Dear Bellarmine Students, Faculty and Staff,
I write to you from my new digs on the top floor of Centro, the beautiful building that so skillfully weaves Bellarmine’s foundational past with its far-reaching future. Great things are happening in this building. Students will begin their Bellarmine journeys by visiting the Welcome Center and end them by reporting their post-graduation job plans to the Career Development Center. In between, they may attend classes in Centro, visit Campus Ministry, or just hang out and visit with each other under the Atrium. In its new expanded space, the School of Business is preparing future business leaders in real-world settings. Let’s take a look at some of the other excellent scholarship and community service going on right now at Bellarmine.
New process for selecting Honorary Degree recipients
Only the Board of Trustees can award an Honorary Degree from Bellarmine University, but we now have an inclusive new process that allows anyone in the community or the public to nominate worthy candidates for consideration. Find the selection criteria, the selection process and the online nomination form here. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to help me identify a diverse pool of worthy candidates for Bellarmine University’s highest symbolic honor. Many thanks to the faculty and staff committee that developed this process—Dr. Hunt Helm (Chair), Dr. Sonja Bareiss, Dr. Kyle Barnett, Ms. Pat Carver, Dr. Daniel Castner, Ms. Maria González, Mr. Glenn Kosse and Dr. Annette Powell.
Faculty and Staff News and Achievements
Ms. Lindsey Gilmore, assistant director of Housing & Residence Life, was chosen as one of NASA’s Solar System Ambassadors, a volunteer position managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. The Ambassadors program works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and discoveries to the people in their communities.
Several members of the offices of Communications & Public Affairs and Alumni Relations won honors this month in the CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) Region III competition, which drew more than 900 entries in all categories:
- Mr. Peter Kremer, Alumni Association executive director, and Ms. Stephanie Pieper Reilly, director of Alumni Events & Programs, Grand Award for Fundraising for Alumni Trivia Knight, and Special Merit Award in Fundraising for Completing a Capital Campaign through Alumni Engagement in Honor of a Beloved President, Dr. Joseph J. McGowan.
- Ms. Katie Kelty, director of Campus Communications (with Dean James Breslin and Ms. Shelby Bosi of the Student Success Center), Award of Excellence in Low Budget Publications for the Summer School Campaign.
- Ms. Carla Carlton, director of Development Communications, Award of Excellence in Feature Writing for “Walking the Walk,” the profile of Dr. Susan M. Donovan from the summer 2017 issue of Bellarmine Magazine.
Ms. Carla Carlton had a poem, To Lillie Mae on What Would Have Been Her 100th Birthday, selected from 74 entries for publication in Kentucky Monthly’s February 2018 Literary Issue.
Bellarmine College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. David Porta, professor of Biology, was featured in WFPL-FM’s Curious Louisville in January. The question was “What happens to zoo animals when they die?” Dr. Porta’s research on a giraffe carcass was cited as a legendary example of the zoo’s working relationship with Bellarmine University.
Dr. Jon Blandford, associate professor of English and director of Bellarmine’s Honors Program, published “Satire and/as Education” in Common-Place, the online journal of the American Antiquarian Society.
Ms. Megan Burnett, Theatre Program director and assistant professor, presented a paper and performed her one-woman play on her research subject, Mattie Griffith Browne, a journalist, poet, and fiction writer, at the Hawaii International Conference on Arts & Humanities in January. The conference will publish both the paper, Standing on the Shoulders of Great Women: Unearthing an Unexpected Voice of the Abolitionist and Suffragist Movement in the United States in the 19th Century – Mattie Griffith Browne, and the play, Conversations with a Suffragist: Mattie Griffith Browne – Kentucky Abolitionist and Suffragist,” in the conference proceedings. Ms. Burnett is directing Detroit by Lisa D’Amour for Bellarmine University Theatre Program Feb. 16-24.
Dr. Greg Hillis, associate professor of Theology, published an article in Commonweal Magazine on the burial of a monk at Abbey of Gethsemani.
Dr. Anne Raymond, professor and chair of Mathematics, co-wrote a children’s book intended to be read to children with Down syndrome that will help adults teach them math concepts. A Jan. 30 article about the book in the Dubois County (Ind.) Herald noted that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book, Leah Marie and Her Down Right Perfect Path to Math, will go to Down Syndrome Indiana.
