Dr. Stephanie Boswell, associate professor of psychology, had her article, “Effects of aging and adult development education and service learning on attitude, anxiety, and occupational interest,” published in “The Journal of Effective Teaching.”
Under the direction of Dr. Janice Dvorkin, associate professor of music and director of the music therapy program, the Music Therapy Services Center is now open. The center is offering clinical sessions to the community and students have begun working with patients.
Dr. Matthew Gonzalez, UIW Online assistant professor, was invited in March to speak at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Annual National Security Colloquium: Cyber Threats to the U.S. Government and Private Sectors. Gonzalez’ presentation, “A 360 Approach to Cyber Security,” provided an interdisciplinary approach to designing and developing cyber security curriculum involving various university-wide resources; federal, state, and local level resources; and, most of all, the voice of the student.
On Feb. 24, William Gokelman, professor and chair of music, was awarded the Catholic Television of San Antonio Leadership Award for use of the media (music) for evangelization. He was honored for his many contributions to Catholic liturgical music, with co-composer David Kauffman. Their works include the “Mass of Renewal,” “Musical Moses and Burning Within,” and several collections of music for worship.
Dr. Vess Johnson, assistant professor of business administration, presented his papers “The Impact of Privacy Risk on M-Payment Service Adoption,” Johnson, V., Torres, R. and Negahban, A. (2015), at the 2015 Security Conference; and “Use of Snowball Sampling to Investigate How the Structure of Incentive Plans Impact Business and IT Alignment,” Johnson, V. (2015), at the 2015 Southwest Decision Science Institute Conference. He also presented “2014 IT Trend Study: Issues, Investments, Concerns, and Practices of Organizations and their IT Executives,” Kappelman, L., McLean, E., Johnson, V. and Gerhart, N. (2015), at the 2015 UIW Research Week.
The 16-week Kayaking Class, PEHP 1199, concluded with a river kayaking trip on the San Marcos River. The class of nine students and instructor, Scott LeBlanc, director of recreation, sport and wellness, embarked on a three hour paddle on April 17. Despite rain and cooler temperatures, all participants successfully navigated the river from San Marcos to Martindale, Texas. For over five years, the course has been offered through the Human Performance Department at UIW and taught in the Natatorium. The course follows the guidelines of the American Canoe Association Essentials to River Kayaking and Essentials to Kayak Touring.
Current 2015 emeritus awardees as well as previous awardees.
On April 21, UIW hosted its annual Faculty Appreciation Luncheon. Faculty awards and recognition included:
President’s Teaching Award:
• Dr. Scott Dittloff, associate professor of government and international affairs
Moody Professor of Teacher Education:
• Dr. Elda Martinez, Dreeben School of Education director of teacher education
Provost’s Legacy Teaching Awards:
• Dr. Reid Fisher, assistant professor of athletic training
• Dr. Georgen Guerrero, assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice
• Dr. Theresa Martines, assistant professor of mathematics
• Dr. Ana Vallor, assistant professor of biology
Emeritus Awardees:
• Dr. Judith Beauford, professor emerita of education
• Dr. Robert Connelly, professor emeritus of philosophy
• Dr. Jennifer Cook, professor emerita of nursing
• Dr. Denise Doyle, provost emerita
• Dr. Sara Kerr, professor emerita of biology
• Dr. Patricia Lonchar, professor emerita of English
• Dr. Eula Pines, professor emerita of nursing
• Dr. Michael Risku, professor emeritus of education
• Dr. William Thomann, professor emeritus of geology
Faculty Awarded Sabbaticals for 2014-15:
• Dr. Veronica Acosta, associate professor of biology, Spring 2016
• Dr. Maria Felix-Ortiz, associate professor of psychology, Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
• Dr. Lopita Nath, associate professor of history, Spring 2016
On March 25, Incarnate Word Day, Dr. Glenn James, associate provost, was awarded the 2015 CCVI Spirit Award. The award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration, or staff who has demonstrated in service to the university and/or to the broader civic community the spirit of the founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The 2015 Student CCVI Spirit Award was presented to UIW student Jon Johnston. The student recipient is recognized by peers, faculty and staff as living the Mission of the Sisters.
Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies, recently celebrated her Golden Jubilee, 50 years of consecrated service to the Incarnate Word. Hosted by the General Leadership Team, March 13-16, the CCVI Jubilarians of 2015 spent the weekend reminiscing with their fellow Sisters marking 75, 60, 50 and 25 years of service. Most notably, the weekend included a celebration of the Eucharist in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word with the renewal of religious vows. A special lunch was served following the Mass in the Brackenridge Villa, the CCVI’s first Motherhouse in San Antonio, Texas. Alumnae who also celebrated 50 years included Sr. Ritamary Corso, CCVI ’74 BA; Sr. Feliciana Mejia, CCVI ’75 BA; Sr. Michele O’Brien, CCVI ’67 BSN; and Sr. Bernadine Prendergast, CCVI ’74 BSN ’98 MSN.
Dr. Patricia Lonchar, newly-recognized professor emerita of English, had her chapter “The Right Word: Why Do Words Have Power” published in “The Power of the Word: The Sacred and Profane,” edited by Dr. Patsy J. Daniels, and released in April 2015. Using a rhetorical lens, Lonchar explored how writers inject power into texts by word choice, strategic spacing and punctuation. Included in the chapter is an extensive analysis of the many translations of “Beowulf,” including the 2014 publication of Tolkien’s translation and his accompanying notes. Lonchar also referenced the special analysis of the word “yrfa” in the “Beowulf” poem completed by colleague Dr. Chris Paris, professor emeritus of English. Dr. Emily Clark, associate professor of English, also had a chapter, “The Nontraditional Speakerly Text: Signifyin(g) in Derek Wolcott’s Omeros and V. S. Naipaul’s A House for Mr. Biswas,” published in “The Power of the Word: The Sacred and Profane.” The book is available on Amazon.
In March, Dr. Robyn Madson, founding dean of UIW’s School of Osteopathic Medicine, was honored as a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (FACOFP). FACOFP recognizes experience, dedication and contributions of the highest order to the advancement of osteopathic family medicine. The fellow designation, presented annually since 1976, awards those who have contributed outstanding national, state and local service through teaching, authorship, research or professional leadership.
Tim Metcalf, athletic eligibility certification official, competed in the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Texas State Meet, held at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, on April 18. This served as a qualifying meet for both the USPA Nationals in the summer, as well as a qualifier for the World Championships in the fall. He won the Masters 50-54 year old age group (181 pound weight class) in both the Bench Press and the Deadlift, setting Texas State records in each. He lifted 112.5 kilos/248 pounds in the Bench Press and 148.5 kilos/328 pounds in the Deadlift. Metcalf lifted again in June in Austin and in July in San Antonio at the Jill Mills Classic. Between North Carolina and Texas, he now has 10 state titles as well as 10 American/National titles and 15 World titles.
Margaret Mitchell, professor of theatre arts, will serve as guest editor of the Fall 2015 issue of “Theatre Design and Technology,” a journal for design, production, and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry. The journal is published four times per year by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT).
In February 2014, Associate Professor of History Dr. Lopita Nath’s exhibit “Is this my Shangri-la? Life in a Bhutanese Refugee Camp” was displayed at the Institute of Texan Cultures. The exhibit is currently on display at Mabee Library and showcases photographs taken during her visit to the Refugee Camps in Nepal and depicts the hardships and resilience of life in the refugee camps. In February 2015, the Smithsonian exhibit “Sikhs: Legacy of The Punjab,” opened at the Institute of Texan Cultures; Nath conducted the research for the section “Sikhs in Texas.” On Oct. 30, Nath presented her Moody Lecture at UIW on her research topic entitled, “Seeking Shangri-la: Pathways to Assimilation” and presented the same lecture at Our Lady of the Lake University in January. In March, she was invited to present on her research on “Challenges of Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement in the United States” at UTSA for Women’s History Month. She also presented her paper “In Search of Shangri-la: Challenges of Bhutanese Refugee Resettlement in the United States” in April at the Southwest Historical Association at the Annual Conference of the Southwest Social Science Association in Denver, Colo. In November, she presented on “Interfaith Initiatives in the Bible Belt” at the NAFSA Regional Conference, Fort Worth, Texas, on a panel organized by the International Scholar and Student Services.
Dr. Sreerenjini Nair, assistant professor of physics, had his paper, “Swarm Intelligence for the Control of a Group of Robots,” accepted for the 10th Annual System of Systems Engineering IEEE National Conference, May 17-20, 2015, San Antonio, Texas. Co-authors: Dr. Michael T. Frye, UIW associate professor of engineering, Eric M. Coronado, and Yong Qin.
