Vol. 6, No. 28 • January 28, 2022
President's Points of Pride
One of the exciting highlights from this past week was the presentation of the 2021 Nobel Prize topics by six of Shepherd’s outstanding faculty: Dr. Kathleen Reid, interim dean of the College of Business and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance, discussed the Prize in Economic Sciences, awarded to David Card, Joshua Angrist, and Guido Imbens; Dr. Sytil Murphy, associate professor of physics in the Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences, presented on the Prize in Physics, awarded to Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, and Giorgio Parisi; Dr. Samuel Greene, assistant professor of political science and global studies and director of Study Abroad, talked about the Peace Prize, awarded to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov; Dr. James Pate, assistant professor of English, discussed the Prize in Literature, awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah; Dr. Haley Albright, assistant professor of chemistry, deliberated about the Prize in Chemistry, awarded to Benjamin List and David MacMillan; and Dr. Conor Sipe, assistant professor of biology, spoke about the Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian. Interestingly, Dr. Sipe’s “academic family lineage” is very impressive relevant to Nobel laureates, with his doctoral advisor’s advisor (Robert Horvitz) receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2002, for discovering genetic reprogramming of organogenesis and apoptosis, and his doctoral advisor (James Watson) receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, for discovering the structure of DNA, together with his colleagues Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. Our faculty were eloquent in their presentations, and our students are fortunate to have them as remarkable role models and lecturers.
Reminder: Health insurance survey deadline is February 4
Since so many Shepherd employees are in West Virginia PEIA and/or FBMC (Mountaineer Flexible Benefits) plans, the topic of health insurance frequently comes up in conversations that the Human Resources (HR) team has with employees. Most people don’t call HR just to say everything is great with their health insurance; they usually call when they are experiencing a problem with it. To better address any specific concerns, HR wants your feedback about PEIA and/or FBMC. Full-time, benefits-eligible employees are asked to complete a short survey about PEIA and FBMC. Responses must be submitted by Friday, February 4, at 4:30 p.m.
Time for a big thanks to the Kronos team
As of now, Kronos is functional again, and while paper timesheets may have been just a slight inconvenience for most of us, it made for a lot of extra work for many of our coworkers. On the payroll team, Sarah Speck, Kylee McMillen, and Emily Christian had to manually enter each employee’s time into the state Oasis system, in most cases under a tight time crunch working around holidays and snow days. Angie Elliott in Finance had to devote extra time to getting those manual entries from the payroll system to interface properly into our finance system. Donna Shipley in Human Resources has been manually calculating leave time for people to ensure that time earned and taken is reflected accurately in Kronos once the system was restored. Thank you to Sarah, Kylee, Emily, Angie, and Donna for all the extra time it took to make sure we all got paid.
Michael Groves named finalist for West Virginia Professor of the Year
The Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia has named five finalists for the 2021 Professor of the Year honor: Michael Groves, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing, Shepherd University; Linda Cowan, DMA, professor of music, West Liberty University; Micheal Fultz, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, West Virginia State University; Dan Hollis, M.A., professor of journalism and mass communication, Marshall University; and Paul Rakes, Ph.D., professor of history, West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Traditionally, finalists are honored at a springtime banquet in Charleston, where the Professor of the Year is announced. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, plans for a banquet have not been determined. Congratulations, Dr. Groves!
Shepherd students named Fulbright Scholarship semi-finalists
Two Shepherd students have been named U.S. Fulbright Student Program semi-finalists for the 2021-2022 competition. Mikayla Hamrick, an English/creative writing major, has applied for an English Teaching Assistant Program award for the Czech Republic. Fiona Tracey, a December 2020 graduate who also majored in English/creative writing, has applied to do a master’s in creative writing at University College Cork in Ireland. If selected, Mikayla and Fiona will be notified in late spring. The Fulbright website states that the program “provides grants for individually designed study/research projects or for English Teaching Assistant Programs. During their grant year(s), Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with, and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. Through engagement in the community, the individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.”
Byrd Center presents a virtual evening with author David Pepper
The Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education is hosting an online discussion with author and professor David Pepper on Thursday, February 3, at 7 p.m. According to his book “Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines,” Pepper believes that state governments are the place where the real battle for democracy is taking place. While news media focuses on the national government, few reporters and commentators are left to pay attention to the corruption and divisiveness in state governments that is leading toward autocracy and one-party rule. In addition to discussing topics from his book, Pepper will also comment on the recent decision of the Ohio Supreme Court that rejected the state’s redistricting plan as unconstitutional gerrymandering. David Pepper is a former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, a former councilman for the City of Cincinnati, and professor of voting rights law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Please RSVP for this event by emailing Jody Brumage (jbrumage@shepherd.edu).
150th Anniversary signature quilt now on display in Scarborough Library
The Scarborough Library has added a second quilt celebrating the University’s 150th anniversary to its collection. Throughout the fall semester, Rhonda Donaldson, coordinator of research services, collected squares that are individually decorated by various members of the campus community. The finished quilt is now hanging in the community reading room. Learn more about the quilt and see photos online.
