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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 5, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
Shawnee State to host
National Preparedness Month
observance
(This Friday 1,500 Scioto
County fourth through sixth
graders will learn the value
of disaster planning and the
rewards of volunteering for
local EMS and fire
services.)
September is
National Preparedness Month
and Shawnee State University
will be host this Friday to
1,500 fourth through sixth
graders from throughout
Scioto County joining in an
observance that will
highlight the importance of
developing a “Family
Emergency Plan.”
Beginning at 10
a.m. the students will
participate in hands-on
demonstrations of local and
state emergency response
agencies, including medical
helicopters, patrol boats,
hazmat teams in containment
suits, and a variety of
fire, EMS and safety
equipment. The students will
also view “Adventures of the
Disaster Dudes” in the main
theater of the Vern Riffe
Center for the Arts,
followed by lunch provided
by LIFE Ambulance.
Along with four
other counties the Ohio
Department of Public Safety
selected Scioto County to
hold a special observance of
National Preparedness Month.
Scioto County’s activities
are designed to motivate
students to sit down with
their families to develop
plans for protecting their
lives and property during a
disaster, as well as
encourage them to become
involved in volunteer fire
and EMS services when they
grow older.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 6, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
SSU
President Rita Rice Morris
speaks at Kiwanis
SSU President Rita Rice
Morris discusses plans for
the campus as Portsmouth
Kiwanis Vice President as
Wayne Kempf, President-elect
listens at the club’s August
29 luncheon.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 6, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article
by Monica J. Bradbury,
communications specialist)
SSU offers new minor in
social work
(Shawnee State University
students can now get a minor
in social work.)
“There are very few
universities that offer
degrees in social work,”
said Scott Douthat, PhD,
assistant professor of
sociology at SSU and
licensed independent social
worker (LISW). “Social work
is one of the very few
social science majors that
offers professional
licensing at the
baccalaureate level.”
The social work
minor is available to any
Shawnee State student though
most of the coursework falls
under the sociology major.
According to Douthat,
students majoring in
psychology or general social
sciences would greatly
benefit from this new minor
if they wish to work in
social/human services upon
graduation.
The sociology
minor includes 21 hours of
coursework, including
classes in sociology,
psychology and anthropology,
among others. Students can
obtain a list of necessary
classes in the social
sciences department at SSU
or visit the Web site,
www.shawnee.edu/acad/ssci/minors.html.
Classes for the minor are
available, beginning fall
semester 2007.
According to
Douthat, obtaining the
social sciences minor can
help students in several
ways.
“It is always
good to demonstrate focus
and depth of study in any
field,” he said. “Presently,
social work is in very high
demand across all social
service fields, including
human services, health
services, mental health
services, substance abuse
services, child and family
services, criminal justice
and gerontology. It will be
a great advantage to those
students seeking graduate
degrees in the field.”
The social work
minor was approved this
spring by the SSU Board of
Trustees. Social work is one
of the very few social
science majors that offers
professional licensing at
the baccalaureate level,
Douthat said.
“There is a huge
shortage of licensed social
workers in the region,” he
said. “While this minor
itself does not lead to
licensure in the field,
employers will almost
certainly take the minor
into consideration in making
hiring decisions.”
For more
information, please contact
Sandi Delabar, secretary of
the department of social
sciences, at (740) 351-3234.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 6, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Rebecca Cox,
communications
specialist)
SSU hires a new
academic advisor
(Deanna Roberts moves to
Student Success Center)
Deanna
Roberts has moved from
the Admission’s Office
into the Student Success
Center, where she will
work as an academic
advisor for undecided
students.
Roberts, who
looks forward to the
challenge, said “I am
excited about the chance
to help students decide
on the major that will
ultimately start them on
the career path.”
According to
Roberts, she will be
responsible for helping
students draft their
class schedules, discuss
possible areas of degree
interest, and help with
academic improvement
plans. She will also be
assisting in tutoring
needs.
Roberts has
worked at SSU for six
years. As an admissions
officer, she was
responsible for speaking
with students when they
came on campus visits,
conducting school
visits, and attending
college fairs to discuss
SSU with potential
students.
The Student
Success Center offers
student resources,
including advising,
computer labs,
disability services, and
non-traditional student
services. The SSC also
offers multicultural
services, placement
information, orientation
information, and
tutoring.
