InsideDecember 2015-January 2016

The Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations at the University of North Florida held its first large public event in October — a Distinguished Voices Lecture entitled “Race, Justice and the Law.”

The event featured a viewing of the Sundance award-winning HBO documentary “3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets” chronicling the murder trial of Michael Dunn, who shot and killed Jacksonville teen Jordan Davis during a dispute over loud music. Ron Davis, Jordan’s father, and criminal defense attorney Mark O’Mara — both recognized worldwide for their efforts to foster constructive dialogue about race and crime — joined a panel discussion following the movie. 

The event, co-hosted with the College of Arts and Sciences Pre-Law Lecture Program and the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, typifies what the Institute is all about. With its core principles of research, education and public scholarship, the Institute was created to foster critical and creative thinking, conduct research and promote and support public scholarship on issues surrounding race, racism and racial inequality. At UNF, the Institute compliments the work of OneJax and other entities on campus that facilitate conversations on human rights.

Dr. JeffriAnne Wilder, an associate professor of sociology and founding director of the Institute, said it aims to move beyond black-white issues and look at how issues of race intersect with gender, class, color and sexuality. The idea evolved in part from discussions by members of the Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, which advises President John A. Delaney on all issues related to diversity and racial equality. Wilder credits the Commission’s first chair, political science professor Henry Thomas, with envisioning an Institute centered on racial diversity on campus.

“UNF did a great job of talking about racial issues. What was missing was the research hub,” said Wilder, a former Commission chair.

A sociologist and scholar specializing in diversity, race relations and gender issues, Wilder writes, researches and lectures on the contemporary experiences of black Americans and other racial/ethnic groups. She is actively involved in the community, having served on Jacksonville Community Council Inc.’s Race Relations Progress Report Review Committee. Using the newly formed Institute as a conduit, Wilder is counting on the college-age demographic to take the lessons learned during community conversations and put action to words.

“UNF is a very inclusive and diverse community, but students want to ask these questions in a broader forum,” she said. “That’s why the Institute will play such a positive role for the University community.”

Officially recognized by the Florida Board of Governors in September, the Institute is one of only two centers on race in the State University System, as well as the only one that prioritizes research. The Institute offers a lecture series, “Deconstructing Race in the 21st Century” for faculty, students and members of the UNF community that features research on contemporary issues of race in American society. Three lectures are scheduled for the spring semester.

One of the highlights of a University of North Florida education is the truly transformational learning environment offered to students. UNF scholars travel abroad at far greater rates than the national average, they spend more time in undergraduate research settings than they could at most other institutions and they’re able to interact with faculty members on a one-on-one basis thanks to the University’s commitment to keeping class sizes small.

President John A. Delaney formalized these core facets of the UNF educational experience by introducing the Transformational Learning Opportunities (TLO) program 10 years ago. Students and faculty who embark on engaging educational opportunities have been able to apply for TLO grants to sponsor their unique learning experiences. For the next year, we’ll be spotlighting some of the most dynamic TLOs in UNF history in the TLO Showcase every month in UNF Inside. Read on to learn more about how UNF has helped broaden and deepen students’ intellectual and world views while transforming the typical college experience.

Machu Pichu stands for “old peak.” It’s one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and features a view that many world travelers can only dream of witnessing in person.

Thanks to a Transformational Learning Opportunity grant, many University of North Florida freshmen from the Hicks Honors College will take in that sight before the end of their first semester.   

Dr. Jeff Michelman, director of the Hicks Honors College, said the Peru trip built on the Honors College’s previous study abroad in Guatemala, a destination that had become increasingly more dangerous for travelers as social unrest grew. He said both Peru and Guatemala have significant historical relevance to the social and cultural development of the western hemisphere, and Peru was chosen as a viable alternative because of its relative safety.

The trip ties into the Honors First Year Colloquium, a course for new Honors students that explores immigration and national identity in a class while building critical thinking, interpersonal and leadership skills through a student-run service project helping refugees. Students and faculty work with the Jacksonville immigrant community to better understand the great diversity on the First Coast and learn more about different cultures. Michelman said travelling to Peru is a natural extension of that first-person style of learning.

This trip is something of an outlier for UNF in that it’s entirely catered to first-year students. To help lessen the financial burden on freshman who are just acclimating to the financial requirements of college, a TLO grant was awarded to reduce the trip’s cost.

“In Honors, we want to make sure students have the opportunity to participate in a trip abroad,” Michelman said. “That’s a large part of our mission. If they don’t experience it then as freshman, it’s hard to make it actionable as they advance in their time here at UNF.”

The work, however, started well before the students stepped onto a plane. They had 18 hours of pre-trip meetings to understand the social and economic fabric of Peru and had discussions with community leaders about the resource available to residents. Once they arrived in the country, the students worked with school children and villagers to both help with education and work on several water projects.

Most importantly, the students were involved in a needs assessment that started before they left for Peru and continued once they returned home. The goal was to better understand the issues facing the communities where they’d travelled and develop a clear strategy for raising money upon return to Jacksonville. Students also met with a number of non-governmental organizations to determine where to invest the results of their fundraising — a total of $300 per student.

Their work with the Peace Corps and several local water agencies, including Water for People, helped improve the quality of life for a number of Peruvian citizens.

Peterson Swanger, a sophomore mechanical engineering and Honors student, said he heard about the Peru trip before he ever became an Osprey. It was advertised as an Honors College study abroad opportunity during Honors Preview Day, an event for prospective students in April. The idea of traveling to Peru stuck with him through the application process and helped guide him to UNF — and the Hicks Honors College.

