ETSU Honors College Year in Review - 2021/22

2021-22 HONORS COLLEGE YEAR IN REVIEW

DE AN’S LE TTER

OUR VISION

To be recognized nationally as a leading innovator in developing the next right things in honors education and global citizenship programs that have the reach to positively impact all ETSU students and partners.

OUR MISSION

In the Honors College at ETSU we hold a healthy disregard of the impossible. We believe that - when it comes to our students, staff, faculty, and partners - everyone can be a positive agent of change who engages in meaningful and purposeful work for the betterment of their own lives, their communities, and others around the globe. The college, therefore, house impactful curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs that provide one or more entry points for every ETSU student with the goal of transforming lives and elevating communities in northeast Tennessee and beyond. To help demonstrate this goal, we strive to offer unique and powerful educational opportunities that generate remarkable stories, stories our students tell about their experiences at ETSU that inspire feelings of admiration, trust, and enthusiasm in all those who listen to them.

OUR GOAL

To promote and support ambitious academic objectives for talented and motivated undergraduate students as well as innovative teaching and mentoring by our faculty. In addition, the college sponsors activities, events, and programs designed to enhance the collective cultural and intellectual environment and foster a more global perspective within the university community. Because the Honors College provides programming opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, it is no surprise that our students are competitive with the very best students in the nation for coveted slots in highly selective graduate and professional schools, as well as exciting careers.

PROGRAMS

The Honors College houses five unique honors scholars’ programs:

• Bert C. Bach Fine & Performing Arts

• Changemaker

• Early Assurance

• Global Citizen

• Honors-In-Discipline

Each one developed to provide a strong balance of curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities and experiences, each one suited to serve the personal, academic, and professional needs of its students, and each one geared to transform lives and elevate communities in Northeast Tennessee and beyond.

STUDENT/ALUMNI/FACULTY/STAFF SPOTLIGHTS

MATHEW DESJARDINS, Site Director & Senior Lecturer, BlueSky TN Institute, Department of Computing, ETSU College of Business & Technology

Owen is the recipient of the Honors College’s Remarkable Story award, and is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in geosciences through the University Honors Scholars program. He is the president of the Geosciences Club and the Lab Coordinator for Valleybrook Paleontology Student Research Labs.

For three years, Owen has tutored through the TRiO program associated with Student Support Services. Currently, he is serving as a teacher’s assistant for two classes, Paleontological Techniques in Geosciences and the special topics leadership class in Honors, as well as teaching a homeschool STEM class.

Owen will be attending Indiana University in the fall to begin his Ph.D. in geology through the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department.

2021-22 OUTSTANDING THESIS MENTOR AWARD | MATHEW DESJARDINS

2021-22 REMARKABLE STORY AWARD | OWEN MADSEN

FULBRIGHT RECIPIENT

DR. TRENA PAULUS

In April, Dr. Trena Paulus of East Tennessee State University was selected as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar in Humanities and Social Sciences for 2022-23.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Paulus will head to Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznan, Poland, for a six-month appointment in 2023.

Paulus is a professor in the Research Division in the Quillen College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine, director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities in the Honors College, and an affiliate faculty member of the Applied Social Research Laboratory at ETSU.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Paulus will head to Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznan, Poland, for a sixmonth appointment in 2023. While there, she will work with the faculty of English to identify qualitative research methods relevant to that

community and what methodological and technology innovations may still be needed. She will work with faculty and students to design, develop and co-teach a baccalaureate-level course in qualitative research methods for students in language and linguistics. In addition, she will provide mentoring and workshops on using qualitative data analysis software and offer a seminar for a new AMU program in medical humanities on how to apply qualitative interviewing skills to patient-centered communication in health care settings to improve patient outcomes.

ALUMNA’S REMARKABLE STORY Katherine Rowe SWEENEY

“After graduating from ETSU, I went on to pursue my master’s degree in Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University. While there, I published an article in The Tennessean, “911 dispatchers deserve better pay, recognition | Opinion”, and published my master’s thesis in ProQuest, “Emergency Communications: A Quantitative Survey on Emotional Labor.”

Upon graduation from ETSU in May 2020, Sweeney took a position as an adjunct faculty in The University of Alabama at Huntsville’s Department of Sociology.

