FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES // NOVEMBER 2022
IN PRINT
Kathy Merlock Jackson published reviews of three books in the fall issue of The Journal of American Culture (45:3): "Best Pick: A Journey Through Film History and the Academy Awards" by John Dorney, Jessica Regan, and Tom Salinsky; "Breaking Bad" by Christopher Sharrett; and "The Green Mister Rogers: Environmentalism in Mister Rogers Neighborhood" by Sara Lindey and Jason King.

For the first time in 18 years, President Scott D. Miller released a chapter of President to President without his esteemed partner, Marylouise “Weezie” Fennell, who passed away on October 12. In the third chapter of the 2022-23 series, "Liberal Arts Education: A Path Towards a More Thoughtful and Caring World," Illinois College President Barbara A. Farley, Ph.D., explores how higher education can help students develop critical thinking skills and become more virtuous citizens. President Miller's daily blog, Dialogue, can be found at prezscottmiller.blogspot.com. 
PRESENTATIONS AND PANELS
Kathy Stolley presented virtually at the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology annual conference. One presentation was titled, "Animals are 'Good to Think': Including Animals in Applied Social Science Courses." She also co-presented a workshop with colleagues Lucien Lombardo, ODU, and John E. Glass, Collin College, titled, "The Road to Peace and Justice Goes Through Childhood."
Joyce Easter and Susan Richardson (The POGIL Project) facilitated "Learning Objectives in POGIL Classrooms" as part of the 2022-2023 POGIL eSeries.
Joyce Easter, chairperson of the 2023 NCAPP planning committee, is a featured guest in Episode 1 of the POGIL Podcast Season 3 to discuss and promote the National Conference for Advanced Practitioners (NCAPP).

Elizabeth Malcolm, Maynard Schaus, and Travis Malone presented an On Demand Virtual Presentation at the AASHE's Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education. The topic of their presentation was "Institutional Change Through Guiding Principles and Honors College Vision."

Steven Emmanuel presented a talk on "Wisdom Literature for Children" as part of a panel discussion at the Collaborative for Spirituality in Education Conference at the Teachers College, Columbia University.

Stephen Leist co-presented on "From idea to impact: Publishing with the Virginia Libraries Journal" at the annual meeting of the Virginia Library Association, which was held in Norfolk.
The Women and Gender Studies Program and History Department at Christopher Newport University invited Kathleen Casey to present new research from her book project for LGBTQ History Month. Approximately 200 faculty, staff, and students attended the talk, entitled "Queer History and the Possibilities of Purses."

Mindy Gumpert presented results from her current research titled “How Does Special Education Placement Affect Student Outcomes?” at the 2022 International Council on Learning Disabilities Conference in Richmond.

Mindy Gumpert presented “Project-Based Learning in Higher Education” at the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (VACTE) Fall 2022 Conference in Harrisonburg.
Lisa Lyon Payne accompanied eight editors from The Marlin Chronicle to Media Fest 2022 in Washington, D.C. The conference was hosted by the Society for Professional Journalists, Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association. Students attended numerous sessions and heard from Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who spoke on the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in.
Lisa Lyon Payne presented a paper, "It Was a Lonely Time: Understanding Student Newsroom Learning During COVID Using a Communities of Practice Lens" as part of a research panel at MediaFest22, the nation's largest gathering of collegiate journalists, media students and advisers. The D.C. conference was sponsored by Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association.
Kellie Holzer, Bill McConnell, Antje Schwennicke and Loren Marquez traveled to present on “Teaching Methods” (etc.) at the ProMobiLGS International Conference, Teaching Methods in Teacher Education, at the Pädagogische Hochschule –Heidelberg.
Susan Wansink joined the group virtually. The visit was intended to build a partnership between the Education University of Heidelberg and VWU. Kellie Holzer presented "Applying Drawing-to-Learn Methods in the Literature Classroom;” Bill McConnell presented “Leveraging School/University Partnerships to Institutionalize Research- based Environmental Education;” Susan Wansink presented (virtually) “The German Studies Program.” Susan Wansink hosted Dr. Hanna Sauerborn, as the first faculty exchange between the Pädagogische Hochschule and Virginia Wesleyan University. Dr. Sauerborn shared information about the German educational system, as well as children’s literature. The exchange is sponsored by a grant from ProMobil and DAAD.
 
Bill McConnell presented a poster with partners from Millersville University to share their NOAA-funded project, "Shared Waters: An Upstream, Downstream Collaborative," at the North American Association of Environmental Education conference in Tucson, AZ.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Sally Shedd performed in a reading of the new play "Momtopia" hosted by Little Theatre of Norfolk.
 
Amber Gruszeczka moderated online sessions for VIVA's (Virtual Library of Virginia) annual Open and Affordable Community Forum at VCU in Richmond. Presentations at this forum focus on open access and open educational resources in Virginia's institutions of higher learning.

Amber Gruszeczka began mentoring an early career librarian through the ACRL (Association of College & Research Libraries) Instruction Section Mentoring Program. This program creates a forum for learning opportunities, networking, and the exchange of ideas between paired mentors and mentees about instruction and information literacy.

Michelle Albert Vachris participated in the October meeting of the Joint Advisory Board of Economists of the Commonwealth of Virginia. First appointed to the board in 2014, Dr. Vachris is responsible for assisting with the annual review of the economic forecasts used in preparing Governor's estimates of anticipated general fund revenues.

Stephen Leist has moved from assistant editor to managing editor of Virginia Libraries, the journal of the Virginia Library Association.

Denise Wilkinson will serve on the Proposal Review Committee for the 2023 Teaching Academic Survival Skills national conference.

Taryn Myers was quoted in InStyle magazine on the subject of thin privilege and psychological factors in disordered eating. 
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Students in Mindy Gumpert's SPED 382 Transition in Special Education class enjoyed a field experience at the Hickory Trading Company. Mrs. Howell, the owner, spoke to students about how she started her non-profit organization to help students with disabilities (SWD) transition from high school to employment beyond high school. Student reflections suggest the authentic field experience was inspiring.
Maynard Schaus's Oceanography students worked with the Elizabeth River Project and the Norfolk Master Gardeners to plant native marsh grasses to restore a local salt marsh in Norfolk. They also added native high marsh plants that attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators, and worked to restore well over 11,000 square feet of wetlands.
Students from Marielle Postava-Davignon's Conservation Biology class visited the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center. They learned about CBF's oyster restoration current and future efforts, the components involved in conservation planning, and finished up with some hands-on volunteer work. The students assembled ~75 oyster bags, which will be used in oyster reefs next season.
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