InsideMarch 2013

University of North Florida Provost Mark Workman’s sprawling corner office boasts all the trappings of being occupied by a career academic. The bookshelves are overflowing with dense, hard-cover texts and papers cover nearly every inch of open desk space.

 

After spending the past few decades working in administrative roles for the University, Workman said he’s looking forward to having the time to crack open some of those old books before beginning his next phase of responsibilities at UNF.  

 

Workman announced in February that he will step down from the post he’s occupied since 2006. A national search will be organized to find a successor. After a sabbatical, Workman plans to return in a professorial role on campus, but he hasn’t settled on the details just yet.

 

“I’ve earned some time off, and the president has left me the opportunity to choose when I would like to reenter the classroom,” said Workman, who received his B.A. in English literature from Haverford College in 1971 and his Ph.D. in folklore at the University of Pennsylvania in 1977. “I haven’t engaged in a classroom setting very frequently in the past dozen years to the point that students have almost become something of an abstraction to me. That’s why I welcome the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the teaching/learning process yet again at a dynamic stage in the evolution of higher education.”

 

“While the loss of Mark’s intellect will certainly be felt in Academic Affairs, we are pleased that he will remain on the faculty and our students will be able to benefit from his years of experience and his extraordinary intelligence,” said President John A. Delaney.

 

Workman’s tenure was marked by some tremendous highs for the University. He oversaw the introduction of the University’s Transformational Learning Opportunity program, which provides funding for faculty or scholar proposals that offer unique and engaging educational opportunities with the potential to broaden and deepen students’ intellectual and worldviews. Since Fall 2007, the Office of Undergraduate Studies has awarded dozens of TLOs, contributing greatly to the professional and personal development of scores of students.   

 

He also contributed to the selection of the inaugural Flagship Programs in 2006 and a new crop in 2010. Designed as a way to identify programs that promote synergy with the regional marketplace and give UNF a competitive academic advantage when compared to other institutions, Flagships receive significant financial support for related academic goals. Transportation and Logistics, International Business, Coastal Biology, Nutrition and Dietetics and Music joined the original Flagship Program — Community Nursing — during Workman’s tenure.

 

Workman, however, directed credit for these developments to the University’s dedicated corps of faculty.

 

“The faculty — they nurtured the programs that we were able to designate as flagships and developed the TLO experiences that have proven to be of such value to students,” he said. “The accolades lie with them, and I’m honored to have been able to be a part of the progress.”

 

He said he draws the most pride from having been able to promote, tenure and hire members of UNF’s faculty. Much of his time as provost coincided with a national economic collapse that shattered the budgets of most universities, and Workman said he did his best to support the research and professional development needs of those in Academic Affairs during times of financial strife.

 

“While they might not be as visible to the University, some of my greatest memories include reviewing the academic dossiers of the faculty who’ve come to us for promotions or positions on campus,” he said. “Going through the tremendous accomplishments of our faculty has been a humbling and extraordinarily rewarding process even in the midst of trying financial times. Any student coming to UNF can receive an education that is comparable, or even better, than an institution with an outwardly more prestigious name.”

 

While he might be leaving the provost’s office for a return to the classroom, Workman said the University is well-positioned from an academic standpoint to excel during a period of academic evolution.

 

“The ground is shifting underneath higher education,” he said. “We’re in the midst of a paradigm shift, and technology is having an enormous impact on the shape of higher ed. There are future challenges that must be met, and I can’t guarantee how higher ed will look five, or even 10, years from now. But I know it will be vastly different than what I encountered when I entered as a professor in 1978. I’m honored to be able to continue along in my career and learn about the changing face of higher education from inside a classroom again.”

Creating traditions has been the hallmark of Pierre Allaire’s tenure at the University of North Florida.

Whether it’s leading the UNF Foundation to unprecedented financial heights in the midst of economic turbulence or awarding employee dedication with one of his coveted Osprey eggs, Allaire is inextricably linked to the University’s continued development and success.

The UNF traditions he established will now continue on in his stead. Allaire, the vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the UNF Foundation since 1995, will join Baptist Health at the end of March. He will serve as vice president and chief development officer and head up the Baptist Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Jacksonville-based, not-for-profit health system.

Upon joining UNF in 1995, Allaire was tasked by then-president Adam Herbert with establishing a strong fundraising presence for a young institution looking to take the next step toward national prominence. After years of fundraising experience with Clemson and Florida universities, Allaire was prepared to bring some stability to a post that had experienced some major turnover, with Allaire becoming the fifth vice president in seven years.

Allaire immediately left his mark, reorganizing operations under the banner of Institutional Advancement and establishing the framework of what would become the largest philanthropic drive at that time  — UNF’s Access to Excellence capital campaign. The campaign started in 1997 and concluded in 2002 after surpassing the $100 million mark, far beyond the initial goal of $65 million.

It was a high-water mark for UNF, and it was a personal triumph for Allaire.

“When I think about favorite moments, that first campaign stands out as one,” he said. “I have always felt good about the support we received.”

The most recent campaign, The Power of Transformation, concluded this year after exceeding its $110 million goal.

