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Weinstein |
Jay Weinstein, an EMU professor of sociology, begins his term as president of the North Central Sociological Association (NCSA) at the organization's annual meeting in Cincinnati March 29. The NCSA, founded in 1925, is a regional association that represents academic and practicing sociologists in Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Weinstein also is the recipient of the NCSA's 2007-08 John F. Schnabel Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Sociology, and will deliver the annual Schnabel Lecture at the Cincinnati meeting.
Jeffrey Bernstein, an EMU professor of political science, was the recent recipient of a $39,925 grant from the Spencer Foundation. Bernstein is using the grant this semester to explore what makes experts more skilled than novices in making political decisions.
"What specifically makes the experts more skilled? What do they do that novices do not do? And how can we teach novices to do what experts do in making decisions?" Bernstein said. "Understanding what divides the two will enable us to help students develop important citizenship skills. So, ultimately, my project will help to improve teaching and learning in civics."
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Bernstein |
To pilot the project, Bernstein has assembled four introductory American Government students, four senior political science majors, two doctoral students and two political science professors who will engage in what he terms as "think-a-louds."
After rigorous analyses and forming new hypotheses, Bernstein will conduct more "think-a-louds" and analysis during the 2008-2009 academic year
"This study will have a direct impact on teaching practices. I will outline expert processes and discover what the novices need to learn to think more like the experts think," Bernstein said. "This work may well result in designing curricula and instructional modules to make advancements in teaching civics on both the secondary and college levels."
Beth Kubitskey, an EMU assistant professor of physics and astronomy, received the Outstanding Dissertation award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) at the association's 60th Annual Meeting and Exhibits in New Orleans, La.
Kubitskey's dissertation is entitled, "Extended Professional Development for Systematic Curriculum Reform." She received her doctorate in teacher education from the University of Michigan in July 2006.
AACTE's Committee on Research and Dissemination sponsors the Outstanding Dissertation award. This award recognizes excellence in doctoral dissertation research that contributes to the knowledge base of teacher education or of teaching and learning, with implications for teacher education.
"This dissertation explores, in-depth, both the influence of professional development on teacher knowledge related to an inquiry-based science curriculum and (its) impact on subsequent classroom practice," said Barry J. Fishman, associate professor at the University of Michigan, who served as Kubitskey's adviser.
"Beth's dissertation research represents an excellent example of the type of research that should stem from a professional school of education as the findings inform practice and theory," said Joseph Krajcik, associate dean for research, and co-director of the IDEA Institute at the University of Michigan.
Jennifer Korff, a senior in Eastern Michigan University's Music Therapy Program, has received one of two Edwina Eustis Dick Scholarship For Music Therapy Interns. The cash scholarship is worth $500.
Korff, of Poseyville, Ind., has completed all on-campus course work at EMU and is currently
in the midst of her clinical training requirement (900 hours) at Shriners
Burns Hospital, in Galveston, Texas.
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MUSIC THERAPY INTERN: Jennifer
Korff, a senior in EMU's Music
Therapy Program, is conducting an
internship at Shriners Burns Hospital
in Galveston, Texas. Korff received
one of two Edwina Eustis Dick
Scholarship For Music Therapy
Interns. The cash scholarship is
worth $500. Korff said the
scholarship will help with living
expenses. |
"It's really exciting for my work to be recognized by the profession's national organization," Korff said. "In addition, my internship — like so many of those in the human services field — is unpaid. The scholarship will be very beneficial in helping me financially survive the next six months."
This internship experience offers Korff the opportunity to learn about pediatric burn rehabilitation as well as issues common
to hospitalized children and adolescents. In addition to facilitating
individual and group music therapy sessions, Korff also co-treats with other disciplines such as physical therapy. Korff writes assessments,
develops goals, and implements treatment interventions to facilitate both the emotional and physical recovery processes for patients. Such interventions
facilitate the patient's ability to cope with pain/anxiety; to cope with
feelings related to injury/hospitalization; and to reinforce their
functional ability for fine and gross motor skill development.
Due to
the hospital's population demographics, Korff has encountered various
cultural backgrounds and will grow to understand how trauma and hospitalization affect
children and families in different ways.
In
addition to her clinical music therapy work, Korff will: present two
in-services, write journal article critiques, produce one video-taped
critique of a music therapy session; write sample AMTA conference
proposals; create documentation forms; create a special project of her
choice; and practice other professional skills necessary for a
successful career in music therapy.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be from an AMTA-approved academic program,
current student member of AMTA, and an intern any time between Jan. 1
and Dec. 31 of the year in which the award is given. Applicants must
be current student members of AMTA in the year in which they apply and the year in which the scholarship is granted.
