InsideApril 2021

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, everything changed. We embraced masks, social distancing and testing. On the UNF campus, the landscape changed as well — from people bustling about to less crowded pathways — as academics moved from in-person learning to remote coursework, then back to hybrid learning and work on and off campus. 

 

Now that vaccinations are offering us some hope that the pandemic will soon be viewed in the rear-view mirror, we wanted to take a look back at that unprecedented year.

 

Technology in the Classrooms

To move to virtual learning, UNF bought a variety of equipment to be installed around campus. All of this was done during a time when equipment availability was very tight, with some equipment on back-order for months due to demand. The technology allowed a mix of virtual and socially distanced in-person learning.

 

By the Numbers

• UNF converted 64 classrooms to remote instruction with 75-plus cameras and 70-plus microphones
• 50 webcams were purchased for use by faculty and staff
• Technology converted Robinson Theater, Lazzara Hall and the John A. Delaney Student Union ballroom to remote instruction classrooms
• Three Zoom rooms were added in the Coggin College of Business
• Tablets/wireless hotspots were purchased for emergency checkout to students
• The Logistics Information and Technology Lab, or LITS Lab, was transformed into a remote instruction classroom
• UNF purchased and deployed 30 all-in-one cart systems (DTEN carts) to integrate camera, microphone and monitor in one device

Staying Safe on Campus

In prepping the campus for reopening in the fall, keeping students, faculty and staff safe was a top priority. To remind everyone of safe behaviors, UNF purchased more than 3,300 signs for entryways, bathrooms, elevators, breezeways and hallways, floors and information desks and 12,000 chair decals to mark seating for social distancing. The University also purchased hand sanitizer dispensers, face shields, masks, plexiglass barriers and disinfectant wipes.

 

Do I Have COVID-19?

UNF nursing students answered that question for members of the campus community by administering more than 15,580 COVID tests from August 2020 through March 2021. By supplying the needed manpower, the nursing students were also able to gain clinical experience for their coursework.

Testing continues today under the direction of Dr. Linda Connelly, associate clinical professor, and Dr. Doreen Perez, COVID-19 health coordinator. Vaccinations administered through Student Health Services have begun as supplies have allowed. SHS has vaccinated 700 members of the Osprey community, and another 500 Ospreys will receive vaccinations during next week's vaccination clinic.

At a joint press conference with the City of Jacksonville and Visit Jacksonville in March, the University of North Florida Athletics Department announced the completion of the resurfacing of the Visit Jacksonville Track at Hodges Stadium as well as the extension of a partnership for the group centered around attracting and hosting national level track and field events.

The Duval County Tourist Development Council committed $950,000 for the resurfacing of the competition and practice tracks at the facility, along with installation of fiber at Hodges Stadium for improved broadcasting capabilities. The resurfacing for the practice track located adjacent to Hodges Stadium and the fiber installation are both parts of a future construction phase set to begin in August 2021. In recognition of the Tourist Development Council's contribution, the track will now we recognized as the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.

With the resurfacing of the Visit Jax Track completed, Hodges Stadium continues as a first-choice venue for hosting a variety of national and international track competitions. North Florida Athletics has the potential of hosting up to nine high level track and field events between April and July of this year, including the already secured NCAA East Preliminary on May 27-29.

Hodges Stadium, which has hosted the NCAA East Prelim five times prior to this year (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019), has served as host for the ASUN Conference Outdoor Track Championships since 2009. In addition, the stadium has served as the host site to Florida's high school state track & field championships multiple times along with the USATF Masters Championships and USATF Junior Olympics in the past decade.

These major track and field events have a significant economic impact for the City of Jacksonville:

• Each time North Florida has previously hosted the NCAA Track & Field East Preliminary, the event has produced more than 11,000 room nights for area hotels and more than $8 million in economic impact.
• The U.S. Junior Olympics produced more than 20,000 room nights along with more than $16 million in economic impact.
• Over the past 10 years of hosting internal and external track events, North Florida has created an estimated 125,000 room nights and nearly $100 million in economic impact.

In addition to a resurfaced practice track and improved fiber, Phase II of the construction project includes replacing the grass infield of the practice track with an artificial field. This upgrade will not only be beneficial for Osprey Athletics and general student life experiences but also solidify UNF as the destination location for major track events on the East Coast.

 

Submitted by Brian Morgan, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications; video courtesy of UNF Athletics Department

From the third floor of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library, visitors can now tour an art exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., hop into artist Salvadore Dali’s, “Archaeological Reminiscence of Millet's ‘Angelus,’” or travel to 1943 Northern Ireland without having to leave the library.

Those are just a few of the many learning opportunities now available at the UNF Virtual Learning Center, which opened last month on the third floor of the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. Some of these experiences include an operating room simulation and a journey through the human body.

Though all of this might just sound like fun and games, the new technology has tremendous value in the academic realm. Dr. Brent Mai, the dean of the Carpenter Library, said that VR technology can be used by nursing, history, architecture and biology students, though that just scratches the surface. “New content is constantly coming online, so one of our objectives is to make sure that faculty are aware of these resources ― which is what our very first Virtual Learning Librarian Kelly Hovinga will be doing.” Formerly with Fort Hays State University in Kansas, Hovinga will help students and faculty make the best use of the VR equipment for academics.

Dr. Yunjeong Mo, a professor in UNF’s construction management department, plans to use the new technology in his coursework. “I teach Building Information Modeling (BIM), and VR is a big new trend in BIM and construction industry,” Mo said. “VR can provide more immersive and realistic views of the 3D building model and has a great potential to be used in the construction industry ― safety training, clash detection, building evacuation planning, even for marketing.”

The Virtual Learning Center has 16 VR stations, three of which are standing play spaces and 13 seated. The “play spaces” are taped out rectangles in the real world that allow users to walk around while using the VR equipment. Equipped with goggles, controllers and headphones, users can see and hear a simulation and their movements determine, in part, what happens in the environment. UNF uses a gaming distribution site called Steam to access VR experiences.

