Firsts
Pharmacy professor’s research legitimizes ‘That tingly feeling’
You know that tingly feeling you get when someone whisper’s in your ear or strokes your hair? Associate Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences Craig Richard, Ph.D., is researching that phenomenon, called Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), and the world is taking notice. Washington Post Reporter Caitlin Gibson recently quoted Dr. Richard in “A whisper, then tingles, then 87 million YouTube views: Meet the star of ASMR” posted on Dec. 15, and other news outlets are keying in on his work.
Richard is the founder of a blog called ASMR University, and he is currently researching ASMR — the extremely relaxing feeling sometimes induced by a light touch, a soft voice, receiving personal attention, or observing someone demonstrate something with expertise.
And, Richard’s 10-minute, IRB-approved research survey about ASMR was mentioned in a Cosmopolitan article on Dec. 15, as well. Anyone age 18 and over is eligible, even if you have never experienced ASMR or have never heard about ASMR before. Find out more here.
Dean introduces interprofessional case competition
As part of his role in developing a team-approach to interprofessional education and collaboration, School of Health Professions Dean Timothy Ford, PhD., announced the formation of a new interprofessional case competition this fall. Modeled after the University of Minnesota’s CLARION Case Competition, teams of four students will be given a patient case study in the early spring, and each team will be asked to perform a root cause analysis on the case and present their results to an inter-professional panel of university and health system professionals on March 7. Each team will receive a certificate of participation.
The winning team will receive a $2,000 prize and be entered in the national competition at the University of Minnesota, to be held on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18. Flights and accommodations will be covered for the winning team, and prizes awarded at the national competition range from $2,500 to $7,500.
Shenandoah students compete at college fishing national championships
Shenandoah University’s first fishing championship team of Thomas Arens and Billy Arens finished 9th out of 50 schools in October’s Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) College Fishing Northern Conference Invitational tournament on the Potomac River. The two caught six bass, weighing a combined 16 pounds, four ounces. This qualifies them for the 2015 FLW College Fishing National Championship in April. More information is available at www.collegefishing.com.
News
Gala celebrates new Health & Life Sciences Building
Shenandoah University held its “Beacon of Light” Gala Oct. 21 at the Health & Life Sciences Building to celebrate this innovative and state-of-the-art educational space. Watch the Health & Life Sciences Building video here. (PHOTOS: Rick Ours)
2015 Global Citizenship Project destinations announced at 26th Annual International Convocation
In a new twist this year, all groups are headed to countries located in Asia: Cambodia, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal and the Philippines. Fifty-eight members of the campus community – undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff members, and two university trustees – will take part in the program. During the convocation, “Resolutions of Appreciation” were presented to pharmacy graduate student and alumna Gina Fu ’14; Director of the Children’s Literature Program and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Karen Huff, Ed.D.; and guest speaker Rahama Wright. These individuals were recognized by Shenandoah University and its Board of Trustees for their outstanding contributions to global awareness. Individuals are selected from a pool of candidates submitted through community nomination.
Shenandoah University wins urban conservation award
Shenandoah University recently received the Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District’s (LFSWCD) 2014 Urban Conservation Award. The university was nominated for its work on several campus projects, including the use of permeable pavers in McKown Plaza; the creation of Sarah’s Glen; the establishment of rain gardens on the university’s Main Quadrangle; the removal of more than 10,000 square feet of asphalt beside Abrams Creek; and the installation of the Funkhouser-Gore green roof. All of these projects are examples of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for protecting and improving water quality. Read more here.
Winchester Star publishes ‘A View from the Valley’ coffee table book
The Winchester Star newspaper recently published “A View from the Valley: Our Faces, Our Places, Our Heritage,” an expansive and comprehensive collection of images captured in and around our beautiful part of the Shenandoah Valley.
As a sponsor for the project, the university is prominently featured in the hardcover, 160-page commemorative coffee table book with a letter from President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., on page four and a profile on pages 148-149. “The Winchester Star has served our community for more than 100 years, and we were honored to partner with them on this project,” said Dr. Fitzsimmons.
Arts & Sciences
Veterans Writing Project ‘Giving Voice to Those Who Have Served’
Every veteran has a story; some just need a little help telling it. The newly-formed Shenandoah University Veterans Writing Project (VWP) provides veterans, active and reserve service members, and military families with an effective and cost-free outlet to tell their unique stories. The project held its first free two-day seminar this November. The course was taught by Jerri Bell, who served as a Navy intelligence officer for 20 years. Bell holds a Master of Arts in writing from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Russian/Soviet studies from Vassar College.
