June 2012

Around Campus

Serwatka discusses diversity, first-year experience as priorities for coming year
By Matt Coleman

The quest for excellence requires growth.

 

That’s why the University of North Florida is continually evolving. The goal is to become a standout regional University known not just in Jacksonville but also across the state — and the country.

 

The latest steps to achieving that goal were laid out by Dr. Thomas Serwatka, vice president and chief of staff, during a meeting of administrative and professional employees at their annual meeting in mid-May.

 

Serwatka discussed two key factors that would help UNF continue its transformation from commuter college to national leader among regional universities — reinvigorating the first-year experience for incoming freshman and fostering a climate of diversity and acceptance on campus.

 

Making the first year a great year 

 

With the coming year bringing mandatory housing for freshman, Serwatka said promoting a vibrant campus community would be vital in keeping first-year students engaged. 

 

“It’s not about raising more money or filling beds,” he said. “We’re usually close to or at capacity in the residence halls. It’s for more educationally sound reasons. Studies show that students living on campus are more plugged-in and involved in the University and graduate at higher rates. That’s what we care about.”

 

He cited new programs, such as the freshman student passport, that will reward students who participate in campus events, where the passports are stamped. The more stamps a student receives, the better the prizes they’ll win, he said.

 

There will also be a concerted push to get students acquainted with professors from their majors as soon as possible. UNF stakes its name on small class sizes and unparalleled student/teacher interaction, and Serwatka said that access should not have to wait until scholars are deep into their major coursework.

 

“That interaction binds them to the campus and to their studies,” he said. “When they start developing these relationships and get to know their professors, there’s a sense of pride and accountability that grows.”

 

The renewed first-year experience ties in to an overarching goal for the University — producing scores of skilled, motivated graduates who are well-educated and qualified for jobs once they step foot off campus.

 

And Jacksonville, which has a pressing need for educated workers, will also reap the benefits.

 

“When we get better, the city gets better,” he said. “For Jacksonville to grow, employers need to attract the best and brightest from across the state. And UNF wants to have the best and the brightest as well — we’re definitely getting there. We can do that together. The more graduates we produce, the entire region will benefit.”

 

Fostering diversity key to growth 

 

Making students feel welcome and connected to campus means little if their diversity isn’t being appreciated and respected. That’s why Serwatka said cultivating diversity is being looked at as a major priority of the University administration.

 

The groundwork, however, has already been set. He referenced the Military Veterans Resource Center, Disability Resource Center and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource as evidence that UNF is decidedly ahead of the curve in the State University System when it comes to fostering diversity.

 

Many students have selected UNF as their school of choice based on the presence of these facilities, he said. But the campus community can’t become complacent when it comes to promoting diversity just because of the success of years past. Serwatka said the University wants to strengthen its already robust retention figures for minority students and increase the number of minority students, faculty and staff.

 

“We’re truly realizing the good of diversity at UNF,” he said. “Everyone benefits from a diverse campus community. That’s the hallmark of any good educational experience — being open to people of different background and viewpoints.”

Around Campus

Owen explains state budget impacts for staff
By Matt Coleman

 

The financial outlook for the University of North Florida and its staff was an important topic of discussion during this year’s UNF Administrative and Professional Association meeting in May.

Janet Owen, vice president for Governmental Affairs, spent most of the past spring in budget discussions during the recent legislative session in Tallahassee. She shared the outcomes of the session with those gathered for the meeting in mid-May.

“Some of the numbers don’t look all that appealing, but the reality is that UNF is in a good position for the future,” Owen said. “Other universities have had to cut programs, initiate layoffs, furloughs and the like. Through great leadership, UNF has managed to avoid any of those consequences.”

Of the total Education and General budget, 81.2 percent is salaries, benefits and OPS monies. Utilities account for 4.3 percent, and the remaining 14.5 percent is operating expenses for the University.

This year, the recurring budget increased $3.8 million, even with a $7.5 million reduction in general revenue. UNF received a $2.25 million increase in general revenue for operational support and $9.3 million in tuition increase and adjustments. The carry-forward amount used to pay for nonrecurring priorities is only $9 million, compared to $13.5 million last year. The budget for fiscal year 2013 reflects recurring reductions of $1.7 million and $722,000 in new allocations.

Total general revenue and lottery for the coming fiscal year is $65.9 million — it was $90.8 million in fiscal year 2008. The University continues to maintain $4 million in nonrecurring reserves for call backs this year, or for additional budget reductions next year.

As part of the budget process, each division was asked to review their operations to look for any expenses that could be reduced — each division made its own choices and was able reduce costs going into the fiscal year. The controlled spending committee met throughout the year to review spending and look for methods to create greater efficiencies. The Purchasing Department was able to save $361,292 for three quarters of the fiscal year through sourcing and contracting. And the vacancy pool committee continued to review hiring processes and positions to make recommendations for cost savings. And through the Printed Material Request approval process, tens of thousands of dollars have been saved by reducing or eliminating some printed pieces and utilizing instead web-based and e-communications.

Most of the cuts will not be felt at the individual level — the administration has mitigated many of the losses by reallocating resources and being creative in resolving any shortfalls.

