ASU Rept Apr08

Campus Notables

In the news

Across campus

The following faculty and staff appeared as a source for the media in print, television, or radio:

Spring Break Spring Break will be observed the week of April 7-11. Campus offices will be open. Classes will not be held during that week.

continued Wellness into the Study Abroad Curriculum at the 15th Annual Georgia Conference on College & University Teaching in Kennesaw.

Several faculty members in learning support made presentations at USG’s 32nd Annual Learning Support Conference at St. Simons Island. Cynthia M. Craig presented Facilitating change: Identifying the psychological traps that impede decision-making; Magali A. M. Duignan presented A take-home exam? What do you mean?; Dave Huffstetler presented No red ink: Teaching expository techniques without having to grade essays; Samuel Richardson presented Math strategies for working with fractions and other rational expressions; and Betsy Veldboom presented Incorporating good math study skills within the mathematics classroom.

Diana Snyder, biology, along with students, visited several schools in North Augusta this month. While there, they conducted experiments using metric measurements, explained the anatomy of frogs and humans, and reconstructed The Case of the Disappearing Cookies and Germs and Handwashing.

Bruce Saul, biology, participated in the American Fisheries Society meeting in Wheeling, West Virginia Feb. 27–March 1.

Office of Public Relations Editor Kathy Schofe

Copy Editor John Jenkins

Writers Tunisia Williams Kristopher Wells

Contributing Writers Hannah Alattar, student intern

Designer Mary Jo Blue Luta

Carol Giardina, admissions, and Helen Hendee, development and alumni relations – WAGT, about the impact the basketball team going to the championship may have on recruitment and fundraising Gina Thurman, student services – WJBF, about being a Jaguar fan and the basketball team advancing to the Final Four Melissa Hudson, career center – WAGT, about the Elite Eight basketball game Dip Metress, athletics – WAGT, WJBF, WRDW, The Augusta Chronicle, and numerous other papers, about the Elite Eight Paul Harris, political science – The Boston Globe, about Joseph Z. Zolot, a Russian immigrant Kelly Thomas, Maxwell Theatre – The Metro Spirit, about the Westobou Festival Jim Garvey, communications and professional writing – The Augusta Chronicle, about the Larry E. and Brian E. Rykken Scholarship Endowment Fund’s first scholarship recipient Cathy Tugmon, biology - The Bell Ringer, about her role in Leadership ASU 2008.

Mark Thompson, Hull College of Business – WACG, about the local economy, and The Augusta Chronicle, about gas prices Katherine Sweeney, admissions – The Augusta Chronicle, about joint-enrolled students and schools Julie Goley, Career Center – WACG, about the unemployment rate

Lauderdale Golf Tournament The ASU Alumni Association will hold its annual Alumni and Friends Lauderdale Golf Tournament on Friday, April 18, at the Forest Hills Golf Course. Tee times for the tournament: A.M. Golfers 7:30-8 a.m.: Check-in and continental breakfast 8:15 a.m.: Shotgun start P.M. Golfers Noon-12:45 p.m.: Check-in 1 p.m.: Shotgun Start All Golfers and Guests 6 p.m.: Awards ceremony and reception For more information, call 706-667-4710.

The Centro Educativo Savannah River Area An informational session about The Centro Educativo Savannah River Social Cost-Benefit Analysis will be held on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in E157 Allgood Hall. For more information, call the Department of English and Foreign Languages at 706-737-1500.

PKP Symposium As part of the Arsenal Speaker Series of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, a panel will discuss The Perfect Professor: Defining the Consummate Academic on Wednesday, April 23, at noon in the JSAC Coffeehouse. Panelists will include Debbie van Tuyll, Pamplin College of Arts and Sciences; Judi Wilson, College of Education; and Brigitte Ziobrowski, Hull College of Business. Refreshments will be served.

U.S. Congressional Forum Paul Broun and other members of the Science and Technology Committee will hold a Congressional Forum to discuss border security on Friday, April 4, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom. The discussion will include a panel of government, industry, and academic experts. Part of the dialogue will focus on legislative efforts in the House of Representatives to improve U.S. border security. Specifically, the panel will discuss a bill that expands on current border patrol efforts by focusing on the development of technologies to improve our border patrol agents’ ability to detect and prevent drug traffickers and terrorists, as well as other people attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.

The briefing is open to the public.

Lady Jags Head Resigns Head women’s basketball coach Greg Wilson resigned on March 21 to accept a position with the Greater Augusta Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Wilson took the Lady Jags to a 20-10 record this season. In the interim, second year assistant coach Allison Nichols has been appointed coach while a search committee conducts a national search for the position.

FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK BEGINS APRIL 28 ASU will recognize the hard work and dedication of its faculty and staff with a week of activities, Monday through Friday, April 28 to May 2, in its annual Faculty-Staff Appreciation Week.

The week kicks off with a Let Us Serve You event where the president and vice presidents will be serving refreshments from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. outside in The Grove.

On Tuesday is the trivia contest, being held in the JSAC Coffeehouse from 4:45-6 p.m. Form your own team or be matched up with others. This fun event questions knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. Prizes will be awarded. Sign up with Jason Gribek at jgribek@aug.edu or 706-667-4950. On Tuesday morning is a breakfast for the employees being recognized for service anniversaries of 5, 10, 15, etc., years of service. The breakfast is by invitation only.

Wednesday is the open house where departments throughout campus prepare goodies to share. It’s an opportunity to see

faculty and staff whom you may not regularly get to visit.

On Thursday, the annual Recognition Program at 11 a.m. in the Maxwell Theatre will recognize those who are observing service anniversaries (in five-year increments) and those who are retiring. It will be followed by a picnic lunch. Later, at 4:45-6 p.m., Bingo will be held in the JSAC Coffeehouse, and caller, Cowboy Mike Searles, will make sure players have a good time and win some prizes. You do not have to preregister for this event; just show up.

Fun Friday culminates the week, and faculty/staff and some talented students will entertain the crowd with their amazing talents.

Throughout the week, prizes will be awarded through drawings, and specials will be observed in the Food Court. For more information, call Lisa Webb at 706-737-1770.

ASU comes in second in national championship Augusta State’s men’s basketball team is the second best team in the nation. It’s official. Coming in second in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight is quite an achievement.

Fans who made the 18-hour bus trip to Springfield or who flew up by plane and those who followed the tournament on the web or on television may be a little disappointed that the Jaguars didn’t win—but they are more than happy with the way they played.

Heart. Class. They made us proud.

In the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, March 26, ASU defeated Central Oklahoma University in double overtime, 106–104. In the semifinal round on Thursday, March 27, they defeated AnchorageAlaska, 56–50. And in the final game on Saturday, March 29, they played extremely well, losing to Winona State University 76–87.

And in-between the games, the team practiced, met with Springfield residents at a meet and greet, gave interviews to a number of television stations and newspapers, visited a children’s hospital, participated in a youth clinic, and won the hearts of over 100 fourth graders in Springfield.

Fourth graders in about 20 schools in the Springfield area were assigned Division II institutions to follow in regional playoffs. This allowed them to learn something of the geography, economics,

and social conditions of the regions they were assigned. Darton Elementary School was one of the schools that followed the Jaguars. All of the fourth graders showed up for the quarterfinals, many sporting signs and homemade Jaguar tee-shirts. They were as vocal as the ASU fans who made the trip to Springfield. Their enthusiasm was contagious.

The following day, Kathy Schofe and Heather Hopkins, public relations office, and Leza Witherington, communications and professional writing, paid a visit to the school to take pennants, a team photo, and other Jaguar “goodies.” The children were still excited. One admitted to having started a fan club for one of the players. The team, cheerleaders, Al E. Cat, and president had made an impression on the students. As the school’s counselor reinforced the value and need for a college education, the message came through loud and clear. It takes more than talent to succeed; it takes an education.

In athletics, it also takes heart. And that’s a message that also came through loud and clear to the thousands of fans that ASU and the team didn’t even know they had. Throughout the city, there was pride in its team. Restaurant marquees proudly advertised that they were showing the game. Alumni gathered together to watch it, and students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Jaguar Student Activities Center ballroom. All cheering for their team. All proud of their team for taking them to the Elite Eight. It would have been nice to win the championship—but it was awfully nice just to have made it to the Elite Eight–and to make it to the final round. We made history. That’s something to cheer about. That’s something we’ll always remember. Thanks, Jags.

Faculty Profile

Campus Notables

By Zoe Tolson, student writer

Dr. Ruth McClelland-Nugent, often referred to as “McNuge” by students, says she prefers this title to Dr. Ruth.

History of Canada course, indulging her love for the country where she and her mother did their graduate work.

“That,” she quips, “suggests knowledge that I don’t have.”

“I still really consider Nova Scotia home in some ways,” she says.