“It was a good fit for me because I always wanted to travel, and it was a short-term trip so it’d be way more affordable,” Swanger said. “Counting the TLO grant, it was really affordable. And then three of my best friends went on the trip with me, so it was even better.”

The trip — and the class that established the academic basis for the journey — granted Swanger another perspective outside of his mechanical engineering courses. That was a major reason he joined the Hicks Honors College — to experience a variety of academic environments and expand his understanding of the world around him. That became especially clear when he and 20 other students climbed to the top of Machu Pichu and took in the awe-inspiring view.

“You’re literally in the clouds seeing the weather form around you,” he said. “Clouds are rolling in and the world slows down. It was a pretty big highlight, and I’m lucky to have been an Honors student so I could experience it.”

Metrics, mobilization and moving forward were the themes of the Third White House Convening, which took place at the University of North Florida last month. The event focused on strengthening school counseling and providing students, particularly those underserved, access to college and careers.

Recognized as a national leader on the subject, UNF welcomed more than 300 delegates from 32 states to campus, including K-12 and higher education counselors and advisors, representatives from nonprofit organizations and school counseling associations, researchers and policymakers, as well as staff from the U.S. Department of Education and the White House Reach Higher Initiative, an effort championed by the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

The Convening, which was co-hosted by the Florida Institute of Education and the National Consortium for School Counseling and Postsecondary Success, provided a forum to share strategies and develop collaborations to strengthen school counseling, college advising and improve the delivery of college and career information throughout the country to students and their families.

“Our selection was, in large part, due to the outstanding reputation and work of Dr. Carolyn Stone and the College of Education's School Counseling Program, which focuses much of its work in preparing students to serve as counselors in urban schools,” said Dr. Judy Poppell, a research fellow with the FIE.

She said the FIE’s College Reach Out Program also has been working with disadvantaged middle school students for many years to motivate and prepare them for college. 

Representatives from large urban school districts including San Diego, Dallas, Houston and New York City joined the discussions — several presenting on best practices, challenges and specific initiatives that have improved the delivery of services in their areas.

Convening participants were provided opportunities to break into state teams and work together toward developing or refining statewide action plans. After more than two days of intense discussions and sharing, participants left the convening having identified common goals and metrics for monitoring progress and success, as well as a heightened knowledge of potential resources and strategies.

Dr. Cheryl Fountain, executive director of the FIE, said it was an important event that perfectly aligned with the FIE’s vision for educational excellence. 

"We seek to enhance achievement for all students, especially those at-risk,” Fountain said. “This event not only accomplished that, but helped foster collaborative programs to address needs and increase postsecondary success. I think everyone there benefitted from it and walked away energized.”

Noted Jacksonville philanthropists J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver are giving $500,000 to endow an education position at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, a cultural resource of the University of North Florida. 

The core responsibilities of the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Educator for Family and Children’s Programs include designing school tours for thousands of students, crafting lesson plans for MOCA Jacksonville’s outreach programs, designing innovative art-making activities, creating curriculum for MOCA’s annual summer camp and conceiving in-gallery interpretative and activity guides for children of all ages. The Weavers’ generous gift helps ensure quality education programs at MOCA Jacksonville for years to come.

“We are overjoyed that the Weavers recognize the importance art plays in all areas of education and MOCA Jacksonville’s role as a thought-leader in arts-integrated education,” said Marcelle Polednik, director and chief curator of MOCA Jacksonville. “We take pride in crafting individualized, strategic lesson plans and engaging learning experiences for children of all ages, as well as the entire family unit. The Weavers’ endowment of this MOCA Jacksonville position will help sustain and expand the educational offerings we provide.”

Education is core to MOCA Jacksonville’s mission. Whether it be through the robust school tour program, outreach initiatives that serve low-income students and those with varying learning exceptionalities, in-gallery activities that facilitate family interaction and discussion, art-making programs for families or adult programs, MOCA fuels the minds of all generations and ignites a love of contemporary art and learning.

“We enthusiastically support MOCA Jacksonville’s mission to promote the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists, and ideas of our time,” Delores Barr Weaver said. “Their educational programs build critical skills while introducing an appreciation of contemporary art. We’re excited to help provide these programs for generations to come.”

The endowment of this pivotal position will be commemorated with a permanent plaque on MOCA Jacksonville’s education floor. The Weavers’ gift comes as part of an endowment initiative launched in January 2015 when the Haskell Foundation pledged $5 million toward MOCA Jacksonville’s endowment. While the Haskell gift is unrestricted, it was accompanied by the strong desire to see the $5 million matched by others that might multiply its impact. In September, MOCA Jacksonville also announced the creation of the Brooke and Hap Stein Emerging Artist Prize, a major gift of $250,000 that has helped solidify and support the Museum’s mission to identify and develop fresh artistic talent from around the country and the world.

As the content expert entrusted with the development of all children’s and family programming, the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Educator for Family and Children’s Programs will play a pivotal role in the shaping of all the encounters that the youngest visitors and their caregivers have with the MOCA, contemporary art and visual arts as a whole. Elizabeth Miron, who has worked as MOCA’s K-12 curriculum specialist for three years, takes on the position of the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Educator for Family and Children’s Programs.