For more
information, contact the
Student Success Center
at (740) 351-3594.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 6, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
SSU facilities
ready for new academic
year
(Shawnee State’s
facilties crew continue
to improve the campus)
Cooling,
cleaning, constructing
and conserving were the
four C’s for the Shawnee
State University
facilities crew this
summer.
The
maintenance and
facilities crew
renovated the Cedar
House apartments for
almost two months this
summer.
“We had a
contractor replace all
the windows and the back
doors and we upgraded
the transformer for the
entire complex,” said
Butch Kotcamp, director
of facilities. “We
installed new plumbing
all the way to the city
main. We also included a
new electrical service
to every apartment.”
To reduce
cost, 12 electric meters
were replaced with one.
Since the students’
electric bills are
included in room and
board, units are not
measured separately for
electric use.
“We had some
settling on the concrete
pads in the back of the
building and it was
pulling the meters out
of the building,”
Kotcamp said. “It was a
safety issue but it
turned out to be a
cost-saver as well. Of
course, the new windows
and the back doors will
be much more energy
efficient.”
During the
first week of August,
maintenance contractors
began installing
electronic controls on
the third floor of
Massie—the natural
science department. They
have begun the
installation of a
heating ventilation and
air conditioning unit.
“That will
reduce our utility cost
by approximately $40,000
a year,” Kotcamp said.
“The third floor is one
of our largest utility
users because the
chemistry and biology
labs are located there.”
The
contractor has upgraded
controls that will be
monitored and operated
by the energy management
system allowing them to
operate as a variable
air system, which will
reduce the amount of
outside air needed in
the building.
“We have
fume hoods in all of our
chemistry labs and
biological safety
cabinets in our biology
labs,” said Eugene
Burns, Ph.D.,
chairperson of the
department of natural
sciences at SSU. The new
system includes
electronic controls to
monitor the function of
the hoods and cabinets
as well as the rest of
the HVAC system. Having
a centralized monitoring
system will let us know
when maintenance is
needed (such as
replacing a filter which
must be done regularly).
It will be more
efficient to have it all
reported to a
centralized location
through the computerized
monitoring system.”
For more
information, contact the
Office of Planning,
Construction and
Facilities at (740)
351-3458.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 6, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
Dr. Jean
Kilbourne speaks at SSU
(Kilbourne presents
“Deadly Persuasion:
Advertising and
Addiction”)
What is
advertising really
selling us?
Dr. Jean
Kilbourne will discuss
the consequences of
advertising at the fifth
annual Leslie Williams
Symposium on Sept. 20 at
7 p.m. in the Main
Theater of the Vern
Riffe Center for the
Arts at Shawnee State
University. This event
is free and open to the
public.
Kilbourne,
described as a
“superstar lecturer” by
The Boston Globe is a
documentary filmmaker,
social activist and
author of several books,
including “Can’t Buy My
Love: How Advertising
Changes the Way We Think
and Feel.”
“We are
inundated with
advertisement anywhere
we look,” said Roberta
Milliken, Ph.D.,
associate professor of
English and the director
of the Women’s Center at
SSU. “I think it’s
probably the naïve
person who isn’t
affected by it in any
shape or form. We
thought she would be a
great speaker, because
she would meet the needs
of a lot of different
audience members.”
The
award-winning films
based on Kilbourne’s
lectures include
“Killing Us Softly,”
“Spin the Bottle” and
“Slim Hopes.” She has
been interviewed by many
magazines and
newspapers, and is a
frequent guest on radio
and television programs,
including “The Today
Show” and “The Oprah
Winfrey Show.”
Kilbourne
has served as an advisor
to the Surgeon General
and has testified before
the U. S. Congress. She
is a Visiting Scholar at
Wellesley College.
Kilbourne
received the Lecturer of
the Year award from the
National Association for
Campus Activities, the
ACME Media Activist 2006
National Award and is
profiled in the book,
“Feminists Who Changed
America, 1963-1975.”
“Unfortunately, her
subject doesn’t ever go
away,” Milliken said.
“It remains an issue for
the good critical
thinker to be aware of.
I know her research has
expanded accordingly, as
advertisement has. I was
blown away by her the
last time she came and I
expect she’ll do the
same this time.”
