February - University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Volume 7 Issue 1
A
Eastern Shore Group Explores Paris
A combined group from the
University of Maryland
Eastern Shore and Salisbury
University spent two weeks
visiting Paris during our
recent winter break. The
students were accompanied
by French language
instructors from both
institutions, including Susan
Cooledge from the UMES
Department of English and
Modern Languages.
INSIGHTS
U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y L A N D E A S T E R N S H O R E , P R I N C E S S A N N E , M D 2 1 8 5 3
D I V I S I O N O F A C A D E M I C A F F A I R S , S C H O O L O F T H E A R T S & P R O F E S S I O N S
D E P A R T M E N T O F E N G L I S H A N D M O D E R N L A N G U A G E S
February 2006
Great Trip? Oui!
Dr. Cooledge is a vocal
proponent of learning about
another culture first-hand.
"Experiencing life outside
of one's 'home,' however
defined, changes a person's
perspective no matter how
short or long the visit,” she
said. “Students who take
advantage of study abroad
opportunities in particular
broaden their world view
and find their 'home'
different when they return to
it. It is a privilege to do so,
and I encourage all students
to challenge themselves in
this way."
Dominique Pomphrey, a
criminal justice major at
UMES, has certainly taken
that challenge seriously.
Last year she was one of a
group of UMES students
who spent a semester in
Ghana. This year she joined
Dr. Cooledge in France.
experience in Paris with
additional research.
Student members of the
tour group pose in front
of the Eiffel Tower with
their professors.
Photo provided by Dean
Cooledge
(L to R) Dr. Cooledge and
Ms. Pomphrey at Versaille
Photo by Dean Cooledge
Ms. Pomphrey plans to earn
academic credit for her
experience by completing an
independent study with Dr.
Cooledge this spring. Her
project will combine her
In addition to the students,
the nearly twenty person
group included community
members who took advantage
of the opportunity to tour
Paris with French language
instructors; the professors
make very experienced tour
guides and translators.
Mentor Award
Chair of English Department Honored
Department chair
Richard Keenan traveled
to the Baltimore County
campus of the
University of Maryland
recently to accept the
Honor Society of Phi
Kappa Phi’s Mentor
Award and to be
inducted into the
organization. He was
nominated for the honor
by a senior UMES
English major, Jamie
Grangier.
Kappa Phi at the same
ceremony.
Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest
and largest honor society
dedicated to supporting
superior scholarship in all
academic disciplines.
(L to R) Ms. Grangier, Dr. Keenan,
President Thompson, and Ms.
Anderson
Photo by James Grangier
Dr. Keenan was in good
company. UMES President
Thelma Thompson also
became a member of Phi
This is the second time in
recent years that a faculty
member in the UMES
English department has
received the Maryland
chapter’s mentor award.
Mignon Holland Anderson
has also been recognized as
an outstanding mentor.
A New Chapter Begins UMES
ENGLISH GRADS ARE READY
Congratulations to the December 2005
graduates from the Department of
English and Modern Languages.
The unofficial tally at the December 16
commencement ceremony was 19
English graduates and at least two
General Studies majors with core
concentrations in telecommunications.
(L to R) Torrez Wise, Rose Williams,
Romell Staten, Autumn Reid, and
Hanif Sowell
Those students include Autumn
Barrett, Devon Beck, Ursula Brooks,
Natasha Bryant, Kayla Calloway,
Frank Corsey, Samantha Hall, Jasmine
Jackson, Shavon Keith, Shannon Lee,
Candice Napper, Leslie Peyton,
CAMPUS COFFEE
SHOP NOW OPEN
Chimere Pelzer, Autumn Reid, Hanif
Sowell, Andrea Springer, Romell Staten,
Efron Stokes, Rose Williams, Torrez
Wise, and William Wood.
The commencement speaker was Robert
Bell, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court
of Appeals. He is the first African
American to serve as the state’s chief
jurist. In his remarks, Judge Bell
reminded the UMES grads that they will
have a lifelong obligation to give back to
their communities.
