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Faculty/staff spotlights
Dr. John Crowley
Crowley Studies Rare Religion
Most people have never heard of Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Predestinarian Baptists, but History Professor John Crowley has dedicated the past 33-years of his career to the study of the sect’s doctrine, practiced mostly in Northern Alabama and Texas.
The Hahira native, who has “spent his entire life down South and has no intentions of leaving,” is working on a book about the scarce Baptist sub-group as a follow-up to his work, “Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South 1850 to present,” which was published in 1988. Crowley explains the lull between books on the tight-lipped community and his inherent drive to leave no reference unturned. It took years, Crowley said, to gain the trust and travel to meet with various church members and leaders in Indiana, Texas and Tennessee.
“My mother, when she was living, always told me, ‘The trouble with you is that you enjoy researching, so you research forever and never reach the point where you think you’ve had enough,’ and she is quite correct,” said Crowley, who classifies his main audience as scholars of early American and frontier religion. “I am always thinking of some source I overlooked that I can check out.” Read more >
Judy Bailey
Bailey Named Employee of Semester
The Valdosta State University Council on Staff Affairs (COSA) named Odum Library Administrative Secretary Judy Bailey Employee of the Semester for her 28 years of exceptional customer service, innovative problem solving and consummate professionalism.
The organization presented Bailey with the award, given twice each year to a full-time, classified staff employee, during a meeting on Tuesday, May 10, in the University Center. COSA chose Bailey from a handful of nominees, including: Joanne Bryant, Business Services; Lisa Baldwin, Information Technology; Kanan Simpson, Information Technology; James Jenkins, Physical Plant; Derrick Carter, Office of Social Equity; and Curtis Moody, College of the Arts. Each of these employees has made significant contributions beyond his or her assigned responsibilities.
Interim Associate University Librarian, Alan Bernstein, nominated Bailey for her courteous manner and commitment to detail. He said Bailey is always willing to help with duties outside of her written job description and constantly searches for ways to streamline operations, thus saving manpower and time.
"Valdosta State University is crowded with talented, hard-working, innovative people. Judy, though, is a few steps beyond. She combines all the technical skills necessary to do a superlative job while maintaining a consistently friendly, outgoing, and happy disposition," Bernstein said. "Her reputation for collegiality, friendship, caring and professionalism is legend among both new and old library staff and faculty members."
The Employee of the Semester recognition program began in 1994 as a method to recognize and celebrate the successes of classified staff employees who have gone above and beyond their assigned duties to make a significant contribution to the university. For more information, go to COSA's website.
Sarah VanKuiken
Residential Educator to Represent the State
Valdosta State University Assistant Director of Residential Education Sarah VanKuiken was elected State Representative of the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) -- an organization that represents university housing officers in 10 Southeastern states.
VanKuiken, who has worked in residence life for the past 10 years, will attend conferences, vote to establish housing practices and submit state reports to the association with the overall goal of building relationships and sharing ideas with other institutional professionals to improve practices throughout the region. Read more >
Janet Forrest
Science Instructor Named Outstanding Educator of the Year
The Georgia Forestry Association named Valdosta State University Science Education Instructor Janet Forrest its 2011 Outstanding Educator of the Year for her work with Project Learning Tree (PLT) -- a global education program aimed at increasing students’ awareness and understanding of the environment. 
Since 2003, Forrest has been working with the American Forest Foundation program to instruct a range of age groups, from elementary school children to senior citizens, about the importance of wildlife conservation. Helping even one person understand the importance of his or her actions on the planet “means it has been a good day” for the environmental enthusiast, who has worked at VSU for the past four years.
“I believe the best way to ensure our natural resources -- wildlife, forest, soils, water, and air -- for future generations is through proper conservation techniques, management practices and education,” said Forrest, who works alongside the Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), Langdale Forest Products Co. and the Georgia Forestry Commission to educate early education majors at VSU. “Working with others to teach them about the importance of our natural resources and how much we depend on them in our everyday lives can help them to understand why we must conserve water, harvest trees and even why the state allows hunting.” Read more >
Dr. Wayne Plumly
Dean Honored for Dedication to Service 
Area service organization 100 Black Men of Valdosta honored Dr. Wayne Plumly, dean of the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business, with a Community Service Award during the organization's annual banquet in early April.
Plumly has been instrumental in dozens of service projects throughout the region, including — most recently — construction of the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Skills Success Center, a 1,700-square-foot dynamic learning center in the Ora Lee West housing area. The multipurpose learning facility, which opened its doors in late February, provides VSU student volunteers with space to address the social, economic and educational needs of area children and families.
