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Writing faculty review student writing samples
Friday evening of finals week had the WOU writing program team members cross-grading final writing samples by students in the WR 135 College Writing courses. Cross-grading student writing samples enables the program faculty to ensure consistency in writing outcomes for students in multiple sections of the course. The WOU writing program is directed by Dr. Christine Harvey Horning of the Department of English, Writing and Linguistics.
Photo (l-r): Mr. Joshua Daniels, Ms. April Carothers, Ms. Kate Ristau, Ms. Debbie Braun (humanities division administrative program assistant), Dr. Meg Artman, Mr. Matt Haas, Dr. Christine Harvey Horning.
WOU and Ash Creek Elementary faculty
Math professors Dr. Cheryl Beaver and Dr. Matthew Ciancetta and their students in the mathematics department’s Elementary Problem Solving classes have mentored 4th and 5th graders at Ash Creek Elementary School throughout the fall term in an outreach program known as “Math Buddies.” The program linked WOU pre-service teacher students in Elementary Problem Solving classes as math mentors with the students at Ash Creek Elementary via hand-written pen-pal exchanges. On November 30th the Ash Creek students visited WOU to meet and engage with their WOU Math Buddies in various mathematical game exercises at the Math Buddy Fair. Photo: Ash Creek teachers and WOU mathematics faculty (l-r)—Mr. Shawn Beam, Dr. Beaver, Ms. Terry Wright, Mr. Arend Hall, Dr. Ciancetta, Mr. Dale Claussen
visiting scholars with local pilot
Cai Yiyan, instructor of English at Xianda College of Shanghai International Studies University and Feng Yan, instructor of English at Dalian Polytechnic University Vocational College are two of the current visiting international scholars being hosted by the Department of English, Writing and Linguistics at WOU. Recently, the two scholars had the opportunity to visit with local aviator Gary Brown, Chief Pilot of Brown Western Aviation LLC, to learn about construction of kit RV aircraft. Click here to learn more about other visiting scholars at WOU. Photo: Visiting scholars Cai Yiyan (left) and Feng Yan (right) with Chief Pilot Gary Brown
Chinese gerontology professors and Dr. Winningham
Professors Pan Jinhong, Sun Tangshui and Zhang Yinhe -- from the Institute of Aging Science and Industry at Nanjing College for Population Programmer Management, Nanjing, China -- have been invited scholars during the fall term in the Psychology Division’s Gerontology Program. The scholars met with gerontology faculty in the division and Dr. Mark Henkels, professor of political science and chair of the Social Science Division. Professors Pan, Sun and Zhang also visited with state health and welfare officials in Oregon and Washington, and administrators of various retirement and skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Rob Winningham, professor of psychology and chair of the division, was the sponsoring faculty member.
Photo (l-r): Professor Pan, Dr. Winningham, Professor Sun.
Design group for DeVolder Family Science Center
Construction of the DeVolder Family Science Center is well underway and members of the WOU faculty involved in the design of the laboratory facilities within the Center had an opportunity to enjoy an evening with the lead donors, Ron ('68) and Norma DeVolder. Also attending were President Mark Weiss, Provost Kent Neely, State Senate President Peter Courtney and Dean Stephen Scheck. More information about the Center can be found at: http://www.wou.edu/president/advancement/science_center
Photo above (l-r): Dr. Rahim Kazerouni (chem), Dr. Patricia Flatt (chem), Dr. Michael LeMaster (bio), Dr. Steve Taylor (natural science division chair), Dr. Arlene Courtney (chemistry head), Brad Huggins (WOU project manager), Norma DeVolder, Ron DeVolder.
Social challenge team Arts Smart
Two student teams presented social business plans at The Oregon Social Business Challenge conference on October 1, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center. The conference had over 1,000 attendees, including Governor Kitzhaber and featured keynote speaker Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. Sixteen teams from universities across the state participated in the event. WOU’s teams -- comprised of Ronnell Staudinger and Amanda Quitugua; and Elise Nibler and Paul Gutzman -- presented social business opportunity plans to integrate theatrical arts into core subjects at the elementary and secondary school level and to provide programming and gardening kits for educational gardening in K-12 schools, respectively. Academic mentor for the two teams was business professor, Paul Disney.
Social challenge team Nibler and Gutzman
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Students Amanda Quitugua and Ronnell Staudinger with professor Disney (above) and students Paul Gutzman and Elise Nibler with professor Disney (right).
Pavement breaking for Science Center
September 2012. The construction phase has commenced on the $7.2M DeVolder Family Science Center. The building, which will house the chemistry department and human anatomy and physiology laboratories, will be open for the fall 2013 term. The DeVolder Center will provide modern facilities for the chemistry department’s programming in chemistry, including focus areas in forensic chemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, and environmental chemistry. Ron ’68 and Norma DeVolder and the Lynn Roberts Ramsdell Trust provided the lead gifts for funding the building.
Communication and event planning class group
On June 7th, Dr. Molly Mayhead’s Communication and Event Planning class hosted a gala reception and silent auction to benefit the Friends of the Monmouth Senior Center. The event drew over 200 attendees and raised more than $8,000 for the Center. Eola Hills Winery (Rickreall, OR) provided the venue location. Dr. Mayhead, professor of communication studies, offers this course for junior and senior communication studies students. The course and event planning experience provide tangible, practical ways for students to apply the communication concepts they have studied in their other communication classes.
Photo. Back row: Jared Suing, Cory Vieira, Kait Parker, Silas Heisler, Lorrie Clifford, Jessica Love; Middle Row: Alexa Armstrong, Katya Golozovnina, Sarah Kathrein, Blair Osburn, Amy Funk, Victoria Morgado; Front row: Heidi Maricle, Emily Hilsenkopf, Jessica Bruck.
Outstanding 2012 graduates O'Rourke and Alexander
The spring President's Club dinner set the stage for the university to thank the many friends and benefactors who have provided financial support to students through scholarship and program donations. Two outstanding June 2012 graduates, Paige O’Rourke and Robert Alexander, spoke to the audience about their experiences at WOU and the opportunities they pursued while at WOU. Ms. O’Rourke, an English major with a minor in writing, is the 2012 Julia McCulloch Smith Award recipient; the award is given to the outstanding graduating senior woman. Mr. Alexander, a political science major with a sports management minor, is the 2012 Delmer Dewey Award recipient; the award is given to the outstanding graduating senior man. Photo (l-r): Robert Alexander and Paige O’Rourke.
Photo (l-r): Robert Alexander and Paige O'Rourke.
Fulbright scholar Wendy Bryant
Wendy Bryant, a senior social science – Spanish double major in the WOU Honors Program will be spending next year on a Fulbright teaching fellowship in Cantabria, Spain. Fulbright awards are highly competitive and are issued by the United States Department of State for outstanding American college graduates to pursue teaching and research in foreign countries. Ms. Bryant is completing her honors thesis: "Sharing Stories: Insights on the Holistic Experiences of Latino English Language Learners." Her parents are Wally and Melinda Bryant, of Eugene, Oregon.
history students at annual conference 2012
Dr. John Rector, professor of history and chair of the social science division and undergraduate students, Sarah Berry, Greg Garcia and graduate students, Duke Morton, Jeffrey Sawyer, attended the 2012 Pacific Northwest Regional Conference of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. The students gave presentations at the Spokane, Washington conference on their research activities at WOU: Duke Morton presented on "Beyond Wilderness;" Jeffrey Sawyer presented on "Capital Punishment in the Early Twentieth Century;" Sarah Berry presented on "Heroes or Villains: Placing Narcocorridos in the Mexican Corrido Tradition;" and Greg Garcia presented on "Disappearing Acts: Argentina during and after its 'Dirty War.’” More information about student scholarship in the history undergraduate and graduate programs can be found at the departmental web site: http://www.wou.edu/las/socsci/history
Photo (l-r): Jeff Sawyer, Duke Morton, Greg Garcia, Sarah Berry.
Comunication Studies students at Northwest Comunication Association Conference
Students and faculty from the Communication Studies department were well represented at the 2012 Northwest Communication Association Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Three communication studies majors presented competitively selected papers for the Rhetorical Theory and Criticism and Media Studies Divisions: Amanda Litzinger presented “Pleading for Purification: A Burkean Analysis of Amanda Knox’s Final Testimony,” Katina Brodkorb presented “Animated Sitcom Archer: Minimizing Serious Social Issues through Comedy,” and Silas Heisler presented “Who Needs to be Rescued? An Analysis of ‘Guts,’ the Pilot Episode of Rescue Me.” Dr. Molly Mayhead received the Harry “Bud” Hazel Award for Distinguished Service and also received the Top Faculty Paper award, along with her co-author instructor Paul Evans, for their essay titled “Mice with Matches: The Power and Failure of Restorative Rhetoric.” In addition, Dr. Mayhead presented the department’s Communication and Civic Action Honors curriculum as part of a roundtable and served as a reviewer and panel respondent. Dr. Nick Backus also served as a panel respondent for “An Old Name for Some New Ways of Thinking: Classic Pragmatism and Contemporary Rhetoric."
Photo (l-r): Undergraduate students Amanda Litzinger, Katina Brodkorb and Silas Heisler.
Psychology major Brittany Naas and professors Roscoe and Winningham
Brittany Naas, a junior psychology major with a minor in communication studies is the recipient of a Monmouth-Independence Community Outstanding Student Service Award. Each year, the two cities recognize an outstanding student from local schools, including WOU. Ms. Naas has served as an admissions advocate at WOU, giving tours to prospective students and their families, and has been involved in numerous campus service organizations—including organizing an upcoming service learning trip to Honduras (she is a program assistant for all Alternative Break trips) and volunteering at the campus childcare center.
Photo (l-r): Dr. Lauren Roscoe, associate professor of psychology, Ms. Naas, and Dr. Rob Winningham, professor and chair of the psychology division.
Math alum Kelly Officer and Drs Behmard and Ward
Mathematics alum Kelly Officer (BS '04) was on campus for a seminar presentation on the Statistical Analysis in a Longitudinal Study of the Application of Measure 11 and Mandatory Minimums in Oregon. The seminar focused on the statistical methods used in the study released by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The full study is available at http://www.ocjc.state.or.us/CJC/docs/Measure_11_Analysis_Final.pdf Ms. Officer is a research analyst at the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
Photo (l-r): Dr. Hamid Behmard, professor of mathematics, Ms. Officer and Dr. Michael Ward, professor of mathematics.
