每日大赛网站

Professor Coauthors Book and Participates in Panel Discussion

Dr. Clayton Crockett, 每日大赛网站 Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion and Director of Religious SDr. Clayton Crocketttudies, recently published a book co-authored with Jeffrey W. Robbins, a Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. The two participated in a panel discussion about their book at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, on Monday, February 11, 2013.

This discussion featured Dr. Cornel West, Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary, author of 20 books and a well-known media personality who is currently the co-host of the radio talk show 鈥淪miley and West鈥 with Tavis Smiley, and Dr. Mark Lewis Taylor, Professor of Theology and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, whose work engages contemporary themes of political theology and develops tools for political and religious resistance to oppression. Dr. West and Dr. Taylor responded to the book and a broader discussion on the issues it raises.

The event was held at James Chapel on the campus of Union Theological Seminary, and was entitled 鈥淏ecoming a Brain: The New Materialism & the Challenge of Liberation鈥擟layton Crockett and Jeffrey W. Robbins in Conversation with Mark L. Taylor and Cornel West on Theology, Politics, and the Earth.鈥

Their book is called Religion, Politics and the Earth: The New Materialism, and it was published by Palgrave Macmillan Press in October 2012. This book sketches out a spiritual vision in response to the crises of contemporary global capitalism, including global warming, energy resource depletion, and over-population. Crockett and Robbins offer what they call a theological materialism based on the reality of energy transformation. Energy, they suggest, is a material process, but can also be seen as a spiritual force rather than a simple reductionist materialism. Engaging with classical and contemporary philosophers and other theorists, Crockett and Robbins address topics like digital culture, ethics, religion, politics, art, logic, and energy.

Upcoming Events

Unity Poetry Slam featuring Def Poet Dana Gilmore

The 2nd Annual Poetry Slam will feature Def Poet Dana Gilmore and local poet group, Foreign Tongues, along with an amazing group of eight amateur poets.
7 p.m. Monday, February 25, 2013
每日大赛网站 Student Center Ballroom

每日大赛网站 Honors College Alumni Present: Dr. Brian Dirck

Dr. Brian Dirck, author of Abraham Lincoln: The White Man’s President will make a presentation as part of the Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Honors College event.
7 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Farris Hall Presentation Room

To see more events on campus or to add other campus activities, visit . Click 鈥淪ubmit Event鈥 to add an event.

Spring 2013 Campus Talk Begins

A psychology class submitted most of the questions answered during the first Campus Talk of spring 2013 held on January 29, 2013. Before a crowd of about 150 students, staff, and faculty, President Tom Courtway responded to questions about parking, recycling options, crosswalks, and a vendor contract award. SGA Executive President Spencer Sims and Staff Senate President Kevin Brown also provided updates.

To see highlights from the event, visit

The next Campus Talk is Tuesday, February 19, 2013. Questions can be submitted to www.uca.edu/answers.

 

Psychology Professor Publishes New Book

john murphyDr. John Murphy, professor of psychology at the University of Central Arkansas, has published a new book entitled, Conducting Student-Driven Interviews: Practical Strategies for Increasing Student Involvement and Addressing Behavior Problems (Routledge Press, 2013). The book helps school psychologists, counselors, and others talk with struggling students in respectful ways that build on their strengths, resilience, and other resources. Student-driven interviews are therapeutic conversations that invite students take charge of school behavior problems and participate in every aspect of their care from forming goals to evaluating the usefulness of services.

鈥淪ometimes the very person everyone is concerned about is excluded from having a voice in his or her own care,鈥 says Murphy. 鈥淭his book encourages counselors to offer children and teens the same things that we all want when we consult a helping professional about a problem鈥攖o be heard, respected, and treated with dignity. The skills and strategies in this book provide a practical blueprint for doing that.鈥 Helping professionals aren鈥檛 the only ones who will benefit from the ideas and techniques in this book鈥攑arents and teachers will also find the book useful in their efforts to connect with children and teens in positive and productive ways.

