Here are the latest accomplishments in scholarship, research, publications, and professional development by MBU faculty and staff.
Andreina Arroyo, associate university registrar
Completed a certificate program in diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace through the University of South Florida Muma College.
Donovan Branche, assistant professor of business
Invited by the Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership to be the guest editor for a themed issue on the inclusion of race in nonprofit leadership education.
Kerry Cooke, assistant professor of theatre
The recipient of the 2021 Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges Mednick Fellowship Award.
Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott, associate provost for inclusive excellence
Named dean of the board of examiners for the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Paul Deeble, professor of biology
Received a National Science Foundation grant, “BUILD Understanding Through Inclusive Learning Design — An RCN UBE” with a regional team (from Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia) as part of his sabbatical project. BUILD stands for Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity and RCN UBE represents Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education. The grant will fund a collaborative team of undergraduate researchers, faculty, accessibility experts, and makers who will incorporate the use of TTT-GIL in novel teaching and learning strategies — that is inclusive Tactile Teaching Tools paired with Guided Inquiry Learning classroom activities that ask students to manipulate, assemble, and analyze structures to answer questions in very different ways compared to traditional lecture-based learning. Deeble hopes this method will become part of MBU’s own STEP program to better support our students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Premedical and Health Sciences.
Beth Easterling, associate professor of criminal justice and sociology
A paper, “Assessing Audiologists’ Exposure, Knowledge, and Attitudes when Working with Culturally Deaf Individuals,” with co-authors Chelsea Cotrell, Larry Metwedsky, and Patrick Boudreault, accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. They plan to have the article summarized in American Sign Language and posted to the journal’s site to make it more accessible to a wider audience.
Nadine Gergel-Hackett, associate professor of physics
An article, “SPICE Behavioral Modeling of TiO2 Memristors for Digital Logic Applications,” with co-authors Anna Wright ’17, Farrah-Amoy Fullerton ’17, and Aaleyah Joe ’17, published in the March 30 issue of the Journal of Circuits, Systems, and Computers.
Rachel Potter, director of Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies
A presentation, “Diversifying Resources for ABA Teaching and Supervision Through Open and Anti-Bias Pedagogical Practice,” the Annual Conference of the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis, April 16–17.
Molly Seremet, assistant professor of theatre
Attended the Shakespeare Association of America’s annual meeting this spring, presenting her work on early modern anatomy and the reanimation of Anne Green as part of the Wonder Books seminar group.
Presented a paper, “Scameling Caliban: Editorial Tone Policing a Most Delicate Monster,” as part of a seminar on race and adaptation sponsored by the University of Alabama’s Hudson Strode Program at the Renaissance Society of America’s virtual conference.
Pam Stephenson, assistant professor, occupational therapy
Presented two sessions — “Authentic assessment in pediatrics: A natural fit for occupational therapy” and “What’s the scoop in children and youth? An exploration of hot topics, evidence-based practice, and practice trends” — at the American Occupational Therapy virtual conference.
Mary Clay Thomas, associate professor of social work
Successfully defended her dissertation, Fostering Resilience in Students: Advancing Strategies to Enhance the Impact of Social Work Education and Professional Practice, April 6.
Katherine Turner, professor of English
Participated in an online “William Cowper Study Day” hosted by the library and museum at Jane Austen’s Chawton House in England on April 25 to celebrate the museum’s recent acquisition of a copy of Cowper’s poems that was owned by Austen’s brother. She contributed a talk on Cowper and abolition, focusing on the uses made of his poetry by British and American abolitionists and writers of slave narratives.
Mary VanNortwick, wellness and nutrition coordinator
Completed a doctorate in clinical nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health. Her clinical work and research centered on using personalized nutrient therapy to address mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and blood sugar control.
An article, “Innovative therapies for mood disorders: A case report” in Explore, with co-authors K. Ross and D. Dragone.
Manuscript submitted for publication, “Amino Acid Therapy for Mood Disorders: A Case Series,” with co-author K. Ross.