A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff
Stephen Farnsworth
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the university’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, is co-author of a book chapter, “Mass Media and Policymaking,” published in the Routledge Handbook of Public Policy. The chapter grew out of a research project that originated during Farnsworth’s time as a Canada-US Fulbright Scholar at McGill University in Montreal.
Mehdi Aminrazavi, professor of philosophy and religion has published the following chapter article :
Mehdi Aminrazavi, “Nasir-i Khusraw’s Poetics of the Moral Journey and the Foundation of the Metaphysics of Morals,” in Pearls of Persia: The Philosophical Poetry of Nasir-i Khusraw, Ed. by Alice C. Hunsberger. London: I.B. Tauris Publishers, 2012. pp.91-102.
Esther Lee Yook, director of the Speaking Center, published an article, “The Effect of Communication Centers on College Student Retention: An Argument,” in the Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, Vol 14, No 3 (2012).
Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science and Geology Robert L. McConnell’s textbook “Environmental Issues–Looking Towards a Sustainable Future, 4th edition,” was published in December 2012. The textbook, published by Pearson, is co-authored with Daniel Abel at Coastal Carolina University.
Suzanne Sumner
At the 2013 Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Diego, Calif., in January, two faculty members and a student from UMW presented their work. Suzanne Sumner, professor of mathematics, delivered the talk “Intensive Experiences for Undergraduate Mathematics” in a session on Communicating Mathematics sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America.
Debra Hydorn
Debra Hydorn, professor of mathematics, spoke in a session devoted to Innovative Ideas for Courses in the First Two Years. Her talk was titled “Exploratory Projects in an Introduction to Discrete Mathematics Course.” Hydorn gave a second talk titled “Using R for Data Analysis Assignments in an Introductory Statistics Course” in a session devoted to Modern Ideas in Introductory Statistics Courses. In addition, she was honored to have a piece of geometric artwork accepted through a juried process to the Mathematical Art Exhibition.
Finally, UMW senior Ryan Vaughn presented a poster at the National Undergraduate Student poster competition. Ryan’s poster, titled “Embeddings of Complete Bipartite Graphs in Finite Projective Planes” won one of the Outstanding Poster Awards.
Keith Mellinger, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, saw his co-authored article “Blocking semiovals containing conics” published in the January 2013 issue of Advances in Geometry. The article addresses the construction of blocking semiovals, a mathematical object that finds application in areas of modern cryptology and the design of experiments.
Teresa Coffman, associate professor of education, is the author of a recently published book, “Using Inquiry in the Classroom: Developing Creative Thinkers and Information Literate Students.”
The book, published by Rowman & Littlefield in January 2013, provides an overview of inquiry learning and the importance of developing creative thinkers and information literate students in 21st century education. The text explores how learning can be directly applied in a classroom setting using real world application through technology oriented activities. Coffman showcases WebQuests, Web inquiry, telecollaborative, and problem-based activities with examples and skill-building exercises for readers to implement in their classroom. Readers work through strategies for effectively integrating technology into a teaching and learning environment so students gain maximum knowledge and understanding of core concepts. Plus, the content is personalized so that the reader can create activities and lessons for specific curriculum needs.
Coffman, T. (2013). Using inquiry in the classroom: Developing creative thinkers and information literate students. (2nd Ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education. ISBN 978-1-61048-851-8
Christopher Kilmartin, professor of psychology at the University of Mary Washington, has been chosen to serve as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
From July 2013 to June 2014, Kilmartin will teach courses in violence prevention and gender studies. He also will consult with sexual assault prevention personnel at the Air Force Academy to assist in improving the school’s programming.
For more information about Kilmartin’s work, read the full news release from Jan. 10.
Steve Griffin, professor emeritus of art at the University of Mary Washington, is a recipient of a 2012-2013 Artist Fellowship from the Virginia Commission of the Arts.
Steve Griffin, shown with paintings from his “Strata, Neo-Strata and Core” series, received an Artist Fellowship from the Virginia Commission for the Arts
The Virginia Commission of the Arts awards fellowships annually to artists residing in Virginia in recognition of creative excellence and to support their pursuit of artistic excellence. Griffin is one of five Virginia artists honored in the field of painting. Each artist will receive a fellowship of $5,000.
Griffin, an accomplished photographer, painter and printmaker, was awarded a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts professional fellowship in 2011. His work has appeared in more than 150 local, regional and national exhibitions.
Griffin joined the UMW faculty in 1983 and taught printmaking, photography, drawing and design courses for 25 years. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Artist Fellowships from the Virginia Commission of the Arts are offered on a rotating basis to Virginia artists in the disciplines of crafts, photography, sculpture, fiction, music composition, choreography, painting, works on paper (prints and drawing), poetry, playwriting and filmmaking. The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The commission distributes grant awards to artists, arts and other not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, educators and local governments and provides technical assistance in arts management.