The lecture
is also sponsored by the
SSU Women’s Center and
the Jane M. G. Foster
Distinguished Lecture
Series, administered by
the SSU Development
Foundation. For more
information, contact
Milliken at (740)
351-3738 or visit
Kilbourne’s Web site,
www.jeankilbourne.com.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 11, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
Shawnee State
hosts National
Preparedness Month
observance
On Friday,
September 7, 1,500
Scioto County fourth
through sixth graders
learned the value of
disaster planning and
the rewards of
volunteering during
National Preparedness
Month. Pictured is Area
Supervisor, Officer Dean
Palmer speaking with
students about water
safety.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 11, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Submitted Photo)
Seven SSU Alumni
participated in White
Coat Convocation
Ceremony
On Saturday,
August 18, seven Shawnee
State University Alumni
participated in Ohio
University College of
Osteopathic Medicines’
White Coat Convocation
Ceremony. The students
joined the class of 108
accepted into OUCOM, and
they are all part of the
Class of 2011. Pictured
(from left to right) are
as follows: Derick
Adams, Chillicothe;
Bryan Grooms, West
Union; Debra Lewis,
Northwest; Jacinda Shaw,
South Webster; Jerod
Walker, Minford; and
Jerrad Nickell, Beaver.
(Andy Little,
Portsmouth, also
participated; however,
he is not pictured.)
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
SSU International
Center to open its doors
(Shawnee State’s new
Rose L. and Augusta
Jacobs Center for
International Programs
will open in the former
Portsmouth Jewish
Temple)
Shawnee
State University will
open the Rose L. and
Augusta Jacobs Center
for International
Programs at 3:30 p.m.,
on Friday, September 14.
Members of the Shawnee
State Board of Trustees,
international students,
and community
representatives will be
in attendance.
The new
center is housed in the
former Portsmouth Jewish
Temple, acquired with
funds from a bequest to
the university by Rose
L. and Augusta Jacobs
during the “Poised for
Tomorrow” capital
campaign, a major
component of which is
international
programming.
Rose L. and
Augusta Jacobs were
prominent members of the
community whose
leadership of numerous
civic organizations and
charitable endeavors led
to their both being
named to Who’s Who in
American Women.
The building
was constructed in 1974
and is notable for its
unique hexagonal design
and distinctive stained
glass windows.
As part of
the sales agreement the
congregation will
continue to use the
facility, located
adjacent to the Shawnee
campus, for a set number
of services and
ceremonies, as
stipulated in a
renewable annual lease.
“This is a
win-win situation for
the university which
gains space to promote
international
initiatives and for the
Jewish community which
will continue to have
access to the center,”
said Shawnee State
University President
Rita Rice Morris. “What
better way for an
international center to
start its life than
through an act of
cooperation made
possible by selfless
generosity?”
The center
includes offices and
meeting space for
classes, lectures and
special activities.
“Shawnee
State is proud to offer
a venue that will
promote international
understanding and create
opportunities for our
students to become
better prepared for the
global marketplace,”
said President Morris.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Rebecca Cox,
communications
specialist)
Student from
Azerbaijan at SSU
(Ahmad Ibrahimov, from
Azerbaijan, to attend
SSU in fall)
In addition
to the many students
entering Shawnee State
University this fall, an
exchange student from
across the globe will be
on campus. Ahmad
Ibrahimov, from Baku,
Azerbaijan, is sharing
his junior year with the
community, learning all
about American college
life.
Ahmad is a
double exchange student,
recently attending
college in Russia, and
is entering SSU through
a highly competitive
program called IREX
(International Research
and Exchanges Board).
According to
www.irex.org, IREX is an
international nonprofit
organization responsible
for “administering
cultural, professional,
and scholarly
exchanges,” while
remaining “committed to
supporting scholarship
and free intellectual
inquiry among scholars
and individuals
worldwide.” Around 2000
students applied to the
program in Russia alone,
Ahmad said.
Ahmad
decided to study abroad
after the wonderful
experience of his elder
sister at Idaho State
University.
“She
suggested to me that I
participate in the
program,” Ahmad said.
He will be
continuing his studies
in his current major,
environmental science.
After more
than 20 hours of travel,
Ahmad arrived at the
home of local physician
Dr. George Pettit. He
was then the guest of
recent SSU graduate
Kelly Hatas.
