UPIKE Magazine Spring 2018

MAGAZINE Spring 2018

EMPOWERING

LIFELONG LEARNERS

IN T H I S I S S U E

NEXT-GEN NURSING | RYAN JONES ’09 INAUGURAL WHITE COAT CEREMONY KYCOM DEAN RETIRING | CAMPUS NEWS

“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”

– Nora Ephron

They’re headed for the gig economy, graduate school, new vistas and new adventures. More than 400 strong, the Class of 2018 is striving to serve, to succeed and make their mark on the world.

Godspeed, alumni Bears!

Click here for photos, videos and more from Commencement 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE MAGAZINE www.UPIKE.edu

Spring 2018 Volume 4, Number 2 MAGAZINE STAFF David Hutchens

Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations

EDITOR Lucy Holman ’89 ART DIRECTOR Kate Hensley CONTRIBUTORS Misty Asbury ’11, Lakia Bailey ’11, Rick Bentley ’89, Lisa Blackburn, Laura Damron, Ron Damron, Michelle Goff, Sherrie Marrs, Stephanie Stiltner ’10, Brooke Thacker ’04, Dan White PHOTOGRAPHERS Larry Epling, Dusty Layne, Matthew Lester, Doug Mortimer, Stephanie Stiltner ’10, Kandi Zadel CONTACTS

Story ideas and letters to the editor: Email: editor@upike.edu. Mail: Editor, UPIKE Magazine, Office of Advancement, University of Pikeville, 147 Sycamore St., Pikeville, KY 41501.

Address changes: Email: alumni@upike. edu. Phone: (606) 218-5276 between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Class notes: Email: alumni@upike.edu.

Online: www.upike.edu/Alumni/ClassNotes. Mail: Office of Advancement, University of Pikeville, 147 Sycamore St., Pikeville, KY 41501

The University of Pikeville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of the University of Pikeville.

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NEXT-GEN NURSING

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

KYCO WHITE COAT

20

President’s Letter 2

Athletics 24

Campus News 4

Leaving a Legacy 26

Provost 12

Record Society Dinner 28

Faculty News 13

Coleman College of Business 31

Ledford Scholars 23

Class Notes 32

ON THE COVER UPIKE senior Laura Keeton will travel to the Holy Land this summer as part of an archaeological team excavating the ancient site in Israel known as Shilo.

Keeton’s experiential learning adventure was made possible through a scholarship.

DEAR U PI KE FAM I LY Spring is an exciting time in the life of the UPIKE family. We are blessed to interact with students, alumni, faculty and staff at numerous honors nights, awards ceremonies, pinnings, commencements, student activities, athletic events, and gatherings of alumni and friends. Spring is an opportunity to celebrate new graduates as they take up the task of writing the next chapter of their lives. Even as we encourage current students to forge ahead, we prepare the campus to welcome new Bears. As I reflect on the year just past, I cannot help but cast my gaze ever forward and a prominent image emerges - lifelong learning.

At UPIKE’s core stands our vision: We will concentrate all of our attention on engaging and empowering students to be successful learners and leaders. Those intentional words, “to be,” illustrate the continuous nature of learning. To thrive in the digital economy, all of us must be students, all of the time. While I am encouraged daily when I see this concept materialized on our campus, I would be short-sighted indeed if I did not recognize the constant need for learning in the lives of our alumni and friends.

The vision of UPIKE family focuses, not only on the success of our undergraduate students, but on everyone who seeks knowledge. Our campus embraces working professionals in pursuit of master’s degrees in business and education; nurses balancing successful careers with obtaining bachelor’s degrees; aspiring doctors of osteopathic medicine and optometry who must complete CEU credits; faculty-scholars 4

UPIKE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2018

working toward advanced degrees; students and faculty conducting research that will benefit future generations; and staff elevating their education to help move this institution forward and make other important contributions to our community. We are a community of life-long learners and life-building learning opportunities.

We stand in joyful amazement at the scholars who have graced our doors - from our amazing medical fellows, to newly minted graduates embarking on graduate work in higher education management, from our newly pinned nurses achieving their childhood dream of helping others, to the business student heading off to a unique internship with the Disney Corporation. These and many other stories are highlighted in this edition of the UPIKE Magazine.

It is with great intention that UPIKE operates within an environment that fosters lifelong learning. Our undying hope is that the culture created on this beautiful campus in Central Appalachia will radiate across the world. As we celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni, we are excited to see the change these women and men will effect. In the spirit of using knowledge for the betterment of others, the UPIKE family is always …

Striving to serve, Burton J. Webb President

Jamie Castle uses a micropipettor to load DNA samples to an agarose gel to visualize (via electrophoresis) whether or not genetically modified organism (GMO) DNA is present in a food sample. An electric field was applied to the gel after loading in order to make the DNA separate based on size. Castle, of Salyersville, Ky., is a senior biology major and a varsity basketball player.

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Three-Time NAIA Champions Women’s Bowling Completes Improbable Run

2015 Win three straight matches in the contender’s bracket, then beat an undefeated team twice to win it all.

Not too much to ask, is it?

For the UPIKE women’s bowling team, the answer was no as it beat Midland (Neb.) 3-2 twice in the finals to capture its third NAIA Bowling Invitational National Championship. The event was created in 2011 when the NAIA made bowling an emerging sport.

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2012 Bowling is nearing the point of earning its championship-sport status, but for the Bears, they are already there as the win is added to previous NAIA titles in 2012 and 2015, and a pair of Intercollegiate Team Championships in 2004 and 2008.

This is the first national championship for head coach Bobby Brown, who is in his second season at the helm of the storied program.

The NAIA title wrapped up the 2017-18 season for UPIKE, which also included winning the MidSouth Conference Regular-Season Championship and wins at the Buckeye Baker Classic, Stirking Knights Classic, MSC Baker event and Louisville Collegiate Classic.

Campus News Students go ‘Inside Washington’ for a look at media, politics and advocacy Seven UPIKE students traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars’ “Media, Politics & Advocacy Redefined.”

The seminar provides experience and perspective through lectures from prominent guest speakers, panel discussions, site visits and small group dialogues. Students heard from political advisors and analysts, former members of Congress, high-level Congressional staff and leaders of special interest groups. Speakers included Phillipe Reines, former senior advisor to Secretary Hillary Clinton; Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and MSNBC analyst; and Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform.

“To hear people from across the country share their perspective and beliefs … it really opens your eyes,” said Dalton Hatfield, a history/ political science major from McAndrews, Ky. “No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, whether it’s a casual conversation with my seminar roommates or I’m listening to speakers I may not agree with, hearing others’ perspectives is good for me because it challenges my beliefs,” said Hatfield, pictured right with U.S. Senator Tim Kaine.

KYCO joins RAM in serving rural communities Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) students and faculty recently participated in their sixth Remote Area Medical Clinic (RAM), with plans to volunteer at another in June. The KYCO team has served approximately 200-350 patients at clinics throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia, performing full eye exams, case history, pressures, refraction, and dilation and providing free pairs of new glasses.

RAM’s corps of more than 120,000 humanitarian volunteers – licensed dental, vision, medical and veterinary professionals – have treated more than 740,000 people and 67,000 animals, delivering $120 million in free health care services.

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to stay up-to-date on the most recent campus news.

@UPIKEBears SPRING 2018 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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Faculty scholars program Amanda Jo Slone ’07, assistant professor of English, and Sumer Bingham ’11, assistant professor of religion, are the inaugural recipients of UPIKE’s Advanced Degree Faculty Scholars Program.

“This gift was made possible by donors who wanted to support faculty scholarship at UPIKE,” said David Hutchens, vice president for advancement and alumni relations. “The philanthropic effort, coupled with the faculty’s desire for growth, is another way we can enrich the learning experience for our students.”

Slone is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in educational leadership at Northwest Nazarene University.

“The funds from this scholarship make it possible for me to pursue my doctorate degree. It is an honor and a humbling experience to receive such a generous show of support,” said Slone. “I have been part of the UPIKE family for more than 10 years. My hope is that this degree will open doors for more opportunities to serve the university, our students, and the Appalachian region in new ways.”

