Faculty Scholarly & Creative Accomplishments

McClure, Tate Publish in Journal of Athletic Training

2009-06-12T14:54:00Z

Dr. Philip McClure, Professor of Physical Therapy, and Dr. Angela R. Tate, Adjunct Professor of Physical Therapy, published an article titled "A Clinical Method for Identifying Scapular Dyskinesis, Part 1: Reliability," in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of Athletic Training (Vol. 44, No. 22, pp. 160-164.) They were the lead authors for a five-person research team that conducted this study, which was funded by a grant from the National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation. Taken collectively, their findings suggest that abnormal scapular movement patterns in young, athletically active adults can be visually recognized and distinguished from normal patterns with satisfactory reliability by trained athletic trainers and physically therapists using the Scapular Dyskinesis Test (SDT). The test represents a reliable and feasible method for clinical examination of overhead athletes, and the reliability was better than that for a previously described visual classification system. A second, related article by Tate, McClure, and their team, "A Clinical Method for Identifying Scapular Dyskinesis, Part 2: Validity," exploring the validity of the SDT, appears in the same issue of the Journal of Athletic Training on pp. 165-173.

Sim, Zaweski Inducted into PA Honor Society

2009-06-05T14:54:00Z

Chris Sim and Joe Zaweski, Academic Coordinator of the Christiana Campus, were honored by their alma mater, Drexel University, with induction into Pi Alpha at the 37th annual American Academy of Physician Assistants' conference. Pi Alpha is the national PA honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates. Membership signifies the inductees' significant academic achievement and honors them for their leadership, research, community/professional service, and other related activities. The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates.

Paulk Finds Audience Keys into Abuse Topic

2009-06-05T14:54:00Z

Also at the annual American Academy of Physician Assistants' conference in San Diego, Dr. David Paulk delivered a talk on "Effective Public Speaking with Leaving Your Seat and Surviving Child Abuse, A Professional's Experience." Notes Paulk, "I had access to an audience response system during my child abuse talk, and interestingly enough, 50 percent of those in attendance reported a history of abuse, with 63 percent of participants stating that emotional abuse had affected their lives in adverse ways. Not surprising, but wow, that many!" Donna Agnew and Paulk delivered a talk on "Difficult Patient Communication and Communicating with the Difficult Patient." Paulk also has been invited to Mozambique to teach parenting skills to mothers in that region.

Paradis to Speak at Screening of Film on Black Soldiers

2009-05-28T14:54:00Z

"The African American Museum in Philadelphia, (formerly called the African American Cultural and Historical Museum) will be reopening in June. The new documentary film, Black Soldiers in Blue, that I gave some help to, will be part of the grand reopening program and part of the Juneteenth Celebration," says Dr. James Paradis, Adjunct Professor of History. The world premiere of the film is Saturday, June 20, at 2:30 p.m. at the museum. The film is a documentary on Camp William Penn, the first Federal training ground for black troops during the Civil War. The film is directed by Warren Bass and produced by Zilan Munas. Black Soldiers in Blue tells the story of the recruitment of black volunteers, their training, their hardships, their heroism and their enormous contribution to Union victory. The filmmakers will be present along with Civil War historian Paradis and members of the U.S.C.T. 3rd Regiment Re-enactors. Read more.

Brinker’s Article on Double Deductions Published in Journal

2009-05-28T14:54:00Z

"The Disallowance of Double Deductions: Are Tax-Deduction Options Available?" by Thomas M. Brinker Jr., Professor of Business Administration, and Christopher M. Harvey was published in the April 2009 Journal of Financial Service Professionals. Brinker also spoke on "Understanding the Medical Expense Deduction for Families of Children with Special Needs" at the Financial Planning Association's 22nd Annual Spring Symposium on May 19 at Villanova University.

Miserandino Named Professor of the Year

2009-05-21T14:54:00Z

Dr. Marianne Miserandino, Associate Professor of Psychology, was named the Arcadia University Professor of the Year for 2009 at the Undergraduate Commencement on May 15. Arcadia University participates in the national Professors of the Year Program, jointly sponsored by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

"In bestowing this honor on Professor Miserandino, we recognize her dedication to undergraduate teaching and to her students; her contributions to the pedagogy of psychology; and her service to her profession and to Arcadia University," said Dr. Michael Berger, Associate Vice President and Provost. "Dr. Miserandino's success in the classroom is attested to in the voices of the students she teaches, who note that she 'is one of the warmest, most involved, and, more importantly, most knowledgeable professors' I have ever had, that 'she teaches with an engaging style that applies real-world experiences to textbook information,' and that 'her assignments taught us to push our own boundaries to see what theories and beliefs controlled our own behavior.'" Read more.

Outstanding Faculty Service Award Goes to Garcia

2009-05-21T14:54:00Z

Dr. Ana Maria Garcia, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Chair of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, was named the seventh recipient of the Lloyd M. Abernethy Faculty Outstanding Service Award at the Graduate Commencement on May 14.