The professor of economics and SIFE faculty advisor said he considers service his civic responsibility and the award an "honor of a lifetime."
"It has always been my viewpoint that it is my responsibility as a member of our society to assist others that need special help, especially children," said Plumly, who has been teaching at VSU for the past 30 years. "Sometimes we tend to abdicate this responsibility to government which disconnects us from the problems. By having an active role, one can take back that responsibility and feeling of accomplishment and connection." Read more >
Dr. Denise Reid
Reid Exposes Girls to Mathematical Possibilities
Dr. Denise Reid has dedicated her professional career to dependent variables and partial derivatives as a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Having waded through algebraic study alongside mostly men, Reid understands the importance of gender diversification in the field. Since 1996, the mother of three has organized a campus event to encourage high school girls to pursue their mathematical inclinations.
“I have always enjoyed math. It was challenging, and I like a challenge. I declared myself a math major my first quarter of college and just knew that I wanted to become a mathematics professor,” Reid said. “So few women continue on in math. Hopefully, this event encourages them to continue their study of math by showing them that it can be fun and by providing them with some positive role models.”
Thursday, April 14, will mark the 16th Annual Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day (SK Day), named in honor of the first woman to earn a doctorate in mathematics. Read more >
Dr. Miryam Espinosa-Dulanto
Spanish Professor Unites Passion for Art and Research 
Dr. Miryam Espinosa-Dulanto speaks in colors and photographs. With English as her second language, the Spanish professor blends art and research to communicate in the academic world.
“Sometimes it is difficult to express in words, the feelings raised by discussions on certain issues such as, immigration, slavery or world customs and cultures, so I encourage students to explore other methods of communication to sharing their feelings and findings,” said, Espinosa-Dulanto, whose office is lined with vibrant photo essays on different themes from child slavery, to love and family."
Espinosa-Dulanto dedicates much of herself to bridging cultures through language and art. Within the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, she coordinates the newly established Spanish for Professionals, a Quality Enhancement Plan designed to improve the Spanish-speaking skills of nurses, law enforcement officers, businesses owners and other professionals who regularly communicate with Spanish speakers. Read more >
Jacque Wheeler
Theatre and Dance Professor Captures National Award and the Hearts of her Students 
Theatre and Dance Professor Jacque Wheeler does not only believe in her students, she makes them believe in themselves. At least that is the sentiment playwright Debra Fordham conveyed in a letter nominating Wheeler for the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award.
“It took years, but her belief eventually became my own. And two decades later, I am a three-time Emmy-nominated television writer, living a life I never dreamed possible,” said Fordham, a VSU graduate and writer-producer for Lifetime Television series “Army Wives.” “You see, what makes Jacque Wheeler special is that she doesn’t just teach for a semester or a year. And her lessons don’t end at graduation. No, Jacque Wheeler is your teacher for life. And 22 years after that first phone call, she is still changing mine.”
Wheeler and nine other inspirational educators were recognized on Sondheim’s birthday, March 22, for their extraordinary impact on the lives of students by expanding horizons, challenging deeper understanding, and encouraging achievement. Read more >
Dr. J. Patrick Biddix
Biddix Pioneers Innovative Educational Research 
For the past five years, Dr. J. Patrick Biddix has been asking questions.
The inquisitive and energetic associate professor has sought to understand the role women play in contemporary college activism, the relationship between leadership and technology, and the various paths to becoming a Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO). His probing has resulted in nearly 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and a handful of major, ongoing research studies.
“My research agenda focuses on civic engagement outcomes, technology and implications, and career development. Linking each is research related to collegiate and professional women’s development,” said Biddix, who has grown the Higher Education Leadership program from eight to 40 students during his five years as program coordinator. “Like many people, I believe the world is changing -- certainly in the way we communicate and form relationships. I think how we work and play in college can have significant implications for how we work and play as future citizens.” Read more >
Dr. Thomas Aiello
Professor Writes of Sniffing Glue and Football Rivalries 
Assistant Professor of History Thomas Aiello has been writing books at an exhaustive pace about everything from glue sniffing to Negro League Baseball. The Louisiana native, who began teaching at VSU in August, considers writing his obsession.
