Janet Cropp, assistant dean of advising services, served in March as a program proposal reader for the Advising and Adult Learners Commission for the 2011 National NACADA Conference. The conference will be held in Denver, Colorado in October, 2011.
Jason Davidson
Jason W. Davidson, associate professor of political science and international affairs, had the column “America’s Allies and Libya: Why Coalitions Make Sense” published March 30 in the Aspen Institute Italia’s foreign affairs journal.
Read the column at http://www.aspeninstitute.it/aspenia-online/article/america%E2%80%99s-allies-and-libya-why-coalitions-make-sense.
In addition, Davidson has the book ”America’s Allies and War: Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq” scheduled for release in April by Palgrave Macmillan.
Visit http://us.macmillan.com/americasalliesandwar to learn more about the book, which is especially relevant in light of the unrest and war in Libya.
The publisher’s summary says, “Why do Britain, France, and Italy provide or refuse military support for U.S.-led uses of force? This book provides a unique, multiple-case study analysis of transatlantic burden-sharing. Sixty original interviews with top policymakers and analysts provide insight into allies’ decisions regarding the Kosovo War (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and the Iraq War (2003). The cases show that neoclassical realist factors–alliance value, threat, prestige, and electoral politics–explain allies’ decisions better than constructivist factors–identity and norms. The book briefly covers additional cases (Vietnam, Lebanon, the Persian Gulf War, Somalia) and concludes with recommendations for increasing future allied military support.”
In Patricia A. Weitsman’s endorsement, the Ohio University political science professor writes, “Jason W. Davidson’s exceptional book is a must read for scholars and policy makers interested in knowing why states put troops in harm’s way for the benefit of their allies. Davidson’s masterful explanation of burden sharing is essential knowledge for students of history and politics, as well as decision makers crafting strategy for the future.”
Emile Lester
Emile Lester, assistant professor of political science and international affairs, wrote a March 21 guest blog post for the Washington Post about whether religion can be taught in public schools. He finds hope for improving civil discourse on religion through an innovative course offered in the Modesto, Calif., public school system. Check out Lester’s blog post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/political-bookworm/post/a-path-to-religion-in-the-classroom/2011/03/08/ABwNKy7_blog.html.
In addition, Lester has the forthcoming book “Teaching about Religions: A Democratic Approach for Public Schools,” which is due for release soon by the University of Michigan Press. Visit http://press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do;jsessionid=96706B2E5A1D7240FDFF52E73627E189?id=2180004 to learn more.
The publisher’s summary of Lester’s book says, “Frequent news stories about the debates waged between secularists and religious conservatives have convinced most Americans that public schools must choose between promoting respect for religious minorities and respecting the interests of conservative Christians. As a result, public schools fail to teach students about the meaning and value of protecting religious liberty and consequently perpetuate mistrust across the cultural divide, further empower extremists, and obscure the fact that most Americans of all religious backgrounds share a commitment to basic democratic principles.”
“In response, the public schools in the religiously diverse and divided community of Modesto, California, have introduced a widely acclaimed required world religions course. Drawing on groundbreaking research on the creation of and response to the Modesto course as well as on political philosophy, Emile Lester advocates a civic approach to teaching about religion in public schools that at once emphasizes respect for all views about religion and provides a special recognition of conservative Christian beliefs.”
Charles C. Haynes, the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center senior scholar, writes in an endorsement, “This provocative and timely book challenges Americans to rethink what it means to take democracy and religious freedom seriously in public education. Emile Lester takes the reader beyond culture war conflicts rooted in religious divisions and offers bold, new solutions for addressing our differences with fairness and robust toleration. Instead of battlegrounds, he argues, public schools can and should be places that include all voices in ways that prepare citizens to engage one another with civility and respect. “Teaching about Religions” is essential reading for all who care about the future of public schools—and the health of American democracy.”
Mindy Erchull
Mindy Erchull, assistant professor of psychology, has received the 2011 Psi Chi Southeastern Regional Faculty Advisor Award for her active involvement as the university’s Psi Chi chapter advisor.
The award is presented annually to one Psi Chi faculty advisor per region who best demonstrates Psi Chi’s purpose of encouraging excellence in scholarship, particularly in psychology, and advancing the science of psychology. The Psi Chi Southeast region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia. Erchull’s award was announced during UMW’s Psi Chi spring induction ceremony on March 10.
Since becoming the university’s Psi Chi advisor in 2006, Erchull has facilitated programs already in place and helped chapter officers to add more workshops to assist students in preparing for graduate school and job applications. In addition, she has traveled with past chapter presidents to national leadership conferences sponsored by Psi Chi, and the university chapter was under Erchull’s guidance when the group received a regional chapter award in spring 2010.
In addition to serving as the chapter’s advisor, Erchull has served as a faculty consultant to Psi Chi for three years, reviewing grant and award applications and serving as a reviewer for the “Psi Chi Student Research Journal.” In addition, Erchull has served as president of the campus Phi Beta Kappa chapter and has been a member or a convener of several Phi Beta Kappa committees.
In 2010, she received the Mary Roth Walsh Teaching the Psychology of Women Award at the American Psychological Association Convention. The award, sponsored by the Society for the Psychology of Women, recognizes a young faculty member who employs innovative methods to address issues of diversity in teaching the psychology of women.
Erchull, a member of the UMW faculty since 2005, received a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in social psychology from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Connecticut College. Her research focuses on such issues as objectification, feminism and psychological aspects of reproductive health.