The Osprey community is invited to register now for sessions. Those wishing to use the equipment must have a valid N number and complete the Virtual Learning Center User Acknowledgement form to create a Steam account, which will allow them to sign into the VR equipment. The VLC is open Monday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more about the Virtual Reality Center online. 

 

Article submitted by UNF Marketing Student Intern, Carissa Marques, Senior, Communications

Many campuswide initiatives and key student programs received much-needed support from the 2021 UNF Giving Day ― the University’s most successful yet ― which raised $600,861 from over 1,900 donors. In 2020, UNF Giving Day raised $338,404 from more than 1,200 donors.

Kristine Herrington, director of Annual Giving, said that funds donated during UNF Giving Days have a tremendous impact on our campus by supporting student programs, cutting-edge research, scholarships and the University’s athletic teams. “UNF Giving Day is all about caring and participation ― and generously donating gifts of all sizes to support a variety of causes and programs that make our campus and student experience Uniquely UNF,” Herrington said. “We are so grateful to our donors!”

UNF’s first Giving Day was in April 2018. Every year since, donors have contributed to many different areas of campus, just as they did for this UNF Giving Day, which featured 52 projects across campus. Participants could choose to support specific UNF colleges and academic programs as well as academic and student success initiatives, athletics, diversity projects, scholarships and more. Gifts also were directed to services provided by the UNF Counseling Center, the UNF Student Emergency Relief Fund and first-generation student support, in order to assist students experiencing mental, physical or financial challenges.

Here are four tips to help you make full use of Microsoft Teams. 

You may not realize it, but Teams has many new capabilities. In addition, Teams and Office 365 work together to provide you with an extraordinary amount of flexibility and functionality.

 

Tip No. 1 ― Use Together Mode
One of the newest Microsoft Teams features ― Together Mode ― places all your meeting participants on a shared background to make it appear that they are all sitting in the same room, like an auditorium or cafe. There should be at least four participants from the same tenant to enable Together Mode, which is located in your in-call background options.

Tip No. 2 ― Forward email messages into a channel
Microsoft Teams makes it possible easy to forward email messages to a channel directly from Outlook. Just click the ellipsis located next to any channel name and select ‘’Get email address.’’ This will help generate an email address for the channel, which you can then copy and use to forward anything you might want to add to the channel including Word docs, messages and more.

Tip No. 3 ― Give titles to your chat exchanges
To make a chat unique and more searchable from numerous conversations, give it a particular title. Giving a title to your chat especially when chatting with someone or your team member will make your chat exchanges show up easily when you do a search. Just click the pencil on the top beside the member names and type in the title you would like to name your chat.

Tip No. 4 ― Teams allows you to manage tasks with Microsoft Planner
All University faculty and staff can manage and organize their tasks in Teams with Microsoft Planner. Microsoft Planner is not your typical project management platform. It is designed to help employees collaborate and see what they are working on at a glance.

 

Benefits of using Microsoft Planner with Teams effectively:

• Allows employees to manage their tasks, to-do items and deliverables.
• Makes it easier for employees to connect with and follow their work.
• Reduces the chances that deadlines will be missed.
• Tracks group projects and plans, as well as seeing each other's tasks and deadlines.
• Provides the ability to allocate tasks and projects to each other.

Review the UNF Teams home page to learn how to streamline your task management by using the Teams Planner and Tasks features to organize, collaborate and instruct.

Submitted by Todd Vatter, System Director for Administration and Finance Communication

New medical and health solutions are on the horizon. In March, entrepreneurs working with UNF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation presented what they hope will be tomorrow’s companies offering new strategies in healthcare.

Robert “Bud” Duthie has created a product that cleans and sanitizes air and surfaces killing all viruses and pathogens faster and more efficiently than sprays or ultraviolet methods. Kenyatta and Laquita Lee are co-founders of an app that provides real time hospitalization and ER information may help physicians coordinate the care of a patient. Duthie and the Lees were two of six promising startups unveiled by their founders at the Center’s Demo Day. At the event, founders gave 10-minute pitches to members of the Advisory Council and selected guests.

“We are happy to say that our cohort ‘WOW’ed many people in the room," said Kara Barber, assistant Center director. "This is a very focused, hard working group of individuals who will no doubt be the next group of emerging startup leaders in Jacksonville.”

 

The Center opened in downtown Jacksonville in January 2019 aiming to be a hub for innovation and creativity in the heart of the city. It facilitates the development of early-stage companies by offering a variety of programs to support and nurture selected startup business, including business plan development, co-working space, help from student interns, professional support and networking opportunities.

 

In honor of Dr. Mark Dawkins, who played an essential role in creating the center, the "Mark Dawkins Spirit of Entrepreneurship" award is given every year to the founder who most embodies the spirit and characteristics necessary for success as an entrepreneur. This year the award was given to Kenyatta and Laquita Lee, co-founders of Pareto Touch.  

The six featured companies from the Center’s cohort include:

• Loop You In: Frank Adamo has created a CRM app for service designers so they connect more automatically with their user base.
• Still Water/Zero Captivity: Pam Fortenberry’s company focuses on anti-captivity movement and she released a children’s book that hopes to reignite the movement on whales in captivity.
• Oakheart Health: Riju Thomas and Michael Morton have created a product called GlassJaw that increases the speed and efficiency of the creation of craniomaxillofacial implants.
• HP5 Consulting: Tracee Holzendorf’s company is healthcare consulting focused on assisting healthcare entities meeting short- and long-term goals.
• Synergena: Robert “Bud” Duthie has created a product that cleans and sanitizes air and surfaces killing all viruses and pathogens faster and more efficiently than sprays or ultraviolet methods.
• Pareto Touch: Kenyatta and Laquita Lee are co-founders of an app that provides real time hospitalization and ER information may help physicians coordinate the care of a patient.

Learn more about the Center and its next cohort of entrepreneurs.

 

The University of North Florida will surpass a significant milestone this spring when the next graduating class earns their degrees. At that point, UNF’s alumni total will exceed 100,000.