“Over the years, we’ve boosted our fundraising levels considerably,” he said. “We’ve increased private scholarships from a couple hundred to more than 900. Our endowment in 1997 was $18 million — it’s now close to $80 million. Those contributions are helping many students and endowing many faculty positions on campus. The future of UNF is tied to that side of fundraising, and I’m proud to have helped over the years.”

Allaire’s legacy stretches far beyond just raising money. He helped initiate UNF’s Presidential Medallion award program, which annually recognize both alumni and friends who have given themselves to help make UNF an outstanding institution of higher education. It’s the highest award President John A. Delaney can give for service to the University.

“It’s a tradition that has grown out of a need to celebrate the wonderful community supporters UNF has had over the years,” he said. “I hope these awards are given out for years — long after I’ve left.”

Another tradition that isn’t as well-known is Allaire’s regular osprey egg awards during Institutional Advancement staff meetings. Employees who’ve done extraordinary work are rewarded with one of Allaire’s osprey eggs.

“We get them from vendors all over the world — alabaster eggs from Egypt or the current eggs we have now from Australia,” he said. “The eggs are just a little idea that came to me while I was at Clemson. It’s a way of doing something for the staff to acknowledge their effort and hard work.”

Since 1996, Allaire estimated he’s handed out 4 gross — or almost 600 eggs to deserving staff members. He considers each egg a testament to a job well done and said he feels fortunate to have worked with such a dedicated group.

“The memories I’ll take with me are those of the people I’ve been able to meet over my time at UNF,” Allaire said. “All those little interactions and all the good people I’ve worked with over the years have made my work an enjoyable experience. These relationships will hopefully last, and I know the memories will stay with me.”

The key to her advocacy is her empathy.

 

Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a nationally respected speaker and academic whose work revolves around lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, is peerlessly dedicated to the advancement of equality and acceptance nationwide. She’s counseled hundreds of college students during her decades spent in higher education and helped them wade through periods of adversity and persecution. She credits her expertise in the field to her own personal history.

 

“I can help them because I’ve been there to a certain degree,” said Sanlo, a University of North Florida alum. “Having a shared set of experiences helps when dealing with students who’ve struggled with accepting themselves and finding acceptance in a community. That common ground has made my work so gratifying.”

 

Her lifetime commitment to the national LGBT community was honored in January during a campus presentation sponsored by UNF’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center. Sanlo, who delivered a lecture and signed copies of her new book, “The Purple Golf Cart,” also received a "Trailblazer" award from Dr. B.J. Douglass, LGBTRC director.

“Ronni has become almost an iconic figure in the LGBT community,” Douglass said. “Her work in the academic and counseling fields has positively influenced so many people — including many here at UNF. She’s a tremendous ambassador for the University.”

 

Sanlo said her passion for advocacy springs from her formative years when she struggled with her own identity. She knew she was a lesbian from an early age, but there was little support for LGBT individuals at the time. She graduated from the University of Florida in 1969, married shortly after and gave birth to two children. A few years later, she decided she couldn’t stifle her true self any longer and came out to her family. This revelation led to her losing custody of her young children due to the pervasive anti-gay political climate of the time.

 

Similar indignities followed her into the workforce, as she was unceremoniously fired from job after job before landing a position with the Florida Health Department as an HIV epidemiologist. The job offered Sanlo educational reimbursement and allowed her to obtain a master’s and doctoral degree in education from the University of North Florida, which she used as an educational launch pad to jump-start her new career as an LGBT rights advocate.

 

“UNF is an incredible gift that came into my life,” she said. “It was the place where I started identifying some of the key purposes for my life — social justice and advocacy.”

 

That focus brought her to the University of Michigan in 1994 to direct the school’s Lesbian and Gay office. While there, Sanlo created the template for a nationally recognized series of ceremonies — dubbed Lavender Graduations — to honor the academic achievements of LGBT students and supporters. The rationale for the Lavender Graduation was simple — acknowledge students who had persevered when academic environments weren’t as tolerant of LGBT students. The title is derived from the combination of pink and purple, colors that have been used historically to negatively identify LGBT individuals.

 

Sanlo, who retired in 2010 after more than a decade as a professor and director of the University of California, Los Angeles’ LGBT Resource Center, has helped introduce the Lavender Graduation at 59 colleges nationwide, including UNF. The fifth annual UNF Lavender Graduation will take place in April.

While her full-time career is officially in the past, Sanlo’s schedule is still packed with public speaking gigs and writing. Her message of tolerance and acceptance is one she plans to spread for years to come.

“Every now and then, someone has to cut the path through the woods,” Sanlo said. “At UNF, I’d like to think my visibility helped clear that path for LGBT students, faculty and staff, and I hope my legacy in higher education demonstrates my continued effort to cultivate an environment of tolerance and acceptance for the LGBT community in academia.”

It was his first day on the job and Ted Mandrick was already putting out fires.

“I thought I was just going to start in the office,” said Mandrick, a senior University of North Florida biology major. “Maybe I’d work on some paperwork and get accustomed to the work. Instead, I got to go to campus, work out in the field and help make sure the fire didn’t spread.”

