Abby Delapenha holds a Falcon tube in her gloved hand. Her lab partner, Meghan McLees, gingerly taps in a chemical compound to create a buffer solution as Assistant Professor of Biology Josephine Antwi looks on. Fresh out of high school, these incoming undergraduates haven’t even started classes, but they’re already conducting cutting edge scientific research. Read more.
Larus Interviewed by Fortune.com on China Trade Talks
Political Science Professor Elizabeth Larus
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs Elizabeth Larus, an expert on the politics of China, was recently interviewed on Fortune.com for an article titled “The U.S. May Have Snubbed a Critical Dealmaker in China Trade Talks.” In the article, she discusses how trade deals differ in China from the U.S.
According to the article, “In China, the situation is almost entirely flipped, with high-level control making use of focused experts. ‘The Chinese communist party has what’s called leading small groups—LSGs—for all important policy matters,’ Larus said. ‘Xi Jinping is the leader of most of these leading small groups.’ Xi also happens to be the president of the PRC and the general secretary of the Communist Party of China.”
Schiffrin Quoted in Yahoo Article about Intensive Parenting
Professor of Psychology Holly Schiffrin
Professor of Psychology Holly Schiffrin was quoted in a Yahoo.com article titled “Science Suggests Parents are Taking Parenting Too Far.”
In the article, Shiffrin says, “When I was in college there was no parental involvement unless there was some kind of crisis. It’s just a really different level of involvement now. Parents are giving kids feedback on their papers, or emailing or calling me and other faculty members. It’s not every student, but it’s shocking that it happens at all.”
“Intensive parenting really stresses the parent out,” Schiffrin continues. “The research is looking like it’s not beneficial for kids to do everything for them because they don’t become self-sufficient and that is correlated with higher rates of depression and anxiety at the college level.”
Rochelle Interviewed on Fantasy Literature Blog
Professor of English Warren Rochelle
Professor of English Warren Rochelle was interviewed on Andrew Q. Gordon’s “The Land of Make Believe,” a blog that focuses on fantasy literature featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Rochelle discussed his writing process, building worlds that intersect the magical and mundane, fantasy writers who inspire him, how real-world places in Virginia and North Carolina are featured in his work and more. Read more.
Kisila Featured in Article on Water Quality Study in Fredericksburg
Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Ben Kisila
The Augusta Free Press highlighted research being done by Associate Professor of Geology and Environmental Sciences Ben Kisila in an article titled “Researchers shed light on water quality impacts of Fredericksburg region.”
According to the article, Kisila will assist David Sample, a professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering, in a study of urban runoff quality from Fredericksburg’s local sub-watersheds that will also include the assessment of stormwater controls. Lee Daniels, a professor in Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, will also assist with tracking the formation of strongly acidic soils in the region and analyzing solutions to mitigate their effects.
The study “will estimate the mass of pollutants – nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended solids – from the City of Fredericksburg’s stormwater system during storm events, working from five sites linked to five different forms of land use: residential, high-density residential, commercial, industrial and parks. This work marks a comprehensive research effort to revisit pollutant loads developed in a national study nearly 40 years ago – values that still guide state and federal storm water management programs today.”
Crosby Named to Allegheny College Athletic Hall of Fame
Assistant Professor of Communication Emily Deering Crosby
Assistant Professor of Communication Emily Deering Crosby was named to the Allegheny College Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. Crosby, who graduated in 2006, is the Allegheny women’s lacrosse all-time leader in both points (144) and goals (123).
According to the release, “The only player in program history to be named all-region four times, Crosby was a three-time, first-team all-region selection (2003, ’04 and ’06), and a 2005 second-team honoree. Following a senior campaign in which she led the Gators to a then-school record nine wins and appearance in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship, Crosby earned the 2006 NCAC Defensive Player of the Year award after ranking in the top four in the conference in draw controls (2.25 per game), ground balls (3.81 per game) and cause turnovers (3.19 per game). She remains one of just two lacrosse players in school history to be a four-time, first-team All-NCAC selection.”
Stommel and Burtis Featured on Connected Teaching and Learning Blog
Executive Director of the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies Jesse Stommel and Digital Knowledge Center Director Martha Burtis’ recent EdSurge.com interview on Critical Digital Pedagogy was discussed on the Connected Teaching and Learning Blog. The author shared highlights from the interview, specifically focusing on their views on grading in the classroom. Read more.
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- Jesse Stommel, Senior Lecturer of Digital Learning
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- Director of the Digital Knowledge Center Martha Burtis
Richardson Column in The Free Lance-Star
College of Business Dean Lynne Richardson
Read the latest column in The Free Lance-Star written by Lynne Richardson, Dean of the College of Business, titled “A Fork in the Road.”
Life, especially your work life, is not always going to go as you hope. There will be occasional storms. But it’s how you react and respond to those storms that determines your character.
Let’s say you’re up for a big promotion. Either you or your archrival at work will get the nod. The anticipation builds as everyone waits for the announcement. You just know your name will be called. But your rival’s name is announced. How will you respond?
Wilson Comments on the Psychological Effects of Mass Shootings
Assistant Professor of Psychology Laura Wilson
Assistant Professor of Psychology Laura Wilson recently commented in the national media on the psychological effects on survivors of mass shootings.
Wilson, the co-author of the The Wiley Handbook of the Psychology of Mass Shootings, said the following to Buzzfeed News in an article entitled “If You Graduate Right After A Mass Shooting, Good Luck: You’re On Your Own”: “The biggest concern I would have for them is the disconnect from people who have gone through similar things.”
She also said, “Simply by definition, mass shootings are more likely to trigger difficulties with beliefs that most of us have, including that we live in a just world and that if we make good decisions, we’ll be safe,” in an article entitled “An Anniversary We Would All Like to Forget-But Never Will,” in the Post Newspaper in Texas.
In an article entitled “The Long Reach of Grief After Gun Violence” on yr.media, she said, “A lot of what we see among survivors is that they struggle to understand why they survived when others didn’t, because they made the same decisions everyone else made.” She explained that each survivor and their recovery is unique and cautioned against generalizing survivor experiences or regarding them as “typical.”
Schiffrin Quoted on Parents Excessive Involvement in College Course Choices
Professor of Psychology Holly Schiffrin
A study completed by Professor of Psychology Holly Schiffrin was cited in an article in The News Minute entitled “How Much Freedom do Students have while Choosing their Undergraduate Course?”
“One study in the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that parents’ excessive involvement in their children’s lives yields unfavourable results. The lead author Holly Schiffrin argues, ‘Parents are sending an unintentional message to their children that they are not competent.’ This is in turn, could result in feelings of depression and dissatisfaction.”