Currently, there are 99,287 UNF alumni, and more than 2,000 UNF students are pre-certified to graduate this month. “Our alumni network is strong and our impact is growing,” said Michelle McGriff, director of alumni engagement. “Ospreys are making a difference across Florida and all over the world, and we are thrilled to hit this important milestone.”

The University will celebrate the spring class with hybrid festivities ― a virtual celebration online and social media, as well as a Graduation Walk experience. Though the Graduation Walk does not include a traditional ceremony, it gives graduates an opportunity to walk across the stage and take photos with two guests cheering them on. The Graduation Walk will be held over the course of two days ― April 17 and 18 in the Lazzara Performance Hall, with graduates assembling in a socially distanced line with their guests before they enter the facility and cross the stage when their name is called.

The Virtual Celebration website will launch on April 17 featuring special videos and messages from academic and student leadership, alumni and others, musical highlights, links to department recognitions, graduate listings and more. The University’s social media channels will be active with special graduation content on that day and the week prior.

Be sure to visit unf.edu and UNF’s official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts on April 17 to celebrate our Spring Class of 2021!

Science Café: Positive Development and Identity Among Youth of Color
Friday, April 2, Noon, Online
Join the Science Cafe for a presentation by Dr. Emilie Smith, professor, Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University. Smith will discuss "Multiple Pathways to Positive Youth Development and Identity Among Youth of Color: A Latent Profile Perspective." 

Registration is required.

The Justice Sessions: Community Learning Exchange
Wednesday, April 7, Noon, Online
Community Learning Exchange
With Chris Janson and Rudy F. Jamison Jr.
Registration is required.

UNF Wind Symphony Performance
Wednesday, April 7, 4 p.m.
School of Music YouTube
The UNF Wind Symphony will present "Our Response Will Be Music Part IV" with guest soloist, John Daugherty, baritone, UNF assistant professor and Opera program director. The program also will feature UNF Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Dennis Marks, professor of music.

Heirloom: Weaving Memory with the Now
MOCA Artist Talk, Wednesday, April 7, 6.p.m., Online
This UNF Gallery at MOCA exhibition features the work of Priya Kambli. Born in India, Kambli moved to the United States to pursue her education in 1993, a few years after the death of her parents. Carefully stowed within her single, small suitcase was a cache of family photographs, which became the basis of Kambli's creative work. The exhibition opened March 26 and runs through Aug. 1. Registration is required.

Foundations: Jeremy Dean and John Regan in Conversation
Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m., Online
A conversation with artist Jeremy Dean and John Regan, city manager of St. Augustine, who led the process of the removal of the Confederate Monument and organized its relocation. Join Dean and Regan for a discussion about the monument removal process and how they can operate in a different context once removed. Registration is required.

MOCA Kids Art Lab: Our Artful Planet
Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m., Online
MOCA Kids Art Lab is an online art-making experience hosted the second Saturday of each month. In this event, attendees will learn how artists can be inspired by planet Earth, examine how to incorporate themes of nature into personal artwork, and create a hanging translucent sun catcher. Registration is required.

UNF Opera Presents: Mozart's 'La finta giariniera'
Friday, April 9 and Sunday, April 11, 7:30 p.m., In-person and Online
J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater
Dr. John Daugherty, director
Mozart's “La finta giardiniera” is a raucous comedy of misplaced affections, mistaken identities and avoidable mishaps. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, live performances will be available to UNF faculty, staff and students only, however, a film version of the production will be available on the UNF School of Music YouTube beginning May 1st.

Orchestra Spring Concert
Monday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., In-person and Online

The Lazarra Performance Hall
Celebrate spring with orchestral works by Bach, Stravinsky and Copland. The concert will focus on two pieces written during the 1918 Pandemic and World War II, which are testaments to the enduring human spirit and how arts can endure all adversity and lift up the spirit. Due to COVID restrictions, the live audience will be limited to UNF faculty, staff and students only.

Spring Choral Reflections
Tuesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.
School of Music YouTube
Join UNF for a short night of diverse and hopeful music with Patrick Chiu, Cara Tasher, and Jack Sumrall, graduate student conductor

UNF Spring 2021 Senior Project Exhibition
Wednesday, April 14 – Saturday, May 8
UNF Gallery of Art and the Lufrano Intercultural Gallery
UNF Spring 2021 Senior Project Exhibition will feature artwork from spring 2021 graduating students from the Art, Art History and Design Department. The Lufrano Intercultural Gallery will showcase artwork with a social-justice perspective; the UNF Gallery of Art will feature material-forward student artwork. The galleries are open Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and Friday by appointment.

OneJax: 2021 Humanitarian Awards
Thursday, April 15, 6 p.m., Online
Each year, OneJax, an institute of UNF, hosts a Humanitarian Awards event to honor outstanding humanitarians and raise funds to support its programs. This year's honorees include Nathaniel Glover, Martin Goetz and Robert & Margaret Hill. Registration is required.

Baobab Black Arts: Orisirisi African Folklore
Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m., Online
Orisirisi African Folklore is a performing arts and arts education company that uses African-rooted folklore to teach, entertain and illuminate. This event is presented by UNF's College of Arts and Sciences as part of its Baobab Black Arts series. Registration is required.

Distinguished Voices: 'Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations'
Thursday, April 15, 7 p.m.
Adam W. Herbert University Center and Online
Amy Chua, bestselling author and John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School, is a noted expert in the areas of foreign policy, globalization and ethnic conflict. Her latest book is "Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations." Professor Chua has lectured widely around the world and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. Registration is required.

Artful Movement with Yoga 4 Change
Sunday, April 18, 11 a.m., Online
Join us online on the third Sunday of each month for Artful Movement, a yoga class streamed live from the MOCA Jacksonville galleries. In collaboration with local nonprofit Yoga 4 Change, these at-home classes are designed for all ages and practice levels and are streamed via Zoom. Registration is required.

College of Arts and Sciences Lecture Series featuring Dr. Stuart Chalk
Wednesday, April 21, 5 p.m., Online
Dr. Stuart Chalk is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at UNF. Although trained as an analytical chemist, Stuart’s research now focuses on the areas of Chemical Informatics and Data Science. Join Chalk as he presents: "All’s FAIR in Love and War: What about Research Data?" Registration is required.