Retirement funding for some employees will be reduced when the budget goes into effect July 1. Legislators voted to reduce the employer contribution rates into the SUS Optional Retirement Program (ORP) from 7.42 percent to 5.14 percent, and the employer contribution to the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Investment Plan from 6 percent to 3.3 percent.

But Owen said UNF will have its voice heard on higher education issues in the future. President John A. Delaney was appointed to a Blue Ribbon Task Force on State Higher Education Reform organized by Gov. Rick Scott to focus on the SUS governance model, particularly the interaction between the Board of Governors and the individual universities. Final recommendations are to be delivered by Nov. 15.

“While we have had our budget reduced this year and there are some cuts we are not happy about having to make or have made for us, the financial future of UNF is strong,” Delaney said. “We have good stewards in place who manage our assets well and help to offset the reductions while keeping their eyes on our goals for the future.”  

Around Campus

International expert discusses branding and social media
By Sherry Hays

The University of North Florida community recently had the opportunity to learn from one of the best in reputation management and personal branding.

 

Lida Citroën, an accomplished speaker, author and adviser to CEOs, executives and businesses for more than 20 years, presented “Social Media: Hurt or Help?” an hour-long seminar on using social media to intentionally manage the University’s online brand and reputation in mid-May.

 

“Social media offers a robust and vibrant channel through which to distribute key attributes about a university's brand,” Citroën said. “Being intentional, focused and consistent are critical to distribute the right messages in the right way to the right audiences.”

 

The seminar, which was sponsored by Board of Trustee member Myron Pincomb and free for the University, was beneficial to both students and staff and included topics such as personal branding, credibility and the importance of creating protocols and guidelines on how to interact with social media audiences.

 

For senior public relations major Ashley Szczukowski, it was an eye-opening experience.

 

“I couldn’t wait to get back to the library to put into action some of the tips and tricks that Citroën shared,” she said. “I spent hours rearranging the privacy settings and updating, researching and rewording almost every part of my social media pages, just as she suggested.”

 

Whitney Meyer, an office assistant in Student Affairs who oversees the Military and Veterans Resource Center’s Facebook page, also found the seminar informative.

 

 “What I learned from her presentation is the importance of identifying what you want your audience to know, feel and do,” she said. “I think so many times we give our audience a lot of information but oftentimes lack the component describing what they should ‘do’ with that information.”

 

Citroën is the author of the book, “Reputation 360: Creating power through personal branding,” available in print and e-book format. She also blogs about branding, marketing and communications at www.lida360.com. For a listing of UNF-related social media sites, or more information on UNF’s social media guidelines, visit http://www.unf.edu/info/followUNF/.
 

Around Campus

New beverages come to campus in July
By Cathy Cole

Come July 1, when you reach for a cold beverage on campus, you are going to be drinking a Pepsi product.

 

And not only does that impact the colas, but also the juices, energy drinks and water choices. Gone from vending machines and retail food outlets will be Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, Powerade and Dasani. In their places will be Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, 7 Up, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, Tropicana, Gatorade and Aquafina.

 

UNF will also be entering into a contract with Red Bull to provide its energy drink in the convenience stores and some retail food outlets, though it will not appear in any vending machines on campus.

 

With the current cold beverage vending services and pouring rights contract expiring June 30, the University entertained bids from Coca-Cola, the current bid holder, and several other companies, including Pepsi. When the bids were opened and subsequent presentations completed, it was clear to the assessment committee that PepsiCo’s offer best suited UNF’s needs.

 

The current contract with Coke provides annual funding of $105,000 in scholarship dollars, $10,000 in athletic sponsorship, $25,000 in marketing support and $100,000 in vending commissions.

 

With combined monies from Pepsi and Red Bull under the new contracts with the two companies, the same $105,000 will be provided for scholarships and vending commissions should continue to deliver about $100,000. The amount for athletic sponsorship will be significantly increased to $80,000 and the funding available for marketing support will also increase to $65,000. Additionally, rebates will be received for non-vending product sales on campus and Pepsi will be providing $5,000 annually for the creation of a sustainability fund to be used to support mutually agreed-to programs focused on sustainability issues. Pepsi will also be installing a “Dream Machine” on campus — a machine that actually takes recyclable cans and bottles and can be set to provide coupons and ticket offers for product and campus events.  

 

 “We are happy that scholarships will be kept whole,” said Vince Smyth, director of Auxiliary Services. “The partnerships will continue to benefit students in the classroom as well as the rest of campus. The contract is not all about who is drinking what cold beverage on campus. It is about entering into partnerships that can help provide for students and various University needs.”

 

This will impact all the vending machines on campus, the convenience stores (both Outtakes, Ozzie’s, Harvest Moon) and all the restaurants (Quizno’s, the Boathouse, etc.).  As has been the case for die-hard Pepsi drinkers during the last 10 years during the Coke contract, a back cooler within the Alumni Square Outtakes will be allowed for competitor’s products so die-hard Coke drinkers can still access their choice of beverage on campus. In addition the vending prices will rise a quarter from $1.25 to $1.50, which was part of the bids by both Coke and Pepsi and would have occurred regardless of successful bidder.

