In Print

Successful Short-Term Programs Abroad
Mandy Reinig co-authored a chapter in NAFSA's Guide to Successful Short-term Programs Abroad (pictured left). The chapter is titled "Student Application, Selection, and Acceptance."

Leona Baker wrote the cover article entitled  "The Name Game: How a New Statewide Initiative Could Strengthen Our Regional Identity to Drive Tourism and Economic Growth," for the February/March issue of CoVa Biz Magazine.

Alain Gabon published in Open Democracy a two-part article on Saudi Arabia under the new Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Presentations and Panels

Laynee Timlin recently facilitated the strategic planning process at the mid-year board meeting for the international leadership team of the Association for Applied & Clinical Sociology.

At OpenCon at Virginia Commonwealth University, Sue Erickson presented a lightning round about the upcoming OpenLearning '18 cMOOC.

Along with other members of the AAC&U Virginia Faculty Collaboratives Steering Committee, Sue Erickson presented "Creating a Sustainable Network for Faculty Development in Virginia: The #OpenLearning17 Faculty Collaboratives Project" at the EDUCAUSE ELI conference in New Orleans.

February 2018
 

Sophie Rondeau received a travel scholarship to attend the POWRR Institute in Naperville, IL. The POWRR Institute provided Sophie with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of digital preservation and hands-on experience using some of the tools and technologies currently available.


Sally Shedd appeared in the leading role in Rapture, Blister, Burn (pictured above), by Gina Gionfriddo, at the Little Theatre of Norfolk. The play, a 2013 Pulitzer Prize Finalist, has been called "an unflinching look at gender politics in the wake of 20th-century feminist ideals." Shedd played a women's studies professor and writer.

Dan Margolies presented "Global Politics and the Crisis of Citizenship in the Age of Trump," at the 2017 Global Citizenship Forum, held at Honam University, Gwangju, South Korea.

Michelle Vachris presented a chapter from her book, Pride and Profit: The Intersection of 
Jane Austen and Adam Smith, at the International Adam Smith Society meetings at the Universidad Adolfo  Ibáñez in Vina Del Mar, Chile.
Other Accomplishments

Clay Drees
Clay Drees (pictured left) was installed as the president of Phi Alpha Theta (PAT), the national honor society in history, at the organization's biennial convention in New Orleans. He will serve a two-year term as president and then will chair PAT's Advisory Council as the immediate past president. While in office, Drees will lead planning efforts for PAT's Centennial celebration in 2021.

Mort Gamble was reappointed to the Board of Directors of Circus and Traveling Showpeople's Winter Quarters. Made up of current and retired show personnel and friends, the group operates a retirement facility in Sarasota, Florida, for circus and carnival performers and staff. A former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train car serves as the facility's clubhouse.


Bill McConnell  and  Malcolm Lively  were recently selected as co-editors of The Teacher Educator's Journal, a publication of the Association of Teacher Educators of Virginia.

Joyce Easter  has been appointed to the Small College Honors Committee of the National Collegiate Honors Council for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2018.

Bryson Mortensen was selected Faculty Advisor of the Year for his work organizing the Eta Gamma Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, the professional music fraternity at VWU.


Bryso n Mortensen was featured for his work with the Virginia Chorale's Young Singers Project on WHRO's program  Curate (pictured above), performing James Eakins' #twitterlieder in January 2017. 
Community Engagement

Understanding Homelessness
WInter Session Homelessness student volunteers
More than 75 students (pictured above) engaged in service-learning involving the homeless during Winter Session 2018. In addition to direct service hours, students learned about homelessness in Hampton Roads in a course with  Takeyra Collins Kathy Stolley  and   Robin Takacs. 

Students reflected on their service at four churches: Calvary Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, Virginia Beach Courthouse Community Methodist Church in Virginia Beach, and Oaklette United Methodist Church in Chesapeake as a part of the shelter programs in Portsmouth (PVH), Virginia Beach (Lighthouse) and Norfolk (NEST). Students were also placed with the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center in Virginia Beach.

Promoting SMILE
Students in the public relations class with  Lisa Lyon Payne worked fall semester to create PR action plans for SMILE, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping children impacted by life-threatening conditions. The campaigns produced a series of key messages and tactics to inform the community about the existence of the organization with  emphasis on organizational branding and social media presence. Students presented their work to Kristen Mantlo, executive director of SMILE. She plans to present the students' work to the SMILE board.
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