However, Dr. McClelland-Nugent has been teaching since she earned her PhD from Dalhousie University in Canada in 2000. In 2005, she joined ASU’s history, anthropology, and philosophy department. In her brief time at Augusta State, she has channeled her research and teaching interests into various special topic classes. This semester, she is leading a travel class bound for Sweden called Sex and Power in a Cold Climate. She also periodically offers a class on witchcraft trials and magical beliefs through the ages.

Describing her transition to campus, she says she is “very impressed with the way Augusta State builds community,” citing busy social spots like the Allgood Hall atrium. She also considers Augusta “a nice town to end up in,” for it avoids the extremes of some university situations, like being isolated or having a high cost of living.

“My classes cover a lot of very complex topics,” she explains, “gender, law, medicine, religion. But we do it in a fun way.”

This dovetails with her view that college should prepare students for various career paths after graduation.

“Because,” she warns, “you never know what life will bring. Ever.”

Last summer, she taught a class covering the home front during World War II in film and will offer a related one this summer. Next spring, she plans to teach a

Though she is often serious in manner, there is just as often a twinkle in her eyes. Citing video games like World of Warcraft as “research” for understanding students, she teases, “I think I became a college professor, so I’d never really have to grow up myself.”

Name: Ruth McClelland-Nugent Position: Assistant Professor of History How long at ASU: 2 ½ years Family: Both parents are retired college professors Hobbies: Growing herbs, making soap and flavored vinegar, playing D&D, and collecting swords and comic books Best ASU Experience: Being nominated for the Outstanding Teaching Award in her first year, teaching an Honors section of HIST 2111 Little known fact: Her beagle mix, Nellie Gwynn, is named after Charles II’s favorite mistress

Staff Profile The First Year Experience program at Augusta State University is designed to help first-time students who live in University Village transition into college a little easier. Blake Pierce, coordinator of the FYE program, joined the Augusta State University family in August 2005 as an academic advisor in the former Undeclared Majors and Advising Center, now the Academic Advising Office.

“I worked as a student assistant in college and enjoyed my experience,” says Mr. Pierce, a Tifton, Ga., native.

“When I moved to Augusta, I was lucky enough to find a job at ASU.” In February 2007, Mr. Pierce left Academic Advising to take on his new role as Coordinator of Special Student Programs. He maintains everything First Year Experience, as well as collaborates with orientation and housing, and provides academic advising to all joint enrolled students.

Outside of ASU, Mr. Pierce is an avid lacrosse fan and coaches local school teams. He coaches youth lacrosse through the YMCA as well as assists with the Greenbrier High School boys’ lacrosse team. He first became involved in lacrosse after moving to Augusta.

“One day I came out a room in University Hall and saw a student posting signs on the bulletin board about the Augusta Lacrosse Club. I’d played sports all my life and didn’t know a thing about lacrosse. I decided to try something new and check it out. I’ve been involved ever

since,” says Mr. Pierce.

Thanks to Mr. Pierce and a few other students interested in the sport, ASU now has its own lacrosse team.

“ASU Lacrosse has its first game on April 19 versus Georgia College and State University. We practice Wednesday and Thursday on the main campus sports field as well as Sundays at the field behind Kroger in Evans. I encourage everyone to come out and see what lacrosse is all about and support ASU’s new lacrosse team,” he says.

In his spare time, Mr. Pierce enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, biking, and kayaking. He received a bachelor’s degree in business and information technology from Macon State College in 2004.

Position: Coordinator of Special Student Programs How long at ASU: Over 2 years Family: wife, Megan, and daughter, Ella Rose Pierce Pets: a Boston Terrier, Fenway Little known fact: I am in the process of training for my first triathlon in July.

Likes about ASU: He enjoys working with the students.

More about lacrosse: “There are four positions in lacrosse: Goalie, which obviously protects the goal; Defense, which helps defend the goal; Attack, the main offensive players that score; and Midfield, that transition between both ends of the field. I play the Midfield position.”

Rick Davis, communications and professional writing, presented Ancient Theatre in an Ancient Land: Directing Oedipus Rex in Greece, during the 7th Annual Georgia Consortium for International Studies Symposium on March 14 at Georgia Perimeter College.

Also, Rick Davis, moderated a panel of former Bell Ringer editors at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Bell Ringer student newspaper on March 21. Jim Garvey and Matthew Bosisio, communications and professional writing, also participated in the event.

Carol Waggoner-Angleton, Special Collections Assistant at Reese Library, was featured in the March online issue of Associates: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. For the Spotlight article, visit http://associates.ucr.edu/journal/ ?page_id=107.