For more information on music therapy, visit the American Therapy Association's Web site at www.musictherapy.org
Kimberly Buchholz, an Eastern Michigan University public relations major, has won a Carter Academic-Service Entrepreneur grant through the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation to promote Toys for 'Tweens & Teens. The program is an EMU student-initiated, student-administered nonprofit which serves foster care youths.
The $1,500 grant, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in association with the Michigan Campus Compact, is awarded to an academic-service learning project representing the most innovative and promising use of the grant to establish or significantly further a partnership with a community nonprofit organization.
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Buchholz |
Toys for 'Tweens & Teens is a holiday gift-giving initiative serving area foster care youths through high school graduation. The effort seeks to reduce high school dropout rates and to promote higher learning beyond high school graduation. In addition to gift giving, the program includes on-campus events designed to help youths visualize themselves in a college setting.
The organization's nonprofit partner is Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, the state's largest provider of foster care services, serving up to 800 youths each day.
The initiative was conceived and launched under the support and guidance of Melissa Motschall, EMU public relations professor, and hosted by the Eleanor Wright Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at EMU.
"Receiving this grant is a validation of the time, energy and commitment our volunteers and supporters have put forth to carry out our mission to extend a welcoming hand to foster care youths," said Buchholz, a resident of Michigan Center, near Jackson, Mich. "We want these kids to know there is a place for them in higher learning after high school graduation and this grant will help further that effort."
In an effort to expand the Toys for 'Tweens & Teens program nationwide. Buchholz plans to promote the initiative among PRSSA chapters at other universities during an annual conference that will take place in Detroit this fall.
"College students are perfectly suited for reaching out to these kids who might not have anyone in their lives showing them what a great opportunity a college education can be," Buchholz said. "We want that to be the voice of encouragement."
Lela V. Nelson, a former Eastern Michigan University track and field standout, defeated the 2004 Olympic Champion, Carolina Kluft of Sweden, in the long jump at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, which took place at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center Jan. 26.
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Nelson |
This was Nelson's first trip to the Boston Indoor Games, which boasts a 12-year history. Although Kluft was chosen to win the event, Nelson outdistanced her by 10 centimeters to take the win. The win qualifies her to compete at the U.S. Indoor Nationals, which is scheduled again at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston where a winning jump will place her on the U.S. team to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Nelson, a native of Detroit, Mich., competed for the Eagles between 2001 and 2005, and was the 2005 NCAA champion in the heptathlon. She won a total of three Mid-American Conference titles throughout her career at EMU, including the 2005 long jump and 100-meter hurdles, and the 2004 indoor long jump. She was named the 2004 MAC Most Valuable Performer. She still holds school records in the pentathlon, heptathlon, indoor long jump and 100-meter hurdles.
Nelson currently resides and trains in North Carolina and runs for Nike and is represented by Codrington Enterprises, a sports and entertainment marketing agency owned by former EMU standout Joseph Codrington.
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Schaub |
Sara Schaub, a former assistant volleyball coach and player at EMU, was recently named the head women's volleyball coach at Montana State University-Bozeman. She earned the job after guiding NCAA Division II Montana State University-Billings to an 18-10 overall record and a fifth-place finish in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference during her first season as head volleyball coach there.
As an assistant coach at EMU, Schaub directed and managed all recruiting activities; monitored student-athlete academic success; planned game and practice strategies; coordinated team travel; managed all equipment needs; and served as facilities liaison. The volleyball team had a 99-56 record during that span.
Schaub received her master's degree in accounting and her bahcelor's degree in business administration/accounting information systems from EMU. As a member of EMU's volleyball team, she was a four-year starter and two-year captain. She was the first player in Mid-American Conference history to average more than four kills and four digs in the same season.
Ron Podell, assistant manager, news services, in the Office of Marketing and Communications, continues to have success with his screenplay, "Pulp Science Fiction." His script was a finalist (top 15) in the Progress Writers Screenplay Contest, which announced results in October. An interview with Podell is posted on the Progress Writers Web site at http://ronpodell.progresswriters.com/. His screenplay, "Time and Tide," was a semifinalist (final four) in the short screenplay category at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood, Calif.
Toni Knechtges, a lecturer in business and human resource managment at EMU, was one of three judges for the Sunday Free Press/CareerBuilder.com I Love MI Job essay contest. The top three essays were awarded cash prizes. Knechtges is director of the Society for Human Resource Management's Michigan Council.