New regional director steps into the Florida SBDC at UNF
Huston Pullen has been named the new regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, the state's principal provider of small business assistance. Pullen is filling the position vacated by Janice Donaldson, who recently retired after 39 years of service with the Florida SBDC at UNF. As regional director, Pullen will provide oversight for consulting, training, and research activities to its 18-county service area in Northeast Florida. Learn more about Huston Pullen’s experience.

UNF professor awarded a yearlong fellowship on Capitol Hill
Dr. Josh Melko, associate professor of chemistry, has been awarded the American Chemical Society Congressional Fellowship and sabbatical for the 2021-22 academic year, one of only two spots awarded by the ACS nationally. Melko will work on Capitol Hill as a staff member in the office of a senator, representative or committee member providing policymakers with information on science-related issues. Learn more about the fellowship.

Women’s Center announces Susan B. Anthony Award winner
For her significant contributions to diminish sexism and enhance gender equity at UNF, Dr. Carolyne Ali-Khan was named the 2021 Susan B. Anthony Award winner in March. The UNF Women’s Center presented the honor during its annual Women’s History Month celebration. Ali-Khan is an associate professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum. Her research focuses on critical pedagogy, autoethnography, and looking at issues of representation. Learn more about Dr. Ali-Khan and the award.

The University Support Personnel Association elects a new president
Bradley Jolley, team lead for the Moving Crew in Physical Facilities, was recently elected to the role of president for the University Support Personnel Association. All support personnel at UNF, as soon as they become permanent employees, are automatically enrolled in USPA, which is free and does not require a full union membership. The association is the representative voice of its members in order to communicate concerns or suggestions. USPA members also have the opportunity to serve on several association councils as a way to engage with the University and network with other employees. The USPA officers and the staff affairs committee coordinate an annual assembly in order to provide information about benefits, resources and current issues and to provide a networking opportunity with peers and USPA staff. To learn more about the association and membership benefits, visit the USPA website.

Coggin opens new graduate and executive programs department
The Coggin College of Business has launched a new Graduate and Executive Programs department and named Dr. Lakshmi Goel as its inaugural associate dean. In that role, Goel will focus on expanding CCB’s high-quality graduate program offerings. In addition, the new department will offer executive training and customized consulting to businesses while developing industry partnerships for professional mentoring, internship and job opportunities for students. Learn more about the new department.

UNF physiology professor receives NASA grant
The University of North Florida has been awarded a $200,000 federal grant from the NASA Human Research Program to support Dr. Candice Tahimic, assistant professor of physiology, in a two-year innovative research project to monitor cardiovascular health in spaceflight. Tahimic and her team will study cardiovascular health during and after simulated microgravity and space radiation exposure in a rodent model. Learn more about the study.

UNF chemistry professor awarded U.S. patent in the fight against cancer
Dr. Kenneth Laali, University of North Florida Presidential Professor of Chemistry, has recently been awarded a U.S. patent for his research on the synthesis of novel curcumin analogs (curcuminoids) to fight cancer tumors. The compounds that Laali has developed provide novel therapeutic opportunities for specific cancers and may also aid in the discovery of therapeutics for multiple diseases. Learn more about Dr. Laali’s research.

UNF’s Police Department receives top state law enforcement reaccreditation
The University of North Florida’s Police Department, which initially received top accreditation in 2005, recently earned its reaccreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. This accreditation program is recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism for law enforcement departments across the state. Learn more about UPD’s recent reaccreditation.

Angela Lee is the training coordinator in the Center for Professional Development and Training. In that role, she is the trainer for multiple departments and subject matters for staff, students and faculty. She has also served as the facilitator for several campus orientations. As she approaches 24 years of work at UNF on May 8, she will tell you that she is still “enjoying every moment to generate a cohesion of Osprey pride.”

What do you enjoy about working here?
In all of those 24 years, watching new students arrive, learn, grow, mature, and then graduate and take on life on their own terms is sheer excitement for me.

How long have you lived in Jacksonville? Where else have you lived?
I have lived in Jacksonville’s Northside my entire life and only lived in Daytona Beach, Florida, while attending Bethune-Cookman College for five years.

What one memory do you most treasure? In 2003, when Archbishop Desmond Tutu accepted to be a Visiting Scholar-in-Residence, I was fortunate to attend his only evening lecture on “The Struggle Against Apartheid,” ask him a question and have him sign a copy of his book for me.

If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
President of the University of North Florida and proclaim the day after Labor Day as “One Nest Day,” where all the students, staff and faculty gather in the arena to share the same energy, create traditions, and … we’ll discuss more when it happens.

What superpower would you like to have? How would you use it?
The multiple powers of Doctor Strange (Google it) to make the world a better place.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
My grandfather was a fruitful sharecropper, and I am working toward becoming a farmer when I retire.

Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?
The Maldives Islands for the blue-green water, the cast-a-way feeling, and my Boo is the best daydream.

Tell us a few of your favorite things.
Band: Earth, Wind & Fire
Book: “The Bondwoman’s Narrative” by Hannah Crafts
Color: Purple
Movie line: “Just because something works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.” ~ Shuri – Black Panther, 2018
Physical activity: Swimming

Waheed Khalili chose his major in biology and a concentration in biomedical sciences because he said he has always been fascinated by life sciences and has a strong passion for research. A member of the Hicks Honors College, Khalili expects to graduate in spring 2023 and plans to pursue a career in healthcare, with a preference to work in impoverished areas that are more vulnerable to health disparities.

 
Why did you decide to attend the University of North Florida? Apart from living in Jacksonville for most of my life, my main reason for attending UNF was for the smaller class sizes and incredibly supportive staff. UNF facilitates a friendly and respectful environment that is equally beneficial to staff and students.

What do you like most about UNF? I love the location. I feel Jacksonville is a great city to live in and one that has seen massive development over the last few years. There is always a lot to do and incredible people to meet. Above all, the University really does its best to highlight and embrace the city in its atmosphere.