“It was a
really neat experience
and he was a wonderful
guest,” Hatas said. “It
was fascinating to learn
about his culture.”
Ahmad will
be working alongside
Hatas, SSU’s Americorp/Vista
Service Leader, to
fulfill his community
service requirements.
After the
start of the semester,
in compliance with IREX
guidelines, Ahmad will
be living in a campus
residence, joining a
student who specifically
requested an
international student as
a roommate.
Ahmad’s
hobbies include
computers, sports,
particularly tennis, and
music.
SSU would
like to offer a
welcoming hand to Ahmad
Ibrahimov!
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Shawnee State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article and Photo
by Monica J.
Bradbury,
communications
specialist)
SSU welcomes Chris Moore to the diamond
(Moore becomes
assistant baseball
coach at SSU)
Chris
Moore is the new
assistant baseball
coach at SSU. Moore
will also act as the
recruiting
coordinator,
responsible for
identifying and
evaluating
prospective student
athletes and
recruiting them for
SSU’s program.
Moore’s expertise
includes pitching
and coaching
infield.
Moore
graduated from
Central Washington
University with a
bachelor’s degree in
political science
with a minor in
business
administration. He
has been involved in
baseball ever since
he graduated from
CWU. He was
assistant coach for
two years at Tacoma
Community College,
assistant coach for
three years at
Indiana University
and head coach for
two years at IMG
Baseball Academy in
Florida.
Moore
said being involved
in college baseball
at a smaller
university appealed
to him.
“Coach
Tom and I have
worked with each
other the past three
years,” he said. “I
hope to instill a
sense of pride in
our players and the
student body as a
whole to become the
best we can on and
off the field.”
For more
information, please
contact Chris Moore
at (740) 351-3537.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Rebecca Cox,
communications
specialist)
Ohio Underground
Railroad Association to
present “Conductor of
the Year” award
(SSU to host The Friends
of Freedom Society –
Ohio Underground
Railroad Association)
Shawnee
State University will
host The Friends of
Freedom Society – Ohio
Underground Railroad
Association’s twelfth
annual Ohio Underground
Railroad Summit on Oct.
19 and 20. The theme for
this year’s Summit is
“The Crossing: The Ohio
River Corridor.”
Registration
will be held 5-9 p.m. on
Oct. 19 at the Ramada
Inn.
Activities
will be held 8:45 a.m.
to 4 p.m. on Oct. 20 in
SSU’s Massie’s
Auditorium. Dinner will
begin at 6 p.m. in the
Grand Lobby of the Vern
Riffe Center for the
Arts, followed by music,
the keynote address and
an awards ceremony.
At 7:30
p.m., the keynote
speaker, nationally
acclaimed author
Jacqueline Tobin, will
discuss her book,
“Between Midnight and
Dawn: The Last Tracks of
the Underground
Railroad.”
“The
university was asked to
host the Summit after
the Underground Railroad
marker ‘Crossing at
Scioto County’ was
dedicated in October
2004 and at the
conclusion of the 2006
Summit meeting,” said
Matt Matthews,
coordinator of
multicultural student
affairs at SSU and
co-chair of the 2007
summit committee. “The
marker represents black
and white residents of
Scioto County who had
assisted and transported
slaves seeking their
freedom to escape from
slavery.”
Other
speakers and their
topics include:
· Dr. Andrew
Feight, SSU “Joe and
Jemima Logan: An Amazing
Story from the Early
Days of the UGRR in
Southern Ohio.”
· John
Mattox, UGRR Museum
Curator, Flushing, Ohio,
“I’ve Been Here a Long
Time.”
· Ralph
Alexander, Batavia,
Ohio, “Tranquility: The
John T. Wilson UGRR
House Restoration
Project.”
· John
Ogden, researcher and
historian of Alexandria,
Va., “The Steels: An
Abolitionist Family.”
· Anthony
Gibbs, Columbus, Ohio,
“The Promised Land: John
P. Parker and the
Underground Railroad.”
· Cathy
Nelson, Columbus, Ohio,
Friends and Freedom
Society Founder and
President Emeritus, and
Jack Marchbanks, former
director of the Ohio
Department of
Transportation, “A
Vision: The River Lake
UGRR Freedom Trail
Project.”
The evening
will conclude with a
recognition and awards
ceremony at 8:30 p.m.,
when the Ohio UGRR will
name the “Conductor of
the Year.”