 

“This does not mean that at 11:59 p.m. June 30 all the Coke machines and Coke product will disappear from campus and at 12:01 a.m. July 1 that Pepsi machines and product will suddenly appear,” Smyth said. “There will be a transition period over a week or two.”

 

David Jordan, the resident district manager of Chartwells, said that right now, he and his staff are in education mode. “Right now, we are learning a lot about Pepsi,” he said. “We are learning about the products they carry and how they compare to the Coke products we are familiar with. We have always sold Pepsi and its products in a small section of Outtakes and I know that Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper and Diet Pepsi are very popular with our students, faculty and staff so we are just learning quickly what else we have to offer the campus community.”

 

The additional monies for Athletics will help offset the cost of a new scoreboard branding, sideline supplies and a changeover in the locker rooms. Traditionally, beverage companies have co-branded with athletics programs as a win-win relationship — both get to associate with a proven commodity. And at UNF, athletics have certainly risen in stature since the last time the beverage contract was up for bid in 2002. Not only does UNF now compete at the NCAA Division 1A level, it has also won several national titles and had athletes ranked nationally as individuals.

 

“The Athletics Department is very much looking forward to our two new partnerships with PepsiCo and Red Bull,” said Lee Moon, UNF Athletics director. “Sponsorships like these are important to a program like ours because it associates our brand with successful and elite brands that have strong support and appeal in athletics. Every dollar counts when looking to improve programs and bring national recognition back to campus. PepsiCo’s and Red Bull’s investment into North Florida Athletics will go a long way and it is very much appreciated by our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”

 

Some of the marketing dollars will go to fund large-scale events on campus.  “This is a great way for us to partner with these two major brands to assist in bringing events to campus for our students,” Smyth said. “We will certainly be able to bring some excitement to UNF in ways we could not before.”

 

The five-year contract will expire in 2017.

 

 

Around Campus

Get cooking — Health Promotion is looking for your healthy recipes
By Cathy Cole

Everyone has heard about the infamous freshman 15 — the 15 pounds all freshmen are thought to pack on during their first year on campus. The Department of Health Promotion is out to change that and make it an old wives’ tale, at least here at the University of North Florida.

 

Shelly Purser, director of Health Promotion, has decided to put together a cookbook for all UNF students that will help them to prepare healthier, inexpensive and easy-to-prepare meals in their residence hall kitchens.

 

“We have found that students really want to eat healthful meals,” Purser said. “They want options that keep them on track for their health and fitness goals. And while the dining options on campus are really first rate, there are just some times that it is impossible to get to a dining facility and the students have to cook for themselves. We thought a cookbook of recipes could go a long way to helping them.”

 

And you can help.

 

Health Promotion is hosting a contest for the healthiest recipe that can be cooked in a residence hall. The recipes must be quick and easy to prepare, use simple ingredients, be relatively healthy and, of course, delicious. The recipes do not have to be original but should include the original source to be credited in the book. If it is of your own creation, you will receive full credit for a job well done.

 

The staff is also looking for the stories and photos that might go along with the recipes. How did you come up with the recipe? What inspired you? Or where did you find it? Why did you like it? Why do you think students living in the residence halls will like it? Is there a funny story about the recipe or about when you prepared it? Health Promotion wants to hear about it. Recipes, stories and photos can be submitted to spurser@unf.edu by June 15. Make sure the recipes have a complete list of ingredients (including measurements) and explicit directions. Include your name, department or affiliation with UNF. Health Promotion will include as many recipes as possible in the new cookbook that will be available this fall.

 

So get cooking, Ospreys!

Around Campus

Donors make a difference by funding faculty projects
By Dan Dundon

Since the public phase of the University of North Florida’s Power of Transformation campaign was launched in 2009, many donors have come forward to make a difference in the lives of students and faculty. Naturally, much of the attention has focused on large donors who give millions to establish endowments for scholarships, fellowships or academic enhancements.

 

However, on a smaller scale, donors are making a difference in each of UNF’s colleges. Although the names of the groups vary, the goal of various deans’ advisory councils is the same — to make a difference in the lives of students.

 

Two recent examples, one in the College of Education and Human Services and the other in the College of Arts and Sciences, illustrate how students are the ultimate beneficiaries.

 

The Dean’s Education Advisory Council in the College of Education and Human Services has been funding scholarships for students for a number of years.  However, this year, for the first time, the council has branched out to provide funds for faculty projects as well. Sorting through a variety of faculty proposals, the council decided recently to fund a digital textbook project. The project is designed to integrate digital textbook readers into math and science methods courses for education students.

 

Council Vice Chair Donna Cunninghame said the experience was rewarding not only for the faculty but for council members as well.

 

“We were blown away by the quality of the applications for funding and by the presentations that were made to us,” Cunninghame said. “I believe we will do everything possible to increase our funding in the coming years for other worthwhile endeavors.”

 

Terry Cavanaugh, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services, is one of the professors involved in the project. Cavanaugh explained that digital textbooks are something most students are already aware of, but many lack experience using them in their teacher education programs. 