Shenandoah University student research on recidivism published in VA Engage Journal
“Beyond the Big House: Making the Transition to Life After Prison,” a research project by public health and biology alumna Kelsey Brewster ’14, public health alumna Mina Hailemariam ’14 and public health major Paula Sorrentino ’15 has been published in VA Engage Journal, an engaged scholarship project of the VA Engage network. The group was advised by Assistant Professor of Public Health Audra Gollenberg, Ph.D.
The project won the 2014 Shenandoah University Projects & Research (SUpr) Summit Award for Best Group Project. The students were so inspired by the opportunity to present their work that they submitted their research to VA Engage and were subsequently published.
“Our research pointed out that there is a major need to start interventions before inmates are released from prison,” said Sorrentino. “We designed a program that provides education within the prison and puts the individuals in contact with a case manager to plan their release, as well as offer a variety of services up to two years post-release.” Read more here.
Shenandoah University students create first bilingual interpretation for the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
Sophomore Spanish major (biology minor) Rodrigo Casteriana ’17 and senior psychology major (Spanish and women’s studies minor) Ashley Suk ’14 created the first bilingual exhibition for the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester, Virginia. Professors Ann Lesman, Ph.D., Bryan Pearce-Gonzales, Ph.D., and Andrea Meador Smith, Ph.D. served as advisers on the project.
“Face to Face: Portraits from the Julian Wood Glass Jr. Collection,” a new exhibit at the MSV which opened in November 2014, is the museum’s first exhibition with bilingual labels. Casteriana and Suk spent one month translating exhibit information from English to Spanish, earning internship hours toward their required internship credits in Spanish.
The exhibit examines the world of 18th- and early 19th-century portraiture with the display of 35 British, American, and Dutch portraits from the collection of MSV benefactor Julian Wood Glass Jr. (1910–1992). On view in the museum’s Founders Gallery through May 2016, the exhibit also includes eight mirrors from the Glass Collection dating from 1735 to 1840. Read more about the project and exhibition here.
Education & Human Development
Shenandoah University named official site for Shenandoah Valley Writing Project
The National Writing Project (NWP) recently selected Shenandoah University as the official site for the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project (SVWP). The SVWP joins a network of nearly 190 local sites of the National Writing Project, serving all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The mission of the SVWP is to improve both writing instruction and the use of writing as a tool to enhance learning in all content areas, from kindergarten to the university setting. The group strives to elevate teachers to teacher-leaders and to raise the professional stature of classroom teachers. It also serves to support and enhance the literacy of the surrounding area through programs for both young writers and adults, in addition to its work with practicing educators.
The program is led by John Handley High School’s Porterfield Endowed English Chairperson Mary Tedrow, NBCT, M.Ed., who serves as director, and Shenandoah University’s Director of Teacher Licensure and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Mary Bowser, Ed.D., who serves as principal investigator and site director.
Each summer, the SVWP holds a four-week, Invitational Summer Institute for exemplary teachers from throughout the area. Those who attend this writing institute span all content areas, and through the learning process, they become teacher consultants. They are then expected to take their training and techniques back to their home school systems to train fellow educators in the process.
The 2015 Invitational Summer Institute will be held at Shenandoah University from Monday, June 29, through Friday, July 24.
Shenandoah University is now the seventh NWP site in Virginia; other host universities include George Mason University, Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Virginia Tech and the College of William & Mary. Learn more about the project here.
Business
The educational power of a T-shirt
Inspired by NPR’s Planet Money’s T-shirt Project, which followed the economics of a simple T-shirt from cotton farm to garment factory to store, Associate Dean and Professor of Management R.T. Good, Ed.D., recently used a T-shirt as an inspirational, economic and entrepreneurial lesson for his Introduction to Business class.
While it wasn’t possible for Dr. Good to retrace the entire path Planet Money took to develop a tee shirt and sell it on the creative crowdfunding site Kickstarter, he did enlist the help of a local business, Signet Screen Printing and Embroidery, to develop a shirt locally. So he designed a cheeky slogan, “Proud owner of a Byrd brain,” and Signet screen printed it. Then a representative from Signet visited Good’s class to talk about the screen printing process and how to succeed as a locally owned business. For the lecture, each student received a locally finished “Proud owner of a Byrd brain” T-shirt to wear to class.
Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade speaks at SU during Entrepreneurship Week
Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones presented “The State of the Commonwealth” on Nov. 18 as part of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Week. Jones also fielded questions from the audience after his presentation. He was appointed to his position in January by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. Jones previously served as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Symposium held on current NCAA issues and court cases
Current issues and court cases involving the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) were discussed at an October symposium at Stimpson Auditorium in Halpin-Harrison Hall. Hosted by the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business sport management program, in conjunction with the newly formed Sport Business Club, the event featured important court cases such as O’Bannon v. NCAA, Northwestern University’s case presented to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the EA Sports licensing case. Distinguished guest speakers included Paul Hewitt, George Mason University head men’s basketball coach; Richard Southall, Ed.D., assistant professor and director of the College Sport Research Institute at the University of South Carolina; Brian Wigley, Ed.D., associate professor of sport management at Shenandoah University; Doug Zipp, director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Shenandoah University; and Craig Esherick, J.D., associate professor and associate director for the Center for Sport Management at George Mason University. Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business Dean Miles Davis, Ph.D. moderated the symposium.
Conservatory
Grammy Award-Nominated, Surround Sound Expert Teaches Masterclass
Surround sound expert Morten Lindberg, 17-time GRAMMY Award-nominated engineer, and director of 2L Nordic Sound, traveled from Norway to Shenandoah for a masterclass in the art of surround sound in October. The Music Production & Recording Technology department, along with Professor of Voice Karen Keating, D.M.A., and the Cantus Choir, teamed up with Lindberg to emulate the Nordic sound by recording in the 9.1 format. Following the collaboration, a listening session was held in the recording studio where students, faculty and alumni came together to enjoy a variety of Norwegian music captured in surround sound. (PHOTOS: Allison Noah)
Composition student’s work featured during NYC festival
Freshman composition student Andrew Herring’s composition for saxophone quartet was performed in New York City on Nov. 17, as part of the inaugural MATA Jr. Festival.
“Composition With Red, Blue and Yellow,” was performed at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music by Face the Music, the Kaufman Center’s student new-music ensemble. Read more about the festival here.
University to host renowned saxophone symposium on Jan. 9 & 10
After 35 years in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Navy Band has moved its International Saxophone Symposium to Shenandoah University’s main campus.
Hundreds of saxophonists from across the country and around the world will meet in Winchester on Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10, for the largest-attended saxophone event in the world. They will perform and listen to recitals and lectures, try out instruments and purchase music, and hear the industry’s most prominent saxophonists at their craft.
During this event, the university community should expect a large crowd on campus and should note that parking may be especially tight.
The International Saxophone Symposium begins Friday, Jan. 9, at 2 p.m. with registration and events in Armstrong Concert Hall until 5 p.m. That evening, the U.S. Navy Band will perform with guest artists Vincent David from the Conservatoire Regional de Versailles (France), Michael Ibrahim and James Houlik. This performance will be held in the Patsy Cline Theater at John Handley High School at 8 p.m.
Events will be held on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, and an 8 p.m. concert that evening features the U.S. Navy Commodores Big Band and guest artists the Miami Saxophone Quartet (also in the Patsy Cline Theater at John Handley High School).
All events are free and open to the public. Scheduling information can be found at http://www.navyband.navy.mil/Saxophone_Symposium.shtml. Questions? Contact Professor of Saxophone Timothy Roberts, D.M.A., at troberts3@su.edu.
Student improv group wins national comedy talent search
The Loaf, Shenandoah’s improvisational comedy group, was recently one of two winners for “The Fresh Comedy Talent Search” hosted by Febreze, Students of the World and Pivot TV.
The group’s prize was the opportunity to produce two short films featuring Febreze products that will be played on Pivot TV to a national audience. The group, consisting of 13 Shenandoah Conservatory students, also worked with professional comedy writer and producer, Michael Burke (“Funny Or Die” and the Discovery Channel), and were awarded $1,000 upon completion.
The group has a thriving online presence and frequently self-produces short comedy videos on its YouTube page, Facebook page, Twitter (@theloafsu) and Instagram (TheLoafComedy).
Read more here.
Collins Music Learning Suite dedicated in honor of exemplary alumni
Shenandoah Conservatory dedicated the Collins Music Learning Suite, an innovative learning space for undergraduate and graduate music education students in October.