The cost for
the summit is $80, while
attending only the
banquet is $25. Register
online or contact Cathy
Nelson at (614)
868-1246. The deadline
for registration is
September 30. Tobin’s
book can be purchased in
the Grand Lobby
following the event.
This event
is sponsored by The
Friends of Freedom
Society, Inc. For more
information, contact
Matthews at (740)
351-3553 or visit the
Ohio Underground
Railroad Association’s
Website at
www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
SSU welcomes John Huston to its fine arts
department
(Huston returns to
Portsmouth to teach
theatre)
College
isn’t just about making
the grade, but also
about personal
expression, and John
Huston is excited to
help students bring out
their creativity through
theatre.
As the new
associate professor of
theatre and coordinator
of the theatre program,
John Huston will be
teaching theatre
courses, directing
productions and managing
theatre activities,
duties formerly held by
Vivian Robinson.
Huston, a
resident of Lucasville,
Ohio, in his youth and
young adult years, looks
forward to the
opportunities presented
by working at Shawnee
State.
“Upon
discovering an opening
at SSU, I decided to
apply for the position
to perhaps relocate back
to the area and be
closer to family
members,” he said. “I
was excited about the
growth of Shawnee State,
the positive influence
it has on the community
and the additional
potential that the fine
arts programs—especially
theatre—can offer to the
surrounding areas. I
enjoy the creative
environment of the fine
arts, and the
opportunity to teach,
work with and mentor
students.”
Huston holds
a bachelor’s degree in
from Kent State
University in music with
concentrations in piano
and voice. His master’s
of fine arts is in
theatre, with a
concentration in scenic
design, from the
University of Memphis in
Memphis, TN. As a
professional scenic
designer, Huston has
designed more than 50
productions for theatre,
opera, musicals, and
ballet. Huston has held
the position of
Production Designer for
the Southern Ohio Light
Opera, located here in
Portsmouth, which
performs annually during
the summer at the VRCFA.
Huston
taught for nearly 15
years at Southwest State
University in Marshall,
Minn., and most recently
at Lake Erie College, in
Painesville, Ohio, where
he held the position of
associate professor of
theatre and area chair
of fine arts.
“I hope to
establish a highly
respected theatre
program for Shawnee
State that supports and
trains students for
advanced degree
programs, professional
careers, and to be
supporters of the Arts,”
Huston said.
For more
information, contact
Huston at (740)
351-3335.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
Literacy Council of
Scioto County Kicks Off
(Literacy Council
Director Susan McComas
announces efforts to
improve adult literacy
and promote childhood
reading)
Surrounded
by the stacks of books
in Shawnee State
University’s library,
the Literacy Council of
Scioto County introduced
to the community the
newly-formed
organization’s director,
Susan McComas.
“We were very
fortunate to get someone
of Susan’s talents and
experience,” said Hilda
Drake, chair of the
board Literacy Council
Board. “Susan will bring
the leadership we need
to better serve the
people of Scioto
County.”
Prior to her
taking the helm of the
Literacy Council,
McComas was director of
the Wayne County (W.Va.)
Public Library. She
holds a master’s degree
in adult and technical
education from Marshall
University and a
bachelor of fine arts
degree from Denison
University.
McComas
discussed the status of
literacy in Scioto
County and the impact of
poor reading skills on
the quality of life.
“In Scioto
County we have too few
people going to college
and too many people who
are low-level readers.
The two are directly
related,” said McComas.
“Literacy is the key to
a brighter future and we
are dedicated to helping
more people learn to
read.”
The Literacy
Council was created in
response to a request
from the groups in
Scioto County providing
literacy services who
sought better
coordination of their
efforts, and the
opportunity to pursue
new sources of funding.
“Randy
Arnett, Jan Broughton
and myself felt strongly
enough about the
importance of literacy
that we brought together
the groups promoting
literacy in Scioto
County and encouraged
them to come up with
solutions. That led to
the creation of the
Literacy Council,” said
Shawnee State University
President Rita Rice
Morris. “Shawnee State,
SOMC and Portsmouth City
Schools are all
committed to providing
whatever support we can
to facilitate the
efforts of the Literacy
Council.”
Two
initiatives mentioned by
McComas were creating a
one-on-one adult
tutoring program and
participation in the
Reach Out and Read
program coalition, which
seeks to make literacy
promotion a standard
part of pediatric
primary care.
