofield is studying articulations of place through a queer theory lens, and she is currently Vice-President of the geography department graduate student association (Graduate Researchers of Geography).

The Department of Earth and Space Science (ESS) keeps close tabs on its graduates.

Here’s a sampling of what some are doing since graduation: • Matthew Perry (B.S. Astrophysics-Planetary Geology track ‘13) is currently working as a Research Associate with the Planetary Science Institute on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (a satellite currently orbiting Mars).

• Jeannie Patrick (B.S. Geology track ‘15) (shown at right) has accepted a job with Environmental Resources Management in Richmond, VA. • Two recent ESS alumni completed M.S. degrees – John Hood (B.S. AstrophysicsPlanetary Geology track ‘14) at Vanderbilt and Rylleigh Harstad (B.S. Geology track ‘15) at Auburn.

• Melissa Cardinal (BS Environmental Science track ‘16) accepted a job with Artemis Advantage.

Letters & Sciences Today

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Retirements Karen Kinard Retires and Plans on Traveling Karen Kinard, an Administrative Secretary for two academic departments at CSU, retired at the end of February. Prior to coming to CSU ten years ago, she worked for CEOs at various organizations here and in Atlanta, including Synovous, SouthTrust Bank, Lummus Industries, and Kurt Salmon Associates.

One of her former bosses, Dr. Terry Irvin, retired chair of the Department of Basic Studies, provided these factoids about Karen: • She loves purses and has oodles of them in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Expensive, cheap, classic and funky: she loves them all!

• She has always been involved in staff projects, especially the recycling of batteries and copier cartridges. She loves to volunteer.

• She and her granddaughters went together to get tattoos!

• Karen’s talent is people. She made everyone who came into the office feel welcomed and valued. And her concern for others is completely genuine.

Karen praised her experiences in the Department of Basic Studies (2008-2015) and in the Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Administration (2015-2018), saying she loved the camaraderie: “We were like family.”

The mother of three sons, Karen plans on traveling and on spending Karen Kinard at her desk in the Department of more time with her seven grandchildren, ages 4-29.

Politics, Philosophy and Public Administration.

Dr. Mike Bailey—Retiring After 14 years at CSU Dr. Dorinda Dowis, Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, explained why Dr. Mike Bailey was originally hired. Out of the applicants who made the final cut and gave a teaching demonstration, he was described by students as being “the most approachable.” That’s what got him the job.

Prior to coming to CSU, Dr. Bailey served 28 years as a firearms instructor and as Deputy Sheriff of the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office. He earned three of his four degrees from Columbus State: a A.A.S. in Criminal Justice (’93), B.S. in Criminal Justice (’94), and Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Justice Administration in 1996. Hired at CSU in 2004, he completed his Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Alabama in 2005.

Dr. Bailey served as Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology from 2011-2018 when he announced his retirement after 14 years.

Over the years, he has taught a variety of courses at the undergraduate and graduate level (including Cybercrime, Crime Scene Reconstruction, and Police Community Relations) and for both CSU and the West Georgia Police Academy. Twice he’s been nominated for Educator of the Year (2006, 2009).

Dr. Bailey has a stellar reputation among students and criminal justice faculty. Father of two and grandfather of four, he would appear to glow whenever his grandchildren were in town, according to colleague Bridget Downs, Lecturer and Assistant Dean of Community Outreach in the College of Letters and Sciences. Downs has worked with Dr. Bailey for years as a criminal justice instructor. She also said that he makes “the best baked beans,” a dish he would bring year after year to the Criminal Justice Dr. Mike Bailey, retired Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology.

Association fundraisers at the clock tower where students would sell BBQ plates. He would do anything for the students, helping them anyway he could.

So what does Dr. Bailey plan to do when he retires? He said he wants to improve his health. Since December 2017, he has undergone three surgeries related to circulation problems in his legs. Because his wife is a retired nurse, Dr. Bailey says he has had wonderful home health care. He hopes to be walking again soon.

His second goal is to sell his home and build a new one somewhere between Georgia and Arkansas. That way he will be between the locations of his two children – his daughter lives in Oklahoma and his son in Atlanta.

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Letters & Sciences Today

Dr. Dolan Retires After 18 Years at CSU For Dr. Tom Dolan, retirement does not mean relaxing. It means having the time to build the wooden boat he’s always wanted. Over the years, he’s crafted furniture and small boats, but now he has his sights set on creating the 15-foot, center-console boat of his dreams.

