The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) met in San Diego, California this year to provide a venue for investigators from around the world to share emerging science and to foster new collaborations. Over 35,000 neuroscientists registered to attend the conference.
Dr. Lori McGrew, associate professor of biology, attended the conference along with her research students: Taylor Andrew, Steven Avers, Taylor Beazley and Katy Parsley. The meeting kicked off with a session titled “Dialogues Between Neuroscience and Society: Bringing Change to Mind on Mental Illness” which was led by actress Glenn Close. Dr. McGrew presented a poster titled “Motivating Students to Take Responsibility for Their Own Learning by Giving Them a Role in Course Design.” This presentation was part of the “History, Teaching, Public Awareness and Societal Impacts” theme. The students presented the results of their senior research projects (“Studies of Dopamine, Testosterone Working Memory and Vision in Danio rerio”) at the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience poster session.
McGrew and Neuroscience Students Present Research Papers at Neuroscience 2010
Political Science Majors Selected to Intern at Tennessee General Assembly
Political science majors Katie Morse, Amber McCullough and Elizabeth Landolt were recently selected to serve as interns in the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Legislative Intern Program was established in 1972 to provide Tennessee College and University students with an opportunity to work and learn in a hands on legislative environment. Each year, 70 to 80 students from around the state participate in this program to learn about leadership responsibilities as well as develop legislative process skills. Among other responsibilities, the interns assist legislative offices with their legislative activities and work functions. The Tennessee General Assembly convenes January 11, 2011.
Biology, BMB, Physics Students and Faculty Present at Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Twelve Biology students, two Biochemistry and Molecular Biology students, and Biology Professors Steve Murphree, Jennifer Thomas, Nick Ragsdale, and Darlene Panvini attended the 120th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in Cookeville, Tenn. on Nov. 19. Emeritus Biology professor David Hill also attended the conference. The students presented posters of their senior research projects in the areas of botany, cell and molecular biology, microbiology and zoology. Biology students presenting were Sarah Ayers, Julianna Bejma, Lindsey Dalton, Brittney Everhart, Amy Fehrmann, Julie Malkowski, Ariel Ouellette, Katie Rice, Jessica Rix, Kathryn Roach, Emily Smothers and Matthew Turner. BMB student presenters were Gabrielle Facey and Luke Starner. Dr. Panvini gave an oral presentation on “Trends in Assignments and Exams in Biology Courses.” Dr. Murphree, treasurer of TAS, was involved in conference planning. Dr. Thomas chaired the Science and Math Teaching section.
In addition, Physics students and faculty presented at the Annual Meeting. Senior Physics major Phil Feurtado and Physics Professors Scott Hawley and Steve Robinson also attended the 120th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science in Cookeville. Phil Feurtado’s presentation was titled “Kick Drum Tunnels: A Physical Analysis of a Recording Technique.” Dr. Hawley gave an oral presentation on “Spin-Spin Effects In Models of Binary Black Hole Systems,” and Dr. Robinson presented “A Simple And Effective Method to Predict Seeded Tournament Outcomes.”
Biles Publishes Article
Dr. Daniel Biles, associate professor of mathematics, recently had an article accepted for publication in The PanAmerican Mathematical Journal. The title of the article is “The Stochastic Ito Integral on Time Scales,” and it is co-authored by Ferhan M. Atici and Daniel C. Biles.
Riechert Re-Elected to Nashville PRSA Board of Directors
Bonnie Riechert, director of the public relations program, was recently elected to a second term on the board of directors for the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She will serve a three-year term as national leadership assembly delegate for the local chapter; she has served as an assembly delegate for the last two years. Riechert also serves as the faculty advisor to the Belmont Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Senior Presents at ACM Mid-Southeast Conference
The 2010 ACM Mid-Southeast Conference was held in Gatlinburg Nov. 11-12. Belmont senior Cameron Behar gave a presentation on “Visualizing Graphs through Software.” Dr. William Hooper and Dr. Joyce Crowell gave a talk titled “An Applet Package for CS0.” Cameron’s presentation earned him Honorable Mention honors. His presentation was fourth out of the 23 undergraduate student presentations from institutions such as University of Alabama, Austin Peay, UT Martin, Tennessee Tech, Furman University, East TN State, Jackson State, Columbus State, Samford University and MTSU.