Professor Fong Choo was invited by the Midland Center for the Arts Museum in Midland, Mich., to display his work in the Masters of Drawing & Masters of Ceramics exhibition, Jan. 27-April 8. He was also once again invited to the Smithsonian Craft Show at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. (April 25-29), and he conducted a demonstration workshop at the University of Central Florida in Orlando from Feb. 8-9.
Dr. Gabriele Weber Bosley, executive director of Study Abroad & International Learning and professor of Global Languages and Cultures, contributed an invited chapter, “Developing Globally Prepared Students through an Experiential Constructivist-Driven Intervention during Study Abroad,” to the new book Intercultural Interventions in Study Abroad, part of the Routledge series on Internationalization in Higher Education. She also contributed to an invited chapter entitled “Beyond Mobility: How to Develop Intercultural Competence in International Students Studying Abroad in the U.S.” to the European Higher Education Series Higher Education in National Contexts. In November 2017, Dr. Bosley was invited by the Intercultural Development Research Institute in Milano, Italy, to co-conduct a 3-day workshop on “Realizing the Intercultural Dimension of International Educational Exchange” for educational leaders from Europe and the U.S.
College of Health Professions
Ms. Julie Senn-Reeves (instructor, Nursing) was elected secretary of the Highlands Community Ministry Board of Directors in January. In December 2017, she published “Addressing the Needs of Patients with Chronic Conditions: The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist” in the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) Chronic Conditions Task Force’s online report.
Dr. Elaine Lonnemann (associate professor, Physical Therapy) published “The History of IFOMPT: Paving the Way to Global Leadership in OMPT Excellence” in the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, Vol. 5, Issue 5, Dec. 14, 2017.
Dr. Megan Danzl (assistant professor and assistant chair, Physical Therapy) and colleagues published Chapter 10, “Examination of Functional Status and Movement Patterns,” and Chapter 24, “Interventions for Motor Control-Stability of Joints/Segments,” in Lifespan Neurorehabilitation: A Patient-centered Approach from Examination to Intervention and Outcomes, first edition.
Ms. Britt Schloemer (instructor, Nursing) co-coordinated and hosted the Kentucky Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)’s annual update on Jan. 26. She also gave a talk at the conference entitled “Migraine Essentials for Primary Care.”
Dr. Keith Knapp (associate professor and chair, Health Services and Senior Living Leadership) became the first licensed long-term care administrator from Kentucky to receive the newly introduced designation of Health Services Executive (HSE). The new credential is awarded by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards to foster “licensure by equivalency” across state lines for administrators of nursing homes, assisted living and home-and-community-based service providers.
Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education
Dr. Donald "DJ" Mitchell Jr., professor of Higher Education Leadership, co-authored a journal article titled “How High-Impact Practices Influence Academic Achievement for African American College Students” in the Journal Committed to Social Change on Race and Ethnicity. He also delivered two presentations at the American College Personnel Association Kentucky’s Annual Conference held in January. The presentations were titled “Using Intersectionality as a Framework to Promote Student Success” and “You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Faculty Perspectives on Preparing for and Succeeding in Doctoral Programs in Higher Education and Student Affairs.” In addition, Dr. Mitchell was named associate editor for Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
Dr. Kristin Cook and co-authors presented "PrimeD: A professional development framework to build partnerships and empower teachers" and presented "A structured and collaborative STEAM program: Operationalizing a professional development framework" at the International Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) in Baltimore. Dr. Cook also secured a $5,000 Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant so a local school could improve safety and fun on the playground.
Dr. Daniel Castner published two peer-reviewed manuscripts in January: a chapter titled “Adaptive Challenge: Teachers as Lead Professionals for Democratic Living” in the Handbook of Dewey’s Educational Theory and Practice; and a review of Toward a Spiritual Research Paradigm: Exploring New Ways of Knowing, Researching and Being in Teachers College Record. Dr. Castner presented his research at two national conferences in November, the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Education (NAECTE) and University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).
Interim Dean Elizabeth Dinkins and a colleague presented “Teacher learning as teacher inquiry: Understanding knowledge-of-practice” to Oldham County Reading Academy teachers at South Oldham High School.