After receiving a B.A. in Journalism from Drake University, Dolan served in the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer, intelligence officer, and war planner for 20 years, during which he completed his M.A. in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He served as a flight instructor in an Air Force squadron on exchange duty, had two assignments with Army commands, and for a time worked with “agencies outside the Department of Defense.” His military background and expertise in global affairs led to his acquiring excellent speaking and writing ability in Korean and Japanese as well as knowledge of Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

After retiring from the military, he earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Georgia State University in 1997, after which he taught as a graduate assistant or adjunct at several universities before coming to CSU in 2000. Since then, Dr. Dolan has served variously as Interim Chair, Acting Chair, and Chair of the Department of Political Science (now the Department of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Administration), stepping down for the last time in 2014.

Dr. Tom Dolan in KIM IL SUNG Square in Pyongyang, North Korea.

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Since coming to CSU, Dolan has been interviewed more than 90 times on radio, for newspapers, and on TV (local, national, international) because of his extensive knowledge of politics and political affairs, especially in Korea and Japan. His 46 publications include 34 encyclopedia articles specializing in the developing world, East Asia, and China. His travels at Columbus State have taken him to

Japan, China (twice), South Korea (twice), North Korea (twice), Israel, and three times to the UK, including two times teaching in Oxford.

More than 80 times, Dolan has served as speaker, panelist, judge, moderator, and film commentator for local, regional, and national events. He has also served numerous times as intelligence briefer and as dissertation/thesis committee member.

So what does someone who has so many accomplishments say when asked what he is most proud of? His response is “my family.” Dolan notes that members of his immediate family (including himself) hold five bachelor degrees, three master’s degrees, and two Ph.D.’s. He is incredibly proud of his wife, Susan, who is a well-known local artist. And he is proud of his three grown children, two biological sons and an adopted daughter. He is proud of their accomplishments, their independence, and their successes as adults.

The man deserves to build himself a boat—something he will be sharing with the family he loves.

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Programs/Events CSU’s First Study Abroad to Cuba

By Drs. Ilaria Scaglia and Doug Tompson During spring break 2018, Columbus State University conducted its first Study Abroad Program in Cuba. Three history majors (Lawrence Washington, Philip Vongsavang, and M.A. student Laurie Woodson), two students from other disciplines (Alexandra Hawkes-Sanchez, business; Terence Walker, international studies), and two faculty members – Drs. Ilaria Scaglia and Doug Tompson, who specialize in international and Latin American history, respectively – embarked on an exciting journey to the iconic island.

The itinerary included visits to Havana and to the colonial cities of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, which are among the oldest in the Americas, as well as trips to the Cold War sites of Santa Clara and the Bay of Pigs. Various class offerings and assignments (ITDS: Understanding Non-Western Cultures; HIST 3555: Cuban Culture; HIST 5555G: Cuban Crops: Coffee, Tobacco, and Sugar) enabled students and faculty alike to fully appreciate the richness of their experiences.

In between visits to the most important museums and destinations, participants also had a chance to take in the island’s sights and sounds – from nature walks to vintage cars, tasting fresh sugar cane and dancing salsa, they were fully immersed in Cuba’s vibrant culture.

The hosts of their casa particular – the Cuban version of a B & B administered by locals – welcomed them warmly and prepared authentic local food, and local guides and experts Faculty and students sightseeing in Cuba. In back (left to right): Laurie Woodson, Dr. Doug Tompson, Dr. Ilaria Scaglia, Terence answered their questions about the island’s past, present, Walker, Lawrence Washington. In front (left to right): Philip and future.

Vongsavang, Alexandra Hawks-Sanchez. Photo credit: Philip CSU students and faculty had a chance to see Cuba at Vongsavang. a critical juncture. The Castro era is now approaching its end since, in April’s election, neither Fidel nor Raul were on the ballot for the first time since the 1959 Revolution. This trip provided a counterpoint to current political tensions: participants felt cautiously optimistic after a week of warm interaction between peoples who have long been kept separate.

A special moment, surely the most emotional, came when one of the students met with her grandfather’s family. Meeting relatives for the first time is heartwrenching, particularly when you know you will probably never meet again.

For this student, this study broad revealed itself in its full depth and potential to serve as a meeting ground, a space where people can meet while transcending all sorts of borders.

There could not have been a better way to crown this unforgettable experience.

Dr. Doug Tompson got up close with local wildlife, including a tarantula. Photo credit: Philip Vongsavang.

