October 2010

Around Campus

Parents Association is valuable resource
By Carl Holman

Formed officially in 2006 with about 400 members, UNF’s Parents Association today has more than 3,900 members, is providing $35,000 in grants this year to departments and campus organization for student enrichment programs and will begin offering almost $100,000 in endowed scholarships next academic year.

 

Shortly after Jeanne Middleton joined UNF in the early ’90s, then-president Adam Herbert observed parents waiting around campus while their children received academic advising and asked her to find ways to better engage them with the University. Middleton began providing informative sessions to parents during the student orientation process on how to assist their child’s academic success and growing independence. Years later, her series of lectures for parents blossomed into the UNF Parents Association and an annual celebration of parents held every October since 1995.

 

In 2005, Middleton, assistant director of the Student Affairs’ Office of Parent and Family Programs, was tapped to develop a permanent program to assist families with the transition to college, educate parents and families about University policies and campus resources and serve as the first point of contact for parents. Middleton said she has been astounded by the association’s explosive growth, which is due in large part to her own18 years of persistent hard work.

 

“Whenever a parent has any question about UNF – from financial aid to academic services – or about what ways they can be supportive, the Office of Parent and Family Programs should be their one stop-place for answers,” said Middleton. “Letting a son or daughter become an independent adult can be just as big of a transition for parents as it is for students.”

 

Lora Barrett, vice president of the Parents Association, has a son, Troy, who is a junior majoring in finance. She has been very active for the past two years, volunteering at several events and even designing a brochure for the association. “I have hosted two Summer Send-Off Receptions at our home in Ocala, where incoming freshmen and their parents meet each other as well as returning students and their parents, UNF alumni and UNF staff,” Barrett said. “Recognizing how deeply important these gatherings are to UNF’s newest students and their families is very rewarding.”

 

The biggest gathering and recruitment opportunity each year for the Parents Association is Family Weekend, which will be Oct. 15-17. It provides the chance for parents to come to campus to learn more about the University and enjoy the campus with their UNF student. They have the opportunity to interact with administrators, staff and faculty and network with other parents. There also will be tours of campus, special receptions and dinners, art exhibits, concerts, nature walks and guest speakers.

 

“This year our programming is focused on retaining members and increasing attendance by adding specifics topics of interest for the parents of upperclassmen in the Family Weekend schedule as well as throughout the year,” Middleton said. 

 

During Family Weekend, four colleges will be open to showcase major programs, and parents will have the opportunity to talk with faculty and students in the programs. Middleton said it is a great recruiting opportunity for the colleges and also an opportunity for parents and students to learn about the various majors these colleges offer students.

 

For some parents, Family Weekend is much more. In addition to helping two days every week with the Parent Orientation Program since May 2008, Cathy Evans, the mother of a senior who is studying music, has volunteered at the event with her husband, Harry, since their son’s freshman year.

 

“One of our favorite times volunteering has been at the Family Weekend. It is a chance to again meet many of the parents we connected with during orientation,” Evans said. “Parents will be armed with information and will be confident their student made the right choice to make the University of North Florida their new home.”

 

Although any parent with an enrolled student has access to the office’s general services, parents who choose to pay an annual, four-year or one-time lifetime membership fee receive added benefits. Among those benefits are a monthly e-news update, a chance to win a book scholarship each semester, a toll-free direct line to Middleton and various discounts. Member parents can volunteer for major activities, such as planning Family Weekend, participate on orientation panels and serve as regional area coordinators to host send-offs and serve as contacts for incoming parents. In 2008, a steering committee of parent volunteers served in an advisory capacity. That volunteer committee was formalized into the Parent’s Council last year, with officers appointed to two-year terms by Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez, vice president for Student and International Affairs.

           

A portion of the dues have been used over the past three years to build up a $100,000 endowment to provide scholarships beginning in the 2011-12 academic year. The scholarships will be awarded based on need and academic standing in amounts between $1,500 and $3,000 over two semesters. Another portion, about $35,000, is being used this year to help fund student enrichment activities and services, including a Women’s Center helpline, the Greek Life IMPACT Program, Interfaith Center Religious Awareness Week, LBGT awareness, Osprey Radio, Worldfest and the Student Leadership Summit.

 

Middleton said Parents Association is a valuable resource to the UNF community as well. College administrators may send invitations to events through the e-newsletter or partner with the association to bring parents to their events or programs. And, faculty can always ask for assistance with parent concerns, she said.                         

 

The University and association’s activities have earned rave reviews from involved parents and students.“Being a part of this academic institution is stimulating and enriching for me. I am always inspired by the quality, care and opportunities UNF champions for its students. Having this link to such a wonderful institute of higher education is an honor,” Barrett said. “Troy also feels I better understand the challenges and rewards of his experiences and we have yet another avenue for dialog and bonding.”

 

The Office of Parent & Family Programs is located on the second floor of the newly remodeled Founders Hall, in Suite 2100.

Around Campus

Writing Across the Curriculum
By Sherry Hays

Three years ago, Drs. Sam Kimball and Jeanette Berger and Instructor Linda Howell set out to enhance how the UNF Writing Program assesses what students learn through their writing and to offer more lower-level course options to engage and stimulate critical-thinking skills. With support and encouragement from Barbara Hetrick, dean of the College of Art and Sciences, and the Department of English, they developed the Writing Across the Curriculum program.

 

Students are already required to take College Writing and Introduction to Literature courses to meet general-education requirements, but now they now have several other courses from which to fulfill their third and final required class. The options include technical writing, special topics courses in composition, literature and creative writing. The special topics courses offer students opportunities to write about different disciplines, such as health, business or engineering, which might be applicable to the degrees they want to pursue or interests they want to explore.

 

Along with increased course options, the Department of English is concerned with raising student awareness of what professors expect from their writing, and how they can be responsible for their own achievements and level of learning through use of reflective judgment and the UNF Writes rubrics. These rubrics are an assessment tool that students and instructors use to define different levels of sophistication with respect to different aspects of writing. The department currently assesses thesis, logic, evidence, mechanics and intellectual mastery as applied to a thesis-driven analytical essay.

 

“People use rubrics all the time, but the department wanted the use of rubrics as an assessment to have education value for the students. So the real principle is that when instructors and professors give students feedback on their work, they are really trying to teach students how to talk to themselves about their writing in the way that accomplished writers do and no longer have to verbalize,” said Kimball, chair of the Department of English. “We wanted to devise the rubrics in such a way that students would know what questions to ask themselves about their writing to determine if they are doing a good job or not.”

 

The Department of English produces a student reader every year that introduces the UNF Writes rubrics and the concept reflective judgment, a cognition-orientated approach to learning that involves the notion of self-talk. The “self-talk” aspect of reflective judgment is an inherent part of the UNF Writes rubrics, enabling students to improve their own writing by encouraging them to ask themselves the right questions about their work. 

 

David MacKinnon, a UNF alumni with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, now teaches students using the UNF Writes rubrics as a tool in his courses.

 

“I think the rubrics are very helpful. They help students to intuit their own problems and ask questions about their own writing. It enables them to see their own deficiencies or proficiencies and make the next step to the next level,” MacKinnon said. “Students are a little stand-offish at the beginning of the semester, but they take to it pretty quickly. Students learn to use the language of the rubrics to respond to my questions about their writing or ask questions about their writing. It’s nice to have the same language to use.”