WOU honors students present on Women's Suffrage
Heidi Ramp, Ariel Setniker, Tayleranne Gillespie, Zach Jones and Kayla Ward presented findings from their Junior Honors Seminar projects on Oregon Women’s Suffrage at a panel and speaker series presentation at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem. The Heritage Center is celebrating the 100th anniversary of women having the vote in Oregon. Dr. Kimberly Jensen, professor of history, was the mentor professor on this work; Dr. Jensen is well-known as an historical expert on the women’s suffrage movement. The student’s work can be seen at the Century of Action: Oregon Women Vote 1912-2012. Please click for more information about the university Honors Program or undergraduate or graduate opportunities in History.
Photo (l-r): Dr. Jensen, Heidi Ramp, Ariel Setniker, Tayleranne Gillespie, Zach Jones and Kayla Ward
Drs Gingerich and Gibbons with symposium attendees
The criminal justice department hosted the first annual The State of Crime Analysis in Oregon and Southwest Washington symposium which brought approximately 60 crime analysts, criminal intelligence analysts and academics together to discuss cooperation across Oregon and Southwest Washington. Mr. Christopher Bruce, President of the International Association of Crime Analysts and adjunct instructor at WOU, was the keynote speaker. The attendees from multiple law enforcement agencies also had the opportunity to become familiar with WOU’s curricular offerings in crime analysis: students may pursue a crime analysis concentration in their CJ studies, leading to a certificate in crime analysis; The crime analysis certificate is also available to post baccalaureate enrollment. Dr. Terry Gingerich, professor of criminal justice, was conference organizer. For more information about undergraduate and graduate opportunities in the criminal justice program at WOU please contact department head, Dr. Stephen Gibbons.
Conference attendees (l-r): Christopher Bruce, President of the International Association of Crime Analysts, Craig Prins, Executive Director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, Dr. Stephen Gibbons, professor and department head, WOU alumna Natalie Beaty, Intelligence Analyst, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alumnus Richard Kepler, Crime Analyst, Portland Police Bureau, and Dr. Terry Gingerich.
Drs. Jie Liu, Yahwei Wu, and John Marsaglia
Assistant professor Yanwei Wu and her colleagues, professors Jie Liu and John Marsaglia in the computer science division, have received notice from NSF that they were selected as one of 13 universities in the United States to redesign undergraduate computer science courses in spring 2012 to include enhanced treatment of parallel and distributed computing (PDC). The award was made through a competitive process overseen by the NSF Technological Committee on Parallel Processing Curriculum. More information about computer science and information systems programs at WOU can be found at http://www.wou.edu/las/cs/index.php
Photo (l-r): Drs. Liu, Wu and Marsaglia.
Dr. Cornelia Paraskevas and State Rep. Betty Komp
State Representative Betty Komp (’90, ‘92) was on campus to speak to the ASCD club about educational issues facing pre-K /12 education in Oregon. Komp serves as Co-Chair of the Education Sub Committee of Ways and Means, the House Education Policy Committee and the Full Ways and Means Committee. Komp was introduced by Dr. Cornelia Paraskevas, professor of linguistics. Komp was a student in linguistics courses taught by Paraskevas in the early '90s. In addition to teaching middle-high education majors how to teach English, Paraskevas publishes on teaching grammar and serves as a lead reviewer for NCTE/NCATE, reviewing English programs for grades 5-12.
Photo (l-r): Dr. Paraskevas and Rep. Komp.
Austin Schulz and professors
Austin Schulz is the latest graduate student to complete work for the MA in History; he graduates in December and begins employment with the Oregon State Archives in Salem. One of Schulz’s seminar papers was on the treatment of Chinese laborers in the West. Part of his research focused on the 1892 Oregon Supreme Court case of Foot You, which illustrated how once Chinese immigrants were charged with a crime they had little chance of receiving a fair trial. In another paper he examined the Eugenics movement in Oregon with new sources from the Oregon State Archives. During the fall, Schulz and fellow graduate students, Diane Huddleston, Toni Rush, Samantha Reining and Jeffrey Sawyer were invited speakers at the Willamette Heritage Center’s speaker’s series. The students presented talks on the research in which they are engaged. Please see the History Department homepage for examples of scholarly works of other graduate students and undergraduate senior seminar students.
Photo (l-r): Dr. Max Geier (head of the history department), Schulz, Dr. Kim Jensen (graduate coordinator), Dr. Scheck.
Donna and Clard Hamor with Dean Scheck
Donna ('70 BS; '75 MS) and Clark ('77 MS) Hamor stopped in to visit with Dr. Scheck and to talk about upcoming recruitment efforts to build the 2012 fall freshman class. Donna and Clark are heavily involved in support of the WOU admissions teams at regional meet & greet events where prospective students and their families can learn about the opportunities at WOU. Dean Scheck is always happy to spend time chatting with alumni--WOU is still your university and we value your continued engagement.
Photo (L-R)--Dr. Scheck, Donna Hamor, Clark Hamor.
Guests from Hubei Professional Art Institute
Provost Ni Yan and music faculty member, Juan Cai, from Hubei Professional Art Institute in Wuhan, China, were on campus to visit with faculty and administrators, tour WOU’s fine arts facilities and drop in on classes during the first Friday of the fall term. Hubei Professional Art Institute and WOU are partnering on creative arts degree programs where students begin their undergraduate training in art, dance, music or theatre at Hubei and then transfer to WOU to complete their degrees.
Photo (L-R)--front row: Professor Juan Cai, Provost Ni Yan, Professor Diane Tarter (art); back row: Provost Kent Neely, Professor Darryl Thomas (dance), Professor Scott Grim (theatre; chair of the creative arts division), President Mark Weiss, Professor Sharon Oberst (dance) and Professor Keller Coker (music).
psychology undergraduate research team at Posters on the Hill
Undergraduate psychology students Chelsey Asbury, Lucrecia Lawer, Stephanie Gerhardt and Kyleigh Grey (see photo, L-R) presented their research findings at the Council On Undergraduate Research's 2011 Posters on the Hill at the Rayburn House Building during spring term. Dr. David Foster, professor of psychology was the sponsoring faculty member and attended the conference with the student team. Over 700 applications were submitted from across the country for participation in the conference of which 75 were presented; the Western research team was the only Oregon school represented at the conference. The students' research focused on "Effects of Member Competitiveness and Group Development on Group Decision Making Performance." An abstract of the work can be found in the conference program.
R Guruprasad and Dr. Scheck meet to discuss student exchanges
Ratakonda Guruprasad, president of the affiliated colleges of Sri Venkateswara University and Secretary and Chairman of the Shri Gnanambica Group of Institutions in Andhra Pradesh (India) made WOU one of his stops on a Rotary International tour of the Pacific Northwest. During his visit to Western, he and Dean Scheck discussed future student exchanges between WOU and universities in Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Guruprasad concluded his visit to campus at the International Students and Scholars office, meeting with international students from India and other countries currently attending WOU.
Dr. Kim Jensen and students at Woman Suffagerage event Dr. Kimberly Jensen and students from her junior honors seminar and history special studies group attended the Century of Action event at the State Capitol on March 8 to display work they have conducted on Oregon women attaining voting rights in 1912. Students had the opportunity to meet state officials attending the event, including event host Secretary of State Kate Brown and former Governor Barbara Roberts. Dr. Jensen, professor of history and chair of the department, has written extensively on woman suffrage issues. Work completed by the students can be found at the Century of Action website. Photo (L-R): Professor Kimberly Jensen, WOU Students Justin Karr, Marina Jaschek, Melissa Wiener, Tabitha McAfee, Karin Traweek, Kayla Ward, Ariel Setniker, Carolee Buck, Heidi Ramp, Tayloranne Gillespie, Christopher McFetridge, Sophia Wellons, Brandon Gould, Sarah Hardy, Zachary Jones, Jennifer Newby, Dierdra Cates, Secretary of State Kate Brown, Representative Vicki Berger, Representative Carolyn Tomei, Century of Action Project Director Jan Dilg, Oregon Women’s History Consortium President and Editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly Eliza Canty-Jones. (Photograph courtesy of Century of Action, Erin Marr)
Model UN students and Canadian Counslur Denis Stevens
The WOU Model UN club made its 2011 International Awareness Dinner a Canadian-themed one by teaming up with the WOU Canadian Studies Program and hosting Consul General Denis Stevens of the Canadian Consulate in Seattle as its keynote speaker. Also attending the event were Kevin Cook, the Seattle Consulate's political, economic and academic officer and WOU's own alum, James Baumgartner, Canada's Honorary Consul for Portland. WOU sent a student team to Model UN conferences in Seattle in November 2009 and Vancouver, Canada, in January 2010. In the spring of 2011 WOU Model UN students will also participate in conferences in San Francisco and the Netherlands. Photo (left to right) are: Back Row: Dan Trujillo, Doug Dailey, Justin Placencio, Samantha Blair, Fenimore Bergen, John Dalton, Jim Baumgartner, Dr. Eliot Dickinson (MUN faculty advisor).. Front Row: Yuki Kashiwagi, Sarah Kathrein, Jackie Fitzner, Jessica McBride, Consul General Denis Stevens, Debbie Rogers, Casey Gallagher, Bea Trussell.
Psychology students at Oregon Academy of Science 2011
A large contingent of students and faculty mentors from psychology were present at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Oregon Academy of Science held on Saturday, February 26 in Portland. Ten presentations were made by the WOU contingent (proceedings abstracts are available at OAS). Dr. Lauren Roscoe, associate professor of psychology was recognized as the 2011 OAS Outstanding Educator in higher education (see faculty highlight, below). Photo: Front row (L to R) Karly Carlson, Devan Buckingham, Kevin Dixon, Irina Granov, Lucrecia Lawer, Bethany Wilson; Middle row (L to R) Andrea Padilla-Orozco, Dionne Verba, Ashlee Tidwell, Kayla Willhite, Stephanie Gerhardt; Back row (L to R) Tyler Grindstaff, Justin Karr, Lindsey King, Chelsey Asbury Student researchers not pictured : Kenna Papen, Anne Spalding, Adam Lamb, Kyleigh Gray, Nawwal Moustafa, and Cassandra Dinius.
latest biology lab renovation celebration
The Biology department suspended the “no food and drink in the lab” policy in order to celebrate the completion of the latest laboratory renovation project handled by WOU’s Physical Plant and Computing Services units. Natural Science and Mathematics division chair, Dr. Stephen Taylor, and biology professor, Dr. Bryan Dutton, hosted a pizza lunch on November 19 during which theyr voiced appreciation to the skilled trades personnel for the strong working relationship that exists between them and the science faculty. WOU has an on-going program for renovating lab rooms in order to accommodate the latest approaches for teaching laboratory science. (Photo by Dr. Dutton: Physical Plant and University Computing staffs enjoy pizza on lab benches that will serve to facilitate student group interaction during laboratory classes.)