What has been your coolest UNF experience so far? My coolest experience so far has been helping host a Gala for a local refugee organization. I really learned a lot about the challenges and barriers refugees face. It was overall an incredible experience and one that I consider myself honored to be a part of.

When you’re looking to de-stress and relax a bit, where do you go on campus? It might sound a little funny, but when I like to destress, I head to the library on campus. Considering it’s the place you see the most stressed people studying for exams, it’s not everyone’s first choice. I like the peace and quiet that comes with the environment, and it’s a wonderful place to get work done.

If you could meet one historical figure for coffee, who would it be? It would definitely be Nelson Mandela. I feel he would enjoy the sunny weather Jacksonville has to offer. More than anything, it would be incredible to get to meet and talk to someone who has served as such a positive influence of social change in the world, especially South Africa. His advocacy for human rights should not be forgotten, and I’d really appreciate any advice he’d have to offer.

What three traits define you? The three traits that define me would be my determination, ambition and empathy. Above all, I feel kindness and compassion are the most important traits to have.

Do you have any advice for high school students? My biggest advice for high school students would be to enjoy the past, but always look to the future. High school is only one chapter of the book that is your life. Learn from past mistakes and don’t ever let fear or hesitation keep you from following your dreams.

Milestones
Congratulations to the following employees with a milestone anniversary in April:
15 Years
Douglas Titus, Instructor, Management
James Mousa, Coordinator, Property Assets, Controller

10 Years
James Laney, Recycle Refuse Moving Supervisor, Physical Facilities
Lynette Qadeer, Lynette, Senior Custodial Supervisor, Physical Facilities

5 Years
Shannon Dunnigan, Coordinator, Research Program Services, Biology
Serhii Dubynskyi, Maintenance Mechanic, Maintenance and Energy Management
Daniel Orel, Assistant Director, IPTM
Darlene Jones, Senior Custodial Worker, Student Union Custodial

Welcome
The following employees were either hired by UNF or were promoted from OPS positions recently:
Timothy Cornelius, Program Specialist, IPTM 
Tiffany Delp, Coordinator, Employment, Human Resources
Robert Doughtie, Maintenance Mechanic Trainee, Maintenance and Energy Management
Thomas Gehret, IT Project Manager, Project Management Office
Jamie Harmon, VPK Regional Facilitator, Florida Institute of Education
Gerald Lee, Custodial Worker, Custodial Services
Joseph Lutz, Law Enforcement Officer, University Police Department
Amanda Rodriguez, Admissions Coordinator, Admissions
Sarah Stewart, Assistant Child Development Teacher, UNF Preschool
Meily Abreu Subit, Assistant Child Development Teacher, UNF Preschool
Sean Sukys, Associate Director, Career Development Services, College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Great Job
The following employees were promoted recently:
Sara Menendez, Coordinator, Prospect Research, UDAE

Goodbye
Heartfelt wishes in their new endeavors for the following employees who left UNF recently:
Janice Donaldson, Director, Small Business Development Center
Christopher Gray, Senior IT Support Technician, Florida Institute of Education
John Hamilton, Stores Receiving Clerk, Shared Cost
Marjorie Hartmann, Senior Registered Nurse, Student Health Services
Shamus Hulihan, Admissions Coordinator, Admissions
Joseph Janaski, Law Enforcement Officer, University Police Department
Nicholas LaRosa, Assistant Professor, Clinical and Applied Movement Science
Stephanie Morse, Coordinator, Academic Support Services, International Business Curriculum
Susan Sever, Specialist, Florida Institute of Education
Gerald Smith, Irrigation Technician, Physical Facilities
Jamie Winegardner, Custodial Supervisor, Custodial Services

Brooks College of Health
Dr. Tess Tuason, public health professor and clinical director, with Dr. C. Dominick Güss, professor psychology, and Lauren Boyd, psychology, published “Thriving during COVID-19: Predictors of psychological well-being and ways of coping,” PLOS ONE 16(3): e0248591, 2021. Find more information online.  

Coggin College of Business
Dr. Courtney Azzari, assistant professor of marketing, with Courtney Nations, Laurel Anderson, Martin Mende, Josephine Go Jefferies, Hilary Downey, Amy L. Ostrom and Jelena Spanjol, “Consumers on the Job: Contextualization Crafting in Expert Services,” Journal of Service Research, 2021, forthcoming. Read the abstract online. 

Dr. Lakshmi Goel, former chair and professor of management, was appointed as the new associate dean of Graduate and Executive Programs. The Dean is confident that under her leadership our Graduate Programs will continue to grow in stature and size, and that we will quickly develop a robust set of Executive Education offerings.

 

Dr. Oliver Schnusenberg, professor in accounting and finance, was featured in WalletHub's piece about American Express credit cards. Read his recent contribution.

College of Arts and Sciences
Art, Art History, and Design
Vanessa Cruz, professor of graphic design and digital media, has had her session proposal, “How Covid Created Fields of Belonging Within an Intersectional Framework,” accepted and included in the Call for Papers for the School of Art and Visual Studies at the University of Kentucky (SECAC 2021) meeting.

Jason C. John, associate professor of painting, participated in two exhibitions: “Home Sick, The Art Effect” at the Trolley Barn, Poughkeepsie, New York; and “Who: Art about Identity,” Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, February. John also was published in “Who: Art About Identity,” in the Manifest Exhibition Catalogue, Cinncinati, and gave a talk on “Common Ground,” Manifest Artists Panel Talk, via Zoom, February.

Andy Kozlowski, assistant professor of art and design, has the following upcoming shows:

• 41st National Print Exhibition at ArtLink Contemporary Fort Wayne, Indiana, with Juror Ruth Lingen. There were 229 entries with 63 entries selected, 87 artists with 60 artists accepted.
• 32nd National Print and Drawing Exhibition at the Gormley Gallery, Notre Dame of Maryland University, with Juror Alex Ebstein. The entries came from 26 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Ninety-one artists submitted 257 artworks. From those, the juror selected 28 artworks by 21 artists. One of Andy’s pieces "Blue Bones" was selected for a purchase award and will be added to the Notre Dame of Maryland University permanent collection.
• Kozlowski also has a piece in the show "Restriction," an exhibition of small works at Clayhill Arts in Somerset, England. The show was organized by Amanda Lynch.
• In addition, Kozlowski juried the Miniature Marvels exhibition at the St. Augustine Art Association.