 

The Writing Across the Curriculum Program recently expanded to include collaboration between the Department of English and the Coggin College of Business. Coggin students enrolled in the gateway course for their major during Summer 2010 were assessed using the UNF Writes Rubrics. During the course, students were given classroom instruction and attended workshops to learn how to utilize the rubrics to improve their writing and then were reassessed at the exit exam. The Department of English provided an initial report to the Coggin College of Business of how the students fared, and both have agreed to continue the collaboration.

 

While this Department of English initiative continues to collect data and determine the best format to present its findings, the Writing Across the Curriculum Program encourages students to think about writing in new and different ways. According to Kimball, the name for the rubrics, UNF Writes, was chosen “to indicate to students that University-wide faculty are engaged in a cooperative venture of focusing on the value of writing well.” And Berger, writing coordinator for the Department of English, believes this new way of thinking “ties self-talk and how one can improve one’s writing to a growth mindset. Students come to realize they have the power to change how they think and can become more accountable for their own learning.”

 

The Department of English is consulting with individual faculty in other departments and colleges who are interested in the Writing Across the Curriculum Program. For more information, contact the Department of English at (904) 620-2273.

Around Campus

Career Services gives students, alumni the upper edge
By Sherry Hays

In today’s economy, it is more important than ever to prepare students with the tools to enter the job market with an edge over other applicants. From the beginning of a UNF student’s college career, Career Services is available to assist students in exploring career paths, developing employability skills and even finding jobs through UNF’s established relationships with employers. The Career Services Center reopened in March 2010 at its new location on the first floor of Founders Hall. The staff set right to work to utilize the new facility to draw more attention to the services they offer students, alumni, UNF colleges and employers in the community.

 

According to Rick Roberts, director of Career Services, one of the services offered is Career Discoveries, which is designed to assist freshman and sophomores with career planning. Students who participate in this program learn to explore different majors and discover their interests through career counseling with the center staff and online self-assessments.

 

Both students and alums can participate in the Skills to Achieve Results Program, also known as the S.T.A.R. Program, which provides training in conducting a job search, developing a cover letter and resumé, and preparing for a job interview, as well as information about what to expect in an interview. Career Services also critiques cover letters and resumés, and arranges practice interviews. In addition to honing these skills, Career Services provides an online registration and referral system called CareerWings that connects students and alumni to employer-posted job opportunities, job fairs and showcases.

 

As an added bonus, students who complete the S.T.A.R Program receive a certificate, and a S.T.A.R. lapel pin. “We tell them to wear it to the job fairs, and we tell employers to look for those pins to identify students who have been through the S.T.A.R Program and are a cut above the rest,” Roberts said. This year, those who have completed the S.T.A.R. program will be invited to enter Career Services’ events early to interact with prospective employers.

 

“Students who go through the S.T.A.R. Program will find that it helps them get focused, it gets their resumé in order, and they learn how to interview and present themselves. It’s a really good program,” Roberts said.

 

Student Nicole Sabol agrees. She recently completed the program, with good results. “I strongly encourage students to complete the S.T.A.R. Program, especially underclassmen. Career Services provides a lot of beneficial information that many students aren’t aware of,” Sabol said. As part of the program, she completed a practice interview with the City of Jacksonville. “It was very good practice, but for me, it was also great for networking.” After her interview, Sabol’s resumé was passed to several prospective employers. As a result, she has had opportunities for internships and has received job offers.

 

According to Roberts, the struggling economy is making it tough on job applicants. This year, only 50 employers are coming for the fall employer showcase, when in the past, more than 100 had attended. Jobs are harder to find and there are fewer of them, he said.

 

“It is an employer’s market right now. But even when times are tough, there are still jobs, but it is more competitive. So students have to be equally competitive. They need to know how to interview well, follow up with employers and network. If students take advantage of our services, it will give them an edge with employers.”

 

Clare Sapp, an alumnae with a B.A in sociology, agrees. She landed her “dream job” after working with Career Services to improve her résumé and hone her interviewing skills.

 

“It was the targeted résumé which made all the difference.  I e-mailed my newly polished résumé to the appropriate person on a Thursday evening.  Within an hour, I had a reply back from the hiring manager requesting to meet with me the next day,” Sapp said.  “I was smiling, prepared and confident during the interview. Then I was offered the position the following Monday. It occurred quickly because it was evident that I had the qualifications they were seeking. Career Services gave me an edge over other applicants.”

Around Campus

Dunk-the-Dean draws a crowd
By Dan Dundon

The director of UNF’s School of Nursing donned scuba gear while the dean of the College of Education and Human Services dropped underwater, momentarily escaping Florida’s heat.

They joined 14 other faculty, staff and students who recently volunteered their time and dignity to get dunked as part of an effort to help raise money for UNF.

 

No donor to The Power of Transformation campaign has been asked to make a comparable sacrifice as the 16 soggy volunteers in this event. Sponsored by the newly established Student Philanthropy Council and the Faculty Staff Campaign Committee, the “Dunk-the-Dean” event was part of the Week of Welcome. However, in a larger sense it also served as the warm up act for the 2011 Faculty Staff Campaign’s official kickoff Oct. 4.

 

The annual Faculty Staff Campaign has enjoyed ever increasing levels of participation on campus in part because of events like the Dunk-the-Dean. In four years, participation has increased from 18 to more than 48 percent. By contrast, the average among peer institutions is 35 percent, according to a national benchmarking survey conducted by the UNF Annual Giving staff.

 

This year, Lyndse Costabile, assistant director of Annual Giving, is shooting for the participation rate to surpass 50 percent.

 

The reason for the ever-increasing participation rate is illustrated by the comments of those who participated in the “Dunk-the-Dean” event.

 

Dr. Li Loriz, director of Nursing and representing the Brooks College of Health, showed up in the scuba gear (and pearls). She said she agreed to do it because it was a great purpose. “I’m always willing to support UNF and our students. My philosophy is ‘life is short, get wet.’”

 

Similarly Dr. Larry Daniel, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said he agreed to draw the attention of students and employees to the importance of giving back to the University. “Whatever we do as deans sets an example for others, and I hope that my serving as a ‘dunkee’ helped others to focus on the importance of philanthropy, particularly giving to UNF’s Foundation.”

 

Student Government President Sitou Gilles Byll-Cataria, who also participated, said he was a little hesitant at first until he was told the reason for it.  “Knowing the invaluable benefits of philanthropy to a university’s growth and advancement, I jumped at the chance to support a vital initiative,” he said.

 

The actual “Dunk- the-Dean” event raised about $1,200 but also symbolized the broader campus participation in the annual fundraising initiative. With more than 50 members on the Faculty Staff Campaign Committee, Costabile said communication and campaign visibility have improved on campus. “More and more faculty and staff are realizing that they can make a donation and target it to any specific need on campus. They know their donation makes a difference,” she said.

 

Last year’s Faculty Staff Campaign raised more than $100,000 for 184 different projects on campus – the first time the campaign has exceeded that threshold.