CJ students at Washington State Prison in Walla Walla
On November 12, Dr. Robert Swan, visiting assistant professor of criminal justice, and 19 students traveled to Washington State's maximum security correctional facility in Walla Walla, Washington. The WOU group toured the facility to learn about correctional programming, gangs, and current attempts to reduce gang violence within the prison. Prison officials also discussed correctional work and the daily problems faced by staff and management. The trip was made possible, in part, through funding provided by the Division of Social Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Discretionary Fund. Dr. Swan is working with prison officials on gang management. (Photo: Dr. Swan [to the right of sign] and CJ students.)
Saitama and WOU dance concert
Western’s academic exchange partnership with Saitama University (Japan) continued this November as WOU hosted faculty and students from Saitama’s School of Education for a week of classroom visits and meetings with WOU faculty and administrators. The visit cumulated with a joint Saitama-WOU dance concert in Maple Hall (see photo). Professors Itsuro Ikeuchi (art education) and Eriko Hosokawa (dance education) were accompanied by five Saitama dance students and school administrator, Mr. Takayuki Ozawa. Professors Kim Hoffman, head of the art department and Darryl Thomas ( Dance) were faculty hosts for the Saitama visitors. WOU and Saitama University have had an active academic exchange since 1990. WOU’s most recent trip to Saitama was in early 2010 when Professor Hoffman and adjunct assistant professor of art, Paul LaJeunesse, visited to give guest lectures.
Saitama University visitors 2010
Photo (l-r): Professor Kim Hoffman, Chief of General Affairs Mr. Takayuki Ozawa, Dean Stephen Scheck, Professor Itsuro Ikeuchi and Professor Eriko Hosokawa.
Art students unload ceramic cast molds
Students in professor Mary Harden's fall ceramics class recently got in a different kind of art studio exercise: unloading over 300 plaster slip-cast molds for production of ceramic pieces. The molds permit students to cast preshaped objects which will be altered and combined with castings the students make of their own work for firing in the art department's kilns. The commercial molds were donated to the art department by H20 (Help and Hope to Others) in Dallas, Oregon.
Dr. Scheck and First Year Experience students
Dr. Scheck, dean of the College, and members of his First Year Experience seminar class take time for a photo in front of Ackerman Hall, the new “green” live-learn residence hall. Students in the seminar are examining aspects of green living as well as developing skills to enhance success in college. The seminar class is held in one of Ackerman's academic classrooms.
Selena Orozco and Dr. Scheck
Incoming pre-nursing student, Selena Orozco, is the third annual recipient of the freshman scholarship for unique students from "Karen’s Fund." The fund, established by the Scheck family, is in memory of Karen Bowman, a college-aged niece of Dr. Scheck who died in 2007. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Central High School graduate who will be attending WOU. Central High serves the local community where WOU is located. Candidates are recommended by WOU admissions counselors and Central High School staff. Selena is from the town of Independence.
President Minahan and dean Scheck hosted retired liberal arts and sciences professors for a dinner in the Werner Center on September 16. The president and dean conversed with the group about all the good changes taking place at WOU and the university’s efforts to raise scholarship funds to assist students pursuing programs in the liberal arts and sciences.
LAS retired professors with president and dean
Photo (l-r): Mo Jaffer (chemistry), Lowell Spring (biology), Morris Johnson (biology), Ray Brodersen (geology), Lew Pennock (biology), president Minahan, Dennis Eddings (humanities), Charles Alva (humanities), George Slawson (humanities), Myra Brand (music), Ron Wynn (music), Evelyn Smith Lorence (music), Gary Huxford (history), Richard Davis (theatre) and dean Scheck. In attendance but not pictured, Dan Cannon (art). For more information about the Retirees Association.
math instruction
The mathematics department hosted the annual meeting of the Teachers Of Teachers Of Mathematics (TOTOM) on September 10-11, 2010. TOTOM is comprised of Oregon college and university mathematics faculty who provide the curriculum for training mathematics teachers in K-12. WOU mathematics professors--Dr. Cheryl Beaver (immediate past president of TOTOM) and Dr. Laurie Burton--organized the 2010 meeting which drew 36 attendees from 13 colleges and universities. In 2008, the WOU mathematics program received recognition by the National Council on Teacher Quality as a top 10 program in the country for elementary teacher preparation curriculum.
Kristin Fuller receives certificate at Danish conference
Kristin Fuller (photo: right), a political science undergraduate, was accepted to participate in the Atlantic Council - Danish Atlantic Youth Seminar program held in Aalborg, Denmark, July 5-11. The Youth Seminar selects approximately 40 students from transatlantic and NATO countries; typically about 25 countries are represented. The goal of the seminar is to discuss and debate relevant issues concerning international security. Dr. Mary Pettenger, associate professor of political science, was Ms. Fuller’s faculty sponsor; Dr. Pettenger had participated in the Youth Seminar when she was a graduate student. Part of Kristin’s travel expenses were covered by a grant from the LAS Dean’s discretionary fund. The fund is supported by gifts from alumni and friends of WOU.
2010 math graduates
Students in the Senior Project Course in the mathematics program hit another one out of the park--for the second year in a row. After a pilot year in 2008, the mathematics faculty officially began in 2009 to administer the nationally scored Educational Testing Service Major Field Test in mathematics to assess their majors' mastery of undergraduate mathematics. For each of the last two years in which the mathematics department has administered this standardized broad-based exam, the WOU cohort has earned a mean score at or above the 90th percentile among over 250 colleges and universities across the nation participating in the ETS mathematics exam. Photo (l-r): Nicholas Gard, Chris Sermon, Jesse Pence, Emily Trigg, Danny Corliss, Anne Sanders, Laura Waight, and David Daniels. Not pictured, but participating in all of the senior-level classes and ETS testing this year, is Dania Morales (a junior).
Senior math award winners at 2010 NUMS conference
Three graduating seniors from mathematics won awards at the Second Annual Northwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium held at Oregon State University on April 24. Laura Waight, Nick Gard and Mitch Staehle carried away the Best Short Talk Award, the Pi Mu Epsilon Award, and the SIAM Award, respectively. Student presenters at the symposium were from WOU, Oregon State University, Pacific University, Willamette University, Reed College and California State University, Humboldt. Photo (l-r): Nick Gard, Laura Waight and Mitch Staehle.
President Minahan, Kimber Saville, Erin Huggins and dean Scheck
The spring President's Club dinner set the stage for the university to thank the many friends and benefactors who have provided financial support to students through scholarship and program donations. Two outstanding June 2010 graduates, Kimber Saville and Erin Huggins, spoke to the audience about their experiences at WOU and the critical role that WOU scholarships played in supporting them through their college years. Ms. Saville is the 2010 Julia McCulloch Smith Award recipient; the award is given to the outstanding graduating senior woman. Ms. Saville -- a psychology major with a biology minor -- will be entering a PhD program in biopsychology at Washington State University, Vancouver. Ms. Huggins -- an English (writing) major with a German studies minor and Editor In Chief of the WOU student newspaper, The Journal -- is a 2010 Fulbright Grant awardee and will be spending the upcoming academic year as an English teaching assistant in Germany. Photo (l-r): President Minahan, Kimber Saville, Erin Huggins, dean Scheck.
Allison Glasscock and Erin Huggins--Fulbright winners Philosophy major (German studies minor) Allison Glasscock (photo left), and English/writing major (German studies minor) Erin Huggins (photo right) received word that they have been awarded Fulbright fellowships to work in German middle or high schools as English teaching assistants. To learn more about Allison and Erin, see The Polk County Itemizer-Observer April 7, 2010 edition. Rebecca Chadd, a 2009 Spanish major (dance minor), has also been awarded a Fulbright to teach at a high school in Madrid, Spain. WOU strongly encourages students, regardless of primary major, to continue with a foreign language while at WOU. For more information about the German Studies program and our Spanish and French programs, please contact the department head, Dr. Gudrun Hoobler or go to the Modern Languages department web site. (Adam Korst photo courtesy of the Polk County Itemizer-Observer)
Senator Winters, Dr. Scheck, Ms Kisanga
Gladness Kisanga, project coordinator for the Usa River Children’s Center near Arusha, Tanzania, was on campus for several days to meet with classes and talk about women’s and children’s issues in her Maasai tribe in Lengasti, Tanzania. Ms. Kisanga is the guest of Oregon State Senator Jackie Winters who met Ms. Kisanga while accompanying Salem pediatrician James Lace MD on one of his frequent trips to Tanzania to provide medical services. More information about Ms. Kisanga’s and Dr. Lace’s work in Tanzania.
Photo (l-r): Sen. Jackie Winters, Dr. Scheck, Ms. Kisanga
Students Hannah Marshall and Sarah Hardy
Each year the history department awards a grant or grants to history students engaged in the senior thesis capstone process. The grants are possible due to the donations of current and former faculty members in history and outside donors. This year's winners -- selected after an application process with project outline, budget, and goal setting -- are Hannah Marshall and Sarah Hardy. Each will receive $200 to assist them in archival research for their projects. Ms. Marshall is doing her work at the Oregon State Archives in Salem and Ms. Hardy is working with the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in Portland. More information about their topics can be found at the history department blog.
Courtney Schroeder and Brooke Love
Working hard on a holiday to make sure no one goes without their morning coffee are two Western students. Easter Bunny Courtney Schroeder, a WOU senior, and Brooke Love, a sophomore, pose at their workstation at a coffee kiosk on Highway 99.