Bingham is pursuing a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla. “The faculty scholars program makes my education possible. Without it I would not be able to pursue my doctoral degree,” said Bingham. “Knowing that the goal I’ve been working toward for the last 11 years is within reach, thanks to this program, is so empowering. Obtaining this terminal degree will benefit my students, university, and community. At St. Thomas, I plan to study spirituality and trauma and my research will allow me to give back to Pikeville in meaningful ways.”

UPIKE adds marching and concert band programs, welcomes new director The University of Pikeville is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Phillips, Ph.D., who will direct and manage the new marching and concert band programs.

A native of upstate New York, Phillips has 26 years of teaching experience in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and New York, as well as management experience in the music industry. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana, and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

KYCO faculty lecture at international forum Two faculty members from the University of PikevilleKentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) – Josephine Owoeye O.D., MPH, and Xiaojing Yu, O.D., Ph.D. – were invited to lecture at the International Masters Class in Optometry Education Series and the International Forum of Young Scholars in Optometry.

The event was held at the New Hongqiao International Medical Center (IMC) in Shanghai, China, and sponsored by Shanghai Meishi Meijing Vision Care Group.

Yu and Owoeye lectured on the topics of visual development, management of refractive errors and abnormal binocular vision conditions as well as facilitated a four-hour clinical skills lab session.

The courses were designed to provide vision care providers in China with a comprehensive foundation to further strengthen their delivery of pediatric eye care. In addition, both Yu and Owoeye provided eye examinations for several young children who traveled more than three hours to seek their opinions and expertise.

“As KYCO faculty, we get to promote eye care in our region,” said Owoeye. “This trip was an opportunity for us to start influencing eye care internationally as well.”

Amanda Jo Slone ’07 Assistant Professor of English

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Sumer Bingham ’11 Assistant Professor of Religion

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Yu facilitated and coordinated the visit to China. The event sponsor, Shanghai Meishi Meijing Vision Care Group, provides specialized services in primary vision care, pediatric vision care, orthokeratology, special contact lens fitting, vision therapy, refractive surgery and dry eye management for the Big Shanghai Area.

Basree wins first-place in medical writing competition Mustafa Basree, M.S., a first-year KYCOM student from Columbus, Ohio, recently won first-place in the Namey/ Burnett Preventative Medicine Writing Competition, sponsored by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP).

His article, “Breastfeeding as a Lifestyle Risk Factor Curbing Breast Cancer Risk in High-Risk Women,” supports the goal of reducing breast cancer mortality and disparities by providing evidence for clinicians, population scientists and policymakers to improve the prevalence of breastfeeding through clear messaging, education and evidence-based medicine.

“I’m honored to receive the ACOFP Namey/Burnett Preventive Medicine Writing Competition award this year,” said Basree. “Being an osteopathic medical student teaches me to examine patients holistically and encourage the body’s ability to heal itself when it can. I’m especially grateful for KYCOM’s very own Dana Shaffer, D.O., and collaborators from The Ohio State University – Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, M.D., and Sarmila Majumder, Ph.D., – for their unwavering support and help in this project.”

D.O. Day on Capitol Hill

Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) students traveled to Washington, D.C., for D.O. Day on Capitol Hill, an opportunity for osteopathic physicians and medical students to educate members of Congress and their staff about osteopathic medicine.

Second-year student Derek Mounsey, president of KYCOM’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association, said 70 students and deans from the college joined more than 1,000 osteopathic medical students from around the country. This year’s focus included reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, continued inclusion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS and Perkins Loans, and support for the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act (H.R.1876/S.781). KYCOM students met with their respective representatives from Congress to discuss the issues.

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N EXT- G E N N U RS I NG Michelle Goff Grant Writer Stephanie Stiltner ’10 director of family connections

The University of Pikeville-Elliott School of Nursing (ESON) has made great strides and experienced significant changes this past year. In addition to expanding the two-year associate degree of nursing program to include the school’s largest class, the school of nursing named a new dean and began offering a fully-online RN-BSN program.

Karen Damron, Ph.D., who was appointed dean last summer, attributed the successful transition to institutional planning and support.

“We had a solid foundation to build on,” Damron said. “Mary Simpson, who had been dean/division chair for 16 years, ran a very successful program.

We recently completed a self study as part of our continuing accreditation process for our RN-BSN program. One of our accreditation visitors said it was the best self study she’s ever read, and she’s been doing this for 30 years.”

Tauna Gulley, Ph.D., director of the RN-BSN program, added, “The leadership of the provost, the president, and the administration ensured our

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success. Once we decided to pursue a distance education program that was 100 percent online, we wasted no time writing the prospectus and taking the necessary steps to make it happen.”

Gulley noted that offering a fully online RN-BSN program, which this year more than doubled its enrollment from the previous year, made the school of nursing more competitive with programs across the country.

“Our RN-BSN students are practicing nurses who are working five and six days a week,” Gulley said.

“Distance education is more accommodating to their schedules and they can complete the program in a year.”

The program’s flexibility appealed to students.

“I am currently working 48-plus hours a week and the program is still doable,” Ashley Gibson, an RNBSN student, said. “If there is ever trouble meeting a deadline, the teachers are very understanding.”

Gibson, a critical care nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, also earned her associate’s in nursing at UPIKE. Noting that she “felt at home” in UPIKE’s nursing program, Gibson said it was the only choice for her when she decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Once she has her BSN, she wants to achieve her master’s and possibly become a teacher.

Damron said the RN-BSN program would also help meet the Institute of Medicine’s goal of increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree from 50 percent to 80 percent by 2020.

A Texas native, Damron became a registered nurse through a traditional baccalaureate nursing program. She spent most of her career as a practicing nurse caring for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients.

“We also have a good reputation.

We’ve produced hundreds of graduates. If you go over to Pikeville Medical Center, most of their nurses are our graduates. Nursing is a much-needed profession. The jobs are in demand. If our students are not already employed by the time they graduate, they will soon be.”

High-Fidelity Investment

“

We also have a good reputation. We’ve produced hundreds of graduates. If you go over to Pikeville Medical Center, most of their nurses are our graduates.

Nursing is a much-needed profession. The jobs are in demand. If our students are not already employed by the time they graduate, they will soon be.

Karen Damron Dean of the Elliott School of Nursing

“I like high-dependency patients,” Damron said. “I worked in obstetrics for a while, but I wanted to work in any intensive care unit. I transferred to NICU, where they have the most dependent patients.”

Damron, who with her husband Larry has four sons and three grandchildren, came to the area in 1993 and started teaching clinicals at UPIKE in the mid-’90s. She eventually earned her master’s from

“Our current faculty is the most educated faculty we’ve had. Three maintain clinical practices and four are nurse practitioner,” Damron said. “We have a great faculty as well as support from administration.

“

The RN-BSN program also brings student Jeana Bradford one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist, a career that requires a master’s degree.

Bradford, a cardiac nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, praised the nursing school faculty for “treating us like family. We can call and text them any time, and they do a good job motivating us.”

Bellarmine University and her doctorate at the University of Kentucky. She is one of four nursing faculty members who holds a terminal degree.

Thanks to a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), nursing students are receiving training on high-fidelity simulators that can mimic medical emergencies such as heart attacks or pneumonia or even give birth.

Damron explained, the highfidelity simulators enhance nursing education by creating realistic experiences.

“Simulation allows students to experience and react to critical situations that don’t commonly occur when they are in clinical areas with actual patients,” Damron said. “This better prepares them for a time when quick reaction and appropriate interventions are needed by a patient.”

As an example, Damron referred to SimMom, a fullbody birthing simulator.

“Traditionally, labor and delivery clinicals are observation only. The SimMom simulator allows for hands-on experience performing interventions that students usually only get to observe labor and delivery nurses doing. With SimMom, we now can

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these loops in patient care. The grant has allowed us to experience these real-life situations for ourselves, which will give us an advantage when we enter our profession.”

Little continued, “I am grateful, along with my classmates, to have been given the opportunities we have already experienced and look forward to newer experiences to help advance our knowledge in health care.”

Pictured right, Bethany Sullivan, instructor of nursing, demonstrates the “SimNewB,” a simulator that provides nursing students with realistic training for newborn patients.

simulate multiple emergent situations, such as a prolapsed umbilical cord or shoulder dystocia, which put the mother and baby at risk.”