 

The Student Philanthropy Council is an indirect outgrowth of the success of the Faculty Staff Campaign. “We found our participation rate increased as more faculty and staff became aware of the importance of philanthropy. We hope the same holds true of our students. If the Student Philanthropy Council raises awareness of the importance of giving, they are more likely to give as alumni,” Costabile said.

 

Byll-Cataria seconded the need for the student council. “The main reason I believe this council is needed is because of the benefits it brings to each UNF student, by raising the prestige of their UNF diplomas. Supporting the Student Philanthropy Council is supporting the future of every Osprey. It’s needed to improve our university and thereby ourselves.”

 

While enhancing the culture of philanthropy on campus is a primary goal, Costabile said it’s also important to illustrate to students the concept of “paying it forward” by helping future generations of students.

 

Faculty and staff can look forward to hearing about more campus events designed to support the annual campaign.

 

“It’s not just the dollar amount that matters most,” Costabile emphasized. “It’s the investment in the future of the University.”        

        

Participants in the Dunk-the-Dean event included:

1. Sitou Byll-Cataria – Student Government president
2. Cheryl Campbell – Coggin College of Business
3. Larry Daniel – Dean, College of Education and Human Services
4. Matt Driscoll – Men’s Basketball Coach
5. Matt Gilg – Faculty, College of Arts and Sciences
6. Carolina Guardino – Faculty, College of Education and Human Services
7. Floyd Hurst – Controller’s Office
8. John Kemppainen – College of Education and Human Services
9. Matt Kilcullen - Athletics
10.  Li Loriz – School of Nursing Director, Brooks College of Health
11.  Giovannie Medina – Student Government vice president
12.  Lee Moon – Athletics Director
13.  Tom Serwatka – President’s Office
14.  Adam Shapiro – Sociology & Anthropology Chair, College of Arts & Sciences
15.  Michael Townsend – Detective, University Police Department
16.  Michael Trotter – Purchasing Department

Around Campus

Singer–songwriter Cheryl Wheeler to educate, entertain UNF
By Carl Holman

The Challen Cultural Series will host a free public performance by influential singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, in the Robinson Theater.

 

Part songstress, part comedian, Wheeler is a unique performer who has been entertaining audiences for more than 25 years and recorded several studio albums.  Her songs have been performed and recorded by artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Suzy Boggus, Melanie, Bette Midler, Maura O'Connell, Kathy Mattea, Holly Near and Peter, Paul and Mary. Her song, “Addicted,” recorded by Seals in 1988, reached the top of the county music charts.

 

Known primarily as a New England folk singer/songwriter, Wheeler, 60, is a critically acclaimed artist who possesses a haunting voice that fills her ballads with a sense of yearning, regret and everlasting hope. Yet, that same voice can be playful and whimsical as she sings and tells humorous tales that are self-contained sitcoms. It is that very openness into her process that made her a perfect fit for the Challen Cultural Series.

 

“This series’ goal is to provide exposure to highly original, thought-provoking and entertaining artists, like Cheryl Wheeler, who have been influencing the music scene for generations and who can provide insights into their songwriting process,” said Pierre Allaire, vice president of Institutional Advancement. “It will be a mix of ‘Austin City Limits’ meets ‘VH1 Storytellers.’”

 

Wheeler said her first concert was to a captive audience. She found an old toy ukulele in a neighbor's attic and serenaded her mother, who was taking a bath at the time. A year later she got a real ukulele, then finally got her first guitar. A neighbor taught her and a group of boys to play guitar and each week, they would come together to play just about any song they could think of for hours on end. Her first public performance was at a Hootenanny-type show when she was 12. She started writing songs when she was 17.

 

Her first professional shows were at a steakhouse in her hometown of Timonium, Md. The place only had one public-address system — and she jokes that many performances were interrupted with: "Jones, party of four ... Jones, party of four.

 

Before moving to New England in 1976, she spent about two years as a substitute music teacher in Baltimore.

 

In the late ‘70s, Wheeler got her big break when her idol, folk singer Jonathan Edwards, asked her to play bass for him at a performance in Rhode Island. “The big problem was I had no idea how to play it,” she said. “So, I picked up a bass and amp for about $10 from a friend, learned how to play it in about two weeks, and got to jam with Jonathan. He’s the one who really encouraged me to become a singer.”

 

Wheeler’s unconventional and rousing concert style makes her a hit at folk festivals, clubs and anywhere she plays. Rather than simply introducing the next song in a carefully orchestrated set list, Wheeler tells a story that has the audience rolling in the aisles, and then sings a song that leaves them wiping tears from their eyes. She talks about some serious current events, and then sings a song that has audience members howling with laughter. Her style is entertaining and engages all generations.

 

“Cheryl Wheeler interprets how she sees the world by being frank and witty, gentle and endearing, true to self and non-apologetic. I leave her concerts with a new perspective, a lighter heart, and tears of laughter streaming,” said Dawn O’Connor, a research integrity coordinator with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs who has been to several of Wheeler’s performances. “Each show is a long-awaited gift — one where I’ve seen the package, anticipated the content and been grateful to be a recipient.”

 

The concert is free, although e-tickets are required. To reserve tickets, go to http://capricorn.anf.unf.edu/ticketing/wheeler.asp. Donations for the First Generation Scholarship program will be accepted following the performance. For additional information, contact Carl Holman in Public Relations at (904) 620-1921.

Around Campus

Lawrence Smith photo collection documents history of area
By Dan Dundon

When future generations of researchers want to see what Jacksonville looked like in the early ’70s, they may get the best picture by browsing through the more than 50,000 images by award-winning photographer Lawrence V. Smith recently donated to the Thomas G. Carpenter Library.

 

To commemorate the donation, part of The Power of Transformation campaign, the Library’s Special Collections unit is sponsoring an exhibit of some of the more noteworthy Jacksonville photos. On display through Oct. 15, the exhibit includes everything from the gritty to the glamorous. Container ships at JAXPORT share exhibit space with dramatic sunrises over the downtown skyline.

           

The exhibit unintentionally has become a type of memorial for Smith, who died in Jacksonville Aug. 30 of congestive heart failure after a long illness. He was 78.

           

Playing a key role in going through more than 500,000 images was his wife, Linda Smith, a librarian and charter UNF faculty member who recently retired. “Larry and I discussed this donation for a long time and he was very enthusiastic about the gift. Fortunately, he was still at home when I sorted through the images and made the job a lot easier," she said.  "Larry helped me focus on those images most reflective of his work in Jacksonville."

           

As a native of the city, Linda enjoyed working with and donating materials about Jacksonville to the Library's Special Collections. "It was a natural outgrowth for me of my interest in local history and Larry and I both hoped it will be a resource for the University and the community, not only from a historical perspective, but because the collection represents such a rich visual resource,” she said.

 

She said her husband was especially proud of his photos of the Dames Point Bridge, downtown and Mayport Naval Station. Her job was to sort through hundreds of nearly identical images and select the best shots.