LAS Easter egg dying with Chinese children of visiting scholars
Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College, hosted children of visiting international scholars from China for an old-fashioned Easter egg dying party. Our visiting international scholars typically spend twelve months at WOU during which time their school-aged children are enrolled in schools in the local Central School District 13J.
Eirik Thorsgard and Tribal guests at Native American student lounge
Adjunct anthropology instructor Eirik Thorsgard recently performed a ceremonial blessing of the new Native American student lounge located in the Academic Programs and Support building. Instructor Thorsgard, a cultural protection specialist with The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, teaches archaeology courses in the anthropology department. Instructor Thorsgard also performed blessing ceremonies before construction began on the new Health and Wellness Center and Live-Learn Residence Hall. Photo (l-r): Instructor Thorsgard with Grand Ronde Tribal guests Trinity Minahan, Academic Advisor; Luhui Whitebear, Scholarship Coordinator; April Campbell, Education Division Manager; Cheryl Kennedy, Tribal Council Chair; and Ms Kennedy’s grandson, Kaleb Allen, WOU class of 2024. To reach The Grand Rond Education Office.
Drs Hargreaves, Hughes with poet Peter Sears
Renown Oregon poet, Peter Sears, was on campus to read from his latest book, Green Diver . Mr. Sears gave a humorous presentation to an overflow crowd at the event, part of the university’s 2010 poetry series, coordinated by Dr. Henry Hughes, a poet and associate professor of English. The poetry series provides opportunities for WOU students to meet highly regarded Northwest poets. In addition to several volumes of poetry in print, Mr. Sears’ work has appeared in Saturday Review, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Christian Science Monitor, and literary journals such as New Letters, Iowa Review and Poetry Northwest. In 1993, he founded the Oregon Literary Coalition. (Photo[l-r]: Dr. David Hargreaves, head of the English department, Dr. Henry Hughes, Peter Sears.)
Approximately eighty students and teachers from Claggett Creek and Whiteaker Middle Schools spent the day on the WOU campus to learn more about college and the opportunities a college education can provide them. The WOU admissions office coordinates numerous such visits each year with middle and high schools throughout Oregon. Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College gave a presentation on NASA work he has participated in and tied his lecture to the types of educational skills organizations such as NASA look for when hiring employees. (Photo: Dr. Scheck and students guests.)
Dr. Scheck and students from Claggett Creek and Whiteaker Middle Schools
faculty of the fingerprint analysis group
Faculty in the Natural Science and Mathematics Division will be investigating a novel approach to comparative fingerprint analysis. Drs. Emma Dutton, Steve Taylor, Pat Aldrich and Bryan Dutton will determine whether technological applications similar to those used in Geographic Information Systems can be applied at the centimeter scale of a human fingerprint. The team’s primary goal is to improve the statistical reliability of fingerprint matching in crime scene investigations. The project entitled “Application of Spatial Statistics to Latent Print Identifications: Towards Improved Forensic Science Methodologies”, is funded for two years with a $685,754 award from the National Institute of Justice. The grant will also provide research opportunities for WOU undergraduate students. For more information about the project. (Photo [l-r]: Drs. Aldrich, E Dutton, Taylor, B Dutton.)
The WOU Wind Ensemble, under direction of Dr. Ike Nail, assistant professor of music, were invited guests to perform at the 2010 Oregon Music Educators Association Conference in Eugene. The 45-member ensemble performed several outstanding wind ensemble works including "Centennial Fanfare" by WOU's resident professor of composition, Dr. Kevin Walczyk. The OMEA has a membership of approximately 900 members dedicated to music education in Oregon. Membership in the Wind Ensemble is by audition, only, and includes WOU music majors and talented students pursuing other majors but who wish to continue their involvement in challenging music performance.
Dr. Mayhead and event planning team at MICF fundraiser
Students in Dr. Molly Mayhead’s event planning class applied the theory learned in class to a good cause—they handled all the event planning, promotion and operation of the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation’s (MICF) annual curiosity auction and benefit gala. Eola Hills Wine Cellars hosted the event, which included a silent auction, live music, white elephant gift auction and endless hors d’oeuvres. The students’ efforts paid off—the event drew a standing-room only crowd and raised the highest amount of proceeds in MICF history. Proceeds support classroom enrichment in the Central School District and fund scholarships for Central High School graduates. Dr. Mayhead, professor of communication studies, has her COM 410 students select a local charitable organization to aid in a fundraising event. Prior events supported by professor Mayhead’s classes include two golf tournaments for the Victim/Offender Reconciliation Program of Dallas; a dance for the Boys & Girls Club of Albany; a reception and silent auction for The Ron Wilson Center; and planning the annual conference for the Northwest Communication Association. (Photo caption. Front row (l-r): Rebekah Wentz, Hannah Thoman, Tony Rubio, Sam Kirby, Shayla Corder. Back row: Diane Huddleston, Justin McGowan, Zac DePaoli, Hailey Ediger, Sarah Sedegui, Stephanie Lincicome, Devon Bouvier, Dr. Mayhead, Tashia Pettyjohn, Cec Koontz (MICF board member).
Visiting scholars from Saitama University
The College hosted professors Motohiro Kozawa, Shuichi Ohashi and Reiko Ebisuta from the Faculty of Education of Saitama University (Japan) for a week of art exhibits, workshops and musical performances. Professors Kozawa and Ohashi were guests of Professor Kim Hoffman, head of the art department and professor Ebisuta was the guest of Dr. Diane Baxter, head of the music department. The visit was part of the on-going international exchange between Saitama and WOU. Professor Kozawa has previously been a visiting scholar at WOU and professor Hoffman has previously visited Saitama University; Hoffman and Paul LaJeunesse, adjunct assistant professor of art, will be lecturing at Saitama in early 2010. WOU and Saitama University have had an active academic exchange since 1990. (Photo [l-r]: professors Motohiro Kozawa, Reiko Ebisuta, Diane Baxter, Shuichi Ohashi, Kim Hoffman, dean Stephen Scheck.)
undergraduate students at the GSA national meeting
Faculty and undergraduate students from the Department of Earth and Physical Science took time away from classes to attended the 2009 national meeting of the Geological Society of America, October 18-21 in Portland. The meeting hosted over 6000 geoscientists from around the world. Dr. Jeff Myers was involved as co-leader on a paleontological field trip to the John Day basin in eastern Oregon. Dr. Jeff Templeton presented a paper on the geochemistry of tuff deposits at Newberry Volcano. Instructor Phil Wade was co-author on a paper that examined the effectiveness of using Google Earth in K-12 geoscience education. Dr. Steve Taylor and undergraduate student Ryan Stanley presented a pair of theme-based papers on land-use history and vegetation change in the mid-Willamette Valley.
(Earth science students in photo. Front row (l-r): Heather Hintz, Brandon Snook, Brittnie Andrews, Alyssa Pratt, Alicia Thompson, Kelsii Dana, Josh Suarez; back row (l-r): Thomas VanNice, Dr. Taylor, Keoni Wong, Gerritt Vincent, Bill Vreeland, and Kevin Friscia.)
Rebecca Chadd with president Minahan and dean Scheck
The annual fall President’s Club dinner set the stage for the university to thank the many friends and benefactors who have provided financial support to students through scholarship and program donations. Ms Rebecca Chadd--a spring 2009 graduate and recipient of the Julia McCulloch Smith Award for outstanding woman graduate--spoke to the audience on behalf of students in LAS programs who have received scholarship support from benefactors of the university. Ms Chadd participated in the University Honors Program while completing dual baccalaureate degrees in Spanish and in Dance as well as a minor in International Studies. Photo: President Minahan, Ms Chadd, dean Scheck (l-r).
Dr. Yeh of Central Police University with Drs. Scheck, Gingerich and Gibbons
Dr. Yu-Lan Yeh, of Central Police University (Taiwan), was on campus for the official signing of cooperative agreements between WOU and Central Police University. Part of this collaboration will provide opportunities for officers from CPU to enroll in WOU’s on-line graduate degree program in criminal justice as well as intensive multi-week institute courses at WOU. Institute attendees will also have opportunities to visit governmental agencies in Oregon. Dr. Terry Gingerich, associate professor of criminal justice, initiated the cooperation; he has previously collaborated with faculty at CPU on comparative studies on community policing in the United States and Taiwan. (Photo: Dr. Yu-Lan “Sandy” Yeh with (l-r) dean Scheck, Dr. Gingerich and Dr. Stephen Gibbons, chair of the criminal justice department.
Visiting faculty from China with Deans Scheck and Rosselli
A number of visiting scholars to the LAS College from China enjoyed a beginning of the academic year evening dinner with dean Scheck and Dr. Hilda Rosselli, dean of the College of Education. The LAS College typically has five to ten visiting international scholars on campus each year.
(Back row, l-r) Jingyang Lin, Yang Yu, Xiuyan Zhao, dean Scheck, He Zhao, Chenyuan Li, dean Rosselli, Yebing Feng; (front row, l-r) “Lily”, WOU international students Yuhang Bai and Shengnan Wang, “Jenny”
Art professor Paul LaJeunesse professors Elaina Jamieson, Jodie Raborn and Paul LaJeunesse had landscape paintings on display at the Art About Place exhibit sponsored by the Salem Art Association and hosted at the historic Capitol Center Building. Project Space II is funded by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission to provide community access to exhibits and art discussions. Art About Place, the final juried exhibit of the summer season, runs through September 12. (Photo of professor LaJeunesse with one of his entries taken at exhibit reception, September 2.)