Aiello mostly turns research projects — like the Grambling-Southern football rivalry — into books for classroom instruction and history buffs. For fun, he pens works of fiction such as his latest novel, “On Carpentry” (2011), a comedic tragedy about a fictional Southern town and its outbreak of pancreatic cancer.
“I generally describe writing history as finding the pieces of a massive jigsaw puzzle and assembling them in a way that people want to see,” Aiello said. “Fiction writing is different. Fiction writing is like being faced with a black jigsaw puzzle. It’s already assembled, but a picture needs to be drawn on it.”
His non-fiction work focuses mainly on African-American cultural and intellectual history in the 20th century; however, he has published about literature, music and philosophy, among other topics. “I usually discover something interesting while doing research for something else, save it, then come back to it and see if it sparks my interest when I have some free time,” he said. Read more >
Catherine Schaeffer
Schaeffer Facilitates Innovative Dance at Regional Conference
Associate Professor of Dance Catherine Schaeffer and 20 VSU students will perform two original works at the American College Dance Festival 2011 Southeast Regional Conference March 4-8 in Tallahassee, Fla. The group will hold a free community preview at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, in Sawyer Theatre.
"Motional Baggage" began with a site specific performance filmed in New York City in October. The finished piece, which featured 16 VSU dancers, is rooted in contact improvisation structures — a dance form based on the communication between two or more moving bodies. The piece will also appear in VSU's 25th Anniversary Dance Concert in April.
"This piece is really exciting to watch and was developed with and on the dancers," said Schaeffer, who has taken students to ACDFA for the past eight years. "We worked for a full semester on improvisation skills and developing contact duets. These performances are unlike anything I have done here at VSU."
Schaeffer, who won the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award in 2008, also facilitated the Senior Student Adjudicated Dance — a solo titled "Crossing Temptation" by Larae Phillips. The senior, who began working on the dance last semester, will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in mass media, film emphasis, with a minor in dance.
At the conference, Schaeffer — who specializes in modern dance, floor barre ballet, improvisation and somatics — will teach a master class in Shin Somatics and present works for adjudication.
Kim Holt, assistant professor of dance, will teach Pilates at the conference, which will be held at Florida State University and aims to highlight the region's professional works, dance on-camera showings and dancer/instructor collaboration.
Dr. Kenneth Rumstay
Rumstay's Research Among the Stars
For the last 15 years, Astronomy Professor Kenneth Rumstay has been studying the brightness of active galaxies thousands of light-years away and referencing terms like “black hole” and “star calibrations” the general public only hears in sci-fi movies.
The galaxies of stars this professor had dedicated his career to boast centers of enormous holes weighing as much as a billion suns. As gas and dust, and the occasional star, spiral into the black hole — the intense gravity squeezes them to enormous temperatures, which releases tremendous amounts of light.
“By seeing how the brightness changes, we hope to get a handle on the rate at which matter falls into the black hole,” said Rumstay, “By studying the in-fall rate variations, we can learn something about the size and geometry of the space occupied by the gas around the black hole.”
With degrees in planetary science and astronomy from MIT, Wesleyan University, and Ohio State University, Rumstay’s research as an observational astronomer has allowed him to study and contribute to a variety of publications about the long-term optical variability of highly energetic galactic centers.
On certain evenings throughout the academic year, Rumstay serves as VSU Planetarium Director, where he is often found cracking planetary jokes and sharing his knowledge of the sky to a range of audiences. Following the show, he often takes people onto the roof of Nevins Hall to observe the night's sky through telescopes.
Spring 2011 Research Seed Grants
The Faculty Scholarship Committee awarded the following Faculty Research Seed Grants to support faculty research and creative activity in the furtherance of the scholarly mission of the University. Congratulations to the pioneering scholars and artists who won the Spring 2011 competition:
John Barbas (Chemistry): Green Chemistry - $4,700
Joren Cain (Music): Saxophone CD Project - $5,000
Sudip Chakraborty and Krishnendu Roy (Mathematics & Computer Science): An Analytical Model for Estimating the Trustworthiness of a Cloud - $7,500
Mary-Gorham Rowan (Communication Sciences & Disorders) and Green Waggener (Kinesiology & Physical Education): Blood Lactate Levels Associated with Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to the Larynx - $2,040
Jia Lu (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences): Roads, Environment, and Culture in China's Eastern Himalaya: A Pilot GIS Analysis - $4,996
Jemal Mohammed-Awel (Mathematics & Computer Science): Effectiveness of the "Screened Refuge" Technique for the Pink Bollworm - $5,000
James Nienow (Biology): Adaptations of Subaerial Algae to Desiccation - $5,000
Tolulope Salami (Chemistry): Synthesis of Novel 3-Dimensional Open Framework Materials for Hydrogen Storage - $1,721
Lorraine Schmertzing and Richard Schmertzing (Curriculum, Leadership & Technology): Teachers' Perceptions of the Achievement Gap Between Black and White Students in Georgia - $5,000
Matthew Waters (Biology): Paleolimnology of the Altamaha River Oxbow Lakes - $5,000
Zhiguang Xu (Mathematics & Computer Science): Neural Network Based Wafer Surface Reconstruction from Electron Microscopy - $4,956
Drs. Carl Cates and Ray Young
Professors Study the Effectiveness of Mentoring First-Year Teachers
Communication Arts Professors Carl Cates and Ray Young concluded a three-year study to assess the effectiveness of listening, playful communication and social interaction while mentoring new teachers. The two surveyed 62 first-year teachers about their mentors’ approaches to listening and professional guidance.