           

Because of space limitations, the exhibit only hints at the span of Smith’s incredibly varied career, which took him from the steaming jungles of Vietnam to the numbing cold of the Arctic. Over nearly a half-century, Smith amassed numerous awards including four Emmys. The photos and films he created tell the story of some of the era’s most turbulent events, including revolutions and wars. He documented Fidel Castro as he overthrew the Batista regime in 1959 and served as a camera correspondent for ABC-TV during the early stages of the Vietnam War in 1965. As the director of photography for Wild Kingdom, Smith traveled from the Arctic Circle to South America to film animals in their native habitats. The Wild Kingdom efforts won him two Emmy Awards to add to two earlier awards for his Cuban revolution coverage and Vietnam work.

           

Smith also worked for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the Air Force photographing the latest technology, whether from the deck of an aircraft carrier or the control room of a Trident submarine.

           

Closer to home, Smith had among his corporate clients JAXPORT, CSX, Crowley Transportation and Trailer Bridge, amassing thousands of images of boats, trains, planes and trucks. He is credited with creating one of the largest collections of transportation images in the United States, making the exhibit of his work especially appropriate for a University with a flagship logistics program.

           

Eileen Brady, head of Special Collections and University Archives, said Smith’s photo collection will be available to researchers as soon as all pieces are fully catalogued. In addition to file cabinets full of slides, the collection includes advertisements from numerous publications in which the images have been used, including many corporate and local government annual reports. “These alone will be valuable to future researchers,” she said.

           

The span of the images is remarkable for a single photo collection ranging from the early 1970s to the mid-2000s. The photos document a transformation for Jacksonville from a sleepy backwater town into a dynamic metropolitan area. Any depiction of Jacksonville’s history will not be complete without a photo from the collection of Lawrence V. Smith.

Briefs

2010-2011 Outstanding Teaching Awards nominations sought

Nominations for the 2010-2011 Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Teaching Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15.

 

Guidelines for the awards can be found on the UNF Faculty Association website at http://www.unf.edu/groups/unffaa  by clicking on "Online Forms." Nomination forms may be downloaded from the same site. Completed nomination forms can be sent by e-mail to facassn1@unf.edu or delivered to the Faculty Association Office in Honors Hall, Building 10, Room 1120.

 

Faculty who perform meritoriously in undergraduate teaching during the previous two academic years are eligible to receive an Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award. UNF allocated funds for this fiscal year for nine Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Awards of $2,000 each.

 

UNF also will award a $2,000 stipend to the winner of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. This award is to be given annually in recognition of excellence in graduate teaching during the previous two academic years.x

Get to Know

Chris Wrenn

Department:  Office of the General Counsel

Job title: Associate General Counsel
Years at UNF: 6

 

 

What do you do at UNF? Describe your job duties. 

I am an attorney with a primarily transactional practice. I work in the areas of real estate, construction, contract negotiation and drafting. I also represent the University’s legal interests in procurement, risk management and TLO matters.

 

Tell us about your family. 

My wife, Mary, and I have been married for 24 years. We have two sons:  Paul, a junior at Stanton, and David, a fourth-grader at Hendricks Avenue Elementary.

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

To get through college, I loaded and unloaded boxcars and was a short-order cook. Every now and then I crave a cigarette.

 

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

When I was a kid, I used to shoplift at the dime store.

 

What is your favorite way to blow an hour?

A trip to a bookstore or garden center

 

What was the best money you ever spent?

Summer trips with my wife and kids to Ocean City, NJ

What is the best thing you ever won?

My wife’s heart 

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

Depending on the amount, I’d take my family and all my friends on a cruise, give a big chunk to my church and friends who need it and build an enormous closet to house my wife’s clothes and shoes. I’d buy my elder son a Vespoli racing shell and my younger son every product LEGO ever made.

 

If you were not working at UNF, what would you be doing?

Looking for a job

 

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

Probably teaching English. I’m teaching a legal writing class at UNF this term, and I really enjoy it.

What would you like to do when you retire?

I’d like to write, read a lot, work in my yard, take on more responsibilities in my church, learn some carpentry, travel with my family and take afternoon naps. I also want to work with Latin American immigrants, so I’m learning Spanish now.

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF?

I like feeling that my work contributes to public education. I believe public education is the glue that binds our society together across economic, racial and religious lines. It is our best hope for a culture that values equality, common purpose, and respect for all viewpoints. Also, I love my boss.

 

What is the proudest/happiest moment of your life?

The births of our boys. Nothing beats being a dad.

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

I hope to live to see my boys settle into meaningful careers and happy marriages and make me a granddad.

 

What was the first concert you ever attended, and what was the most recent concert you attended? 

I don’t remember the first. The most recent was a performance of the Fauré “Requiem.” I know it seems dull, but it is beautiful.

  

What person had the greatest impact on your life?  

My dad

What are you most passionate about?

Great writing, systematic theology and liberal politics

 

Who is the most famous person you ever met?

Donald Trump and Marla Maples (in church, believe it or not)

 

What’s the last book you read?

“Violence and the Sacred” by René Girard

Faculty & Staff

Brooks College of Health

Public Health: Dr. Rob Haley (with A. Khlaifa, S. Beg and N. Sobh) published “Globalization and the Ethical Implications for the Egyptian Healthcare System” in World Hospital and Health Services, Vol. 46, No. 2, pages 8-11 (2010).

 

Nursing:Bill Ahrens received the Navy Nurse Corps Association Professional Nursing Award, which recognizes a Navy Nurse Corps Association (NNCA) member for significant contributions to nursing service, nursing practice, history or research that brings honor or recognition to the NNCA.  

 

Peggy Hoff was awarded the “HAZEL Award” for being an outstanding employee in the Health Services Department at the Sulzbacher Center.

 

Coggin College of Business

 

Accounting & Finance: Dr. Lynn Comer Jones’ article, “Tax Court Rules on Medical Necessities,” was published in The Tax Adviser’s October issue.

 

Economics & Geography: Dr. Chris W. Baynard was invited to present his work on land-use and land-cover change metrics of oil exploration and production activities in Venezuela, at Chevron’s Next Generation Remote Sensing meeting in San Ramon, Calif., in August.

 

Dr. Lakshmi Goel has an article titled “From Space to Place: Predicting Users’ Intention to Return to Virtual Worlds" accepted in MIS Quarterly, the top journal in information systems. Goel and Drs. Pieter de Jong and Oliver Schnusenberg (Accounting & Finance) co-authored a paper titled “Toward a Comprehensive Framework of Study Abroad Intentions and Behaviors” which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Teaching International Business.

 

Dr. Antony Paulraj’s article titled “Understanding the Relationships between Internal Resources and Capabilities, Sustainable Supply Management, and Organizational Sustainability” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Supply Chain Management.  

 

Marketing & Logistics:  Dr. A.C. “Josh” Samli organized a special session at the Annual Conference of American Marketing Association in Boston in August. In the same session, Samli presented a paper titled “Globalization from the Bottom Up,” based on his recent book by the same title. The AMA summer educators’ conference is the largest in the world where nearly 1,000 professors from around the world attend. In addition, Samli co-authored and published an article (with Dr. Michael Czinkota from Georgetown University) titled “The People Dimension in Modern International Marketing: Neglected but Crucial” in Thunderbird International Business Review (September/October 2010). Finally, the Journal of Global Marketing reports that Samli’s article (co-authored by Merici Fevrier) titled “Achieving and Managing Global Brand Equity: A Critical Analysis” is the fifth-most-downloaded free article from 2009.

