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SHSU Update For Week Of Feb. 17
- ‘Legacy’ Exhibit To Evoke Race, Gender, Empathy
- Second Series Presentation To Share Importance Of Planning
- Saxophone Duo To Introduce Music ‘Hot Off The Press’
- Center To Give Faculty ‘IDEAs’ On Evaluation System
- Journeys Lecture To Focus On Leadership Legacy
- Two-Day Seminar To Raise Awareness Of Music Therapy
- SHSU To Celebrate Texas Hero, Namesake March 5
- LEMIT Trains Newly Elected Constables
- Business Alumni Recognized As 'Outstanding Young Grads'
- Submit Update Items Here
‘Legacy’ Exhibit To Evoke Race, Gender, Empathy
In artist Margaret Meehan’s exhibit “The Legacy of Lily White,” she explores “when innocence collides with the monstrous, evoking race, gender and empathy for others.”
Meehan shares that exhibit with the Bearkat and Huntsville communities beginning Thursday (Feb. 21), when she will bring her work to SHSU’s Gaddis Geeslin Gallery.
“The Legacy of Lily White” presents images of “Victoriana, pugilism (the art or practice of fighting with fists), and medical anomalies, proposesing a choreographed fight outside the circled square,” according to Annie Strader, assistant professor of art and 3G committee chair.
For the SHSU exhibit, Meehan will display a remount of the exhibit—including photographs, drawings and sculpture-based installations—with added works and the final configuration of her “Pugilist” series.
“I invited Meehan to exhibit at the 3G Gallery due to her exploration of themes of ‘otherness,’" Strader said. “This is fertile subject matter that I see students dealing with on a regular basis, and I think Meehan's work successfully delves into the topic and will be great for students and the community to experience.
“Meehan is an artist who uses a variety of media and process including ceramics, sculpture, drawing and photography in order to explore her ideas. It's great for students to see how an artist can approach ideas through different methods/materials to create a cohesive body of work,” Strader said. “She will also be doing critiques with students while she is on campus.”
Meehan received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her work has been on display in various galleries nationally, including Soil Gallery, in Seattle, Wash.; David Shelton Gallery, in Houston; Road Agent and Conduit Gallery, in Dallas; and the Modern Art Museum, of Fort Worth.
She will give a lecture on her work on Feb. 21, from 5-6 p.m. in Art Building E Room 108, followed by an opening reception from 6-7 p.m. in the 3G.
The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery located in Art Building F Room 101.
For more information, contact Strader at 936.294.1322.
Second Series Presentation To Share Importance Of Planning
Patrick Allitt, the Cahoon Family Professor of American History at Emory University, will continue his “Art of Teaching Series” with a presentation on “Planning the Work” on Tuesday (Feb. 26).
The Professional and Academic Center for Excellence workshop will be held at two times, from 2-3 p.m. and from 3-4 p.m. in the PACE Conference Room, in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building C002.
Allitt’s discussion will focus on the importance of planning in the success of all endeavors, whether teaching, coaching or training, and how planning goes beyond simply preparing a syllabus, said Marsha Harman, PACE director.
“We don’t always ask ourselves, ‘What should my students be able to do as a result of completing my course?’” Harman said. “We all know there must be goals and objectives; yet, what can I realistically expect and how can I make the learning logically sequenced. I need to have specifics. Sometimes we focus on the material to ‘cover’ and not on what the student should be able to do.”
While this kind of discussion may appear to benefit first-year instructors more than seasoned professors, Harman said professors of all levels of experience can benefit from Allitt’s presentation.
“When I said I would listen to this lecture and determine whether it was appropriate for our participants, a seasoned professor told me to not discount the topic because he could use some ideas of planning,” she said. “In truth, we consider planning the class, choosing the text and constructing the syllabus and schedule; what we sometimes neglect is what we want our students to ‘look like’ when they complete and leave our course. Once we determine that, we have to determine what exactly we need to do to make those objectives happen.
“It’s very logical; we just don’t always take the time to do it,” she said.
The “Art of Teaching” series is sponsored by PACE and the foreign languages department.
It is open to faculty, staff and students.
