Newsletter - Grambling State University

Newsletter
A publication for alumni and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences
Vol. 1 ISSUE 1
From...
Dean Connie Walton
We have a lot
of exciting
activities
planned for this
academic year.
These activities
include
accreditation
visits, seminars, plays, exhibitions,
and workshops.
At the end of the previous
academic year, notifications were
received that we were successful
in receiving reaffirmation
from three national accrediting
bodies. The graduate program
in public administration received
reaffirmation from the National
Association of Schools of Public
Affairs and Administration
(NASPAA). The theatre program’s
accreditation was continued with
the National Association of Schools
of Theatre (NAST). Our computer
science program was reaffirmed
by the computing division of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering
& Technology (ABET).
This semester, the engineering
technology department is continuing
preparation for the November
visit of its accrediting agency, the
technology division of ABET.
Two programs will be reviewed
for reaffirmation, Electronics
Engineering Technology and
Drafting Design Technology.
We welcome your support!
Please feel free to contact me at
waltoncr@gram.edu or (318)-2744006.
Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana
Fall 2008
Arts & Sciences faculty teach dual
enrollment classes at Grambling High
G
Dr. Pamela Payne and Grambling High students enrolled in English 101 course
rambling High School students are enrolled in three
classes taught by Grambling
State University professors as a part
of the Louisiana Early Start Program.
The classes are Calculus I, Freshman
Composition I, and Fundamentals of
Physics I. These students will receive
high school credit as well as earn college credit from GSU.
Grambling State University’s participation in the Early Start Program
is being led by Dr. Robert Dixon, the
provost and vice-President of academic affairs. Dr. Dixon states, “The University is pleased to provide collegelevel course work for Grambling High
School students. The courses in which
the high school students are currently
enrolled should afford them an accelerated beginning to their university
studies.”
Dr. Pamela Payne, assistant professor of English, is teaching Freshman
Composition I (English 101) to seven
eager senior high school students. The
students are engaged in critical thinking, reading, reacting, and writing.
“My students tend to welcome the opportunity to study at a more advanced
level and have nearly determined what
they want to major in when attending
college full time. There is one who
wants to study pharmacology and another that wants to be a doctor. The
coursework is not watered down to
make special allowances for the high
school students; instead, expectations
are just as high as it is for the college
freshman,” says Dr. Payne.
Mr. Eugene Taylor, instructor in the
mathematics department, is teaching
Calculus I (Math 153), with eleven
students enrolled. He is covering topics that include limits, derivatives, and
applications of derivatives. Mr. Taylor
shares, “Some material is challenging
but the students are working hard.”
Dr. Avaine Strong, department head
of physics, is teaching the Fundamentals of Physics I class (Phys 109). The
lecture is taught at Grambling High
(Continued on page 8)
College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter
2
Dr. Connie Walton
Editor
Dr. Felix Ifeanyi
Editor
Mrs. Sandra Andrews Lee
Graphic Designer
Department Heads
Art
Ms. Donna McGee
Biology
Dr. Felix Ifeanyi
Chemistry
Dr. Danny Hubbard
Acting Head English
Dr. Jennifer McMullen
Engineering Technology
Dr. Olusegun Adeyemi
Family and Consumer Sciences
Research & Service
Quick conducts research on brain tumors
Cancer, one of the deadliest diseases afflicting the American public,
currently lacks curative therapy and
treatments. Dr. Quincy Quick, an assistant professor, in the department of
biological sciences, investigates the
cellular and molecular properties associated with the resistance of primary
brain tumors to chemo and radiation
therapy. The resistance of these tumors
to treatment is supported by epidemiological studies that have shown primary brain tumors have a 71% mortality
rate within the first twelve months of
diagnosis. In an effort to identify new
chemotherapeutic agents to combat
this disease, Dr. Quick studies novel
experimental drugs for their therapeutic efficacy and potential clinical applications on malignant brain tumors.
His most recent work is published in
Dr. Quincy Quick
the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Experimental Oncology.
Dr. Quick was recently awarded a
grant in the amount of $17,500 from
the American Society for Cell Biology
for his work relating to the investigation of brain tumor cell metastasis.
He is a 2008 recipient of an American
Association for Cancer Research Minority-Serving Faculty Scholar Award
given by the American Association for
Cancer Research.