 

“The grant allowed us to move forward so our students can begin experiencing the tool and resources they will be using when they walk into classrooms for the first time,” he said.

 

That’s why 25 Barnes & Noble NOOK readers will be incorporated into course work. After a system is developed, the readers and open-source science and math textbooks will be integrated with classes this summer with full implementation expected in the fall of 2012.

 

“None of this would be possible without the council and their financial assistance,” he said.

 

Other faculty members collaborating on the digital textbook project with Cavanaugh are Brian Zoellner and Fred Nelson.

 

Indicating a broad scope of commitment, two other faculty projects submitted for consideration were funded by individual members of the COEHS advisory board.

 

A similar scope of commitment is evident in the College of Arts and Sciences, where the dean’s council funded a faculty fellowship for Nofa Dixon, a member of the Art & Design faculty. The initial concept was to embellish two 24-foot concrete columns around campus with mosaic tiles. With encouragement from President John A. Delaney and others, Dixon and her students moved on to create a series of striking mosaic murals around campus.

 

The council grant was the spark that allowed the program to blossom and involve more and more students. Students assisted in a variety of aspects of the project including the numbering and cataloging of each piece in a complex mapping system to assure they would fit correctly in the final product. 

 

“We painted and fired each piece up to 10 times, and we had to know how to fit into the puzzle when it came out of the kiln,” she said.

 

Dixon praised the council for the initial funding that got the project rolling.

 

“If we hadn’t gotten the funding for the first columns, none of this would probably have happened,” she said.

 

Leslie Brotman, president of the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council, said Dixon’s proposal was selected for funding primarily because of the number of students involved.

 

“We tend to favor projects that function on many different levels,” she said. “This project involved students and fine art while making a permanent contribution to the beauty of the University. We hope students will come back to the University in future years and take satisfaction in knowing they were part of the project.”

 

Brotman reflected the attitude of many council members who have been active in similar University projects across campus.

 

“Personally, the dean’s council is one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever been involved with,” she said.  “Our purpose is to make a connection between the community and the University. We consider ourselves to be ambassadors for UNF in the community.”

       

Briefs

Faculty members honored with awards

Faculty members honored with awards            

 

Another group of University of North Florida faculty — nominated by students, colleagues and administrators — have been honored for their excellence by the University’s Faculty Association.

 

The 2011-2012 Faculty Awards recipients will receive a cash award and will be honored with a commemorative plaque at the Fall 2012 Convocation. The awards are funded through unrestricted gifts from the UNF Foundation, Inc. and Academic Affairs.

 

Distinguished Professor Award  

• Winner: Mina Baliamoune-Lutz (Coggin College of Business, Department of Economics and Geography)
• Runner-Up: William F. “Chip” Klostermeyer (College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, School of Computing) 

Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Awards 

• David T. Courtwright (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History)
• Paul A. Fadil (Coggin College of Business, Department of Management)
• Ma. Teresa G. Tuason (Brooks College of Health, Department of Public Health)

Outstanding Faculty Service Awards 

• Gordon F. Rakita (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Sociology and Anthropology)
• Barbara J. Olinzock (Brooks College of Health, School of Nursing)

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Awards 

• Jennifer K. Wesely (College of Arts and Sciences, Department Criminology and Criminal Justice)
• Christopher A. Janson (College of Education and Human Services, Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management)

Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards: 

• Judith D. Ochrietor (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology)
• Alison J. Bruey (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of History)
• Erin K. Bennett (College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Music)
• Sharon C. Cobb (Coggin College of Business, Department of Economics and Geography)
• Christopher K. Johnson (Coggin College of Business, Department of Economics and Geography)
• B. Jay Coleman (Coggin College of Business, Department of Management)
• Christopher J. Brown (College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, School of Engineering, Civil Engineering Program)
• Otilia L. Salmon (College of Education and Human Services, Department of Foundations and Secondary Education)
• John W. White (College of Education and Human Services, Department of Foundations and Secondary Education)
• Michelle C. Boling (Brooks College of Health, Department of Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences)

 

Get to Know

Simon Shiao

Name:  Simon Shiao

 

Department:  Music

 

Job title:  Associate Professor of Music

 

What do you do? 

I teach string related courses such as String Chamber Music Literature and String Pedagogy, and I conduct the UNF Orchestra and work with violin performance majors.

 

Years at UNF: Nine years

 

Tell us something that would surprise people to know about you: 

Before the age of 12, I was a competitive swimmer.  I won a bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the national level in Taiwan. I could have competed further in Japan, but I choose to focus on the violin instead because training and practicing was taking too much time away from music.

 

Tell us about your family: 

Married to Anna Genest, a violinist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. We have a 4-year-old son, Alexander, and a 2-year-old daughter, Kate.

 

If you could choose any other career, what would it be and why? 

I think I picked the right one because a career in music is rewarding in a way that is hard to beat. I also enjoy performing as a violinist. In addition to teaching, a violin professor has ample opportunity to perform. I give solo and chamber music recitals and perform with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra every summer in Wyoming.

 

What would you like to do when you retire? 

The most obvious answer is to travel and see the world, but I kind of get to do that already. One of my former teachers at the Eastman School of Music just retired after 45 years of teaching, and he gave a farewell concert just two days before his 90th birthday. That’s what I hope to do.