“I am honored to be named as the first J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Educator for Family and Children’s Programs,” Miron said. “I look forward to expanding the innovative programing MOCA Jacksonville provides for children and families.”

Miron graduated from UNF in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in painting and drawing. While at UNF, she studied both education and art history. After graduation, she worked for Duval County Public Schools as an elementary art teacher. After her first year of teaching, she was elected Teacher of the Year at Whitehouse Elementary. In 2012, Elizabeth began working for MOCA Jacksonville as a part-time educator.

Through its initiatives, MOCA Jacksonville serves the community, inspiring a love of the arts and creativity in nearly 16,000 children annually. More than 60 percent of these young visitors are Title I (low-income) students who have had little or no exposure to contemporary art and for whom a trip to MOCA may be their first-ever visit to a museum. MOCA Jacksonville’s Voice of the People provides fourth-grade students from Title I schools with an opportunity to create audio guides that describe and interpret works of art from MOCA’s Permanent Collection. This educational initiative fosters critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills while providing an opportunity for creative expression.

Welcome to the Swoop Summary. Every issue of Inside, we’ll be bringing you a recap of all the UNF Athletics accomplishments you need to know from the past month. These are just a few highlights. For a full breakdown, head to  UNF Athletics  for all the latest Osprey news, stats and info.    

Men’s basketball rallies to net 80-72 win against Trinity Baptist —

The men’s basketball team overcame a sluggish first half to outlast Trinity Baptist for an 80-72 victory Monday night at UNF Arena. The Ospreys improved to 6-2 on the season with the victory. The six wins marked the most in the opening month for UNF in the Division I era. Junior Dallas Moore paced a group of five players in double figures finishing with 20 points while handing out five assists. Fellow junior Chris Davenport collected his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to go along with two assists, three blocks and two steals. The Ospreys remain unbeaten at home, a possible testament to the incredible fan support at UNF Arena and the amazing game day experience. The recently improved Arena features brand new, state-of-the-art video scoreboards and a powerful new Osprey visual covering the gym’s back wall above the student section.

Read up on how the Ospreys claimed their latest victory

Moore's near triple-double leads men’s basketball to 81-60 win at Hartford —

UNF junior point guard Dallas Moore nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in leading the Ospreys to an 81-60 road victory over Hartford at the Chase Arena in Reich Family Pavilion.

Read more about Moore’s big night  

Women’s basketball hits 18 three-pointers in overtime win over Towson —

The North Florida women's basketball team beat Towson University (2-4) in overtime in the final game of the UNF Thanksgiving Classic. The Ospreys drained a new school-record — 18 three-pointers!

Check out highlights from the game  

Michael Saccente signs with men’s golf —

UNF men's golf coach Scott Schroeder announced the signing of in-state product Michael Saccente to a national letter-of-intent to play for the Ospreys beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Learn more about the golf team’s latest recruit

The University of North Florida has been designated as one of the most military friendly schools in the country seven years running.

The 2016 Military Friendly Schools list, which is compiled by Victory Media, honors the top colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools nationwide that are doing the most to embrace America’s military students and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation.

“Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly® School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, Victory Media chief product officer and Navy Reserve veteran. “Our Military Friendly® Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation.”

UNF’s veteran population using the Post-9/11 GI Bill has grown at an average of 9 percent per year for the last five years and now numbers more than 1,200 student veterans — with one one of every 14 students at the University being a veteran. That was a major reason behind the establishment of the Military and Veterans Resource Center on campus, which was formed through a grant for more than $200,000 from the Florida BrAIve Fund at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville. The MVRC’s mission is to provide a broad range of student services and resources focused on the unique needs of today’s military veterans, service members and their families in order to enhance their smooth transition from the military environment to campus life, leading to academic success, graduation and employment opportunities. 

“The Military and Veterans Resource Center is extremely proud of our seventh consecutive year of receiving a military-friendly school designation—among the top in the nation and one for each and every year of our existence,” said Ray Wikstrom, UNF MVRC director. “It’s a culmination of many dedicated staff hours to ensure UNF Osprey veterans receive the very best services, resources and special programming to assist them in their transition from combat to the classroom to meaningful employment.” 

Additionally, UNF started offering the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp, an educational program of leadership and military skills training, on campus in 2009. The UNF program, called “The Fighting Osprey Company,” gives students a chance to get Army training while in college.

Name: Nick Morrow 

Department: Athletics 

Job title: Senior Associate Athletics Director, Finance and Administration 

What do you do? I serve as the CFO for the Athletic Department, oversee External Operations and serve as sport administrator for several sports. I’ve also had the privilege of serving as adjunct instructor for several sport management courses. 

Years at UNF: More than 4 years 

Tell us about your family. I have been married for more than nine years to an amazing woman. We have a daughter named Amelia who is 3 years old and twin boys, Jack and Cole, who are both 1.

If you could choose any other career, what would it be and why? I really enjoy my career because there is never a boring day. Athletics is a lot of fun, and you get to work with a ton of amazing people within a university setting, including coaches, students, student-athletes, professors and administrators. But, if I had to choose, it would be something related to mission work and serving others. 

What would you like to do when you retire? My focus upon retirement will be to travel with my wife and spend as much time with my family as possible. 

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF? I truly believe this place is a hidden gem, and the potential that exists on this campus is outstanding. My favorite part is the fact UNF is in a large city but feels like you are isolated in a nature preserve. Then, you are minutes from every kind of shop and restaurant you need and a few more minutes away from the beach. From a recruiting standpoint, you can’t beat it. 