“The role
for the Literacy Council
of Scioto County will be
to identify volunteer
pediatric organizations
as participants in the
program and assist with
implementation and
funding,” said McComas.
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 13, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article and photo by
Monica J. Bradbury,
communications
specialist)
SSU welcomes Dr. James Simmons to campus
(Simmons to teach
physics at SSU)
James
Simmons, Ph.D., brings
more than 19 years
experience to his new
position as assistant
professor of physics at
Shawnee State
University.
Simmons has
taught at Concordia
College in Moorhead, Mn.,
Shimer College in
Chicago, Universidade
Pedagógica in Beira,
Mozambique, and
Waynesburg College in
Waynesburg, Pa.
“At
Waynesburg, I was the
only physicist on the
faculty, so I'm looking
forward to having other
physicists to talk to,”
Simmons said. Simmons
will also assist in the
growth of the physics
program.
Simmons
resides in Portsmouth
with his wife, Tracey
Henderson, son Micah,
age 7, and daughters
Sarah and Hannah, ages 8
and 9. He has been a
baseball lover long
enough to remember
Crosley Field.
For more
information, contact
Simmons at (740)
351-3341.
|
|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 14, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
SSU Teacher
Education students once
again get top grades!
(All SSU Teacher
Education grads pass
Praxis III evaluations)
One-hundred-percent of
the Shawnee State
University Teacher
Education graduates who
completed their entry
year experience during
the 2006-2007 academic
year passed their Praxis
III on-site teaching
evaluation, part of The
Praxis Series™: Teacher
Licensure and
Certification
assessments.
According to
Paul Madden, Ph.D.,
chair and assistant
professor in the
department of teacher
education at SSU, the
entry year experience is
required for all
beginning teachers who
have recently earned
their provisional,
2-year license and have
been hired in a teaching
position in their
licensure area.
“Before they
are eligible to
transition to a
professional, five-year
license, they must pass
the Praxis III on-site
teaching evaluation,”
Madden said. “If they
don’t pass the Praxis
III, they will need to
renew their provisional
license and will not be
permitted to have the
professional license
until the Praxis III is
completed.”
Praxis III
Assessors are
experienced educators
trained to evaluate
beginning teachers. Four
areas are closely
examined an evaluated
throughout the entry
year experience,
including organizing
content knowledge for
student learning,
creating an environment
for student learning,
teaching for student
learning and teacher
professionalism.
“Our teacher
candidates are quite
accustomed to the Praxis
evaluation system and
are prepared to perform
in each of the domain
areas,” Madden said. “In
addition to their
standards-based
preparation, SSU
candidates are very
experienced with the
documentation of their
professional performance
according to national
and state standards. A
competency based,
professional evaluation
system is nothing new to
an SSU graduate.”
For more
information, contact the
SSU Teacher Education
Department at (740)
351-3451.
|
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Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 14, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
SSU’s Upward Bound
receives funding for
2007-2008
(The U.S. Department of
Education has recognized
the quality of SSU’s
Upward Bound Math &
Science program with
renewed funding)
Shawnee
State University’s
Upward Bound Math
Science program has been
approved for another
four-year grant by the
United States Department
of Education.
The grant
request was submitted by
Tim Amburgey, former
director of UBMS. The
program was awarded a
$250,000 grant. Nearly
275 applicants were
eligible for grants;
however only 110
applicants were funded.
“I cannot
explain how excited and
happy I am for these
students right now,”
said Steve Cunningham,
program assistant for
UBMS. “The grant will
allow students in the
region to continue with
the UBMS experience and
still live that dream of
going to college. There
are a lot of great
activities planned this
upcoming year and I’m
really looking forward
to seeing how everything
develops.”
The UBMS
program is designed to
provide students in
Appalachia with an
exciting learning
experience in the math
and science fields.
UBMS now
will allow add freshmen
students to participate
in the program.
Throughout the academic
year, UBMS will host
monthly workshops and
activities. Junior and
senior high school
students will also visit
colleges and
universities. UBMS staff
still plan on taking
students on one weekend
trip and taking upcoming
students and second year
students out west for
the annual trip. An
Alumni Day has also been
added to the summer UBMS
schedule.