 

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF? 

Working with a great group of colleagues and students who are creative and hard working.                                 

 

What is the best thing you ever won? 

Professionally, the Artist International Competition in New York since I got to perform a recital in Carnegie Hall.

I keep buying raffle tickets for various non-profit organizations, but so far I haven’t won anything.

 

What band(s)/musician(s) would perform the soundtrack to your life? 

I just attended the Cirque de la Symphonie, and the grand finale was Bach’s Toccata and Fugue. That would be a pretty amazing soundtrack.

 

Describe your favorite UNF-related memory? 

Attending commencement ceremonies and seeing how proud the students and their families are that day.

 

What is your favorite way to blow an hour? 

Taking my kids to the playground.

  

What was the best money you ever spent? 

Buying raffle tickets.

 

Is there a piece of technology that you just couldn’t live without? 

No. I appreciate all the modern convenience that comes with the fancy gadgets, but I could learn to live without them also. I didn’t even have a cell phone until four years ago when my son was born.

 

What person had the greatest impact on your life? 

There are so many mentors and conductors that I admire, but my parents were the most important in shaping my life.

 

What are you most passionate about? 

The performing arts, and how they are so vital in the quality of everyday lives.

 

Who is the most famous person you ever met? 

I met George Soros one summer in the Hamptons, which was kind of neat.

 

Tell us something about you that even your friends don’t know: 

I like really spicy food.

 

What do you hope to accomplish that you have not done yet? 

I would love to take my UNF students on a study abroad program.

 

Last book read: 

“Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell.

Faculty & Staff

Brooks College of Health 

  

Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences: Drs. James Churilla from Exercise Science and Tammie Johnson from Public Health along with former Exercise Science student Rebecca Curls presented a paper titled “Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Metabolic Syndrome Criteria: 1999-2004 NHANES”at the 59th annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting in San Francisco.




Dr. Shana Harrington was invited to present at the Annual Conference (PT 2012) held in Tampa from June 7-9.  Dr. Harrington will be jointly presenting “Examination and Management of Soft Tissue Restrictions and Upper Quadrant Impairments” with Ellen Levy, a senior staff physical therapist at the NIH Clinical Center.

  

Public Health: In April, Dr. Richmond Wynn presented a poster, “The Intersection of Ethno-Cultural Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Traumatic Stress in Adult African American Gay Men” at the American Educational Research Association's annual meeting in Vancouver.

 

In May, Dr. Richmond Wynn and Clinical Mental Health Counseling student, Angelina Thomas, facilitated a breakout session at UNF's Professional Development Forum titled “SWOOP: Strategies for Wellness, Optimistic Outlook, and Peace,” which focuses on work/life balance.

 

Coggin College of Business 

  

Management: Diane Denslow wrote a book chapter entitled "Environmental Sustainability in the Supply Chain:  A Review of Past Literature and Discussion of Potential Drivers and Barriers"  for a textbook titled “Sustainable Value Chain Management: Analyzing, Designing, Implementing, and Monitoring for Social and Environmental Responsibility.”

 

Denslow’ conference paper "Social Media Meets Supply Management” was also accepted for presentation at the 97th ISM International Conference in May.

 

Congratulations: Congratulations to Lisa LaPorte from the Coggin Career Management Center and husband Jerry on the birth of their son, Gavin Wesley LaPorte. He was born April 24 and weighed in at 7lbs, 6oz.

 

 

College of Arts & Sciences 

 

Chemisty: Dr. Christos Lampropoulos presented a poster in April at the STARS symposium organized by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at UNF. The poster was titled “Single-Molecule Magnets: a Playground for Magnetochemists, Physicists, and Spectroscopists.

 

Lampropoulos and his student, Ana Castro, presented a poster in April at the Showcase of Osprey Advancements (SOARS) symposium organized by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at UNF. The poster was titled “Single-Molecule Magnets: a Playground for Magnetochemists, Physicists, and Spectroscopists.”

 

 

Dr. Michael W. Lufaso and multiple colleagues published the article "New Pressure Induced Phase Transitions in Mullite-type Bi₂(Fe_4-xMn_x)O_10-d complex Oxides" in the International Journal of Materials Research.

  

Communication: Dr. Christa Arnold's paper entitled "Risky Self-Disclosure of Patients' Sensitive Health Matters: A View From Physicians" was presented at a meeting of the Southern States Communication Association in San Antonio in April.

  

English: Mark Ari released his album, At the Legendary Folkway Coffee House.

 

Dr. Nicholas de Villiers presented three papers: “More Life and Opinions of Samuel R. Delany, The Polymath,” DC Queer Studies Symposium: Delany at 70, University of Maryland; “Spatial and Sexual Disorientation in the Films of Tsai Ming-liang,” Asian Conference on Arts and Humanities, Osaka, Japan; and “Queer Tactics: Interviews, Mediations, Remediations,” for the Cultural Studies Association at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Pamela Monteleone directed her three productions of Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing with a cast and crew of mostly UNF students.