College of Arts and Sciences

      

Criminology & Criminal Justice: Dr. Michael Hallett presented a professional paper at the British Society of Criminology in Leicester, U.K., titled “Actuarialism in Prisoner Reentry” in July.

     

Dr. Kareem Jordan and S. L. Gabbidon published an article titled “Race/Ethnicity and Perceptions of Safety Among a National Sample of Americans” in Criminal Justice Review, Vol. 35, No. 3, pages 281-294 (2010).

 

English: Dr. Mary Baron gave three presentations (on teaching disadvantaged students) at the Communities in Schools staff training conference in Jacksonville.

 

Dr. Tiffany Beechy published an article, "Eala Earendel: Extraordinary Poetics in Old English," in Modern Philology, Vol. 108, No. 1, pages 1-19 (August 2010).

  

Dr. Clark Lunberry published “Writing on Water, Murmur of Words” (an extended account of his 2008 “Writing on Water” installation at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library) in New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing.

 

Mathematics & Statistics: Dr. Richard Patterson was an invited researcher and presented colloquiums at Istanbul Commerce University in Istanbul, Turkey.

 

Dr. Rama Rao gave a talk titled “A Calculus-oriented Inquiry Based Learning Approach to Teach a PreCalculus Course” at the Mathematical Association of America’s MathFest in Pittsburgh, Pa.

 

Political Science & Public Administration: Dr. George Candler published "Towards a Public Spirited Public Management Economics: An Essay in Honor of John Kenneth Galbraith" in Administrative Theory & Praxis, Vol. 32, No. 3, September 2010; “Alberto Guerreiro Ramos: the ‘In-Betweener’ as Intellectual Bridge Builder?” (with C. Ventriss, G. Candler and J. Francisco Salm) in Organizações e Sociedades, Vol. 17, No. 52, 2010; and “New Fields of Old Fields for Social Equity Scholarship: A Comment on Ken Oldfield’s Social Equity Scholarship” (with Candler) in Administration & Society, Vol. 42, No. 3, 2010. In addition, Candler and Dr. Georgette Dumont published “A Nonprofit Accountability Framework” in Canadian Public Administration, Vol. 53, No. 3, 2010; and “The Price of Citizenship: Civic Responsibility as the Missing Dimension of Public Administration Theory” in Public Administration Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 2, pages 169-201.

 

Dr. Hyunsun Choi’s article “Religious Institutions and Ethnic Entrepreneurship in the Los Angeles Koreatown” was published in Economic Development Quarterly in August 2010.

 

Sociology & Anthropology:  Dr. Ronald Kephart presented a paper “Taking the ‘Broken’ out of ‘Broken English’: Teaching Against Linguistic Prejudice” at the meetings of the Society for Caribbean Linguistics, held in Barbados, in August. His article titled “How Do You Spell That?: Thoughts on Orthographies for West Indian Creoles,” which was published in the proceedings of the 17th Biennial Conference of the Society for Caribbean Linguistics in Conjunction with the Society for Pidgin and Creole Linguistics in Cayenne, French Guiana, in July 2008, was also published on CD in July.

 

Dr. Adam Shapiro presented a paper titled "Revisiting the Cost-Saving of Home and Community-Based Services" at the Florida Council on Aging Annual Conference in Orlando.  

 

Dr. Suzanne Simon published the article "Throwing a Wrench into 'Transition': Testing the Limits of Transparency, Development, and Democratization in the Oaxaca Wind Park Controversy" in the International Journal of Social Policy Research and Development Vol. 1, No. 1, pages 1-13, June 2010.

 

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

 

School of Computing: Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy presented his paper, “From Service Conversation Models to WS-CDL," at the Americas Conference on Information Systems in August 2009.

 

School of Engineering: Dr. Chiu Choi presented and published his paper, “Computational Method for Medium Scale Stiff Lyapunov Differential Equations,” at the 7th Asian Control Conference in August 2009.

 

Dr. Daniel Cox and R. Bartz published their paper, “Building Blocks for Project-Centered Education: Integrating New Experiments into RLab Remote Development Environment,” in Innovations 2010: World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research, iNEER International Network for Engineering Educations and Research, Vol. 10, No. 7, pages 81-91, August 2010 (ISBN 978-0-9818868-1-7). Cox (with Z. Meric, R. Bartz and C. Ctistis) published and presented the paper “Complementary Simulation and Remote Laboratory Experiences to Hands-on Control Systems Curriculum” at the International Conference on Engineering Education in July 2010 (ISSN 1562-3580).

 

Dr. Dean Krusienski published his paper, “A Method for Visualizing the Independent Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Brain Activity,” in the EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing (special issue on statistical signal processing in neuroscience), article ID 948961 (2009).

 

Dr. Adel El-Safty gave an invited lecture at the American University in Cairo on "Construction Trends in the US." El-Safty also served as the faculty adviser to a student civil engineering design team in the Big Beam National Competition sponsored by the Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute. The UNF student team finished in second place regionally.

 

Jean Fryman presented “K-12 Make the Connection Outreach Program” to Duval County teachers at their annual back-to-school conference.

 

Dr. Susan Vasana and Kevin Phillips published their paper, “System Simulation of DS-TRD and TH-PPM Modulation Schemes for Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Wireless Communications,” in the International Journal of Modeling and Simulation, Vol.30, No.2, August 2010.

 

Dr. Pat Welsh gave a presentation, “St. Johns River Water Quality,” to the City of Jacksonville's Environmental Protection Board Symposium on Sustainability for Jacksonville's Future, in August 2009.

College of Education and Human Services

 

Childhood Education: Dr. Katie Monnin has been invited to New York City Comic-Con by First Second Books to do a workshop on teaching comics and graphic novels in K-12 classrooms. Her workshop on teaching comics and graphic novels will take place Oct. 9.

 

Dr. Nile Stanley, with Alaskan storyteller Brett Dillingham, published an article titled, “Telling Tales: Teaching Performance Literacy Through Storytelling” in the September issue of Language Magazine, an international journal which focuses on teaching English as a Second Language.

 

Dr. Christine Weber was invited to present "Exploring Issues in Gifted Education" at the August National Association for Gifted Children WOW Virtual Conference on Back to School/Back to Gifted Classroom Tools and Techniques to Jumpstart the School Year.

 

Exceptional Student & Deaf Education: Dr. Deborah Reed was appointed president to the Board of Directors of Florida APSE: Advancing Employment. Connecting People (founded in 1988 as the Association for Persons in Supported Employment). APSE is a national organization with an exclusive focus on integrated employment and career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The goals of the state chapters include establishing and expanding equitable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, advocating with federal, state, and local legislators for legislation promoting integrated employment, raising awareness within the business community as to the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and advocating for social change to help those with severe disabilities achieve a lifestyle that approximates that of individuals without disabilities.  