Blending Empathy with Guidance
“Findings support that often the best way to mentor is to show empathy and positive regard for the other,” said Young, who teaches in the Speech Communications Area. “Examples of empathic listening include statements that show an understanding for the other’s feelings and difficulties such as, ‘I understand your frustration with not being told about which format to use for your semester reports.’ A skillful empathic listener knows how to accurately paraphrase a person's problems and emotions.”
Cates, Communication Arts department head, said mentors must aid new teachers in identifying, evaluating and adapting their goals to effectively solve problems. Empathy and caring are important first steps in the mentoring process, he said; but helpers must also analyze problems and make suggestions.
Actionable Outcomes
They hope study findings will guide school districts in implementing or continuing to support mentor training in listening and communication, even through times of economic hardship. Their concluding article was published in “Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning” — one of the leading journals dedicated to the advancement of contemporary forms of mentoring as well as tutoring and partnership in education.
Read their article, “Listening, Play, and Social Attraction in the Mentoring of New Teachers" online.
Dr. J. Michael Orenduff
Professor Launches Third Sequel of Comical Mystery: The Pot Thief
Thousands of people have spent the night with Dr. J. Michael Orenduff — well, with one of his books, that is.
The adjunct professor of philosophy in the Honors Program has released the third in a series of novels that chronicle the thrilling adventures of Hubert Schuze, a quirky thief of rare pots who treasures philosophy along his path of moral ambiguity.
"The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein," released in early December, weaves an intricate plot through comical circumstances and murderous events. The title has been nominated for the 2011 Left Coast Crime Award, which will be given to four authors of humorous mysteries at the national convention in March.
The series is set in New Mexico, where Orenduff said he grew up "so close to the Rio Grande that he could Frisbee a flour tortilla into Mexico from his backyard;" and where he married his high school sweetheart, Dr. Lai Chew Orenduff, a noted art historian and author who also teaches at Valdosta State.
Read more about Orenduff's unpretentious characters and playful, yet provocative, writing ... Go >
Faculty Aim High in 2011!
Valdosta State University faculty members have won a variety of research and community development grants to further university research endeavors and provide talented students with the opportunity to study at VSU.
Dr. Marty Giddings, director of the Division of Social Work, received a contract from the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services, to support current and future child protective service workers in obtaining their Master of Social Work degrees from VSU.
Dr. Mimi McGahee, director of the Education Technology Center, College of Education, received a contract from the Georgia Department of Education to administer the Georgia Virtual Schools end-of-course testing.
Dr. Wallace Koehler, director of the Masters in Library and Information Sciences (MLIS) program, received a subaward from the Georgia Public Library Service for the “Librarians Building Communities” project. The funds will support 45 MLIS students as they develop expertise in community building, thereby strengthening public libraries in Georgia and addressing the state's shortage of librarians.
Koehler also won a subaward of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funds from the Georgia Institute of Technology. VSU will participate in a consortium of USG institutions to implement a statewide institutional repository program, called the GALILEO Knowledge Repository (GKR) -- a scholarly output of faculty, staff, and students widely available through metadata harvesting and search tools.
Dr. Kathleen Lowney, professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice, received continued funds to operate the American Sociological Association Editorial Office for "Teaching Sociology."