In addition to providing opportunities for skills practice, simulators can measure students’ progression throughout their education by providing reports on student development.

Students can be filmed during simulation scenarios and then debriefed by nursing faculty.

“It is during this debriefing that the real learning occurs,” Damron said.

Responding to the region’s need for additional nurses, the EDA partnered with UPIKE to assist with the expansion of the nursing program.

Along with SimMom, other high-fidelity simulators purchased with grant funding include SimNewB, SimMan 3G Trauma, SimMan 3G, SimJunior, and a SimBulance. Six mid-fidelity Nursing Anne simulators were also purchased.

The university recently renovated a floor in the Community Technology Center to house the clinical training site.

Christopher Little, a sophomore nursing student from Pikeville, credited simulation with enhancing his educational experience.

“Books and our teachers are able to describe abnormal findings but being able to experience those by obtaining our own assessments are the best way to tie together what we are being taught,” Little said. “Simulation puts us in situations where we have to recognize the first signs and symptoms of a complication. (It prepares us) to know how to act when thrown 12

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The addition of state-of-the-art simulators not only expands opportunities for nursing students but also allows for increased collaboration between nursing and medical students on campus. Nursing faculty will partner with faculty at the university’s Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) to facilitate teamwork and communication in a variety of clinical settings.

“Simulation allows us to reinforce clinical knowledge, improve team communication, and teach decision-making skills in a safe environment that doesn’t compromise patient safety,” said Danny Driskill, J.D., NRP, FP-C, director of simulation and instructor of family medicine at KYCOM. Driskill and nursing faculty participated in a five-day training, courtesy of Laerdal Medical Corporation, to better prepare them to instruct students on how to use the equipment. Nursing and KYCOM will use the SimBulance, an ambulance that runs simulated emergency situations, to further prepare the health care workforce.

Additional skills/simulation equipment purchased with the EDA grant include an Omnicell medication dispensing system with two mobile computerized medication carts, GE Panda Infant Warmer, GE Giraffe Infant Warmer and GE Giraffe Omnibed Incubator, as well as IV pumps, vital sign monitors and patient beds. EDA funds also allowed for purchase of student desks in the skills/simulation lab as well as furnishings and technology for a testing lab where nursing students will become accustomed to taking their exams on computers as they prepare for their computerized national licensing exam.

Click here for more information on applying for UPIKE's nursing program.

NURSING IN ALASKA When Kat Brooks ’05, was a nursing student at the University of Pikeville, she acquired the clinical skills that prepared her for a career in nursing. She also learned she could take her degree anywhere. As a travel nurse, she’s done just that.

Brooks, currently on assignment in Alaska, became a travel nurse in 2014.

“I chose travel nursing as a way to incorporate my personal love for travel into my professional life,” Brooks explains. “As a travel nurse, I pick where I want to go and spend at least 13 weeks at the facility. I basically choose my assignments based on where I want to go and what I want to see. Being in the travel nursing arena allows me the freedom to set my own schedule and to vacation as much and as long as I choose.”

Although she usually remains within a four- to five-hour radius of Pikeville, Brooks’ favorite location is Alaska.

“I typically travel to Alaska for an assignment, take some time off, then take an assignment closer to home, take some more time off, and return to Alaska for another assignment,” Brooks says. “My first experience with Alaska was in 2015 when I went to Fairbanks for an eight-week vacation.

I fell in love with the state, and knew I had to return. I saw a posting for an ER nurse in Kotzebue and came up here in February 2016.”

Although Brooks, an Ohio native who moved to Pike County at age 10, grew up in rural Eastern Kentucky, she notes that “life is very different in the bush of Alaska.”

“Maniilaq Healthcare Center serves the village of Kotzebue, which is about 50 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It has a population of approximately 3,000 in 11 outlying villages in the northwest Arctic. There are no roads to Kotzebue or any of the other villages. You can only reach them by plane or boat, or via snow machines in the winter. There are no chain stores or restaurants.

No Walmart! There is a post office, two general stores, two sit-down restaurants, and a hotel. As you can guess, prices of groceries and supplies are very inflated. A gallon of milk is around $12 and a loaf of bread around $8!”

Brooks continues, “All medical/dental/ optometry and pharmacy services are located at the hospital. The hospital is small, with a 12-bed acute care unit and a five-bed ER. Each village has a small clinic run by a CHAP (Certified Health Aide Program), so people who live in the outlying villages are usually seen there first. If they need more extensive treatment, they are authorized to come to the ER in Kotzebue, either by Guardian, which is our medical flight crew, or by a commercial airline flight.

For emergency issues that cannot be taken care of here or for specialty medical services, the patient is sent to Anchorage. Many times, weather plays a significant role in getting a patient here or to Anchorage.”

those two years together with not much else on our mind except studying for our next test. During my second semester, I was chosen to represent Pikeville College at the National Student Nurse Convention in Nashville, Tenn. That was a really neat experience because this allowed us to be exposed to nursing students from all over the country and the many job opportunities out there. It was at this conference that I first learned about travel nursing and the opportunities in Alaska.”

An emergency department RN in critical access hospitals, Brooks also specializes in “go live” EHR (Electronic Health Record) conversion events.

She is pursuing an emergency room certification and will be traveling to Anchorage for training specifically dealing with the delivery of newborns in an emergency setting.

“The one thing that sets travel nursing apart from staff nursing is that you have the freedom to experience different cultures. I’ve always been very outgoing and social and I love learning about new areas, new cultures, and traditions, as well as sharing those of my own. The biggest challenge with travel nursing for me is missing my children. Although they are all grown and have lives of their own, its hard sometimes not being able to just jump in my car and go visit them.”

Brooks describes her time at UPIKE as a “blur,” but adds that the “intense” program required her complete dedication.

“Although I was a non-traditional student amongst a lot of traditional students, I felt a special camaraderie with my fellow nursing students,” Brooks says. “We basically spent

Brooks, who says she dreamed of becoming a pediatrician and joining the Peace Corps when she was growing up, credits travel nursing with allowing her to achieve a version of that dream.

Brooks continues, “One of these days, when I have grandchildren, I’ll come home to Pike County and stay, but until then, I will continue to allow my gypsy spirit to take me marvelous places to visit and work.”

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INNOVATIVE How UPIKE’s Forward-Thinking Leadership is Transforming the Student Experience

P

rovost Lori Werth, Ph.D., is passionate about the transformational power of a college education. Immigrating as a child to the United States from Romania with her family, Werth grew up in Idaho where her father was a mechanic and mother a housekeeper.

“I had to learn to read and write, learned to have grit and work hard,” she says. Encouraging teachers took Werth under their wing, tutoring her in English and mentoring her. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in the fifth grade.

Werth’s childhood story isn’t so different from many students who call UPIKE home. More than 80 percent of students come from rural communities and many are the first in their family to attend college. The university’s first provost, Werth believes students from all backgrounds can be successful with education. One of her main strategic goals is to provide faculty, staff and students the tools and support to realize that success. Enhancing digital learning tools is just one of the ways Werth is doing that.

In 2017, Werth was among 32 chief academic officers at universities nationwide to be selected for the Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO) Digital Fellows Program, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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“The Gates’ are very interested in finding ways to provide higher education access to first-generation students in rural communities.

They are interested in lifting them up through innovative technology inside and outside of the classroom.

Selection for the fellowship recognized the University of Pikeville as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking in higher education,” Werth says.

“The next two to three years at UPIKE hold the potential to see incredible change in how students are educated and what opportunities exist in terms of digital learning in Central Appalachia,” she says.

Werth’s participation in the Digital Fellows Program is providing critical information and resources to understand technology, enhance student learning, increase student retention and improve institutional outcomes. The university has secured a grant to bring new technology – Grammarly – into the classroom and to train faculty in implementing this technology. Grammarly integrates with Canvas, a new digital learning management system, to ultimately support students with their writing.

Faculty partners Amanda Slone, assistant professor of English, and Johnny Fleming, assistant professor of mathematics and firstyear experience director, have led

faculty workshops on Grammarly and students have actively used the software for daily classwork.