Annual Student Leadership Conference planned for
February 5
Shepherd's 36th Annual Student Leadership Conference, Re-Envisioning Leadership for a Better World, will be held on Saturday, February 5, from 1-4:30 p.m. This year's event is being sponsored by the Office of Student Activities and Leadership in partnership with the Stubblefield Institute's Listen Learn Engage Initiative and TRIO Student Support Services. The conference will be held virtually on Zoom, and is free and open to all students, faculty, and staff. The conference will feature a keynote from Dr. Allison Jackson as well as breakout sessions on a variety of topics from self-care for student leaders to teambuilding, diversity, and collaboration featuring an all-star cast of presenters including Holly Morgan Frye, Julia Franks, Adonijah Gilmore, Dr. Richie Stevens, Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic, Amy Garzon-Hampton, Andrew Price, and Mary Anne Hitt. For more information and to register, visit RamPulse.
News
Shepherd women top East Stroudsburg
Graduate student guard Marley McLaughlin scored 25 points and junior guard Abby Beeman added 21 to lead Shepherd to an 80-70 win over East Stroudsburg in PSAC women’s basketball action at the Butcher Center on Wednesday night.
Two women’s basketball players earn PSAC honors
Junior guard Abby Beeman and graduate student forward Sydney Clayton of the Shepherd women's basketball team earned PSAC weekly honors as announced by the league. Beeman was named PSAC East Athlete of the Week while Clayton earned PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week honors.
B.S. in health promotion and exercise science receives national accreditation
Shepherd students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in health promotion and exercise science will have greater opportunities now that the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the largest programmatic accreditor of the health sciences professions.
Shepherd men dominate Mansfield
Senior forward Kyle Daggett had three game highs: 24 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots to lead Shepherd to an 80-57 win over Mansfield in PSAC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Monday night.
Shepherd women down Mansfield
Graduate student guard Marley McLaughlin scored 19 points and junior guard Abby Beeman added 18 to lead Shepherd to a 72-52 win over Mansfield in PSAC women's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Monday night.
Daggett named PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week
Senior forward Kyle Daggett of the Shepherd men's basketball team has been named PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week as announced by the league.
Shepherd women’s basketball ranked eighth in latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region Poll
The Shepherd women's basketball team is ranked eighth in the latest D2SIDA Women's Basketball Atlantic Region Poll for January 24. Shepherd (12-3) posted a 2-1 mark last week.
Shepherd men knock off Kutztown in OT
Senior forward Kyle Daggett hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left in overtime to lift Shepherd to a 65-63 win over Kutztown in PSAC men's basketball action at Kutztown on Saturday afternoon.
Shepherd women fall at #24 Kutztown
Graduate student forward Sydney Clayton and junior forward Cara Minor each scored 12 points in a road loss to Kutztown.
Robinson named to PSAC Fall Top 10
Graduate student defensive lineman Ricky Robinson of the Shepherd football team has been named to the PSAC Fall Top Ten. The PSAC Top 10 Awards are designed to recognize student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and in athletic competition. Robinson joins former teammate Deonte Glover as the only Shepherd student-athlete to gain this honor. The honorees are chosen by PSAC's sports information directors.
Shepherd men fall to East Stroudsburg
Despite strong contributions from two of its seniors, the Shepherd men’s basketball team lost to East Stroudsburg 77-61 in PSAC action at the Butcher Center on Wednesday night. Senior forward Kyle Daggett had a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds, while senior guard Cam Stephens contributed 11 points, a game-high five assists, four boards, and a game-high three steals.
Upcoming Events
Friday, January 28
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
Saturday, January 29
1 p.m.—Women’s basketball vs. Lock Haven
3 p.m.—Men’s basketball vs. Lock Haven
Monday, January 31
Last day to change a course from credit to audit status
5:30 p.m.—Women’s basketball vs. West Chester
7 p.m.—The American Conversation Series: “Teaching American History: Will it Change?” Facebook Live (registration required)
7:30 p.m.—Men’s basketball vs. West Chester
Wednesday, February 2
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
5:30 p.m.—Women’s basketball at West Chester
7:30 p.m.—Men’s basketball at West Chester
Thursday, February 3
7 p.m.— “Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines” with David Pepper (via Zoom; RSVP required)
Friday, February 4
11 a.m.-1 p.m.—First Friday hosted by Student Academic Enrichment, Scarborough Library patio
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
Saturday, February 5
Monday, February 7
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
5:30 p.m.—Women’s basketball vs. California (Pa.)
7:30 p.m.—Men’s basketball vs. California (Pa.)
Wednesday, February 9
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
Friday, February 11
Last day to withdraw from first-half semester class (see advisor by noon)
3-5 p.m.—Kate Helms exhibit, Phaze 2 Gallery
Shepherd University news and events are available here.
Athletics news and schedules are available here.
Dana L. Costa
Executive Director, University Communications
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown WV 25443-5000