Beverly Porter
Beverly Porter grew up with Tinkertoys and Penny Brite, not Avatars and bitmaps; therefore, somewhat of a techno-panic set in when the stay-at-home mother of three decided to pursue a college degree amid a culture of online classes and PowerPoint presentations. Fourteen years and three degrees later, Porter serves as the Educational Technology Center (ETC) administrative coordinator -- aiding area school districts and Valdosta State faculty and students as they navigate through the World Wide Web.
“If everyone is open to being able to learn something new every day, their lives will be richer for it. Life is a learning process, and it is changing all the time,” Porter said. “Technology is the tool that allows educators to meet their students in their world and engage them in the learning process. My role is extremely rewarding and constantly changing, which keeps life interesting.” Read more >
Sandra Delk
Valdosta State University Assistant Professor of Nursing Sandra Delk earned the designation of Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) from the National League for Nursing. Delk is the first faculty member within VSU’s College of Nursing to earn this distinction.
Delk has been involved in nursing education for 18 years, first at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and at VSU since 2000.
Delk received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from VSU. She is a Registered Nurse (RN) and is also a certified Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN). Read more >
Dr. Peggy Moch
Mathematics Education Professor Peggy Moch is a transformative leader dedicated to educational achievement, student development and professional fellowship. Her humble, yet effective, leadership style is among the reasons International Honor Society Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) named Moch vice president of the 45,000-strong group committed to promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership and service among educators.
Becoming vice president of the association’s Executive Council for the 2010-12 biennium was a natural step for Moch after serving two terms as chair of the society’s constitution and bylaws committee. Moch, who was inducted into KDP in 1994, has served as faculty counselor for Valdosta State’s Alpha Beta Kappa (ABK) Chapter since 2004. Under her leadership, VSU received recruitment awards at KDP’s international Convocation in 2007 and again in 2009. Read more >
Pam Vickers
Pam Vickers' days are absorbed with bookkeeping in the VSU Purchasing Office; her nights and weekends are filled with chocolate cake topped with milk chocolate ganache and layered with coffee cream cheese icing or cinnamon rolls drizzled with maple glaze or raspberry filled petit fours expertly decorated with lemon buttercream.
If you are what you eat, then the mother of two is as sweet as the confections she has baked daily, with a smile, for the past two years. Vickers, who began working at VSU in December 2006, has built a regional pastry empire -- PV Sweets -- with the goal of bringing joy to people’s lives, one bite at a time.
"I've always loved to cook so my husband and I bought a restaurant in Nashville once upon a time. Although I loved many aspects of owning the restaurant, it only took about 3 years to know that was really not my calling,” Vickers said. “However, my customers, who became my friends, would not let me get away from baking for them, especially the thin layer cakes.” Read more >
Drs. Patti and Bob Campbell
A Productive Union: Married Faculty Collaborate to Secure Grant Funds
Special Education Professors Patti and Robert Campbell are worth about $30 million -- at least that is the total grant funds they have secured throughout their 40-year careers. Arguably even more impressive is that the husband-wife team has been able to collaborate, even share a small office in the early years, with few squabbles or struggles for power.
“We have written so many grants together that we now work seamlessly, each focusing on certain sections of the grant. We often have 30 calendar days to submit a proposal, so there isn’t time to argue. He did say I was a bit wordy this time,” Patti said with a grin.
In collaboration with Dr. Julie Lee, associate dean of the College of Education, the pair’s latest achievement is a U.S. Department of Education grant to conduct a four-year project that prepares educators to serve children and youth with low-incidence disabilities. The $1.2 million grant will fund 70 teachers from rural settings and underrepresented groups as they earn a Master of Arts in Teaching. Read more >
Dr. Byron Brown
Dr. Byron Brown: Advising a Privledge
Dr. Byron Brown considers it a privilege to pen recommendation letters and help students navigate through course catalogs.
“When I was a student, I was lucky to have an academic advisor who knew the regulations and who cared about me. As an advisor, I've tried to be the same kind of faculty member -- someone who knows and someone who cares,” the English professor said. “Of these two, caring is most important. By that I mean someone who cares enough to be accessible, someone who will devote time to students' individual questions and problems, and someone they can depend on to be their advocate.”
Claude Landrum
Landrum Joins Advancement Team
Valdosta State University alumnus Claude Landrum has returned to his alma mater as a computer services associate within University Advancement. The Homerville, Ga. native, has spent the past four years working as director of technology at Valwood School, a local private school for children pre-kindergarten through the 12th-grade, where he also served as technology instructor and advisor.