The Faculty Outstanding Service Award was created in 1997 to complement existing awards that recognized faculty members for their teaching excellence and for their research or creative arts achievements. When Professor of History Lloyd M. Abernethy was selected to be the second recipient in 1999, the faculty decided to name the award after him in recognition of his 42 years of service to Beaver College and Arcadia University.

"As her faculty colleagues note in their nomination letters, Dr. Garcia has consistently and graciously provided her expertise, energy and time to students, faculty, staff and administration throughout her 12 years at the University," said Dr. Michael Berger, Academic Vice President and Provost. "Unfailingly, Ana is available to anyone who needs help, be they students seeking tutoring or advising, departmental faculty needing her assistance with problem solving or just an opportunity to 'let off steam,' and/or professors wanting to lobby her regarding campus governance issues." Read more.

Concern for Son Inspires Safe Climate in School District

2009-05-14T14:54:00Z

Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Assistant Professor of Education, not only serves on the national Welcoming Schools Advisory Board, she has firsthand experience as both a parent and a teacher. She also is Director of Arcadia's Annual Inclusion Institute, which offers support to school districts in developing or enhancing effective inclusive educational practices to support the learning and achievement of all students. In the article "Partnering with Schools to Support Children with Gender Variant Behaviors and Interests" on the Welcoming Schools Web site, she writes about how her efforts to ensure a safe environment for her son inspired a district-wide effort.

"Five years ago, when my son turned 3, he put his 'blankie' on his head pretending it was long hair and declared that he was a girl. We have gone a long way since then; he no longer thinks he is a girl, but he is not a typical boy, either. He is what we call a boy with gender variant behaviors and interests. Boys like my son, prefer to play with girls, are interested in girls' toys (such as Barbies, fairies, and princess dresses) rather than in cars, trucks, and sports. So, a year before he started first grade, I decided to find out if his future school was going to be the right school for him, and for us. I did not know where to begin, so I asked the school counselor for advice on how and with whom we should approach this subject." Read more.

English Professor Named Finalist for 2009 PEN Award

2009-05-14T14:54:00Z

Adjunct Professor of English Randall Couch was named one of two finalists for the 2009 PEN Award for Outstanding Book of Poetry in Translation for his translation of Gabriela Mistral's Madwomen. The awards citation says: "Randall Couch has performed a remarkable task of editorial spadework, gathering a coherent set of Gabriela Mistral's last poems from various sources and creating an informed context that enables an appreciative reading. He has thus renewed the afterlife of a modern Chilean poet who, despite her status as a Nobel Laureate, remains on the fringes of the canon of Spanish poetries in English. It is Couch's sensitive translations, however, that play the most decisive role in this renewal: he has transformed the challenging Spanish texts into English poems characterized by resonant diction and forceful rhythms, effectively recreating Mistral’s impassioned imagery and complex metrics."

Ryan's Strawberry PB&J Half Wins Art Competition

2009-05-08T14:54:00Z

Abbey Ryan's Strawberry PB & J Half

A piece from Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts Abbey Ryan's A Painting a Day series was a winner in the 2008-09 RayMar Third Annual Fine Art Competition. Her award-winning work, titled Strawberry PB & J Half, was the June 2008 finalist. She won a cash prize of $1,000. Ryan is also an Arcadia alum, Class of 2003. Read more.

Howard Awarded Grant to Research West Virginia Pines

2009-05-08T14:54:00Z

Dr. Lauren Howard, Assistant Professor of Biology, was awarded a $4,500 grant for researching "Conservation Status and Fire Dynamics of High Elevation Pitch Pine Summits of Eastern W. Virginia." Lauren received the grant from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

According to the project abstract: "Rare high elevation pitch pine summit communities in West Virginia support numerous state-rare species of plants and animals, but remain critically understudied while becoming increasingly threatened and degraded by residential and commercial development. My research will fill the knowledge gap by sampling 20 high elevation pitch pine sites spread across summits and ridges along the North Fork Mountain ecosystem in the Ridge and Valley Province, as well as sites on the Allegheny Front and Plateau. Vegetation data from the study will be provided to the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, and analyzed to determine successional trends and the importance of fire in determining the structure and long-term persistence of these area communities. Deliverables will include a full-length report shared with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the West Virginia Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Forest Service…. Results from this study will be applicable for use by conservation planners, land managers, and policymakers alike."

Appelbaum Receives Award for Curriculum Theory Book

2009-05-08T14:54:00Z

Dr. Peter Appelbaum, Professor of Education and Coordinator of Mathematics Education and Curriculum Studies programs, received the American Educational Research Association Outstanding Book Award for Children's Books for Grown-Up Teachers: Reading and Writing Curriculum Theory (NY: Routledge, 2008).