What is the best thing you ever won? I won a high school cross country meet as an individual. That was a really cool feeling.

If you won the lottery, what would do with the money? I would make sure all of my family was taken care of financially and all debt was eliminated, including mortgages. I would give my parents their dream house because they have given up so much to support their kids and deserve so much. Finally, I would try to positively affect as many lives as possible.

If you were not working at UNF, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t working at UNF, I would likely be working on another college campus in a similar capacity. 

Describe your favorite UNF-related memory? Last March, our men’s basketball team made an incredible run to the Atlantic Sun Championship that included a trip to the NCAA Tournament. That was the most fun I’ve had in my professional career. It was the most work, but also the most fun. Being able to host the tournament and win the championship on our home court in front of a sold-out crowd was unforgettable. And the support the city of Jacksonville and its people and organizations showed was awesome. 

What is your favorite way to blow an hour? These days, between a very time-demanding job and a home life that includes three kids who are three years old and younger, there is never a second to relax. So, I would definitely take that hour and do nothing but lay on the couch and zone out (or take a nap). 

If you were asked to paint a picture about anything you wanted, what would you paint? I am an awful artist, but if I had the skill, I would paint family time — the whole family around a dinner table, my parents, my three siblings and their family. All 18 of us. 

What was the best money you ever spent? Purchasing a Big Green Egg was possibly the best money I have ever spent. Cooking on a Big Green Egg is a life changer. 

Is there a piece of technology that you just couldn’t live without? No smartphone would be tough. It’s the best way for me to stay in touch with my family and friends who live outside of Jacksonville. 

What is the proudest/happiest moment of your life? The first moment you hold your first child is incredible. When we drove away from the hospital with our daughter, the world literally looked and felt different. It’s a type of love that’s hard to describe. 

Tell us something that would surprise people to know about you. I was the high school senior class president and gave a speech at my high school graduation which took place in the UNF Arena. 

What was the first concert you ever attended, and what was the most recent concert you attended? The first concert I could ever remember was an Amy Grant concert at Six Flags in St. Louis when I was young. My most recent concert was a NeedtoBreathe concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. 

What person had the greatest impact on your life? Personally, it’s my mother. She is the most selfless person on Earth. I never realized it growing up, but now that I have a family of my own, it’s incredible how often she put her children above any of her personal interests. And now I see her doing it with her grandchildren. 

What are you most passionate about? My family. I enjoy my job and I work hard at doing it well. I’m passionate about making an impact at UNF and within the department, but nothing rivals that passion I have for my wife, my kids and my family. 

Who is the most famous person you ever met? Since I have worked in athletics for more than 15 years, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of athletes, coaches and famous fans of the Gators, Terrapins and Ospreys. One of my favorite people I have met is Scott Van Pelt of ESPN. Outside of athletics, I was the event manager for two of Obama’s rallies (one for the democratic primary and one for the health care initiative) while I was working at the University of Maryland. Working with the administration and the secret service on every minute detail of the event was a cool experience. 

Tell us something about you that even your friends don’t know. My closet is organized by type of shirt, then by color, then by shade of color. I have a UNF specific section to my organization. 

What do you hope to accomplish that you have not done yet? My career goal is to become an athletic director. Working in athletic administration has allowed me to have influence over a young man or woman’s college experience. Those are some of the most influential years of a person’s life. As an athletic director, I would be in an even-greater position to positively influence student-athlete’s lives. 

Last book read. “The 360 Degree Leader” by John Maxwell

Where are you from? Jacksonville

What is your major? Marketing and business management

When will you graduate? Spring 2017

What attracted you to UNF? I have always done things with UNF while living in the Jacksonville area. I had a really great impression on what the school had to offer and how beautiful the campus was. It made for an easy choice.

Why did you pick UNF over other schools? The University is very involved in the community, and the classes seemed a lot more tailored to the students. I find it very important to have a close relationship with my professors.

What do you do for fun on campus? Athletics, clubs, activities, etc.? I enjoy participating on the board for the Women in Business Society, being a Coggin student ambassador and being on the student conduct board for UNF.

What’s your favorite UNF tradition? Market Days at the Student Union on Wednesdays! I absolutely love feeling like I can shop and get eclectic things on campus — not to mention chips and queso from Moe’s!

What is the best thing about UNF’s faculty and staff? The faculty and staff do a really great job making sure the students are able to be the best they can be. In my classes, I feel like I can get advice about how to get a good grade in the class, and I can talk to advisors about what is truly best for my future.

What has been your favorite class? Why do you like it so much? Public speaking, I find it very useful to know how to pitch ideas to people or how to read body language. I want to be a T.V. personality after graduation, and I have learned some very useful tips.

When you’re looking to de-stress and relax a bit, where do you go on campus? Why do you like that spot? The gym at the Student Wellness Complex. It’s a great place to let out stress or clear your head by running a couple miles.

What makes UNF unique? We have geese on campus that are not afraid to stop traffic.

Is there anything you’ve learned about UNF during your time on campus that you think incoming freshmen should know? Get involved as soon as possible. It will make for an easy transition and make your days go by fast.

What do you think of the campus’ natural environment? I think its great. I was a little skeptical at first because I don’t like bugs. However, I enjoy zip lining, canoeing and just walking on campus and catching the breeze from the trees.

What are your plans for the future? After graduation, I am going to get my master’s degree in communications. I am going to open up my own marketing and communications firm one day.

