Here are the latest accomplishments in scholarship, research, publications, and professional development by MBU faculty.
Dr. Donovan Branche, associate professor of business
Named to the nine-member editorial board of VA Engage Journal. There is representation from MBU, Virginia Tech, William and Mary, University of Richmond, James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, Washington & Lee, and Richmond public schools. The journal publishes reflection essays, profiles of engagement practice, research studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods), and reviews of current literature, all with guidance and mentorship from engaged faculty and staff.
Dr. Kent Diduch, Physician Assistant Program director
Three presentations, all related to concussions:
- A virtual workshop on the sidelines evaluation and management of sport-related concussion, 30th annual meeting of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, April.
- A podium lecture on the office-based evaluation and management of concussions to the summer conference of the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, Virginia Beach, July.
- A workshop on concussion evaluation and management to the fall meeting of the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants, Roanoke, November.
Dr. Allison Ellington, Occupational Therapy Program director
Co-presented a poster, “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Preventing and Managing Heart Disease,” at the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association virtual fall conference.
Presented a virtual session,”Think About It: Using Performance-Based Assessments of Functional Cognition,” to the Virginia OT Association Adult Community of Practice, Oct. 20.
Mark Erath, assistant professor of healthcare administration
Completed his biennial recertification as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ). The certification incorporates the body of knowledge in the healthcare quality profession, covering the following four domains: organizational leadership, performance and process improvement, health data analytics, and patient safety.
Dr. Katherine Low, associate professor of religion and chaplain
Presented with a panel of peers about “Engaging Gen-Z Students” for the session “Teaching Biblical Studies in an Undergraduate Liberal Arts Context” at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Nov. 21.
Dr. Paul Menzer, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Published “Bowling Alone, or the Whole Point of No Return” in Games and Theatre in Shakespeare’s England from University of Amsterdam Press.
Dr. Marina Omar, assistant professor of political science
Invited to the Government Affairs Institute’s podcast Congress, Two Beers In to talk about the recent events in Afghanistan.
Invited to take part in an event sponsored by the Young Black Professionals in International Affairs, a student organization at George Washington University. The panel-style conversation on December 2 sought to highlight the conditions of women in conflict zones. As one of the four panelists, she addressed the changes to women’s agency in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
Dr. Rachel Potter, director of Applied Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies
Two presentations:
- “But I Heard ABA was Abuse: Addressing Challenges that Behavior Analysis is Abusive to Autists,” Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, Abingdon.
- “Peeing (where), Playing (with whom), and Public Panic: A Social Justice and Behavioral Perspective on Supporting Our Queer-Identifying Youth in Virginia’s K-12 Schools,” Virginia Academy of School Psychologists, Abingdon.
Martha Saunders, assistant professor of art
Current work/paintings, Adaptations, were exhibited in Hunt Gallery through Dec. 3.
Jim Sconyers, Jr., associate professor of art
Work exhibited on the faculty wall at the Beverley Street Studio School Gallery through Jan. 9.
Dr. Lisa Shoaf, dean of Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences
A poster presentation, “Assessment of Physical Therapy Student Clinical Performance on Interprofessional Behaviors Using the IPA Tool,” at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Educational Leadership Conference, Atlanta, Oct. 22. This project was in collaboration with Dr. Gail Tarleton, director of clinical education for the Physical Therapy Program; Brian Miller, health sciences program director; and two physical therapy students from the class of 2021 as their doctoral project.
Dr. Pam Stephenson, associate professor, Occupational Therapy Program
Four presentations at the Virginia Occupational Therapy (OT) Association’s annual fall conference in Oct.:
- With Heidi Hull, a session on “Communities of Practice and You: Taking the Next Step.”
- With Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences OT alumna Miranda Montgomery, a session on “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Youth Mental Health.”
- With current OT student Haley Gummer, a poster presentation, “Occupational Therapy’s Role in Community Reintegration.”
- With occupational therapist Mollie Kamerow, a conference session, “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: What Does It Mean for VOTA?”