"The award is probably the greatest honor I could ever hope to achieve in my profession," says Appelbaum. "AERA is the largest and most prestigious research association in education in the world, so I am really thrilled." Appelbaum says he received the award "because my book opens up a new field of curriculum studies where teachers and scholars together read children's books as a way of reflecting on teaching and learning, and generating new discourses that they can use to make meaning out of their experiences. In other words, my book celebrates the very act of reading! The book moves from reading children's books to reading the texts of our world to reading everyday life as the texts through which we can transform our ways of living and working." Read more.

Paulk, Agnew Produce Physician Assistant Review Guide

2009-05-08T14:54:00Z

Dr. David Paulk, Associate Professor and Physician Assistant Academic Coordinator, spoke at the National Race to Stop the Silence in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, April 19. Stop the Silence is a non-profit organization working toward the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse.

Paulk also will be speaking May 24 and 25 at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) national conference in San Diego, Calif., on the following topics: 1) Effective Medical Speaking, 2) Difficult Patient Communication (with Donna Agnew, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Physician Assistant program in Glenside) and 3) Surviving a Lifetime of Abuse.

Agnew and Paulk have just had their Physician Assistant Review Guide produced by Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Physician Assistant Review Guide is a comprehensive overview for physician assistants preparing for the Physician Assistant National Certifying or Re-certifying exam. This guide extensively covers every topic PAs need to know, including cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, infectious diseases, neurology, oncology, pediatrics, women's health, and more. It also features a straightforward question format with questions designed for both new graduates and practicing clinicians, as well as test-taking strategies, detailed illustrations and photographs, explanations to the answers with accompanying artwork, and clear connections between the best evidence-based clinical practice and subject matter testing.

Biology Students Present at Sigma Xi Symposium

2009-05-08T14:54:00Z

On April 17, four Biology faculty members and 12 students presented posters at St. Joseph University's Sigma Xi Research Symposium, held at St. Joseph's University. The scientific research society's symposium was open to both undergraduate and graduate students engaged in research in the areas of Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, the Natural and the Social Sciences. View poster information.

Slesaransky-Poe Helps Introduce Anti-Bullying Guide for Schools

2009-04-29T14:54:00Z

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, announced the release of "An Introduction to Welcoming Schools," a guide aimed at equipping school administrators, classroom teachers, and all other school personnel with knowledge and skills to address bias-based bullying, and to create environments where all students feel safe and affirmed. The announcement, which quoted Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Arcadia Assistant Professor of Education and a member of the Welcoming Schools Advisory Board, comes as the nation grapples with the suicides of two 11-year-old children, both of whom were frequent targets of anti-gay bullying.

Hoefler Explores Female Condition in Wolf Spider Mating

2009-04-29T14:54:00Z

Dr. Chad Hoefler, Assistant Professor of Biology, published the article "The Interaction of Female Condition and Mating Status on Male-Male Aggression in a Wolf Spider" in Ethology (Vol. 115, Issue 4, March 2009, pp. 331-338). Along with his co-authors from Miami University (Ohio) and Susquehanna University, Hoefler observes that "fighting behavior has been studied extensively with strong emphases on factors that independently determine winners and losers as well as how much effort an individual should invest in a given contest for a resource. Much less attention has been paid to how interacting qualities of disputed resources modulate aggression.

"In a laboratory study, we examined the interactive effects of female condition and mating status on dyadic male aggression in the wolf spider Pardosa milvina. We discovered that males exhibited significantly more aggressive behaviors when in the presence of virgin females in good condition and displayed lower and statistically similar levels of aggression when placed with virgin, poor condition females; mated, good condition females; mated, poor condition females; and no females. Because previous studies have suggested that virgin females alone should be highly prized because of putative first-mate sperm priority patterns, this study contributes to this body of literature by suggesting that diet history and body condition mitigate the reproductive advantages of mating with virgin females as indicated by levels of male-male aggression, but further investigation is needed."

Q&A with Painter Abbey Ryan

2009-04-23T14:54:00Z

Left: Todi, Italy, 3 x 6 in., oil on linen on panel Right: Creamer (Florence, Italy),
6 x 4 in., oil on linen on panel

Equipped with a handy cigar box easel, Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts Abbey Ryan '03 continued her A Painting a Day series during spring break in Italy. Ryan completed five small oil paintings as she traveled with Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Betsey Batchelor and the students of ID381: The Visual Artist in Italy. The group visited the cities of Florence, Siena, Perugia, Assisi, Todi and Spoleto, experiencing a new culture and observing the architecture and rolling landscapes. Upon returning stateside, Ryan briefly chatted with the Bulletin about air travel with paint supplies, adjusting to a new environment, and more. For a recent review of Ryan's work, visit www.dailypainterreview.com.

Bulletin: How difficult was it to travel abroad with all your painting supplies?

