Achievements
Jerry Miller to plan U.S. participation in collaborative study of contamination in Chile river basin
Jerry Miller, the Whitmire Professor of Environmental Science at Western Carolina University, won an $11,106 grant to develop a partnership between U.S. and Chilean researchers to study contamination in the Rio Loa basin in northern Chile.
Jane Nichols to help lead international design organization
Jane Nichols, assistant professor of art and design, has been named a regional chair of the Interior Design Educators Council international organization.
Georgia Hambrecht and communication sciences students to present at national conference
Professor Georgia Hambrecht and seven communication sciences and disorders graduate students will present “Examples of Service Learning Imbedded within a Professional Preparation Effort” at a National Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association poster session.
David Strahan asked to evaluate teacher innovation program
The Asheville City Schools Foundation awarded $4,669 to David Strahan, the Taft B. Botner Distinguished Professor in Elementary and Middle Grade Education at Western Carolina University, to evaluate the Inspired to Innovate program.
WCU electric staff wins safety award from ElectriCities of North Carolina
Western Carolina University’s electric department recently was presented a 2008 Safety Award from ElectriCities of North Carolina for achieving a perfect record of no lost workday accidents during 2008.
Justin Menickelli and Chris Tuten lead Disc Golf Field Day at WCU for WNC physical education teachers
Western Carolina University recently hosted a Disc Golf Field Day on campus to introduce the sport to 22 physical education teachers who work with more than 5,000 students in Western North Carolina.
‘Listen Carefully (in case life happens)’
Winford Gordon, an assistant professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, presented “Listen Carefully (in case life happens)” at the Last Lecture Series event Friday, Oct. 16.
Robert McMahan speaks at economic development summit
Robert McMahan, dean of The Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology, was a featured participant in the 2009 North Carolina Economic Development Summit held recently at North Carolina Central University.
Nursing professor presents alternative herbal and nutritional therapies
Claire DeCristofaro, associate professor of nursing at Western Carolina University, presented “Common Alternative Herbal and Nutritional Therapies” on Oct. 13 at the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistant conference, “Get Wild about Healthcare.”
Music professors to present at national convention
Bruce Frazier, the Carol Grotnes Belk professor; Shannon Thompson, professor of clarinet; and Brad Martin, director of the musical theater program, will travel to Portland, Ore., in October to present at the joint conference of the annual meeting of the College Music Society and the Association for Technology in Music Instruction.
Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet to perform in China
The Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet will perform in China in late spring 2010.
Robert J. Conley featured in Appalachian Heritage magazine
Robert J. Conley, the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor in Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University, will deliver the featured author reading to celebrate the fall 2009 issue of Appalachian Heritage magazine, in which Conley is the featured author.
Jim Costa returns from leading a tour in Galapagos Islands to full schedule of speaking engagements in honor of Darwin’s anniversary
Jim Costa, professor of biology and director of Highlands Biological Station, recently led a tour in the Galapagos Islands for the Harvard Museum of Natural History in partnership with Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions.
Ken Burbank named a director of national Engineering Technology Council
The American Society for Engineering Education has appointed Ken Burbank, head of the department of engineering and technology at Western Carolina University, to serve as an interim director of the national Engineering Technology Council.
WCU research to be presented at the annual meeting of The Geological Society of America
Research by Western Carolina University faculty, staff and students will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, which will be held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., Oct. 18-21.
Book by Ron Michaelis cited in Supreme Court opinion
A book co-authored by Ron C. Michaelis, a faculty member in the biology department at Western Carolina University, was cited multiple times in a recent opinion by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
Professor researches cyberterrorism for Joint Special Operations University
Is cyberterrorism a real threat to national security? Yes, says William G. Perry, professor in the computer information systems department, who is currently researching the topic as an associate research fellow for the military’s Joint Special Operations University.
Casey Hurley recommends alternative educational model in “The Six Virtues of the Educated Person”
Casey Hurley, professor of educational leadership at Western Carolina University, suggests in his new book that the educational system should focus less on the kind of skills that make a person a good contestant on “Jeopardy.”
Claire DeCristofaro presents on hypertension
Claire DeCristofaro, associate professor of nursing at Western Carolina Univeristy, recently gave an invited continuing medical education presentation titled “Hypertension Update 2009” at a regional conference for nurse practitioners.
Beverly Collins assists with Southern Forest Futures Project
Beverly Collins, associate professor of biology at Western Carolina University, recently received an $11,878 grant from the United States Forest Service to assist with the Southern Forest Futures Project.