Under Werth’s leadership, UPIKE launched a fully online Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion degree in 2017, which allows registered nurses who are working full-time the opportunity to complete their RN-BSN coursework at UPIKE. The program gives adult learners with full-time obligations the flexibility to pursue an advanced degree in nursing.

Online programs available at UPIKE include a Teacher Leader Master of Arts in Education and Master of Business Administration with specializations in professional MBA, health care and entrepreneurship.

Werth’s initiatives for curriculum advancement, faculty development and digital learning technologies will enhance opportunities for student success.

“We think what is key about UPIKE that positions us well for the future is that we have demonstrated innovation and an appetite to be forward-thinking in education,” Werth says. “Even if students come from first-generation families or struggling financial backgrounds, we can tell them that if they stick with us, we will empower them to finish their degrees and finish well.”

FACULTY NEWS “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.” ~ William Butler Yeats

Kilgore-Bowling advocate for social work educators statewide Genesia Kilgore-Bowling, Ph.D., MSW, CSW, ’00 is serving as the president of the Kentucky Association of Social Work Educators (KASWE) for this academic year.

An associate professor of social work at UPIKE, KilgoreBowling is also director of the social work program.

Social work educators from more than 20 public and private universities across the state are KASWE members. Kilgore-Bowling said the organization provides an opportunity for passionate social work educators to come together to provide each other with support and to share knowledge through engaging in professional development.

----------------------Griffin named KYCOM assistant dean of OPP Integration

Laura Griffin, D.O., FAAO, has been named assistant dean of osteopathic principles and practices integration at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. Griffin, who has provided clinical education at KYCOM and the Pikeville Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program for 10 years, also currently serves as professor and chair of osteopathic principles and practices at KYCOM. In her new role, Griffin will focus on strengthening students’ osteopathic education during third-year rotations, providing online education and traveling to core rotation sites for lectures and workshops.

In addition, Griffin will be working with residency programs affiliated with the American Osteopathic Postgraduate Training Institute Consortium on graduate medical education standards.

KYCO faculty selected as associate editor of premier journal George Asimellis, Ph.D., associate professor at the Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), has been appointed associate editor for the Journal of Refractive Surgery (JRS), the official publication of the International Society of Refractive Surgery. KYCO is the only optometry school to have a faculty member among the select group of JRS associate editors. The journal, published bimonthly by SLACK Inc., contains articles and reviews related to refractive and corneal surgical procedures and offers access to abstracts from the articles.

----------------------Documentary on Breaks Canyon featured on ‘Kentucky’s largest classroom’

The Breaks: Centuries of Struggle, narrated by Mike Rowe of Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs and codirected and produced by UPIKE Assistant Professor of Film & Media Arts Andrew Reed, looks at the past, present and future of Breaks Canyon – known as “The Grand Canyon of the South.” The documentary, which aired on Kentucky Educational Television in April, was produced by Reed and Friends of Breaks Park and directed by Reed and Curtis Mullins. Rowe is executive producer. For more information, visit https:// thebreaksfilm.com/.

----------------------Stiles receives distinguished service award

Edward G. Stiles, D.O., FAAO, has received the Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy (FAAO) Distinguished Service Award. Stiles is professor of osteopathic principles and practices at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. The award is presented to fellows who have distinguished themselves in contributions to osteopathic literature; development of osteopathic theories, methods or procedures; research; osteopathic education; service to the AAO; public relations; service to public health; or osteopathic medical economics and advocacy.

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Steeped in

Tradition Eat local drink local & be local

By Lucy Holman ’89 editor

A

s a young boy, Ryan Jones ’11, loved family gatherings on his grandparents’ front porch, sharing stories, usually over a cup of coffee.

These days, his childhood memories are steeped in his Virginia-based company, Lincoln Road Cold Brew Coffee, LLC., a private, family-owned business he started with his sister, Sarah Lawson, and brother-inlaw, Brett Lawson.

Coffee has been around for centuries, but the ancient elixir is more than just an energizer or a morning ritual.

“It’s a way to bring people together, chat, network and tell stories,” said Jones. “There’s something special about coffee; it brings people together.”

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For Jones and his partners, the Lincoln Road brand goes to the heart of their Appalachian roots – “Eat local, drink local and be local.”

“We source locally as much as we can,” said Jones. “We want our ingredients to be high-quality, non-GMO and start out with freshly roasted, coarsely ground beans.

The cold brew is nitrogen infused to extend shelf life and to give it a silky mouth feel. Lincoln Road is a versatile product and makes for a delicious, creamy cup of coffee as well.”

Before investing in the growing beverage market, the Lincoln Road team worked with consumer focus groups to develop a cold brew coffee with a low acidic flavor

Alumni Spotlight

Ryan Jones is a member of the Class of 2011, the last graduates of Pikeville College. A business major, Jones credits Dr. Howard Roberts, dean of the Coleman College of Business, with “mentoring him through every job he’s ever had.” A Bears’ baseball alumnus, Jones said, “My favorite thing about college was playing baseball. I had great relationships with those guys. We’re still close friends. I wouldn’t change that at all.”

profile that would be delicious hot or cold and served in a variety of ways.

Market research on packaging and design were also part of the business plan. The dark glass bottle and custom logo have a vintage-apothecary feel, appealing to casual coffee drinkers and foodies alike.

“We wanted our product to be unique and stand out on the shelf,” explained Jones, who oversees the company’s branding, marketing and digital media. Sarah serves as accountant, office manager and customer service representative while Brett handles brewing, bottling and sales.

“All of our skills combined make a really great team. We didn’t realize how much work would be involved, but if you’re passionate about something you will do whatever it takes,” Jones said.

Social media is a tremendous driver for the business.

The thriving start-up also does a good job of engaging customers with high-quality content that celebrates the Appalachian culture, appealing to followers who share photos and recipes on the company’s social networks.

Demand for Lincoln Road Cold Brew Coffee is on the rise. The entrepreneurs have taken Lincoln Road to festivals and events across the region, designing a custom trailer that serves as a pop-up coffee shop.

Continued on page 16

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Continued from page 15 The company has plans of growing production in 2018 to reach more retail locations. Lincoln Road is available at Food City stores in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee as well as other select retail locations. The company has plans to open its first brick and mortar shop in downtown Norton, Va., offering cold brew coffee on draft.

Jones said the long-term goal is to get the product in more locations, adding coffee beans as an option, but at a price point that is affordable to the consumer.

The company’s coffee trailer concept is creating franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs who will introduce the Lincoln Road brand in Blacksburg, Va., and Lexington, Ky. “One of the ways we diversify our economy is through a different way of thinking,” said Jones.

“The franchise is a good option for entrepreneurs who want to work for themselves with low startup costs. We’re hoping to grow that side of the business and plant coffee trailers across the region.”

“I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by so many inspirational people,” continued Jones. “My father Herbert Donald Jones II, who passed away in 2017, was our biggest fan and he inspired me to make this business a success. He was a very successful entrepreneur much like many others in my family and encouraged us to jump right in. It’s in my blood. God has blessed me beyond my imagination.”

Jones says his goal is to be a leader in entrepreneurship and inspire people in Appalachia to be “creative in ways that add value to our quality of life.”

“How can we provide the next solution to the consumer’s problem?

We have to think outside the box,” said Jones. “Follow your passion and what drives you. If you can mobilize your energy toward your vision, you will achieve your goals and be successful.”

What is cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for an extended period of time. Unlike iced coffee, which is brewed hot coffee poured over ice, Lincoln Road is steeped for 24 hours and infused with nitrogen to extract a less acidic, rich, bold, bitter-less and flavor-filled coffee.

How do you drink Lincoln Road Coffee?

Heat it, mix it, pour over ice, or drink it straight up.

Connect with Lincoln Road www.lincolnroadcoffee.com info@lincolnroadcoffee.com @lincolnrdcoffee @lincolnroadcoffee @lincolnroadcoffee

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Elevate your career by advancing your education

on your schedule.

We offer affordable, accredited online degree programs built for working professionals. Learn from experienced faculty who are leaders in their fields and focused on student success.

ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS »» Master of Business Administration (MBA) »» Teacher Leader Master of Arts in Education (TLM) »» RN-BSN

Visit www.upike.edu | Call (606) 218-5251 | Follow @UPIKEBears

SPRING 2018 | UPIKE MAGAZINE

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NEW BEGINNINGS Class of 2018 embraces next chapter A life in perspective and ‘keeping the promise’ When he was preparing for medical school, Andrew French remembers hearing how allconsuming the experience would be, with no time for family and friends and barely time to eat.

It has been a challenge French acknowledged, but he’s also learned that life doesn’t stop for medical school.

“My wife and I were involved in our church,” he said. “We have two kids, both born during school. I think those things helped me keep perspective on what’s important, even when school stresses were piling up.”

Following graduation from the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM), French will move to Virginia for his residency in family medicine.

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

“I chose this program because their strength is in training physicians to practice the full spectrum of rural primary care, from childbirth to end-of-life,” said French, who was also an osteopathic manipulative medicine fellow at KYCOM. “Manual medicine was a big part of what drew me to an osteopathic medical school in the first place.

Once I started, I knew I wanted to take advantage of the stellar faculty here.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

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A calling to serve Anna Kowalok always knew she wanted to help people, but wasn’t sure what career path to pursue.

Soon, the mathematics major will pursue a master’s degree in higher education management at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Once I became a resident assistant at UPIKE that is when it clicked! After being a part of the resident life department, I knew that God put me here for a reason,” she said.

The daughter of a college professor, Kowalok has grown up surrounded by her UPIKE campus family. Her mother, Pat Kowalok, is a longtime professor of art and currently chair of the division of humanities.

“My mother is without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to me,” said Kowalok. “If I had not been adopted by her, I would not be where I am today, with all the opportunities and blessings that have been given to me.”

From scholarship to medicine

A caregiver’s path Amber Mills is keeping her options open after graduation, but the Barbourville, Ky., native is certain of one thing – she wants to be a nurse.

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a servant’s heart and a desire to help others through eyes not covered with judgment, but open to see the good in people, even when they don’t see it themselves,” said Mills. “Nursing is a profession where you see people at their worst and their best, those moments when a baby takes its first breath and you see the joy in a new mom’s eyes. The elderly man who tells you about his life, all the experiences he had and the love he shared … until he takes his last breath, peacefully.”

For certain, Mills is leaving UPIKE with fond memories and a full heart.

“If you ask anyone why they came to UPIKE they’ll likely tell you it feels like home. I have traveled to places I never thought I’d go, learned things and grown as a person in ways I never imagined and built relationships with people here that I couldn’t live without,” Mills said. “None of that would have been possible without this university.”

The magic of Disney One look at the career opportunities on Disney.com and it’s easy to understand why someone wants to work at the happiest place on earth.

Business major Taylor Edwards has been selected for internships at both Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, hoping to earn his way to a management position. Edwards’ career aspirations aren’t based solely on the global entertainment company’s position as one of the world’s most valuable brands. Nor is it the success of Pixar, MARVEL and Star Wars, which is an incredible draw.

His love for the house that Walt built is more personal.

“No one brings families together like Disney,” said Edwards. “I love places where families can visit and enjoy time together.”

Family is important to Edwards, a UPIKE bowler from Baltimore City, Md. “It means a lot to be a part of such an established and strong team,” said Edwards. “It feels even better to become a captain and mentor to the bowlers I have competed with while gaining lifelong memories.”

Teddy Woods’ UPIKE story started long before his freshman year. This fall he will attend the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, one step closer to a career in medicine.

While still in high school, Woods participated in a two-week summer residential Professional Education Preparation Program, or PEPP, which set the course for future goals. His first year in college, he was selected as one of UPIKE’s Osteopathic Medical Scholars, a competitive eight-year program leading to both bachelor and medical degrees (B.S. and D.O.).

A native of Clay County, Ky., Woods said he is grateful for the generosity of others through scholarship opportunities. A desire to pay it forward led Woods to serve on mission trips, including Haiti, an experience that gave him a “more compassionate understanding of the challenges that others face.”

When it came to fun, Woods said the creation of an esports team at UPIKE was absolutely amazing.

“We were only the second school in the nation to give scholarships.

Seeing that field grow and being a part of those first steps was really exciting.”

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Click here for photos from KYCO's White Coat Ceremony

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Inaugural

Kentucky College of Optometry

White

Coat Ceremony

T

he University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) held its first White Coat Ceremony for the inaugural Class of 2020 on April 14, 2018.

The event was held on campus in the Health Professions Education Building, home to KYCO. The White Coat Ceremony is symbolic within the health professions, reflecting a commitment to patient care. After two years of learning rigorous curriculum in the classroom, the Class of 2020 will apply their knowledge in the clinical setting.

Joe E. Ellis, O.D., a long-time advocate for patient access to optometric care, served as keynote speaker for the ceremony. Ellis, of Benton, Ky., is past president of the American Optometric Association and Kentucky Optometric Association. Currently, he is the chair of AOAEXCEL (a for-profit subsidiary of the American Optometric Association), the American Optometric Association Political Action Committee and the Marshall County Health Department. Additionally, he serves on UPIKE’s Board of Trustees and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Donnie Akers, O.D., interim dean at KYCO, told students, “You’ve earned the right to provide direct patient care, and that is a huge responsibility. The white coat is a symbol of a life of service to others.”

“The White Coat Ceremony is symbolic of the trust you must earn with a patient and, most importantly, to keep that trust sacred,” said Ellis. “The white coat stands for the patient’s confidence in you to do the right thing.”

Second-year students at KYCO were “coated” in the presence of family members, friends and the campus community by Cliff Caudill, O.D., KYCO assistant dean of clinical affairs.

The ceremony was followed by a reception to honor KYCO’s Class of 2020.

“

The white coat

IS A S YMBOL OF A LIFE OF

”

service to others.

- DONNIE AKERS, O.D.

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V

I S

I O N SCREENINGS FOR KIDS More than 500 second-graders at 12 Pike County elementary schools received vision screenings from Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) students and faculty.

In addition to the screening, each child received a “selfie” to demonstrate how the eye works like a camera. They also took home a KYCO pencil and a report of the screening for their guardian.

Optometry students and faculty learned that approximately 24 percent of the students required eye care. Information regarding suggested follow-up treatment was shared with administrators at each school.

“The screening project was part of the Clinical Internship I course, which is designed to provide our optometry students with their first exposure to patients and eye care trends in this region,” said Josephine O. Owoeye, O.D., MPH, FAAO, associate professor and director of personal and professional development at KYCO. “Our students demonstrated professionalism while refining their examination techniques.”

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UPIKE STUDENTS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESEARCH Five students from the University of Pikeville were awarded Lee B. Ledford scholarships by the Appalachian College Association (ACA) to conduct research on campus this summer.

“At the University of Pikeville, students conduct research alongside our distinguished faculty,” said Provost Lori Werth, Ph.D. “The dynamic research taking place as part of this initiative is not only key to a liberal arts education, but supports efforts within the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) and Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO). We are committed to innovative research and are grateful for the support from the Appalachian College Association.”

Cassie Gearles, a chemistry major from Phelps, Ky., will

study the role two bioactive neuropeptides play in the innervation of the human genitourinary tract. Phillip Jen, Ph.D., professor of biology, is Gearles’ faculty advisor.

Biology major Kaitlyn Brown, of Whitesburg, Ky., proposed a project to develop a novel smoking cessation product intended to have lower side effects compared to currently available products. Ben Clayton, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, is Brown’s faculty advisor.

FOLLOW @UPIKEBIOLOGY

Amber Crawford will focus on a project to further

knowledge related to the method by which pancreatic cancer cells become resistant to treatment by chemotherapy. A biology major from Mayking, Ky., her faculty advisor is Kartick Pramanik, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology at KYCOM. Dr. Pramanik is also the faculty advisor for Dalton Mullins, a biology major from Pikeville, Ky. Mullins will examine the cellular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer inhibition.

Nathan Pray, a biology major from Hazard, Ky., will study the role of neuropeptides in the human genitourinary tract. Dr. Jen will serve as Pray’s faculty advisor.