Karen's Fund recipient Michael Hamilton with Dr. Scheck
Incoming pre-education student, Michael Hamilton, is the second annual recipient of the freshman scholarship for unique students from "Karen’s Fund." The fund, established by the Scheck family, is in memory of Karen Bowman, a college-aged niece of Dr. Scheck who died in 2007. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Central High School graduate who will be attending WOU. Central High serves the local community where WOU is located. Candidates are recommended by WOU admissions counselors and Central High School staff. Mr. Hamilton, a resident of Independence, was involved in student government and was an outstanding athlete (football, basketball, baseball) during his years at Central High. He plans to play varsity baseball at Western.
motion tracking and music on the carillon
WOU student composers celebrated the end of the academic year by performing their compositions on the campus carillon. Additionally, students participated in an interactive piece composed by Dr. Joseph Harchanko’s Electronic Music III class-- "In Memoriam Twitchy: Requiem for a Fish" --by creating body movements in front of a video camera that were processed into carillon notes using software algorithms written by the class. To learn more about creating music through motion tracking and algorithmic programming, see Dr. Harchanko’s faculty web page. Dr. Harchanko, assistant professor of music, has collaborated with Dr. Scot Morse (computer science), and Professors Sharon Oberst and Darryl Thomas (dance) in the creation and use of Western Oregon University's Wireless Human Interface (WOUWHI) for the translation of body movement into computer generated music and video in real-time. A clip of their collaborative work "Walking I Was" can be seen at www.wou.edu/~harchanj/works.htm.
art students and willow sculptures
Students in art professor Mary Harden’s beginning three-dimensional design class applied their artistic talents to habitat restoration work for the Luckiamute Watershed Council. The students used willow branches to create sculptures that have been placed in watershed areas to act as natural barriers for moderating water flow into stream channels (see photo, below). This is not the first time professor Harden's students have contributed art to the community; in 2006, her ceramics students created a series of medallions for placement in Monmouth downtown city sidewalks as part of the sesquicentennial celebration of the co-founding of the city and the university in 1856.
Professor Harden at stream site
Professor Harden, students and Luckiamute Watershed Council project manager, Michael Cairns. (Photo courtesy of Gail Oberst, LWC)
On Friday, May 29, Western Oregon University was pleased to host the fifth grade classes from Hoover Elementary School of Salem, Oregon, for a day on campus--including a workshop on writing provided by Dr. Katherine Schmidt, associate professor of English and director of the University Writing Center. Alan DeMeurers, principal of Hoover, as well as Cathy Tilley of North Salem High School, and Justin Strohmeyer of WOU’s Office of Admissions were instrumental in coordinating the event. Tilley and the Office of Admissions have partnered to provide university outreach to the Salem/Keizer School District for several years to strengthen the pathways to college.
Fith-grade students from Hoover School
Hoover Elementary School fifth graders and Hoover and WOU faculty & staff.
Students in Dr. Eduardo González-Viaña’s spring 2009 Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Latin America class put textbook knowledge into action through the production of a series of radio broadcasts and listener call-in sessions on Willamette Valley Spanish radio stations "La Campeona" KWIP 880AM (Dallas) and "Radio Movimento" KPCN 95.9FM (Woodburn). The programs featured WOU students from Hispanic backgrounds who shared their experiences in making it to college. Students also produced a video for distribution on U-Tube that features interviews with President John Minahan and Provost Kent Neely. The students wished to reach the Hispanic youth in Oregon to inform them about opportunities at Western Oregon University. This spring's activities are an extension of Building a Bridge, a program in which Dr. González-Viaña’s students go into Hispanic homes to teach English, citizenship, DMV rules, and other skills for survival in this country. From 1993 until the present, more than two thousand individuals have received assistance through the Build a Bridge program. Admissions counseling for Hispanic students and family is available.
Hispanic_recruitment_billboard
One of a number of admissions billboards targeted to prospective Hispanic students and families.
Graduating seniors in the University Honors Program presented their work at the 2009 annual honors thesis presentation program. Topics ranged from the politics of war to the self-revelatory nature of the creative process. The Honors Program is under the direction of Dr. Gavin Keulks, associate professor of English. Theses advisors were professors Max Geier, John Rector, David Doellinger (history); Tamina Toray, Rob Winningham (psychology); Michael LeMaster (biology); Deborah Jones (dance); Peggy Pedersen (health and PE); and Katherine Schmidt (English).
Honors program seniors at thesis presentation
Senior honors program students (l-r) Betsy McDonald, Ashley Kuehlwein, Rebecca Chadd, Dustin Byers, Stephanie Woods, Lauren Zegers, Kimber Saville, with past honors director Dr. Sriram Khe (l) and current director Dr. Gavin Keulks (r). Not pictured: honors seniors Chelsey Miller and Annaka Wendt.
Governor appoints professor to state commission
Dr. Kimberly Jensen, professor of history, has been appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to a 4-year term on the Oregon Heritage Commission. The commission prepares and adopts an Oregon Heritage Plan to address coordination for the identification, curation, restoration, and interpretation of heritage resources; coordinates a comprehensive inventory of state owned cultural properties; and works with the Economic & Community Development Department to encourage tourism activities relating to heritage resources.
Dr. Jensen most recently has involved undergraduate students with work on interviewing women physicians in Oregon. An exhibit about this work -- Oregon Women Physicians: Changing the Face of Medicine -- was opened at the Hamersley Library and runs through June 2009; it most recently had been on exhibit at the Portland Central Library.
Oregon Women Physicians exhibit
(l-r) Dr. Kimberly Jensen, undergraduate student researcher Caitlin Summers, and three of the women physicians interviewed for the Oregon Women Physicians project--Nancy Boutin MD, Marge Thompson MD, and Beverly Olsen MD--at the May opening of the Hamersley Library exhibit.
Undergraduates, Brandon Harris, Jeff Sawyer, Max Beach, Emiko Hori, Christina Palmrose, Melissa Lee and Michael Maeda, and faculty advisor, Dr. Mary Pettenger, associate professor of political science, returned from a successful engagement at the 2009 World Model United Nations conference in The Hague, The Netherlands, March 22-27. The WOU team members represented positions at the conference for Uganda. Close to 2,500 delegates, representing 275 universities from 53 countries, participated in this year’s conference. The WOU Model UN delegates also participated in other conference activities including meeting with non-governmental groups, visiting United Nations sites and trips within the Netherlands.
MUN team at The Hague
(L-R) MUN delegates--Emiko Hori, Michael Maeda, Brandon Harris, Christina Palmrose, Melissa Lee. Not Pictured: Jeff Sawyer, Max Beach.
Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the college, and Mr. Neng Yang, director of WOU’s International Student and Scholars office engaged in discussions about study abroad opportunities at WOU with administrators and faculty at a number of universities during a two-week visit in China. Ms Toni Gong, a visiting international scholar at WOU this academic year, accompanied Scheck and Yang during their visit to her home institution, Zhongyuan University of Technology in Zhengzhou, Henan.
Neng Yang and Dr. Scheck
(Above) A greeting for the WOU team at the Business College of Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi. (Below) Dr. Scheck and visiting international scholar Toni Gong at the thousand-year old Shaolin Temple.
Dr. Scheck and Toni Gong
Five WOU undergraduate Mathematics majors presented work at the annual Pacific Northwest Section Conference of the Mathematical Association of America, April 3-4, at Central Washington University. Matt Schmidgall and Masaki Ikeda were among the top three presenters recognized at the conference. Also presenting papers at the conference were WOU undergrads Jenne Elston, Michael Rivers, and Wesley Parker. Drs. Mike Ward, Klay Kruczek, Cheryl Beaver and Scott Beaver accompanied the students.
Undergraduate student attendees at math conference
Dance class entertains older citizens…
Students from professor Darryl Thomas' World Dance class
provided a Hula demonstration to residents of the Heron
Pointe Retirement & Assisted Living Community in Monmouth.
Professor Thomas is involved in numerous community outreach
activities both through his classes in the WOU dance department
and as artistic director/choreographer of the professional dance
troupe based in Monmouth, Rainbow Dance Theatre.
Students demonstrate Hula to senior citizens
(Above) Students perform one of their Hula dances for residents. (Below) Professor Thomas and the World Dance class.
World Dance class and professor Thomas
Active day as WOU hosted 2009 Oregon Academy of Science...
Dr. Jeffrey Myers, associate professor of earth and physical science, in one of his last duties as out-going president of the Academy, hosted the 68th Annual Meeting of the Oregon Academy of Science on February 28. WOU faculty and students were amply represented at this year’s meeting. WOU Provost, Dr. Kent Neely, gave a welcoming address at the plenary session. Undergraduate students, Alyssa Pratt and Matt Buche co-organized the meeting with Dr. Myers; Matt Buche also gave a presentation on government-community planning for earthquake preparedness. The annual meeting program can be viewed at OAS.
psychology club at OAS meeting
Dr. David Foster, associate professor of psychology, poses with undergraduate psychology student association members, (l-r) Sarah Brault, Clayton Herman, Erich Surber and Kayla Willhite (front row). The students assisted with staffing the registration desk at the annual meeting.
Umily Uhrig and OAS snake presentation
Undergraduate biology major, Emily Uhrig, presented findings on her work on red-sided garter snakes; Dr. Neely (below) addressing the academy.
Dr. Neely address OAS meeting
High school science students tour WOU cadaver lab…
Adventurous students from West Salem, Benson Polytechnic, Oregon Episcopal School and Jesuit high schools took a break from student presentations to visit the WOU human cadaver laboratory. Students pose with Dr. Irja Galvan, associate professor of biology who conducted the tour. Western Oregon University hosted the 2009 Oregon Junior Academy of Science and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium meetings on Feb. 27. Dr. Adele Schepige, professor of teacher education, coordinated the science conferences. Dr. Arlene Courtney, professor of chemistry, and Dr. William Schoenfeld, associate professor of earth and physical science rounded out Dr. Schepige’s faculty coordinators. WOU faculty Dr. Patricia Flatt, instructor Karen Brown and emeriti faculty Dr. Lowell Spring and Dr. Dave McCorkle assisted as judges in some of the sessions. Drs. Schepige and Courtney will be assisting select students in submitting materials for participation in the 47th National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium to be held at the U.S. Air force Academy in Colorado Springs this spring. Dr. Courtney will be accompanying the contingent from Oregon.
high school students tour cadaver lab
Dr. Galvan (center) with high school visitors.
WOU criminal justice-Taiwan Central Police University initiative …
Dr. Charles K.M. Chang, professor of police policy at Central Police University (Taiwan) was on campus to discuss future cooperation between WOU’s department of criminal justice and the Central Police University. Part of this collaboration will involve officers from CPU enrolling in WOU’s on-line graduate degree program in criminal justice as well as intensive multi-week institute opportunities to study at WOU and visit with governmental agencies in Oregon. Dr. Terry Gingerich, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Chang have previously work together on comparative studies on community policing in the United States and Taiwan. Dr. Gingerich presented a number of lectures at the CPU during his recent sabbatical stay in Taiwan.