According to
Cunningham, there are a
few changes that have
been made to the grant
stipulations this year.
“Rather than
serving approximately 20
schools per year, UBMS
will only be recruiting
students at six high
schools,” Cunningham
said. Schools include
Ironton, Dawson-Bryant,
Ripley, West Union,
Piketon, and Greenup
County. “This allows for
us to have more contact
with the students
throughout the academic
year.”
For more
information, contact
Cunningham at (740)
351-3402.
|
|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 14, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
A longtime
friend to Shawnee State
University has found
another way to help SSU
students and the
community.
Ada Appleton
has donated $100,000 to
Poised for Tomorrow,
Shawnee State’s capital
campaign. The gift was
used to create the
Appleton Family
Scholarship, which will
be awarded to
outstanding SSU students
who exhibit financial
need.
This is
Appleton’s second major
donation to SSU
following a charitable
remainder trust she and
her late husband, Dr.
Donald Appleton,
established in 1996.
Appleton was
able to make this second
gift by taking advantage
of the Pension
Protection Act of 2006
which allows donors to
give directly to a
non-profit organization
from their Individual
Retirement Accounts
without incurring taxes.
When
Appleton heard of this
benefit, she knew that
SSU was where she wanted
her money to go. “What
better place to put it?”
Appleton said. “I wanted
the money to stay here
and with the way Shawnee
State is growing and
helping this area so
much, it seems like the
best place.”
It was
Appleton’s family that
suggested she do a
scholarship. “I
immediately agreed that
we should help the young
people of the
community,” Appleton
said.
SSU
President Rita Rice
Morris praised
Appleton’s gift as a
great benefit to the
University. “Ada is a
loyal friend to Shawnee
State and we are so
thankful for her
continued support. This
scholarship will provide
outstanding students,
who may not otherwise
have the financial
resources, the ability
to obtain a university
degree. ”
The
expansion of the
scholarship program is
one of the seven
initiatives of Poised
for Tomorrow. “The power
to attract and retain
motivated students is
critical to the future
of Shawnee State and the
availability of
scholarship funds is a
key component to that,”
Morris said. “An
expanded scholarship
program will allow us to
attract talented
individuals and
potential leaders.”
For
Appleton, this gift is
also a chance to give
back to the community
that gave Donald’s
medical practice so much
support. “After all, the
reason I can give back
is because of what the
community gave us,” she
said.
Poised for
Tomorrow is a $12
million capital and
endowment campaign to
support a broad array of
campus initiatives.
Those initiatives
include undergraduate
research, new
technologies,
specialized studies,
faculty development,
scholarships, enhanced
clinical experiences and
an enhanced quality of
life for the region.
Anyone
wanting more information
about Poised for
Tomorrow can call the
Development Office at
(740) 351-3284 or visit
the university’s website
at www.shawnee.edu.
|
|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 14, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
SSU to observe
Constitution Day
(Dr. John Kelley
presents at Constitution
Day 2007)
To observe
Constitution Day,
Shawnee State University
is hosting a lecture by
John L. Kelley, Ph.D. at
7 p.m. on Monday, Sept.
17 in the Flohr Lecture
Hall of the Clark
Memorial Library.
Kelley will
present a historical
review of American war
making and congressional
efforts to control the
commander-in-chief with
his presentation in
“Presidential War Powers
and Congress—A
Constitutional
Quagmire?”
“According
to a law enacted in
2005, all educational
institutions receiving
federal funding (such as
SSU) are required to
hold an educational
program pertaining to
the United States
Constitution on
September 17 of each
year,” said Stylianos
Hadjiyannis, professor
of government and
international relations,
and associate director
of SSU’s Center for
International Programs
and Activities. The law
is on the Federal
Register as Document
05-10355. “Dr. Kelly was
chosen to be the guest
speaker beaker he is a
noted author and has
extensive knowledge of
U.S. history and
politics.”
During a 35
year career teaching
college history, Dr.
Kelley, fostered
academic excellence at
SSU and participated in
campus leadership,
holding positions as
Faculty Senate
president, interim
provost and interim dean
of the College of Arts
and Sciences.
Dr. Kelly
authored “Bringing the
Market Back in: The
Political Revitalization
of Market Liberalism,”
and his book reviews and
articles have appeared
in “The American
Spectator,” “Missouri
Historical Review,”
“Continuity,” and “The
Independent Review.” For
his long career and many
contributions, in 2005
the SSU Board of
Trustees bestowed upon
Dr. Kelley the rare
distinction of professor
emeritus.
