Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
Professional earth sciences organization to honor Crumbly July 3, 2014 - A prominent, national scientific group is recognizing an FVSU administrator and pioneer for his outstanding efforts to help prepare minorities and women for professional careers in the geosciences. The Geological Society of America, a professional organization that provides resources to earth scientists in all sectors, recently named Dr. Isaac Crumbly, associate vice president of Career and Collaborative Programs, as the recipient of its 2014 Bromery Award. The honor is given in support of minorities that have made significant contributions to research in the geological sciences, or those who have been instrumental in opening up the geosciences field to other minorities. He will receive his award during the organization’s GSA Annual Meeting from Oct. 19-22, in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. “Dr. Crumbly has labored steadfastly and successfully in the educational vineyards in general and in the STEM vineyards in particular for several decades," FVSU president Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith said. "This new accolade is therefore a fitting recognition of his efforts and achievements. He is one of our institutional treasures, which is partly why I promoted him to my cabinet earlier this year. Moreover, an endowed professorship in his name is one of my goals. He has mentored and nurtured hundreds of students who have gone on to be successful professional in and out of the energy industry. A chair in his name would be one powerful way for these professionals to thank him and pay forward to future Wildcats.” “Considering the outstanding individuals who have received the Bromery Award, I am indeed humbled to be a recipient,” Crumbly said. Individuals must be nominated to qualify for the award. Crumbly was recognized for founding the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program at FVSU. The dual-degree program that allows students to earn two bachelor’s degrees – one in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related field, and another in an energy-related one -- has helped minority students enter in the geosciences profession. “The reason I am receiving the Bromery Award is because the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program has developed a geosciences pipeline for minorities,” Crumbly said. “CDEP and partnering universities have graduates 31 minority and female geoscientists. CDEP’s geosciences pipeline begins in the ninth grade and continues through college.” The honor, created in 1998, is named after Randolph W. “Bill” Bromery, an African-American scholar, geologist, Tuskegee Airman and former Chancellor for the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The National Academy of Sciences named the pioneer as an outstanding black scientist in 1997. In addition to his scientific work, Bromery also established the W.E.B. Du Bois Archives at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Bromery and his wife, Cecile, established the Bromery Fund for Minorities with the GSA Foundation in 1999 to provide support for the award. Bromery passed away in 2014. For more information, contact the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program at (478) 825- 6243. --FVSU-Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
FVSU to repair and reopen pool thanks to USG funding July 2, 2014 - Fort Valley State University’s damaged swimming pool will soon undergo repairs thanks to $400,000 in funding that President Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith secured from University System of Georgia's Board of Regents Chancellor Hank M. Huckaby. Construction on FVSU’s pool - closed since 2009 due to a crack- will begin within the next two months. “[Repairing] the pool has been the most talked about subject on campus,” said Dr. Dwayne Crew, FVSU's associate vice president for business and finance. “Everybody is ready for it to reopen.” “The issues with the original construction of the pool caused it to crack,” Crew said. Due to the faulty construction, the facility has been closed since 2009. “We thought it was best to tear out the pool and start again.” The university consulted with Lyman Davidson Dooly, an architectural firm, recommended fixing the 12-foot pool by tearing out and replacing its bottom. After the concrete is upended, new concrete will be poured into the structure. The new depth of the pool will be 7 to 8 feet, instead of 12 feet. There will be no diving boards. Even though the construction project hasn’t been officially placed out for bids yet, Crew believes the project will take six to ten weeks to complete, and will be finished late in September 2014. President Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith hopes to have