“I applied for several doctoral programs in the fall of 2021, and this spring I was accepted and offered full funding and a stipend into the Medical Sociology doctoral program at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. During my time at UAB, I will have the unique opportunity to work with their

medical school to conduct research on modern day medicine and the health care system.”

Sweeney hopes to pursue a career that allows her to work with medical doctors and scientists to analyze and research medicines, specifically, how they might be changed to better various communities, or how the pharmaceutical side of medicine impacts society. Whether that means working in a hospital or working with an organization such as the CDC, Sweeney is grateful and excited for the opportunity to use her knowledge to positively impact the future of medicine.

“After graduating from ETSU, I went on to pursue my master’s degree in Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University. While there, I published an article in The Tennessean, “911 dispatchers deserve better pay, recognition | Opinion”

AMANI PATEL FINDING THE RIGHT PATH

“I chose East Tennessee State University because I felt it catered to a variety of people who come from all walks of life. I chose this university because I felt like I had a place here.” Amani Patel has always been hard at work – in her studies and in her community. Currently a graduate student working on a Master of Health Administration, Patel said she was not originally on this path. “When I started my higher education journey, it was in pre-pharmacy,” said Patel. “I had started in an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.”

It took only a single year before Patel would find the route that was right

for her, and she credits ETSU’s strong emphasis on public health. “I always thought that I would go into medicine or the medical field. When I discovered public health, I was drawn into it, instantly. Then, I was accepted into the Honors Program. That is something that transformed my life as a student in ways that I could have never imagined.”

Patel said the Honors Program gifted her with experiences that led her to develop and nurture service and leadership, which built the foundation for her current involvement in the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement (LCE).

Allen Archer is a medical student at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine (Class of 2026) and a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on a Health Professions Scholarship. He graduated summa cum laude from ETSU in 2022 with a B.S. in health administration and a public health minor.

Archer became the first in his family to attend college and earned his associate degree at AshevilleBuncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech). After enrolling to complete his four-year degree at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, he learned of ETSU through a school fair at A-B Tech. He attended an ETSU open house and spoke with Dr. Karen Kornweibel, who encouraged him to apply to ETSU’s Honors College. She followed up with him a few days

A GOOD FIT ALLEN ARCHER

ETSU Student Trustee

later to once again encourage him to apply, and he was subsequently admitted to the Honors College on the Midway Honors Scholarship for transfer students. “It wasn’t just the scholarship,” Archer said. “It was ETSU’s commitment to reaching out to me and making me feel welcomed. It was a good fit for me.”

Allen has been an active member in the ETSU, and greater Johnson City, community by participating in the Student Government Association, serving as president of three student organizations, mentoring peers, and volunteering regularly with a variety of campus and community organizations. Allen and his wife, Dr. Melissa White, have chosen to stay at ETSU because of their love for the community and the infinite opportunities for involvement.

(In addition to being a coffeeholic) Kate Trabalka is currently a photographer and photojournalist based in Columbia, Missouri. One of her biggest passions is meeting new people and helping tell their stories. Whether it be getting to know someone during a portrait session or documenting someone’s life through a photo story, connecting with people is one of Kate’s favorite activities.

As someone who grew up in the small town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Kate understands the importance

KATE TRABALKA

of community, and that is a feeling she wants to build and sustain with her clients. Through her storytelling, Kate not only wants to preserve memories and moments, but she wants to represent her subjects well and capture a feeling that will leave an impact on people.

Kate is also a graduate student focusing in photojournalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, as well as a graduate research assistant and coordinator with College Photographer of the Year. She has previously worked as a photographer for the Columbia Missourian, the online editor for Vox Magazine, a coordinator for Pictures of the Year International and an editorial intern for Dance Teacher Magazine and Dance Business Weekly. Kate graduated from East Tennessee State University in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in media and communication with a concentration in journalism and a minor in dance.

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLAR

Kate Trabalka Photography

The Honors College expands horizons and realizes dreams, as is the case for Jess PotterRodriguez. Always passionate about creating platforms and providing support for historically silenced or voiceless communities, the aid provided by the UHS scholarship allowed Jess to pursue involvement in various facets of campus life.

