FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES // May 2024
IN PRINT
Kathy Merlock Jackson published an article titled “Riding an enchanted horse with invisible wings: Velvet Brown's Liminal Space” in National Velvet in Liminal Spaces in Children's and Young Adult Literature, edited by Mark I. West (Lexington Books, 2024). The book premiered at both #1 (hardback) and #6 (Kindle) in Amazon's Hot New Releases in the category of "children's literary criticism."

In Mark West's edited volume, Liminal Spaces in Children's and Young Adult Literature: Stories from the In Between (Lexington Press, 2024), Terry Lindvall contributed "Secret Gardens and Spiritual Gestation: The Fecundity of Liminal Metaphors in the Children's Literature of Frances Hodgson Burnett and C. S. Lewis."

Terry Lindvall reviewed Shayne Lee's "Cinema, Black Suffering, and Theodicy: Modern God" in the recent issue of Journal of Religion & Film. His 2023 publication "Animated Parables: A Pedagogy of Seven Deadly Sins and a Few Virtues" was reviewed in the same issue. 

Victor R. Townsend, Jr. and Maynard H. Schaus had an original research article entitled: “Prevalence, intensity, and attachment sites of larval mites (Acari, Erythraeidae) infesting Erginulus clavotibialis, a Neotropical harvestman (Opiliones, Cosmetidae) from Belize” published in the peer-reviewed journal Acarologia 64(2): 413-424. The article featured two VWU alumni, Eli A. Roberto and Daniel N. Proud, as co-authors.

Jeff Toussaint’s article, “A False Peace: Bringing Racism and Race into Peace Scholarship in the Metropole,” co-authored with M.L. Rosino, was published in Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Advance publication is online. The article was selected to appear in the American Psychological Association (APA) Showcase on Kudos. 

President Scott D. Miller serves as executive editor for the President to President thought leadership series, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The seventh chapter of the 2023-2024 President to President thought leadership series is available online. In “Talent Management as a Tool for Institutional Sustainability,” McMurry University President Sandra S. Harper, Ph.D., explores the staffing challenges that have become prevalent in higher education in recent years after the pandemic shifted workers’ expectations. She offers ideas for improving recruitment, retention, and development of faculty and staff by reimagining workplace culture on campus.

Dr. Miller’s most recent column for The Virginian-Pilot, "Our college students deserve financial aid that works," puts in context the poorly executed overhaul of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which provides the foundation for the nation’s college financial aid system.

Dr. Miller’s most recent article that he co-authored for Dwyer Education Strategies’ Enrollment Manager, "How Alumni Relations Can Boost Admissions— And Vice Versa," explains how an innovative synergy between alumni relations and admissions can transform a college's approach to recruitment and community building.

Following Virginia Wesleyan University’s announcement of its forthcoming Center for Career Development and Neurodiversity, Dr. Miller was featured in news stories by WAVY and WHRO.

President Miller's daily blog, Dialogue, can be found at prezscottmiller.blogspot.com.
PRESENTATIONS AND PANELS
Michelle Albert Vachris made two conference presentations at the April meetings of the Association of Private Enterprise Education in Las Vegas: “Innovation and the Transitional Gains Trap: the Case of Scotch Whisky” and “Experiential Learning in an Economic Development Course.”
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Bryson Mortensen accompanied Virginia Wesleyan Vox Vera to Italy for its first international performance. The group presented two concerts of works by a variety of artists and arrangers at the Florence University of the Arts and St. Mark's English Church.

Drian Glyde participated in the 2024 PRME SIP Recognition of Excellence Jury First Time Report Category, reviewing and evaluating the quality of Sharing Information on Progress (SIP) reporting provided by PRME Charter Signatories. Several Signatory SIP reports are recognized for excellence each year at the PRME Global Forum.

Doug Kennedy spoke, along with Representative Deborah Ross (D-North Carolina) and others, at a press conference to announce the submission of the "Closing Bankruptcy Loopholes for Child Predators Act of 2024." This legislation he has been involved with will amend Sections 524 and 111 of the bankruptcy code and require greater financial transparency and survivor participation.
Faculty and staff accomplishments are celebrated each spring during Virginia Wesleyan’s annual “Feathers in Your Cap” event. This year the event was held in April. Hosted by the Office of Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning (INTEL) and Hofheimer Library, the event recognizes VWU faculty and staff members for their professional endeavors throughout the year. Accomplishments include publishing books and articles, professional presentations, garnering grants and awards and designing community engagement activities and events. The "Feathers in Your Cap" also provides an opportunity for networking and community-building. 
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The "Animals and Society," class taught by Kathy Stolley, visited the Norfolk Animal Care and Adoption Center for a course engagement activity. Thanks to Bethany Tsiaras for assistance with transportation.

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