Mandrick started his internship in January with Environmental Services Inc., a Jacksonville-based environmental consulting firm. The company has been contracted by the University since 2008 to perform controlled burns around sensitive environmental areas of the campus. The most recent burn Jan. 15 allowed Mandrick to gain some serious on-the-job training as he helped monitor fire movement while other Environmental Services staff held the controlled burn in check.

Chuck Hubbuch, assistant director of Physical Facilities, said a program of prescribed burns was implemented on campus in 2009 to control the amount of fuel, such as leaves, branches, trunks, stumps and other dry foliage, that could ignite wildfires. Any healthy pine forest ecosystem in Florida depends on burns — either prescribed or wildfire. The preferred method is to schedule controlled burns throughout the year to safeguard the campus’ precious natural resources.

When choosing a contractor to conduct the burns, Hubbuch said he looked for a company that shared the same focus on protecting biodiversity. Many of the contractors he spoke with came from a forestry background and discussed running large bulldozers through the Preserve to create fire breaks and boost timber production. Environmental Services, however, shared Hubbuch’s perspective that conserving the environment and encouraging biodiversity was the key to instituting a successful burn program on UNF’s naturally beautiful campus.

Environmental Services CEO Rhodes Robinson said the company has helped in the development of roads and various campus access points, and fire management has been an ongoing effort to keep the campus safe while protecting the sensitive natural environment.

James Moody, a project forester with Environmental Services who served as the lead on the most recent controlled fire on campus, said UNF has a very small window in which to go ahead with prescribed burns. Considering its proximity to I-295 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard, the wind direction, weather conditions and the amount of dry flora must be taken into account before any burns are approved.

“We have to burn on days that keep the smoke off the roads and limit the smoke on campus,” Moody said. “January and February is our heavy season for burns, seeing as how a lot of foliage is dead and there are a lot of cool fronts.”

Burn crews usually consist of three people monitoring a 10- to 30-acre burn zone. Moody said they keep a truck on site that contains a 200-gallon water tank in case of emergencies. Fire lines, which stem the advance of flames, are installed around the zone. Much of Mandrick’s job involved monitoring those lines to make sure no flames extended too far.

“I’m trying to get experience in various biology fields because I want to continue on in wildlife management when I graduate,” Mandrick said. “This was a great way to see things up close and personal.”

Performer, director, writer and choreographer Jasmine Guy addressed a crowd of hundreds at the University of North Florida’s 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Scholarship Luncheon in February.

The luncheon is sponsored annually by UNF’s Intercultural Center for PEACE and has invited advocates, actors and activists to speak about the ideals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and honor his legacy. Past speakers include professor Asa Hilliard, actor and playwright Ossie Davis, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Blair Underwood and Dr. Cornel West. The program also provides four scholarships to students whose leadership and service reflect King’s teachings, with more than $100,000 having been awarded to UNF scholars during the course of the last thirty years.

Guy, who became a national sensation playing southern belle Whitley Gilbert on “The Cosby Show” spinoff, “A Different World,” discussed “Making Your Own Different World” during the luncheon. Beyond acting, Guy wrote the critically acclaimed book “Evolution of a Revolutionary,” which is the story of Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther and mother of slain rap artist Tupac Shakur. She also directed and choreographed the musical opera “I Dream,” a moving story of the life of King. The most recent play she directed, “The Mountaintop,” brought her back to her hometown of Atlanta — also the birthplace of King. The play weaves the tale of a fictional encounter between King and a hotel maid the night before he was assassinated. Guy said the play seeks to humanize a man who has grown in mythology to the point that he appears untouchably iconic to some.

“I was extremely nervous to do this play in Atlanta,” she said. “He's Atlanta’s native son, the King family still lives there, and many people in the community are very protective of his legacy. I wanted to do it right while still allowing a creative environment for actors and writers to flourish.”

She said the play’s story allows the actors to strip away years of history and perceptions and portray King as a man who was intensely driven to do the right thing.

“Everything he accomplished was done so as a man — not as some kind of mythological being,” she said. “It shows that everyone can have an impact; that courage isn’t reserved for a select few.”

Oupa Seane, director of the Intercultural Center for PEACE, said Guy’s experience depicting the life Dr. King on the stage made her a perfect choice to serve as keynote speaker for this year’s luncheon.

“She has an insight into the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King that few of us who have simply studied his works can match,” he said.

Guy said she was honored to speak at UNF because of the integral role higher education plays in shaping the culture and vibrancy of a nation.

“I’ve seen a lot of hope and a lot of acceptance in the young people of today, and these are world views I believe can be traced back to a certain extent to the work of Martin Luther King,” she said. “But there is still a long road toward closing the economic gap between classes and building on those teachings of equality passed on by him. One thing is certain, however. Being in the college environment makes me feel like anything is possible.”

His name is synonymous with the most controversial political battle of the ‘90s.

Ken Starr, who initiated an investigation into President Bill Clinton that led to only the second impeachment trial of a president in United States history, will discuss another hot topic March 5 at the University of North Florida.

Starr’s lecture will cover the “Conflict over Freedom of Religion in America” as part of UNF’s College of Arts and Sciences Pre-Law Lecture Series.

