University Collective

Dr. Christy MacKinnon, professor of biology, was accepted as one of 17 undergraduate educators into the 2012 American Society of Microbiology (ASM) and Joint Genome Institute (JGI) Bioinformatics Residency. MacKinnon was also accepted in the week-long ASM/JGI Functional Genomics Workshop held at Hiram College in July 2011. She hosted a companion workshop, “Intergraded Microbial Genomes/Annotation Collaboration Tool,” at UIW in December, 2011. She is one of only several faculty members nationwide who has completed all three institutes.

Drs. Amy Crocker, and Susan Smith, of the School of Physical Therapy were selected as joint recipients of the 2012 Young Alumni Appreciation Award from the Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions.

Mark Stringham, assistant professor of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, performed the role of Lepidus and Proculeis in New York for the Dramatist/Royal Shakespeare Company’s collaboration workshop on Shakespeare’s “Antony & Cleopatra” in April.

Dr. Timothy Wingert, of the Rosenberg School of Optometry, was named a distinguished scholar and fellow in the National Academies of Practice (NAP).  NAP is composed of 10 Academies representing health care practice in the areas of dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, rodiatric medicine, psychology, social work, and veterinary medicine.  Only 150 active distinguished practitioners may be elected to each Academy. Wingert is also a Fullbright Scholar and past president of the Missouri Optometric Association.

Dr. Sally Said, professor of Spanish, has been appointed as the 2012-2013 Moody Professor.  Selection of the Moody Professor is based upon the recommendation of the faculty senate, the academic deans, and the provost in recognition of scholarship, teaching excellence and community service. As Moody Professor, Said will present two public lectures on a topic of her choice, one at UIW and one at Our Lady of the Lake University.

Assistant professors Dr. Tanja Stampfl, of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Dr. Helmut Gottlieb, of the Feik School of Pharmacy; Dr. Osman Özturgut, of the Dreeben School of Education; and Dr. Veronica Acosta, of the School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering were selected as the recipients of the Provost’s Legacy Teaching Award for their commitment, within their first five years at UIW, to keeping alive the rich tradition of teaching excellence that characterizes the university.

Fr. Tom Dymowski, O.SS.T., chaplain, was awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Oblate School of Theology (OST) at the commencement ceremony held in May.

Directed by William Gokelman, chair of the UIW music department, the Cardinal Chorale helped raise 13.2 tons of food (equal to 20,700 meals) for the San Antonio Food Bank when they performed as the feature mentor choir in Sing Out San Antonio.  The concert was sponsored by YouthCUE, an organization reaching out to high school students through choral and orchestral performance opportunities in the U.S. and abroad.

 

An academic paper by Dr. Scott D. Roberts, of the H-E-B School of Business and Administration, was accepted for publication by the “American Journal of Business Education.”  Roberts co-authored the work, “A Business Educator’s Guide to Transitioning to a Digital Curriculum,” with Russell E. Rains and Gregory E. Perry of St. Edward’s University.

In April, music instructor Jim Waller was accepted as a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).  NARAS presents the Grammys every year and bestows awards to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry.

 

Associate professor Dr. Lisa Lockhart of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences won the Society for the Teaching of Psychology award for her poster “Service-Learning and Students’ Perceived Understanding of Social Justice Issues.”  She presented at the Southwest Teachers of Psychology affiliate meeting at the Southwestern Psychology Association conference in Oklahoma City in April.

Assistant professor of religious studies Dr. Glenn Ambrose’s book, “The Theology of Louise-Marie Chauvet: Overcoming Onto-Theology with the Sacramental Tradition,” was published by Ashgate Publishing in May.  The book is available on Ashgate Publishing’s webpage(www.ashgate.com).

 

Dr. James Creagan, ambassador in residence and distinguished professor of political science and international studies, was a mentor for graduate students at the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs in an International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise.  Run by the U.S. Army War College and UT, the two-day exercise included several U.S. Ambassadors and high-ranking military officers participating as mentors for “delegations” from various countries.

Assistant professor of psychology Dr. Stephanie Boswell’s article, “I Deserve Success: Academic Entitlement Attitudes and their Relationships with Course Self-Efficacy, Social Networking, and Demographic Variables,” was published in the journal of Social Psychology of Education in April.  Her article, “Old People are Cranky: Helping Professional Trainees’ Knowledge, Attitude, Aging, Anxiety, and Interest in Working with Older Adults,” appears in “Educational Gerontology.”

During March, the Religious Studies faculty participated in interfaith activities on campus and in the community.  Adjunct professor Simone Brown moderated an Interreligious Dialogue Panel: “Food in a Religious Setting” for educators of young children at the 12th Diversity Conference of the Jewish Federation sponsored by UTSA.  Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, CCVI, professor of religious studies, helped direct the “Where in the World is Compassion” conference held at UIW.  The conference included participants from all over Texas and the Middle East.

Sr. Eilish Ryan, CCVI, professor of religious studies, was named one of two distinguished alumnae receiving the Shamrock Legend Award during the 130th Anniversary Eucharist at Incarnate Word High School (IWHS) held on March 25.  Given every five years, recipients of the award are nominated by their peers for making a significant difference in continuing the mission of the Sisters and the school.

Vincent Rodriguez, assistant to the president for communications, completed the Crisis Leadership in Higher Education Executive Education Program in March at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  The program focused on the strategic communications and operational issues when preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a crisis, such as on-campus violence and natural disasters.

 

Robert Johnson, instructor of computer graphic arts, made two presentations at the University & College Designers Association (UCDA) in Blacksburg, Va. at Virginia Tech in May.  The event was the 8th  UCDA Design Education Summit, concentrating on design educators from North America.  Johnson’s presentation featured two main topics: “Issues in Marketing a Design/Media Program” and “Marketing Graduating Students in Today’s Tight Market.”

Professor of English Dr. Jo LeCoeur presented the 2012 Sr. Margaret Patrice Slattery Lecture, “Gratitude for the Genuine Voice,” April 25 in Mabee Library’s Special Collections Room.  “That Song Stayed Sung,” the subtitle of the lecture, was from the play, “Fiction,” which ran at UIW’s Cheever Theatre in April.

 

Dr. Kathleen (Kathy) Goei, assistant professor for the Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, was recently awarded the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing by the Medical Center Rotary Club.