2007 Achievement Notes
January
The awards committee of the College of Arts and Sciences named Dr. Stephen Childs, professor of anthropology, as the nominee for Valdosta State University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As the college award winner, Childs received $500 in professional development funds and recognition at the January College of the Arts and Sciences faculty meeting.
October
Dr. John T. Barbas, Professor, Chemistry Department, received a grant award from Equinox Chemicals, LLC, to analyze samples using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Dr. Marty Giddings, Director, Division of Social Work, and Dr. Dorothy Dye, Director, Learning/Service Center, were awarded a grant from the Southeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging, A Division of the Southeast Georgia Regional Development Center. This grant allows the continuation of the "Alzheimer's Day Care Services" Program at Valdosta State University to provide quality adult care services for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Mimi McGahee, Director, Education Technology Training Center (ETTC), received two grant awards from the GA Department of Education: (1) FY08 Operating Funds for the ETTC; and (2) FY08 funds to provide 8th Grade Science Content/Digital Microscope Training aligned to the State Framework and Tasks in area school systems.
Dr. Denise T. Reid and Ms. Pat Bezona, Mathematics and Computer Science Department, were awarded a grant by the Association for Women in Mathematics/Elizabeth City State University/National Security Agency, to support the VSU Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day in April 2008. This program brings female high school sophomores and juniors to the campus for workshops, career presentations, a math competition and mentoring.
Mark Williams, Coordinator, Alcohol and Other Drug Education, received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation/Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to increase awareness and compliance with DUI and seat belt laws among VSU students and the Valdosta community.
November
Dr. Andrew Brovey, Associate Professor, Curriculum, Leadership and Technology Department, recently received the 2007 Apple Distinguished Educator – Product Donation Award from SMART Technologies, Inc. Donated technology products include: SMART™ 680 Interactive Whiteboard and SMART Board™ software with the following free upgrades: Notebook™, SMART Board™ driver, and SMART Ideas™.
Michael Baun, Professor, Political Science Department, was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education through North Georgia College and State University. This project involves seven institutions within the University System of Georgia who are deepening their existing consortium to develop a new online interdisciplinary BA degree in Transatlantic Studies. Michael is serving as co-director of the project with Chris Jespersen, Dean of Arts and Sciences at North Georgia College and State University.
Dr. Wayne Plumly, Department Head and Professor, Marketing and Economics Department, was awarded a grant by Take Charge America/University of Arizona, for a second year in order to host, Duel in the Swamp, a very successful regional finance competition.
Dr. J. Richard Carter, Professor, Biology Department, was recently awarded a grant from the GA Department of Natural Resources, Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services, for his project entitled Status Survey and Search Efforts for American Chaffseed (Schwalbea Americana) in Georgia. This survey will document populations of American Chaffseed in Georgia longleaf pine/wiregrass habitats that are managed by prescribed burning. Efforts will also be made to locate and document other rare plants.
Dr. John B. Pascarella, Principal Investigator, Coordinator of the Center for Applied Research, and Associate Professor, Biology Department, Dr. Barry Hojjatie, Assistant Professor, Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences Department, and Dr. Jesse G. Spencer, Professor, Chemistry Department, were awarded a grant from Onyx Optics, Inc. This project will link VSU students and faculty with staff scientists from Valdosta Optics Lab, Inc., for the advancement of diamond research.
December
Dr. George R. Gaumond, librarian at VSU’s Odum Library, was elected as chairman of the Georgia State Board for the Certification of Librarians on Friday, Dec. 7. Appointed to the board by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2004, he has served VSU for 19 years. Gaumond will take office Monday, Jan. 1, 2008, leading a board that is responsible for reviewing applications for certification, granting licenses and monitoring licenses renewals and continuing education requirements.
February
University Relations staff members Jeff Grant and Charles Harmon received an Award of Excellence in the Paid Advertisements Category for the “VSU—Makes Good Business” advertisement that was prepared for the August 2007 issue of Georgia Trend magazine. Grant and Harmon also received a Special Merit award for an additional advertisement “Building for Our Next Century” that was placed in the special Valdosta Daily Times tabloid that honored the Valdosta State University Centennial in August of 2007..
University Relations staff member Bernadette Gunder received a Special Merit Award in the Low Budget Publications Category for “100 Years: Valdosta State University 1906-2007,” a brochure produced to promote the VSU Centennial.
March
Dr. Marty Giddings, director for the Division of Social Work, received an award from the Georgia Department of Human Resources for the Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) Supervision project. The ongoing project provides supervision for employees working for the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) who aspire to become licensed clinical social workers in Georgia.
April
Li-Mei Chen (English), Brenda Dixey (Early Childhood and Reading Education), Linda Floyd (Nursing), Ravonne Green (Library and Information Science), Kelly Heckaman (Special Education and Communication Disorders), Larry Hilgert (Psychology), Ginger Macheski (Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice), Pat Miller (English), Cindy Tandy (Social Work), and Helen Wishart (Women’s and Gender Studies) are the recipients of the inaugural round of Online Development Grants, a cooperative project between Academic Affairs, Information Technology and Distance Education, according to Louis Levy, vice president for Academic Affairs.
Dr. J. Stephen Lahr, professor, has had work displayed at several exhibitions recently, both in person and online.
