FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES // November 2024

Ben Fraser published "The Wisdom of the Maasai: Oral Literature as Entertainment Education (Carolina Academic Press, 2024) with Tanzanian Minister of Parliament Steven Kiruswa.

Fraser also published two chapters in "The Bloomsbury Handbook of Continental Philosophy of Education" with William J. Brown. "Towards an Understanding of Teaching through Indirect Communication" (2024): 39-49; and "Towards a Philosophy of Pedagogy through Entertainment-Education." (2024): 171-183.

Sara Sewell published “Acoustic Assaults on the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concourse, in Holocaust and Genocide Studies,” October 2024, 1-20. 

Kathy Merlock Jackson published a book review of "Private Spaces in Public Places: Comfort Stations, Fitting Rooms, Public Baths, and Locker Rooms in America, 1880-1930 by Laura Walikainen Roulou in The Journal of American Culture, Dec. 2024, 47:4.

President Scott D. Miller  serves as executive editor for the President to President thought leadership series. The second and third chapters of the 2024–2025 series are now available online. In “Leading Change: Practical Lessons in the Implementation of a Multi-Institution Integration,” West Chester University President R. Lorraine Bernotsky, D.Phil. shares vital lessons from her experience as Interim President of Pennsylvania Western University during its transition from three distinct campuses into one integrated university. In “The Essential Ingredients for Transformative Leadership,” President and CEO of Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., examines three key focus areas that shape academic leadership success: a positive board/president relationship, effective leadership teams, and a time-tested personal leadership philosophy. President Miller's most recent article in Enrollment Manager, with co-author Dr. Katelyn Sanders, Director of Admission & Alumni Affairs at the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy of Shenandoah University, entitled, “The Importance of Investing in Nontraditional Students” is now available online. His daily blog, Dialogue, can be found at prezscottmiller.blogspot.com.

Kathy Stolley presented "Animated Insects in Disney’s Silly Symphonies" at the Northeast Popular and American Culture Association 2024 Virtual Conference.

Stephen Leist participated in a panel presentation "From Idea to Impact: Publishing with the Virginia Libraries Journal" at the annual conference of the Virginia Library Association held in Norfolk.

Tyler A. Lehrer gave a guest lecture, "Friendship, Danger, and the Dutch Company: Buddhist Monks at Sea in 18th Century Southern Asia" for Dr. Nalika Gajaweera's "Buddhism Across Boundaries" course at the University of California Los Angeles.

Doug Kennedy presented a session titled "Systematic traumatization and revictimization of Survivors in Chapter 11" at the Zero Abuse Project's 2024 Leader Forum: "Child Sexual Abuse Litigation: In and out of bankruptcy." This event was held in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Travis Malone presented a two-part masterclass workshop titled: “Acting in Song: Making the Most of Your Moment” at the annual Virginia Theatre Association conference in Richmond, VA. While at the conference, Travis served as an adjudicator for the High School Costume Design competition and represented the Arts at VWU for the VTA University exhibition.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Members of the "Social Justice and Health" class, taught by Kathy Stolley, did some winter prep in the Western Bayside Community Garden. The visit spotlighted the role of community gardens within the wider contexts of hunger, food insecurity, and food deserts. The class also visited REACH, Inc. (Reading Enriches All Children) for a tour of the facility and conversation with the organizations Executive Director. The visit spotlighted the importance of education and literacy in social justice and health.

GRANT

Maynard Schaus, Bethany Tsiaras, and Eric Johnson received a $60,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to support their "Urban Greening and Habitat Restoration to Address Extreme Heat and Stormwater Runoff" project. Seven other faculty plan to contribute to this project by including their students in service learning opportunities, such as tree and marsh grass planting.

OTHER

Jennifer Slivka participated in a three-day training seminar to become a Title IX Investigator for faculty and staff. The training was held at Villanova University.

Denise Wilkinson was invited to serve on the proposal review committee for the Teaching Academic Success Skills Conference that will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Phil Guilfoyle completed the construction and first firing of the Art Program's new Salt/Soda kiln, which was dedicated to alumnus donor Jimmy Zullinger during a kiln opening event on the morning of Homecoming, along with a crowd of eager onlookers to include students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and family.



Jason Squinobal begins his sixth month of an Artist Residency at Roads Bistro in Virginia Beach where he performs on saxophone with his jazz quartet every Monday night.