Dr. Mike Vetter was recently inducted into the founding class of the College Personnel Association of Kentucky’s “Hall of Fame” Gallery of Outstanding Educators and Professionals in Higher Education. He was recognized for his leadership at universities in Kentucky; contributions to state, region and national professional associations; and his teaching in the field of higher education. Dr. Vetter moderated a panel of university leaders during a keynote program at the College Personnel Association of Kentucky Conference entitled "Leading with Confidence and Integrity in Uncertain Times."
W. Fielding Rubel School of Business
Ms. Christy Burge, instructor of Accounting, participated in January in a meeting of the Kentucky Department of Education's Business and Education Alignment Taskforce, which has been mandated by the governor to align high school and higher education with workplace certifications to strengthen the state's workforce for economic growth.
Dr. David T. Collins, professor of Accounting, and a colleague presented “What Accountants Need to Know About Blockchain and Data Analytics” at the December 2017 Bellarmine/EY CPE Seminar.
Dr. Alisha Harper, assistant professor of Accounting, moderated a group of Bellarmine Accounting students in January while they became certified to prepare basic income tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. These students will volunteer their time at Louisville Urban League, Americana Community Center, and Portland Promise Center working with low- to middle-income individuals to help them prepare and file their 2017 tax returns. Last year Bellarmine students assisted approximately 200 clients, saving Louisville residents more than $40,000 in tax preparation fees. We have higher volunteer numbers this year, so expect to see that number increase.
Dean Sharon Kerrick was an invited presenter at the Leading in Academia Innovation Certificate Program held in Kentucky. She initiated a new partnership with Texas Roadhouse and the Bellarmine MBA program. She was presented with the key partner of the year award from the Prohispanic organization. Two of her MBA student projects were nominated as finalists in the Small Business Institute Project of the Year. The projects are Smoketown Clinic and Water Step Bleach Maker. Her VetStart military entrepreneurship program was featured in a two-page article in Business First. Dr. Kerrick created/hosted a birthday party celebrating and honoring Muhammad Ali, with his twin daughters from Las Vegas and Chicago attending the celebration. She kicked off a class she designed with David Jones Jr. on Innovation and was able to provide free scholarships for two Simmons Black Historic College students to attend as well. She was invited to serve on the visiting AACSB accreditation team for Xavier University. She served as an external CEO evaluator for the Louisville Water Company and Better Business Bureau. She leads the selection committee for VetStart (a community program she started to help military veterans start businesses) and selected seven new participants for spring 2018. She reviewed two papers for national peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kerrick also participated in Louisville Tech Consortium and Louisville Innovation Advisory Council.
School of Communication
Dr. Michael Strawser became a member of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Teaching and Learning work group in December 2017.
Dr. Kyle Barnett’s forthcoming and as-yet-untitled book for the University of Michigan Press has been awarded a subvention grant from the American Musicological Society. The book is about the transformation of the U.S. recording industry in the 1920s and 1930s. In addition, Dr. Barnett and the students of Bellarmine University Radio have received a $1,000 station grant from the College Radio Foundation (founders of the annual College Radio Day event) that will allow the station to make improvements in podcasting, field recording and audio production work in general.
Dr. Wuyu (Rain) Liu and colleagues had the following papers accepted for presentation at the 68th International Communication Association annual meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, May 24-28: “Exploring the human dimensions of Asian carp management in Michigan: implications for wildlife related risk communication” and “Culture and social norms: Behavioral decisions about grassland conservation among ethnically-Tibetan pastoralists.” Dr. Liu and colleagues also have the following journal publication in press: “Characterizing interpersonal influence for grassland conservation behaviors in a unique population.”
School of Environmental Studies
The School of Environmental Studies and BU Campus Ministry partnered on Jan. 28 with Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light, The Thomas Merton Center and New Roots to host an interfaith celebration of Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees, and of Thomas Merton's birthday, which fall on the same day in 2018. The celebration included talks by Dr. Greg Hillis on Merton’s view of nature and by Dean Robert Kingsolver on the ecological value of trees. Participants also enjoyed music from the Bellarmine Schola Choir.
Dr. Kate Bulinski was honored at the end of 2017 with the KAS statewide award for educational outreach from the Kentucky Academy of Science.