He currently serves as president of Baylor University but is best known for his time as United States Independent Counsel from the mid- to late-‘90s. He has had a distinguished career in academia, the law and public service. Prior to his presidency at Baylor, he served for six years as the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law. He has argued 36 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including 25 cases during his time as Solicitor General of the United States from 1989 to 1993.

Starr said his lecture was inspired in large part by the words of Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female member of the U.S. Supreme Court who retired in 2006. He said many of her post-retirement speeches have called for a national revival of civic education, and he was driven by those statements to reflect on the current status of First Amendment freedom for citizens.

“We need to be reminded that under our Constitution, liberty remains the baseline,” he said. “That’s what the First Amendment is all about, as well as the Bill of Rights. For my lecture, I have chosen to reflect on the opening words of the Bill of Rights — especially the establishment of religious freedom — and reflect on the meaning of those words.”

The concept of freedom of religion is a truly divisive issue across the political spectrum, and Starr said he wants to engage the younger, undergraduate population on a debate topic they’ll likely encounter in their own lives. He said topics such as religious freedom will be hotly contested for years to come, and it’s good for prospective law school students to be aware of the discussion.

“It doesn’t matter if one of these students becomes a fabulous tax lawyer, it’s wise for them to be steeped in our Constitutional traditions,” Starr said. “It’s an inevitability that a lawyer will be confronted, even at an entirely social event, to share his or her views on the latest controversy that has erupted. And lawyers should be good, knowledgeable students of the political climate.”

Starr is the author of more than 25 publications, and his 2002 book, “First Among Equals: The Supreme Court in American Life,” was praised by U.S. Circuit Judge David B. Sentelle as “eminently readable and informative ... not just the best treatment to-date of the Court after [Chief Justice Earl] Warren, it is likely to have that distinction for a long, long time.”

He has received a multitude of honors and awards, including the J. Reuben Clark Law Society 2005 Distinguished Service Award, the 2004 Capital Book Award, the Jefferson Cup award from the FBI, the Edmund Randolph Award for Outstanding Service in the Department of Justice and the Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service.

The lecture is schedule for 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 5 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center. Admission is free, but e-tickets are required and can be reserved online.

The University of North Florida and the Jacksonville Public Library will kick off the “Bridging Cultures – Poetic Voices of the Muslim World,” a traveling exhibit and series of programs presenting the varied poetic transitions of the Muslim world, with Blues and the Muslim Call to Prayer lecture at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in the Adam W. Herbert University Center.

Through images and recordings, award-winning historian Dr. Sylviane Diouf of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will illustrate how the blues, which originated in the American South, might have evolved from the techniques of the recitation of the Qur’an and the call to prayer in West Africa. Diouf will lecture and play early blues recordings side-by-side with African recordings of the call to prayer. Alamiromar “Omar” Zeinelabin, a UNF freshman and member of the Isalmic Center or Northeast Florida, will give the call to prayer, also known as Adhan, which is called out in the mosque five times a day and summons Muslims for mandatory prayers.

The first event in the series, “Blues and the Muslim Call to Prayer,” is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, and will kick off the Interfaith Center’s 6th Annual Interfaith Week

“This year’s Interfaith Week theme, developed by a student steering committee, is Once Upon a Time: Sharing our Stories,” said Tarah Trueblood, director of UNF’s Interfaith Center.

Since this event is part of Interfaith Week, UNF students only need their Osprey 1Cards for entry.

Additionally, the Jacksonville Public Library, in partnership with UNF and the Istanbul Cultural Center of Jacksonville, will host “Bridging Culture: Poetic Voices of the Muslim World,” from Saturday, March 2 through Saturday, June 15. Jacksonville was one of six cities in the U.S. chosen to host “Bridging Culture: Poetic Voices of the Muslim World,” a national initiative that celebrates poetry with scholar presentations, dialogue, visual art, music and performance.

A large, 18-panel exhibit will be on display at the Southeast Regional Library on 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. from Saturday, March 2 through Saturday, April 27, and at the Main Library on 303 Laura St. N., from Wednesday, May 1 through Saturday, June 15. The lushly-illustrated exhibit highlights poetic traditions from four major language areas — Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu — and introduces poetry from Asia, Africa and diaspora communities in the United States. Designed by RAA Associates, the exhibit features photography, calligraphic masterworks and poetry from Adonis to Rumi.

“This series, Bridging Cultures – Poetic Voices of the Muslim World, supports the Interfaith Center’s mission of advancing religious pluralism — the active engagement across difference of religious and secular ideological frameworks,” Trueblood said. “The United States is currently the most religiously diverse country in the world — perhaps in history. However, as a nation we have not developed the skills necessary to fulfill our vision of religious freedom in a diverse democracy. By resourcing our students to increase their religious literacy and equipping them with the skills to engage in interfaith dialogue, the Interfaith Center prepares and empowers students for making lasting contributions in a diverse, complex and changing world.”

“Poetic Voices of the Muslim World” encompasses a series of programs that include lectures, movies, performances, hands-on arts and crafts, music programs, cultural art demonstrations, documentary and book discussions, as well as activities for children, teens and adults. All programs are free. However, reservations are requested for some programs.