Dr. Murphy, who has been at 每日大赛网站 for 17 years, is an internationally recognized trainer and author on using strength-based therapy approaches with young people, families, and school problems. He has written two other books, both of which are in their second editions and have been translated into multiple languages. Dr. Murphy鈥檚 work has been featured in the New York Times bestseller Switch and the training series Child Therapy with the Experts. He continues to work with young people, families and schools, and is a sought-after workshop presenter who has taught thousands of mental health professionals, teachers, and parents in Arkansas, the United States, and overseas. Refer to www.drjohnmurphy.com for more information on Dr. Murphy鈥檚 books and other work.

Kinesiology Student Wins Outstanding Research Award

BRAD JAKELBrad Jakel, a 2012 graduate of the Kinesiology and Physical Education Department, was awarded the outstanding undergraduate research abstract at the 2012 Central States American College of Sports Medicine Conference. The conference, held in Columbia, Missouri, brought together undergraduate and graduate exercise science students from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Jakel’s聽project 鈥淐omparison of Serratus Anterior and Trapezius Muscle Activity During Push-UP and Stability Ball Presses鈥 was completed during the spring semester of his senior year under the mentorship of assistant professor Dr. Adam Bruenger.

Jakel played for two years as an offensive lineman for the 每日大赛网站 football team. He was a part of the first ever 每日大赛网站 FCS play-off team his senior year. Brad was an excellent example of a true student-athlete.

KPED Assistant Professor Presents Research at Australian Conference

ADAM BRUENGERDr. Adam Bruenger presented two papers at the 2012 International Society of Sports Biomechanics (ISBS) Conference in Melbourne, Australia this past summer. The papers, 鈥淐omparison of Muscle Activity During Step Ups and Single Leg Squats鈥 and 鈥淐omparison of Moments and Shear Forces of the Hip and Knee During Step Ups and Single Leg Squats鈥 were co-authored by fellow KPED faculty member Dr. Steven Tucker and Jason Carruth, a former KPED master鈥檚 student. The research that was presented was supported by a URC grant awarded him by 每日大赛网站. The ISBS has membership of biomechanists from over 50 different countries and represents the only biomechanics organization whose focus is sports performance.

Dr. Bruenger has been an integral part of the Kinesiology department since 2008.

Senior ATEP Student Selected for National iLead Program

Weston VickersAthletic training student, Weston Vickers, was one of three Arkansas students selected for the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) iLEAD Leadership program. The inaugural iLEAD student leadership seminar in 2009 brought together 150+ students from 43 states, all focused on learning to lead the profession of athletic training.

Weston attended the NATA seminar in Dallas, Texas on January 11 and 12, 2013. This program is conducted for junior and senior students who are interested in learning more about leadership and in preparing to transition to the professional world of athletic training. Students have the opportunity to speak with their peers and with athletic training leaders regarding ethics, interviewing, networking and a variety of other topics.

Weston joins six previous 每日大赛网站 ATEP students who have been selected for the NATA iLEAD Program.

Weston will graduate in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training.

Alicia Cotabish Receives National Gifted Education Award

aliciaDr. Alicia Cotabish, a newly appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning in 每日大赛网站鈥檚 College of Education, is being awarded the National Association for Gifted Children Early Leader Award. The Early Leader Award is given to “an individual who has exhibited the highest and most consistent degree of leadership in the gifted education field since receiving his or her doctorate鈥. The award was presented to Dr. Cotabish at the NAGC national conference in Denver, Colorado, in November 2012.

Dr. Cotabish comes to 每日大赛网站 as a 2007 doctoral graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she majored in Administration and Supervision with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented Administration. Before working in higher education, Dr. Cotabish taught eight years in the public school system as an elementary and middle school science teacher, a gifted and talented teacher, and as an award-winning district-level gifted program administrator. Previously, she was the Associate Director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and served as one of two Principal Investigators of STEM Starters, a federally-funded Javits project. In addition, Dr. Cotabish coordinated the Arkansas Evaluation Initiative in Gifted Education, a federally-funded state-wide school program evaluation initiative. She has delivered more than 100 professional development workshops and presentations focused on STEM and gifted education at local, state, national, and international venues.