Jessica Borusky, gallery director and instructor, published a review for MOCA Jacksonville's exhibit Romancing the Mirror. The review is published in the Arbus Magazine and available online and in print. 

 

Biology
Dr. Adam Rosenblatt, assistant professor was highlighted in the report of City of Jacksonville’s Special Committee on Resiliency. In addition, Rosenblatt discussed alligators sticking their noses through ice to survive in Oklahoma on Fox News. 

Dr. Terri Ellis, associate professor, Dr. Raphael Crowley, associate professor of engineering, and Dr. Brian Wingender, assistant professor Materials Science and Engineering Research, received a UNF Foundation Board Grant for “Material Characterization of MICP-Treated Beach Sand.”

Dr. Cliff Ross, professor of biology and department chair, together with his colleagues, published, “Spatial patterns of Thalassia testudinum immune status and Labyrinthula spp. load implicate environmental quality and history as modulators of defense strategies and wasting disease in Florida Bay, United States” in Frontiers in Plant Science.

Dr. Frank Smith, assistant professor of biology, will continue his research this fall with his student Raul Chavarria, who in March was awarded a prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program award and will be earning a master’s degree. The award covers tuition and pays a $34,000 stipend annually for three years of graduate school.

Chemistry:
Dr. Josh Melko, associate professor of chemistry, was awarded the America Chemical Society (ACS) Congressional Fellowship. The ACS Congressional Fellowship Program places two fellows on Capitol Hill each year as staff members in the office of a senator, representative, or committee. As part of a broader effort that places about 30 scientists per year in Congress, the program has two main goals: to provide policy-makers with high quality information on science-related issues and to educate scientists on how government works and how science policy is made. This highly competitive fellowship required multiple interviews and resulted in only two spots being awarded nationwide.

Dr. Ken Laali, presidential professor of chemistry, was awarded a U.S. patent to fight cancer tumors using synthetic curcumin analogs. Learn more about the patent.

Criminology and Criminal Justice
Dr. Michael Hallett, professor, discussed Jacksonville Area Legal Aid with The Florida Times-Union. 

Dr. Kristina Lopez, assistant professor, was selected as the March Latina/o/x Criminology Scholar Spotlight by Latina/o/x Criminology, an organization that contributes to criminological expertise and understanding of the rapidly growing U.S. Latina/o/x population.

English
Dr. Priscilla Berry, visiting English instructor, presented “Leadership Communication: Style, Presence, and Power” to the Florida State Senate, February.

David Blanton, visiting English instructor, published "Lost in Pagination" in The Rupture, February.

Dr. Ashley Faulkner, English instructor, with Linda Howell and Susan Perez, presented “Navigating Institutional Culture and General Education Review: The Challenges of Change” at the Association of American Colleges and Universities Conference on General Education, Pedagogy, and Assessment, February.

Dr. Linda Howell, assistant professor of English, presented “Integrity as Integration” at the International Center for Academic Integrity Mid-Atlantic Conference, February. Howell also presented “Navigating Institutional Culture and General Education Review: The Challenges of Change,” with Ashley Faulkner and Susan Perez, at the Association of American Colleges and Universities Conference on General Education, Pedagogy and Assessment, February.

History
Dr. Alison J. Bruey, professor of history, presented the paper “Militarizing Disaster: Security in the Devastation Zone, Chile 1939,” at the Florida Conference of Historians, February 19-20.

Dr. Charles Closmann, associate professor of history, published ‘Feeling the Burn’: Camp Blanding, Florida and the U.S. Military’s Role in Forest Ecology, 1980 to 2010,” in the Annals of the Florida Conference of Historians 27, January, 91-102. Closmann also presented a paper “Shallow Roots: Urban Gardening in Jacksonville from 1976 to the Present” at the Annual Conference of the Florida Conference of Historians, Southern Florida College, Florida; February.

Dr. David Sheffler, associate professor of history and department chair, with Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz, published a chapter “Literacies.” In A Cultural History of Education In the Medieval Age, edited by Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz, 145-168. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2020.

Music
Dr. Erin Bodnar, assistant professor of Music and director of bands, was awarded a UNF Foundation Board Grants “Women Composers and Women Soloists.”

 
Philosophy/Religion Study
Dr. Andrew Buchwalter, Presidential Professor of Philosophy, published “Human Dignity and the Intercultural Theory of Universal Human Rights,” in the current online edition of Jus Cogens: A Critical Journal of Philosophy of Law and Politics.  

Dr. Sarah LaChance Adams, Florida Blue Distinguished Professor and director of the Florida Blue Center for Ethics Philosophy and Religious Studies, participated in a panel on Women in the Arts, Romancing the Mirror curated exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville.

Physics
The College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education and Human Services received a VOYA Foundation grant in March for their Quantum Physics Secondary Professional Development project, a collaboration with Duval County Public Schools. The COAS team includes Dr. William B. Lane, visiting lecturer, Dr. Gregory Wurtz, associate professor and chair of the Physics Department, and Dr. Lev Gasparov, COAS associate dean for faculty advancement and presidential professor of physics.

 
Dr. Jason T. Haraldsen, associate professor of physics, has published two peer-reviewed research papers: “Effects of exchange distortion and spin rotation in the magnetic Kagome Lattice” in Physical Review B, with undergraduate student Abigail Coker, February; and “Thermodynamics of general Heisenberg spin tetramers composed of coupled quantum dimers” in Magnetochemistry,” with undergraduate student Peter Dyszel, February. Haraldsen also presented an invited webinar at the University of Connecticut and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics, titled “Examining multi-band effects on the electronic compressibility of a 2D electron gas: Insights into the negative compressibility of LaAlO3/SrTiO3,” in February.