a grand party during FVSU’s homecoming to celebrate the re-opening of the pool. "The re-opening of the pool has been a key pursuit of mine, and for several reasons," Dr. Griffith said, who said that Regent Larry Walker played a special role in faciliating the process of acquiring the additional funding. "It is a vital wellness facility for both campus and community use. Moreover, it is an important revenue stream, especially as our university faces severe budget challenges. As such, the pool is an expression of the two E aspects of our existence; we are an Educational enterprise and an Economic enterprise." The facility’s re-opening is essential for several reasons, according to Donald Moore, HPE Complex/Campus Events Manager. The pool helps provide the school with additional revenue. The pool is rented out to local campuses, such as Perry and Westfield High Schools, for swim meets. Additionally, it has served as the site for a state swim meet. The university’s Wildcat Battalion has also trained at the facility in the past. Since the pool’s closing, the ROTC cadets have travelled almost 20 miles to Robins Air Force to complete their exercises. For more information, contact Crew at (478) 825-6200. --FVSU-Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
FVSU receives NSF grant to start minor in applied statistics July 3, 2014 - The National Science Foundation recently awarded Fort Valley State University’s mathematics and computer science department a $393,684 grant to launch a new minor program in Applied Statistics. The award, which was sought by co-principal investigators Dr. Dawit Aberra, chair of the university’s math and computer science department, and assistant professors of mathematics, Dr. Haixan Wang and Dr. Shadreck Chitsonga, is effective July 1, 2014. “I am delighted with this latest grant, which is further evidence of our Dreaming and Doing in research," said Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, FVSU president. "This new pursuit will not only extend our engagement in the critical STEM cluster, but it will provide additional opportunity for faculty and students to pursue one of my top priorities: undergraduate research.” Aberra sought funding for a project entitled, “Targeted Infusion Project: Developing a Minor Program in Applied Statistics within the Department of Mathematics and Computers Science at FVSU.” “I’m excited about this grant,” Aberra said. “The proposed minor program in Applied Statistics will change overall student attitude about job markets and will actually broaden job opportunities for students graduating from FVSU with a minor in Applied Statistics.” He continued, “It will also increase the number of African Americans represented in the data sciences and research opportunities that require application of statistics. The program will be available for all FVSU students and is in line with the university’s mission to increase enrollment and improve academic programs.” The program will help FVSU students pursue STEM graduate programs and careers. The minor program also will help students develop statistical knowledge and thinking through activities that require scientific and data-driven decision making processes. The new unit will help improve enrollment and retention in statistic-related fields. Lisa Wilson said the new NSF grant is evidence that the campus is meeting its mission as a research institution within the state. “FVSU currently administers more than $46 million in sponsored funding and so far this year, funding is up 8 percent over last year,” Wilson said. “The NSF Targeted Infusion Award is another indication that FVSU is excelling in its mission as a research university, attracting more public and private external funding and creating opportunities that are changing lives.” --FVSU-Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
New pre-kindergarten program available in Macon County July 25, 2014 - A new pre-kindergarten program is now available at no charge for children in Macon County. On July 2, Fort Valley State University’s Head Start Program received $63,000 from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, to start a new pre-kindergarten program in Macon County for the 20142015 school year. The program will serve 20 children at FVSU’s Head Start facility in Marshallville. Classes begin Aug. 18. The purpose of a pre- kindergarten program is to provide educational services to four-year-old children and their families. Evelyn Byrd, director of FVSU’s Head Start Program, said this is the first time that a pre-kindergarten program will blend with FVSU’s Head Start Program. “We’re excited about the fact that Head Start and pre-k have a collaboration effort,” Byrd said. She said the classrooms that consist of pre-kindergarten students will be called Head Start, pre-kindergarten blended classrooms. By