Category: Professional Notes

Eric Bonds recently published an article, entitled “Grappling with Structure, Social Construction, and Morality: Towards a Human Rights Approach to Social Problems Instruction,” in the journal Societies Without Borders: Human Rights and the Social Sciences.  In the article, Bonds makes the case for a human rights approach and situates it within the theoretical traditions more traditionally used in social problems classes.  The article includes a sample syllabus and an overview of Bonds’ Social Issues class taught at UMW.  The article can be accessed here.

Debra Schleef will serve as the Chair of the Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) for the American Sociological Association during 2013-2014.

Abbie McGhee, coordinator of community events, presented a session on Free Online Resources at the 33^rd Annual Conference of the Association of Collegiate Conference and Event Directors – International (ACCED-I) in Toronto, Canada.  Attendees included campus professionals who design, market, coordinate and plan conferences and special events on the campuses of colleges and universities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science and director of the university’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, talked about his book, “Spinner in Chief: How Presidents Sell Their Policies and Themselves,” on C-SPAN’s Washington classroom for a session that focused on the White House and the media. The program aired nationally on April 26.

The session was part of a joint educational partnership involving C-SPAN, the Washington Center, George Mason University, and Purdue University. The course focused on “The Presidency, Congress, and Media,” examining all facets of politics in the TV and digital age, taking a look at the issues and events shaping the agenda for the next Congress and next round of elections, as well as the historical process of public policy making.

In addition Farnsworth, and Benjamin F. Hermerding, an Alvey Scholar at UMW and a research associate at the Center, are coauthors of an opinion column, “Could the Old Dominion Give Birth Again?” published in the Free-Lance Star on April 24. The column was based on an analysis of the Center’s recent survey of Virginia voters that found considerable interest within the state in having both Sen. Mark Warner (D) and Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) seek the presidential nominations of their respective parties.

John P. Broome, assistant professor of curriculum & instruction in the College of Education, was selected to join the Editorial Board of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education (CITE Journal).

“Established in 2000, Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education (CITE Journal) is a peer-reviewed publication of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) and is co-sponsored by four other teacher education associations. It is an interactive electronic journal, capable of incorporating into its articles video, sound, animated images, and simulations, as well as ongoing dialog about issues that advance the field.” (Source: CITE Journal website)