Officer Chang_Taiwan Central Police University
Dr. Chang presented dean Scheck and Dr. Gingerich a gift from Central Police University president, Dr. Yu-Ih Hou. The gift is a replica of a memorial statue on the CPU campus: “Righteousness and Courage”. Professor Gingerich had met president Hou during his recent sabbatical stay in Taiwan.
WOU to host 2009 Oregon Academy of Science...
Dr. Jeffrey Myers, associate professor of earth and physical science and president of the Oregon Academy of Science, will chair the 68th annual meeting of the Academy on February 28. The annual meeting provides an opportunity for scientists, social scientists and mathematicians from Oregon institutions to meet. The meeting also showcases student research presentations. Concurrent sessions throughout the day will be in biology, chemistry, economics, geography, geology health science, history/philosophy/social study of science, mathematics,/computer science, physics, political science, psychology, science education, and sociology/anthropology. The Academy will present three awards during the meeting: Outstanding Scientist; Outstanding Teacher in Science and Mathematics (college level); Outstanding Teacher in Science and Mathematics (K-12 level). The meeting is open to the public; for registration information, please contact the academy or Dr. Myers.
Prospective students visit with faculty at Preview Day ...
Dr. Laura Stahman, assistant professor of German, and Elizabeth Braun, instructor of Spanish, visit with prospective students and family members at a fall Preview Day. During Preview Days, students have the opportunity to visit with members of the faculty to discuss degree options within WOU’s academic programs that best suit their future career plans. In the global society of the 21st Century, mastery of a second language is ever more important and continuation with study of foreign languages in college is encouraged, regardless of the degree program pursued--be it business or criminal justice or pre-health, or K-12 teaching. Indeed, many students pursue additional coursework in a language they started in high school or pick up a second foreign language—and put them to good use while participating in WOU’s Study Abroad programming. In addition to degree programs offered in German, French and Spanish, opportunities to study Arabic and Mandarin language courses are provided through WOU’s division of extended programs.
Modern language faculty at Preview Day
Dr. Laura Stahman (forefront) and Elizabeth Braun talk with prospective students about the benefits of studying a foreign language.
Art professor applies talent to kiln building…
Mary Harden, assistant professor of art, spent time during the summer rebuilding the primary kiln for the art department. The new kiln is a natural gas, downdraft, shuttle kiln. Nearly three times the size of the previous kiln, the new structure is constructed of a steel exterior with the floor and door connected together and mounted on wheels that move the floor in and out of the kiln. The exterior steel structure/car component and steel exhaust system was welded by Bruce Tuma; the gas pipework was completed by Tom Cournaya (both are with the WOU physical plant staff). The kiln was designed and the brickwork was constructed by professor Harden. The size of this new kiln permits fireing of larger scale works and will reduce the number of firings in the kiln facility thereby improving studio efficiency. Past work in the WOU kiln studio can be seen in city sidewalks in downtown Monmouth; in 2006 Professor Harden's students fired commerative tile disks in celebration of WOU's and Monmouth's sesquicentennials.
Professor Harden, students and dean Scheck around new kiln
Professor Harden (front left) and students show dean Scheck the new downdraft shuttle kiln.
Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences receives achievement award...
Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the college, was back at his alma mater, Fort Hays State University, to receive an FHSU Alumni Achievement Award. The Alumni Achievement Award honors graduates who have made outstanding contributions in service to their community, state or nation as citizens, in chosen fields, educational areas, and through philanthropic activities and community betterment. Dr. Scheck’s undergraduate experiences at Fort Hays were very influential in his choosing to come to Western Oregon University in 2006 to serve as dean of the college. Both universities have a commitment to first-generation students and to an academic culture in which faculty mentoring of students—both in the classroom and in out of class learning experiences—are strongly supported.
Dr. Scheck with Nola Ochs
Dr. Scheck with 95-yr-old Fort Hays graduate, Nola Ochs; the world's oldest individual to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Art faculty welcome artist in residence...
Members of the art department —with department head, professor Kim Hoffman in the lead— pose in front of historic Campbell Hall; home of the department and the Dale and Gail Cannon Gallery of Art. Joining the faculty this fall as a visiting artist in residence is Dr. Motohiro Kozawa, professor of art at Saitama University, Japan. Professor Kozawa (second row, right) is teaching a painting course during his stay at Western. The two art departments have formal faculty exchanges and have scheduled a 2009 exchange of art exhibits showcasing works by the faculty from each institution.
art faculty and artist in residence
Dean awards inaugural scholarship to incoming freshman…
Incoming pre-nursing student, Adriana De La Cruz, is the inaugural recipient of a freshman scholarship for unique students from "Karen’s Fund." The fund, established by the Scheck family, is in memory of Karen Bowman, a college-aged niece of Dr. Scheck who died in 2007. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding Central High School graduate who will be attending WOU. Candidates are recommended by WOU admissions staff and Central High School staff. Ms. De la Cruz is participating in the WOU-SEP program with plans to seek a medical career.
Adriana De La Cruz
Dr. Scheck presents Ms. De La Cruz with a stained-glass pictorial of WOU’s historical Campbell Hall designed and created by The Stained Glass Place, Salem.
OHSU-WOU Nursing academic program director now on site…
Jean M. Donovan, RN, Ph.D. has officially started as the inaugural director of the OHSU School of Nursing program at WOU. The program will get underway with an initial cohort of 27 nursing students arriving in late September. Students in the program will be taking some of their coursework from faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The School of Nursing is located on the second floor of the newly renovated and renamed Math and Nursing Building (previously the home of the Oregon Police Academy). Final preparations of the clinical laboratory facilities are in full swing.
Dr. Donovan and Dr. Scheck
Dr. Donovan and Dr. Scheck in one of the examination rooms in the new nursing facility.
Faculty group receive Canadian government grant…
Dr. Robin Smith, professor of anthropology, and faculty member in the Canadian Studies interest group at WOU received word from the Canadian Consulate General’s office that grant funding has been awarded to Western Oregon University to support the interest group’s teaching and research on Canadian issues. Other faculty in the interest group are Drs. Mary Pettenger, Shaun Huston and Emily Plec. The Seattle Consulate’s Senior Political, Economic & Academic Officer, Kevin P Cook, will be visiting campus in October.
Dr._Smith_and_anthropology_students
Dr. Smith and anthropology students.
Army ROTC at Western is going strong...
Lt. Col. Roy Susuico, senior military science instructor and head of the WOU- Army ROTC detachment, stopped in recently to update dean Scheck on ROTC programming at Western. Approximately 30 WOU students—representing a wide range of majors—are participating in the program. Upon graduation, students are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army.
Lt Col Susuico and Dr. Scheck
WOU faculty involved in Global Climate Change Institute for Teachers…
Dr. William Schoenfeld, associate professor of physics and colleagues, Dr. Adele Schepige, professor of teacher education and Mr. Philip Wade, adjunct professor of earth science, hosted two, one-day workshops for elementary teachers to examine global climate change. The workshops were designed to help primary teachers introduce the basics of climate and climate change into their classrooms. Sessions included an introduction climate change, carbon footprints, a review of climate change literature for children, along with multiple hands-on experiments and activities using inexpensive materials that can help teachers integrate climate change into their school curricula. The institute is funded by NASA as part of the education outreach of Dr. Laurence Padman of the Earth and Space Research Institute, Seattle, Washington. Conference presentations are planned for this fall, as well as more teacher workshops for summer 2009.
WOU Climate Change Institute staff
Professors Schoenfeld (right rear) and Philip Wade with institute assistants, chemistry/physics undergraduate, Shawn Decker (far left) and math/physical sciences education graduate student, Avery Cotton.
Professor Tsunehiko Kato visits WOU...
Professor Kato and Dr. Scheck
Tsunehiko Kato, Vice Chairperson for the Inter-Faculty Institute for International Studies at Ritsumeikan University in Kayoto, Japan, spent time with dean Scheck discussing faculty and student exchange opportunities between Ritsumeikan University and WOU. Ritsumeikan offers programming (taught in English) for WOU exchanges students as well as intensive Japanese language curricular opportunities.
WOU math professors host workshop to promote creative approaches for preparing future K-8 teachers in math instruction...
University math instructors from across the country take a break from the "Active Learning Approaches and Visual Methods for Teaching the Foundational Mathematics for Elementary Teachers Courses" summer workshop sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program). WOU mathematics faculty-- Drs. Laurie Burton, Klay Kruczek and Cheryl Beaver received grant support from the MAA to lead the summer workshop. The WOU mathematics department recently received recognition by the National Council on Teacher Quality for its elementary teacher preparation curriculum in mathematics (more detail about this recognition can be found in the college's previous happenings section).
Active learning math workshop group
WOU math preparation for elementary teachers receives national recognition…
WOU's math curriculum for elementary school teacher preparation was among 10 programs singled out in a nationwide study as meeting critical coursework needs in teacher preparation. WOU was one of 77 institutions selected by the National Council on Teacher Quality for math curriculum review. The study examined university curriculums for their relevance, breadth and depth of math training. The complete report is available at the NCTQ. The mathematics department is strongly committed to teacher preparation in mathematics and works closely with colleagues in the College of Education to develop curricular programming for teaching math at the elementary and more advanced grades. This July 21 - July 25, math faculty Cheryl Beaver, Laurie Burton and Klay Kruczek will be hosting a Mathematical Association of America PREP ( Professional Enhancement Program) workshop "Active Learning Approaches and Visual Methods for Teaching the Foundational Mathematics for Elementary Teachers Courses" at WOU for 17 participants from around the U.S.
Members of the mathematics department
Math faculty members (l-r) Drs. Maria Fung, Cheryl Beaver, Scott Beaver, Michael Ward, Laurie Burton and Klay Kruczek. Chair of the department, Dr. Hamid Behmard, is not pictured.
Communication Studies Program receives national recognition…
WOU's Communication Studies Program is the recipient of the Program of Excellence Award from the National Communication Association's Undergraduate College and University Division. The Rex Mix Award is presented to one undergraduate program each year and recognizes "...quality, innovative, theoretical, and practical programs." The winning departments "tend to solidly ground their programs in the theoretical foundations of the field while embracing new developments and advancing practical application in innovative ways." The award will be presented to representatives of the communication studies department at the 94th annual NCA convention to be held in San Diego, California in November.
