Our very successful summer term is in full swing. I guess I should say summer terms since we have day, evening, and online offerings! As I write this, the June day term is over, and the summer, eight-week evening term is half over, while the July day term is just beginning. In addition, we have registered first year students for the fall semester. The School of Arts’ incoming 2013 class looks very promising.
We recently welcomed our new university president, Dr. John Smarrelli, who took over as CBU’s first lay president on July 1.
Even though we generally have our faculty set in spring for the upcoming fall term, this summer, two departments have just hired new faculty and another is finishing up its search for a new faculty member. We will have more information about that in the Fall Newsletter.
This summer has been very busy for me, too. I attended the National Conference
for Middle College in Jersey City, New Jersey. Middle College is a concept
that allows “underserved” students who are in high school
to begin taking college classes. Middle College at Southwest Tennessee
Community College had to move from Southwest’s Midtown Campus because
of the lack of space and has relocated to Fairview Middle School on East
Parkway. For those of you who remember your local Memphis geography, that
is across Central Avenue from CBU. Some of our faculty will be teaching
college classes at Middle College, and some Middle College students will
come to our campus to take college courses. We are looking forward to
our new partnership with the Memphis City Schools’ Middle College.
This month, I was part of the Summer Discover CBU. This was the first
time CBU has attempted this program for prospective high school students
and their parents during the summer. It also was the first time that our
new President, Dr. Smarrelli was present for a campus function.
As always, we want to hear from our Arts’ alums. Please let us know what you are doing and if you have completed graduate school or law school work. It helps us to recruit prospective students when we can tell them about the successes of our former students.
Have a good summer, and I hope to see all of you at Alumni Weekend October 9—11.
All my best to you and your families.
All my best,
Marius Carriere, Dean
School of Arts
Doug Cupples (History & Political Science/Adjunct) was invited to and attended the 55th Annual National Security Seminar at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, the first week in June. Seminar participants included senior Army officers, International Fellows, senior-level government policy makers, and a cross section of invited members. This summer, Dr. Cupples is also presenting a paper at the Army ROTC Leaders Training Course (LTC) Educator’s Symposium at Fort Knox. Approximately 100 educators from colleges and universities across the nation will be in attendance.
Julia Hanebrink (Behavioral Science/Adjunct; MHIRT;
Psychology ‘01) recently returned from her 4th trip to Uganda with
the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program at
CBU. The research project in Northern Uganda examined the efficacy of
art therapy as a psychosocial intervention for formerly abducted child
soldiers in Gulu District. The project in Southern Uganda explored the
viability of forming a cooperation between biomedical and indigenous health
practitioners in Mbarara District. In addition, Julia has been accepted
into the Ph.D. program in Anthropology at the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville.
Streets
of Kampala, Uganda (photo courtesy of Julia Hanebrink)
Emily Holmes (Religion & Philosophy) attended the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion conference in Greensboro, NC, March 13-15, where she chaired a panel on Womanist Issues in the Study of Religion and presided at the Women’s Caucus breakfast. On May 19-21, Emily Holmes organized and led a conference entitled “Incarnating Words: Women, Writing, Theology” in Atlanta, GA, which was supported by a grant Holmes received from the Louisville Institute. As an American Academy of Religion/Luce Foundation Fellow, Holmes also attended the AAR/Luce Summer Seminar on Theologies of Religious Pluralism and Comparative Theology from June 7-14 in New York, NY.
Brother Francisco Martin (Literature & Languages) was the subject of an interview article in the April issue of the Briarcrest Christian School newspaper, Pawprints. Titled "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave," the article covers Brother Francisco's journey from his childhood and persecution in Cuba to the United States and CBU.
Ann Marie Wranovix (Literature & Languages), pictured
above with former CBU President Lance Forsdick and Brother Louis Althaus,
was honored with the 2009 Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award at the
Faculty/Staff Recognition Reception on April 30. The award -- the highest
presented by the University to faculty or staff -- annually honors a CBU
educator, nominated by his/her peers, who exemplifies the ideals of St.
John Baptist de La Salle in the 21st century. Eligible nominees must have
been a Lasallian educator for at least five years, be actively involved
in fostering the mission of Lasallian education, exemplify in his/her
life the spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle, and demonstrate an enthusiasm
for the Lasallian tradition.