Brian Rust, art, presented information about ASU’s art department as part of the CSRA arts community open meeting.

Peter Flanagan, political science, was featured on local news talk radio station, WGAC, advising the public of a weeklong news series about the U.S. Constitution.

He participated in a discussion on-air for a thirty-minute session.

Christian Poppeliers, chemistry and physics, recently acquired a 7-node Apple cluster computer, which is now up and running. The computer was obtained with funds provided through an NSF grant. This machine will enhance undergraduate research in the Department of Chemistry and Physics.

Under the direction of Chad Stephens, chemistry and physics, a group of chemistry students conducted poster presentations on their research at the Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Greenville, SC. Dr. Stephens also gave a talk on the group’s fluorine chemistry research. He and another group of students attended a one day Instrumental Colloquium hosted by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alabama.

Additionly, Dr. Stephens has been awarded a research grant from the Human Herpes Virus 6 Foundation for his work on the development of new HHV-6 inhibitors. The work is being done in collaboration with researchers at the Rega Institute in Belgium.

Eric Zuckerman, chemistry and physics, gave a Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) workshop to the faculty at Albany State University.

Paulette Schenck, educational leadership, counseling, and special education, was accepted into the National Career Development Association leadership academy.

Rebecca Rogers, psychology, was featured in the Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association as co-author with former graduate student, Michelle Johnson. The paper is entitled, Modifying and Validating a Quality of Life Measure to Fit Your Patient Population.

Nicole Rossi, psychology, was the first author on a paper titled, The Role of Dispositional Resilience in Regaining Life Satisfaction after the Loss of a Spouse, that was published in Death Studies.

Melissa Ziegler, Career Center, was selected by the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers for a state leadership scholarship to attend the National Association of Colleges and Employers Management and Leadership institute in Chattanooga.

Joseph Hauger and Christian Poppeliers, chemistry and physics, took 10 students to the joint Florida and Georgia Academy of Sciences Conference in Jacksonville, Fla. Two presentations were given by ASU students Anthony Zamberlan and Rebecca Sawyer and John Allison and Micheal Nadolsky won the Best Talk in Geosciences Award for their paper Practical Apparatus: Field Tests and Stimulation.

Jurgen Brauer, Hull College of Business, spoke on his current research regarding the U.S. firearms industry at an international conference in Brussels, Belgium, March 17-19. The meeting dealt with research, advocacy, and policymaking related to firearms misuse in developing countries.

William Reese, sociology, criminal justice, and social work, has been elected president of ASU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Steve Weiss, history, anthropology, and philosophy, will serve as treasurer.

Seretha Williams, English and foreign languages, will present Reading Slavery Through a Phantasmagoric Lens: Zakes Mda’s Cion at the College Language Association Annual Conference on April 10, in Charleston, SC. The paper is published in the Encyclopedia of Hip Hop Literature.

Christina Heckman, English and foreign languages, presented Things in Doubt: Inventio and Jewish Secrets in Cynewulf’s Elene at the annual conference of the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.

Wayne Lord, educational leadership, counseling, and special education, presented What Do We Know About Effective State Policy for Gifted Education? at the Georgia Association for the Gifted State Conference, March 18.

Michael O’Connor, educational leadership, counseling, and special education, presented Students with Learning Disabilities in College: An Emerging Success Story at the 27th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in San Francisco, Calif.

Tim Dobbs, physical plant, gave a presentation on honey bees and beekeeping to first graders at South Columbia Elementary School.

Paul Sladky, English and foreign languages, presented Chinese Music as a Pathway into Chinese Culture on February 28 and 29. Traditional Chinese musical instruments were used during the lecture. He also presented Modern Jazz: An Informal Lesson on Listening on March 19. This lecture focused on listing to jazz music from the listener’s perspective.

Also in March, he presented a paper entitled What Confucius’ Lost Book of Music Really Says: A Speculation at the Asian Studies Development Program in Chicago.

Jana Sandarg, English and foreign languages, presented Dealing with Emergencies While Studying Abroad at the Georgia Consortium for International Studies Symposium in Atlanta, on March 14. She also presented Viva San Fermin: The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, during the FLAG conference, in Augusta, Ga., Feb. 29March 1.

Susan Schultz and Karen Wish, kinesiology and health science, will present at the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Wish also served as a consultant for the YMCA’s Team Lean project, developing and presenting a nutrition module.

Shirley Darracott, kinesiology and health science, presented Incorporating continued