 

The 21st International Congress on Education of the Deaf (ICED) was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in July. The congress is the largest such gathering of professionals in the field of education of the deaf in the world, convening every five years. There were more than 750 participants from 62 countries, with more than 300 professional presentations. Faculty from the Department of Exceptional Student and Deaf Education were well represented. Dr. Donald Moores gave a keynote presentation titled “Deaf Students with Diverse Needs.” He also gave two other presentations: “Education of the Deaf in the U.S.A.” for a symposium titled “Deaf People Around the World”; and “Issues and Future Trends” at the Pre-Congress Leaders Summit. Graduate assistant Amber Moore assisted Moores with his numerous responsibilities at the congress. Dr. Caroline Guardino presented a strand of her research that involves helping teachers of the deaf design classroom environments to maximize academic engagement and minimize disruptive behavior. Her presentation was titled “Changing Behaviors by Changing the Classroom Environment: Identifying Environmental Factors that Impact Student Learning.” In addition, Guardino and Dr. Susan Syverud presented their collaborative research in a platform session titled “Teaching Phonological Skills to Young Deaf Struggling Readers Using a Direct Instruction Curriculum.”

Good Question

Q:  From Nancy Miller, assistant basketball coach and recruiting coordinator for Athletics -- At peak times during the day, traffic gets severely backed up at the crosswalk between the parking garage and Arena with students walking in a constant stream across the street.  Has the university considered putting in “WALK” and “DON'T WALK” signs so that traffic can proceed at a normal pace and it is safer for students as they cross the street in a group?

A:  From John Dean, chief of police for the University Police Department –- Yes, the University has considered it, however, because of the cost and construction issues that are involved, the decision was made to install the tabletops, or raised crosswalks, and lights like we currently have at the crosswalks and continue to give the students the right of way.

 

Q: From Lynn Brown, associate director, Transportation & Logistics -- On my way into work I noticed what looks like some kind of birdhouse on top of a tall pole was installed in Osprey Village. Is it a birdhouse or maybe a bat house?

A: From Steve Crews, assistant director of facilities management for Housing & Residence Life -- That is a new bat house that was added this summer. It’s designed to hold as many as 1,000 bats.

Q: From Tyran Lance, office manager for the Graduate School -- How come there are only parking spaces on one side of the parking garage [near the Arena] and no handicapped parking closest to the stairwell of Building 50?  

 

A: From Vince Smyth, director of Auxiliary Services -- The elevator for this facility is in the northwest corner and the second-floor ramp connecting the garage to other facilities is along the west section so the disability spaces are placed along the west section as well. The walkway from the third floor of the garage to Building 50 has stairs and Environmental Health and Safety does not want disability spaces placed in locations where the access requires the use of stairs. While not every disabled individual is physically challenged, placement does suggest there is full access for all disabilities along the walkway. On the first floor, there are disability spaces next to the south exit from the garage, closest to Building 50.

 

Q: From Adonna Gattis, police records clerk for the University Police Department -- Is it true that UNF students who attend art courses at MOCA have to pay for parking there? If a student has already purchased an annual parking pass on campus, this seems unfair, especially if the course is required for the student’s chosen degree. I think students who are taking required classes that are only offered at MOCA should not be charged for parking there.

A: From Marianne Jaffee, executive assistant for Academic Affairs -- It is sometimes the case that an academic program will necessitate a student’s travel to an off-campus site during the term, for example in the case of programs like Nursing and Education, and that student will be required to manage his or her own parking. With respect to MOCA classes specifically, the chair of the Art and Design Department, Dr. Debra Murphy, confirms that any student who submits a reasonable request for an alternate assignment to a MOCA class will be approved. 

 

Employees who have UNF-related questions they would like to have answered in the next issue of Inside are encouraged to send them to goodquestion@unf.edu. Submitted questions will be considered for publication in the "Good Question" column, which is designed to help inform the campus community about relevant issues. When submitting questions, please include your name, department and job title, which will be included if your question is selected. The submission deadline is the 15th of each month. For more information, contact Julie Williams at jkwillia@unf.edu.

Dateline

Milestone Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following employees who will celebrate a milestone anniversary at UNF in October.

 

25 Years:

Rickey Calloway, landscape maintenance specialist, Physical Facilities

 

10 Years:

Armisha Bartley, custodial supervisor, Custodial Services

Faith Hall, director, Alumni Services

Linda Keith, office assistant, Training & Services Institute

Richmond Wynn, mental health counselor, Counseling Center

 

Five Years:

Anissa Agne, director of student financial aid, Enrollment Services

Adonna Gattis, police records clerk, Campus Police

Donald Harris, senior IT systems engineer, Information Technology Services

Erica Kelly, coordinator of research and program services, Physics

Miwa Nguyen, senior academic adviser, Brooks College of Health

Stephanie Peters, coordinator of budgets, Auxiliary Services

  

Welcome

The following employees were either hired by UNF or were promoted from OPS positions from mid-August to mid-September:

 