Abbey Ryan: Traveling with painting supplies is always an adventure. I spent a great deal of time preparing how and in what form I would transport my painting things—tubes of paint, my cigar box easel, painting panels, a lightweight "wet painting" carrier that I fashioned myself, brushes, solvent containers, etc. I tried to make it all as streamlined as possible. Because it’s complicated to travel abroad with toxic/flammable substances, I bought my solvents the day we arrived in Florence at a great art shop called Zecchi. I purchased small containers so that it wouldn’t be too wasteful to leave the leftovers behind in Italy. Read more.

Slesaransky-Poe, García Publish on Gender-Variant Behaviors

2009-04-23T14:54:00Z

Dr. Graciela Slesaransky-Poe, Assistant Professor of Education, and Dr. Ana María García, Assistant Professor of Sociology, published the article, "Boys with gender variant behaviors and interests: From theory to practice," which appears in the current issue of the journal Sex Education, Volume 9, Issue 2 (2009), pp. 77-86. As they note, "This article reflects our experiences of raising boys with gender-variant behaviors and interests. After a long personal and professional journey, living in a society that views children with gender-variant behavior and interests as aberrations that need to be examined, intervened with, or repackaged, we are moved to redirect our attention as academics, as women, and as mothers to the larger social processes that punish or reward particular forms of gender expression and gender identity. Using a feminist perspective, we offer a new conceptual lens with which to view these boys, not as an alternate or pathogenic form of masculinity, but rather as a healthy expression of a gender continuum."

Presley Publishes on Forensic Science Assessment Tool

2009-04-23T14:54:00Z

Larry Presley, Assistant Professor of Forensic Science and Director of the master's degree program in Forensic Science, published the article "The Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT): A Potential Tool for the Academic Assessment of Forensic Science Programs," which appears in Forensic Science Policy and Management: An International Journal (Vol. 1, Issue 2, May 2009, pp. 74-84). Along with his two co-authors, Presley writes that forensic science college and university education, like college education generally, needs assessment tools to ensure the accountability and continued improvement of academic programs. Both forensic science educators and practitioners have vested interests in the successful student outcomes of forensic science programs and the need for rigorous high quality academic programs. The Forensic Science Assessment Test (FSAT) may provide a viable and robust component of assessing the relative academic strengths and weaknesses of forensic science graduate and undergraduate programs and student outcomes. If used appropriately, it can not only assess, but improve, academic collegiate curricula in the forensic sciences.

Students Present Research on Dress, Attractiveness, Body Image

2009-04-23T14:54:00Z

Three groups of Psychology students presented their research from PY331-PY332 at the Lehigh Valley Undergraduate Psychology Conference at LaSalle University in Center Valley, Pa., on Saturday, April 18, reports Dr. Marianne Miserandino, Associate Professor of Psychology.

"The Effect of Dress on Compliance" was presented by Ashley Gilfillian, Courtney Elyse LeCompte, Maryann Dougherty, John Feller, Samantha Larsen, Garey Wagner, and Katie Romberger, with faculty sponsors Adam Levy and Miserandino. "Our study tested how style of dress, gender and type of request correlate to the tendency to comply. We wanted to see if the type of request, survey or command, had an effect on the individuals helping behavior. Participants were asked if they would like to take a survey (survey request), or told to pick up a piece of trash nearby (command). Style of clothing also was manipulated when asking these various requests. Our dependent variables were formal dress, which consisted of business clothing, and authoritative dress, which was styled after a security guard uniform and included a hat and ID badge. Our results showed significant effects to the .01 level for compliance to command conditions over survey conditions as well as for the effect of the researcher’s gender on compliance with a command. In addition we found a marginal .06 significance for male participants complying with female researchers." Read more.

Gallagher Thesis on William Welsh Harrison Published

2009-04-17T14:54:00Z

"Please join me in congratulating Marie Gallagher '95, one of the University's more illustrious alumna, on the recent publication of her undergraduate thesis, In Search of William Welsh Harrison and His Legacy," in the Old York Road Historical Society Bulletin (Vol. LVIII, 1999). The 1999 date is correct. Apparently the Society is a bit behind in publishing its Bulletins," notes Dr. Michael Berger, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "Prior to Marie's research, much had been written about the architect and architecture of Grey Towers, but little was known about William Welsh Harrison, the man who commissioned the building of the Castle, and about his family. Marie's thesis is a study of the extended Harrison family, their ancestors, and of the sugar company they owned, managed and from which they made a fortune. It revolves around the sons of George Leib Harrison, explores how they managed their wealth, and attempted to become accepted into the 'high society' of Philadelphia. The primary focus, though, is on William Welsh and his family life, including his well-known peccadilloes. In the same issue of the Bulletin is an article titled 'Frazier's Hill: A Place History,' which, interestingly, provides information on William West Frazier, who was Harrison's brother-in-law, having married his older sister Harriet."

Atkins Profiles Blackhawk Down Author for Magazine

2009-04-17T14:54:00Z

Larry Atkins, an Adjunct Professor in the English, Communications, and Theatre Arts Department, interviewed Blackhawk Down author Mark Bowden in an article that he wrote for the current issue of The Writer Magazine. He also wrote articles for Philadelphia Weekly about the future of sports reporting in light of the decline of newspapers and how university journalism programs are teaching students in light of the changing media environment.

