December 24, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Six UMW Faculty Receive Waple Professorships

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Six UMW faculty members have been named as the next recipients for the Waple Professorship award, recognizing their contributions to the University and earning their research funding for two years.

The recipients for the 2018-2020 Waple Professorships are:

  • Dianne Baker, Associate Professor of Biology, for her project to “Expand Ongoing Collaborative Research with Prof. Finn-Arne Weltzien at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)”
  • John Broome, Associate Professor of Education, for his research project on “Creating Mirrors, Not More Windows: Social Studies Teacher’s Perceptions of a More Racially Inclusive K-12 Curriculum”
  • Chris Foss, Professor of English, for his book project titled “The Importance of being Different: Intersectional Disability and the Emotional Response in Oscar Wilde’s Fairy Tales”
  • Leonard Koos, Associate Professor of French, for his book project titled “Une Drôle d’Occupation: Conformity, Dissidence, and Popular Culture in France, 1940-1944”
  • Steve Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science, for his book project titled “Late Night Political Humor and the Trump Presidency”
  • Margaret Ray, Professor of Economics, for her project “Supporting Student Success in Introductory Economics courses.”

Named after UMW alum Shirley Van Epps Waple ’52, the professorship honors excellence in teaching, research and scholarship across various disciplines at the university. This award was established after the death of Waple in September 2010, who gifted the university with a $2.5 million amount from her estate. This donation is one of the largest single contributions dedicated to supporting academics at the university and provides faculty experts the chance to produce new, vital knowledge for their department.

Landphair Interviewed for New Orleans Radio Program

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Juliette Landphair, Vice President for Student Affairs, was interviewed by WWNO, an NPR member radio station for New Orleans and southeast Louisiana. Read the article, “NOLA vs Nature: Building The Industrial Canal” or listen to the interview at http://wwno.org/programs/tripod-new-orleans-300. The interview is based on research she conducted after Hurricane Katrina on the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. She is an expert on 20th century U.S. history, specifically New Orleans after WW II.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gower Presents in Continuing & Professional Studies Program

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Congratulations to Kim Gower, Assistant Professor in the College of Business, who became the first faculty member to participate in a UMW Continuing & Professional Studies program when she presented the closing session at Mary Washington Hospital on Friday, January 26.  Dr. Gower’s presentation was part of the hospital’s annual leadership conference entitled, “Operation Endeavor: Boldly Going Where We Haven’t Gone Before.” The focus of the conference was equipping the 60-plus leaders from across the organization to prepare for, implement, and sustain through times of change. 

Kim Gower presents at Mary Washington Hospital conference as part of the UMW Continuing Studies program.

Kim Gower presents at Mary Washington Hospital conference as part of the UMW Continuing Studies program.

The program was the result of months of discussion between Kimberly Young, Executive Director of Continuing & Professional Studies, and key leaders at the organization to better understand their needs and how the university could best meet those needs.  “Dr. Gower delivered a relevant and customized message with professionalism, wit, and a special touch of sarcasm that is uniquely Kim,” said Dr. Young. “This was a critical step in establishing a broader partnership and she was the right fit for what they needed.”

If you are interested in participating in Continuing and Professional Studies programs, contact Kimberly Young at kyoung3@umw.edu.

Dan Dervin Publishes ‘Digital Child’

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Daniel Dervin, professor emeritus of English, recently published his latest book, “The Digital Child,” an examination of childhood development in an advancing technological era.

Dervin’s book illustrates his concern of how contemporary childhood has moved away from the focus of inwardness, a psychological concept for the awareness of one’s self as resulting from the world, and how those reflections are internalized. Dervin believes inwardness permits the processing of an individuals’ thoughts, experiences and emotions.

In his text, Dervin traces the evolution of how childhood is perceived in the West and how inwardness has been defined throughout history. Six transformational stages of childhood are identified in his study: tribal, pedagogical, religious, humanist, rational, citizen and the newest stage, the digital child. By the referencing of myths, literary texts, cultural histories, media reports, the visual arts as well as traditions of parenting, pediatrics and pedagogy, Dervin examines each stage preceding the digital child stage.

