Spring 2020
DELGADO DIGEST
Issue 2
Dedicated to all Delgado Employees
Inside the Issue
LOUD AND PROUD
PANDEMIC POETRY
SPOTLIGHT
Faculty and Staff Achievements! p. 2-5
Artistic Expression in This New Normal. p. 6
Faculty and Staff Spotlight. p. 7
TEDD WALLEY, PROFESSOR OF VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS Awesome Con is an annual pop culture convention in Washington, D.C.. After a successful start, the annual event has become one of the largest fan conventions on the East Coast of the United States. Our own Tedd Walley is being flown up as a guest December 11-13 for Awesome Con! Awecome Con recently announced Walley's guest appearance on Facebook: "Known for 'Mathilda: The Forces of Evil vs. The Third Grade', New Orleans' longest running indie comic self publisher, Tedd Walley, is coming to Awesome Con! For the FIRST TIME EVER, Tedd is doing an 8 page, completely canon, FREE mini comic! It'll be available at his table while supplies last, ONLY at Awesome Con 2020." See "Walley," p. 3
LOUD AND PROUD Allied Health
information reported from Robin Wegener
Kelly Williams, RHIA, Health Information Technology Instructor, is the newly elected President of the Louisiana Health Information Management Association.
information reported from Michelle DeLima
Jennifer Fernandez was nominated for Nurse Educator of the Year by Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. Wendy Garretson was also nominated for Nurse Educator of the Year by recent CSN graduates. They will be honored at the LNF 19th Annual Nightingale Awards & Gala sponsored by Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) in Baton Rouge, LA. Chiquilla Brown volunteered for the Humana Rock-nRoll Marathon in New Orleans as Medical Captain at Medical Tent 6 on February 9, 2020 with current and past Charity School of Nursing Students (below).
Ashanti La Roche’ presents participation awards to Danielle Gandolfo, Allied Health (top left) and Ty Delger, Radiologic Technology (top right). Danielle won "Top Individual All-Star" and the Radiologic Technology Program won "Top Team All-Star."
As a result of the hard work and efforts of many faculty and staff, the Allied Health Division presented about 50 non-perishable care package for students and their families between December and February 10.
Elizabeth Hopkins (who also volunteered for the Humana Rock-n-Roll Marathon) and Cheree’ Wiggins (below) volunteered for the College Football National Championship game at the Superdome on January 13, 2020.
Allied Health was also the winner of the First Annual Food Fight for the Academic Divisions!
Tammy Kliebert, Radiologic Technology Program faculty poses with student helpers.
Let's see if they maintain the title next year! Challenge accepted!
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DEATH BY CHOCOLATE NOT BY BREAST CANCER! all information gathered from Linda Launey
Delgado Culinary and Pastry Arts programs' Death by Chocolate (and Champagne) - NOT Breast Cancer event was a hit! There was a live competition among several of the program's hospitality students -- they were judged on chocolate-inspired dishes (both sweet and savory) as well as table designs. All proceeds went to benefit Tulane Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Research Fund. A special thanks goes to the generosity of Schoen Mansion, Callebaut Chocolate, and members of the Krew de Pink. Angela Wilson, Pastry Chef, appeared on television to promote the event.
Paula DuPont (left) was appointed the new NOLA Information Literacy Collective Chair for 2020!
"Walley," from p. 1 Tedd Walley went to Sims Memorial Library of Southeastern to speak about graphic novels and graphic novel publishing for Wil Eisner Day. He was joined by Roland Paris and Comic Writer Kurt Amacker. Additionally, Tedd did artwork for the movie Point Blank (poster pictured on the right), and the movie is still available on Netflix. His work can be seen on all of the windows in the car wash fight scene. If you watch the scene frame by frame-by-frame it tells the major plot points of the film.