The Ledford scholarships provide individual research stipends of up to $4,800, including funds to purchase equipment. The fund supports research experiences for students attending ACA colleges who graduated from high school or were home schooled in a designated Appalachian or contiguous county as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

They follow sites like Science Friday, Nature is Weird and Nat Geo. The posts from campus are just as interesting – the rescue of a honeybee swarm, an update on Clyde the caterpillar and a pileated woodpecker feasting on insects in an old tree stump. UPIKE biology department’s Twitter feed is a stunning narrative on planet earth. Dr. Darla French says the effort was intended to share what happens in and outside the classroom, increase student engagement and build community. Check it out at www.twitter.com/upikebiology.

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[ giving up was never an option ] For the love of the game

“

I honestly feel so lucky and blessed by God to be having such a great experience.

by Rick Bentley ‘89 For Hannah Skaggs, softball was her first love. But her sport of choice hasn’t always loved her back.

”

“I missed my whole junior year softball season for an ACL tear,” said Skaggs, a member of Magoffin County High School’s Class of 2016.

She recovered nicely and had a terrific senior season.

And then, it happened again. “I tore the same ACL in the district championship my senior year of high school,” she said, forcing her to miss the regional tournament for a team among the favorites to win the tournament and play in the Sweet 16. “I also missed the first part of my freshman season here at UPIKE.” She had an amazing career at Magoffin County, winning three regional titles, including sweeping both the All “A” Classic and 15th Region championships in 2013. A three-time first-team all-state selection, she was the 15th Region Player of the Year in 2016.

Her recovery is going fine for her now. Having just completed her sophomore season for a very young team at UPIKE, Skaggs is a regular in the starting rotation.

She’s also a regular in many places across campus. “I am a member of the Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program (OMSP), biology club, the softball team,” she said, only getting started. She continued with, “The Beta Xi Chapter of the Sigma Zeta National Science and Mathematics Honor Society, Beta Gamma Chapter of the Lambda Sigma National Sophomore Honor Society, and Pi Zeta Chapter of the National Biological Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta, here at UPIKE.” Skaggs talked about why she chose UPIKE. “It’s a Christian school.

I chose UPIKE though for the education I would get here,” she said.

“Being a part of the softball team is just the icing on the cake.”

Even better was her answer to the next question. Are you happy with your choice?

“I absolutely love it here,” she said. “Picking a college is a tough decision and I was nervous at first, but now there’s no way I could see myself going to any other school. The people here are so welcoming and nice. It’s the best environment I could have put myself in.

“My professors are very helpful in and outside of the classroom. My coaches understand that my education comes first and always work well with my schedule. My teammates have become my family away from home. I honestly feel so lucky and blessed by God to be having such a great experience.”

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Bell pitches perfect game

Community Trust Bank is the proud sponsor of the MSC Academic Award program.

UPIKE Baseball earns academic honors

By Dan White Assistant Athletic Director

Sports Information Director

UPIKE baseball closed out the season with memorable highlights.

Junior Bruce Bell threw a perfect game with eight strikeouts to help the team top Kentucky Christian 17-0 in seven innings on March 31 at Johnnie LeMaster Field. The feat, which included eight strikeouts and no walks on 21 batters faced, is the first recorded perfect game in UPIKE history. The Bears went on to win 10-1 in game two to complete the sweep as they outhit the Knights a combined 22-3.

Fourteen student-athletes earned Academic All Mid-South Conference honors during the conference championship in May. The total is the second most among MSC institutions, trailing only Cumberland (Tenn.) with 18. To be nominated, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and have achieved at least sophomore academic status.

Honorees included Jacob Alvarado, Alec Barba, Max Hall, Jake Hamilton, Luke Hartlage, Luke Lubiniecki, Tommy McCormick, Chase McKinney, Nelson Muniz, Matt Peterson, Robert Rundle, Daniel Sterenberg, Jay Vincent and Shane Williams.

First baseman Nelson Muniz and shortstop Matt Peterson highlighted five All MSC selections for UPIKE. Muniz and Peterson were first-team choices.

Catcher Luke Hartlage, outfielder Luke Lubiniecki and designated hitter Jay Vincent collected second-team honors. The five all-conference awards match the program-best five earned in 2016.

Peterson led all players with a .422 batting average, including four home runs, 50 RBIs, three triples and nine doubles. He went 7 for 8 on stolen-base attempts.

Muniz hit .400 with four home runs as well and 49 RBIs. He added three triples and 14 doubles, but his most impressive stat was a .529 on-base percentage as he was walked 38 times and hit five times.

Peterson and Muniz finished 1-2 in the conference in batting average. Peterson ranked 20th nationally at .422. Muniz was tied for eighth nationally in getting on base.

Lubiniecki had a strong finish to the regular season, ending with a .344 batting average, which was third on the team. The transfer added six doubles and 22 RBIs. Hartlage hit .261 with three doubles and 21 RBIs while also being recognized as one of the better defensive catchers in the MSC. Vincent tallied a .308 batting average with 33 RBIs and 13 doubles.

UPIKE players honored for the fielding performances include Travis Haen and Jacob Alvarado, both earning MSC Gold Glove Awards.

Women’s Golf Earns Mid-south honors

UPIKE’s women’s golf team had a good season – academically and athletically.

UPIKE finished fourth as a team for the third time shooting 1,033 (342-345-346) over the three-round event.

The team led all league schools with seven Academic All Mid-South Conference (MSC) honors. Honorees include Lauren Vice, Beth Jervis, Mackenzie Fraley, Ashley Richmond, Adriane Mason, Cali Sode and Alexis Stambaugh. Jervis and Richmond are two-time winners of the award.

Newsome, a freshman, shot 238 (82-77-79) to earn First Team All-MSC accolades and is the first Bear to earn that honor since Katy Humphrey in 2014. Backing up Newsome for the Bears was Adriane Mason in 20th place with a score of 257 (84-85-88), Alexis Stambaugh in 24th place at 267 (86-88-93) and Lauren Vice tied for 25th with a showing of 271 (90-95-86).

Golfer Boo Newsome finished a program-record fifth overall, and UPIKE tied a school record in April, taking fourth place at the MSC Women’s Golf Championship.

Head Coach Nelson Scott was also named the MSC Women’s Golf Co-Coach of the Year.

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Leaving a Legacy

By Lucy Holman ’89 editor

His tenure has been notable, marked by more than a decade of strategic growth, advancing the promise to bring medicine to the mountains.

In June, Boyd R. Buser, D.O., will retire as vice president for health affairs and dean of the University of Pikeville’s Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM). Dana C. Shaffer, D.O., will become dean on July 1, 2018.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Buser. “It is time for another person to take KYCOM to the next level. It was my hope when we hired Dana he would succeed me. He’s highly qualified and more than ready. I think the school will be in good hands.”

KYCOM experienced tremendous growth during Buser’s leadership, opening the Coal Building, a $40 million educational facility that provided for the expansion of the school’s class size. In its 20th year, KYCOM has graduated more than 1,300 osteopathic physicians and is consistently ranked nationally in rural and family medicine.

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On the global front, Buser has taught extensively, including representing the osteopathic profession in many World Health Organization initiatives. A member of the Osteopathic International Alliance Board of Directors, he will travel to South Korea, Dubai and China this year.

“International osteopathic medicine goes along with the growth of the profession,” said Buser. “Young people think globally and have a desire to do medical mission work outside the U.S. If we want our doctors to be successful internationally, we’ve got to be active in that arena.”

Following in the footsteps of KYCOM’s founding dean, John Strosnider, D.O., Buser was named president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in 2016.

In his inaugural remarks, Buser noted a turning point in health care, a time when the focus on wellness and prevention has never been greater.

“Many are recognizing, including the health policy makers, that it makes more sense to invest in people staying well rather than treating them after they are sick. Osteopathic medicine is suited to lead the way with an emphasis on prevention,” said Buser. “That will be part of the landscape of the future as we look to our curriculum and advances we want to make.”

Buser’s contributions in osteopathic medical education have been significant, including serving as co-chair of a Blue Ribbon Commission for the Advancement of Osteopathic Medical Education. He was also instrumental in developing a single, unified accreditation system for graduate medical education.

“The single accreditation system creates new opportunities for D.O. and M.D. students,” Buser

At his final commencement, Dr. Buser was awarded the University of Pikeville Presidential Medallion for his significant contributions to osteopathic medical education. He was joined on stage with his wife, Pam.

explained. “A consistent method of evaluation, it fosters the continuation of osteopathic principles in residency, beyond what we could have done alone.”

