Faculty Achievements

School of Science

achievement_mariacraig Maria Craig, assistant professor of chemistry
An invited seminar, “Pursuing the Initiating Events of Lupus, Psoriasis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Interaction Between the LL-37 Peptide and DNA,” as part of the Suter Science Seminar Series, September, Eastern Mennonite University.
louise_freeman Louise Freeman, associate professor of psychology
A paper, “Dissociation between empathic concern for fictional characters versus real life acquaintances among Hunger Games fans,” was one of 14 selected for inclusion, the Film, Faith and Philosophy Conference sponsored by Gonzaga and Whitworth Universities, Spokane, Wa.

 

School of Social Sciences, Business, and Global Studies

achievement_douglasdavis Doug Davis, director of the Criminal Justice Program
Served as reviewer for four chapters in Community Policing and Problem Solving, Strategies and Practices, Pearson Publishing.Conducted peer review evaluations for grants from the Department of Justice concerning internet crimes against children.

Conducted survey research on checking ID’s for alcohol sales in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County through a Strategic Prevention Framework — State Incentive Grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice Programs.

Asked to sit on an advisory committee for Virginia ABC to review and recommend policy and procedural changes. The committee has been formed as a result of the recent ABC operation in Charlottesville that has resulted in a state police investigation of the incident.

Conducted training for New Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs for the Virginia Police Chiefs Foundation.

achievement_dandowdy Daniel Dowdy, associate professor emeritus of business
The recipient, after retiring in May, of the Association for Continuing Higher Education’s (ACHE) 2013 Emeritus Award. ACHE honors retirees who have displayed a significant degree of leadership within the association for at least 10 years. Dowdy served as a regional chair and on various committees during the 20 years in which he was active in this organization. He will receive the award at the association’s annual conference in November in Lexington, KY.
achievement_judyklein Judy Klein, professor of economics
Three invited lectures, University of São Paulo, Brazil, August.A presentation, “The Cold War Origins of Modeling Strategies for Macroeconomic Dynamics,” International Symposium on Macroeconomic Dynamics in Historical Perspective.

Presented a lecture on linear programming and the bounded rationality of Cold War operations research, as well as a graduate school lecture on the history of dynamic programming in economics.

achievement_catherinemcpherson Cat McPherson, associate professor of business and holder of the The Bertie Wilson Murphy Distinguished Chair in Business Administration
Attended a week-long intensive, graduate-level executive education program, “Ambidexterity – Strategic Planning in Today’s Multifaceted Environment,” which featured marketing and business strategists from across the US as speakers and session leaders, Virginia Commonwealth University, July.Tapped to participate in a strategic brainstorming session for Children’s Home Society, as part of a proposal development process to receive grant monies from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
bob_robinson Bob Robinson, instructor of sociology
Attended the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) Summer Institute, July, University of Washington, Seattle, Wa. He was awarded a scholarship that covered conference costs, travel, and lodging. Workshop topics included discussions about the guiding principles of AAUP, writing faculty handbooks, on-line teaching and MOOCS, and the relationship between tenured and contingent faculty.
achievement_danielstuhlsatz Dan Stuhlsatz, associate professor of sociology
Two reports for the SAW Coalition’s Comprehensive Gang Model: the first evaluated their ongoing programs in four locations, two in Staunton and one each in Waynesboro and Augusta County, and the second analyzed trends and causal factors for drug abuse and violence, as documented in the biennial “Youth Risk Behavioral Survey” of Staunton and Waynesboro’s 7th, 9th and 11th grade public school students, summer 2013.
achievement_abbywightman Abby Wightman, assistant professor of anthropology
Received the Mednick Award, spring 2013, and used it to fund a collaborative pilot project that Wightman directed between the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History; on-going research is expected to culminate in an exhibit at the museum.

Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences

ben_herz Ben Herz, program director and professor of occupational therapy
An article, “Nintendo Wii Rehabilitation (“Wii-hab”) Provides Benefits in Parkinson’s disease,” journal Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.A book chapter accepted for publication in the volume, Assistive Technology for the Healthcare Professional, Leisure and Technology.

Facilitated the patient process group for the Fishersville Parkinson’s Support Group, August 3.

A presentation, “Occupational Therapy for the Parkinson’s Client,” September 21, Harrisonburg Parkinson’s Support Group.

A presentation, “The Nintendo Wii and Its Benefits to Parkinson’s Clients,” September 27, the National Parkinson Foundation, Center for Excellence, Georgia Regent University, Augusta, Ga.

David_Paulk David Paulk, program director and professor, physician assistant studies
A visiting professor — speaking about child abuse recognition and disclosure; mild traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents; pediatric headache; and pediatric seizure — Philadelphia University, June.