“Jacksonville is one of six public library systems in the United States, and the only one in the Southeast, chosen to host this traveling exhibit and put together related programming that aims at increasing understanding of Muslim culture via scholarly interpretations and performances of poetry,” said Parvez Ahmed, UNF associate professor of accounting and finance and member of Jacksonville's Human Rights Commission. “We at UNF are excited to partner with Jacksonville Public Library and the Istanbul Cultural Center. Over the next few months, Jacksonville will be treated to an eclectic mix of special programs, which include renowned scholars, international performers, famous artists, documentary screenings, book discussions, children’s activities and showcasing of local poetic talents.”

The next event at UNF will take place at 7 p.m. March 7 when Movies on the House presents “Prince Among Slaves,” a documentary screening and discussion. The movie recounts the true story of an African Muslim prince who was captured and sold into slavery in the American South. After 40 years of enslavement, he finally regained his freedom, became a national celebrity and even dined in the White House. A discussion with a local scholar immediately follows.

More information is available online. Reservations can be made by contacting Lisa Brown Buggs from the Jacksonville Public Library at (904) 630-4655.

“Poetic Voices of the Muslim World” is presented by Poets House and City Lore, in partnership with the American Library Association and the Jacksonville Public Library along with the public libraries in Los Angeles, Detroit, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C. and Queens, N.Y. Funded by the Bridging Cultures Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor, with additional support from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. 

The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, a cultural resource of the University of North Florida, opens two new art exhibitions in March featuring the works of a pair of art educators — Michael Aurbach and Sarah Emerson.

Featured on the cover of World Sculpture News in its July 2012 issue, Aurbach, a sculpture and drawing professor at Vanderbilt University, will have his sculptures on display from Tuesday, March 5, to Sunday, April 28, in MOCA’s UNF Gallery and at the University Gallery on campus.

Aurbach’s exhibition is part of The Barbara Ritzman Devereux Artist Workshop, which is designed to supplement traditional academic and applied art instruction by providing students the opportunity to work with distinguished artists representing a broad range of visual media. His socially inspired works, which highlight issues related to death, identity and the plight of socially disenfranchised groups, have been exhibited throughout the United States for more than two decades. Much of his recent work serves as commentary on academia, secrecy and institutional behavior.

“Students will benefit from interacting with Professor Aurbach during his residency at the annual Barbara Ritzman Devereux workshop by learning about his meticulous working methods and techniques, the business of art, how to survive as an artist and how to challenge the academic and art establishments,” said Debra Murphy, chair of UNF’s Department of Art and Design.

Part rebel. Part teacher. Full-time mother. Atlanta-based Emerson, a painter and Emory University art professor, continues to rail against the man-made world with a paintbrush in one hand and a Power Ranger in the other.

The talented painter will create a new entry in her lauded “Underland” series as part of “Project Atrium: Sarah Emerson,” opening March 27 at MOCA. In the past decade, Emerson has exhibited her work in galleries and museums throughout the United States.

Both artists will provide opportunities for students and the public to interact with them and learn from their experience. Aurbach will discuss the creative process behind the sculptures at a reception from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, at the University Gallery and during a lecture at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at MOCA. The illustrated lecture will explore what inspired his exhibition and his process of creating sculpture. Patrons will be able to see Emerson working the Haskell Atrium Gallery at MOCA starting in mid-March, and she will give a lecture about her work, career and the new Project Atrium installation at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 27, at MOCA.

For more information about both exhibitions and their related activities, visit www.mocajacksonville.unf.edu, stop by the museum or call (904) 366-6911.

Department: University Police Department

 

Job title: Sergeant

 

What do you do? I am in charge of the best group of police officers. We work a midnight shift from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

 

Years at UNF: 14

 

Tell us about your family. I’ve been married to my wife, Michelle, for 22 years, and we have an 18-year-old son named Dalton.

 

If you could choose any other career, what would it be and why? An attorney because I love to argue

 

What would you like to do when you retire? Fish and hunt, but I’ll probably work a part-time job.

 

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF?  The people. UNF has the greatest collection of people — from our faculty to our staff —these people care about each other. That’s rare in this day and time.

 

What is the best thing you ever won? I know this sounds cheesy, but my wife’s heart

 

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

 

Who is your favorite fictional character and what makes them your favorite? Jax from “Sons of Anarchy” because of the way he handles turmoil in his life

 

If you won the lottery, what would do with the money? Pay off bills, retire and help others

 

If you were not working at UNF, what would you be doing? I’d be a police officer at another agency, possibly in the Great Smoky Mountains.

 

Describe your favorite UNF-related memory? The first UNF/JU game that was televised. UNF won and the crowd ran onto the court.

 

What is your favorite way to blow an hour? Fishing

 

If you were asked to paint a picture about anything you wanted, what would you paint? A beautiful sunset

 

What was the best money you ever spent? A vacation with my family to Key West

 

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

 

What is the proudest/happiest moment of your life? The day my son became an Eagle Scout

 

Tell us something that would surprise people to know about you: I have been an assistant scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 333 for almost five years.