The event marked the start of a new
tradition at UMES. From now on, all
winter graduation ceremonies will be held
on the third Friday in December, and all
spring graduates will receive their
diplomas on the third Friday in May.
Previously, commencements were held on
Saturdays.
Students who expect to graduate in May
2006 should have registered for
graduation last December. Those who
haven’t, should complete the paperwork
immediately. Contact the Office of the
Registrar for details.
ROADSHOW
UMES drama
students will be
performing original
skits this month in
Salisbury at St.
James A.M.E. Zion
Church. They have been invited by
Barbara Gordy, administrative assistant in
the English department and a member of
the pastoral staff at St. James.
As part of a Black Heritage event, Pastor
Luther Hill wants the UMES students to
perform a stage production that will inform
the audience about the dangers of smoking.
The students will be under the direction of
their instructor, Della Dameron-Johnson, a
member of the English faculty and advisor
to the UMES Drama Society. She says
writing the skits will be a project for
students enrolled in drama classes, but
she’s likely to give them a little help. Dr.
Dameron-Johnson has written, edited,
produced, and directed numerous plays.
The students will perform the anti-smoking
skits at the church on Thursday, February
9.
English Alum Shines
State legislators have living proof that
UMES produces successful English
teachers. Members of the Eastern Shore
delegation to the Maryland General
Assembly met with President Thelma
Thompson recently. She introduced
them to Susan Buckson-Greene.
Photo by Kat Harting
“More Coffee, Green Tee” is the
name of a new coffee shop in
Waters Hall. “Tee” is a play on
words to attract patrons of the
UMES Golf Academy. The shop
is open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. and
features, among other things,
delectable pastries and Starbucks
coffee. Yum!
Ms. Buckson-Greene is a 1992 UMES
graduate. She was named High School
Teacher of the Year in Atlanta, Georgia
and also received a prestigious national
educator award from the Milken Family
Foundation. She agreed to return to
campus to meet with legislators to
remind them how critically important
their support is to each UMES student.
During her visit, Ms. Buckson-Greene
also took the opportunity to renew old
acquaintances. While in Wilson Hall,
Department chair Richard Keenan teased
her about her language skills. “She was
(L to R) Delegates Norman Conway and
Bennett Bozman, President Thompson,
Senator Lowell Stoltzfus, Delegates Addie
Eckhardt and Page Elmore, and Ms.
Buckson-Greene
Photo by Jackie Bingham
one of only a very few of my students
who had studied Latin,” he said. “It’s
not often I have a student who correctly
challenges my translations,” smiling as
he reminded her of the encounter.
Bravo “Mama D”
L
ong years of noteworthy
service by a member of the
English faculty were
recognized by the University
recently. Della Dameron-Johnson
received a thirty year service award from
President Thelma Thompson.
Dr. Dameron-Johnson
Photo by Jim Glovier
Dr. Dameron-Johnson, a native of
Jefferson City, Missouri, joined the
UMES faculty in 1975, after teaching
two years at Lincoln University of
Missouri. She founded our Drama
Society soon after her arrival and still
serves as its academic advisor. She also
took on the management of the UMES
Gospel Choir and continues to serve as
its advisor.
Each year her drama students stage three
theater productions, including the
publicly acclaimed dinner theater held
each spring with the help of students in
the UMES Hotel and Restaurant
Management program.
FELIZ
NAVIDAD
“It’s been a joy to watch our students
blossom,” she says, bragging that one of
her former drama society members,
Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, has been
nominated for a Grammy award for his
gospel recordings.
Dr. Dameron-Johnson is also called on
to share her talents in the community
performing as a gospel singer, a stage
actress, and as a motivational speaker.
She has been selected as an
“Outstanding Achiever” by Maryland
African American Pride magazine. She
has also been featured in articles
published in Salisbury’s Daily Times
and in stories aired on both local
television stations.