With biological, cultural and psychological approaches to his investigation, Dervin studies the past stages of humanity in order to unveil the past—and future—of humanity.

NSWC Recognizes Asper for Intern Housing Solution

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Janet A. Asper, Associate Professor of Chemistry, was awarded a letter of appreciation from the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren. John Lysher and Chris Hodge of the Dahlgren’s NSWC presented the framed letter to Asper at a recent meeting of UMW’s Department of Chemistry.

Janet Asper poses with NSWC's Chris Hodge, left, and John Lysher.

Janet Asper poses with NSWC’s Chris Hodge, left, and John Lysher.

While serving a visiting professorship at NSWC in 2015, Asper overheard about a challenge the base faced finding housing for students in its summer internship program. She offered what she called a “nutty idea,” connecting them with University housing officials who agreed to provide summer housing for the students. Since then, the University has housed nearly 50 college interns at NSWC.

“You took notice and then took action,” said Lysher. “The solution was to connect the right people at Dahlgren with the right people at UMW. You’ve furthered an already successful collaboration, and the leadership at Dahlgren is most appreciative of what you’ve done.”

The collaboration has sparked partnerships with other regional companies needing temporary housing, said Asper, which has resulted so far in more than $43,000 in housing revenue for the University.

 

Community-Wide Pop-Up Art Gallery

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The Office of Title IX and Center for Prevention and Education, along with local partner Empowerhouse and student clubs Feminists United and SAVE, would like to invite the UMW community to participate in the I Can, We Can Pop-Up Gallery. This socially engaging art program challenges participants to reflect on what they can do, individually and as a community, to prevent domestic abuse and interpersonal violence. All UMW and Fredericksburg community members are invited to submit a work of art at bit.ly/fburgICAN by Friday, Feb. 9, and to join us in the Chandler Ballroom from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15 to enjoy a pop-up art gallery along with refreshments and hands-on activities.

Helen Housley Article Published in Book

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Associate Professor of Theatre Helen Housley recently published the chapter, “Shakespeare’s Buzz: Lessac’s Tonal NRG and the Shakespearean Actor,” in the book, Play with Purpose: Kinesensics in Action, edited by Marth Munro, Sean Turner, and Allun Munro.

She also presented a workshop, “Shakespeare’s Prose: A Kinesensic Exploration,” at the 13th Annual Lessac Conference held in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 4-6.

McMillan Exhibits at Bridgewater, Guest Art Reviewer at JMU

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detail image of the sculpture "Dissipate" by Jon McMillan

Detail image of the sculpture “Dissipate” by Jon McMillan

“Synthesis,” a solo exhibition of ceramic sculpture by Associate Professor Jon McMillan, will be on view at the Cleo Miller Driver Gallery at Bridgewater College from January 8- January 31.  This exhibition features 12 new sculptures by the artist, and will begin with a reception and gallery lecture on Monday January 8 at 5 p.m.

For more info, visit: https://www.bridgewater.edu/events-news/news-releases/2043-fredericksburg-artist-jon-mcmillan-exhibits-work-jan-8-31​.

 A news article about his exhibit also appears in the Augusta Free Press. To view the link,  visit http://augustafreepress.com/fredericksburg-artist-jon-mcmillan-exhibits-work-bridgewater-college.

In addition, McMillan was invited by the art faculty at James Madison University to serve as the outside reviewer and guest critic for the MFA student reviews.  Professor McMillan spent two days in Harrisonburg in December meeting with faculty and students, touring the school’s newly renovated art building, and participating in a day-long critique of the Masters of Fine Arts candidates’ artwork.  McMillan is an alumnus of JMU, having earned his BFA in Studio Art and a minor in Art History there in 1998.

 

Vasey To Give Religious Freedom Address

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Craig Vasey

Craig Vasey

Craig Vasey, Chair of the Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion and Professor of Philosophy, will give the keynote address, “Civil Rights and Religious Opinions” at the Knights of Columbus annual Religious Freedom Day celebration on Sunday, Jan. 14 at the Religious Freedom Monument on Washington Avenue.