Jess’ case management and research experiences have led to what is, undoubtedly, the capstone of her undergraduate experiences. In the summer of 2022, she worked as an intern with Outer Atlanta’s Friends of Refugees, specializing with Embrace Birth Support. Advocating for and empowering refugee and new American mothers as they navigate the perinatal experience following resettlement. Jess hopes her ventures with Embrace will expand upon previous clinical experiences and prepare her to pursue a master’s education in social work that emphasizes both children and families as well as global welfare.

STUDENT INTERNSHIPS – EMPOWERING COMMUNITY

JESS POTTER-RODRIGUEZ

New Brewing & Distillation Studies

(BRDS) minor - Spring 2022

East Tennessee State University, in partnership with local Tennessee Hills Brewing and Distilling, has come together to offer students practical and hands-on training for the industry.

“Tennessee Hills is humbled yet very proud to help a great university like ETSU provide its students with worldclass experiential learning opportunities in the rapidly growing distillation and fermentation sciences fields,” CEO of Tennessee Hills Scott Andrew and President and founder Stephen Callahan said in a joint statement. “Northeast Tennessee has been a cultured home to these craft sciences for over 200 years and there is no better place than ETSU and these great ‘Tennessee Hills’ to make something like this happen.”

“This is a unique educational program that we developed through listening to the needs of regional industries,” McCorkle said. “People are not necessarily training for this in northeast Tennessee, so we are helping to fill that void. Meeting the workforce needs of the Appalachian Highlands goes directly to the core of what this institution has been doing for more than 100 years, and we are grateful to Tennessee Hills for partnering with us on this venture and for investing in the future of our students.”

ETSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle said the new minor is a key workforce development initiative.

(left to right) Honors College students, Ethan Becker and Cassidy Blackwell will be working alongside TN Hill brewers, Danny Smith and Dave Lawrence as part of an internship opportunity offered through BRDS.

EXPANDING PERSPECTIVES CENTER FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Students delve into rights issues in Ecuador during their four-week summer course, Human Rights & Global Citizenship II, including rights of nature and indigenous groups. Global Year is a comprehensive internationalization effort involving international faculty and scholar collaboration, education abroad group and exchange programs, and projects that benefit communities across borders with focus on a single country.

SUPPORTING FUTURE PURSUITS EARLY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Fall 2022 welcomed its first cohort to the Honors Early Assurance Pathway Scholars. Focusing heavily on experiential learning, leadership and problem solving, students traveled to New York City in October to meet with ETSU alumni of the Quillen College of Medicine.

Dr. Rebecca Brown, a neuro-oncologist and assistant professor at Mt. Sinai’s Ichan School of Medicine gave the students a tour of the hospital. Students visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Whittington, a general surgeon and surgical oncologist with NYC Health and Hospitals-Elmhurst. Dr. Whittington

shared her experiences providing care in New York City during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Payne Stanifer, a thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at New York Presbyterian/ Columbia University Irving Medical Center, treated students to dinner at the prestigious Harvard Club.

Drs. Stanifer and Whittington answered students’ questions about medical school life, residency, and the practice of medicine.

CHANGEMAKING IN ENGLAND AND APPALACHIA CREATING PARTNERSHIPS

Honors Education at Harlaxton College and Beyond. The Education Abroad Office at ETSU is always looking to partner with programs and institutions in other countries that provide experiential learning opportunities that can’t be replicated domestically.

Students networked with social innovation experts in England (University

of Northampton, University of Evansville) and the Appalachian Highlands (ETSU Honors Alums, United Way, East Tennessee Highlands, and other organizations). The goal: to cultivate critical and creative thinkers, and produce ethical, global citizens equipped to thrive in a world of complexity and change. 33 students were accepted into the program.

In November, Dr. Carson Medley presented “Why Not Win?: Innovations in Place-as-Text Pedagogies to Enhance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies in Honors Education.” The first-ever domestic exchange between a predominantly white institution (PWI) and an historically black institution (HBCU).

He was joined in Dallas by author and businessman Larry Thornton, who was ETSU’s commencement speaker, Fall 2022 graduation, and Dr. Zillah Fluker, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Executive Leadership for Capacity Building.