Shandell Publishes Essay in Theatre Topics

2009-04-17T14:54:00Z

Jonathan Shandell, Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts, published an essay, "The Wisdom of 'Worldliness': Bringing African American Theatre and Drama into Existing Course Syllabi," in Theatre Topics, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, as part of its March 2009 special issue on "Teaching African American Theatre." Shandell's essay explores how theatre educators can make more sustained efforts at incorporating the study of plays by African American writers and the work of African American theatre artists within existing courses not exclusively dedicated to African American drama, and it outlines strategies for doing so based on his own teaching practice. The essay utilizes Edward Said's paradigm of "wordliness" (a critical approach that seeks points of connection among literary texts of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, rather than specialization and compartmentalization of cultural traditions) as a key toward developing more diverse and inclusive course syllabi.

Stackhouse Wins Lindback Foundation Award

2009-04-17T14:54:00Z

President Jerry Greiner congratulates
Dr. Scott Stackhouse, who received
the Lindback Foundation Award for
Distinguished Teaching at Honors
Convocation.Dr. Scott K. Stackhouse, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, received the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching at Honors Convocation. Stackhouse also is an Arcadia alum, having earned his M.S. in Physical Therapy here in 1997.

"When you hear what the students who wrote on behalf of his nomination have to say, I think you'll agree what a privilege it is to have Scott among us as a faculty member," said President Jerry Greiner. "Of course, the Lindback award is about teaching, and this is what his nominators stress." Student nominators' commendations included: "Dr. Stackhouse has a true passion for teaching others…. He is worthy of the award because of his ability to pass this passion on to others and impress upon them the seriousness yet great impact that we as young professionals can have." Read more.

DeLuca Wins Adjunct Faculty Award

2009-04-17T14:54:00Z

Michael A. DeLuca, Adjunct Professor of Art and Design, was named the Adjunct Faculty Award winner at Honors Convocation. DeLuca is also a 1999 graduate of Arcadia, having earned his B.F.A. here. "This award is given to that part-time instructor whom students and faculty judge to be an exemplary teacher and outstanding contributor to the Arcadia community," noted Dr. Michael Berger, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Honors Convocation on March 28.

"Professor DeLuca has established himself as an outstanding classroom teacher at Arcadia whose enthusiasm for teaching and desire to motivate students to do their best work is patently obvious to all who enroll in his art courses." Read more.

Garcia Shows How International, Multicultural Intersect at AU

2009-03-27T14:54:00Z

Dr. Ana Maria Garcia, Assistant Professor and Chair of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, presented "At Home in the World: Educating for Global Connections and Local Commitments" at the Association of International Education Administrators conference Feb. 24-25 in Atlanta, Ga. The session provided an analysis of case studies outlining good practice that captures and illuminates the intersection between international and multicultural education. In collaboration with American Council on Education (ACE) staff, practitioners from Arcadia University, Juniata College and the University of Kentucky explored innovative, synergistic, campus practices that link the global issues to local communities. These institutional representatives also provided feedback to audience members selected to share examples from their own institutional experience.

"I focused specifically on the ways in which our study abroad/study away programming has been intentionally aligned with new curricular requirements, the Global Connections Experience and Reflection, designed to encourage students to relate their experiences abroad to their communities here in the United States," says Garcia.

Arcadia Curriculum Shines in Shared Futures Event

2009-03-27T14:54:00Z

During spring break, a team of Arcadia faculty and administrators attended AAC&U's Shared Futures Global Learning Forum held at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing. This forum was the culminating event of the Shared Futures project of which Arcadia has been a participant over the past three years. The forum allowed those institutions and other leaders in global learning to disseminate the curricular work done on their institutions. Approximately 80 institutions from across the United States participated. The Arcadia team was composed of Dr. Lauren Howard, Assistant Professor of Biology; Dr. Jeff Shultz, Assistant Provost for Special Projects; Dr. Norah Shultz, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education; and Dr. Ellen Skilton-Sylvester, Associate Professor of Education, Coordinator of ESL Programs and Director of Global Connections.

On Thursday night, March 19, the team presented a poster that highlighted the global connections aspects of Arcadia’s new Undergraduate Curriculum and the University Seminar being taught by Howard and Gregg Moore, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, on "Envisioning Sustainability." On Friday morning, Skilton-Sylvester facilitated a roundtable on "How can we link general education and study abroad?," and Jeff Shultz participated in a panel on "Merging Missions and Emerging Frameworks: Global Learning, Multicultural Education, and Diversity Learning." Saturday morning found Norah Shultz participated in a panel on "Integrating Global Learning and Campus Mission." The team members also participated in Interdisciplinary Topical Study groups including Health and Social Justice (Norah Shultz), Sustainability (Howard), Globalization, Wealth and Poverty (Jeff Shultz) and Identity, Culture and Border Crossings (Skilton-Sylvester).