 

What was the first concert you ever attended, and what was the most recent concert you attended? My first was Chicago, and my most recent was Jimmy Buffett.

   

What person had the greatest impact on your life?  My mom. She is a saint.

 

What are you most passionate about? Helping others in need

 

Who is the most famous person you ever met? Bobby Bowden

 

Tell us something about you that even your friends don’t know: I am a neat freak.

 

What do you hope to accomplish that you have not done yet? Become a Mason and a Shriner

 

Last book read: The Bible

 

 

 

College of Arts & Sciences

 

Chemisty: Dr. Christos Lampropoulos co-authored “Synthesis, Structure and Spectroscopic and Magnetic Characterization of [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CCH₂Bu^t)₁₆(MeOH)₄]·MeOH, a Mn₁₂ Single-Molecule Magnet with True Axial Symmetry” in Inorganic Chemistry in December. It’s available online.

 

Dr. Michael Lufaso co-authored two articles, both of which appeared in Vibrational Spectroscopy: “Temperature-dependent Raman spectra of Bi2Sn2O7 ceramics” and “Optical Phonon Features in Ferroelectric Bi₃Fe_1/2Nb_3/2O₉.” He was an invited participant at the National Science Foundation Materials Genome Initiative Workshop, Arlington, Va.

 

Political Science and Public Administration: Dr. Georgette Dumont presented a paper "Transparency or Accountability?  The Purpose of Online Technologies for Nonprofits" at the annual Southern Political Science Association in Orlando in January.

 

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction

 

Computing: Dr. Sanjay P. Ahuja and D. Komathukattil published their paper, “A Survey of the State of Cloud Security” in the December issue of The Journal of Network and Communication Technologies. The article is online here.

 

Dr. Kenneth Martin has been selected to participate in a Computing Accreditation Commission/ABET Mock Visit to evaluate an undergraduate Computer Science program at a university in South America.

 

Dr. Robert Roggio had his paper, “Application Lifecycle Management: Marriage of Business Management with Software Engineering” published in the January issue of The International Journal of Computer and Information Technology. He also had another article, “A Brief History of Online Technology Education – Is It Meeting the Needs of Its Constituents?” presented and published in the proceedings of the 2013 Hawaii International Conference on Education in January.

 

Engineering: Dr. Peter Bacopoulos, Terry Smith andDr. David Lambert received an Environmental Center $1,600 grant for the study of the “Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Beached Oil Tar Balls in Northeast Florida.” Bacopoulos alsoearned a certificate form UNF CIRT “Getting Started: The First Steps in Online Teaching.”

 

 

Kathie Carswell participated in a panel discussion at the Ritz Theater for the 2nd Annual Girls Rock Symposium, which focuses on raising awareness for literacy, decreasing disparities in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), making smarter college and career choices and increasing exposure to professional women in the community of Jacksonville for middle school girls.

 

 

Construction Management: Dr. J. David Lambert, along with four School of Computing undergraduate students and three biology graduate students, presented a poster session about their ongoing research, The “Fort Caroline Web Map Application Project,” at the Timucuan Science and History Symposium in January. The Symposium is sponsored by the National Park Service. The project is funded by a grant from the Timucuan Trail Parks Foundation and the National Park Service.

 

 

College of Education and Human Services

 

Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management: Drs. John Frank, Annabel Brooks and Elizabeth Gregg presented at the 23rd Annual Jon C. Dalton Institute on College Student Values at Florida State University. Their presentation “Crossing Borders in Pursuit of Authentic Student Leadership Development: A partnership model between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs” highlighted the unique partnership between UNF’s Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management and the Institute of Values, Community and Leadership to offer an exciting new minor in community leadership. The community leadership minor, grounded in the Social Change Model and Student Leadership Development theory, is centered firmly on high-engagement pedagogy, representing a groundbreaking partnership in higher education. Presentation highlights included the efforts undertaken to evolve the successful certificate in leadership to the community leadership minor, an academic minor and offered conference attendees the opportunity to learn how to model UNF’s remarkable collaborative partnership, a best practice in higher education.

 

Dr. Kathe Kasten has recently been appointed as an associate editor of Educational Researcher, an American Educational Research Association (AERA) publication. The editorial board will be meeting in San Francisco, California during the AERA annual meeting this April.

 

Department of Childhood Education, Literacy and TESOL: Dr. Katie Monnin was a featured speaker at the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English in January. Additionally, Monnin just finished guest editing The Sequential Art and Narrative in Education peer-reviewed journal this last month. The text is online here. This month's Action News Katie's Korner video can be found online here. Monnin talks about the value of teaching contemporary children's cartoons in elementary classrooms.

 

Department of Foundations and Secondary Education: Dr. Daniel Dinsmore was interviewed on Fox 30 Action News in January about how grades have improved in Florida and how it requires parents to help for continued success. The video is online here.