Mardi Gras door decorating contest winners were announced! The overall winner was Krystal-Seymone Wiggins and members of the Registrar's Office. The divisional winners were Marilyn Barrow and members of the Recruitment Office, Wendy Boesch from Purchasing, and Kim Gatzke from the City Park Campus Business and Technology Division, Cydney Nodier from Financial Aid, and the City Park Campus Communication Division.
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WELL DONE! all information on this page gathered from the Communication and Arts & Humanities Divisions
Weight of the Ripened, the latest book by Gina Ferrara, Assistant Professor of English, will be published this spring by Dos Madres Press. Like its title indicates, the poems are dense and distinctive with a lyrical specificity. The poetry in the collection is a product of a nearly tropical landscape: lush, floral, overgrown, and unrestrained, a place where oak trees rise “at impossible angles and unspoken parallels” and where the batture is described as “a bending place/a sinewy earth/a lauded bed.” The poems pay close attention to the personal, the increasingly fragile environment, and often, the close correlation between the two. Gina Ferrara's other books include: The Size of the Sparrows, Carville: Amid Moss and Resurrection Fern, Amber Porch Light, and Fitting the Sixth Finger. (Latest book on the right, other books shown below.)
Under the direction of Emily Clay, Faulty Advisor, and Kim Russell, Advisor, Phi Theta Kappa's Omega Nu Chapter achieved Five Star Chapter Status and earned Reach Rewards for the 2019-2020 academic year. These are the top two awards for local chapters in Phi Theta Kappa. For more information, visit the Phi Theta Kappa webpage.
Emily Clay was also selected to be part of a 18-person cohort in the 2020, New Orleans Parent Leadership Training Institute (or PLTI). This 20-week leadership program helps increase the civic skills of diverse parents to become leading advocates for youth and bring about community change. For more information, visit the PLTI Facebook page.
Kim Russell pictured second person from left, Emily Clay pictured far right
Steven Edwards, Professor of Music and Director of the College Honors Program, was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Nancy Marsiglia Institute of Justice sponsored by United Way and the Loyola College of Law. He has been appointed co-chair of the Arts Masterclasses for the annual conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council. He will conduct Haydn’s oratorio The Creation as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Temple Sinai. The work will be performed by Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, the UNO Chorale, the Delgado Chorus, professional vocal soloists, and members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
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FACULTY SENATE all information gathered from the Faculty Senate Secretary
Faculty Senate elections took place in April, 2020 online for the first time! Here are the lucky winners and a current list of senators for each division: Allied Health Division (2 seats available) - Robin Wegener and Jimmy Stevens Arts and Humanities - City Park Campus (4 seats available) - Kris LaMorte, Kevin George, Lydia Goellner, and Brenda Hanegan Arts and Humanities Division - West Bank Campus (1 seat available) - Sadhana Ray Business and Technology Division - City Park Campus (4 seats open) - Tracie King, Elizabeth Duett, Anne Riley, and Bob Warren Business and Technology Division - West Bank Campus (1 seat open) - Dan Summitt Communication Division - City Park Campus (4 seats open) - Andrew Gibbs, Shaye Hope, Kathy Favret, and Monica Mankin Communication Division - West Bank Campus (1 seat open) - Callie Solano Nursing Division - (3 seats open) - Shena Sanders, Michelle DeLima, and Betty Wolff Science and Math Division - City Park Campus (2 seats open) - Aimee Buckel and Matt Palumbo Science and Math Division - West Bank Campus (2 seats open) - Michael Cruz and Fatemah Bicksler
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Pandemic Poetry
Sine Qua Non Six feet apart in the middle of a ramble Courting desire and life in both hands Riding the wave of isolation often clumsily I reach for the corporeal, but it is not there Six feet in the middle of all this vibration Zooming in energetic voices and images Crashing in a toxic vapor hazily I reach for solitude in flooded memories Six feet down into the cold Covid ground Poisoning in clouded blue streaks Gasping for life beyond the expanding beastly I reach for compassion in the concealed vortex Six feet across the matrix of the planet Scheming population mastery in Bill’s head Meditating on the madness forebodingly I reach for comprehension, and cognizance fades There is not reason for what must be Six feet apart in the middle of a sea Floating on a raft of uncertainty Callie Solano
