Georgia Southern staff member named Best Author/Writer by Savannah Magazine
Melanie Simón, a communications manager on the Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus, was recently named Best Writer/Author in Savannah by Savannah Magazine in its annual Best Of Savannah awards. Simón has written and published two books, La Americana: A Memoir and Leopold’s Ice Cream: A Century of Tasty Memories.
“I had no idea that I was even in the running or that I had won until a friend texted me, ‘Congrats on your Best of Savannah win!’” Simón said. “It’s a reader-voted award, which is what makes it so special.”
Simón has worked on the Armstrong Campus since May 2015. She began her career in publishing in New York City, and later returned to Savannah where she has served as a publicist and freelance writer since 2003. Currently, she is partnering with producer Stratton Leopold on the book-to-film development of La Americana, and will serve as a co-producer of the film.
Simón said she’s honored to have won the award.
“I was floored,” she said. “Savannah is loaded with creative talent, and to have so much support from my hometown is incredible.”
Health Sciences and Kinesiology faculty member publishes research
Gregg Rich, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Georgia Southern University Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, recently had research published in the Journal of Athlete Development and Experience.
Rich conducted research titled “Student-Athletes at an Historically Black University (HBU): Examining the Relationships Between Student-Engagement on Campus and Career Situation Awareness,” with colleagues from Clayton State University and Clarkson University.
Their work examined the relationship between student-athletes’ engagement experiences on campus and their outlook on potential career interests at an HBU with NCAA Division I affiliation in the Southeastern United States.
“Findings of the study determined minority student-athletes of both sexes benefit by attending an HBU as it pertains to social enrichment and career perspective,” said Rich. “However, white student-athletes do not have the same academic involvement on campus as their minority counterparts. Interestingly, the more that Black female student-athletes utilize collective academic settings, such as the library, and engage in socially enriching environments, the less likely they are to perceive themselves to be athletes versus students.”
The Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology is housed in the Waters College of Health Professions.
Georgia Southern professor receives AIST Foundation Steel Curriculum Development Grant
The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) and the AIST Foundation announced that Georgia Southern University engineering professor Jingjing Qing, Ph.D., is the winner of the 2020-21 Steel Curriculum Development Grant. Qing will receive $25,000 over three years.
“This fund helps to upgrade the teaching laboratory facility at Georgia Southern University, which will greatly enhance the students’ learning experience of ferrous metal processing and metallurgy,” Qing said. “Activities funded with the AIST Steel Curriculum Development Grant, such as touring steel plants, attending technical conferences and performing industry-guided term projects, will increase the exposure of the steel and iron industry to the students, help more students to identify their interests and expand their horizons to consider careers in the steel and iron industry.”
AIST is a nonprofit technical association of 17,500 members from 70 countries with the mission to advance the technical development, production, processing and application of iron and steel. The organization is recognized as a global leader in networking, education and sustainability programs for advancing iron and steel technology.
Georgia Southern professor publishes crime novel
In July, creative writing professor Tony Morris, Ph.D., released his debut novel, Deep River Blues, a regional crime thriller set in the Appalachian Mountain region of Eastern Tennessee.
“With the perception of a poet and the knack of a novelist, Tony Morris joins the ranks of some of the finest crime fiction writers,” wrote acclaimed mystery writer Craig Johnson. “In turn, part James Lee Burke, Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, Deep River Blues will pull you under and have you gasping for breath.”
Morris is also the associate editor of Southern Poetry Review and director of the Ossabaw Island Writers’ Retreat. He has published four books of poetry, and has earned the Louisiana Literature Poetry Prize and the Tennessee Writers Alliance Poetry Award. In addition, Morris has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize three times.
Sustainability Programs now accepting proposals for fall 2020
Georgia Southern University’s Sustainability Programs is requesting proposals to improve sustainability across the Statesboro campus. Sustainability fee projects range from $1,000 to $100,000.
Proposals may address any aspect of sustainability in the areas of water, energy, waste, biodiversity, food, transportation, sustainability promotion, social justice and wellness, among others. Requests may range from increasing biodiversity to improving energy efficiency, implementing renewable energy solutions, encouraging sustainability behaviors, improving waste reduction, or increasing campus sustainability awareness.
Sustainability fee projects may be proposed and conducted by any student, faculty or staff member on the Statesboro campus.
This year, a grant writing workshop will be offered virtually on Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. and Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. to answer any questions. For more information, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/sustainability.
Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 14 and should be sent to cfs@georgiasouthern.edu. All applicants will be notified of the status of their proposals by Oct. 14, and all grant funds are to be spent by June 2021.
Health Sciences and Kinesiology faculty member named to Engaged Scholar Program
Charles “Hal” Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, has been named to the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education’s (NAKHE) Engaged Scholar Program.