Acting Head: Dr. Glenda Island
Foreign Languages
Dr. Ruben Gonzales
Acting Head History
Dr. Roshunda Belton
Honors College
Dr. Ellen Smiley
Math/Computer Sciences
Dr. Brett Sims
Music
Dr. Larry Pannell
Physics
Dr. Avaine Strong
Political Science/PA
Dr. Rose Harris
Sociology/Psychology
Dr. Charles Humphrey
Speech and Theatre
Dr. King Godwin
Please address inquires to:
Office of the Dean, COAS
GSU Box 4260
Grambling, LA 71245
Art professor serves as panelist
Mr. Rodrecas Davis, assistant professor of art, was invited to serve as a
panelist at the annual meeting of the
Southeastern College Art Conference
that was held in New Orleans September 24- 27th. The panel focused on The
Black Male: (Re)Examining Visual
Identity. The session was chaired by
professors from the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington.
Mr. Davis addressed Post Modem
Discourse: Pop Culture, and the Cut
& Paste Aesthetic. He discussed the
impact satellite television and the internet has had on society’s understanding
of Black males. The audience was informed that the images that appear in
pop culture icons help to frame people’s
understanding of Black males, resulting
in these images being found in varied
places such as African townships and
Japanese street-corners. Mr. Davis indicated that all of this is reflected, analyzed and critiqued in Contemporary
Rodrecas Davis
Art by artists; and that these artists work
to not allow stereotypical images be a
constant in their art but rather strive to
include diversity.
The Southeastern College Art Conference has a mission to promote the
visual arts in higher education. This
organization was founded in 1941 and
represents a 12 state area.
Mr. Rodrecas Davis is a faculty member at GSU since Fall 2007.
3
Public administration faculty presents at national meeting
Dr. Charles L. Mitchell, associate professor of political science and
public administration, had two papers
accepted for presentation at the 2008
American Political Science Association (APSA) annual meeting that was
held in Boston, MA, August 28th-31st.
The meeting was organized into fortynine program divisions and had 7200
in attendance.
Dr. Mitchell’s first presentation was
a part of the Teaching & Learning in Political Science Division and was titled
Informatics Assessment Techniques
for Evaluating Gains in Synthetic and
Analytic Abilities. The second presentation was a part of a joint panel hosted
by the Information & Politics Division
and the Public Administration Division. It focused on Incrementalism,
e-Government, and the Rate of Technological Change.
He was also invited to chair two
panels.
Dr. Charles Mitchell
Translator services provided to district
attorney’s office
As a result of the growing Hispanic
population in northern Louisiana, Lincoln and Ouachita Parishes have found
the need to utilize the skills of translators. Mrs. Nancy Reeves, has provided translation services to the Ouachita
Parish department of Social Services,
the Lincoln Parish District Attorney’s
office, and the City of Monroe. In her
role with the district attorney’s office,
Mrs. Reeves has the responsibility of
A
making sure the defendant, witnesses,
and lawyers understand what is being
said. Her understanding of the Hispanic culture enables Mrs. Reeves to provide clarification on legal aspects that
may be foreign to an individual who is
not familiar with the judicial system in
the United States.
Mrs. Reeves is an assistant professor
of Spanish at Grambling State University since 2007.
Science faculty submit grant proposals
team of science and mathematics faculty under the leadership of Dr. M.A. Himaya, Dr.
Felix Ifeanyi, and Dr. Parashu Sharma
recently submitted three grant applications for over 5.9 million dollars
to the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). The grant proposals include
the renewal Minority Access for Research Careers (MARC) application
for $2,663,322, the renewal Research
Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
(RISE) application for $1,306,714,
and the renewal Bridge application for
$1,948,080. The three programs are
housed in the department of biological
sciences.
The common goal of these grant proposals is to supplement student training
in an effort to increase competitiveness
for admission into, and completion of
Ph.D. degrees in biomedical sciences
at research intensive institutions.
These programs have been successful in training students who have gone
on to complete Ph.D. degree programs
in biomedical and quantitative sciences.
Excellence in
science teaching
The second annual Honoring the
Teachers Banquet was held in the
Black & Gold Room at Grambling
State University on September 25,
2008. Eighteen middle and high
school teachers, representing five
school districts, were recognized
for their participation in the Polymers, Plastics, and Recycling Workshop that was held on the campus of
Grambling State University during
the summer of 2008. The banquet
and workshop were sponsored by the
Louisiana Regional Collaboratives
for Excellence in Science Teaching
Program.
In May 2006, the Shell Oil Company in partnership with the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence
in Science Teaching joined with the
State of Louisiana to establish two
regional collaboratives for excellence in science teaching. The two
collaboratives were formed in joint
partnership agreements with four
prominent universities. The collaborative partnership in North Louisiana was formed between Grambling
State University and Louisiana Tech
University. The mission of the collaborative is to provide science and
mathematics teachers with education
enhancements and support systems
that will improve student performance in science; and ultimately increase the number of students pursuing science and engineering related
careers.