Johnston Publishes Article on Imprisonment as Punishment

2009-03-11T14:54:00Z

Dr. Norman Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, published the article "Evolving Function: Early Use of Imprisonment as Punishment," in the March issue of The Prison Journal (Vol. 89, No. 1, Supplement), pp. 10S-34S. Johnston's article explores the usages of imprisonment, both de facto and de jure, from its earliest recorded use 3,000 years ago down to recent times. He writes that early scattered use was followed by houses of correction for minor offenders and later, displacing capital punishment, for major crimes. Serious reform in England and Pennsylvania and the subsequent battle between two systems developed in Pennsylvania and New York and their ultimate demise are described. In addition, the origins of special prisons for women, youth, and other categories are traced, and early prison labor and schooling are discussed.

Sculptor’s Work Adorns Franklin Commons

2009-03-11T14:54:00Z

Maryann Worrell, a sculptor and metal and jewelry artist who teaches in the Art and Design Department and is a resident of Phoenixville, Pa., was mentioned in The Phoenix on March 7. The article discusses sculptures she and Doug Mott constructed at the request of the developers Marian and David Moskowitz in the entryway of Franklin Commons. The Franklin Commons is the home of the Phoenixville Educational Center, a cooperative venture of now eight educational institutions and programs, from pre-school curricula to postgraduate ones. View photos of Worrell's artwork, including the sculptures at the Franklin Commons, at www.maryannworrell.com.

Curchack Elected Chair of University Planning Organization

2009-03-11T14:54:00Z

Dr. Mark Curchack, Associate Vice President for Planning and Assessment, has just been elected as the Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Region of SCUP, the Society for College and University Planning. SCUP is the nation's premier university planning organization, promoting best practices in strategic, academic, financial and facilities planning. It has more than 5,000 members from both higher education and the fields of architecture and construction management. SCUP's Mid-Atlantic Region consists of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, plus most of Western and Central Europe, Turkey and Israel. As the Regional Chair, Curchack will oversee the Regional Council that plans and holds an annual conference, one-day symposia, and campus visits. He will also serve on the national SCUP Board. Curchack has been active in SCUP for 20 years, has served on national task forces, and most recently was the region's Director of Professional Development in charge of planning the regional programs.

Shultz, Shultz Invited to Present Workshop at AACU

2009-03-11T14:54:00Z

Dr. Norah Shultz, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies, and Dr. Jeffrey Shultz, Assistant Provost for Special Projects, were invited to present a pre-conference workshop at the Association of American Colleges and Universities on Feb. 26 in Baltimore, Md. The topic was "Blurring and Crossing Boundaries: A Four-Year Curriculum Tailored to Students' Needs." General Education has long been regulated to the first two years of college and often presented as a menu of disconnected courses. Higher education has begun to reconsider this approach, seeking a more intentional program of study to achieve essential learning outcomes. This workshop (General Education, Assessment and the Learning Student's Need) examined an innovative approach—Arcadia's new Undergraduate Curriculum—to general education that connects learning to an integrative, personally designed four-year program of study and community engagement.

Norah Shultz also was invited to participate in a roundtable at the International Studies Association’s 50th Annual Convention on Feb. 16 in New York City. The topic was "Taking the Fear Out of Assessment and Evaluation: Lessons Learned."

Chauhan Elected SALA President, Will Lead MLA Divisional Panel

2009-03-05T14:54:00Z

Dr. Pradyumna S. Chauhan, Professor of English, was unanimously re-elected the National President of the South Asian Literary Association (SALA) for a new two-year term at the 2008 annual conference of association in San Francisco in December. At the conference, he chaired a panel on "Crossing Class and Gender Boundaries." Chauhan also served as President of the Divisional Panel on "Diasporic Voices in English Literature" at the Modern Language Association meeting, also in San Francisco, and he participated in the Business Meeting of MLA's Division 33 Executive Meeting, where he was selected to serve as President of the 2009 MLA Divisional Panel on "Vernaculars in Modern English Fiction."

Coveney on NASPA Panel, ‘Managing the Fiscal Relationship’

2009-03-05T14:54:00Z

Michael Coveney, Arcadia's Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, was one of four members on a NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education session on "Managing the Fiscal Relationship: Senior Student Affairs Officers and Chief Financial Officers" on Friday, Feb. 27. The session was moderated by Dean Bresciani, Texas A&M University, and also included Maurice W. Scherrens, Senior Vice President at George Mason University, and Dennis R. Klaus, Vice President of Business Services and Salt Lake City Community College.

Loeffler Work on Exhibit in Connecticut, Florida

2009-03-05T14:54:00Z

Carole Loeffler, Assistant Professor Fine Arts and Coordinator of Foundations, had a solo exhibition at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich, Conn., from Jan. 20 to March 3. It was the first exhibition in the newly renovated gallery space.