Over the next 12-month period, Wilson will have the opportunity to collaborate with senior scholar, Doug Hochstetler, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Studies at James Madison University, with the intent of completing a scholarly product.
NAKHE, an inclusive community of kinesiology professionals, extends its mentoring efforts into the area of scholarship by supporting mentoring and networking opportunities for tenured associate professors. The Engaged Scholar Program encourages faculty to continue their professional development efforts by providing financial support and a mentor.
This is the second time in five years a Georgia Southern faculty member has been named to the program.
Parker College of Business appoints new Associate Dean of Students and External Affairs
The Parker College of Business has appointed Britton McKay, Ph.D., professor of accounting, as the new associate dean of Students and External Affairs, effective July 1.
In her new position, McKay will focus on recruiting, introducing prospective students to the college’s academic offerings, overseeing the college’s academic advising center, overseeing undergraduate scholarships by serving as the committee chair and reviewing scholarship applicants for general scholarships, and coordinating accreditation efforts for AACSB and SACS.
Additionally, she will maintain each business discipline’s proposed rotation of classes and review offerings each semester to ensure that classes are being offered on a variety of days and times. She will serve on the Parker College of Business Undergraduate Committee to provide input and guidance on the impact that proposed course and program changes may have on undergraduate students.
Communication Arts faculty coauthors new text for broadcast students
Reed Smith, Ph.D., professor of multimedia film and production, coauthored the fifth edition of Broadcast Announcing Worktext, released by Taylor & Francis Group, to help students enhance their skill sets in broadcast.
Broadcast Announcing Worktext uses practical experience, traditional teaching methods and principles of good performance to introduce key concepts that are developed through sample scripts and hands-on exercises. The book features updates in audio performance, social media and international media performance.
“I thought it was important to contribute to the content of this text to help it fulfill the needs I believe are critical for students’ courses,” said Smith. “Now that the internet and multinational media ownership have made all communication messages available around the globe and to diverse audiences, it is imperative that students understand the worldwide impact what they produce can have.”
Smith teaches audio for journalists, sports broadcasting, announcing, history of mass communication and media ethics within the Department of Communication Arts. He has experience in news reporting and video production, and participates in a variety of broadcast projects, which allow him to work closely with students and stay connected to the world of broadcast.
“There are many more opportunities for students to use their voices in communicating,” said Smith. “Therefore, it is critical that I continually upgrade my own knowledge, so I can properly prepare students for these developing applications.”
Smith’s newest additions to the text include information on producing podcasts and women in sports, with exercises to improve announcing skills, a rubric to evaluate skills and sample syllabi for announcing courses.
Communication Arts faculty coauthors new text for broadcast students
Reed Smith, Ph.D., professor of multimedia film and production, coauthored the fifth edition of Broadcast Announcing Worktext, released by Taylor & Francis Group, to help students enhance their skill sets in broadcast.
Broadcast Announcing Worktext uses practical experience, traditional teaching methods and principles of good performance to introduce key concepts that are developed through sample scripts and hands-on exercises. The book features updates in audio performance, social media and international media performance.
“I thought it was important to contribute to the content of this text to help it fulfill the needs I believe are critical for students’ courses,” said Smith. “Now that the internet and multinational media ownership have made all communication messages available around the globe and to diverse audiences, it is imperative that students understand the worldwide impact what they produce can have.”
Smith teaches audio for journalists, sports broadcasting, announcing, history of mass communication and media ethics within the Department of Communication Arts. He has experience in news reporting and video production, and participates in a variety of broadcast projects, which allow him to work closely with students and stay connected to the world of broadcast.
“There are many more opportunities for students to use their voices in communicating,” said Smith. “Therefore, it is critical that I continually upgrade my own knowledge, so I can properly prepare students for these developing applications.”
Smith’s newest additions to the text include information on producing podcasts and women in sports, with exercises to improve announcing skills, a rubric to evaluate skills and sample syllabi for announcing courses.
WCHP faculty receives grant from United States Center for Coaching Excellence
Jody Langdon, Ph.D., associate professor of exercise science and coaching, was awarded more than $2,900 in funding from the United States Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE) for her project, “Utilizing motivational theory to assess how coach developers shape the behaviors of coaches.”
The USCCE Research Grant will help Langdon support the project’s first phase of development of a comprehensive coach assessment system for United States Lacrosse.
“In this phase, we are going to observe coach trainers and coaches in order to see how much of what is learned in training clinics is transferred to coaching athletes,” Langdon said. “The grant money will help us video record United States Lacrosse coach trainers and coaches, provide feedback and determine how well coaches transfer behaviors and create motivational climates that are beneficial to athletes.”
Langdon has served as a faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology for 10 years. Her research interests include enhancing student or athlete motivation, coaching education, psychological response to injury, and scholarship of teaching and learning.