The event is
sponsored by the Office
of the Provost. The
lecture is free and open
to the public. For more
information, contact
Hadjiyannis at (740)
351-3445.
|
|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 17, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
SSU Board of
Trustees approves salary
increase for President
Morris
At its
meeting held on
September 14 in the
Homer Selby Board Room
of the Clark Library,
the Shawnee State
University Board of
Trustees approved a
salary increase for
university president
Rita Rice Morris.
“Under the
leadership of President
Morris, the progress of
Shawnee State in the
last year has far
exceeded the board’s
expectations,” said
Howard H. Harcha,
chairman of the Board of
Trustees. “We are proud
to have the opportunity
of recognizing the merit
of President Morris’
work by means of a
salary increase.”
Morris’ new
salary is $183,500.
“By its
action today the Board
of Trustees wants to
send the clearest
possible signal that it
has the utmost faith in
President Morris and in
her capacity to
negotiate the challenges
Shawnee State faces as
it endeavors to be a
high quality regional
university in the 21st
century,” said Harcha.
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|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 17, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
Travel the world with
Dr. Hadjiyannis
(Choose from three study
abroad opportunities)
Looking to
expand your horizons in
the new year?
Shawnee
State University’s
Center for International
Programs and Activities
is offering three
opportunities for
students and community
members to travel and
study abroad.
Choose from
the following tours:
Four
European nations,
including the Czech
Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary and Austria from
June 5 to June 15, 2008;
Great
Britain from Mar. 15 to
Mar. 23, 2008; or
Five
European nations,
including Holland,
Belgium, Luxembourg,
France and Germany from
May 24 to June 4.
Each trip
will cost from
$1,580-$1,800 per person
and will include
airfare, hotel stay,
daily breakfasts,
transportation to and
from the airport, and
day trips.
In the last
ten years, Hadjiyannis
has hosted 13
trips—eight to Greece,
three to Britain, one to
Ireland and one to five
European nations.
Hadjiyannis said he
averages 28 participants
per trip.
“I chose the
destinations because I
have lived in those
nations or have in the
past visited them often
and for long periods of
time,” Hadjiyannis said.
“I am very familiar with
them and feel very
comfortable acting as
guide. I also have
academic expertise in
the politics, history
and society of those
nations.”
Students are
advised to consult their
advisors and with the
financial aid office
before registering. A
CIPA grant of $2,000
will be equally shared
among all enrolled
students to defray
costs. Reservations
should be made early and
are now being accepted.
Priority
will go to students
enrolled in the course.
For more information,
contact Hadjiyannis at
(740) 351-3445.
|
|
Shawnee
State University
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
September 17, 2007
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and
Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179;
Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica J.
Bradbury, communications
specialist)
(Submitted photo)
Author Sonya Hamlin to speak at SSU
(Kricker Lecture Series
to include Hamlin)
Do you feel
like no one is listening
to you?
Sonya
Hamlin, communication
expert and author of
“How to Talk So People
Listen: Connecting in
Today's Workplace,” will
share her communication
skills at 7:30 p.m. on
Oct. 4 in the Flohr
Lecture Hall in SSU’s
Clark Memorial Library.
Hamlin has been invited
to speak as part of the
Kricker Lecture Series.
“Sonya
Hamlin is a
communications expert,
both for the larger
corporation as well as
smaller businesses,”
said Robbie Burke,
professor of business
management at SSU.
“Communication is a
vital part of personal
and public life. Hamlin
focuses on how
communication has
changed among the
different generations
and how the ‘generation
gap’ affects our ability
to communicate with
different age groups.”
President of
Sonya Hamlin
Communications, Hamlin’s
major focus is on
business communication,
both verbal and visual.
Hamlin is a pioneer in
the field of courtroom
communication, having
created a course at the
Harvard Law School in
1978. She lectures
worldwide and consults
on cases with law firms,
consulting on juries and
advocacy skills,
preparing witnesses,
developing strategies
and creating visual
presentations of
evidence.
Starting as
a dancer, choreographer
and musician, Hamlin
attended Julliard and
earned a Bachelor of
Science and master’s
degree from New York
University. She began | |