The following announcements were made at the Faculty/Staff Recognition Reception on April 30, effective for the 2009-10 academic year:
o Samantha M. Alperin (Education) has been promoted
to the rank of Associate Professor.
o Karl Leib (History & Political Science) has been
promoted to the rank of Associate Professor.
o Teri J. Mason (Behavioral Sciences) has been promoted
to the rank of Associate Professor.
o Elizabeth P. Broadwell (Literature & Languages)
has been granted sabbatical for the Spring 2010 semester.
Shanta Wilson (Psychology '08) has been accepted into the Community Agency Counseling graduate program at the University of Memphis.
Lady Buc pitcher Nikki Dunn (Psychology '09) was voted to the All-GSC West Softball First Team. Dunn is a four-time All-GSC West pick, with three years on the All-GSC First Team, becoming the 41st player in GSC history to be a three-time first-teamer. She finishes her career ranked third in GSC history with 8.68 strikeouts per seven innings, fourth with 868 total strikeouts, sixth with three no-hitters, eighth with 130 appearances, and ninth with 725 innings pitched. As a senior, she went 16-12 with a 2.11 ERA, both career-best numbers. She struck out 211 batters in 192.1 innings.
Lacey Hopper (left, Zeta Tau Alpha, Applied Psychology '09), Mandi Pitt (center, Alpha Sigma Tau, History '09), and Laura Bailey (right, Alpha Xi Delta, Psychology '09), were each recognized on April 18th at the Memphis Area Alumnae Panhellenic Association Annual Scholarship Luncheon as the graduating senior with the highest GPA in her respective organization. Mandi Pitt was also recognized as CBU's graduating Panhellenic woman with the highest GPA.
Caroline Mitchell (History '10) was accepted into
the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program
at CBU and is spending the summer tracking jaguars and giant otters
in the Pantanal and Emas National Parks of Brazil under the guidance
of Dr. Leandro Silveira, President of the Jaguar Conservation
Fund.
CBU's first two students to graduate from CBU with a BFA in Studio
Art presented their Senior Thesis Exhibition in the student gallery,
Studio B, on May 1. Dan Thompson presented "In
Repair," and Jamie Jaynes exhibited "The
Effects of Music." Both were invited to exhibit their work at Askew
Nixon and Ferguson Architects, along with other emerging Memphis art
students, beginning June 5.
The History Department is excited about our twelve new history majors who will be coming to campus in August, putting the number of majors at 49. History, Arts, and Admissions did a wonderful job recruiting this year, and we look forward to continued success.
This past spring term, Phi Alpha Theta sponsored a talk
by a Negro League Baseball star. Mr. Reginald Howard,
who played for the Indianapolis Clowns in the Negro League with such
stars as Chicago White Sox great, Minnie Minoso, spoke to students and
faculty about his experiences in the Negro League.
On May 1 for their annual spring concert the CBU Singers presented Songs of the Day, "a choral journey from morning until nightfall as told in music that vividly depicts the evolution of a beautiful day for anyone to experience." Musical works by John Rutter, Victor Johnson and Eugene Butler were performed by the CB Singers. In addition, poems by Sara Teasdale and Robert Frost were set to music. This program was given in dedication and memory of Brother Vincent Malham, founding director of the CBU Chorale and past President of the University, in loving tribute to all of his support for the group.
Tommy Gaines (Music) took a group of his voice students to the Mid-South Regional Competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing at Rhodes College on April 4, and five of them -- including Amber Herbert (Business Administration '09) -- placed as semi-finalists. Two of his student went on to the Finals where his "High School Man" took first place and his "Adult Intermediate" student took second place. Congratulations to these fine students. Tommy Gaines also performed a recital for the Annual Spring/New Member Luncheon of the Beethoven Club of Memphis on April 8, where he rendered selections by Verdi, Ravel, and Michael Head, as well as traditional spirituals.
On April 17, Spain Auditorium hosted an evening of vocal and piano
selections from the 15th to the 21st centuries, including selections
by Mozart, Brahms and other composers that featured opera arias, Italian,
German, French and English art songs and piano selections ranging from
the classical genre to pop selections. This recital featured voice students
of Tommy Gaines and piano students of Dr. Sharon Momany
(Music/Adjunct).
The Honors Program presented Dr. Frank Marion's
(Marketing) "Last Lecture" on April 23 in Spain Auditorium.
A new tradition at CBU, the "Last Lecture" may relate to the
professor’s academic work, other professional or life experiences,
or be words of inspiration and advice for students – or all of
the above.
Congressman Steve Cohen spoke about the continuing
importance of the Bill of Rights on May 6 in the University Theater.
Congressman Cohen represents the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee
and currently serves on the House Judiciary Committee. His visit was
sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers and the CBU Pre-Law Society.