Landrum has spent the majority of his professional experience working within education; prior to working at Valwood School, he was a technology specialist for the Valdosta City Schools. Read More >
Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer
Professor Illuminates Medieval Literature
Dr. Maren Clegg-Hyer’s passion for and knowledge of medieval literature is enough to inspire even the most indifferent, clock-watching students. The assistant professor of English has been teaching for about 17 years, the past three of which have been guiding VSU undergraduates through epic prose.
“I fell in love with medieval English literature as an undergraduate in my first medieval survey course,” said Hyer, who developed her love for the written word as a child. “I found medieval literature to be fascinating, and I still do.” Read More >
Dr. Lai Kent Orenduff
Q&A about Art, Love and Teaching
Dr. Lai Kent Orenduff’s passion for art is contagious, and her zest for educating students — even more magnetic.
The associate professor of Art, honored with the 2010 Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, strives each day to expose students to "the diversity of the world.” Read how she developed her fondness for modern art and how it continues to move her -- intellectually, creatively and spiritually. Read More >
Jeffrey Gallant
Reference 'Geek' Promotes Library Texting
Jeffrey Gallant is a self-proclaimed techno-nerd (geek), a perception corroborated by his convoluted title -- Reference Librarian and Instructor of Library Science / Electronic Resources and Technology Librarian. In layman’s terms, Gallant is one of the library’s techie experts; and he has spent the last few months introducing Odum to new communication technologies such as texting -- LOL.
“At Odum Library, we want our patrons to see the reference desk as a welcoming, safe place, and part of that is communicating with patrons in their most comfortable communication method,” said Gallant, who started working at VSU in April. “Library texting works especially well when a student, staff or faculty member has a quick question for us, such as ‘What are your hours today?’ or ‘Where is color printing available?’ Patrons, who may be a bit lost in the bookshelves, can have a quick text message conversation to guide them.” Read more >
Duke Guthrie
A Life of Direction
Characters on stage may slay the dragon, get the girl and turn the other cheek; but the theatre industry doesn’t always have a storybook ending -- a reality that guides Associate Professor of Theatre Duke Guthrie as he consoles students’ through educational exploration with a respectful, but firm hand.
“I try to to always be direct and honest with students, patrons and stakeholders; it just makes life easier but not necessarily easy,” said Guthrie, who teaches theatre management, voice and diction, and portfolio/resume presentation for the Theatre and Dance Area. “When students enter the professional theatre industry, they will find that people are generally pretty rough, so I don't pad my responses. I try to not be ugly, but I think my students will tell you I can be painfully honest.”
But don’t let his candid disposition fool you. The managing director of Peach State Summer Theatre seems to care about his students and the Valdosta State program as much as the air he breathes. His unconditional devotion is what led the university to bestow upon him the 2010 Excellence in Service Award -- given each fall to a faculty member who exudes leadership, commitment and professional development. Read more >Sharon Butcher
A Champion of Service
Excellence Award winner Sharon Butcher is convinced that customer service begins with a genuine desire to help others that is strengthened with respect and fueled by honesty. Her father taught her that.
“My Dad taught me and lived the example of how to treat people -- with respect, honesty and accountability,” said Butcher, who is the department manager for Campus Mail Services. “With 59 years of trials and many errors, I have come to understand I want to strive to be honest, respectful, accountable and constantly remind myself I have only walked in my shoes.”
The university community honored Butcher with the Excellence in Customer Service -- awarded during commencement each year to a classified staff member for his or her exceptional dedication to others. Customer service, Butcher said, is key to professional success and institutional health. Campus Mail interacts with a variety of faculty, staff, students and visitors -- and is committed to treating each of them with the upmost consideration, she reiterated. Read more >
Dr. Reynaldo Martinez
Martinez Awarded for Outstanding Instruction
Dr. Reynaldo Martinez credits the quality of Valdosta State University's Adult and Career Education (ACED) programs to the positive collaboration between many dedicated faculty members. But his impressive service record, obvious passion for teaching, and two recent awards from top professional organizations in the field prove he is integral to the program's success.
In June, Martinez received the "Meritorious Service Award" by the University Council for Workforce and Human Resources Education (UCWHRE). He was then honored in July as the 2010 Outstanding Career and Technical Educator by the Trade and Industrial Educators of Georgia (GACTE). Read more >
Shawn Phippen
VSU's Fitness Guru
If it entails fitness, Shawn Phippen is likely involved. The Assistant Director of Fitness, Facilities and Aquatics implemented personal training, exercise testing, swim lessons and Red Cross classes for Student Recreation Center (SRC) Members; he coordinates several campus 5K races and oversees nearly 100 student employees. His schedule would make most people tired before their first cup of joe.