The project director at Grambling State University is Dr. Danny
Hubbard, head of the department of
chemistry. The teacher coordinator
is Ms. Natalie Hendrix, biological
sciences instructor.
College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter
4
COAS faculty involved in SACS reaffirmation process
From left to right: Milford Greene, Michelle Williams-Young, Parashu Sharma, Tabbetha Dobbins, Uju Ifeanyi, Melissa Aldredge,
Walter Davis; Back row, left to right, Brett Sims and Avaine Strong
C
ollege of Arts & Sciences (COAS) faculty are
playing an important role in the university’s
preparation for the 2010 Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation visit. Dr.
Parashu Sharma, professor of mathematics, is chairing the
Quality Enhancement Planning (QEP) Team with several
COAS faculty as members.
SACS requires a university to develop and institute a
quality enhancement long-term plan for increasing the
effectiveness of some aspect of its educational program.
The plan should impact all students and its development
should involve input from all stakeholders. An institution
is free to select and implement a topic which best serves its
mission and vision.
Using university data, three possible QEP topics have
been identified. They are: (i) writing skills, (ii) mathematics
skills, and (iii) reading and critical thinking skills. Surveys
have been distributed to recent GSU graduates, GSU
alumni chapters, employers of GSU alumni, faculty, emeriti
faculty, and the University of Louisiana System Board
Members. Data from the surveys and focus groups will
be compiled and a topic selected. The QEP team will then
work to develop and implement a plan that will enhance
the effectiveness of student learning related to the selected
topic.
For additional information please contact Dr. Sharma at
sharmapr@gram.edu or Mrs. Michelle Williams-Young at
youngm@gram.edu.
For details of the SACS requirement for the QEP, please
visit their website at www.sacs.org.
Sociology professor works on Mississippi Delta project
Dr. J. Russell Willis
Dr. J. Russell Willis, associate professor in the sociology/psychology
department, is currently serving as a
research consultant on a project titled
Race and Place: Patterns and Dynamics of Poverty in the Texas Borderland
and the Lower Mississippi Delta. He
is sharing his expertise on poverty in
the Mississippi Delta with the project
directors, professors at LSU and Texas
A & M. The research is funded for
three years by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Since 2006, Dr. Willis has been spending holidays and summer months in
the field gathering data and performing ethnographic research. He assesses trends in the social activity and living conditions of persons in the lower
Mississippi Delta and determines the
degree of unequal access to healthcare
services/providers in the region. The
lack of economic opportunities is also
quantified.
At the conclusion of the study, the
results will be published.
Departmental Activities 5
Chemistry department receives board of regents funding
The department of chemistry recently received notification that a proposal titled Acquisition of Accessory
Equipment to Enhance Grambling
State University Chemistry Labs was
funded in the amount of $98,020 by
the Louisiana Board of Regents. This
proposal was reviewed by a panel and
ranked 10th out of 49 proposals.
The funded project will upgrade equipment that supports freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior level chemistry laboratory courses and facilitate the
implementation of new experiments.
Equipment that will allow students to
perform reactions under dry or inert
conditions using microscale quantities will be purchased. A temperature
controller accessory with multiple cell
racks will also be purchased for the
UV-Visible Spectrophotomer that is
housed in the department. This accessory will enable faculty and students
to perform experiments that require
the analysis of samples at specific temperatures.
Dr. Pia Albuquerque is the principal investigator for this project and
Drs. Frank Ohene, Bobby Burkes, and
Tony Perry are co-principal investigators. Each of the investigators is faculty in the department of chemistry.
Theatre department commemorates 70th
anniversary of theatre productions
Bobby Burkes, Tony Perry, Pia
Albuquerque, and Frank Ohene
2008-09
Art Department
Gallery Schedule
September 2 – October 2
Coatney and Friends
October 13-November 12
African Art
November 14 – December 12
TBA
January 12 – February 6
Annual Faculty Exhibition
February 9 – March 6
Guest Artist
March 9 – March 27
High School Student Show
March 30 – April 24
The cast of Crowns
Seventy years ago the first
production, Old Man Pete, was
performed at Grambling. This play
was directed by the late Dr. Floyd L.
Sandle. On November 18 and 19,
theatre majors at GSU will have the
opportunity to perform in Old Man
Pete. This special event will have
as honorary guests, colleagues and
students of Dr. Sandle.
In commemoration of this
anniversary, special events are
planned throughout the academic year.