As his time at KYCOM ends, perhaps Buser’s legacy is in keeping the promise made when the medical school was founded.

“I’ve devoted my career to expanding access to the type of health care people of this country need and deserve, and that’s osteopathic medicine,” said Buser.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had – working in a leadership position at an institution making such a difference in an area of great need. It is tremendously personally and professionally fulfilling to come to work every day knowing you had a role in that.”

NEW ERA BEGINS FOR ‘MEDICINE IN THE MOUNTAINS’ On behalf of the University of Pikeville Board of Trustees, President Burton J. Webb announced the appointment of Dana C. Shaffer, D.O., as dean of the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) effective July 1, 2018.

“We are incredibly pleased that Dr. Shaffer has been selected to lead KYCOM as we continue to innovate with our partners in health care to meet the needs of Appalachia and beyond,” said Webb.

Shaffer currently serves as senior associate dean of osteopathic medical education and professor of family medicine at KYCOM. “I am humbled and honored to be selected to follow in the footsteps of John Strosnider, D.O., and Boyd Buser, D.O., as the third dean of KYCOM,” said Shaffer.

“I look forward to leading our students, faculty and staff as we continue to excel in new directions.”

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UPIKE Students Say Thank You to Donors Layne Cumby served his country as a U.S. Marine. A student of history, he plans to become an archeaologist and travel the world. Makynsi McIntyre is majoring in education. A mission trip to Haiti ignited her passion to teach children in rural communities across the globe. Ashonda Underwood came to the University of Pikeville on a softball scholarship.

Along the way, she fell in love with social work and wants to be an advocate for those who feel they have no voice.

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“Learning is the one investment you can make that never wears out or falls out of style. Learning applied at the right moment is wisdom. Real treasure is what you have purchased with every dime you have invested in scholarships for our students.”

- President Burton Webb -

T

his new generation of servant leaders are driven by a desire to make life better for others.

Without scholarships, many, like Layne, Makynsi and Ashonda, could not attend UPIKE. Their opportunities for success have been made possible through the generosity financial donations of alumni, friends, businesses and organizations.

This year’s gathering of the James F. Record Heritage Society gave students a chance to thank donors for their gifts and continued support of the university.

Sponsored by UPIKE’s Board of Trustees Chairman Terry Dotson and his wife, Judy, and Vice Chairman M. Lynn Parrish and his wife, Jessica, the event featured musical

and theatrical performances and inspiring stories of achievement.

Nathan Pray dreamed of playing college football. The Bears’ cornerback is a biology major and making plans to attend medical school.

“The University of Pikeville is a special place and has made a difference in my life,” said Pray. “I’m very thankful for the scholarships and financial support I’ve received. Part of the mission here is about serving,” added Pray, who’s twice volunteered for mission trips to Haiti. “It’s affected what I want to do and my outlook on things. It sounds corny, but I just really feel the love I’ve been shown here … there’s a special bond.”

Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 29

Along with the majority of her classmates in the Kentucky College of Optometry, first-year student Rachael White of Hindman, Ky., made a donation to show support for the university.

“I chose to come to UPIKE because I realized the importance of giving back to the community and serving Central Appalachia,” said White. “These people are my heart and soul.”

In his remarks to Record Society members, UPIKE President Burton Webb expressed his appreciation for their unwavering support in gifts of time, talents and treasure.

“Learning is the one investment you can make that never wears out or falls out of style,” Webb said. “Learning applied at the right moment is wisdom. Real treasure is what you have purchased with every dime you have invested in scholarships for our students.”

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE AND INVEST IN UPIKE, T H A N K Y O U. To join, or to learn more about the James F. Record Heritage Society, contact the Office of Advancement at 606.218.5276 or email advancement@upike.edu.

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Coleman College of Business Inspiring growth through entrepreneurship

“Vision is a destination, a fixed point to which we focus all effort,” suggests business author and thought leader Simon Sinek. “Strategy is a route,” he says, “an adaptable path to get us where we want to go.”

Vision and strategy were at the heart of Dr. Howard Roberts’ sabbatical last year, his efforts strategically focused on taking the Coleman College of Business (CCOB) to a higher level.

Business is among UPIKE’s most popular majors, including degrees in management, accounting, heath care and sport management. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is now offered 100 percent online.

Fostering economic development and community outreach are key to CCOB’s founding mission, including business plan competitions for aspiring entrepreneurs, a leadership lecture series, internships and annual income tax preparation services supported by student volunteers.

“Central Appalachia, the primary service region for UPIKE, is suffering an economic crisis. Thousands of jobs were lost in the coal industry,” said Roberts, Ed.D. “As an institution, we need to be thinking about how to help alleviate the crisis from a regional perspective.

Through innovative, co-curricular programs we can inspire and inform entrepreneurial thought and action.”

CCOB students, faculty and alumni have been recognized across the state and nation for their innovative product ideas, research and successful business endeavors. As the founding dean, Roberts hopes to build on those academic and entrepreneurial achievements. His sixmonth sabbatical provided an opportunity to expand on founding goals, including collaborating with fellow educators to establish a consortium of business programs at Kentucky’s colleges and universities.

Roberts is also exploring the feasibility of creating an academic program in entrepreneurship, and possibly a center for entrepreneurship. A minor in entrepreneurship was added to the business curriculum last year.

Cultivating business partnerships continues to be a priority, including a collaboration with the Kentucky Innovation Network, which has an office on campus. CCOB also offers a free MBA consulting program matching teams of students with businesses working together to diagnose problems and devise solutions.

“With the launch and expansion of UPIKE’s online MBA program, we are responding to what students and businesses want and need to be competitive in today’s world,” said Roberts. “Our quality, affordable online MBA program is academically entrepreneurial, designed for working professionals and taught by experienced faculty who are leaders in their fields. We are committed to preparing graduates who, like our benefactor Burlin Coleman, will be successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.”

To learn more about the 100 percent online MBA program visit: www.upike.edu/CCOB/MBA.

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Class Notes Your news is important to us.

We want to hear the latest on your business ventures, career moves, honors, awards and family news. Email your news, along with a highresolution photo, to alumni@upike.edu.

Submit by September 1, 2018, for the fall 2018 issue of UPIKE Magazine.

Dr. Howard Roberts ’78, founding dean of the Coleman College of Business, has been appointed to the Big Sandy Community & Technical College Board of Directors for a term of six years. Much of Roberts’ career has been focused on increasing economic opportunity in the region through education, innovation and collaboration. Roberts is actively engaged in the UPIKE Alumni Association Board of Directors, Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, East Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute Advisory Board, Kentucky Humanities Council Board of Directors, Jenny Wiley Theatre Board of Directors and the Pikeville Rotary Club.

1970s

Brandon Ball ’97 has been named head baseball coach at Dixon High School in Holly Ridge, N.C. Ball also serves as athletic director and teaches.

A catcher for the Bears’ baseball team, Ball previously coached baseball at Pikeville High School and Pike County Central High School and coached football and baseball at Breckinridge County High School.

1990s

Following in his father’s footsteps, Kevin Justice will play baseball for UPIKE next season. “This day has been a dream of mine for a long time,” Kevin said. “I’m truly excited about having the opportunity to play for UPIKE.” The Pikeville High School senior standout is the son of Gary Justice ’97 and Katina Justice. Inducted in UPIKE’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, Gary was a two-time Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) all conference member, 1993 KIAC Conference Pitcher of the Year and was elected team captain in 1996. Justice, who earned his MBA from the Coleman College of Business in 2013, currently works as a senior biopharmaceutical representative with Amgen.

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Donnie Akers, O.D., ’94 served as interim dean of the University of Pikeville’s Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) while a national search for the optometry school’s next dean was under way. Akers currently serves as associate dean for academic affairs, working as the chief reviewer and developer of the faculty and the academic curriculum for KYCO. Brad Hall ’96, who led Kentucky Power’s economic development efforts since 2012, has been named vice president of external affairs for sister operating company Appalachian Power. In his new role, Hall is responsible for customer services, corporate communications, government affairs, economic development, community affairs and environmental issues covering Appalachian Power’s territories in Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Robbie Spears ’09, a conservation officer with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, District 7, was honored as the Southeast Association Fish & Wildlife Agencies Officer of the Year. Selected by peers, the statewide award is a testament to the officer’s character, professionalism, quality of work and dedication to duty.

