Faculty/Staff Accomplishments
Three members of Meredith’s Faculty and Staff have received 2013 Regional Artist Project Grants from United Arts. Only 16 grants were presented this year. Jeannette Rogers, departmental assistant in communication and performing arts, received a grant that will fund her attendance at the American Literary Translators Conference in fall 2013, where she will participate on a panel discussion on translating medieval poets. Associate Professor of Graphic Design Dana Ezzell Gay received a grant to develop a typo/photographic body of work, an online exhibit, and a gallery exhibit of new work. Associate Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone’s grant will fund a project to “reveal a societal value by a year-long photography project of shelter dog portraits taken at local landfill now covered in grass.”
President Jo Allen was one of 160 college presidents to sign an open letter calling for gun safety improvements following the Newtown, Conn., shootings. This letter earned coverage in media outlets including The Progressive Pulse. Click here to read the article.
Learning Center Director Carmen Christopher Caviness presented “Research as Assessment, Assessment as Scholarship” at the NC Writing Center Network’s Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference, in Greensboro, N.C., on November 16, 2012. Caviness was also a judge on the NC Writing Center Network’s Undergraduate Paper Competition Committee in Fall 2012.
Meredith Autism Program Director Kathryn Dove was one of the experts consulted for an article about whether tablet computers are appropriate gifts for children with autism. The story was published in the Marion Star on December 21. Click here to read the story.
Assistant Professor of Education Tisha Duncan presented her latest children’s book, “Myrtle the Blue-Eyed Turtle,” at Quail Ridge Books on Saturday, Jan. 12. Visit muttandfriends.com for more information on Duncan’s children’s book series.
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Erin Lindquist and Calley Jones, ’10, who earned a B.S. in biology from Meredith and is in her third year of the NCSU Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, coauthored an article, "Utilization of Woody Debris by Peromyscus leucopus in a Fragmented Urban Forest" in the December 2012 Southeastern Naturalist issue, 11(4):689-698.
Associate Professor of Mass Communication Doug Spero recently served as a guest speaker on a Celebrity Reflection cruise. Spero presented on four topics, including A Day in the Life of a TV Newsroom, and a session on famous faces and places he covered in 25 years as a New York market television and radio reporter.
Dean of the School of the Arts and Humanities Garry Walton served at Holly Ridge Elementary School on December 11 as pronouncer of the words for the school’s annual spelling bee. This was Walton’s third time serving in this capacity.
Assistant Professor of Finance Bing Yu and Associate Professor of Accounting Mary Jane Lenard have had their article titled, "The Effect of Client Importance and Auditor Tenure on Accounting Conservatism: Evidence from Chinese Companies", published in the International Business Research journal, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2013).
In this paper Yu and Lenard examine whether accounting conservatism is related to auditor tenure for Chinese companies. Accounting conservatism is an important issue because if companies do not follow proper conservative accounting techniques, their financial statements may mislead investors. As a result, accounting boards and regulators may insist on mandatory auditor rotation to ensure auditor independence. Following a sample of 1,201 Chinese companies that have non-Big 4 auditors from 1997-2007, Yu and Lenard find that the least important clients of the auditing firms employ more conservative accounting techniques as auditor tenure increases. In contrast, the auditing firms' most important clients employ less conservative accounting methods, especially in the early years of the auditor's tenure. Their results suggest that mandatory auditor rotation may have an adverse effect on the least important clients of these Chinese audit firms.
In this Issue:
Twelve Months of Meredith College Highlights
Ghana Service Trip Supports Meredith’s Sisters United Effort
Founders’ Day Lecture to Be Held February 20
Chemistry Majors and Faculty Attend American Chemical Society Regional Meeting
Meet Meredith’s Student Phonathon Supervisors
Meredith Athletics –Always In Season
Have you presented research or attended a professional meeting recently? Has your department earned an award? Share news of these accomplishments and more with the Meredith community. Faculty and staff are invited to email items to Melyssa Allen, “Campus Connections” editor, at allenme@meredith.edu.