Faculty/Staff News (March/April 2018)

From Chronicle

Faculty News

Associate Professor of Dance Jo Byrnes spoke to a Theatre Capstone class and presented three master classes in Laban Movement Analysis for students and the community at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, March 11-12. Professor Byrnes also attended YogaFit® Level 2 Teacher Training March 24-25 in Baldwin City, Kansas.

First-Year Writing Seminar instructors Melody Denny, Peter Hyland, Sarah Quick, Mary Laughlin, and Amanda Cook (not pictured) attended the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCCs) in Kansas City over spring break. The group learned many things about peer review, commenting on student writing, teaching research, and community engagement that they can bring back to Cottey and the First-Year Writing Seminar. This trip was sponsored by P.E.O. funds.

Mike Dombroski, instructional technology specialist, attended the Teaching and Learning Technology 2018 Conference at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri, on March 15, 2018. He presented, Using Infographics for Presentations and Projects and attended sessions on topics such as developing test banks, creating short videos for the classroom, and advancing faculty excellence. The keynote speaker was Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of Project Lead the Way which works with K-12 schools to get students involved in hands-on learning. He spoke on the need to inform and involve students in the educational process, and all attendees received a copy of his new book, Dream Differently: Candid Advice for America's Students.

Professors Brianne Fulton Miller and Morgan Frew juried the Prairieview High School Art Competition on Wednesday, March 28. Twelve regional schools submitted nearly 300 artworks for the exhibition. High schools also competed in drawing and sculptural events with the theme of Googie architecture as a focus. Professors Fulton Miller and Frew judged the exhibition artworks, the contests, and gave a juror's talk to all students at the end of the event.

Dr. Jackie Lordo, assistant professor of music, adjudicated at the KC Metro District Music Festival in Liberty, Missouri, on March 3. Dr. Lordo has also served as clinician for several other bands preparing for their respective District Music Festivals and other selective performances, including Nevada, Archie, Mt. Vernon, Lamar, and Stockton High Schools. On April 14, Dr. Lordo will adjudicate at the Regional Music Festival sponsored by the Kansas State High School Activities Association in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Dr. Erica Sigauke, coordinator of spiritual life and campus diversity, successfully defended her dissertation titled, Intercultural and Immigrant Ministries. Erica has been pursuing her Doctor of Divinity at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities since fall 2012, all while working at Cottey. [More info/long description available, if desired]

Prof. Theresa Spencer coached vocal students at Thomas Jefferson High School in Joplin on Wednesday, April 4. The students are preparing their solos and small ensembles for the All-State music competitions to be held at the end of April. On February 27, Prof. Spencer served as an adjudicator at Monett High School for singers who were preparing for district music competitions.

Prof. Theresa Spencer, professor of music, spent part of Wednesday, April 11, at Nevada High School. She worked with several vocalists who are preparing solo pieces for All State Music Competition at the end of this month. On Wednesday, April 18, she went to ElDorado Springs High School and Thursday afternoon, April 19, she was at Lamar High School. In both schools she coached vocalists who are preparing for All-State Music Competitions.

Dr. Julie Tietz, professor of psychology, attended the annual conference of the Southwestern Psychological Association, April 12-15, 2018, in Houston, Texas, where she learned about recent research on a variety of topics, including attitudes toward emotional support animals, the use of book clubs in the teaching of human sexuality, and the use of video games as psychotherapy.

Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, represented Cottey College at the 15th Annual Central Exchange Leadership Lyceum inside the Overland Park Convention Center on Tuesday, April 24. She joined other senior administrators from Kansas and Missouri colleges on a panel that addressed ways in which administrators integrate elements of Motivation 3.0 from Daniel Pink’s Drive, including autonomy, mastery, and purpose into the goals of higher education. Dr. Ugochukwu also moderated a panel on strategies for success and how women can thrive in the workplace. Two Cottey students – Laurel Loyless and Kundai Matara - participated in the Leadership Lyceum along with the director of leadership development, Ms. Denise Hedges. The students’ participation was sponsored by the Serenbetz Institute for Women’s Leadership, Social Responsibility, and Global Awareness.