Dr. Medley also presented on the nation’s firstever university and student-led Empathy Museum that took place in Carter Hall, Spring 2022.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HONORS COUNCIL CONFERENCE, DALLAS, TX

THE STRANGERS PROJECT

An incredible tie-in activity with students’ focus on empathy while in NYC. The Strangers Project, a celebration of stories that surround each of us every day.

strangersproject.com

EMPATHY IN LEADERSHIP, NYC

Cultivating empathy in their leadership roles, Honors College and Bucs Academy students explore New York City, July 2022. Created and lead by Dr. Carson Medley, students from the Honors PEAKS (persistence, empathy, authenticity, knowledge, skills) mentor program teamed up with students from the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center to spend a week in New York City this summer. They engaged in experiential learning activities that viewed the Big Apple through a lens of empathic and care-driven leadership.

Students explored NYC neighborhoods, engaging with diverse populations to define how empathy enables people to relate to others through cooperation and unity rather than conflict and isolation; gaining new insights into how and why people help and relate positively to one another.

WELCOMING NEW FACULTY & STAFF

CARSON MEDLEY ASSISTANT DEAN, ACADEMICS

Dr. Medley, formerly student success coordinator, has been named assistant dean for academics and special programs. In this role, he will oversee responsibilities tied to all academic facets of the Honors College, including courses, curriculum, advising/ mentoring, and other student success programs. He will also be responsible for the development of special summer and spring break programs as well as for equity and inclusion initiatives in the college.

KARLA LEYBOLD ASSISTANT DEAN, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Ms. Karla Leybold, formerly manager for student and alumni engagement, will complete her doctorate in higher education leadership and policy analysis next year. Ms. Leybold has been named assistant dean for student life and alumni engagement, and supervises two student life coordinators.

MEAGHAN HEIMBACH AND BRITTANY MITCHELL STUDENT LIFE AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT COORDINATORS

Meaghan graduated from ETSU with a Masters in Higher Education, has experience in Greek Life, and brings a new energy to our team. She advises the Student Council, is the liaison for the Changemaker Scholar Program, and maintains the webpages and social media accounts, Brittany comes to us from the public-school system and was introduced to the Honors College through an adjunct position, traveling with students to Ecuador and England. She advises the Honors Living-LearningCommunity and is the liaison for the Global Citizen Scholars Program.

CERRONE FOSTER

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, IS THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

Foster has been a teaching scientist at ETSU for more than a decade and in 2022 was named interim director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. She is also the recipient of the 2022 Notable Women of ETSU, the recipient of the university’s 2022 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching, and keynote speaker at the December 2022 graduation. Foster earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from The College of New Jersey in 2001 and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from ETSU in 2007. Foster teaches a wide range of courses, including introductory biology courses and seniorlevel classes in biochemistry. She has received teaching grants to redesign and implement evidence-based teaching practices in the classroom. Foster’s impact on teaching includes not only higher education but also projects with K-12 secondary education.

“Dr. Cerrone Foster is a beacon of hope to many youngsters, especially to women of color, first-generation college students and anyone who is intimidated to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields,” Foster’s nominator added.

WILLIAM N. DUNCAN

PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY, COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES,

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

Dr. Duncan is a biological anthropologist by training. At ETSU, Duncan teaches not only forensic anthropology, but also introduction to physical anthropology, human evolution, race and human variation, and other courses. His research focuses on Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya area, dental anthropology, and forensic bio history.

He first came to ETSU in 2009, and became department chair two years ago. Before joining the ETSU faculty, he taught for four years in his first tenuretrack position at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, after completing his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he also taught as a graduate student.

Duncan also has strong ties to the Appalachian region and appreciates being part of a university with a solid regional focus. Originally from North Carolina, he completed his undergraduate work at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem and often visited relatives in Ashe County.

100%

STUDENT POPULATION BY STATE: Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, New York, West Virginia

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

OVER 40 MAJORS AND 20 MINORS REPRESENTED

• Student/faculty collaboration: 9 Student Faculty Collaborative Grants ($17,450), 7 Research Discovery Student Faculty Projects

• Student: Offered 6 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships ($19,853.53), 8 Travel Awards ($500 each) total of $4,000

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

• HC student council: representation of all 5 programs with 9 officers

• ETSU campus 20212022 SGA: president and vice president are honors college students

5 PARTICIPANTS

3 HONORS & 2 ROAN SCHOLARS

PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

5 GILLMAN 1 GOLDWATER

• Community: 8 students presented research at Posters at the Capitol event, Boland Undergraduate Research Symposium - 48 presentations total. 17 were categorized as natural sciences, 15 as health sciences and 16 as humanities or social sciences.