Richard Keenan, chair of the English
department, is proud of her efforts on
and off campus. “Della has been an
extremely effective ambassador for our
University and our students,” he said.
Her warm and engaging personality has
earned her the campus nickname of
“Mama D.”
CONGRATULATIONS TO SHANA SCOTT
The UMES Teacher Education Entrance Committee has
officially accepted English Education major Shana
Scott into the University’s Teacher Education
Program.
Ms. Scott had to pass the Praxis I reading, writing, and
math tests and meet a GPA requirement before she could
apply to enter the UMES education program. Now that she
has been accepted as a teacher candidate, Ms. Scott will
need to
successfully complete 28 hours of professional development coursework
and pass the Praxis II English content and pedagogy exams before
she can be considered for the mandatory teaching internship
experience.
Photo by Jim Glovier
Spanish language students spread
Christmas cheer at the annual
Navidad celebration, organized by
Carole Champagne.
Dr. Champagne’s students share
traditional food, music, and dance
with the campus community each
December as part of their final
projects in her Spanish language
classes.
O.C. Lecture
Dean Cooledge, a member of the English
faculty, was a featured speaker recently
in Ocean City.
The event was part of
the “Lunch and
Learn” program, held
monthly in the resort
community. The
lecture series is
sponsored by the
University’s
Continuing Education
Program.
Dr. Cooledge
An audience of
approximately one hundred people heard
Dr. Cooledge deliver remarks entitled
“Whatever Happened to the Esso Station:
Commercial Iconography in the
Paintings of Edward Hopper.”
COMMITTEE PEACE
SERVICE
ESSAY
Mignon Holland
Anderson, a
member of the
English
department
faculty, has been
elected to serve
on the
University’s
Promotion and
Tenure Review
Committee.
Ms. Anderson
Pattrice Jones, a UMES
adjunct public speaking
instructor, spent
Christmas Day
demonstrating against
the war in Iraq with members of the
Peace Alliance of the Lower Shore. She
has written an essay entitled “What's So
Patriotic About Peace?” describing her
experience on that day.
She joins six
other representatives on the committee
for the 2005-2006 academic year. The
group is chaired by Dr. Robert Dadson.
It has been published online at
www.freezerbox.com. To read the
essay, access it at the following web
address:
http://www.freezerbox.com/archive/
article.php?id=402
SOFTWARE
LESSONS
FIRE
SCARE
Members of the English department
faculty have been honing their
technology skills over the winter.
As students and faculty were struggling
with last minute details during the final
week of classes last December,
instruction in Wilson Hall was abruptly
disrupted.
Photo by Matthew
Whittiker
The University has recently
implemented two new software tools.
SOAR is a program that will assist the
administration in compiling certain
regular reports; Tegrity is a program
that will allow faculty members to
record certain portions of their lectures
for playback online.
Both programs have been
demonstrated in workshops conducted
in the new computer lab on the first
floor of Wilson Hall. That lab was
equipped with federal dollars provided
by the UMES Title III program.
The
activities
of a crew
working
Princess Anne fire truck
on the
outside Wilson Hall
heating
and air
system in the building had created a
cloud of smoke.
The building was evacuated until fire
fighters could determine there was no
danger.
Insights is written and edited, except as noted, by
communications instructor Marilyn Buerkle with desktop
publishing by instructional design specialist Kaye Pinhey
and copy editing by composition instructor Ron Webster.
Photos by Marilyn Buerkle, except as noted. If you have
information you would like to appear in this publication,
please contact our editor at 410-651-8349 or email her at
mlbuerkle@umes.edu
FEBRUARY 2006
 3
Late Registration
Ends
 7
English
Department
Meeting, 11 a.m.
Wilson 2113
 9
Add Period Ends
 10
Drop Period Ends
 14
UMES Senate
Meeting ,11 a.m.
Carver Auditorium
 17-19
Homecoming
 21
Faculty Assembly
Meeting ,11 a.m.
Carver Auditorium
 23
VPAA Faculty
Meeting ,11 a.m.
Library Auditorium