Crowns, by Regina Taylor, opened the
season with performances September
30 – October 3. On November 4- 7,
the Big Bad Musical opens. This play
was written by Alec Strum and is a
comical musical in which the Big Bad
Wolf is on trial in Fairy Tale Land. In
this musical the audience will serve
as the jury.
The theatre program has 60 majors
and 30 minors. The department also
has 21 students pursuing a minor in
dance and 18 pursuing a minor in
deaf education. The theatre program
continues to be accredited by the
National Association of Schools of
Theatre (NAST).
TBA
April 27 – August 28
GSU Student Show
Gallery Hours
M – F 8:00-4:30
Large groups/special needs
accommodations please call
(318) 274-2274
Persons interested in supporting the
gallery may call 318-274-2274 or e-mail
mcgeed@gram.edu for information on
becoming a “Friend of the Arts”.
College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter
6
N
Reaching Back
Alumni reaching back to biology majors
athaniel Washington, Jr. and
Rufus Harris, Jr., members
of the Alabama Chapter of
the Grambling University National
Alumni Association, established
a book award for GSU students in
2007. The two wanted to recognize
the achievements of students who are
preparing to make a difference in the
world. Two awards of $500 are made
annually to junior/senior level biology majors who are residents of the
Birmingham, Alabama-metro area.
The recipients for this year’s award
are Ms. Christina King and Mr. Andrew McCoy. Both students are classified as juniors.
Mr. Washington is a 1978 general
science education-biology concentration graduate, and is the CEO of
Washington Appraisal Services, LLC.
Mr. Rufus Harris is a 1962 graduate
of GSU and is a retired educator from
the Birmingham City School System.
The president of the Alabama
Chapter of the Grambling University
Alumni Association is Mr. Lonnie
Smith.
Nathaniel Washington, left and Rufus Harris,
right
Alumnus’ work featured in opening art exhibit
Caddo Parish School System. At a
closing reception held on October 2nd,
Lovelace had an opportunity to reminisce with former professor and head
of the department of art, Dr. Thomas
Richardson. Dr. Richardson remembers that Lovelace was “a serious student, a little older than his classmates
because of time spent in military
service.” Fondly referred to by his
classmates as “the old man”, Lovelace
excelled in painting, drawing, crafts
and ceramics. Those early interests
are apparent in the works he produces
today. Lovelace works in a variety of
media: oil, watercolor, paper mache’,
Left to right: Walter Coatney, Thomas Richardson, and Charles Lovelace
copper tooling, ceramics, pastels and
sculpture.
From September 2-October 2, 2008, According to Dr. Richardson, “Tethe department of art hosted an exhibi- nacity was the key to success for
tion of works by Mr. C. E. Lovelace Lovelace.” Active in the arts throughand Mr. Walter Coatney of Shreve- out his career, Lovelace’s works have
port, LA.
been exhibited in museums and galler After a stint in the military Mr. ies throughout Louisiana, Texas, and
Charles Lovelace enrolled in the art Mississippi. He is a member of the
program at GSU. He graduated with Bossier Art Association and PAMOJA
a bachelor of arts in art education in Art Society.
1964 and went on to teach art in the Mr. Walter Coatney, who exhibited
with Lovelace, also has past associations with Grambling State University. Although he graduated from
Southern University at Shreveport he
has taken classes at GSU on several
occasions and also considers himself
a Grambling Alumnus. His artistic
creations reference his interests in nature, antique collecting, and football.
Painting, sculpture, and drawing are
the major art forms Coatney pursues.
He has exhibited his works in various
venues throughout the south. Coatney
is also affiliated with the PAMOJA Art
Society, as well as the Louisiana Wood
Carving Society and the Creative Art
Connection.
Dr. Thomas Richardson was head
of the department of art during its formative years. He influenced the lives
of many young artists and remains
supportive of former students like
Lovelace and Coatney. Throughout
the years he has attended exhibitions
by both artists. During his tenure as
department head, Dr. Richardson was
instrumental in establishing a gallery
space in Dunbar Hall.
Student Activities
7
GSU Art graduates aim higher
Two spring 2008 graduates from
the art program have been accepted
into graduate programs. Mikwonjilian
Antwih, a Monroe Michigan native,
is attending the School of Fine Art at
the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Her plans include the completion of
the Master of Fine Arts and the further
pursuit of a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of
Fine Art. Mikwonjilian has a future
goal of producing children books that
are tailored for the hearing impaired.
Jack Thompson, a native of Houston
Texas, is attending the Savannah
School of Art and Design in Savannah,
Georgia. He is pursuing his interest in
Character Design and Animation at
the graduate level. Jack was inspired
by the work of Ernie Barnes, GSU
professor- Larry Holston, and GSU
alumnus Cbabi Bayoc.