John Adcox, coordinator of student financial aid, University Housing

Michael Antal, adjunct, School of Computing

Teresa Arington, adjunct, Political Science & Public Administration

Joshua Bailey, recycle refuse worker, Physical Facilities

Brian Becker, office manager, Building Construction Management

Jennifer Behnam, adjunct, Sociology & Anthropology

Bryan Boyer, adjunct, College of Education & Human Services

David Briglio, adjunct, Civil Engineering

Daniel Brock, adjunct, Accounting & Finance

Artie Brown, faculty administrator, Florida Institute of Education

William Carle, applications systems analyst, Information Technology Services

Scott Carter, adjunct, Mathematics & Statistics

Wilma Case-Starks, academic adviser, College of Arts & Sciences

Jannefer Coleman, adjunct, World Languages

Carrie Cragun, mental health counselor, Counseling Center

Kim Cross, academic adviser, College of Arts & Sciences

Carrie (Merideth) Crouch, public relations associate, Public Relations

Anisia Dawes, adjunct, College of Education & Human Services

Sandra Della Rocca, adjunct, Psychology

William Dunn, groundskeeper, Physical Facilities

Marsha Easley, adjunct, Brooks College of Health

John Elac, adjunct, Political Science & Public Administration

Renate Falkner, adjunct, Music

Matthew Finn, instructor, Art & Design

Susan Goebertus, adjunct, College of Education & Human Services

Leah Grace, office assistant, Training & Services Institute

Karna Gurung, custodial worker, Physical Facilities

Bobbie Harman, adjunct, Mathematics & Statistics

William Harrington, research analyst, Mechanical Engineering

Jason Hibbard, adjunct, Music

Helen Holman, adjunct, Nursing

Lori Homra, registered nurse, Student Health Services

Wendy Hutchins-Deck, program assistant, Enrollment Services

Khristi Keefe, adjunct, College of Education & Human Services

Deatrice Kennedy, academic adviser, Intercollegiate Athletics

Peter Kneedler, adjunct, Management

Constanza Lopez, adjunct, World Languages

Libin Luo, adjunct, Economics

Michael Manocchia, adjunct, Sociology & Anthropology

Adam Margulies, accounting associate, Controller’s Office

Steven Martin, adjunct, Sociology & Anthropology

James Massol, adjunct, Music

Michael Mastronicola, adjunct, Music

Abra Maxey-Billings, administrative secretary, English

Walter McDermott, adjunct, Psychology

Ronald Meadows, police communications operator, Campus Police

Paul Mettler, adjunct, Clinical & Applied Movement Science

Katherine Miller, adjunct, Art & Design

Marla Mulraney, program assistant, Child Development and Research Center

Jesse Nolan, adjunct, Art & Design

Sarah Page-Chan, adjunct, Sociology & Anthropology

William Pewitt, adjunct, English

Christie Purifoy, adjunct, English

Shanta Rayaprolu, program assistant, Child Development and Research Center

Tia Rivera, instructional specialist, Student Affairs

Jeffrey Rommel, mental health counselor, Counseling Center

April Seliga, adjunct, Brooks College of Health

Sandra Stratton, administrative secretary, History

Kathryn Strickland, adjunct, Communication

Benjamin Swanson, research analyst, Mechanical Engineering

Andrea Thoermer, adjunct, College of Education & Human Services

Paula Thornton, adjunct, Music

Jorge Torres, coordinator of admissions, Admissions

Kara Tucker, coordinator of admissions, Enrollment Services

Christian Vaccaro, adjunct, Sociology & Anthropology

Stewart Verney, adjunct, Communication

Robert Walker, adjunct, English

Noel White, groundskeeper, Physical Facilities

Veronica White, adjunct, Brooks College of Health

Tiffany Whitfield, adjunct, Art & Design

Christine Williams, financial aid specialist, Enrollment Services

 

Promotions

The following employees were promoted at UNF from mid-August to mid-September:

 

Roderick Andrews, coordinator of student financial aid, Enrollment Services

Randy Blankenship, technical support technician, Enrollment Services

Annabel Brooks, director, Student Affairs

Amanda Byrd, senior applications programmer, Enterprise Systems

Jo Carlisle, senior academic adviser, Enrollment Services

Lauren Chartier, office manager, Nutrition & Dietetics

DeeAnne Crookham, coordinator of student conduct, Student Affairs

Richard Elmore, assistant director, Facilities Planning

Marice Hague, assistant director, Small Business Development Center

John Hannaford, law enforcement sergeant, Campus Police

Rabena Johnson, office manager, Academic Affairs

Erin Jones, coordinator of admissions, Admissions

Stephanie Royal, assistant director, Small Business Development Center

Robert Shepherd, university conduct officer, Student Conduct

 

Congratulations

Jeffrey T. Bowen (Thomas G. Carpenter Library) recently completed the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute, a 10-month leadership development program sponsored by the Florida State Library and Archives. Another UNF library faculty member, Susan A. Massey, has been selected as a participant in the 2010-11 institute, which begins in late October.

 

Jenny Johnson (Campus Recreation) and Dusty Rhodes, former UNF Baseball coach, were married at Old St. Andrews Church in Jacksonville with the reception at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, where Dusty threw out the first pitch. The first 3,000 people attending the game received bobble-head dolls resembling Dusty. More than 300 people attended the reception, including current and  former UNF faculty, staff and students. Longtime UNF supporter Dave Polovina was the officiant, and former UNF president Dr. Adam Herbert was the wedding photographer (a hobby he’s picked up since retiring from education).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rickey Calloway (Physical Facilities) announces the birth of his grandson, Jonathan D Calloway, born Aug. 9 to Calloway’s daughter, Tanika Calloway. (PHOTO)

 

Also, Calloway’s new funk-music CD “Shake It Up Shake It Down” was recently released in Orlando and is expected to sell worldwide. For more information or to order his CD, go to http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=wxd75jp2v6.

 

Ask UNF

Packing a Healthy, Fun and Nutritious School Lunch

 

By Dr. Catherine Christie, chair, UNF Department of Nutrition & Dietetics

 

Fixing healthy and appetizing school lunches is an art and requires a little effort. Parents will find if they enlist their child in planning, choosing and preparing their own lunches, the child is more likely to enjoy them at school.

 

What are the basics of a healthy lunch?

 

Lunch doesn’t have to be the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich, although there’s nothing wrong with that. You can even branch out to other nut butters such as almond or cashew. Start with a heart-healthy whole grain bread or whole wheat tortilla, pita or wrap. Sandwiches should include a source of lean protein such as turkey, tuna, chicken, ham, roast beef or cheese. Pack lettuce, tomato or pickles in a separate bag to keep the sandwich fresher until lunch time and use light mayonnaise or mustard to reduce extra fat and calories. Instead of fried chips, try baked chips, low-fat popcorn, trail mix, fresh or dried fruit or veggies, such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower or celery and dip. Send low-fat milk or water as beverages. Kids who eat a healthy lunch have a better nutritional status, which positively affects school performance.

 

How do you avoid the morning rush to prepare a healthy lunch?

 

Buying the prepackaged lunch meats often provides excess salt and calories; however, making your own can be much healthier. Prepare individual plastic containers over the weekend that can be stored safely until packed. Good choices are vanilla yogurt and frozen blueberries or other fruit; salad or veggies with dressing on the side; mixed fruit salads; nuts such as almonds, cashews or walnuts; veggies with dip; prepackaged cheese sticks or low-fat yogurt.

 

What else can I send when they get tired of sandwiches?

 

Leftovers make great lunches and can even be frozen and thawed in time for lunch, which keeps food safe. Consider stews, casseroles, soups or chili, pasta dishes or even pizza. Chicken or tuna salad as well as green salads with lean meat and dressing on the side are great too.

 

What if they don’t like what I fix?

 

Children like what is familiar, so if they are used to eating healthy foods at home, healthy lunch choices will be no different. One rule of feeding your children is that parents should provide healthy food and children can choose whether or not to eat it. This works as long as your lunches don’t get traded for some other child’s lunch.

 

What about food safety?

 

Traditional brown paper bags are fine, especially if at least some of the food is already cold or frozen. Metal or plastic lunch boxes are sturdier but also need something cold to maintain the right temperature. Insulated lunch bags may be the best choice, especially if they come with freezer packs. This will keep the lunch safe, fresh and appealing until lunch time.

 

Every month, the column “Ask UNF” runs in Inside and The Florida Times-Union, promoting the expertise of UNF faculty and staff. If you have questions about this topic, contact Dr. Christie at c.christie@unf.edu.

The Goods

The Goods on Garlic

By Jackie Shank, MS, RD

 

It’s claimed this pungent bulb in the lily family wards off demons and keeps your heart healthy. What’s the truth about garlic?

Myth:Using fresh garlic is too much trouble to bother with.

Fact: Nothing beats fresh garlic! First, don’t confuse a garlic bulb with a clove. You’ll be purchasing a single bulb (or several), and each bulb contains 10 to 20 individual cloves. Remove the papery skin and chop or mince. The finer the chop, the stronger the taste. Also, garlic added at the end of cooking will give a stronger taste than garlic added earlier.

Myth:Garlic keeps vampires, werewolves and evil spirits at bay.

 

Fact: Probably not, but years ago people believed this partly because of garlic’s potent medicinal properties. Modern science has showcased garlic’s ability to fight infections and destroy harmful bacteria. And although the science is not conclusive, research shows promise for garlic’s capacity to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and to thwart pre-cancerous lesions. Allicin is the natural chemical in garlic most responsible for the healing properties and pungent, sulfury flavor, and it becomes more available for the body’s use when garlic is chopped or crushed.

 

Myth: There is no remedy for garlic breath.

Fact: The browning enzymes in fruits and vegetables most prone to surface browning—apples, bananas, potatoes and mushrooms—can transform those stinky garlic molecules lingering in your mouth into odorless bliss. So, eating an apple or banana will help. Mouthwashes that contain chloramines may help as well.  