Dr. William B. Lane, visiting lecturer, published a peer-reviewed Exercise Set through the Partnership for Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics: W. Brian Lane, “X-Ray Diffraction,” PICUP Collection of Exercise Sets, on February 23.

Dr. Samana Shrestha, visiting instructor, presented research in progress seminar at Department of Biomedical Sciences titled “Use of Radiation to Enhance Cancer Killing by Using Nanoparticles,” Feb. 26.

Political Science and Public Administration
Dr. Mike Binder, associate professor and director of the Public Opinion Research Lab, discussed the Jacksonville mayor campaign with The Florida Times-Union and Governor DeSantis’ approval rating with News4Jax.

Dr. George Candler, professor of public policy, presented on “Modelos de gesto e Justiça Restaurativa,” in the I Encontro Internacional de Gestão da Justiça Restaurativa: Compartilhando Experiências,” São Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 25.

Dr. Josh Gellers, assistant professor and Master of Arts in International Affairs director, was highlighted in the report of City of Jacksonville’s Special Committee on Resiliency. 

Psychology
Dr. Tracy Alloway, professor, discussed how forgiveness reduces cortisol levels on News4Jax.

 

Dr. Elizabeth Brown, associate professor in psychology, together with students and coworkers, presented the following talks and posters in February.

• Brown, Elizabeth R. & Allen, Jill M. Nevertheless, She Persisted (in Science Research): Enhancing Women’s Science Research and Belonging Through Communal Goals. Talk presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
• Graham, Jasmine, & Brown, Elizabeth R. STEM Inquiry: How Communion Affects LGBTQ Individuals’ Belonging in STEM. Poster presented at the Gender Preconference of the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
• Lovelady, Luke, Olds, Courtney, & Brown, Elizabeth R. Caring About the Other: The Associations Between Communal Motivations and Condom Use. Poster presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
• Miller, Xylie, Johns, Sawyer, Mukundan, Sadana, & Brown, Elizabeth R. The Effects of Humanization and Political Identification on Willingness to Talk and Support the Democratic and Republican Party. Poster presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February.
• Phills, Curtis E. & Brown, Elizabeth R. A Man is a Politician, but a Woman is a Female Politician. Poster presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February.
• Graham, Jasmine, & Brown, Elizabeth R. STEM Inquiry: How Communion Affects LGBTQ Individuals’ Belonging in STEM. Poster presented at the 22nd annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, February.

Dr. C. Dominik Güss, professor in psychology, with S. Ahmed and D. Dörner, published “From Da Vinci’s flying machines to a theory of the creative process,” in Perspectives in Psychological Science, February. The 2018 Journal Impact Factor is 8.19, which makes it fifth out of 137 journals in Psychology, Multidisciplinary. Güss also had an article featured by the Board of Governors on their New Clips listserv: “Thriving During COVID-19: Predictors of Psychological Well-Being and Ways of Coping.” 

Dr. Lifan Yu, visiting assistant professor in psychology, with L. Yu, M. Gambaro, M.J. Song, M. Teslik, M. Song, M.C. Komoski, B. Wollner and R. D. Enright, published “Forgiveness Therapy in a Maximum-Security Correctional Institution: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy,” in Advanced online publication, February. 

Sociology/Anthropology and Social Work
Dr. Jacqueline Meier, assistant professor of anthropology, published “Introduction to the special issue “Contextual Taphonomy in Zooarchaeological Practice” in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports with her co-author and co-editor of the online special issue, Dr. Reuven Yeshurun of Haifa University.

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction
Dr. Osama Jadaan, professor and director of the School of Engineering, with John J. Mecholsky, Shu-Min Hsu, Jason Griggs, Daniel Neal, Arthur Clark, Xinui Xia, and Josephine F. Esquival-Upshaw, published “Forensic and reliability anlayses of fixed dental prostheses,” in the Journal of Biomedical Material Research, pp. 1-9, 2021. Jadaan also is an invited speaker at the MS&T21 symposium in October to be held in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Chip Klostermeyer, dean of CCEC, with M.E. Messinger and A. Yeo, published “Dominating Vertex Covers: a searchlight problem,” in Discussiones Mathematicae Graph Theory 41(2021), 123—132.

Dr. Mona Nasseri, assistant professor of electrical engineering, with T.P. Attia, B. Joseph, N. Gregg, E. Nurse, P. Viana, B.H. Brinkmann, and others, published “Non-invasive wearable seizure detection using long-short term memory networks with transfer learning” in the Journal of Neural Engineering, 2021.

Dr. Kathikeyan Umapathy, associate professor in the School of Computing, with Z. Xu, A.D. Ritzhaupt, Y. Ning, and C.-C. Tsai, C.-C., published “Exploring College Students’ Conceptions of Learning Computer Science: A Draw-A-Picture Technique Study,” in Computer Science Education, 31(1), 60–82. 2021. 

Dr. Brian Wingender, assistant professor Materials Science and Engineering Research, with Masashi Azuma, Christina Krywka, Paul Zaslansky, John Boyle, Alix Deymier, and Acta Biomaterialia, published “Carbonate substitution significantly affects the structure and mechanics of carbonated apatites” Volume 122, 1 March 2021, Pages 377-386.

College of Education and Human Services
The College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education and Human Services received a VOYA Foundation grant in March for their Quantum Physics Secondary Professional Development project, a collaboration with Duval County Public Schools. The COEHS team incudes Dr. Terri Galanti, associate professor, Dr. Brian Zoellner, associate professor, and Dr. Daniel L. Dinsmore, professor and associate dean. 

Dr. Terrie Galanti, assistant professor, Teaching, Secondary Mathematics and Computational Thinking/STEM Integration, published the article “Just solving for x”: Retrospective narratives of opportunities to learn on accelerated Algebra I pathways" in the Journal of Mathematical Behavior.

The 2021 Holmes Scholars are Easter Brown, Jeania Jones, Tommy Silas and Stephanie Jackson. The UNF Holmes Scholar Fellowship is awarded to students who are actively working to complete their doctoral degree in PK-12 education and demonstrate a commitment to equity and diversity. Learn more about the UNF Holmes Scholars.