What does being an Osprey mean to you? Supporting UNF and having school spirit. Being an Osprey makes me feel at home and knowing that I have a family that can relate to me and help me make great decisions in life.

How do you take your Starbucks? I actually don’t drink coffee or tea, but I do love the brownies at Starbucks.

Do you have any tips you want to share for working with professors outside of class? If it is available, then go for it. I think it’s important to establish a relationship and let them see you really working hard. It will pay off in the end.

Brooks College of Health

Nursing: Drs. Michele Bednarzyk and Kathy Bloom presented a paper entitled “Interprofessional Health Education: Preparing for Collaborative Practice” at Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s 43rd biennial Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. in November.

Drs. Linda Connelly and Cynthia Cummings published “Can Repeated Simulation Activities Increase Student Confidence Levels?" in Nurse Education Today.

Nutrition and Dietetics: Dr. Andrea Arikawa co-wrote an article “Consumption of a High Glycemic Load but not a High Glycemic Index Diet is Marginally Associated with Oxidative Stress in Young Women” published in Nutrition Research Journal.

Dr. Alireza Jahan-Mihan received a grant for “The Effect of Quantity and Source of Protein Fed during Pregnancy on Development of Characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome in Offspring of Obese Mothers (An Animal Model)” and was published in three peer reviewed publications: the article “The Role of Maternal Dietary Proteins in Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Offspring” in Nutrients, the abstract “The Role of Dietary Proteins in Maternal Diet in Risk of Development of Glucose Intolerance and Diabetes Mellitus in Offspring” in Diabetologists, and the editorial article “The Effect of Proteins in Maternal Diet on Fetal and Early Post-Natal Development of Food Intake Regulation in Hypothalamus” in Jacobs Journal of Physiology. 

Coggin College of Business

Management: Dr. Nathan Kunz published “Sustainable Humanitarian Supply Chain Management - Exploring New Theory” in the International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications and “Centralized Vehicle Leasing in Humanitarian Fleet Management: The UNHCR Case” in the Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Dr. Brian Flynn will publish “Moving Beyond Initial Success: Promoting Innovation in Small Business Through High Performance Work Practices” in Business Horizons. It was accepted for publication in May 2015 and slated for an early 2016 publication. Flynn also had “Exploring the Relationship between Leaders’ Core Self-Evaluations and Subordinates’ Perceptions of Servant Leadership: A Field Study” accepted for publication in the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies.

Economics and Geography: Dr. Sharon Cobb arranged a special session on economic geography with Dr. Ron Kalafsky from the University of Tennessee. She chaired the session and presented a paper "Using Crowdfunding as a Means of Economic Development in Onshore and Offshore Contexts" at the Southeastern Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in Pensacola, Fla. in November.

Dr. Chiradip Chatterjee, a visiting assistant professor of economics, and Pallab Mozumder published "Hurricane Wilma, Utility Disruption, and Household Wellbeing" in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Marketing: Dr. Gregory Gundlach co-chaired the symposium and co-edited the special issue of the antitrust bulletin “Symposium: Recognizing Bert Foer, his AAI Founding and Presidency.”  

College of Arts and Sciences  

Art and Design: Louise Freshman Brown has artwork included in the “Self Portrait, Face Forward” exhibition at the Haskell Gallery at the Jacksonville International Airport. 

Nofa Dixon has a one-person exhibition of collages in the music Congreve Room in Jacksonville.

Trevor Dunn exhibited in the 22nd Strictly Functional Pottery National juried exhibition in Lancaster, Pa. and received the Innovation Award.

Sheila Goloborotko participated in the “2ª Global Print 2015” international museum exhibition, and exhibition publication, at Museu D’ouro, Alijo, in Portugal; and in the national museum exhibition, and exhibition publication “Reading Objects 2015: Responses to the Museum's Collection” at The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY, N.Y. In addition, she exhibited her works at STELLAR Small Prints: International Invitational at Constellation Gallery in Lincoln, Nebraska. Finally, she received two UNF grants, research enhancement plan: “1001 Dreams” and academic technology grant: “Printmaking Digital Research Lab.”

Jenny Hager presented “Place, Culture and the Moment” at the Southeastern College Art Conference and exhibited at the Mercer University “Art in the Park Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,” in Macon, Ga.

Stephen Heywood’s work appeared in four exhibitions: “The Battle of the Bowls” a national juried exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, Va.; “The 20th Annual Nellie Allen Smith Juried Pottery Competition,” also a national juried exhibition in Fayetteville, N.C., at which he won Best of Show; and “Influence: History in Making,” an invitational group exhibition at Valdosta State University. Also, Heywood was invited to give a two-day demonstration and lecture at Valdosta State University in conjunction with the exhibition “Influence: History in Making.”  

Paul Karabinis presented a paper “Photography and Printmaking: Not Exactly a Repeatable Pictorial Statement,” at the 2015 SECAC conference in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kally Malcom presented images from her “Pictograph” series at the Southeast Society for Photographic Education Conference in Greenville, S.C.

Dr. Debra Murphy chaired the session “Landscapes for Art: American Sculpture Gardens and Park” at the annual meetings of SECAC in Pittsburgh, Pa. in October. Murphy read her paper “The Garbage Revolution and the Garden of Return: Rodolfo Lacquaniti’s Tuscan Sculpture Garden,” and at the annual awards ceremony was recognized for Excellence in Teaching over the course of her career.