I like keeping busy, and I love helping students develop into better leaders and individuals," said Phippen, who has been known to pull 16-hour workdays. "I am currently working with Housing and Residence Life to create a Wellness Floor; I am also trying to create a lifeguarding club and competition, which will challenge lifeguards throughout the country to compete for prizes and improve their skills." Read more >
Dr. Leisa Marshall
Professor Honors Neighbor with Race
Accounting Professor Leisa Marshall greeted her 50th year with a pledge to exercise. For inspiration during the spring of 2010, Marshall kept up with the 5K activity of former VSU student Steven Brogdon Jr. and had planned to join him in an upcoming race. She heard from her ambitious mentee in February but not about running; his father, Steven Brogdon Sr., had been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. He was 51.
“I was a bit shocked, so it took me five days to respond. Given Steven’s age (I was guessing about 25 years old), I was saddened that a person would possibly lose their parent at such a young age,” Marshall said. “I suppose in my desire to help or maybe lack of what to say, I suggested that we organize a 5K for his dad’s benefit. He spoke with his dad, who gave the approval, then I decided that we could do this every year -- pick a family that received a similar diagnosis, and I just went to work, figuring out what I needed to do.” Read More >
Dr. Victor Morgan
Farewell Dr. Morgan
When a young, eager Dr. Victor Morgan arrived at Valdosta State College in 1981, the director of counseling was an office of one. The passionate therapist provided counseling services, outreach programs, testing services, crisis management, and even career counseling for the entire university of 4,500 students.
Today, as Morgan hangs his hat after 29 years of service, he recalls the journey to build a holistic counseling center that provides comprehensive mental health counseling to the university community. The center has grown to six professional counselors, a consulting psychiatrist, two secretaries and a student intern. In 2000, the center became one of only four in the State of Georgia to receive full accreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). Read More >
Philip Bishop
Bishop Inspires Digital Creativity
Philip Bishop is a creative muse. The media utilization specialist collaborates with faculty, staff and students on a range of projects -- all the while, urging them to explore the visionary within.
“I believe that creativity should shine through all that people do. Our motto here at the media center is ‘Media Services: Where Creativity meets Technology,’” said Bishop, who has worked at VSU since 2006. “Education is getting more technology based, and I feel we help students close the gap between what they don’t know and what they could know.”
Drs. Tracy Woodard-Meyers and Shani Gray
Buillding Bridges in the Borderland
U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints interrupted the rugged limestone hills framing the highway as Dr. Tracy Woodard-Meyers drove from Texas to California last May. Her trip through the divided territory led the director of Women’s and Gender Studies to form the Borderland Cultural Immersion Experience -- a three-week living-learning encounter in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico.
Woodard-Meyers paired with Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Shani Gray to escort five students to the world’s largest border community, where 80 percent of the population claims some Hispanic heritage. VSU students lived among migrants a mile from the U.S.-Mexico border. Read More >
COSA
COSA Gears up for Fall Semester
New leadership of the Council on Staff Affairs (COSA) took effect July 1 to continue the organization’s mission of advancing staff welfare and addressing employee concerns.
The university elected Terence Sullivan, an academic advisor in the Student Success Center, as COSA chair. The coordinator for tutoring and supplemental instruction said he is eager to continue to foster open communication among staff to ensure all ideas are heard and considered. In this difficult economic climate, Sullivan said, the organization wants to offer personal and professional support to the VSU community. More>
Dr. David Boyd
Keeping Score with David Boyd
As basketball players move down the court, anticipating each other’s passes, and football players charge down the sidelines in rehearsed formations -- Dr. David Boyd, professor emeritus of Mathematics and Computer Science, collaborates with his team on the sidelines or in the press box.
Boyd has been working the scoreboard at VSU football games for the past 24 years and the scoreboard at basketball games since 1988. He portrays coordination with other members of the game operation team much like a coach would describe the cooperation within the lineup. Read more >
Dr. Ransom Gladwin
SILENCING NATIONS: Gladwin's Research Exposes Indigenous Language Loss
Dr. Ransom Gladwin believes language is more than abstract interpretations depicted in dictionaries; dialects are the essence of one’s cultural identity formed through generations of wars, progress, myths and flavors.