 

Myth:Avoid handling garlic because your hands will smell bad throughout the day.

Fact: Try this trick after handling garlic: Rinse your hands in cool water and rub them along something stainless steel for 30 seconds—a sink is ideal, but a knife or spoon will also work. It seems the sulfur compounds in the garlic bind with the metals in the stainless steel and lift the garlic off of your fingers.

 

Myth:Garlic should be stored in the refrigerator.

Fact: Store garlic in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Refrigerated storage diminishes the beloved garlicky flavor and encourages more generic onion flavors. Also, refrigerated garlic is more prone to mold growth. Special “garlic keeper” pots are availablein which to store whole bulbs and unused cloves to maximize storage life.

 

 

Jackie Shank, MS, RD, LD/N, is the undergraduate nutrition program director in the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at UNF. The department has about 250 students, both undergraduate and graduate, plus eight full-time faculty and several adjunct instructors. Areas of faculty research include obesity prevention, metabolic syndrome, cultural food patterns, nutrition education in underserved populations, HIV/AIDS, and eating disorders. If you have questions about garlic, you can contact Shank by e-mail at jshank@unf.edu .

 

Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

This classic dish is French comfort food at its simple and satisfying best.

2 (3-pound) whole chickens

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

40 garlic cloves, peeled

1¼ cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 cup dry white wine

24 (¼ inch-thick) slices diagonally cut French bread baguette

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Remove and discard giblets and neck from chickens. Rinse chickens with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat; remove skin. Cut each chicken into eight pieces. Combine butter and oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over chicken. Add half of chicken pieces to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining chicken.

Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; cook 1 minute or until garlic begins to brown, stirring frequently. Arrange chicken on top of garlic. Add broth and wine; cover and cook 25 minutes or until chicken is done.

Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 10 minutes or until liquid is reduced to about 1 cup. Serve sauce and garlic with chicken and bread. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 4 ounces chicken, 2 tablespoons sauce, 5 garlic cloves, and 3 bread slices)

Note:In a pinch, you can substitute 6 pounds of chicken pieces. The garlic softens in flavor as it roasts and is easy to spread over the baguette slices. Serve with steamed vegetables or salad.

Nutrition facts per serving:343 calories, 13.7 gms total fat (3.6 gms saturated fat), 2 gms fiber, 111 mgs cholesterol, 2.3 mgs iron, 468 mgs sodium.

Source: Recipe adapted from Cooking Light, June 2005

Sponsored Research

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs announces the following grants and contracts:

 

Dr. Barry Albright (Physics), “Paleomagnetic Survey of Late Cretaceous Strata – Kaiparowits Plateau, Utah,” U.S. Department of the Interior, $5,000

 

Dr. Michelle Boling (Clinical and Applied Movement Science), “Epidemiology of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Identifying Gender Specific Risk Factors,” National Institutes of Health, $72,866

 

Dr. Chris Brown (Engineering), “Independent External Peer Review: Alton to Gale Organized Levee Districts, Illinois and Missouri,” Battelle Memorial Institute/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, $5,805

 

Drs. Daniel Cox and Alexandra Schönning (Engineering), “Supplement: IIP: PFI: Florida’s First Coast Manufacturing Innovation Partnership – Amendment 5,” National Science Foundation, $8,000

 

Janice Donaldson (Small Business Development Center), “Small Business Development Services for St. Johns County,” St. Johns County, $40,000; and “The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) 2010-2011,” University of West Florida/U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, $60,000

 

Dr. Cheryl Fountain (Florida Institute of Education), “School Readiness Technical Assistance and Support Initiative 2010-2011,” Agency for Workforce Innovation/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $560,562; “School Readiness Technical Assistance and Support Initiative 2010-2011 (ARRA),” Agency for Workforce Innovation/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $394,170; and “The Virtual School Readiness Incubator: A Practitioner/Researcher Problem-focused R&D Mechanism,” U.S. Department of Education, $250,000

 

Dr. James Gelsleichter (Biology), “Cooperative Atlantic States Shark Pupping and Nursery (COASTSPAN) Survey of North Florida Waters – Continuation,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $5,000; “Population Structure, Gene Flow and Genetic Demography of the Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) in U.S. Waters and Genetic Marker Development,” Texas A&M University/National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, $11,100; “Re-evaluation of Reproductive Biology and Population Structure of the Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus arcronotus) in U.S. Waters,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $226,966; and “Smalltooth Sawfish Research and Outreach: A Collaborative Program,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $91,362

 

Joseph Harris (Fine Arts Center), “All the School’s a Stage: Professional Development for Arts Educators, Year 3,” Duval County Public Schools/U.S. Department of Education, $111,758

 

Dr. John Hatle (Biology), “Testing Direct Effects of Reproduction on Stress and Mortality via Ovariectomy,” National Institutes of Health, $339,757

 

Dr. Paul Harwood (Public Opinion Research Laboratory), “National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism,” University of Maryland Center of Excellence: National Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism/U.S. Department of Homeland Security, $22,438

 

Dr. Lillia Loriz (Nursing), “Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships 2010-2011,” Health Resources and Services Administration, $24,927

 

Dr. Maged Malek (Building Construction Management), “Research Center for Construction/Engineering with AUC,” $21,000

 

Dr. John McDonough (Nursing), “Advanced Education Nursing Program,” Health Resources and Services Administration, $476,680

 

Dr. Karen Patterson (Exceptional Student and Deaf Education), “Florida Inclusion Network 2010-2011,” Florida Department of Education/U.S. Department of Education, $520,000

 

Dr. Radha Pyati (Environmental Center), “Third, Fourth and Fifth State of the River Report,” City of Jacksonville, $90,089

 

Dr. Thobias Sando (Engineering), “Operational Analysis of Shared Lane Markings on Roadways with Speeds Greater than 35 Miles per Hour,” Florida Department of Transportation, $103,556

 

Behrooz Seyed-Abbassi (Computing), “BCBSFL/UNF Partnership for Educational Collaboration,” Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, $80,000 

 

Drs. Adam Shapiro (Sociology and Anthropology) and Chung-Ping Loh (Economics and Geography), “Advanced Performance Outcomes Measurement Project (POMP),” Florida Department of Elder Affairs/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $8,865

 

Dr. Jeffrey Steagall (Economics and Geography), “Consortium for Small and Medium-size Enterprises and Entrepreneurship Education,” Clemson University/U.S. Department of Education, $1,848

 

Dr. Alissa Swota (Center for Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions), “Pilot Project: Clinical Ethicist for Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Year 4,” Wolfson Children’s Hospital, $31,117

 

Dr. Christine Weber (Childhood Education), “Working on Gifted Issues 2010-2011,” North East Florida Educational Consortium/Florida Department of Education, $127,164

 

Dr. Jeffry Will (Center for Community Initiatives), “Healthy Start/Magnolia Infant Mortality Reduction Project 2009-2010,” Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, Inc./Health Resources and Services Administration, $92,370; “The Camellia Project,” Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, Inc./Health Resources and Services Administration, $29,751; and “Western Nassau County Homeless Needs Assessment,” Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, $2,500