May
Lynn C. Minor, Associate Professor, Early Childhood and Reading Education Department, and Dr. David M. Monetti, Associate Professor, Psychology and Counseling Department, were recently awarded by the Georgia Department of Education through the University of Georgia for the Georgia Teacher Success Model Initiative. This project supports improved teaching practice through the development of tools, training, and resources to be used by educators to assess teaching practice and its impact on student learning for the establishment of systemic, continuous improvement in teaching practice.
Suzanne Barnett, Director, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), received a continuing award from U.S. Small Business Administration through the University of Georgia to assist in the operation of the VSU SBDC during 2007.
Dr. Charles E. Backes, Professor, Adult and Career Education Department, received a FY08 award from the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Resource Network for the New Teacher Institute and New Teacher Institute Internship and Mentoring Program. These projects will help meet the needs of Trade and Industrial and Healthcare Science Technology Education across Georgia by preparing new teachers to provide well managed and effective classrooms for career and technical students.
Dr. Linda Floyd, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, was recently awarded by ConvaTec, A Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, for a collaborative project with South Georgia Medical Center to provide expenses for the featured speaker, Dr. Courtney Lyder, at the South Georgia Wound Care Symposium. The symposium was held in the VSU University Center Magnolia Room, and the participants included RNs, LPNs, RDs, PTs, nursing assistants, and nursing students from South Georgia and North Florida who work in home healthcare, acute care facilities, long term care facilities and wound care centers.
Dr. John B. Pascarella, Associate Professor, Biology Department, was recently awarded by the Florida Native Plant Society for a project entitled, "Population structure and dynamics of restored and natural populations of the federally endangered Florida endemic Jacquemontia reclinata (Convolvulaceae)." This project extends the monitoring of four populations of the Beach Jacquemontia for an additional year (2007-2008), which will be the eighth continuous year of demographic monitoring of this species.
Dr. Donna N. Sewell, Professor, English Department, was recently awarded by the National Writing Project to continue the Blackwater Writing Project at VSU for another year (its 13th year). The purpose of this award is to help improve literacy across grade levels and subject areas by training teachers to write and teach writing effectively.
July
Dr. Mark Blackmore, Professor, Biology Department, received a FY 2008 award from the Lowndes County Board of Health (LCBH). This grant continues a mosquito collection project in Valdosta and Lowndes County for West Nile Virus research.
Dr. Patti C. Campbell, Professor and Principal Investigator, Dr. C. Robert Campbell, Professor, and Dr. Julie M. Lee, Professor, Special Education Department, have received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Education. The third year of a four-year award, this grant assists in the preparation of beginning special education personnel to serve children with low-incidence disabilities.
Dr. J. Mitchell Lockhart, Associate Professor, Biology Department, recently received an award from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), Fort Detrick, MD, for his continuing Gopher Tortoise Demography Study at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. This project involves trapping and collecting biological samples from gopher tortoises for disease testing.
Dr. Nanci A. Scheetz, Professor, Special Education Department, recently received an award from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant (year four of five) supports the preparation of educational interpreters through an innovative, comprehensive, web-based distance learning/field-based program, and involves collaboration with school districts and educators in North Florida. It helps students in rural areas to receive bachelor's degrees from VSU and to earn educational interpreting certification.
Dr. Anita G. Hufft, Dean, College of Nursing, recently received an award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration, for the FY 2008 funding of Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships. This award provides financial support for registered nurses enrolled in Valdosta State University’s masters programs. Recipients of this funding specialize in advanced nursing of adults, advanced maternal/child nursing and psychiatric/mental health nursing.
Dr. Robert L. Gannon, Department Head and Professor, Biology Department, recently received an award from Institut de Recherches Servier. His project involves a study of the efficacy of proprietary compounds developed by Servier in modulating hamster circadian activity rhythms and on anti-anxiety and anti-depressive properties of the compounds.
Dr. Barry Hojjatie, Assistant Professor, Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, recently received an award from Hewlett-Packard for his project titled, “Using Mobile Technology to Improve Visualization, Technical Communication, and Analytical Skills of Engineering and Science Students and to Facilitate Student Learning.” This 2007 HP Technology for Teaching Leadership Award is designed to transform and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology.
August
Dr. Selena Nawrocki received the Award of Excellence for her art piece, “Deco Echo”, at the 49th International Award Exhibition at the San Diego Art Institute Museum of the Living Artist in San Diego, CA. The competition received over 1500 entries from 21 countries. A total of 83 art pieces were accepted for the exhibition. Her composition, “Contempo”, received an Honorable Mention Award at the Memphis/Germantown Art League National Exhibition in Memphis, TN. Dr. Nawrocki has also had work accepted into the Manchester National Juried Fine Art Exhibition in Richmond, VA and the VMRC Juried Multimedia Art Exhibition in Harrisonburg, VA. Her work will also be featured in the book, Best of America: Mixed Media Artists and Artisans from Kennedy Publishing.
September
Dr. J. Richard Carter, Professor, Biology Department, recently received a grant award from the Department of Defense/U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity/Moody Air Force Base for his project entitled, “Effects of Prescribed Burning on Representative Forest Communities at Moody Air Force Base and Grand Bay Wildlife Management.” This initial award includes preliminary field work in preparation for a four-year research project.
Dr. Marty Giddings, Director, Division of Social Work, recently received a grant award from the Georgia Department of Human Resources for a continuing project entitled IV-E Child Welfare Grant for MSW Students, a program designed to increase the number of Master of Social Work (MSW) graduates who seek and obtain employment with the Social Services Unit of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), to increase the number of DFCS employees with the MSW degree, and to better prepare MSW graduates for DFCS Social Services employment.