Here are the latest accomplishments in scholarship, research, and craft by MBU faculty and staff.
Pam Bailey, assistant professor of education
As founder and president of the Virginia Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, she is hosting their second annual retreat at MBU this fall. This group of educators provide an avenue for discussions about how and what should be the focus of methods courses, support our pre-service and novice teachers in the area of mathematics, and engage in professional development.
As president of the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, she helps produce a national award winning peer-review journal published twice a year, quarterly newsletters, a yearly conference, and professional development outreach. Their goal is to serve, support, and be the spokesperson for those who teach mathematics PK through higher education. Thirty board members came together in August for a two-day retreat to plan all of the events for the upcoming year.
Doreen Bechtol, assistant professor of Shakespeare and Performance
Directed Sophocles’ Antigone for the American Shakespeare Center’s (ASC) “Hand of Time” Touring Troupe. The first Greek play produced by the ASC, Antigone will travel across the nation to colleges and universities during the 2018–19 season before returning to the Blackfriars Playhouse in the spring.
Donovan Branche, assistant professor of healthcare administration
Announced that the healthcare administration program has received full certification status from the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.
Matthew Davies, associate professor of Shakespeare and Performance
Played Trigorin in Austin Shakespeare’s production of The Seagull in the spring, and performed in the Virginia Repertory Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime this fall in Richmond.
Doug Davis, assistant professor of criminal justice
Elected chairman of the Youth Commission for the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth, Oct. 19.
MJ Epps, assistant professor of biology
A paper, “Interaction Networks of Macrofungi and Mycophagous Beetles Reflect Diurnal Variation and the Size and Spatial Arrangement of Resources,” accepted in the journal Fungal Ecology.
Louise Freeman, professor of psychology
Passed the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam in August and awaiting the state medical office to process her license to practice as a licensed behavior analyst.
A presentation, “PTSD in Young Adult Literature: Fantasy, Dystopia and Realism,” the Summit for the Research and Teaching of Young Adult Literature at University of Nevada Las Vegas, July.
A paper, “Last Wizard in the Forest: Harry Potter and the Escape from Nature Deficit Disorder,” accepted for publication at Study and Scrutiny: Research in Young Adult Literature.
Coordinated “Beauxbatons Academy” for the Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival.
Jinyoung Kang, assistant professor of business
A trip this summer to South Korea that included teaching a course for an international summer program, meeting with KOSRI (a government agency focused on social responsibility), and visiting two universities on behalf of the Spencer Center.
Melissa Anderson Morgan, assistant professor of physical education
Completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training and associated requirements set forth by the Yoga Alliance to earn certification as a power vinyasa yoga teacher, summer.
Reid Oechslin, director of internal operations, Integrated Communications
A full-length documentary film, West Main Street, completed in 1996 by Reid Oechslin and Chris Farina, will be screened at the Virginia Film Festival in early November. The film’s treatment of Charlottesville’s residents’ access to educational and economic opportunity has received renewed attention since the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017.
Brenci Patiño, associate professor of Spanish
A presentation, “Across Many Borders: Latinas’ Struggles and Triumphs in a Small Liberal Arts College” at the Latina/o Studies Association Biennial National Meeting, Latinx Studies Now: DC 2018+, July 11–15, Washington, D.C.
Participated in the VOCES Summer Oral History Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, July 16–20. The institute seeks to prepare scholars from multiple disciplines for conducting their own oral history projects.
Colleen Pendry, adjunct art professor
Explorations in printmaking featured in the 54th Annual Bath County Art Show, August.
Curated Outside the Box: A Shoebox Show, an exhibition at Blue Ridge Community College, Sept. 10–Oct. 15. Her work was also featured in the show.
Sharon Spalding, professor of health and physical education
Completed the Lifestyle Coach Training for the National Diabetes Prevention Program, August, a program established by the Centers for Disease Control. As a lifestyle coach, she will be able to deliver a Type 2 prevention lifestyle change program and submit data to the CDC about outcomes.
Pamela Stephenson, assistant professor, occupational therapy
A publication, with Caseybeth Yelverton OTD ’18 and P. Martin, “Creating career pathways: Assistive technology and occupational therapy for transitions to the workplace,” OT Practice, a publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
A presentation, with Patricia Laverdure from Virginia Commonwealth University, “Inspiring Change: Implementing inclusive, contextual and collaborative services,” the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Children & Youth Specialty Conference, Sept. 28, Milwaukee.
Laura van Assendelft, professor of political science
Attended the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Aug. 30–Sept. 2, Boston where she:
- Presented her research on women’s advancement in political science
- Chaired a panel on Gender Dynamics and Communication
- Served as a discussant on a panel on Minority and Gender Studies in Political Science Education
- Gave a presentation at the Pi Sigma Alpha board meeting about the national undergraduate research conference
- Received a national Best Chapter Award for Pi Sigma Alpha for 2017–18 honoring MBU for the election live broadcast and model city council