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Dr. Ilaria Scaglia, Laurie Woodson, and Alexandra HawksSanchez ride in style through Havana in a vintage rental car!

Photo credit: Philip Vongsavang.

Letters & Sciences Today

Honors College Students Study Presidential Leadership in Washington, D.C.

By Sarah Bowman, Assistant Professor of History During spring break, students in HONS 3555 Great Conversations: Perspectives on Presidential Leadership traveled to Washington, D.C. to deepen their understanding of the presidency. They assessed the memorialization of presidents at national monuments, considered their portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, and explored their representation at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. They also gained insights on political leadership through their meetings with Georgia Congressional Representatives Sanford Bishop, Drew Ferguson, Karen Handel, and Barry A. Loudermilk.

The January term course, co-taught by Laura Pate of the Honors College and Dr. Sarah Bowman of the History and Geography Department, challenged students to examine the presidency using diverse disciplinary approaches. As a final project, students evaluated individual presidents from the perspectives of history, leadership studies, and memory, presenting their research at Tower Day in April.

Honors students and faculty with two Georgia Congressmen on the balcony of one of the congressional office buildings in D.C. Rep. Drew Ferguson is standing far left with Laura Pate next to him. At the far right are Dr. Sarah Bowman and Rep. Barry A. Loudermilk.

Honors students in front of The White House during their spring break field trip to D.C.

Dr. Barineau Leads Field Trip for Geological Society Dr. Clint Barineau, Chair of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at CSU, led a professional geology field trip for the Geological Society of Georgia this past fall in collaboration with geologists from Florida State University.

The field trip, attended by more than 40 geologists from Georgia, Florida and Alabama, focused on the history and evolution of the earliest parts of Appalachian mountain building (around 460 million years ago), when the southeastern U.S. had active volcanoes and resembled modern day Japan and the east coast of Asia. The trip, headquartered in Carrollton, Georgia, led participants to rock outcrops near the communities of Tallapoosa, Franklin, and Dallas, Georgia.

Field trip participants Dr. Randy Kath (University of West Georgia), Dr. Diana Ortega-Ariza (CSU), Mr. Justin Fairchild (CSU) and Dr. Tim Chowns (University of West Georgia) discuss interpretation of an outcrop.

Letters & Sciences Today

Geological Society of Georgia field trip participants listening to the discussion about outcrops.

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New Software at the Konan Language Learning Center The Konan Language Learning Center, located in Howard Hall, has three new software programs that will take language learning to the next level.

According to Dr. Joelle Bonamy, Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, the newly acquired Latin Grammar Software allows for creative and fun learning of Latin. Students come to the 30-station Center to complete their assignments.

Dr. Joelle Bonamy and Brandon Stewart in the Konan Language Learning Center. Brandon Stewart is one of the student assistants who works there.

A second software program, Webcape, allows for placement of students to higher-level foreign language classes so students can save money and progress faster in fulfilling their degree requirements. For example, a high school student who has taken three years of high school Spanish before coming to CSU might be tempted to start college Spanish at SPAN 1001 in order to earn an easy “A,” but with the new placement test, the student can see that starting at 2001 would be possible and doing so would save tuition costs. Use of this program will ultimately help to increase retention and graduation rates by providing

faculty with progression data as students move through lower and upper level courses.

Another application of this software program involves heritage speakers. A heritage speaker is someone who, while born in the US, grew up speaking/hearing a language other than English in the home. The abilities of heritage speakers range from understanding-some-but-notspeaking-much to understanding, speaking, and reading extremely well. Heritage speakers—some of whom have never formally studied that language in school—can be tested to see at what level of coursework they should begin.

CSU has purchased Webcape for French, German, and Spanish; it is also available in Russian and Italian.

The third program, Transparent Language Software (TLS), is the most innovative. Purchased with student technology fee money, it allows any CSU student (taking or not taking a language class) the ability to learn and practice any of over 100 foreign languages in an online environment through a self-paced course. Such a language program has huge implications for students who need to brush up on a language they took in high school, who need proficiency in reading a foreign language for their graduate degree, or who plan on studying or interning abroad and need to learn the basics of a language beforehand.

While TLS emphasizes the four skill areas of learning a language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), it also has tracks for those desiring specialized terminology in business or medicine. As with Webcape, this program can be accessed in the Konan Center or off site.

