Faculty Development

Coordinator: Timothy J. Evans February, 2002

Faculty Activities:

Congratulations are in order for Dan Zelinski who received a post-doctoral research fellowship at Princeton University’s Center for the Study of Religion for the 2002-2003 academic year. In the Spring, Dan will participate in a graduate seminar, “The Moral Mystic,” with Dr. Christian Wildberg, and will assist Professor Wildberg to arrange and host a conference on the same subject.

Linda Pittman has given three presentations this Fall based on her experiences during her professional leave spent in Africa. All three presentations were at Luther Memorial Elementary to the kindergarten, second, and fourth grades, and she was ably assisted by Tim, Matt, and Linnea. They dressed in full African regalia and displayed artifacts such as swords, knives, and slingshots (all of which fascinate elementary school students). After some initial technical difficulties, the final presentation included a power point presentation of images of Guinean scenes.

Recent publications by Wayne Jones and Anne-Marie McCartan have appeared. Wayne’s article, “A Study of the Relationship of Butler’s Conditions of Trust to Birnbaum’s Organizational Models: Implications for Higher Education Leaders,” appeared in the Winter 2002 Journal of Leadership Studies. Anne-Marie’s article, “Overcoming Senioritis,” appeared in the March, 2002 Virginia Journal of Education. The article describes our dual credit enrollment program.

Twelve participants enjoyed dessert and discussion on February 11 at the first RBC book discussion group. The subject was Ellen Glasgow’s Barren Ground. Additionally, four of the participants were able to visit the Glasgow House in Richmond on February 20. The house, built in 1841, is a lovely Greek Revival structure. The current owners, Tricia and Jack Pearsall, welcomed the visitors, and Tricia then led an informative tour of the house. The visit concluded with tea and cookies in the home of Mary Monroe.

Alexandra Duckworth and Esther Floyd are currently taking graduate courses at VCU. For Esther, this course is the final one she needs in her doctoral program.

Michelle Delano had a busy February. On February 6 she was a presenter for the Leadership Metro Richmond’s Symposium on Creativity, Technology, and Leadership held at the Channel 23 Studios. On February 16, Michelle gave an all day workshop at the Virginia Museum on Creative Thinking, and February 19 found her traveling to Halifax High School in South Boston to conduct a workshop on the same subject. She has begun a project with women incarcerated at the Fluvanna Correctional Center on using creative thinking to develop entrepreneurial skills. And on February 23 she was a judge for a show on Word Art. The show will open March 1 at the Petersburg Art League.

Math Mondays featured presentations by Richard Love on February 18, and Mary Monroe on February 25. Richard’s presentation, “In Defiance of Custom and Tradition,” discussed attempts at unionizing workers in the tobacco industry in Richmond in the 1940’s. In her presentation, “Artifacts from Samoa,” Mary provided and discussed artifacts collected by her father while he was stationed in Samoa. A display of additional Samoan artifacts is currently housed in the glass case outside the Ernst Hall lecture room.

Upcoming opportunities:

The book discussion group will have their second meeting in April. Pat Harvey will moderate the discussion on Oral History by Lee Smith. Once again participants should bring with them a bag lunch and a beverage. Dessert will be provided. The specific date of the meeting will be announced soon.

Reminder:

Information on upcoming conferences, grant opportunities, and other faculty development news of general interest is now available through Blackboard. Just click on Faculty development. Information is added to the listings as it comes to my attention, so the site is updated constantly.