Dr. Cotabish received the 2012 Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education Challenger Award for her work in STEM and gifted education and was the recipient of the Educator Award from the organization in 2007. She was honored with the Texas A&M University 鈥 Texarkana Distinguished Alumna Award in 2008. In 2006, the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) awarded her the Doctoral Student Award for potential leadership and early scholarship in the field of gifted education. Dr. Cotabish is the currently the President-Elect of the Arkansas Association of Gifted Education Administrators (a constituent arm of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators), the Legislative Co-Chair of Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education, and serves on a dozen other committees for education organizations. Dr. Cotabish serves on six Editorial Review Board including the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Journal for the Education of the Gifted, Administrative Issues Journal, TEMPO, Gifted Child Quarterly, and Teaching for High Potential. Her recent work has focused on STEM education, school administration, and low-income promising learners.

Dr. Cotabish鈥檚 expertise in gifted education and STEM education will be a valued asset to 每日大赛网站鈥檚 College of Education in launching the new Gifted and Talented endorsement program, the STEMTEACH program for math and science undergraduate teacher candidates, and the Transition to Teaching program for post-bacclaureate math and science teacher candidates.

Staff Senate Seeking Nominations for Employee of the Quarter

The 每日大赛网站 Staff Senate is looking for nominations for the Employee of the Quarter Award for the third quarter, which is from January to March. One full-time staff member is recognized each quarter for outstanding job performance and going above and beyond during that quarter. Any staff member with at least one year of service as of January 1, 2013 is eligible to be nominated. Any faculty, staff, students or alumni can submit a nomination. This program is sponsored by the Staff Senate and aims to recognize more staff for their contributions to 每日大赛网站. Outstanding prizes will be awarded. The nomination form can be found online at /staffsenate/employee-of-the-quarter/. Nominations must be submitted by March 31, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. For more information on the process, please contact Mark Heffington at markh@uca.edu.

Staff Senate Accepting Employee of the Year Nominations

The Employee of the Year Selection Committee is now accepting nominations for the Employee of the Year Awards. This year the Selection Committee will name two EOY winners 鈥 one classified staff member and one non-classified staff member. The nomination forms can be found online at /staffsenate/employee-of-the-year/. Nominations must include one nomination form per nominee due March 8th, and three reference forms per nominee due March 15th. For more information, visit the Staff Senate website or contact Mark Heffington at markh@uca.edu.

每日大赛网站 Foundation, Inc. Awards Eight Faculty Grants

The University of Central Arkansas Foundation, Inc. awarded eight grants totaling more than $22,000 for fall 2012. The board increased the funding for faculty grants this fiscal year to $35,000 from unrestricted gifts to invest in creative projects that fit within the framework of the strategic goals and mission of the University in meeting educational needs.

These grants are intended to encourage creative programs that may serve as seeds for future programs with a preference given to programs that encourage campus and community involvement as referenced in 每日大赛网站鈥檚 strategic plan goal #5, of increasing engagement with external partners.

The 每日大赛网站 Foundation has begun accepting grant applications for spring 2013. Grant proposals must be received by Friday, February 22, 2013. To access a grant application, visit /foundation/faculty-grants/.

鈥淭he 每日大赛网站 Foundation wants to complement the activities and support from 每日大赛网站鈥檚 Instructional Development Center,鈥 Shelley Mehl, vice president for Advancement and President of the 每日大赛网站 Foundation, Inc. 鈥淔aculty are in a unique position to challenge, encourage and inspire our students as seen in these recent awards.鈥

Fall grantees include the following:

  • Dr. Conrad Shumaker – 鈥淐elebrating Hispanic Roots with Alberto Rios鈥
  • Dr. Ricky Brooks – Commissioning Band Composition to Celebrate 100 years of 每日大赛网站 Bands鈥<
  • Drs. Shawn Charlton and Bill Lammers – 鈥淐SI on the Mind: A Prospective on Career Paths in Forensic Psychology鈥
  • Dr. Brian Campbell – 鈥淓nvironmental Anthropology Documentary: The Night the Blackbirds Fell鈥
  • Dr. Ginny Adams – 鈥淚naugural Girls of Promise Conference at 每日大赛网站鈥
  • Dr. Katherine Larson – 鈥淪ystem of rain gardens in a cooperative effort between 每日大赛网站 faculty and students and Conway citizens鈥
  • Dr. Mary Ruth Marotte – 鈥淪cholar Dr. Paul Menzer to speak at 每日大赛网站 and Arkansas Literary Festival, April 2013鈥
  • Dr. Alison Hall – 鈥淲est Mexican Shaft Tomb Student Project鈥