International students at CSU could also use TLS to master English. The English language program is available to speakers of 29 different languages thereby allowing CSU to expand its global recruitment whether for music, business, STEM or other majors. It will help English language learners progress faster in their mastery of English.

Although the new software programs are limited access for the time being, Dr. Bonamy hopes to expand the number of licenses by applying for more student technology grants.

Do You Know What Your Donations Have Supported?

With the help of our alumni and friends, the College of Letters and Sciences has been able to provide 21 summer scholarships and other significant opportunities for our students!

By giving back to CSU, you make a meaningful impact on students’ lives!

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.

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Letters & Sciences Today

Math’s New Teaching Lab The Department of Mathematics now boasts a new Math Teaching Lab (University Hall 250), designed to promote innovative teaching and learning of mathematics. The space is intended for collaborative learning, access to technology, and hands-on activities using physical and digital manipulatives. The new lab area has a capacity of 50 students and is equipped with 40 laptops, ten mini-boards and two projector units.

The space houses a collection of manipulatives used in Mathematics Education courses and equipment for math experiments. Additionally, this space has small conference rooms that can be used for consulting with industrial partners in the PIC Math (Preparation for Industrial Careers in Mathematical Sciences) program. Recent PIC partners have included Starrett Bytewise (Columbus) and MetroPower (Norcross, GA).

The configuration of the lab area was made possible with some student technology funds, but mostly with end-of-the-year funds from 2017. During fall semester 2017, the area was redesigned/remodeled and supplies, including tablets, were ordered for Some of the manipulatives used in operations beginning spring 2018. the new Math Teaching Lab.

Community Partnership The First Annual Carson McCullers Literary Festival On April 20-21 at CSU’s Bo Bartlett Center, the Carson McCullers Literary Festival celebrated the creative writing of both Georgia high school students and CSU students with its first annual festival.

The event featured public readings and master classes conducted by nationally known writers such as Brad Watson, recent winner of the Harper Lee Award; Jonathan S.E. Perkins, nationally recognized slam poet champion; and novelist and essayist Melissa Pritchard, whose work has been recognized by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle and O, The Oprah Magazine.

The Carson McCullers Literary Festival grew out of the Carson McCullers Literary Awards, an annual event that had existed for five years. With the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau encouraging the Carson McCullers Center to start an annual literary festival, it made sense to merge the already existing literary awards with the idea of a festival and apply for a grant. Since the Carson McCullers Center is a member of the Columbus Cultural Arts Alliance, it was eligible to apply for a grant to promote arts in the city.

According to Dr. Nick Norwood, director of the McCullers Center, the Center applied for and received a grant of $15,000, funded by the hotel/motel tax in Columbus. When visitors come to Columbus, they pay a tax, some of which goes to fund the arts in the city. The funded projects in turn encourage people to visit Columbus, thereby funding more projects.

In addition to Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction and Expository Essay—categories in which prizes have been awarded in the past—two new categories were added this year: Screenplay and One-Act Play, with $300 for First Place, $200 for Second Place, and $100 for Third Place in each category. The Festival features two levels of entry—one for high school students and one for CSU students.

To help high school students prepare for the competition, the Center offered five prefestival workshops at the Smith-McCullers House.

• Saturday, Feb. 3 – Poetry (led by Jonathan Perkins) • Saturday, Feb. 10 – Screenwriting (led by Natalia Temesgen, CSU professor) • Saturday, Feb. 24 – Playwriting (led by Scott Wilkerson, CSU professor) • Saturday, Mar. 3 – Creative Nonfiction (led by Joe Miller, CSU professor) • Saturday, Mar. 10 – Fiction (led by Melissa Pritchard) Participants and presenters showed their enthusiasm for creative writing during the inaugural Literary Festival.

Novelist and essayist Melissa Pritchard shared some of her works with festival participants.

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Lab Science Facilities Update Construction of the new laboratory sciences building on the main campus, adjacent to LeNoir Hall, is on track for completion by the end of 2018, in preparation for classes in January 2019.

The new lab science building adjoining LeNoir Hall faces north and will have a great view of the campus, including the iconic Thomas Y. Whitley Clock Tower.

Sections of LeNoir Hall have undergone renovation, including faculty office space on the first floor that has been converted to student study areas and labs. Renovations of the third-floor chemistry labs will be completed by fall semester.

(Left) One of several new study/gathering areas on the first floor of LeNoir Hall provides quiet space for students; (right) chemistry students occupy a new lab on the first floor of LeNoir Hall that was previously faculty office space.