Chris Trice exhibited in the juried exhibition “Size Matters” at the Low Gallery in San Diego, Calif.

Communication: Dr. Christine Holland presented “Team-Based Learning for Communication Courses” at the 85th annual Florida Communication Association Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Dr. ​Christa Arnold presented two papers “Implications for Patient Communication Training” and “Patient Medical Education Training: A Pilot Test of the AGENDA Curriculum” at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare in New Orleans, La. ​

Dr. Siho Nam presented “The Democratic Divide in South Korea: The Growth of the Internet and the Decline of Democracy during the Lee and Park Administrations, 2008-2015” at Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide 2015 International Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. in October.

Dr. Stephynie Perkins published“Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Ku Klux Klan, Southern Pride or Civic Oppression: 21st Century Readers' Letters to the Editor Frame a Modern Discussion of Race and Racism” in the Florida Journal of Communication. 

Dr. Margaret Stewart presented “The Dynamic Role of Social Media during Hurricane #Sandy: An introduction of the STREMII Model to Weather the Storm of the Crisis Lifecycle” at the Florida Communication Association annual convention.  

English: Dr. Sam Kimball published “Literature, Fictionality, and the Illusion of Self-Presence” and “Fiction and Emotion: The Relation of Consciousness to the Economy of Evolution,” both in Fiction and Art.

History: Dr. Daniel Watkins organized a professional conference “In the Shadow of Enlightenment: Religion, Reform, and Revolution in the Age of Unigenitus” in Chicago, Ill.

Philosophy and Religious Studies: Dr. Andrew Buchwalter published “La pobreza y la concepción hegeliana del derecho como eticidad reflexive” in Bajo Palabra: Revista de Filosofía.

Dr. Brandi Denison presented “Dancing Around Walls: The Ute Bear Dance and ‘Real’ Religion, 1891-1941” at the annual Western Historical Association in Portland, Ore.

Dr. David Fenner published “Fictionality in Film and Photography” in Fiction and Art.

Physics: Dr. John Hewitt and his colleagues in the Fermi LAT collaboration published “The Second Fermi-LAT Catalog of Hard Sources” and “Search for Extended Gamma-ray Emission from the Virgo Galaxy Cluster with Fermi-LAT” in Astrophysical Journal; “Searching for Dark Matter Annihilation from Milky Way Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies with Six Years of Fermi-LAT Data” in Physical Review Letters; and “An Extremely Bright Gamma-ray Pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud” in Science.

Dr. Jason Haraldsen had two user proposals accepted for access to scientific collaborations with The Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Los Alamos National Laboratory: “Understanding the Nanoscopic Origin for Negative Electronic Compressibility in LaAlO₃ / SrTiO₃ Multilayers” and “Investigation of magnetic structure at the interface of YBaCuO₇ and SrTiO₃.”

Political Science and Public Administration: Dr. Gaylord Candler published “‘Assimilação crítica’ and Research on the Periphery” in Cadernos.

Psychology: Dr. Elizabeth Brown with her colleagues Ian Handley, Corinne Moss-Racusin, and Jessi Smith, published “The Quality of Evidence Revealing Subtle Gender Biases in Science is in the Eye of the Beholder” in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Drs. Lynne Carroll and Tes Tuason published “‘Perpetually Self-Reflective’:  Lesbian Daughters of Mothers with Severe Mental Illness” in The Counseling Psychologist.

Dr. Christopher Leone gave an invited presentation “Building Bridges or Building Walls: An Interactive Workshop on Interdisciplinary Research with Undergraduates” at the eighth annual Florida Statewide Symposium: Engagement in Undergraduate Research in Orlando, Fla. in October. Leone also gave five presentations at the annual meeting of the Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Dr. Angela Mann gave three presentations at the annual conference of the Florida Association of School Psychologists in October.

Dr. Susana Urbina received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. She also organized and participated in the symposium “Opportunities, Challenges and Developments in Psychological Assessment Work,” at which she was presented the APA Convention award in October.

Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work: Dr. Paul G. Clark presented “Are You and Your Patient Speaking the Same Language? Personalizing Communication in Oncology Social Work Practice” at the Florida Society of Oncology Social Workers in Daytona Beach, Fla. in October. Clark also received the 2015 Oncology Social Worker of the Year from the Florida Society of Oncology Social Workers.

Dr. Jenny Stuber published “Exploring Inequality: A Sociological Approach.”

Dr. Suzie Weng, with colleague Lisa Gray presented “Military Spouses' Perspectives on the Influence of Military Culture on Spousal Functioning” at the 61^st annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education in Denver, Colo. With colleagues Justin Lee and Lisa Gray, Weng also presented a poster “Giving Back: Lessons Learned from Refugees and Immigrants.” In addition, she received the Council on Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity award from the Council on Social Work Education for her work related to historically and emerging underrepresented racial, ethnic and cultural groups.​  

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Engineering: Dr. Patrick Kreidl co-authored (with graduate students You Zhou and Ying Zhou) “Limiting Self-Propagating Malware Based on Connection Failure Behavior” to be presented at the seventh International Conference on Network and Communication Security in Sydney, Australia in December.

Computing: Dr. Karthik Umapathy presented a poster titled “Computing Senior Capstone Project” at the UNF Community Engaged Scholars Luncheon in November.

Dr. William Klostermeyer published “A Dynamic Domination Problem in Trees,” “Transactions on Combinatorics” and “Domination, Eternal Domination, and Clique Covering” in Discussiones Mathematicae Graph Theory.