Field Trips/Other

Dr. Selena Kohel – Field trip to Chicago (Psychology majors), where she also moderated a session titled, “Cultural Neuroscience: Linking Context to Genes and the Brain.” [April 2018] Field trip to New York with four psychology majors taking taking the course “Diversity: Inclusion, Equality, and Equity.” [April 2018]

Dr. Brenda Ross – Student field trip to KC to attend 16th Annual Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. Lecture [April 2018]

Dr. Tammy Ogren – Business/entrepreneurial field trip to KC with business students [April 2018]

Denise Hedges, w/ Dr. Brenda Ross & Dr. Ugochukwu – Leadership field trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art to tour Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power and hear distinguished speaker Patrisse Khan-Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. [April 2018]

Dr. Quick & Tatiana Jones – Environmental Studies field trip to Prairie State Park to consider its educational and conservation mission. This field trip is the third for the Sustainable Tourism class, who has also visited the Bushwhacker Museum as well as the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Dr. Amanda Cook – Took two students to the Society for American Music conference [March 2018]

Dr. Catherine Volle – Took four students to the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The students, along with Dr. Volle, presented posters at the conference, and Dr. Volle also gave an invited lecture at Occidental College on February 15. [February 2018]

Other Faculty announcements (All-Campus Meeting)

Faculty Development Funds

Dr. Carol Clyde Gallagher: Clover Faculty Development Funds, to participate in the Kansas Leadership Center’s “Leadership Edge” and “Equip to Lead” program during summer 2018 in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr. Mary Laughlin: Corley Faculty Development Funds, to attend the Council of Writing Program Administrators conference in July 2018 in Sacramento, California, where she’s been accepted to present “Reflections on the Implementation of a First-year Writing Seminar.”

Dr. Melody Denny: Corley Faculty Development Funds, to attend the Council of Writing Program Administrators conference in July 2018 in Sacramento, California, where she’s been accepted to present “Reflections on the Implementation of a First-year Writing Seminar.”

Dr. Amanda Cook: Corley Faculty Development Funds & Cassa Funds, to attend the Council of Writing Program Administrators conference in July 2018 in Sacramento, California, where she’s been accepted to present “Reflections on the Implementation of a First-year Writing Seminar.”

Dr. Mary Mba: Corley Faculty Development Funds & Cassa Funds, to attend the African Literature Association conference in May 2018 in Washington, D.C. where she’s been accepted to present “Prepositions and Conjunctions: Gender, Racial, and Generational Power Play in Calixthe Beyal’s Tu t’appeleras Tanga.”

Dr. Sarah Quick: Corley, Cassa, & Cunningham funds, to attend the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in July 2018 in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she’s been accepted to present “Jigging infused: Recent Innovations on the Prairies.” She will also attend the John Arcand Fiddle Festival near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in August 2018.

Dr. Brenda Ross: Corley, Cassa, & Clover funds, to complete two online courses through the University of Colorado’s Graduate Certificate Program in Diversity, Social Justice, and Inclusion during the 2018-19 academic year.

Dr. Trisha Stubblefield: Clover funds, to attend the Society for the Study of American Women Writers Triennial Conference in November 2018 in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Catherine Volle: Corley, Cassa, and Cunningham funds, to attend the American Chemical Society meeting in August 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.

New Endowed Chairs

ELOISE M. COST CHAIR IN SCIENCE                                         Dr. Brenda Ross

IVA CORPSTEIN ASSOCIATE CHAIR IN SCIENCE                    Dr. Ganga Fernando

HATTIE B. TOUHY ASSOCIATE CHAIR IN ENGLISH               Dr. Kathryn Pivak