  

Music: Dr. Gordon Brock served as an adjudicator and clinician at both the Cantando and Sunpeaks music festivals, attracting ensembles from four western provinces including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. 

 

Laura Dwyer is featured in a DVD that was filmed this February at the University of Michigan. In it, she teaches yoga and approaches to performance via body usage. The DVD will be available in August.

 

Jason Hibbard will presented research on American avant-garde composer Robert Ashley at the annual Music and Moving Image Conference in New York City. An early version of this research was presented at the southern regional conference of the American Musicological Society in February.

  

Physics: Dr. Barry Albright received $5000 from the Bureau of Land Management (Department of the Interior) as an extension of his funded paleomagnetic work in southern Utah.

  

Dr. Daniel Arenas is a co-author on the recent manuscript: “Transmittance from visible to mid infrared in AZO films grown by atomic layer deposition system” in the peer-review journal Solar Energy. 

 

Dr. Lev Gasparov gave a talk at the March meeting of the American Physical Society in Boston entitled “Raman study of the Verwey transition in magnetite at high-pressures and low-temperature; effect of Al doping.

 

Dr. Nirmal Patel delivered an invited talk on “Detection of ozone profile in stratosphere using nanocrystalline gas sensor arrays on high altitude balloon and rocket” at the Space Flight Payloads Workshop organized by NASA and others. The workshop was held at the Florida Solar Energy Center.

 

Political Science and Public Administration: Dr. Nicholas Seabrook had a paper accepted for publication by Social Science Quarterly. The title of the paper is “Administrative Law Judges in Fair Housing Enforcement: Attitudes, Case Facts, and Political Control.”
 

 

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction 

Computing: The UNF School of Computing Student Symposium was held on April 20. The symposium featured current undergraduate and graduate students involved in course projects. The symposium was attended by more than 145 people, including UNF students, faculty, staff and local community members. About 85 students participated as presenters. Symposium winners are online here.

 

The symposium was sponsored by ICS, TekSystems, the School of Computing and the CCEC. The symposium was co-organized by Lauren Harris, Lisa Jamba, Dr. Ching-Hua Chuan, and Dr. KarthikUmapathy. Larry Snedden, Bobby Richardson, and Terry Smith assisted during the symposium event.

  

Dr. Charles Winton served as the Chief Judge for the Georgia Region Botball Robotics Tournament for middle and high schools held at Georgia Tech in March.

 

  

Construction Management: Dr. Mag Malek, James Sorce and Jose Murcia published their paper, “Overview of Emerging Technological Innovation in Construction Management”, in The American Professional Constructor in April.

 

Dr. Roberto Soares participated in a meeting of the Beachwood Civic Association as part of the TLO project for Soils and Foundations students. UNF students will study and analyze drainage in the subdivision. Students are to develop recommendations on methods for diverting rainwater away from structures.

 

 

Engineering: Dr. Alan Harris, David Jones, Keith Horbatuck and Andres Sierra published their paper, "A Novel Wavelength Hopping Passive Optical Network for Provision of Enhanced Physical Security", in the IEEE/OSA Journal of Optical Communications and Networking. 

 

Dr. Alan Harris, Mouhamad Al-Akkoumi and James Sluss presented their paper, "Free-Space Optical Communications: A Feasibility Study of Various Battlefield Scenarios", at the SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing 2012 Symposium.

 

Dr. Pat Welsh and a team of UNF Engineering students installed a student-designed weather station at Fort Caroline in the National Park Service Timucuan Preserve. The microprocessor-based weather station provides real-time weather data transmissions to the NPS. In addition the weather station sends cell phone text message alerts for high winds and other hazards.

 

Dean’s Office: Rebecca Johnson, a Career Services counselor, gave an invited presentation, "The Best Resource Your Company is NOT Tapping:  The How and Why of Internships", to the Northeast Florida Association of Environmental Professionals in April.

 

College of Education & Human Services 

  

Childhood Education, Literacy and TESOL: Dr. Christine Weber has presented three sessions at the Florida Association for Gifted Children Annual Conference in Sarasota, Florida titled "Implementing differentiation: A school’s journey"; "What’s the plan? Designing a teacher support system for developing model lessons for gifted learners" and "Exploring case studies in professional development."  In addition, Dr. Weber co-authored and published an article with Dr. Laurel Stanley in Gifted Child Today.   The article is titled “Educating parents of gifted children: Designing effective workshops for changing parent perceptions."  

 

Recently, Dr. Katie Monnin did an interview on Action News about the FCAT test in Florida schools.  The vide is online here. Also, on Action News, Dr. Monnin discussed how parents and teachers can turn summer cartoon watching into literacy learning opportunities. That video is online here.  Furthermore, Dr. Monnin presented at the last College of Education and Human Services colloquium on "Why Every Educator Should Care about Teaching Comics and Graphic Novels in 21st Century Classrooms."  Lastly, Dr. Monnin took part in a radio interview for UNF’s "On the Record" which focused on why educators and parents should care about teaching comics and graphic novels. The air date is still to be announced. 