Both graduate programs have
rigorous acceptance criteria, which is
a testament to the education that Jack
and Mikwonjilian received. With this
education, they are showcasing the
legacy of Grambling State University
both nationally and internationally.
Mikwonjilian Antwih, #242
Jack Thompson, Sax Man
Grambling student studies in Belgium
Anitra McGowan, right, and friend
Anitra McGowan, a senior majoring in French, spent last July in Belgium. She studied at one of its most
prestigious universities, the University of Liège. Anitra applied for this
experience by completing an application with the Council of Development
of French in Louisiana (CODFIL).
CODFIL facilitates exchange programs which improve the knowledge
of French by identifying agencies that
fund study abroad opportunities.
Ms. McGowan is the first Grambling
student to receive a summer scholarship from the Belgian government.
This scholarship paid for tuition, lodging, meals, and provided a stipend.
The three-week intensive French
program in Belgium allowed Anitra to
advance her language skills and learn
about the culture. “As great as the
school and people were, the town was
just as amazing. The people of this rural city town were so down to earth, I
felt like I was right back in the South.
I didn’t know much about Belgium
before I left, but now I know so much
about it I can’t wait to return. This was
one of the most enjoyable experiences
of my life,” says Anitra.
This is the second study abroad experience for Anitra. She spent a semester in 2006 in Paris, France.
College of Arts & Sciences Newsletter
8
Science professor and student projects support military operations
During the summer of 2008, a
computer science faculty member and
two students participated in research
programs at the Air Force Research
Laboratory located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.
Dr. Y.B. Reddy and Curshana Tolliver worked in the Sensors Directorate. This directorate is charged with
the development of technology that
will contribute to the success of military missions and aid in homeland
security.
Dr. Reddy’s project focused on the
use of Game Models in Cognitive
Networks. Curshana’s work targeted
O
LANdroids Robotics.
Sparkle Springfield worked in the
Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. This directorate develops advanced materials and manufacturing
technologies for use in air and spacecraft. Sparkle built carbon nanotube
models.
Dr. Y.B. Reddy is a computer science professor at GSU since 1986.
Curshana Tolliver is a sophomore
mathematics major from Houston,
Texas. Sparkle Springfield is beginning her second year of studies as a
chemistry major. Her home town is
Berkley, California.
Left to right: Curshana Tolliver, Y. B. Reddy,
Sparkle Springfield
Carter G. Woodson History Club hosts lecture
n October 7, 2008 the Carter
G. Woodson History Club
hosted a lecture by Arthur
Lee Ford, Junior. Mr. Ford discussed
his recent book entitled When the
Whippoorwill Sang: A Memoir of
Rural Life during the Twilight of the
Segregated South, and enthusiastically answered questions from the
audience. During the lecture the
lives of share-croppers who resided
in Bossier Parish were remembered.
He reminded attendees that these individuals played an important role
in the economy of the nation. The
author shared with the audience how
the title of the book was conceived.
He indicated that as a young boy, he
noticed that when the sun set, all of
the birds that were singing during the
day were silent and the whippoorwill called. He felt that this bird was
singing to him. Thus, Whippoorwill
Sang became a part of the title.
The Carter G. Woodson History
Club was organized in 1974, under
the administration of Dr. Minnie T.
Bailey, retired history department
head. The club is named after Carter
G. Woodson, the father of African
American History, and sponsored by
the history department. The purpose
of the organization is to enhance the
scholastic atmosphere of the university. Membership is open to all persons with an interest in history.
Kari Davis, club president
Jimmy McJamerson, advisor
(Continued from page 1)
School while the students come to
Carver Hall to complete the laboratory portion of the class. This semester,
ten students are becoming intimately
acquainted with principles/theories
in mechanics and thermodynamics.
“The students seem to be excited
about the dual enrollment classes.
They are looking forward to the 2nd
six weeks of classes. The college
professors who teach these classes
fit in very well with our high school
environment,” says Principal Greg
Williams.
These classes offer a more challenging program for high school students
who have excelled academically.
Most importantly, this experience
helps to ease the transition from high
school to college. The high school
students are developing a level of
confidence that will be instrumental
in their future success in college.
To participate in the Louisiana
Early Start Program, a high school
student must be at least 15 years of
age and classified as a junior or senior. In addition the student must be
on track for completion of the Regents/TOPS high school core, and
must have earned a minimum score
on PLAN or the ACT test. The score
needed is determined by the course.
Grambling State University’s Early Start Program is managed by the
director of enrollment management,
Mrs. Karen Lewis. For additional
information please contact her at
(318)-274-2614.