Faculty/Staff Accomplishments and News Briefs 9/7/22

In this issue, we celebrate the accomplishments of faculty and staff in art, campus police, chemistry, education, marketing, and music. We also share information about DEI programming and about how to participate in a Meredith community choir.

Education Department literacy faculty are participating in programming connected to a generous grant from the Goodnight Educational Foundation to support all NCICU Educator Preparation Programs in meeting new legislative requirements associated with the Science of Reading (SoR). Literacy faculty, Professor of Education Jennifer Olson and Assistant Professor of Education Cindy Morton-Rose, have attended training over the summer, will complete an additional 160 hours of online training, and have received $16,500 of sub-grant funding in connection with this work. Teacher education students at Meredith will benefit from the materials and diverse children’s books the department will be able to purchase. These students will ultimately be better prepared to teach reading to young students.  

Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone presented a new photographic project and academic research on photography and public policy changes at the 2022 Summer School Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in Oxford, England, in early August. Johnstone also gave a talk at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh on August 31 on her Landfill Dogs project as part of the “History @ High Noon” series.

Assistant Professor of Marketing Lisa Monahan and Professor of Marketing and Law Jeff Langenderfer and their co-authors have recently had a paper accepted to the Journal of Business Research. The paper, Did You Hear Our Brand is Hated? The Unexpected Upside of Hate-Acknowledging Advertising for Polarizing Brands,”  explores how ads that acknowledge that a polarizing brand is hated by some consumers  (relative to traditional ads that contain only positive brand information)  leads to increased brand trust and intentions to engage in positive word of mouth through the mediating influence of ad credibility.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Sasha Ormond and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Andrea Carter attended the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education July 31 – August 4, 2022, at Purdue University. Ormond presented a talk titled “Second chance General Chemistry I developed as an online, short-term course.” Carter presented a talk titled “Lowering the activation energy: introducing a CURE (course-based undergraduate research experience) in multiple small steps at a small, primarily undergraduate liberal arts college.”

Director of Instrumental Activities Jim Waddelow was recently elected the Vice President and President-elect of the Southeastern Division of the National College Orchestra Director Association. His terms will run 2022-24.

Campus Police Chief Al White was quoted as an expert source in a U.S. News & World Report article on what someone should do if they misplace their wallet. Read the advice article on usnews.com.

News Briefs

DEI Programming Opportunities Available

Pause and Reflect Series
Pause and Reflect Series: an opportunity for Meredith Community to engage on a variety of topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The series intends to provide information in alignment with the institution’s goals as well as foster personal and professional growth, develop community and encourage dialogue for a more inclusive campus environment. 

Unpacking Latinx
Join us as we explore the labels, nuances, and history of the terms Chican@, Hispanic, Latin@, Latinx
September 15, 12 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Location: Ledford 206 (Attendance options on Zoom or in person)

Register for details: https://forms.gle/SLtnDWhBNvNQkwtJ9

DEI Foundations certificate
The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Foundations Certificate is designed to offer faculty and staff the opportunity to engage in workshops to broaden awareness about DEI topics, engage in dialogue, and increase understanding of current issues. Information about this program, including topics and dates, was shared in the August issue of Campus Connections. Learn more

Singers Needed for Meredith Mixed Community Choir
The Meredith Mixed Community Choir is looking to include more singers. The mixed chorus is a mixed voice ensemble designed for adults who love to sing and wish to sing with other non-professional adults. No auditions are required.  

The Meredith Mixed Community Choir is led by Instructor of Music Mark Woodcock and rehearses on Sunday afternoons from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Meredith during the fall and spring semesters. The choir’s first rehearsal will be Sunday, September 18.

The group performs a free public performance at the end of each semester.  Participants are required to register and pay a fee of $150 each to participate.  Contact Mark Woodcock at mawoodcock@meredith.edu with questions or to receive a link to the online registration form.