 

 

Leadership, School Counseling & Sport Management: Dr. Luke M. Cornelius' newest book, The Challenges to School Policing, was released this term. The book is the first ever to address the legal and administrative issues of School Resource Officers working in public schools. Dr. Cornelius and his co-authors hope it will make a national contribution to the issue of school safety. The text is available from the Education Law Association.

 

Exceptional, Deaf and Interpreter Education:  

 

 Dr. Susan Syverud and Tim Feagins, Principal of Woodland Acres Elementary School, gave a presentation titled “Impacting Student Achievement in an Urban School Today and Tomorrow: A Professional Development School Partnership Success Story” at 2012 Florida Association of Teacher Educators (FATE) Crown/Panhandle Regional Conference and Inquiry Showcase in Gainesville.

  

Department of Foundations and Secondary Education: In March, Dr. Otilia Salmon was elected by the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) as the Director for Region 4. Region 4 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.  Best wishes to Dr. Salmon as she embarks on this important and exciting role. 

 

Drs. Salmon, Madalina Tanase and Wanda Lastrapes, along with 18 pre-service teachers and two Duval County Public School (DCPS) teachers, attended the Florida Association of Teacher Educators’ Crown/Panhandle Regional Inquiry Showcase on April 21 at the University of Florida.  These COEHS undergraduates shared their unique perspectives and insights on diversity, multicultural education, and classroom management strategies through two breakout sessions, one poster and seven round-table presentations.

  

Drs. Elizabeth Fullerton and Wanda Lastrapes recently co-presented at the Great Teachers for Our City Schools – 5th Annual National Summit: Building Community Support for Urban Student Success in Denver, Colorado in April. The presentation highlighted their Engaged Departments’ initiatives on developing intentional, extended experiences for pre-service teachers in urban community and school settings. 

  

Center for Studies in Education:  Drs. Betty Bennett and Lynne Raiser presented "Eleven Teachers of the Year in the First Four Years of An EPI? How Can That Be?" at the Crown/Panhandle FATE Conference at the University of Florida in April.  Melissa Johnson, Nassau County Teacher of the Year, and Dennis Sgro, teacher from Bradford High School joined the discussion of why UNF EPI completers have been successful. 

 

Student Affairs 

The Institute for Values, Community and Leadership, a Student Affairs

department, was represented by Dr. Dianne Dawood, Coordinator of Outreach and Services, at a two-day workshop in New York in April.

 

Dateline

Milestone anniversaries 

Congratulations to the following employees who will celebrate a milestone anniversary at UNF in June:

 

30 years 
Paul Karabinis, Assistant Professor, Art and Design

  

25 years 
Robert Farnsworth, Library Services Specialist, Library

 

20 years  

Tracey Britton, Senior Library Services Associate, Library

Robert Myers, Assistant Director of Education Training Program, Small Business Development Center

  

15 years 
Raymond Bunch, Coordinator Club Sports, Recreation

10 years 
Deborah Berard, Coordinator of Accounting Collections, Controller

Myron Kelly, Maintenance Mechanic, Physical Facilities

Thomas Van Schoor, Student Ombudsman, Student Affairs

Five years 
Baanada Porcenat, Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Dedra Harris, Executive Secretary, President's Office

Robert Berry, Director of Internal Auditing, Internal Auditing

Roger Butler, Adjunct, Criminology and Criminal Justice

Ladonna Morris, Adjunct, Education & Human Services

Welcome 
The following employees were either hired by UNF or were promoted from OPS positions since mid-April:

Christopher Arsenault, Assistant Director, Student Government Business and Accounting Office

Anthony Hines, Coordinator of IT Support, User Services

Danny Pearson, Recycle Refuse Worker Recycling, Physical Facilities

Jillian Sickler, Student Financial Coordinator, Enrollment Services Processing Office

Donna Gora, Assistant Director of Research Development, Office of Research and Sponsored Research

Marcus Mills, Applications Systems Analyst, Enterprise Systems

Caitlin Dennis, Office Manager, Sociology and Anthropology

Brandie Thomas, Senior Library Services Associate, Library

 

Great job 
The following employees were promoted in late- April.
Nichelle Flannory, Assistant Director of Business and Finance/Auxiliary Services, MOCA

Cathy Harris, Senior Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Keunta Miles, Assistant Athletic Coach, Basketball

Carrol Reilly, Coordinator for Budgets, Computing, Engineering and Construction

Aaron Small, Assistant Director of Academic Support Services, Enrollment Services

Rhea Sparks, Accounting Associate, Auxiliary Services Administrative

Allison Turner, Coordinator of Academic Services, Arts & Sciences

Goodbye 
Heartfelt well wishes in their new endeavors for the following employees, who left UNF in mid-April: 

 

Paula Williams, Assistant Athletic Coach, Basketball

George Crisp, Maintenance Mechanic, Physical Facilities

Mark Harrington, Maintenance Mechanic, Physical Facilities

Sponsored Research

ORSP recognizes million-dollar researchers

Dr. Joseph L. Campbell, Janice Donaldson, Dr. James H. Fletcher, Dr. Cheryl A. Fountain and Bob Wood were recognized at the Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium for receiving research grants and contracts in excess of $1 million each. Campbell (mechanical engineering), Donaldson (Small Business Institute), Fletcher (mechanical engineering), Fountain (Florida Institute of Education) and Wood (Continuing Education) each obtained funding for sponsored activities through the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

 

ORSP and the Office of Faculty Enhancement hosted the 3rd annual Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium(S.T.A.R.S.)in mid-April. S.T.A.R.S. is a showcase of research excellence highlighting faculty, staff, administrators and graduate students across all disciplines within the University community. The theme for this year’s symposium was “Illuminating Collaborations.” The symposium included roundtable discussions, poster presentations, a presentation about the UNF Digital Commons and a faculty and staff reception and awards ceremony.