 

Center for Urban Education and Policy: COEHS faculty, staff and doctoral and undergraduate students attended the Urban Education Symposium 5: Reclaiming Young Black Males for Jacksonville’s Future held at the Main Library in February. The theme of this year’s symposium was single gender schools and featured keynote speaker Dr. John Jackson, president of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, a panel of founders/principals of single gender schools in other states. He and announced the creation of Valor Academy in Jacksonville, a new public charter school focusing on African American male students. Drs. Kathe Kasten and Mary Rose served on the planning committee for this event, and Rose facilitated the audience participation session of the program.

 

Educator Preparation Institute: Dr. Betty Bennett was interviewed on Fox 30 Action News in February. The topic was women’s self-defense. Dr. Bennett was asked to comment on ways women can protect themselves from becoming victims. The interview is online.

 

 

Milestone anniversaries

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

 

40 years

Pat Gardner, Office Assistant, Physical Facilities

 

15 years

Angela Graham, Treasury Associate, Treasury

Sheila Spivey, Director, Women’s Center

 

10 years

Renee Goldstein, Interim Director, One Stop Student Services

Glenda Kelsey, Senior Library Services Associate, Library

 

Five years

James Catron, Accounting Coordinator, Training and Services Institute

Van Nguyen, Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Joe Williams, Groundskeeper, Physical Facilities

Michele Braden, Executive Secretary, Facilities Planning

Merla Ibarreta, Senior Accountant, Training and Services Institute

Calvin Smith, Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Kathryn Dumouchel, Events Planning Coordinator, Academic Affairs

Martha Solomon, Senior Library Services Associate, Library

Michael Weeks, IT Support Coordinator, Computing, Engineering and Construction

 

Welcome

The following employees were either hired by UNF or were promoted from OPS positions from mid-December to early-February:

 

Andrea Fors-Sullivan, Student Affairs Coordinator, English Language Program

Brooke Hammon, Career Services Coordinator, Career Services

Megan Saltmarsh, Program Assistant, Exceptional, Deaf and Interpreter Education

Virginia Smith, Office Assistant, Parking and Transportation Services

Jessica Soto, Office Manager, Center for Community-Based Learning

Stephanie Toro, Program Assistant, Career Services

Jamel Croley, Maintenance Supervisor, Maintenance and Energy Management

Sherrian Major, Police Communications Operator, University Police Department

Lois Sumegi, Director of Development, College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Michelle Artiga, Administrative Secretary, English Language Program

Wayne Bennett, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance and Energy Management

April Chamberlin, Assistant Director of Student Government, SG Business & Accounting Office

Barbra Luce-Turner, Director of Development, College of Arts and Sciences

Johnnie Smith, Custodial Worker, Custodial Services

 

Great job

The following employees were promoted in January:

 

William Bigham, Locksmith Supervisor, Physical Facilities

Linda Fennell, Senior Custodial Worker, Custodial Services

Renee Goldstein, Interim Director, One-Stop Center

Chad Learch, Interim Director, Admissions

Vladislav Mikhedok, Maintenance Specialist, Physical Facilities

Lillith Reigger, Director, Academic Support Services, Graduate School

Joseph Rodil, Office Manager, SG Business & Accounting Office

Marvin Thompson, Senior, Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Synne-Claire Twiggs-Jones, Senior Academic Adviser, Academic Center for Excellence

John Yancey, Interim Assistant Vice President, Enrollment Services

 

Goodbye

 

Heartfelt well wishes in their new endeavors for the following employees, who left UNF from mid-December to early-February:

 

Daniel Dundon, Director of Foundation Communications, Public Relations

Anthony Hines, IT Support Coordinator, User Services

Gibson Holmes, Student Financial Aid Coordinator, Enrollment Services Processing Office

Cynthia Lewis, Student Affairs Coordinator, Center For International Education

Sarah McGee, Assistant Director of Development, Coggin College of Business

Homer Bates, Professor, Accounting and Finance

Hilary Robbeloth, Metadata Librarian, Library

Bettye Brown, Senior Accounts Payable Receiving Representative, Controller

Laquishia Brown, Custodial Worker, Custodial Services

Rebecca Browning, Executive Secretary, Enterprise Systems

Jeanne Charleus, Senior Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Fred Franz, Senior Heavy Equipment Operator, Physical Facilities

Cara Lourcey, Office Manager, SG Business & Accounting Office

Franklin Maddox, Maintenance Specialist, Physical Facilities

Abra Maxey-Billings, Administrative Secretary, English

Soraya Orr, Office Assistant, One-Stop Center

Terence Tripp, Custodial Worker, Custodial Services

James Williams, Office Assistant, Parking Services

Christine Wright, Custodial Worker, University Housing

Helen Smith, Office Manager, University Housing

Martha Warner, Financial Aid Specialist, Enrollment Services Processing Office

Dominick Martorelli, Associate Professor, Art and Design

Eric Thomas, Maintenance Mechanic, University Housing

 

Welcome to the family

Dr. John MacArthur from the Coggin College of Business and wife, Muriel, welcomed a new grandson, Ethan David Johnson, in January.

Figs have been eaten by humans for thousands of years and they can still be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet in the 21^st century. Dr. Judy Perkin, professor in the Nutrition and Dietetics Flagship Program, tells us more about this sweet and nutritious food. To help you add figs to your diet, a recipe has been provided.

