Faculty/Staff Accomplishments and Departmental News 10/12/16

In this issue we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty and staff from the departments of art, campus police, dance, music, political science, and sociology. We also share news from Research, Planning, and Assessment and about the Fall All-Staff Meeting.

Professor of Sociology Lori Brown served as an expert for WUNC radio’s online story about a federal report on crime rates in North Carolina. The story was published on September 29.

Professor of Dance Alyson Colwell-Waber performed a solo in the North Carolina Dance Festival concert on September 10 in Jones Auditorium at Meredith. She danced Three Takes, an original piece of choreography created for her by Arizona-based dance artist Ann Ludwig. The concert and Colwell-Waber’s performance was reviewed by Classical Voice of North Carolina, an online arts journal.

Phyllis Garriss, retired music faculty member, was selected by the North Carolina Symphony to receive a special Lifetime Achievement Award to honor her accomplishments and legacy. Garriss, lifelong music educator, is the founder of the Lamar Stringfield Music Camp and Meredith College Faculty Emerita. The Symphony presented the awards on during its October 8 concert. Learn more

A photograph from Associate Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone‘s Landfill Dogs series is featured in the annual juried Center For Fine Art Photography’s Center Forward exhibition in Fort Collins, Colo. The exhibition was juried by Aline Smithson and Hamdiah Glasgow. Over the summer, Johnstone was asked to document the SPCA of Northeastern North Carolina new building. The resulting work is featured in an exhibition at the Arts of Albermarle in Elizabeth City, N.C. The opening reception was held on October 7, 2016 as part of the First Friday Arts Walk.

Assistant Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor story about the impact Voter ID laws have on elections.

Campus Police Chief Al White was recognized during the 46th Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus​ Foundation on September 16, 2016, in Washington, D.C., for outstanding dedication and commitment to law enforcement.

Assessment Matters

Watch this space for regular updates from the Office of Research, Planning, and Assessment (RPA) on assessment matters. RPA plans on submitting a monthly contribution to the Campus Connectionswhere we will provide an update on upcoming projects, report on various campus assessment efforts, and discuss the findings of different projects.

In the meantime, if you would like information about assessment at Meredith, please go to the RPA MyMeredith site. There you will find institutional data, survey report summaries, information on the outcomes from Comprehensive Program Assessment, updates on the Meredith Forever Strategic Plan, as well as some other resources.

Did you know that RPA offers annual assessment mini-grants? Funds are limited to a maximum of $500 per faculty or staff member applying, and are used to support special assessment-related projects or attendance at a relevant conference with an assessment focus. Proposals and funding decisions are made on a first come, first serve basis. Please submit your proposal through the web portal.

How have you used assessment data for improvement? If you would like to share your assessment success story with the Meredith community, email it to raubenhe@meredith.edu. We look forward to celebrating your successful assessment practices with Campus Connections readers each month.

Fall All-Staff Meeting

The Fall All-Staff Meeting, sponsored by the Staff Affairs Committee, will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2016, from 10-11:30 a.m. (Refreshments 9:30-10:00) in The Cate Center’s Kresge Auditorium

This meeting includes campus updates, food, and door prizes. Presentations begin at 10 a.m. The following speakers are scheduled to participate:

• Dr. Jo Allen – President
• Dr. Lennie Barton – Vice President of Institutional Advancement
• Todd Lechner – Assistant Facility Manager & Project Manager
• Brandon Stokes – Director of Retention and Student Success
• Brooke Shurer – Director of International Programs
• Catherine Franklin – Benefits Administrator

There will also be GoToTraining virtual access.

Door prizes will be drawn at the end of the event!