News from July 2009
NFL player, BU alum creates scholarship
New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Jahri Evans, a '06 BU graduate, established a full scholarship for out-of-state minority students enrolled in BU's Master of Science in clinical athletic training program. Lauren James-Penn, of Houston, Texas, is the first recipient of the annual Jahri Evans Scholarship. More ...
Long named interim VP for student affairs
Jeffrey C. Long was appointed on July 24 to serve as BU's interim vice president for student affairs, filling the vacancy created by Preston Herring's recent death following a long battle with cancer. Long, assistant vice president for student life for the past nine years, now leads the university division devoted to students' lives outside of the classroom.
Student Affairs includes admissions, student activities and residence life, student standards, student health and counseling, career development, drug and alcohol intervention programs. Long will also oversee auxiliary enterprises, including Kehr Union, the University Store, the Child Center, the Student Recreation Center and dining services.
Long holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from BU, master's degree in anthropology from the State University of New York in Albany, master's degree in education from the College of St. Rose in Albany and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Georgia. In addition, Long has held administrative and faculty positions at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, College of St. Rose and Georgia.
BU receives 10-year reaccreditation
For the seventh time, BU received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, reaffirming the quality of the university's education, leadership and self-study process. The accreditation ensures BU remains eligible for federal funding, federal student aid and research grants. More ...
BU professor named Fulbright Scholar
Gregory Zimmerman, an associate professor of physical chemistry, has been granted a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research at the University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario. Zimmerman will spend nine months, beginning in September, conducting research for a project relating to the development of new generation nuclear reactors.
As a Canada-U.S. Fulbright visiting chair, Zimmerman will examine the properties of corrosion products of nickel alloy pipes in closed water loops that are subjected to high temperatures and pressures. Zimmerman will be working with Peter Tremaine at the University of Guelph, whose group is one of the only two groups in the world with the technical instruments capable of producing the temperatures and pressures needed.
BU crew helps improve creek bank
United Water Pennsylvania recently partnered with BU, the Fishing Creek Watershed Association and its water customers to preserve the environment along Fishing Creek. Nearly 100 participants canvassed the creek banks on July 11, including 47 high school students taking part in TRiO Upward Bound at BU, who helped seed and mulch the bank and pick up debris. More on TriO Upward Bound ...
State system sets tuition for 2009-10
BU students will see a 3.7 percent tuition increase for the coming school year after the State System of Higher Education board of governors approved the new tuition rate on July 16 for the system's 14 member institutions. Tuition for a full-time resident undergraduate student will increase by $196 to $5,554, while full-time nonresidents will pay a maximum of $13,886, reflecting the same 3.7 percent increase. More ...
Web specialist receives STRIVE Award
Judy Ohl was recently honored with the quarterly STRIVE (Staff and Team Recognized in their Valuable Efforts) Award, recognizing her efforts in Web design, Web page development and collaborative work with the communications and technology offices. Ohl was also recognized for her work in implementing BU's social networking media, such as Facebook, Twitter and BU President David Soltz's blog.
Pictured are Soltz, Ohl and Jim Gessner, director applications development and operations, who nominated Ohl for the award. Questions and nominations for the next STRIVE Award can be made by e-mail.
BU alums enjoy time at Knoebels
More than 100 BU alumni and their family attended BU Alumni Day at Knoebels Amusement Park in Elysburg on July 11, which was one of 10 events being held this summer by the BU Alumni Association.
Shown here are Jeffrey Warren, '94, holding his son, Jeffrey Jr., with BU President David Soltz and Kathleen Hozza Warren, '94, holding her daughter Mikayla. More ...
Scholarship and Recognition
Nada Jevtic, assistant professor of physics and engineering technology, presented "Identifying Chaotic and Quasiperiodic Time-Series Candidates for Efficient Nonlinear Projective Noise Reduction" at the 2nd Chaotic Modeling and Simulation International Conference, June 1 to 5, in Greece.
Joan Miller, assistant professor of nursing, chaired a symposium at the International Council of Nursing Conference, June 27 to July 4, in Durban, South Africa. The symposium addressed nursing concerns in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Iran.
Margie Eckroth-Bucher, associate professor of nursing, presented a poster at the Drexel University Nursing Education Institute, June 4 to 6, discussing the use of the theoretical model she created as a result of research on the development of self-awareness.
Sharon Santus, instructor of mass communications, served as a judge in The New York Press Club Awards for Journalism. Santus helped judge best Web exclusive content, political coverage, spot news, business reporting and entries in the highest category, the prestigious Gold Keyboard Award.
Eric Affsprung, psychological counselor with the Center for Counseling and Human Development, authored an essay on the antisocial student that was recently published in the American College Counseling Association newsletter.
Elena Litvinova, instructor of developmental instructions, received certification as a developmental education specialist from the Kellogg Institute. Litvinova was one of 45 educators selected from across the U.S. to participate during the 2008-09 academic year.
Tim Knoster, associate professor of exceptionality, was the keynote speaker at the 11th annual national conference of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates in Washington, D.C., on March 7 to more than 500 special education attorneys and disability rights advocates.
Timothy McConnell, chair of the exercise science department, will present "Rural and Urban Characteristics Impact Cardiovascular Risk Reduction," at the upcoming 24th annual meeting of the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Pittsburgh from Oct. 1 to 3.