Her work also is included in an upcoming exhibition from April 3 to 24 in Tallahassee, Fla., at the 621 Gallery. The Metamorphosis exhibition reveals the metaphorical context of images and objects through psychological reactions and association. Loeffler’s art pushes the boundaries of ordinary materials in order to create experiences, personalities, and environments imbued with themes of passion and sensuality.

Erickson’s Sculptures on Exhibit from Michigan to Korea

2009-02-26T14:54:00Z

Erickson works in her studio. Photo from www.designboom.com.Heather Mae Erickson, Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts, will present an exhibition of work at Mott Community College's Fine Arts Gallery in the Visual Arts and Design Center located in Flint, Michigan, from Feb. 23 to March 10, as reported in the Feb. 19 Davison Index.

Erickson also will be exhibiting her work at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas; the NCECA Clay National Biennial Exhibition, Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona; and The 5th World Ceramic Biennial 2009 Korea International Competition, Icheon, Korea.

Erickson received a B.F.A. from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia; an M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; and a Fulbright Fellowship for research at the University of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland.

Starr Wins National Award for Developmental Teaching

2009-02-26T14:54:00Z

Renée Starr, Adjunct Professor of Mathematics and Director of Developmental Math and the Math Lab, has been chosen to receive the National Association of Developmental Educators (NADE) Award for Outstanding Service to Developmental Students. She will receive a plaque and a $500 stipend at the NADE Awards Ceremony during the NADE Conference in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday, Feb. 26. Last year, Starr won the Pennsylvania Association of Developmental Educators (PADE) Award for Exemplary Teaching in Developmental Education for 2008 was nominated for the NADE Award, which she won this year. She has been teaching at Arcadia for 11 years and was previously awarded Arcadia’s Adjunct Faculty of the Year award.

Spruance Prints on Display at Mishkin Gallery

2009-02-16T14:54:00Z

Benton Spruance's Second Front (Subway Shift), 1943. Image courtesy Mishkin Gallery.

The City University of New York (CUNY) Baruch College has an exhibition of Benton Spruance prints "The Long Night and the New Day" on view at the Mishkin Gallery from Feb. 6 to March 4, as noted in the CUNY Newswire, Feb. 9. Spruance, a Philadelphia native, was a renowned lithographer and painter and chaired the Fine Arts Department at Arcadia University from 1933 until his death in 1967 at age of 63.

The current exhibition provides a capsule overview of the artist's prints, spanning some four decades from the stubbornly enduring The City Tree (1930) to the mythological Ariadne and Dionysius (1965). All 39 works in this exhibition are from the private collection of Sigmund R. Balka. A smaller exhibit of Spruance’s lithographs the Balka collection was recently mounted by the Williams College Museum of Art.

The Mishkin Gallery at Baruch College is free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 135 East 22nd Street in Manhattan. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon to 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Appelbaum Book Nominated for Education Award

2009-02-16T14:54:00Z

Dr. Peter Appelbaum, Professor and Coordinator of Mathematics Education and Curriculum Studies, is pleased that his book, Children's Books for Grown-Up Teachers: Reading and Writing Curriculum Theory, was nominated for a book award at the American Educational Research Association. The winner will be announced at the conference in April.

Brinker Talks Tax Deductions in MetLife Publication

2009-02-16T14:54:00Z

Thomas Brinker, Professor of Accounting, submitted "Recognizing Some Key Medical Tax Deductions for Parents of Children with Special Needs" for the November/December Issue 6 2008 of MetDESK News, a division of MetLifes’s Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids.

Biggs Named Associate Editor of Journal

2009-02-16T14:54:00Z

Dr. William Biggs, retired Professor of Business, has been asked to become an Associate Editor for Simulation & Gaming: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Theory, Practice and Research. He previously served as an Associate Editor and Editor for the Business section of the journal. Biggs is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Human Resource Edition and on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences.

Hickman Work Will Be IRA April Book of Month

2009-02-06T14:54:00Z

Dr. Peggy Hickman, Associate Professor of Education, co-authored a new book, Dynamic Read-Aloud Strategies for English Learners: Building Language and Literacy in the Primary Grades, with Sharolyn D. Pollard-Durodola. The book is being published by the International Reading Association (IRA). It will be the IRA's April Book of the Month selection, sent to 5,000 members of that worldwide professional association. The goal of this book is to demonstrate to teachers how a read-aloud activity that most of them use in the classroom every day can be employed as a strategy to help second-language learners develop English listening comprehension and oral language proficiency in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way. Dynamic Read-Aloud Strategies is intended to provide teachers with both the theoretical knowledge they need to understand the process of second-language development and a collection of proven strategies that will help them effectively apply that knowledge to their work with English language learners.