NUMBER OF ALUMNI 1,500

POST GRADUATE PLANS

• University grad school list: Auburn University, East Tennessee State University, University of Alabama, University of Chicago, George Washington University, University of Houston, Indiana University, University of Missouri, North Carolina State University, Savannah College of Art & Design, Southern Illinois University.

• Professional school list: East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Knoxville Health Sciences Center, Houston Law School, Missouri School of Journalism, University of Tennessee Knoxville School of Art.

• Employer list: Retro Studios Austin, TX; West Henderson High, NC; Coverfly, Los Angeles, CA; Myriad Pictures, Santa Monica, CA; Meta Platforms, Menlo Park, CA; Night Owl Spice, Johnson City, TN; Parkway Playhouse, Burnsville, NC; Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Pigeon Forge, TN; Universal Studio Orlando, FL; Cirque du Soleil, Las Vegas, NV; Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, TN; U.S. Army; Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN; Colgate Palmolive, New York City, NY; Franklin Woods Hospital, Johnson City, TN.

DAY OF GIVING

33 GIFTS, $6,330 RAISED, 50% INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR

EDUCATION ABROAD

2022 saw most international borders re-opening and a return to education abroad programs for many students at ETSU. 220 ETSU students went abroad on spring, summer and fall programs, including Honors programs in the UK, Ireland, and Ecuador.

Students from partner universities in Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Norway, and other countries studied abroad at ETSU, and the office welcomed representatives from the University of the West of Scotland, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and the University of Agder-Norway to campus.

ETSU also sent the first groups of semester exchange students to our new university partner, the American College of Greece! ETSU students at the American College of Greece studied or are studying Finance, Marketing, Sports Management, International Affairs, and English Education, and are taking the opportunity to explore historic sites, islands, and many other countries in the region.

The annual education abroad fair was held in October, where students met faculty representing many of the 17 faculty-led programs abroad planned for next year, in addition to coordinators from partner universities and organizations representing hundreds of programs. We anticipate supporting a record number of ETSU students participating in education abroad experiences throughout the next year!

CENTER FOR GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

The Center for Global Engagement, with the efforts of Dr. Megan Quinn in the College of Public Health, has kicked off the new Global Year Program focused on Ecuador. Global Year is a comprehensive internationalization effort involving international faculty and scholar collaboration, education abroad group and exchange programs, and projects that benefit communities across borders. This also will include opportunities for Honors students to join programs in Ecuador next year!

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAINING –ACCESS FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

MATTHEW RAUHUFF

Matthew Rauhuff, a pre-med Honors student and executive director of ETSU’s emergency medical program EM/ERGE, is creating a nonprofit startup—currently working to obtain 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and partnership with Quillen’s EQUIP, Ballad Health, and rural high schools—to provide affordable, accessible emergency medical training (CPR, AED, and First Aid training through the American Red Cross) to individuals primarily in rural and underserved communities to promote the public health, education, and economic stability of the region.

IMPACTING COMMUNITY FULFILLING PURPOSE

Helping to transform communities in our region, honors scholars find volunteering provides renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can be carried over into their personal and professional life. Volunteering not only improves the lives of others, it is an opportunity to practice important leadership skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, good communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. A big thanks to our honors scholars for devoting their time to the following organizations:

• Access ETSU

• Amazing Gracelyn Organization

• Baptist Collegiate Ministry

• Big Brother, Big Sister

• Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton

• Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City

• Bristol Regional Medical Center Johnson City Medical Center

• Bucky’s Food Pantry

• Crumley Brain Injury Rehabilitative Center

• Friends in Need Health Center

• Girl Scouts of the USA

• Hospice

• Melting Pot

• Miles for Smiles

• Mountain Home VA

• NESCC Office of Accessibility

• Ronald McDonald House

• Second Harvest Food Bank

• Shy Valley Farm

• The Well

• TriPride

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Washington County Animal Shelter

• Washington County Health Department