Michael Patte, associate professor of education, had his empirical research study, "The State of Recess in Pennsylvania Elementary Schools: A Continuing Tradition or a Distant Memory," published in the peer-reviewed Play and Culture Studies, Volume 9.
A. Blair Staley, professor of accounting, was re-appointed to the editorial board of the ATA Journal of Legal Tax Research for the 2009-10 academic year. The electronic journal solicits manuscripts not currently under consideration by another journal or publisher.
Search here for more scholarship and recognition ...
Area students explore math and science
More than 70 middle and high school students participated in BU's annual math and science camps from July 6 to 16, where they learned computer animation, how police recover erased computer files and explored different aspects of math and science through class presentations, hands-on activities and demonstrations.
BU summer freshmen honor Mandela
Nearly 200 BU students enrolled in ACT 101/EOP committed 67 minutes to community service each day from July 20 to 24 to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 67 years of service to the world. Students will volunteer at St. Columbia Catholic Church, AGAPE Love from Above To Our Community and the YMCA. More ...
BU faculty named Fulbright Scholars, pair will study and teach overseas
Michael Patte, associate professor of secondary education and educational studies, and Gary Wassmer, associate professor of biological and allied health sciences, have been awarded Fulbright fellowships. Wassmer will go to Uganda in August to teach entomology, while Patte will travel to the United Kingdom in the spring to teach and conduct research on playwork.
Patte will conduct research at Leeds Metropolitan University. Playwork, with its roots in Europe, is concerned with providing play environments where children can laugh and cry, explore and experiment, create and destroy, achieve, feel excited and elated. One of the major goals of Patte's Fulbright Fellowship is establishing playwork as a profession in the U.S. as a means to restore play to children's lives.
BU sports now on YouTube
BU's sports information has launched a YouTube channel, featuring the latest developments and advancements of BU sports teams, athletes and facilities. Interviews with coaches and athletes will also be a constant fixture. Among its features, the channel hosts video of the latest phase in the Nelson Field House and Danny Litwhiler Field renovations. More ...
BU hosts 200 soccer coaches for the fifth straight summer
The National Soccer Coaching Association of America returned to BU for the fifth straight year recently to conduct a series of coaching academies on the upper campus. Roughly 200 soccer coaches from across the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, India, Jamaica and England participated in the training.
BU community mourns the loss of a faculty member
Michael Collins, a theatre arts professor and frequent guest actor and director at the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, died unexpectedly on July 16. Collins, who came to BU in 1989, taught performance courses, directing, scriptwriting and directed more than 30 shows on campus.
Memorial service information was announced at the convenience of the family. Arrangements were handled by Dean W. Kriner Funeral Home, Bloomsburg.
Long-time administrator loses battle with cancer
Preston Herring, vice president of university and student affairs, died on July 14 following a long battle with cancer. During nearly 15 years at BU, Herring led the university division devoted to students' lives outside of the classroom, which included admissions, career development, student standards, student activities and residence life, student health and counseling, intercollegiate athletics and intramural sports and drug and alcohol intervention programs.
A memorial service was held on July 18 at Wesley United Methodist Church, Bloomsburg. The family internment was at New Rosemont Cemetery, Bloomsburg, followed by a reception at the Kehr Union Ballroom. More on Herring ...
BU bids adieu to long-time patrolman
Corp. Duy McBride recently retired after 29 years of service with the BU Police Department, which hosted a retirement party for him on July 8. Pictured (L-R) McBride, Sam Haynes, police officer, Sue Snyder, administrative assistant, Rose Andreas, clerical supervisor and Dan Pitonyak, police officer.
Postcard exhibit continues
A traveling exhibit, "PostSecret: Confessions of Life, Death, and God", continues its two-month stop at BU's Haas Gallery of Art through July 15. The exhibit presented 160 postcards with private thoughts concerning spirituality and religion.
It was organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington D.C., in cooperation with curator Frank Warren. More ...
BU forensics camp sparks interest in middle school students
A group of 13 North Schuylkill middle school students recently completed a four-day computer forensics camp coordinated by BU as part of the Workforce Leadership 2+2+2 grant program. The camp gave students, in sixth through eighth grade, a glimpse into computer forensics with hope of sparking an interest in them to study computer technology in high school.
BU has participated in the workforce leadership grant program, which is funded by Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, for the past three years. The grant has helped BU form partnerships with Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, Northumberland County Career and Technical Center and the North Schuylkill School District to transfer credits of students studying in the information technology and computer forensics curriculum.
Students attend leadership retreat
Thirteen BU students representing various campus groups attended the 4th Annual Student Leadership retreat on campus from June 18 to 20. Students were from the Student Organization of Latinos, Black Cultural Society, Ladies First, Men of Intelligence Notability and Desire, Vice Versa and Aquiy Ahora. More ...
Freshmen urged to test 50-foot climbing wall
BU's Quest invited freshmen to try their skills on the climbing wall near the Nelson Field House on the upper campus and prepare for a weekend hike at Ricketts Glen, as well as other adventure courses freshmen could participate in. More on Quest ...
Prospective BU students visit campus
Admissions office student tour guide Frangel Martinez, center in black jacket, answers questions on July 15 from prospective students and parents on the Academic Quad. Roughly 40 students with their parents visited campus, which is typical during a summer weekday. More about admissions ...