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GIE
Grande Isle Envy in heavy rotation my neighbors get to go to the island I get to suck in place and repeat Chita, the story of a mermaid, haunts my haunches -- I am uncool landlubber I can chew gum and sharpen a pencil I shd shogun and ripen bananas the tribe doesn’t need a scribe about now Just a closer walk with who’ll have me is the rougarou aura, grit spirit It goes in the boat made out of the ocean goes up with the kite colored pieces of air along with our longings combined I miss the New Orleans I’m in right now Brett Evans
Stuck in house for days Arguing over Netflix Divorce lawyer gold Chris Pylant
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Meet Tara LaFrance. Tara is an Assistant Professor of Math for the West Bank Campus, and is Vice President for Delgado’s Faculty Senate. Tara has a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University, New Orleans, and a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Phoenix. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Supervision at the University of Phoenix. Tara has had many different career experiences. She started working with insurance companies, finance companies, and mortgage companies until 1999, when she became a teacher for grades 9-12, and a cheerleader coach in Jefferson, St. James, and St. John Parishes. She found teaching far more rewarding than the business sector, as it allowed her to help change lives. She designed and implemented an action research project intended to improve the performance of socially and economically disadvantaged students. She also developed a program for at-risk junior high females with disciplinary issues. Tara joined Delgado Community College in 2010 as a math professor. She has also served on the faculty senate and many other campus committees. She stays abreast of the current trends in education, particularly math education, to ensure that her students succeed, and not be defined by any labels. Her activities outside Delgado revolve around her three children: Taylor (24), Kayla (16), and Parker (12). “They definitely keep me running. I’ve been a dance mom, sports mom, cheer mom at some point these 24 years. I enjoy traveling, trying different cuisines, and shooting pool, though I’m not good at it,” mentions Tara.
Tara Lafrance pictured above, Amy Laszcz pictured below.
Amy Laszcz serves as Delgado’s Director of Accounts Receivable. Her team is responsible for overseeing all student account functions including student billing/tuition and fee assessment, student refunds, managing payment deadlines, and collections. Born in Ohio, but raised in Lake Charles, LA, Amy graduated with honors and earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a Master of Business Administration degree from McNeese State University. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for Collegiate Schools of Business and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Amy began working in Higher Education as an Accounting Specialist at SOWELA Technical Community College in October of 2010 and was promoted to College Bursar by January 2012. In 2013, she accepted the position of Director of Student Accounts & Bursar at Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas and returned to Louisiana and the LCTCS System in 2014 to serve in her current role at Delgado Community College. Amy has served on several projects and implementations. During the Banner Student Accounts Receivable Implementation, she served as a lead team member for the LCTCS system and has recently served as a Development Partner for the Ellucian Banner A/R Self-Service 9x upgrade, representing Delgado as one of 12 schools selected out of the over 1,400 Banner schools worldwide. She also serves on the College Enrollment Task Force Committee as well as the LCTCS Student Record Retention Task Force, Catalog Committee, and Student Communication Committee. In February of this year, Amy was recognized at the Transact 360° Conference with the 2020 Distinction Award for Marketing & Outreach for promoting Delgado’s flexible payment plan solutions through a variety of marketing efforts to increase the adoption and usage of the technology among Delgado students. In addition, Amy is an excellent team player and is always ready and available to help other departments when needed. In her spare time, Amy enjoys obstacle racing and mud runs, attending festivals, reading, and hanging out with friends. She is also a huge football fan and you can often find her cheering for the Saints in the Superdome on Sundays.
Would you like to add something to the newsletter? Have something great to share with your colleagues? Contact the newsletter editor, Angela Camaille, at: newsletter@dcc.edu or visit the website: www.dcc.edu/digest Spring 2020, Issue 2
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