Dr. Bob Roggio and David King published a paper “Methods for Using Scrum in Large Developing Organizations: A Meta Review” at the 12th International Conference in Applied Computing in Dublin, Ireland in October.

College of Education and Human Services

Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management:  Drs. Nicholas Eastham and Terry Cavanaugh presented “3D Printing in Education” at the Florida Association of Science Teachers conference in Tallahassee in October.

Dr. Matthew Ohlson and doctoral student Shelletta Baker presented on student success in the STEM fields at the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Orlando.

Drs. Chris Janson and Sophie Maxis recently had the chapter “School Counselor as Active Collaborator” published in Classroom Guidance for Prevention, Accountability, and Outcomes.

Dr. Rebecca Schumacher was one of four invited participants to represent Florida at a Reach Higher FAFSA Convening at the White House in October to share best practices to eliminate the barriers facing first generation students utilizing federal student aid.

Many UNF representatives presented at the Division on Career Development International Conference in Portland in November. Two doctoral students, Tara Rowe and Monica Bolaños from Xavier University of Louisiana co-presented with Drs. Kristine Webb, Janice Seabrooks-Blackmore and Karen Patterson in a poster presentation entitled, “Moving On To the Next Steps: KEYS Unlocking Access Through Peer Mentoring.” Rowe also co-presented with Drs. Webb, Seabrooks-Blackmore, and Patterson in a presentation entitled, “College Students with ASD: Listening to their ideas about Transition to Postsecondary Education Enrollment.” Additionally, Webb co-presented with colleagues in a presentation entitled “Never Give Up! Building School-Wide Culturally Relevant Transition Education Opportunities.” 

Childhood Education, Literacy and TESOL: Dr. Katrina Hall presented "Literacy Learning from a Lens of Wonder: Making the most of play-based learning" at the annual Jewish Community Alliance early childhood symposium in October.

Dr. Christine Weber was recently elected NAGC's Research and Evaluation Network Awards co-chair.

Dr. Soonhyang Kim recently published five peer-reviewed academic journal articles related to working with English language learners in various settings and journals.

Foundations and Secondary Education: Dr. Carolyne Ali-Khan was a keynote speaker at the Urban Science Education Research Seminar at the Graduate Center, CUNY, in New York in October.

Office of Academic Advising

Dr. John Kemppainen was accompanied by Lakeysha Joseph, a UNF graduate, Florida Fund for Minority Teachers recipient and a teacher/reading coach at Woodland Acres Elementary School, and Rhinna Willis, a UNF junior and current FFMT Scholar, to Tallahassee in November to attend the biannual meeting of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers and participate in the FFMT Day on the Hill meeting with State legislators advocating for increased funding for scholarships.

Hicks Honors College

Dr. Jeff Michelman, director of the Hicks Honors College, chaired a debate entitled “The Innovation Dilemma: Lessons Learned” and moderated the plenary session entitled “Leading Universities through Complexity,“ at the second MENA HELF forum in Abu Dhabi. Michelman also chaired a session entitled “Incorporating Service-Learning into the Honors Experience” at the National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Dr. Leslie Kaplan, associate director of the Hicks Honors College, accepted the award for second place at the Florida Campus Compact annual meeting for the ongoing partnership between the Honors First Year Colloquium class and Lutheran Social Services for Global Impact.

Milestone anniversaries

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

20 years

Michael Weglicki, Assistant Director of Facilities, Campus Recreation

15 years

Dennis McNulty, Program Assistant, Business Services       

Jan Meires, Professor, Nursing                          

Annette Robinette, Senior Academic Advisor, ACE      

10 years

Adel El Safty, Professor, Civil Engineering                

Tiffany King, Office Manager, Education and Human Services

Susan Schlieben, Accounting Associate, Intercollegiate Athletics 

Five years

Deborah Deal, Coordinator Payroll, Controller                     

Quincy Gibson, Assistant Professor, Biology                             

Janice Humphrey, Associate Professor, Exceptional, Deaf and Interpreter Education

Paul Mettler, Associate Professor, Clinical and Applied Movement Science          

Claudia Sealey-Potts, Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics     

Victoria Shore, Student Government Advisor, SG Business and Accounting Office     

Welcome

The following employees were either hired by UNF or were promoted from OPS positions recently:

Timothy Adams, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance and Energy Management   

Brittaney Bradley, Membership Engagement Coordinator, MOCA

Christopher Brandt, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance and Energy Management

Collin Cassidy, Audio/Video Support Technician, ITS

Holly Coleman, Student Affairs Coordinator, Disability Resource Center

Loran David, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance and Energy Management

Brand Driver, Admissions Coordinator, Admissions

Victoria Harrell, Admissions Coordinator, Transfer Student Services

Amanda Hittinger, Marketing Publications Coordinator, Enrollment Services Communication Systems

Miralem Isakovic, Student Financial Services Coordinator, Controller

Courtney Jackson, Child Development Teacher, Child Development Research Center

Takiyah Joseph, Career Development Services Coordinator, Housing

Glenda Kelsey, Library Services Specialist, Library

Erika Lee, Parking Services Tech, Parking and Transportation Services

Jacqueline Moes, Police Communications Operator, University Police Department

Teresa Nichols, Development Director, College Development Officers

Kristina Phillips, Training Administrative Specialist, Professional Development and Training