The learning suite, located in rooms 209 and 211 of Ruebush Hall, provides enhanced instruction and access to technology for music education students. Music education faculty envision the Collins Music Learning Suite as a place where undergraduate and graduate music education courses will take place in a collaborative setting.
Named for exemplary Shenandoah alumni, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus Charlotte A. Collins ‘85, Ed.D., and Professor Emeritus Verne E. Collins ‘84, Ed.D., the learning suite is the result of a renovation project spearheaded by Director of Music Education and Associate Professor of Music Jeffrey H. Marlatt, Ph.D., and funded primarily through alumni and faculty donors.
The room is equipped with multimedia capabilities, including a SMART Board and videocapture (a system for recording learning sessions) for students to document their lab teaching for future reflection and review. It also contains storage cabinets to house instruments specific to instrumental technique courses as well as a variety of Orff and classroom instruments for use in general music classes. Read more about the suite here.
Health Professions
University featured in Virginia Living’s ‘State of Education’ supplement
Virginia Living’s Top High Schools and Colleges list spotlighted Shenandoah University for the second year in a row. The October issue highlighted Shenandoah’s graduate Performing Arts Medicine certificate program for its innovative approach to educating health care professionals and performing arts educators on the prevention, assessment and management of injuries and disorders specific to dancers, theatre artists and musicians, in addition to its clinical research to determine best practices.
Physician Assistant program students attend invitation-only primary care summit
In October, three students from Shenandoah’s Physician Assistant (PA) program, Maninder Sohi ’16, Florentina Dobrin ’16 and Sierra Dickman ’16, attended the third annual Gregg Stracks Leadership Summit in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The invitation-only summit, hosted by Primary Care Progress (PCP), brought together 100 participants representing 23 health professional training schools. The summit helped participants develop skills that will enable them to advocate for primary care at their schools and in their local communities. PCP is a growing network of medical providers, health professional trainees, policy pundits, advocates and educators. The group is united by a new vision for revitalizing the primary care workforce pipeline through interprofessional collaboration and strategic local advocacy, which promotes primary care and transforms care delivery and training in academic settings. Read more here.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy students participate in Great American Smokeout
The Great American Smokeout held at Loudoun Interfaith Relief in Leesburg, Virginia on Nov. 20 provided Ashburn and Winchester pharmacy students with opportunities for patient interaction with 50-80 patients on a variety of topics: Smoking Cessation, Blood Pressure Screening, Glucose Testing, Stroke Prevention, and Youth Tobacco Education.
Pharmacy Students and Faculty Members Present at National Conference
Fourteen faculty and staff, and 28 students pharmacists from the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy attended the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting in December at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The meeting provided student pharmacists with the opportunity to network with potential post-graduate programs and employers to evaluate their career options. Attendees learned about various clinical topics and how recent health care initiatives are affecting the pharmacy profession. Student pharmacists and residents also showcased their research. Fifteen Shenandoah fourth-year students, two third-year students, and nine Shenandoah-affiliated PGY1 residents’ research posters were accepted for presentation at the meeting.
Athletics
Baseball team spearheads ALS Walk
Numerous members of the Shenandoah University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics gave back to the community on Sept. 27, in an ALS Walk spearheaded by the baseball team.
The three-mile walk through campus was initiated by Head Baseball Coach Kevin Anderson in honor of his mother-in-law, Sherry Stiles, who passed away from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2013.
More than 200 walkers, including members of the football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball and women’s tennis teams, participated in the event.
The individuals and teams represented raised approximately $39,500 for the ALS Association, a total that is nearly triple Anderson’s original goal.
Danielle Burris named Academic All-America
Junior Danielle Burris was named to the Capital One Academic All-America team for Division III women’s soccer in selections announced Nov. 21 by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Read more about her selection here.
Cedrick Delaney named All-Region
Sophomore football player Cedrick Delaney was named third team All-South Region in selections announced Dec. 8 by D3football.com. Find out more here.
Two Earn NSCAA Academic Honors for Men’s Soccer
Shenandoah University had two men’s soccer players earn academic honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in selections announced recently by the organization. Junior Gerard Talbot-Paul and sophomore Nate Long, who both serve as co-captains of the squad, each were named to the honorable mention team of the College Division All-East Region Scholar squad. Read more here.
Women’s basketball opens Smeltzer-Kraft era with victory
The Shenandoah University women’s basketball team opened up its 2014-15 season Nov. 15 with a 48-39 non-conference victory over Methodist University. The win was also the first ever for new SU coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft. Learn more about the win here.