 

In addition to the four principal investigators who obtained research funding of $1 million or more, three principal investigators who obtained research funding of $250,000 or more were also recognized. Those include Drs. James Gelsleichter (biology) and N. Mike Jackson (civil engineering).

 

The following individuals were recognized for receiving funding for research activities for five consecutive years: Drs. James H. Fletcher (mechanical engineering) and John McDonough (nursing).

 

Pamela Bell (child development center) and Dr. Len Roberson (graduate school) were recognized for 10 years of consecutive funding for sponsored research activities.

 

The Biology department was recognized for having the highest number of principal investigators involved in sponsored activities with 15 individuals. The Engineering department was recognized as the department with the most funding in sponsored projects with $3,354,196.

The Goods

Pistachios

This “royal” nut, preferred by Middle Eastern kings of old, is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. Dr. Nancy Correa-Matos, registered dietitian and faculty member in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Flagship Program, discusses pistachios, a heart-healthy source of vitamins that is low in calories and fat and cholesterol-free. Pistachios are great snacks as is, or they can be added as a topping in desserts, salads and baked goods. To help you add pistachios to your diet, a recipe is provided.

 

Myth: Pistachios are considered an unknown nut.

 

Fact: Pistachios were considered a food for the kings in the Middle East in ancient times. When the nut is ripe, the hull splits in two and looks like a crown. It’s so famous that Feb. 28 is considered National Pistachio Day. It is also called the smiling or happy nut in China. Because it takes around seven years to harvest in the mountains of Asia, it took some time before trading to America took off. However, since California started growing pistachios successfully, the nut is now available year round. In the last decade, production has increased from 5 million pounds to 300 million pounds per year.

 

Myth: Pistachios are not nutritious.

 

Fact: Pistachios contain high amounts of protein, vitamin B-6, vitamin E, copper, fiber thiamin, phosphorus and magnesium. They’re also good sources of several phytochemicals that have health benefits, such as lutein (good for vision), resveratrol (lowers cholesterol) and proanthocyanidins (protects against cancer). Pistachios also provide health benefits enhancing the immune system and protecting the skin, nerves and heart from free-radical damage. They contain large amounts of antioxidants — even more than green tea. Additionally, pistachios are a good source of fiber. One ounce of pistachios contains around 3 grams of fiber, as much as half a cup of broccoli. Pistachios also have as much potassium as an orange.

 

Myth: Pistachios are high in fat.

 

Fact: Compared to other nuts, pistachios have the lowest fat content per ounce. They provide a high amount of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids as well as omega 3 and omega 6. Pistachios are also cholesterol-free. Recent investigations showed lowering of LDL- cholesterol in those individuals consuming one to two servings every day for four months.

  

Myth: Pistachios are expensive snacks.

  

Facts: Pistachios can be very inexpensive during the harvest season around August and September. They will last up to three months if sealed in air-tight containers and up to six months in the freezer. You can feel full by consuming fewer pistachios than other nuts and save money. Pistachios provide the highest amounts of kernels per serving when compared to other nuts. For example, one serving of pistachios has around 50 kernels, whereas the same serving size of cashews only has 18 kernels. Some investigators found that just by spending time removing the shell on pistachios, it takes longer to eat and reduces intake, thus preventing weight gain.

 

Myth: The nutrient content of pistachio varies with the color of the shell.

 

The original color of the shell is beige, which sometimes turns to a brownish color when exposed to the sunlight. The red hull is a dye to enhance appearance. However, the color of the pistachio nut is green due to the chlorophyll. The nutritional value is the same with either the beige or red shell.

 

  

Pistachio Pesto 

  

Recipe from: Metabolic Diet Study Center at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa., and used in research, which concluded that a daily handful of pistachios — about 1.5 to 3 ounces — can help lower cholesterol.

 

Ingredients:

2 cups basil leaves

2 garlic cloves

1 cup pistachio kernels

½ cup olive oil

½ cup Parmesan cheese

1 ground black pepper

 

Procedure:

Place basil leaves, garlic cloves and pistachio kernels in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate and use for up to three days. Serve at room temperature.

 

Nutritional content (2 tablespoons): 

157 calories

4 g protein

4 g carbohydrates,

15 g total fat (2.4 g saturated, 2.5 g monounsaturated, 2.9 g polyunsaturated)

 

The Goods is a monthly column about food myths and facts by faculty members in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Flagship Program and runs in The Florida Times-Union’s “Taste” section. Have a question about pistachios? Contact Dr. Correa-Matos at ncorrea@unf.edu.