Faculty/Staff Accomplishments and News Briefs 11/1/23

In this issue, we share the accomplishments of faculty and staff in food and nutrition, history, interior design,  music, the library,  and the Student Success Center. We also congratulate faculty members who were approved for sabbaticals in 2024-25 and share a news brief from the Office of International Programs about their Fall Break trip.

Professor of History Dan Fountain had a solicited piece published in the Fall 2023 issue of the N.C. Museum of History’s Tarheel Junior Historian magazine. This issue is part of a series highlighting the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.  The article is titled “Tear it Down”: The Road to the American Revolution. The museum is trying to build enthusiasm for the upcoming statewide celebration of the 250th anniversary.

Associate Professor of Food and Nutrition Jennifer McMillen was recognized with the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award by the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Science during the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Award Ceremony at NC State held on Friday, October 6. The awards ceremony was held at the NC State University Plant Sciences Building with a reception in the Culpepper Family Lobby. Following the award ceremony, awardees enjoyed events as part of CALS Alumni and Friends Weekend.

Dr. Laura Prestwood, Associate Professor of Interior Design and Interior Design Program Coordinator, served as a Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) Site Visitor for a virtual program review from September 15-October 6. The CIDA Board of Directors appoints CIDA site visitors following an application process. Site visitors are drawn from the field of interior design and must have appropriate academic credentials, teaching or relevant professional experience in interior design, objectivity, and strong communication skills. 

Director of the Student Success Center Dr. Tina Romanelli, Head of Research & Instruction Jeff Waller, Research & Instruction Librarian Morgan Johnson, and Head of Technical Services Carrie Nichols presented at the Biennial Conference of the North Carolina Library Association in Winston-Salem, NC on October 19-20, 2023.  Romanelli, Waller, and Johnson gave a presentation entitled “You Belong With Me: Collaborations Between Academic Libraries and Other Campus Departments,” which described lessons learned from the ongoing collaboration between the Carlyle Campbell Library and Learning Center on the research tutoring service and their twice-a-year Research and Paper Palooza events.  Nichols contributed her insights about technical services careers to a panel discussion entitled “Demystifying Careers in Technical Services: Getting a Job, Learning the Job, Growing in the Job.”

Director of Instrumental Activities Jim Waddelow conducted the Wake County Senior High Honor orchestra on October 18. Hosted by Meredith, 140 middle and high school orchestra students spent the day rehearsing and performing in the Department of Music. 

News Briefs

2024-25 Sabbaticals
Congratulations to the following faculty who have been approved by the Board of Trustees for sabbaticals in 2023-25.

• Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Maria Pickering, Fall 2024
• Professor of Theatre Steven Roten, Fall 2024
• Professor of Psychology Mark O’Dekirk, Spring 2025

Students Enjoy Fall Break Trip with OIP

Our recent Fall Break found the Office of International Programs (OIP) hitting the road with some global and out-of-state students who were on campus for the holiday. Though fall weather was on its way, the students decided it was a great time to visit the North Carolina coast! The group made bagged lunches, curated a global playlist, and squeezed together into a van for a mini-road trip to Wrightsville Beach.

OIP serves as a resource for any Meredith student from an international background and tries to plan local adventures during school breaks for students staying on campus. If you are interested in joining us for a future outing or you’d like to refer a student our way, please contact us at  internationalprograms@meredith.edu – we look forward to connecting! –Submitted by the Office of International Programs