Faculty/Staff Accomplishments and News Briefs 9/21/22

In this issue, we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty and staff in campus police/security, music, and the president’s office. We also share a Save the Date about a Cornhuskin’ service project to benefit a local food bank.

President Jo Allen wrote an opinion piece, “Are we going to miss the opportunity to make higher ed more transparent?,” that was published by University Business in August 2022.

Professor of Music Kent Lyman participated in the International Young Artists Project (IYAP) summer opera program at UNC-Chapel Hill, held July 31 through August 6, 2022. IYAP was founded in 2013 by retired Meredith Music Faculty member Dr. Ellen Williams. Its mission is to provide opportunities for young singers to study and perform opera in Italy. Dr. Lyman has been the principal rehearsal pianist for the organization since its inception. The pandemic required a suspension of international travel, and the organization decided to stay local in 2022. IYAP invited Italian colleagues to come to the US so students could receive coaching and instruction from native speakers.  On Sunday, July 31, Dr. Lyman played a concert of operatic arias with IYAP faculty members Stella Peruzzi and Andrea Sari, from Arezzo, Italy.  Watch a recording On Saturday, August 6, Dr. Lyman played piano for a production of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, conducted by maestro Romolo Gessi, IYAP faculty member from Trieste, Italy.  Watch a recording 

Dr. Lyman is also the state president of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association (NCMTA). He will preside over the annual NCMTA Conference, held at UNC-Greensboro October 7-8, 2022.  NCMTA is an organization of nearly 500 music teachers in North Carolina, consisting of private studio teachers and college music faculty members. It is a state affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association, the largest professional association in the country that caters to the needs of private studio teachers and college music faculty members.

Meredith’s Campus Police/Security Department hosted the third quarter Wake County Law Enforcement Executives’ Meeting and Luncheon on September 1, 2022. Law Enforcement executives from federal, state, city, and county agencies were in attendance. Executives from the District Attorney’s Office were in attendance also. Current events, hot topics, best practices, new software, and computer databases were discussed by the executives after the luncheon. Chief Al White served as the host and moderator of the event.   

News Briefs

Save the Date for Cornhuskin’ Service Project October 28

For this year’s Cornhuskin’ service project, Meredith will work with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to do a Yam Jam event. On Friday, October 28 from noon until 4 p.m., a tractor-trailer will bring a truckload of sweet potatoes to be sorted into 5-10 lb. bags. These potatoes and the work provided by participants at the Yam Jam help to provide 7,500 meals to families in need across the central and eastern parts of the state. 

Students have traditionally participated in the Corn service project in order to gain points for their class, and this year we welcome staff and faculty to also come help with the fun and spirit of this event! If you are interested, please coordinate with your supervisor to request release time to spend your work day with us. (Participating in Yam Jam is considered work, and non-exempt employees are required to report all time spent on the event as part of their normal timekeeping record).

The location is to be determined, but it will be on campus. There will be a registration Google form that will be sent out closer to the date. Please contact Kacey Reynolds Schedler  (klreynolds@meredith.edu) in the Office of Student Leadership and Service if you have any questions.