2000s

J.B. Smiley Jr. ’09 has been named one of “Twenty Young Memphians To Watch” by the Memphis Flyer. The weekly newspaper, which serves the greater Memphis area, publishes the list annually, highlighting young leaders who are shaping the city’s future. After earning his bachelor’s degree at UPIKE, Smiley, who played basketball for the Bears, went on to study law at the University of Arkansas.

He practiced corporate law for a time and is currently the founding member of Smiley & Associates, PLLC.

Barbara Hanna Davis, D.O., KYCOM ’10 has joined Norton Vascular Surgery in Louisville, Ky. Davis completed her internship and surgical residency with St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, Mass., and a fellowship with the University of Arizona Department of Vascular Surgery, Tucson, Ariz. She recently served as a member of the clinical teaching faculty with the University of Arizona School of Medicine. Dr. Davis is board certified in surgery.

2010s

Chamberlin’s journey through biblical history continues Tommy Chamberlin ’96 will return to the Holy Land this summer serving on an archeological team excavating the ancient site in Israel known as Shiloh. Chamberlin, who is president of UPIKE’s Alumni Association, was pivotal in bringing the exhibit, “Khirbet el-Maqatir & A Journey through Biblical History,” to Pikeville in 2017.

Hosted by the City of Pikeville, Community Trust Bank and the university, the community exhibit featured 250 artifacts from ancient Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Syria.

The artifacts represented biblical periods in history, from the time of Abraham, to Joshua’s conquest, ancient Babylon and the Second Temple era and time of Jesus.

This year the university and Community Trust Bank are hosting “The World of Jesus” which features approximately 60 artifacts from the first century – the time of the New Testament.

The return trip to Israel will include Abigail Leavitt who, like Chamberlin, has worked on archeological digs in the past, along with fellow UPIKE scholarship recipients Sylvia Griffith and Laura Keeton. The group will work in areas of ancient Shiloh, dating from the Byzantine period circa 400 A.D., going back to the Canaanite period circa 1700 B.C. Chamberlin noted that findings from the Israelite period would be of special interest due to the biblical reference of the site as a location of the Tabernacle of Moses.

“Shiloh is of special interest to biblical scholars as the final home of the famous tabernacle of the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings,” said Chamberlin. “For our UPIKE team to be involved in excavating a site with rich biblical history is an amazing opportunity for our small university. I’m excited to share this amazing lifetime experience with our two scholarship students, Sylvia and Laura.”

Visit UPIKE Alumni Association's Youtube page for videos from the trip.

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Stephanie Stiltner ’10 has been named director of family connections at UPIKE. In that role, she will focus on building family engagement through the Office of Student Success. Family Connections is designed to be a resource, encouraging families to share and support their students’ UPIKE experiences. As a member of UPIKE’s public affairs team, Stiltner served as coordinator of public relations from 2009-2018.

Randa Newman ’10 is a reproductive genetic counselor and assistant in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, division of maternal fetal medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Her clinical focus is reproductive genetics in a high-risk setting with a special interest in prenatal diagnosis of fetal skeletal dysplasias.

Newman is on the curriculum development committee for the Master of Genetic Counseling Program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, which plans to matriculate students fall 2019, and is involved in learner education for medical students, residents and fellows. Newman also conducts clinical research. In her spare time, she hangs out with her dog and is in an acting studio in Nashville. She also likes to travel, paint and play the fiddle.

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Nicole Howe ’16 is an F-15 Eagle tactical aircraft maintainer. Her home station is RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. The Florence, Ky., native graduated with a degree in business management and was a member of the UPIKE women’s bowling team. She is hoping for an invitation to try out for the Air Force bowling team. “I truly love putting on the uniform each and every day,” said Howe. “I enlisted to build my military resume, to see if I liked this lifestyle, to gain leadership skills, travel the world and to be challenged far beyond anything I ever thought was possible. I’m so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve and for the way things have worked out thus far.”

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Business Lecture Series

Hensley shares path of service, success as financial advisor J.C. Hensley ’04 has fond memories of his college days, “a time of growth,” he notes, highlighted by a Final Four appearance for the tennis team, the debut of Pikeville College bowling and football and the first graduating class of the college of osteopathic medicine.

Hensley, a financial/wealth advisor for Edward Jones Investments, offered words of wisdom, advice for success and thoughts about his journey at UPIKE during the Coleman College of Business’ leadership speaker series.

A business administration and finance major, Hensley began his career at Edward Jones in 2004, just after college. In 2010, he was named a limited partner with the firm, which has been recognized as one of the top five places to work in the U.S. Hensley has also served in the role of field trainer and mentor in helping train new financial advisors.

“In this career, I have an opportunity to make peoples’ lives better, whether they’re building a business, saving for their kids’ college or planning for retirement,” said Hensley. “Working at Edward Jones I’ve been given an opportunity to travel the globe, meet people and do something I really love.”

Hensley is married to Brooke McGehee Hensley KYCOM ʼ13.

Kaitlyn Welsh ’17 is an Inside Sales Associate for the San José Earthquakes, an American professional soccer team in San Jose, Calif. Before graduating, Welsh played two seasons of volleyball at UPIKE as a transfer from Diablo Valley College. In her career, she had 390 kills and 476 digs before transitioning to a student-coach role for the 2017 season.

ORANGE & BLACK FOREVER Alumni recruiting new Bears

David Roberson ’17, Fallon Tallman ’17 and Cory Gannon ’14 have something special in common.

As members of the Admissions team, their days are spent recruiting new Bears, sharing the value of a UPIKE education with prospective students and their families every day.

As a senior at Pike Central High School, Gannon originally had no plans to attend UPIKE. “I had two things in life that I wanted to do – be a Navy Seal (I can’t swim) or get into law enforcement,” said Gannon.

“I can still remember getting called to the guidance office to meet with a UPIKE admissions counselor and discuss my financial award letter. After breaking down the numbers and building a relationship with my counselor, I realized that no other admissions counselor had invested that much time and effort in my future. I decided to stay here after graduation to hopefully give a potential student the same opportunity that was presented to me.”

Tallman came to UPIKE on a bowling scholarship.

“Little did I know that I would be doing more than bowling,” she said. “While I attended UPIKE, I was part of the SGA, Lambda Sigma, Phi Beta Lambda, Sigma Beta and the communications honor society.

After graduating in 2017, I decided to continue my career as an admissions counselor. It is hard to find a place to call home that is five hours away from your ‘original’ home. Now, I call Kentucky my home with the hopes that others will do the same.”

Roberson said the opportunity to play football and further his education brought him to UPIKE. “I stayed because I created a family here,” he said. “My first child will be born this summer!

I chose to stay because of the relationships I’ve built here and the family atmosphere on campus. Also, I wanted to give back to the university.”

Meet our counselors and experience #BearNation. Email wewantyou@upike.edu to schedule a tour.

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UPIKE Weddings Rachel Shantelle Clark

- AND -

Francisco Ernesto Gamero '15

Rachel Shantelle Clark and Francisco Ernesto Gamero ’15 were married in April. The couple, who met at UPIKE, exchanged their vows in Allara Courtyard. Rachel is currently working as a manager at Buffalo Wild Wings and plans a career in teaching. Francisco, a former UPIKE bowler and soccer player, graduated from the Coleman College of Business in 2017. He is the director at Hickory Hill Recovery Center. The couple plans to travel over the next couple of years and start a family.

Haley C. Isaac’15 - AND -

Marcos Sernandez Fondelius ’15 Haley C. Isaac ’15 and Marcos Sernandez Fondelius ’15 were married March 30 in Nashville, Tenn. The couple met in their freshman studies class and have been together ever since. Both also played tennis at UPIKE. Haley is completing her third year of medical school at the Kentucky College of Medicine.

Marcos is an instructor of business at the Coleman College of Business, where he earned an MBA in 2017.

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e t a d e h t e v a S HOMECOMING 2018 October 19-20

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