· Jerry Thomas, director of Upward Bound, co-presented with Renee Hampton, director of TRIO Programs at Columbus State Community College, at the 19th Annual EAN Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 16. The title of their presentation was “How under-represented students fare in the higher education marketplace: an alternate scenario.” During the presentation, information was shared on the success of the TRIO programs at SAU and the significant impact that they have on the ability of low-income students, first-generation students and students with disabilities to earn a postsecondary degree.
· Dr. Sheri Baggett-McMinn, associate professor of health, kinesiology and recreation, served as a volunteer reviewer for the NASPE/ING Run for Something Better School Awards program. The program is sponsored by NAPSE, and ING awarded $2,000 grants to support a school-based running program. Baggett-McMinn also completed a year of service as an HSBS Early Childhood Physical Activity Consultant. Both programs are opportunities to work through the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, a division of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance to encourage quality movement opportunities for early childhood and middle school children.
· SAU’s Magale Library has completed a record-setting academic year. The library passed the half million mark by having 543,054 searches in its online databases. The library also had 222,632 visits to the library and 16,614 items circulated. For more information, contact Library Director Daniel Page.
· Elizabeth Pratt, MSN, RNC, assistant professor of nursing, was selected as an item writer for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination. NCSBN, headquartered in Chicago, is responsible for developing and administering NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN licensing exams. Pratt was approved by the Arkansas Board of Nursing and selected by NCSBN to participate on the NCLEX item development panel of subject matter experts that was held in Chicago on July 13-16. She was one of only 12 nurses in the nation to be selected for the assignment.
· Dr. Charles Keller, associate professor of history, made a presentation to the Magnolia Rotary Club on June 17, entitled “China – From Underdeveloped Country to Major World Power in 30 Years.” Asia, especially China, is Keller’s field of expertise. He is always willing and enthusiastic to share his experiences with any group or individual.
· Lavana Kindle, supplemental instruction coordinator, taught Reading and Writing I and II at SAU Tech in both terms this summer. She said she was glad to be in the classroom during the summer break.
· Dr. Ken Green, professor of management, has co-authored three articles which have recently been accepted. The articles are currently “in press” and are scheduled for publication in 2010. The first article, “Agile manufacturing: relation to total-system JIT, supply chain performance, and organizational performance,” will be published in the Journal of Operations Management, considered an elite (A+ level) journal in the field of operations management. The other articles will be published in “B-level” journals. “Impact of RFID technology utilization on operational performance” will be published in Management Researched Review, and “RFID utilization and information sharing impact supply chain performance” will be published in the Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing.
· Dr. Chrisanne Christensen, associate professor of psychology, attended an invitation only “Think Tank” at Bates University in Lewiston, Maine. The focus of the meeting was to explore development of community engagement literature and community partnership projects in higher education. She participated in spirited discussions about the nature of engaged teaching, challenges in small rural environments and plans for future projects at SAU. The “Think Tank” was organized by the Harwood Center at Bates University and was led by several national scholars of engagement and service-learning.
· Dr. William Kist, assistant professor of health, kinesiology, and recreation, will have PowerPoint presentations published by McGraw-Hill Publishing for the textbook Exercise Physiology Laboratory Manual (6th Edition) by W.C. Beam and G.M. Adams.
