Faculty Sees Eight New Members

Faculty Welcomes Eight New Members

Davis & Elkins College welcomed eight faculty members – including two alumnae – to the ranks in the last two semesters.

New to the faculty for the 2020-2021 academic year are Instructor of Outdoor Recreation Management Mark Douglas, Instructor of Chemistry Dr. Clinton Johnson, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Neelima Nair, Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Alexandros Sivvopoulos, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Dr. Todd Tichenor and Instructor of Digital Media Macy Jackson ’09, who previously served as an adjunct. In addition, Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. John Poffenbarger and Instructor of Nursing Haley Smoot ’18 and ’17 joined the faculty in the spring 2020 semester. Douglas comes to D&E in organic chemistry from the University of years. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston. She earned a Master of Science degree in business education from D&E and a Master Maine at Machias where in chemistry and a Bachelor of Science degree of Education in digital media, new literacies and he was an assistant in chemistry, both from the University of Kerala learning from Fairmont State University. professor of recreation in Trivandrum, India. In addition, she received a and tourism management. graduate certificate in forensic toxicology from Poffenbarger served Earlier in his career, he the University of Florida. in various capacities worked as a naturalist at Whiskeytown Environmental School in Redding, California, a program coordinator at Pali Mountain Institute in Running Springs, Mark Douglas Sivvopoulos most recently served as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of at Wheeling Jesuit University, including associate professor of political science, chair of the Department of Social California, and as a trail crew leader for the Economics at Wofford Sciences and Modern Student Conservation Association. Douglas is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in forestry College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and has Language, director of the International Studies Dr. John Poffenbarger and conservation science at the University of Montana. He holds a Master of Science degree in natural resources from Humboldt State taught at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. He also has Dr. Alexandros Sivvopoulos Program and co-director of the Social Science Institute for Research and Community Development. Previously, he was University and a Bachelor of Science degree worked as a counselor for a summer college assistant professor of political science at North in recreation and leisure services from Murray program for high school students and as an Carolina Wesleyan College. In addition, he State University. economic consultant. served as a special political analyst for WTRF-TV Johnson received the Sivvopoulos earned his Ph.D. in economics, in Wheeling and was the country expert on El Dietrich School of Arts Master of Arts in economics and Bachelor of Salvador for the WVU Law School Immigration & Science Graduate Business Administration in economics from the Clinic. Poffenbarger earned a Ph.D. and Master Fellowship and served University of Mississippi. He is bilingual in Greek of Arts degree in political science from West as a research assistant/ and English. Virginia University. He also holds a Bachelor

Dr. Clinton Johnson fellow at the University of Pittsburgh where his research efforts took him to the Central Laser Facility at the Rutherford Appleton A native West Virginian, Tichenor has worked as an educator both from within the U.S. and abroad, having taught at China of Arts degree in political science from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and completed additional study at the Summer Institute of Political Psychology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Laboratory in Didcot, England. Johnson also has Agricultural University in Smoot returned to her instructed various levels of chemistry courses Beijing, China from 2014- alma mater as an adjunct at the University of Pittsburgh and received 2018. He earned a Ph.D. instructor before earning the Safford Award for Excellence as a Graduate Dr. Todd Tichenor in discrete mathematics the full-time post. She School Teacher. He, also, received a course and a Master of Science previously worked in transformation grant to design and develop a degree in pure mathematics from West Virginia the medical/surgical novel guided-inquiry approach to teach scientific University. He also holds Bachelor of Science unit at Davis Medical writing to chemistry majors. He earned a Ph.D. degrees in computer science and mathematics Center and as a corporal in chemistry with a concentration in physical from Fairmont State University. Haley Smoot ’18 and special operations chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Frostburg State University. Nair previously taught organic chemistry at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and earlier worked as an adjunct chemistry instructor at Medaille Jackson, a D&E alumna, has served as an adjunct instructor in creative arts and education at the College for the past four years. She joined the faculty full time this fall to lead the new minor in digital media. Previously, Macy Jackson ’09 Correctional Emergency Response Team member at Huttonsville Correctional Center. Smoot earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and associate degree in nursing at D&E. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner track at South Alabama University. College in Buffalo, New she worked at an adjunct instructor in creative York. She holds a Ph.D. Dr. Neelima Nair arts and education at the College for the past four

Davis & Elkins Ranks 10th in 2019-20 NCAA DII Helper-Helper Community Service Report