Communication Studies faculty
Faculty members (front row) Drs. Molly Mayhead, Emily Plec, Claire Ferraris; (back row) Drs. Cat McGrew, Frank Nevius, Nick Backus.
Fire Services Administration baccalaureate program recognized by National Fire Academy …
Western Oregon University’s Fire Services Administration program was the recipient of the 2008 Lasting Achievement Award issued by the United States Fire Administration/National Fire Academy at their annual spring conference. The baccalaureate program was recognized for the caliber of its long-term involvement in the National Fire Academy’s Degrees at a Distance program; WOU has been providing programming since 1979. Professional fire personnel across the US and Canada can complete baccalaureate training through a combination of on-line and intensive 1- and 2-week institute courses offered by WOU. LaRon Tolley, who accepted the award on behalf of the university, directs the program. The program admits students who have experience as working firefighters or who have completed community college fire-fighting programs.
Fire Services director LaRon Tolley and 2008 graduate Len Papp
Len Papp (l), fire prevention officer with the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, Brampton, Canada will be graduating June 14 with a B.S. in Fire Services Administration. Mr. LaRon Tolley (r) is director of the program.
Math and Nursing construction progressing...
Construction sign for math and nursing
Building renovation to house the WOU department of mathematics and the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing (Monmouth campus) is progressing ahead of schedule. The building will have the latest in computer-assisted math education classrooms and nursing simulation laboratory facilities. Mathematics and nursing faculty will move into the building in August and classes in the building will start with fall term. Portland-based Soderstrom Architects and FORTIS Construction, Inc. are handling the renovations. For more information about the project please contact the WOU planning department.
Governor Kulongoski 2008 commencement speaker...
Governor Ted Kulongoski and WOU administrators
Governor Ted Kulongoski (center) and WOU administrators--Provost Kent Neely, Dean Stephen Scheck, President John Minahan and Dean Hilda Rosselli (l-r) pose for a photo prior to the 2008 WOU graduation ceremony.
Governor Kulongoski and Senate President Peter Courtney
Governor Kulongoski and Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney prior to the 2008 WOU graduation ceremonies. When not serving in the Oregon Senate, Mr. Courtney serves on WOU President John Minahan's staff and is an adjunct assistant professor in the communication studies department.
Outstanding business and economics students recognized by faculty…
The Business & Economics Recognition Night celebrated the academic accomplishments of outstanding graduating seniors and the meritorious service of members of the Business & Economics Club. Award recipients are selected by the faculty of the business and economics division.
business student awards
Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship winner
Mr. Scott Meeker of the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants joins Dean Scheck to congratulate accounting student Stephanie Clements on being the recipient of the Oregon Certified Public Accountants Award.
Graduating seniors address President’s Club dinner...
The annual President’s Club dinner set the stage for the university to thank the many friends and benefactors who have provided financial support to students through scholarship and program donations. Representing students in LAS programs were two graduating seniors—Amanda Cline ( BS in biology; chemistry minor) and Alec Wilson ( BFA in theatre/acting). Amanda and Alec provided colorful commentary from the podium on life at WOU and the unique learning opportunities they were able to pursue because of their close relationships with their professors. After graduation Alec will be involved in professional theatre and Amanda will be starting a Ph.D. program in biochemistry.
graduating_seniors_with_Dr_Scheck
Alec Wilson, Dr. Scheck and Amanda Cline at the annual President's Club dinner.
Dr_Scheck_and_professors_Bergeron_and_Coker
Dean Scheck with Drs. Tom Bergeron (l) and Keller Coker (r) of the music department and student vocalist, Sherry Alves. The music professors, Ms Alves and students Adam Bates and Jon Shaw perform as The Pinot Noir Jazztet. The Jazztet provided musical entertainment for the President’s Club dinner.
State Attorney General addresses pre-law students...
The WOU chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity held its 2008 annual initiation at WOU's Gentle House. Two new members were inducted; Chris Young and Arianna Jantze. State of Oregon Attorney General, Hardy Myers, joined in the celebration and addressed the student group. Faculty advisor Dr. Mark Henkels, professor of political science, noted that a number of Phi Alpha Delta members graduating this spring have been accepted to law school. Information about Pre-law.
Attorney General Myers and WOU students
Attorney General Hardy Myers joins professors Ed Dover, Mark Henkels and Molly Mayhead and members of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity at the annual new member initiation..
Attorney General Myers and Drs. Scheck and Henkels
Dean Scheck joins Attorney General Myers and faculty advisor Henkels
after Mr. Myers' address to the Phi Alpha Delta induction ceremony.
Communications students place well at annual conference…
WOU undergraduates, Tashia Pettyjohn, Kaleen Flukinger, Jody Piquet, Jesse Alexander; and Tiffany Rockwell presented papers at the 2008 annual conference of the Northwest Communication Association (NWCA) in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Eighteen colleges and universities were represented at the conference. The top three undergraduate and graduate student papers at the conference are recognized by the NWCA; Western Oregon University undergraduate students Jody Piquet and Jesse Alexander were among the three undergraduate students recognized at this year’s conference. Dr. Nick Backus, associate professor and head of the communication studies department, Dr. Molly Mayhead, professor of communication studies, Dr. Ed Dover, professor of political science and Dr. Niki Young, director of the center for teaching and learning, also attended the conference and served as session chairs, panelists, presenters or responders. Dr. Mayhead is the immediate past president of the NWCA.
Communication studies students
2008 WOU undergraduate participants at NWCA: (l-r) Tashia Pettyjohn, Kaleen Flukinger, Jody Piquet, Jesse Alexander; and Tiffany Rockwell (front row).
WOU dancers perform to standing ovation at festival…
"Man of My Dreams" was adjudicated and selected for inclusion in the spring 2008 Northwest Conference of the American College Dance Festival Association held at the University of Utah, March 17-20. The humorous performance--the dance is performed on Razor® scooters and a Segway® Personal Transporter--received a standing ovation.
Choreography: Valerie Bergman & professor Darryl Thomas
Costume Designer: assistant professor Sandy Hedgepeth
Lighting Designer: Thaddeus Shannon III (joining the WOU faculty September 2008)
WOU dancersin Man of My Dreams costume
WOU Dancers (l-r): Latoya Lovely, Marketa Renner, professor Thomas, Rebecca Chadd, Sam Hobbs, Michael Coleman, Jenna Moser, Kailee McMurran, Samantha Beasely, Jessica Evans and Jessica Sanford.
More information about the dance program at WOU can be found at the Theatre and Dance home page.
History students present research at spring conference…
Undergraduate students, Mindy Nichols, Rebecca Carlson, Karyn Taylor and Mary Wright (l-r in photo) traveled to Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington for the annual Phi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society conference, April 10-12. The students gave presentations on their upper-division research work in the history program. Over 120 presentations were made at the conference with each presenter fielding public critique and questioning about their research. While at the conference, the students were guests of the History Department at Eastern Washington University.
Dr. John Rector and history honor students.
Dr. John Rector, professor of history and chair of the social science divison with student presenters and aspiring canine history major.
Math department hosts high school girls for day of mathematics…
The mathematics department hosted the annual Sonia Kovalevsky Day for high school girls and their teachers. Throughout the day, girls and teachers had the opportunity to participate in sessions on secret codes, hexaflexagons, math games and tricks, and math problem solving. The day provides an excellent opportunity for high school girls with an aptitude toward math to engage with other like-minded girls from Oregon high schools.
Math faculty at Sonia Kovalevsky Day
Math faculty members (l-r) Drs. Maria Fung, Cheryl Beaver, Scott Beaver, Michael Ward, Laurie Burton and Klay Kruczek take a break from the day’s activities.
WOU Math students helping at Sonia Kovalevsky Day
Break-out sessions were facilitated by undergraduate math majors (l-r) Masaki Ikeda, Emily Trigg, Courtney Stowell, Anne Sanders, Meghann Barger, Kristal Temple, Laura Waight, Jenne Elston, and Cassie Ann Jacinto.
Spring receptions for newly-admitted students underway…
Dean Scheck joins (l-r) associate provost David McDonald, president John Minahan, director of admissions Rob Findtner, and alumni volunteers Donna Hamor (BA ‘70; MS ‘76) and W. Clark Hamor (MS ‘76) at a recent admitted student and family event. The Hamors have been assisting with event registration for a number years at WOU’s spring receptions for admitted students and their families. These receptions give students and parents an informal opportunity to learn more about WOU and have their questions answered.
Dean Stephen Scheck with WOU admissions group.
Representative Vicki Berger views nursing and math construction…
State Representative Vicki Berger stopped by campus to take a tour of construction activities to accomodate the department of mathematics and the new program in nursing. Dean Scheck joins Representative Berger and Tom Neal, director of physical plant; they are standing in the location were the nursing simulation lab is being constructed. Ms Berger represents District 20 which includes portions of Salem and the cities of Independence and Monmouth and also serves on the Salem Hospital Foundation.
Representative Vicki Berger, Dr. Scheck and Tom Neal
Director of Cooperative Center for Study Abroad visits WOU...
Dr. Michael Klembara, executive director of the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) was on campus to visit with faculty about opportunities to teach in CCSA ’s international programs; WOU has been a member university for many years. CCSA offers intensive two week winter inter-session programs and and two and four week intensive summer programs. In addition, nine week internships are available for which students receive academic credit. Michele Price, director of the WOU Study Abroad and International Exchange Office assists faculty and students interested in the CCSA program and programs offered through a number of other consortiums for study abroad that WOU partners with.
Dr. Klembara of CCSA and Dr. Scheck
Dr. Klembara with Dr. Scheck, dean of the College.
Graduate music program receives positive review...
The music department has received Plan Approval from the National Association of Schools of Music for the department’s program of study for the Master of Music in Contemporary Music. This is a critical step in the final accrediting process for the music degree; the masters program was initiated at WOU in 2006. The department’s undergraduate music programs are fully accredited by the association. The NASM Commission on Accreditation commended the department for the thoroughness and innovativeness of the graduate program. More information and application to the Master of Music program is available or contact Dr. Diane Baxter, professor and head of the music department, to discuss personalized opportunities of the program.