combining the 20 pre-kindergarten students with the 86 Macon County Head Start students, FVSU will be servicing 106 children at its Macon County Head Start Center. Furthermore, children in prekindergarten blended classrooms will receive the full services that Head Start offers. This includes health screenings, access to a research based education curriculum and transportation to and from the Head Start Center. In addition, students enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program can receive services from two family advocates (social workers). Dr. Vivian Fluellen, executive director of FVSU’s Head Start Program, said the pre-kindergarten program will have a positive impact on children, families and the local community by improving school readiness skills in language, literacy, math and general knowledge. “By acquiring these skills early on, pre-k children stand a greater chance of reading on grade level which better positions them for future academic excellence,” Fluellen said. To be eligible for pre-kindergarten, children must be four-years-old by Sept. 1 of the school year. At this time, all 20 pre-kindergarten slots for the 2014-2015 year are filled. For more information about the prekindergarten program in Macon County, contact FVSU’s Macon County Head Start Center at (478) 967-2155 or e-mail Angela McDonald, FVSU’s Macon County Head Start family advocate at mcdonalda@fvsu.edu. --FVSU-Contact: FVSU Agricultural Communications Department • (478) 825-6345
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
FVSU future teachers attend NASA institute August 15, 2014 - Future educators from Fort Valley State University’s College of Education learned advanced teaching techniques during an institute at one of the nation’s leading space centers. FVSU students attended the NASA Pre-Service Teaching Institute at the George C. Marshall Space Center in Redstone Arsenal, Ala.. The program provides teachers with the latest instruction techniques science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. NASA’s Pre-Service Teacher Institute, or PSTI, was developed to provide more in-depth experience for pre-service teachers. “This institute has been in existence for 14 years,” said Dr. Edward Hill, FVSU’s College of Education dean. “One of the major goals [of this institute] is to transfer [teacher’s] acquired knowledge into useable lessons plans for teaching science, technology, engineering, mathematics or STEM.” During the week-long institute, aspiring educators interact with NASA personnel, and toured Marshall Space Center. They were exposed to problem-based learning, mathematics, science and technology-enrichment activities. “The NASA Pre-Service Institute was engaging, empowering, and built my confidence for planning, designing and implementing standards-based STEM curriculum,” said Latravia Ferguson, a senior middle grades education major. “The programs strengthened my science content using NASA resources.” At the height of the session, teachers learned to develop problem-based lesson plans for local school children. “I experienced firsthand, authentic learning experience within the context of new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) discoveries. The experience has helped me to develop a sustainable collaborative network with NASA instructors, as well as the other pre-service candidates that attended the institute. I am certain that this experience will provide continued support for all the participants,” said Dimtri Mitchell, a FVSU junior majoring in Early Childhood education. For details, contact the College of Education at (478) 825-6365. -30Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
Family and consumer sciences student recognized as “Most Outstanding” by a national coalition August 15, 2014 - Academic excellence, dedication and a commitment to service helped a Fort Valley State University student earn a prestigious award during a national conference. Jhameka Jones, a 21-year-old family and consumer sciences major, earned “The Most Outstanding Student Award” from the National Coalition for Black Development in Family and Consumer Sciences, an affiliate of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Jones received the award in St. Louis, Mo. during a banquet this summer. Jhameka Jones, senior family and consumer sciences major, earns “The Most Outstanding Student Award” from the National Coalition for Black Development in Family and Consumers Sciences.
“It was a surprise: I didn’t know I was nominated. When they called my name, I was in shock,” Jones said expressing her excitement when she learned of her achievement. Dr. Vivian Fluellen, interim department head for FVSU’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Program, said she nominated Jones because she is hardworking, articulate, determined and a member of AAFCS.