Dr. Dilek Kayaalp, assistant professor, Teaching, Learning and Curriculum, Dr. Sophie Filibert, associate professor of School Counseling Leadership, and Dr. Mario Pickens, assistant professor of Early Childhood Education, received the Foundation Board Initiative UNF research grant. The title of their project is "Supporting Black Students’ Persistence in STEM Programs at UNF: Implications for Modeling Diversity and STEM Leadership."

Dr. Jen Kilpatrick, assistant professor, Deaf Education, Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich, assistant professor, Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management, and Michelle Bartlett, North Carolina State University, published the article “Learning from Covid-19: Universal Design for Learning Implementation Prior to and During a Pandemic,” in The Journal of Applied Instructional Design. Their study explored Universal Design for Learning implementation surrounding the Rapid Online Transition to Teaching and Learning. Read the article online.

Dr. Linda Skrla, professor, Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management, and Ronald Hallet, professor at the University of La Verne, published the article “Supporting Students Who Are Experiencing Homelessness: A Brief Guide for Teachers and Schools” in the spring issue of American Educator. Read the article online.

Dr. Nile Stanley, associate professor, Teaching, Learning and Curriculum, recently presented two sessions, “Using Digital Storytelling for Teaching Science to African American Youth” and “Optimizing Underserved Youth’s Potential by Building Community Partnerships through Poetry and Art” at the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience (NYAR) conference at Georgia Southern University, Savannah, Georgia. In addition, Stanley’s Digital Science and Poetry Stars project received $23,300 in funding from the Cummer Family Foundation. The funds support research and programs in the instruction of science through filmmaking and literacy through poetry for African American, elementary school children and teachers.

Gabrelcik's Third Medalist Crown Carries Ospreys to Runner-Up Finish at The HAYT

Freshman sensation Nick Gabrelcik continued his strong play capturing the individual medalist title at The Hayt, marking his third of the season. Gabrelcik's performance helped No. 26 North Florida claim the runner-up showing at Sawgrass Country Club. Learn more about the golf team's finish.

Women's Golf Win Spring Break Shootout for Fourth Consecutive Tourney Title

For the fourth consecutive event this spring, No. 42-ranked North Florida women's golf found themselves at the top of the final leaderboard and holding the trophy as all five golfers earned Top 15 finishes en route to winning the Spring Break Shootout at Lake Jovita Golf Club. Learn more about the team’s Top 15 finishes.

Jubran Named ASUN Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Junior Nathan Jubran adds to his long list of accomplishments and was named ASUN Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the conference office Thursday. The psychology major holds a 3.98 GPA. This season he became the first from the North Florida men's cross country program to qualify for the NCAA Championship Qualifier as an individual. Learn more about the cross country scholar-athlete.

Ospreys Make History with Postseason Awards

North Florida women's basketball senior Rhetta Moore was tabbed the ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while classmate Jazz Bond was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Bond along with Marissa Mackins garnered All-Conference first team selections as announced Tuesday by the league office. Learn more about the postseason awards.

April 22 is Earth Day! The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 with the intent of bringing awareness to environmental concerns such as air pollution from automobiles and factories. It was so impactful that it led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of several environmental laws. In honor of Earth Day, here are some tips for increasing your nutrition while also reducing your carbon footprint.

Buy in Season and Local
Local food is typically defined as “food that is produced within a short distance from where it is consumed.” While there are no formal guidelines as to what constitutes a “local” food, many consider it to be food that is grown within 100 miles. Buying local not only helps to save fossil fuel, but locally grown and seasonal produce is often fresher, tastes better and costs less. Look for options at grocery stores as many are now beginning to carry locally produced fruits and vegetables. Check out some local farmers markets and community-supported agriculture organizations, but be sure to ask where the produce is grown if you want to ensure that you are buying local. To find out more, visit the USDA’s Local Food Directories. 

Eat More Plant-Based Protein Foods
Adding in more beans, lentils and tofu in place of animal-based proteins adds important nutrition to your diet, and at the same time helps reduce your carbon footprint. Eating less meat leads to reduced carbon emissions, water usage and waste byproducts. In addition, plant-based foods boost your fiber intake, improve gut health, support your immune system and reduce your risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and many other diseases.

Reduce Food Waste
Did you know that 30-40% of food produced every year is wasted? That adds up to nearly 400 pounds per person per year. In addition to a serious economic loss, food is one of the leading contributors to landfills and adds to the release of greenhouse gases. When possible, try to plan meals and snacks ahead of time. Before going to the store, create a list and buy what you know you will use, and always check expiration dates. Store your fresh foods in a highly visible area in your refrigerator, so you are more likely to eat them before they go bad. Get creative with your leftovers. Toss in some leftover vegetables in your eggs, add them to your sandwich or even use them as a pizza topping. If you can’t use it, then compost your food waste.

Reduce Packaging
When possible, buy in bulk or “family sizes” rather than individual sizes. When shopping for produce at the grocery store, try to purchase loose fruit or vegetables rather than those packaged in Styrofoam or plastic. At home, store your leftovers in reusable glass or metal rather than paper or plastic packaging, which is thrown away after a single use. If you’re packing school lunches, use reusable containers and bags for sandwiches, snacks and other items.

Submitted by Dr. Jen Ross, Assistant Professor/Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics

UNF’s Transportation and Logistics program ranks at the top nationally

After a comprehensive review of the program curriculums of hundreds of institutions across the U.S., UNF’s Transportation and Logistics program took top honors, ranking at No. 25 in the nation. The review conducted by Study.com considered tuition fees and graduation rates, internship programs, faculty roster, partnerships with industry leaders, and other initiatives to enhance the overall learning experience. Learn more about the ranking.

 

Inside UNF is a monthly publication produced by UNF Marketing and Communications
Marsha Blasco, Editor; Contributing writers: Dr. Jen Ross, Assistant Professor/Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics; Todd Vatter, System Director for Administration and Finance Communication; UNF Marketing Student Intern Carissa Marques, Senior, Communications; Isabel Pease, Assistant Vice President of Marketing