Music faculty
Music faculty: Drs. Baxter, Keller, Nail (bottom row) and Bergeron, Helppie, Holmquist, Harchanko and Walczyk (top row).
WOU hosts over 250 students for the Central Western Oregon Science Exposition…
Over 250 students and teachers arrived on campus for the two-day Oregon Junior Academy of Sciences, Oregon Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and Intel Science & Engineering Fair event, February 22-23. Heading up the organizing committee were adjunct business instructor Judy Beebe, chemistry professor Dr. Arlene Courtney, education professor Dr. Adele Schepige and WOU science education graduate student Avery Cotton. Dr. David Hackleman, Linus Pauling Chair of Chemical Engineering at OSU rounded out the organizing team.
Dr. Scheck adn Crescent Valley High School science students
Dr. Scheck, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, takes a few moments with students from Crescent Valley High School (Corvallis) before the start of their oral presentations in one of the Science Expo chemistry sessions.
South African Consul General addresses WOU Model United Nations...
The Honorable Jeanette Ndhlovu, Consul General for the South African Los Angeles office was guest speaker at the MUN annual fundraiser banquet on February 21. The WOU MUN team is representing South Africa in MUN competitions during the 2007-2008 academic year. Students in the Model United Nations program explore issues dealing with current social, economic and political problems of the world. Dr. Mary Pettenger, associate professor of political science, is faculty moderator of the club. Team members have competed, nationally and internationally, at MUN assemblies.
MUN students and Consul General Ndhlovu from South Africa
Consul General Ndhlove poses with the WOU Model UN club members and invited guest, Kenny Clark, president of the Central High School MUN.
Consul General Ndhlovu, Dr. Pettenger and Dr. Scheck
The Honorable Jeanette T. Ndhlovu, Consul General for South Africa, Dr. Mary Pettenger, MUN faculty moderator and Dr. Scheck, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences pose in front of the national flag of South Africa.
Young Chinese journalists visit with dean Scheck...
Dr. Scheck, dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences greeted elementary students and their teachers representing seven elementary schools in Anshan, China. The students made WOU their first stop on a two-week cultural exchange tour of Oregon and California. The students are part of the student youth news program for the Anshan Newspaper Group-Qianshan Evening News Corps. Lead teacher, Shijin Li and WOU music professor Dr. Solveig Holmquist, who recently toured China with the WOU Chamber Singers, pose with Dr. Scheck and the students.
Dr. Scheck, Dr. Holmquist with Anshan, China elementary school students
Senator Smith visits site of future nursing simulation laboratory...
US Senator Gordon Smith stopped by campus during Senate recess to visit with WOU pre-nursing students, faculty and staff about the new simulation laboratory facility being constructed on the WOU campus for the joint OHSU-WOU BS in Nursing program, starting fall 2008. Dr. Michael LeMaster, assistant professor of biology and pre-nursing advisor and Dr. Scheck, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences join Senator Smith and students for a group photo. Senator Smith, US Senator Ron Wyden and US Representative Darleen Hooley were instrumental in procuring federal funding to underwrite part of the equipment needed in the nursing simulation laboratory. In second photo Senator Smith poses with Dr. Scheck and State Senator Peter Courtney who assisted with procuring state funding for the OHSU-WOU nursing program.
Senator Smith and WOU pre-nursing students
US Senator Smith, State Senator Courtney and Dr. Scheck
Language arts faculty well-represented at state Field Test Scoring workshop…
Drs. Jason Waite, Meg Artman, Cornelia Paraskevas and Katherine Schmidt pose with Mr. Ken Hermens (back row), language arts assessment specialist with the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). The writing and linguistics professors and Dr. Adele Schepige, chair of the Teacher Education division in the College of Education, coordinated participation of education majors in writing and linguistics courses to participate in the only field testing site hosted by an Oregon university for assessing the scoring accuracy of the state’s 4th, 7th, and 10th grade writing assessments. WOU students participating in this field test workshop will become certified scorers in the ODE writing assessment process. In addition to supporting the ODE with writing assessment, Dr. Paraskevas is a certified program reviewer in writing/linguistics for National Council of Teachers of English and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Language arts faculty at Field Test Scoring
Andrea Marcotte, a senior at Madras High School and her father, Mike, join Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College at a fall Preview Day for prospective students and their families. Andrea is interested in elementary education and occupational therapy. The Marcotte family visit to WOU also gave Mr. Marcotte and Dr. Scheck an opportunity to catch up on old times—they were graduate student colleagues in Kansas in the 70’s.
Dr. Scheck with Marcotte family at Preview Day
Dieter Rice and the WOU pep band take a break from playing at WOU’s homecoming football game to pose with Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College. Mr. Rice, a graduate student in WOU’s Contemporary Music program, is director of the pep band. The pep band plays at home football and basketball games and consists of music majors and students from other disciplines who wish to keep their musical talents engaged.
Dr. Scheck with WOU pep band
Professor Yu Jiayou, president of Dalian Polytechnic University in Dalian, China, was on campus to discuss arrangements to have DPU students study art at WOU. President Yu also visited with faculty in the business and computer science divisions. Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Mr. Neng Yang, director of WOU’s Office of International Students and Scholars joined president Yu and professor Kim Hoffman, chair of the art department for a photo outside Campbell Hall, home of the art department and Cannon Art Gallery.
Dr. Scheck with president of Dalian Polytechnic Univ., China
Head coach Arne Ferguson and returning seniors Paul Wright, offensive linesman from Portland, Oregon and Mark Thorson, quarterback from Sandy, Oregon, pose with Dr. Stephen Scheck, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during summer training camp. The academic programs at WOU work very closely with coaches and athletes to ensure academic success. Indeed, the average GPA and graduation rate of varsity athletes exceeds that of the general student population at WOU. Wright is a health and physical education major with a business minor and Thorson is a physical education major with a health minor. The men and women on WOU’s varsity teams can be found pursuing virtually every major offered in the College.
Head football coach, players and dean of LAS
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences--with its seven academic divisions, multiple laboratories, performing arts studios and robust faculty-student scholarly engagement-- runs a complex budget of over $13 M, annually. Budgetary assistance is provided to the dean by other offices on campus. Joining Dr. Scheck, dean of liberal arts and sciences, are two such valuable individuals, Randy Stockdale (left), director of development for the WOU Foundation and Mark Weiss (right), vice president for finance and administration. The culture at WOU is one of teamwork; professionals such as Stockdale and Weiss enable the college to accomplish much with the funds it receives through tuition, allocations and gifts from alumni and benefactors.
Randy Stockdale, Dr. Scheck, Mark Weiss pose for photo.
Phase one construction is progressing on schedule in the two-phase Humanities and Social Science building seismic upgrade. Current construction involves enclosing the office wing under-story to stabilize the structure for earthquake safety. When completed, the enclosed space will become the new home for the college's department of communication studies. In addition, the second and third floor offices, housing social science and humanities division faculty and staff, are being upgraded to be more energy and space efficient. Phase two (2009) will involve upgrade work on the classroom wing of the building. Please see earlier postings, below to learn about undergraduate student involvement in the seismic upgrade project.
Construction sign for HSS seismic renovation
Dr. Stephen Taylor, associate professor of geology, engages students in his summer Earth Science Field Studies course examining the geomorphology of Oregon river environments. Students participating in the course gain unique insight into the environmental dynamics of Pacific Northwest river systems. Dr. Taylor will also be leading a field class to Mt. Saint Helen’s later this summer. Immersion field courses such as Dr. Taylor's are offered each summer by faculty in the earth sciences and biology departments. Courses can be enrolled in for graduate or undergraduate credit or for noncredit through the division of extended programs.
Dr. Taylor and students rafting down Oregon river
Kim Jong-gan, mayor of Gimhae, South Korea along with city officials and business representatives from Gimhae toured the WOU campus with Dr. Stephen Scheck, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Randy Stockdale, WOU director of development. The group is posed in front of the campus’ signature Sequoia tree—planted as a seedling by students in 1887. The delegation’s visit complements an earlier visit to Gimhae in 2007 by Salem, Oregon officials; Gimhae and Salem are sister cities. During the visit, Gimhae officials expressed their interest in student exchanges between WOU and schools in Gimhae as well as to invite WOU graduates to spend time in Korea teaching English to Korean students.
Gimhae Korea representatives with Dr. Scheck
Incoming freshmen students Amanda Haskell (Education), Rosa Cortez (Dance), Katelin Wright (Business) and Nathan Miller (Health/Physical Education) pose with WOU PLUS team member Janell Pulido (Biology/Spanish minor) and Dr. Stephen Scheck, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, during one of the 2007 summer freshmen orientation/pre-enrollment sessions. Peer Leaders Understanding Students such as Ms Pulido assist faculty advisors in enrolling students into their coursework for the fall term and serve as big brothers and sisters to incoming freshmen.
Dr. Scheck and freshmen at summer 2007 orientation
Dr. Eduardo M. González-Viaña, Professor of Spanish in the Modern Languages Department and Dr. Stephen Scheck, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, pose with spring 2007 students in the “Building a Bridge” program. Students in González-Viaña’s Hispanic Culture and Civilization: Latin America course spend 3 hours per week tutoring English and coaching members of Hispanic households in daily issues related to consumer competency in English. Since the program’s inception in the mid 1990’s over 900 area families have been matched with WOU students.
Dean Scheck with Build a Bridge students
Associate Professor of Earth/Physical Sciences Dr. Jeffrey Myers, and Dr. Stephen Scheck, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, pose with seismic documentary team members Alyssa Pratt, Kelsey Young and Laura Fitzgerald. The three undergraduate students are working with Dr. Myers, geotechnical engineer Yumei Wang, and the campus Planning and Construction department to document the FEMA-funded seismic retrofit planning, design and construction project to take place in the Humanities and Social Sciences building through December of 2007.
Dean Scheck with Seismic renovation student team
Neng Yang, Director of International Students and Scholars program, and Dr. Stephen Scheck, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, pose with the Portland Chinese Dancers troupe who performed on campus. WOU has a growing population of international students from across the globe. WOU also has a growing population of students engaging in Study Abroad and International Exchange experiences.
Dean Scheck with Portland-based Chinese Dancer troupe
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 503-838-8226 | or e-mail: las@wou.edu
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