Jones competed for the award against students representing land-grant universities across the U.S. She was presented the award at the conference which drew more than 700 students and professionals. The college senior said the conference broadened her knowledge about the family and consumer sciences discipline. “Family and consumer sciences are the backbone of the family. In order for us to have a better economy and lifestyle, we have to build on the family first,” Jones said. She highlighted how the conference allowed her the opportunity to network with students, professors and professionals from across the country. She also met Seth Henderson, winner of the seventh season of the television show, Project Runway who was a speaker at the conference. After attending the conference and receiving her award, the Americus native said after graduation she aspires to leave her home state, further her education and eventually come back and teach at FVSU. “I want to learn everything I can in my twenties so I can teach everything I’ve learned in my thirties,” she said. She attributes her aspirations to the FCS program at FVSU. “My major is awesome,” Jones said. “The teachers are very helpful. When you get in class, you can tell they really want you to be somebody.” Overall, she said her goal is to help improve the lives of families. “It’s hard to teach older people new ways; so, if you start from the beginning with younger adults [who are] having children, maybe we can spark a change,” Jones said. For more information about FVSU’s Family and Consumer Sciences Program, visit ag.fvsu.edu or call (478) 825-6234. -30Contact: FVSU Agricultural Communications Department • (478) 825-6345
Fort Valley State University
News Release
A State and Land-Grant Institution University System of Georgia
1005 State University Drive • Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
FVSU Fulbright professor returns to campus August 15, 2014 - Fulbright professor Dr. Peter Dumbuya recently returned from his one-year sojourn overseas. The Fort Valley State University professor spent a year in the African nation of Sierra Leone, where he conducted research on gender mainstreaming in Sierra Leone since a brutal civil war that killed nearly 75,000 people. During this eleven-year war that started in 1991, women and children were the most-targeted victims of violence. “I decided to conduct my research on gender mainstreaming, a concept was developed within the last decade or two, which helps to bring about gender equality in the workplace, private as well as governmental,” Dumbuya said. According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, gender mainstreaming is defined as a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. In this approach, policy makers ensure that gender equality remains a central goal in research advocacy, dialogue, legislation, resource allocation, planning, implementation and monitoring of international programs and projects. In the past, the nation had few rights for women. In 2007, Sierra Leone passed several laws designed to protect women from harm. The Domestic Violence Act provided abuse victims with legal protection under the law. Later that year, the Devolution of Estates Act became law, and granted surviving female spouses and their families rights to their deceased husband’s estate . Before the Devolution of Estates Acts, the husband’s next male kin inherited the property. In 2009, the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act allowed the registration of marriages and divorces, and gave inheritance rights to women in the case of divorce or domestic violence. During his Fulbright period, Dumbuya spent 20 percent of his time teaching at the Fourah Bay College located in Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The rest of the time, the scholar conducted research in gender mainstreaming. Dumbuya met with the president of Sierra Leone, H.W. Ernest Bai Koroma, to discuss the nation’s policies on gender mainstreaming.
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According to Dumbuya, before the 11-year war, there was no offices created to ensure the parity of women in government. After the war, gender equality became a priority within the country. “My methodology was historical,” Dumbuya said. “I went to the major institutions and the people responsible for gender mainstreaming. It was part interview, part documentation. I interviewed officials in the office of the Sierra Leone president.” The FVSU professor met with Naasu G. Fofoanah, the Special Gender Adviser to the President of Sierra Leone. He asked about the rationale behind the establishment of the office. “Ms. Fofoanah said the purpose of gender parity was to end the abuse of women and girls, not just in wartime, but peacetime too, and to ensure that sexual violence was dealt with. Policies have been put in place to make sure that women are included in policy making, especially in the government.” After visiting with the Special Gender Adviser to the Sierra Leone President, Dumbuya visited with the nation’s minister of defense. “At first they didn’t believe there was a need for women in combat, but now they have women in combat positions,” he said. “It has happened within the last five years, so it’s a new program for the government.” Dumbuya also interviewed officials with the Sierra Leone Police about their rationale for forming a family support unit to deal with issues of domestic and sexual violence against women. The professor also obtained statistics regarding violence against women from the organization. He is currently tabulating his results for a book. He says that it will take him a year or two to complete the manuscript. “Dr. Dumbuya’s selection for the prestigious Fulbright Award by itself is a notable achievement for him and for our university,” said Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, president of FVSU. “And when you add the fact that the nature and importance of his research during the year he spent there, the significance becomes greater. In addition, he went beyond the call of research duty and taught in the school of law in Sierra Leone while there. I look forward to Dr. Dumbuya sharing with the university community some of his research findings. I also have asked him to organize an academic conference related to his research so we can bring scholars from across the nation and the world to examine this vital issue.” The Fulbright professor encourages other FVSU faculty members to apply for the Fulbright Scholars Program. Professors may submit their application online, apply online at http://www.cies.org/us_scholars/us_awards/Application.htm. Applicants may only apply for one award per year. --FVSU-Contact: Office of Marketing and Communications • (478) 825-6319
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