Samantha Riggins, Assistant Director, Advancement Services

Kayla Rodriguez, Office Assistant, Institute of Police Technology and Management

Nancy Spaid, University Librarian, Library

Great job

The following employees were promoted recently:

Lee Anderson, Development Director, College Development Officers

Denise Durden, Procurement Card Coordinator, Controller                        

Sherif Elfayoumy, School of Computing Director, Computing, Engineering and Construction

Goodbye

Heartfelt well wishes in their new endeavors for the following employees, who left UNF recently:

Michael Biagini, Director, Project Management Office   

Noreen Eberhardt, Senior Applications Programmer, Enterprise Systems

George Eggers, Auto Equipment Mechanic, Vehicle Maintenance  

Samantha Hollback, Academic Advisor, ACE

Warren King, Maintenance Mechanic, MOCA 

Joy Lee, Assistant Director, ELP   

Jason Lynn, Research Program Services Coordinator, Biology

Roy Morgan, Administrative Secretary, Mathematics and Statistics            

Colleen O'Connell, Assistant Director, Intercollegiate Athletics   

Kate Onstead, Academic Advisor, Advising                               

Karen Reedy, Academic Support Services Director, Enrollment Services                    

David Robbins, Groundskeeper, Student Affairs  

James Robinson, Applications Systems Analyst, ITS                 

Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer health benefits to the host, according to the World Health Organization. Andrea Arikawa, registered dietitian nutritionist and assistant professor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Flagship Program, debunks myths associated with probiotics.

Myth: Probiotics are only found in the form of supplements.

Truth: Probiotics can be found as dietary supplements or as food ingredients. Probiotic supplements are available as capsules, powders or drops, while the most common foods containing probiotics are fermented dairy products, cereal and chocolate bars.

Myth: Any food or product that contains live bacteria is a probiotic.

Truth: For a food to be considered a probiotic, the type of microorganisms or bacteria found in the food, referred to as bacterial “strains,” must be known, and there needs to be human studies showing that the food can improve some aspect of human health. Some foods may contain live bacteria, but they may not be present in sufficient amounts or there aren’t scientific studies linking them to a health improvement. This might be the case of fermented foods, such as sauerkraut or pickles. This doesn’t mean that consumption of fermented foods isn’t beneficial.

Myth: All yogurts are probiotics.

Truth: Yogurts containing live cultures of the bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are considered probiotics because these bacteria improve the digestion of lactose in people who are lactose intolerant. However, it’s important to check the label of the yogurt to make sure it says “live cultures” or “active cultures.” The National Yogurt Association’s “Live & Active Cultures” seal is found in some yogurt brands, and it certifies consumers that these products contain sufficient numbers of the probiotic bacteria. However, the absence of the seal doesn’t necessarily mean the yogurt doesn’t contain enough live cultures.

Myth: Refrigerated probiotics are better than non-refrigerated ones.

Truth: Certain probiotic products require refrigeration, such as yogurt and fermented milk products. Other products containing dried probiotics, such as dietary supplements in capsules, chocolates and cereal bars do not. Newer technologies to keep probiotics alive at room temperature have been developed, and it’s important to obtain a probiotic product from a reputable company and to follow the instructions on the label for proper storage. Reputable companies should label probiotics for viability through the end of shelf life and not at time of manufacture.

Myth: All probiotics function in the same way.

Truth: Probiotics are identified by their genus (eg, Lactobacillus), species (eg, acidophilus), and strain (eg, CL1285), because health benefits associated with different types of microorganisms are strain-specific. For example, while a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium infantis (35624) has been shown to provide symptomatic relief for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, a probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus(GG) has been shown to help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Yogurt Parfait

1 cup of plain nonfat yogurt with live cultures

1 tablespoon honey

1 small banana, sliced

1 teaspoon oat bran, toasted

5-6 unsalted almonds, toasted

Combine yogurt with honey and set aside. Place half of the sliced bananas in a glass bowl, top with half of the yogurt and honey mixture then sprinkle with the toasted oat bran. Repeat the layers and finish with the toasted almonds.

Nutritional Analysis per serving:

Calories- 333, Total Fat- 4.8 grams, Saturated Fat- 0.8 grams, Cholesterol- 5 milligrams, Protein- 17 grams, Carbohydrate- 62 grams, Fiber- 5 grams, Sodium- 177 milligrams, Calcium*- 50%, Iron*- 5.5%.
* Percent Daily Value

The Goods is a monthly column about food myths and facts by faculty members in the Nutrition and Dietetics Flagship Program and runs monthly in The Florida Times-Union’s “Taste” section. Have questions about probiotics? Contact Dr. Arikawa at andrea.arikawa@unf.edu .

The University of North Florida’s Student Wellness Complex was recently ranked as one of the Top 10 buildings in the 2015 AIA Florida People’s Choice Award Competition at the American Institute of Architects Florida Convention.

The competition, which featured architecturally impactful buildings across the state, drew more than 550,000 votes from 120 countries on five continents. The Student Wellness Complex, located across from the Student Union and adjacent to the UNF Arena, was ranked No. 7 for the most popular design and is the only Jacksonville building in the Top 10.

Bright Birds Know is a monthly feature highlighting interesting facts, figures and stories about the University of North Florida. Do you have a thought-provoking entry that you want to share with the campus community? Get involved by submitting your own Bright Birds Know item to Matt Coleman at matthew.coleman@unf.edu .