 

Myth: Figs originated in the New World.

Fact: Historians tell us that figs are an ancient plant that human beings have consumed for thousands of years. Evidence also indicates that the fig originated in Asia and soon spread to other parts of the world, including the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. In terms of the New World, history experts note that figs were brought to the Americas by the early European settlers.

Myth: Figs are a fruit.

Fact: Botany articles and food encyclopedias indicate that the fig is actually a flower, with only the fig seeds being technically classified as a fruit. For culinary purposes, of course, we typically think of the fig as a fruit and the U.S. government dietary assessment tool called “SuperTracker” considers figs as a fruit, when it counts food group servings to evaluate the diet.

 

Myth: Figs are low in nutrient content.

Fact: According to published nutritional analyses, figs are a good source of fiber, potassium and antioxidants. Besides being good sources of selected nutrients, agricultural groups tell us that figs can be pureed and used to replace part of the fat in some recipes.

 

Myth: Fresh figs stay edible for a long time when kept at room temperature.

Fact: There is consistent agreement among food experts that fresh figs should be washed and eaten quickly, refrigerated for only a short time or should be frozen. Directions for drying fresh figs can be found online.

 

Myth: The United States is the largest commercial producer of figs in the world.

Fact: According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, the U.S. was the sixth largest producer of commercial figs in 2009, with Egypt and Turkey being the No. 2 commercial fig producers that year. This same source tells us that California is the state responsible for the vast majority of figs that are produced commercially in the U.S. In North Florida, many people grow figs in their own yards and fresh figs (in season) and dried figs (usually year round) can be purchased.

 

Fig, Apple, and Chicken Stir-Fry

 

2/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

 

2 tablespoons light soy sauce

 

1 tablespoon water

 

2 teaspoons cornstarch

 

½ teaspoon sugar

 

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons canola oil

 

12 oz. (3) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized chunks

 

8 dried figs, chopped

 

1 medium red apple, cored and cut into ½-inch cubes

 

4 oz. snow peas, trimmed

 

1 medium carrot, cut diagonally into thin slices

 

2 cups bok choy, cut into 1-inch pieces

 

1 scallion, sliced

 

rice or noodles for serving (optional)

To make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the broth, soy sauce, water, cornstarch and sugar until blended and smooth. To make the stir-fry: Heat a large skillet or wok over high heat until hot. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and the chicken; stir-fry until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Transfer the chicken to a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon oil to the skillet. Add the dried figs, apple, snow peas and carrot; stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add to the chicken in the bowl. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, bok choy and scallions to the skillet; stir-fry for 1 minute. Return the chicken mixture to the skillet along with 1/2 cup of the sauce. Stir-fry until the sauce thickens and boils. Serve with rice or noodles, if desired. Preparation time: 30 minutes or less. Serves: 4.

Nutritional Information per Serving
Calories: 250	Carbohydrates: 24g
Total Fat: 7.4g	Cholesterol: 50mg
Saturated Fat: 0.9g	Dietary Fiber: 5g
% of Calories from Fat: 26%	Sodium: 383mg
Protein: 23g

 

Recipe and nutritional analysis used with permission of the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) and Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® website..

 

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

Many of us just don’t get the exercise we need on a weekly basis.

There are a few real barriers that keep two out of every three people from getting the exercise their bodies need.

Life moves fast, and many of us race to fit what we can into our days. Technology has us sitting idle at computers, and it can be difficult to find the time and
motivation to start an exercise routine. But every obstacle can be overcome, and it’s up to you to fight the excuses.

Here are a few suggestions to help you break through the barricades and become a Healthy Osprey:

• Pick 30-minute time slots three days a week. What can you replace in your schedule to make exercise a top priority?
• Choose a friend or family member who will be a workout partner and make you accountable for your own health. This support will motivate you to get moving.
• If you feel too tired to exercise, just try to get yourself going for 10 minutes. It’s likely that any kind of movement will reenergize you and help you finish your workout.
• Plan ahead, write it on your calendar or bring your gym clothes to work — anything to promote workout accountability. You could also join a class — there are plenty to choose from at the new Student Wellness Complex.
• Take a hike on our nature trails or go walk through the St. Johns Town Center or the Avenues Mall. There are always convenient, low-cost exercise resources in your community.
• Get a jump rope, hula-hoop or work-out DVD so the weather doesn’t become an excuse not to exercise.

Think of exercise as your recess from life and obligations. This is your time set aside for you and your well being.


Healthy Osprey is designed to provide solid advice on how to become healthier at work and at home. Shelly Purser, director of Health Promotion, and Mike Kennedy, assistant director of Health Promotion, write a different article each month that focuses on some aspect of health and wellness. Healthy Osprey is a collaboration of students, faculty and staff working together to foster a University community that embraces the development of a healthy body, mind and spirit. The purpose of the Healthy Osprey initiative is to assess and respond to the needs of the UNF community to create and maintain a healthy environment, which will enhance the holistic student experience. For more information, contact Shelly Purser at spurser@unf.edu. To read this month’s newsletter in full, click here .