The associate professor of Modern and Classical Languages has been studying the diversity of Meso-American language speakers in the region since 2004. Gladwin, who specializes in second-language acquisition, has watched languages fade, and with them the spirit of those who once spoke the dialects proudly. Read more >
Karl Elliott
Executive Chef Emphasizes Fresh, Seasonal Ingredients
Blazer Dining’s Executive Chef Karl Elliott leads a flavorful life. Trained at The Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park, N.Y., Elliott has infused more than 15 years of professional cooking experience into the 20,000 meals Sodexo serves at VSU each week.
The father of two, who began working at VSU in April 2009, said he is passionate about providing the campus with menu items that support Sodexo’s focus on balance of mind, body and soul. He strives to share his love for diverse flavors that bring people together. Read more >
Elsie Crane
Centennial's Mother Hen
Elsie Crane can talk to anyone; an ability, the Centennial Hall receptionist said, that came from being painfully shy as a child.
“I was not a wallflower; I was glued to the wall,” said Crane, who has worked at VSU since 2004. “I made a plan in high school to get over my shyness, though; and I walked a new path to class every day and made myself say ‘hi’ to at least one person. I would try to make them smile. I still challenge myself to get ‘frowners’ to smile.”
The mother of three spends her days counseling students, directing visitors to campus resources, approving student-assistant time sheets, and allaying the concerns phoning empty nesters. Every question has an answer, and no subject is off limits with the grandmother of three, who strives to greet every day with optimism and enthusiasm. Read more >
Catherine Schaeffer
Professor Performs Abroad
Associate Professor Catherine Schaeffer will perform a multimedia dance “Soul Descending” at the world’s largest arts festival — Edinburgh Festival Fringe, held Aug. 6-31, in Scotland.
The abstract piece — which blends Americanized Butoh dance with spoken word, props, and dance for camera — traces the soul's journey as it merges and contrasts with life. Associate Professor Duke Guthrie will read poetic text from "Metaphysics in Motion," by Sondra Fraleigh, as an environmental dance film plays in the background. As the audience’s eyes and ears are engaged with words and film, Schaeffer transforms herself into a conduit for thought through conceptual, hyper-controlled movements on the stage below. Read more >
David Adams
New Bursar Returns Home
After graduating from VSU with a finance degree in 1979, David Adams spent 30 years in Georgia's banking industry -- analyzing commercial credits in Albany, consulting small businesses in Warner Robins, administering loans in Atlanta, and finally lending real estate mortgages in Valdosta -- where he and his wife, Peggy, met in the second grade.
The Vice President for Bank of America retired from banking in July 2009 to indulge in his hobbies of gardening and collecting antique bottles; but by the first of the new year, the 53-year-old began to miss aiding people with financial decisions and future plans. He joined his alma mater March 1 as university bursar. Read more >
Leah McMillan
Prevention is her Passion: Leah McMillan
For Leah McMillan, her job as a Valdosta State University counselor is more of a calling than a 9-5 obligation.
Since 2005, she has facilitated sexual assault and domestic violence awareness activities on campus, and conducted seminars about a range of issues, from body image and healthy relationships to dating violence and hazing. Her passion as a student affairs professional is prevention; her goal as a counselor is to help people find themselves. Read More >
Dr. John Dunn
War-gaming Historian Named Democracy Fellow
Dr. John Dunn is a self-proclaimed eccentric historian who paints miniature figurines for relaxation, attends war games conventions and studies obscure corners of global history -- the military modernization efforts of Tibet’s Dalai Lama, for instance.
The specialist in Middle Eastern affairs is as acclaimed as he is peculiar. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a non-partisan policy institute headquartered in Washington, D.C., selected Dunn as an Academic Fellow for 2010-11. Read More >
Dr. Dixie Haggard
Professor Authors New Perspectives on African American History
History Professor Dr. Dixie Haggard, who specializes in Colonial and Revolutionary America, published his first book -- "African Americans in the Nineteenth Century: People and Perspectives." The edited volume, which also features chapters from VSU professors Drs. David Williams and Mary Block, is part of a 16-volume series that explores how ordinary Americans struggled through pivitol eras in U.S. history.
The 251-page volume includes essays, reference materials and copies of primary documents from the time period to guide researchers and enthusiasts through some of the issues blacks faced during the 19th Century. Haggard wrote the chapter, "Black Indians: America's Forgotten People," to discuss an underrepresented group that was denied its heritage by being ostracized by both races. Read more >