Jones to Co-Host Light of Unity Festival

2009-02-06T14:54:00Z

Quincy Scott Jones, an Adjunct Professor of English, this semester is teaching writing, performance poetry, and a University Seminar on "Politics & Poetics (or What Hip-Hop Was Supposed to Be)." On March 28, he will be co-hosting this year's Light of Unity Festival, an afternoon of artistic expression celebrating cultural, political, and aesthetic diversity sponsored by Chapter & Verse, a biweekly poetry and fiction reading series in Philadelphia. Read more.

Berger Addresses ACE Internationalization Collaborative

2009-02-06T14:54:00Z

Dr. Michael L. Berger, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, delivered the closing plenary address at last week's annual meeting of the American Council on Education's Internationalization Collaborative in Washington, D.C. The Collaborative is an invitational forum, which currently has 96 institutional members. International teams from community colleges, comprehensive universities, liberal arts colleges, and research/doctoral institutions come together at the meeting to share their practices and to advance the national dialogue about internationalization. Berger's address was titled "Mining the Internationalization Mother Lode" and explored how colleges and universities might better infuse comprehensive internationalization throughout academic and student life on their respective campuses.

Paradis Speaks on ‘African Americans at Gettysburg’

2009-01-29T14:54:00Z

Dr. James Paradis, Adjunct Professor of History, makes a special Black History Month presentation at the Grand Army of the Republic Museum and Library in Philadelphia. Paradis talks about "African Americans at Gettysburg" at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, as part of a First Sunday Open House Civil War History presentation. Paradis is a noted Civil War historian and author.

Atkins Writes About Participatory Journalism

2009-01-29T14:54:00Z

Larry Atkins, an Adjunct Professor in the English, Communications, and Theatre Arts Department, wrote an article on Participatory Journalism for the February 2009 issue of The Writer Magazine titled: "Dive Into a New Experience."

Ortiz Work Helps Hedge Mortgage-Servicing Portfolios

2009-01-22T14:54:00Z

Dr. Carlos Ortiz, Associate Professor of Mathematics, published the article "Delta hedging of mortgage-servicing portfolios under gamma constraints," which appeared in a recent issue of The Journal of Risk Finance (Vol. 9, No. 4, 2008, pp. 379-390). Ortiz co-authored this article with professors from Brooklyn College and Citytech, both components of the City University of New York (CUNY). In this timely work, the authors note that: "A number of financial institutions have significant amounts of mortgage-servicing rights (MSR) which need to be delta (dynamic) hedged. Because MSR have a positive duration when prepayment effect is stronger than discount effect, it is possible to delta hedge a portfolio of MSR with other fixed-income securities such that the value of the portfolio is not affected by increases or decreases in market rates." The purpose of their paper is to address this issue.

Rayner Assists in Education Abroad Field Survey

2009-01-22T14:54:00Z

Elise Rayner, Arcadia's College of Global Studies Assistant Director for the Mountain Region, was part of a three-person team who coordinated the development and analyzed the results of the Forum for Education Abroad 2008 State of the Field Survey. The State of the Field Survey provides information about the funding, cost and value of study abroad and is intended to serve as a resource for advisers and administrators in advancing quality education abroad programming. View the survey results, at www.forumea.org/research-data.cfm. Arcadia University was one of the founding members of the Forum for Education Abroad and continues to be involved in supporting its mission to improve education abroad programs to benefit the students that participate in them.

Information Literacy Grants Awarded

2009-01-14T14:54:00Z

Six grants were recently awarded to support collaborative efforts among faculty and faculty-librarians to promote information literacy across the Arcadia campus. These grants, which were sponsored by the Library and Information Technology department and the Faculty Development Awards Program, are designed to support award winners in the task of modifying a course to include a stronger and more integrated focus on teaching students information-seeking and research skills. A faculty-librarian will partner with each award winner over the next semester to plan outcomes and develop activities and assignments designed to teach and assess information literacy skills. Award winners were chosen from among 15 proposals submitted at the end of last year. The Library and Information Technology department hopes to be able to offer this grant again next year and perhaps expand the award to include support for efforts at integrating information literacy into a program or departmental curriculum.

Grant Award Winners

Dr. Brett Alyson Ange, Assistant Professor of Community Health, for PBH 110 Introduction to Public Health
Dr. Peter Applebaum, Professor of Educaion, for FY 103 Strangely Familiar Music Group
Dr. Eleonora Bartoli, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the master’s counseling degree program, for PY 570 Professional Issues in Counseling
Dr. Jodi Bornstein, Assistant Professor of Education, Coordinator of the Social Studies Education Program and Faculty Liaison for School Collaborations, for ED 319 Social Studies Methods
Dr. Peter Siskind, Assistant Professor of History and Director of the International Studies program and University Seminars, and
Dr. Jennifer Riggan, Assistant Professor of International Studies, for HS 201/IS 201 History/IS Research Writing
Dr. Michelle Washington, Assistant Professor of Business, for BA 101 International Business and Culture

Faculty News from 2008 and Earlier

2009-01-14T14:54:00Z

Click here for Arcadia faculty news from 2008 and earlier.