With over 467,000 hours logged from schools across the country, the Davis & Elkins College athletic department ranked 10th nationally among NCAA DII schools for community service in the recent 2019-20 Helper-Helper report. Helper-Helper is a volunteer tracking app and management platform used by over 200 college athletic departments. Davis & Elkins College student-athletes combined for 4,265 hours of community service since June 2, 2019. Additionally, 10 different teams placed among the top 10 in their respective sport in the NCAA DII rankings. “The second pillar of our athletic program is Engagement, we believe our student-athletes greatly benefit from service to our local community and beyond,” Director of Athletics Jamie Joss said. “It’s great to see their care and engagement with others is rewarded with such recognition amongst our peers in Division II.” Women’s swimming led NCAA DII in community service with 320 hours and 25 hours per student-athlete, while the men’s swimming team finished second nationally with 327 hours. Both swimming teams combined to log over 318 hours in 2019-20 at the Randolph County YMCA with the RAYS program. Not listed in the Helper-Helper rankings was the D&E acrobatics & tumbling team, which led the department with 607 total hours, an average of 28 hours per student-athlete. Part of the community service for the A&T team this year included over 41 hours at the Randolph County Humane Society. “I am so grateful to our student-athletes and coaches for committing to service and the impact they are making in so many lives.” Joss said. Wrestling was third among DII schools in its first season as a varsity program, completing 84 hours. Men’s soccer finished fifth, just behind Montana State, with 158 hours. Both Senator golf teams placed inside the top 10, with men’s golf finishing eighth (36 hours) and women’s golf in ninth (58 hours). Softball was sixth in NCAA DII with 486 hours and volleyball was ninth with 237 hours. Men’s tennis ranked seventh across Division II with 89 hours logged and men’s lacrosse completed 321 hours, good for eighth. As a whole, NCAA DII institutions combined for 179,524 hours of community service, ranging from education, health, civic and other opportunities. The Senators, which hold several department-wide community outreach programs such as the Clean the City Kickoff and Rise Against Hunger event, led the Mountain East Conference in the Helper-Helper rankings in their first year as a member of the league. Davis & Elkins athletics is committed to developing excellence through four primary pillars: education, engagement, character and competition.

Holley Takes Part in NCAA-Hosted Career in Sports Forum

Close to 400 NCAA student-athletes, including Davis & Elkins men’s soccer player Patrick Holley, had the opportunity to get career guidance and network with athletics administrators and sports industry experts virtually at the 2020 NCAA Career in Sports Forum. The three-day forum prepares junior and senior student-athletes for a career after graduation. The forum helps student-athletes learn more about themselves as leaders by exposing them to projects that require critical thinking as well as practical experiences that will strengthen their personal and professional skills and competencies. Through their participation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of roles within the athletics industry and how their personal and professional interests align with potential career paths. “I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to attend this forum hosted by the NCAA,” Holley said. “It is a great chance to connect and have discussions with studentathletes all over the country, each from different schools and backgrounds.” Forum sessions included how student-athletes can become more aware of their inner strengths, how to develop a career plan, practical approaches to the job search, how to navigate as a young professional in the athletics industry, the role of an athletics administrator and head coach, and other motivational and key messaging from speakers. The athletes also had opportunities to engage in breakout sessions where they engaged in guided discussions to further curriculum understanding and build community with other student-athletes. A student-athlete task force also was created to identify and develop specific sessions where student-athletes expressed particular interests. “It was important to host the Career in Sports Forum this year, as we want to continue providing student- athletes with career and leadership development, even during these challenging times when we are unable to meet in person,” said Lamarr Pottinger, associate director of NCAA leadership Patrick Holley development. “We must continue to execute our vision to educate student-athletes, be inclusive and focus on bringing these young leaders together in a community format where they can continue learning. The student- athletes will gain more insight around the sports industry and careers at the forum. However, they also learn what their strengths are and who they are outside of their sport. The ultimate goal is to have these individuals walk away more prepared to gain employment after college athletics.” The diverse lineup of student-athletes represented colleges and universities from all three divisions, numerous academic majors and many sports. The forum, typically held at the NCAA headquarters for close to 200 student-athletes, was expanded this year to provide more guidance and education, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forum speakers included directors of athletics, representatives from athletics academic services, athletic conference offices, head coaches, and officials in business and professional sports.