Here are the latest accomplishments in scholarship, research, and craft by MBU faculty and staff.
Nell Desmond, director, Vantage Point: Office of Personal and Professional Development
Accepted to the Executive MBA/MSc in Social Business and Entrepreneurship Program, London School of Economics. The highly competitive global cohort entails five residencies in London over the course of 15 months and a capstone project in which student groups create a social enterprise start-up.
Brig. Gen. Terry Djuric, commandant, Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership
Initiated into Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, during the first-ever virtual ceremony, April.
Drew Gogian, director, School of Nursing, and Kim Nine, director, School of Public Health
Co-presented “The Value of Bridging the Interprofessional Gap in Health Sciences Education: Improving Patient Outcomes,” Purdue Global School of Health Sciences Virtual Conference, May 13.
Christopher Harnish, founding director, exercise and sports science
Named guest lead editor for the journal Sustainability, with a special interdisciplinary issue coming out in summer 2021, Reimagining Exercise and Sports Sustainability, also featuring work by Brian Miller, assistant professor of health sciences at MBU, Garrett Bullock from Oxford University, and Donna Wolf from Norfolk State University.
Cat McPherson, associate dean and associate professor of business
Leading a virtual discussion group, “Mentoring and Coaching Adult Students,” at the upcoming Adult Learner Institute’s online conference, Future Focus 20/20: Supporting Adult Learners, based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
Paul Menzer, dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Four recent scholarly publications:
- An article, “Kit to Eugene: John Mason Brown’s ‘letter’ to Eugene O’Neill,” Eugene O’Neill Review
- A chapter, “Bowling Alone, or the whole point of no return,” Games and Theatre in Early Modern England, Ashgate.
- Edited and introduced the anonymous 1600 play Look About You in the new Routledge Anthology of Renaissance Drama.
- A chapter, “Anecdotal Jonson,” in the collection Ben Jonson and Posterity: Reception, Reputation, Legacy, Cambridge University Press. The chapter includes analysis of three unique, handwritten, early 18th century anecdotes in Mary Baldwin’s copy of Ben Jonson’s rare 1640 folio.
Brian Miller, assistant professor of health sciences
An article, “Exploring sex differences in the effectiveness of telehealth-based health coaching for weight loss in an employee population,” American Journal of Health Promotion.
Transitioned from an ad hoc to a full member appointment on the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council — Education Subcouncil.
Colleen Pendry, adjunct professor of art
Work in photography, Sublimity III, selected for the exhibition, Camera USA 2020, Naples Art, October 5 through November 14, Naples, Florida.
Work in mixed media sculpture, “Confluence,” awarded an honorable mention in the Circle Foundation for the Arts Artist of the Year competition for 2019, Lyon, France.
Peter Ruiz-Haas, associate professor of chemistry
A poster, “Destruction of Tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) by UV Advanced Oxidation Processes,” with Bethany Taylor ’20, Spring National Conference of the American Chemical Society (online format).
Jim Sconyers, associate professor of art
Serving as co-juror for 2020 Vision, 17th annual Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community Juried Art Exhibit, Park Gables Gallery, Harrisonburg.
Pam Stephenson, assistant professor, occupational therapy
Lead author for an article, “Communicating occupational therapy’s distinct value in pediatrics: Who are we and what do we do?” in OT Practice.
Abby Wightman, associate professor of anthropology
A paper, “Diversity, Difference, and Safety: Adapting Service-Learning for Diverse Students” in the journal Teaching and Learning Anthropology, December 2019.