She has been a reviewer for the Association for Women in Psychology, the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, and the American Psychological Association conference submissions and a reviewer for publications that include “Sex Roles,” “Women’s Studies” and “Health Care for Women International.” She is also a consulting editor for “Psychology of Women Quarterly.” Her own articles have appeared in “Psychology of Women Quarterly,” “Sex Roles” and “Health Psychology,” among other academic journals.
Erchull is co-chair of the Hyde Graduate Student Research Grants Committee for the Society for the Psychology of Women. Her professional memberships include the American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, Association for Women in Psychology, Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Virginia Academy of Academic Psychologists and the Virginia Psychological Association.
Five Faculty Presented at Conference
Five UMW faculty members presented papers at the 2011 International Conference on Global Management Studies held Feb. 28 and March 1 in Las Vegas. The conference was organized by the Association of Global Management Studies and co-sponsored by the UMW College of Business.
Mukesh Srivastava, associate dean of the College of Business (COB) and associate professor, chaired the conference and presented the paper “Co-Creation Methodologies in a Matrix Organization: A Hermeneutic Approach.”
Faleh Alshameri, visiting assistant professor in the COB, presented his paper “Automated Metadata for Image Mining.”
Louis Martinette, associate professor in the COB, presented his co-authored paper “The Relationship Between Learning Orientation and Business Performance and the Moderating Effect of Competitive Advantage in Service Organizations.”
John St.Clair, director of distance and blended learning, presented his paper “Student Interest in Online Courses at a Liberal Arts University.”
Xiaofeng Zhao, assistant professor in the COB, presented his paper “A Queuing Theory Based Model to Estimate the Variability of Waiting Time in Supply Chain Operations.”
Of the 67 papers submitted, 22 from seven countries—Australia, Canada, China, Iran, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S.—were accepted for presentation. Find more information about the conference and the Association of Global Management Studies (AGMS) at www.association-gms.org.
The AGMS promotes research and advances the knowledge of global management educators, researchers and practitioners. Founded in 2009 by Srivastava, it publishes the “International Journal of Global Management Studies” and the “International Journal of Global Management Studies Professional.” Both journals are listed in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities and are available online via EBSCO’s Business Source Complete database.
To enhance global outreach, development of a regional AGMS chapter is underway in China. The chapter will be led jointly by a Chinese university and a member of the College of Business.
The 3rd international conference of the AGMS will be held in 2012 at the Harvard Faculty Club, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The strategic direction for the conference will be “A Conference of Choice and Quality” for academics and practitioner scholars globally.
Professors at Book Festival
Four University of Mary Washington faculty authors will speak at the 17th annual Virginia Festival of the Book, to be held March 16 through 20 in Charlottesville. Professors Claudia Emerson, Jeffrey McClurken, Debra Schleef and Steve Watkins will participate in readings and panel discussions.
Jeffrey W. McClurken will present his book “Take Care of the Living: Reconstructing Confederate Veteran Families in Virginia” (2009) as part of the panel discussion and session “Civil War: Going to War and Its Aftermath” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16 at the University of Virginia (UVA) Bookstore at 400 Emmet Street South. McClurken is associate professor and chair of history and American studies.
Debra J. Schleef will participate in the reading and panel discussion during the session “Political and Social Trends in the South” at noon on Saturday, March 19 at the UVA Bookstore. Schleef, associate professor of sociology and chair of sociology and anthropology, is author of “Latinos in Dixie: Class and Assimilation in Richmond, Virginia” (2009).
Steve Watkins will read and serve on the discussion panel titled “Fiction: Young Adult Novels—Great Reading for All Ages!” at noon on March 19 at the Village School at 215 East High Street. Watkins, professor of English, is author of the Golden Kite Award-winning “Down Sand Mountain” (2008) and the 2011 novel “What Comes After.” Watkins will sign his books at the Children’s and Young Adult Author Dessert Reception at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18 at Charlottesville Catholic School.
Claudia Emerson will read and moderate the session “Best New Poets 2010” at 4 p.m. on March 19 at the UVA Bookstore. Emerson, professor of English and Arrington distinguished chair of poetry, is author of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning “Late Wife” and “Figure Studies” (2008).
All programs at the festival are open to the public and, with the exception of a few ticketed events, are free of charge. The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities produces the festival, which is described as the largest gathering of authors, writers and readers in the state. For more information, visit www.vabook.org or call (434) 924-7548.
Susan Knick
Susan Knick
, assistant vice president for Public Safety and Community Services, has been invited by the Virginia Association of Emergency Managers to present a workshop titled “Managing the Emergency: Special Events Planning For Major Events” on March 30 in Richmond.
Cate Brewer
Cate Brewer, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, presented her paper titled: “The Company You Keep: Engendering Ensemble With A Diva in the Crowd” at The Mid-America Theatre Conference on March 3rd.
Taiwo Ande
Taiwo Ande, the assistant provost for Institutional Analysis and Effectiveness, co-authored an article titled “Christian’s Perceptions of Hypothetical Case Studies of Five Pastoral Approaches to Marital Therapy: An Exploratory Study,” which was published in the 2010 fall volume of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
Marjorie Och
Marjorie Och, Professor of Art History, chaired the session “Technology and Collaboration in the Art History Classroom” at the annual meeting of the College Art Association in New York City in February; the session was sponsored by the CAA-affiliated society Art Historians Interested in Pedagogy and Technology.