Belmont Alumna Named Congressman’s Chief of Staff
Kim Rudolph, an alumna of Belmont’s Master of Business Administration program, was recently named the new Chief of Staff for Congressman Andre Carson. Rudolph will oversee Carson’s offices in Washington, D.C. and Indianapolis.
Previously, Rudolph served 10 years as chief of staff for Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan. Recently, the Congressional Tri-Caucus, a coalition comprised of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, named Rudolph Outstanding Chief of Staff for 2010.
Al-Shamma Presents at Theatre Research Annual Conference
Dr. James Al-Shamma, Department of Theatre and Dance, presented a paper at the American Society for Theatre Research Annual Conference in Seattle in November. In his paper, he analyzed the preparation and presentation of food in Belmont’s Spring 2010 Senior Capstone production of José Rivera’s Brainpeople.
Occupational Therapy Student Publishes Article in OT PRactice
Amanda L. Cobb, an occupational therapy doctoral student, had an article published in the Nov. 29 issue of OT Practice. The article, titled “Plotting Next Steps: Transitions for Adults with Developmental Disabilities,” provides two case studies of how occupational therapy helps individuals with developmental disabilities find meaningful occupation and greater independence. Amanda co-wrote the article with Melissa Y. Winkle, President of Dogwood Therapy Services.
Lumos Travel Award Winner Selden Recounts Ghana Experience
May 2010 Belmont graduate Abby Selden returned to campus recently to offer a presentation on her experiences in Ghana. Selden is the first recipient of a Lumos Student Travel Award, which is a grant given annually to help students embark on a travel experience that will give them a different cultural perspective of some aspect of the social sciences: visual, performing and/or linguistic arts; or to enhance an artistic, scientific or teaching skill or talent.
Selden said, “Living, volunteering and traveling in Ghana was a truly eye-opening and rewarding experience. I learned so much, and I am so grateful to the Lumos Foundation for giving me this opportunity.”
Belmont Board of Trust member Cynthia Leu, who also serves as president of the Lumos Foundation, funds the award, which was first established last year. She said, “I am thrilled that Abby Selden was the first recipient of the award. Her deep curiosity, thoughtfulness, open minded approach, organizational skills, ability to adapt to challenging and unfamiliar situations, and desire to learn about another culture firsthand through experience allowed her to make the most of her time in Ghana. I have no doubt that Abby’s three months in Ghana challenged her in a profound way, and changed her perspective significantly. I am thrilled Lumos was able to make her adventure possible.”
While in Ghana as part of the Projects Abroad program, Selden volunteered with other young adults from around the globe and served at both a local orphanage and a school in the rural countryside. In addition to the lack of electricity or running water, Selden said she learned to quickly adjust to all kinds of challenging circumstances. “Transportation was terrifying for the most part, but you get used to it… Taxis would cram in as many people as possible.”
The Mission of the Lumos Travel Award is to allow young adults to learn about the world in a practical and challenging way, by enabling students to become involved in a local community for an extended period of time. As Lumos Travelers engage with new places, new people and new ideas, they will take important steps to discover their skills and abilities as they gravitate to those things which will give meaning to their lives.
Leu added, “It is my hope that the Lumos Travel Award mission of ‘travel with a purpose’ will become a defining experience in the lives of those students who are award recipients. What they see, do and learn while on their ‘working adventure’ will cause them to return home with a different perspective on the world, and will inform their future choices as they become active citizens in their own communities.”
Click here to learn more about the Lumos program and here to view Abby Selden’s Ghana blog.