“The series, thus far, has been more successful and meaningful for instructors, professors, and graduate teaching assistants than PACE leadership ever dreamed possible,” Harman said.
For more information, or to reserve a spot, contact PACE at 936.294.2688 or pace@shsu.edu.
Saxophone Duo To Introduce Music ‘Hot Off The Press’
Saxophone duo Ogni Suono will bring cutting-edge new musical compositions to Sam Houston State University on Saturday (Feb. 23).
Noa Even and Phil Pierick, the duo that comprise Ogni Suono, deliver their music “Hot Off The Press” beginning at 8 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
The concert will highlight music for a “genre that has not been written for extensively, the saxophone duet,” said Seth McAdow, SHSU adjunct instructor of saxophone.
The program will be so “hot” off the presses that the concert will not only feature works that have been composed within the last four years, but will consist of music that McAdow said he isn’t familiar with.
“I would not expect the music to be very jazz influenced but to be composed with the personalities of the duo in mind,” he said. “All I can say is that the audience should expect the unexpected. That's the great thing about new music; you really don't have any idea what is about to happen, but this is a unique opportunity to hear a group from a different part of the country, as well as music that you have not heard before.”
Among the works that will be performed are Halim Beere’s “Roya,” inspired by the experience of becoming a father; Jason Holt Mitchell’s “Sundog,” which describes an atmospheric phenomenon aligned with the ideas of the planetary association of Ptolemaic magic squares; and Ian Dicke’s “Straphanger,” inspired by Diego Rivera’s 1931 mural-style painting Frozen Assets. Many, if not all, of the works on the program were written for or commissioned by the duo.
Earlier that day, the two will work with saxophone students for a masterclass beginning at 4 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.
“The students will play prepared pieces of repertoire for Ogni Suono and the duo will offer their critique,” McAdow said. “This will provide the students the benefit of performing in front of a new audience as well as advice on how to improve their performances.
“I wanted Ogni Suono to visit SHSU so that students can hear a group young performers doing what many of the students wish to do professionally as well as how to work with composers to get pieces of music commissioned for the saxophone,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity for our saxophone studio here at SHSU.”
The masterclass is free and open to the public.
Tickets for the concert are $15 for general admission, $12 for senior citizens, and $5 for SHSU students.
For more information, call the School of Music at 936.294.1360, and for more information on the group, visit http://www.ognisuono.com/.
Center To Give Faculty ‘IDEAs’ On Evaluation System
The SHSU Faculty Senate will promote the “idea” of teacher evaluations with a two-day conference that will address the administration of, potential issues with, and best practices for the surveys on Feb. 25-26.
IDEA Center senior research officer Steve Benton and senior educational consultant Shelley Chapman will give presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday in the Criminal Justice Center’s Bates Room, Room A217.
Proposed sessions include "General Orientation to IDEA," during which faculty can discuss ways to interpret reports and adjust those reports to fit SHSU’s needs; “Using IDEA within a Faculty Evaluation System," which will include setting expectations, weighting results, and other forms of assessment; “Technical Issues Related to IDEA," which will include discussions on validity and reliability, IDEA and online courses and current research; and "Using IDEA for Faculty Development," which will discuss helping faculty on an individual level, services and support provided to chairs, and planning, modeling and evaluating faculty development using IDEA.
Tuesday’s sessions will include repeated presentations from Monday.
“Faculty and administrators attend the IDEA panels, first, to make sure SHSU is using IDEA in the most effective manner and, second, to make sure that this is the best tool not only for student evaluations but also for faculty development,” Steele said.
The IDEA Center is a nonprofit organization that serves colleges and universities committed to improving learning, teaching and leadership performance by supporting the evaluation and development of both programs and people.
SHSU has been using the IDEA Center’s faculty assessments since 2005.
The presentation is hosted by the SHSU Faculty Senate.
For more information, contact Faculty Senate chair Tracy Steele 936.294.1480 or his_tls@shsu.edu, and to see the complete presentation schedule, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~org_sen/pdf/SHSUIDEAVisit.pdf.
Journeys Lecture To Focus On Leadership Legacy
Randy Garner, professor of behavioral sciences and former associate dean in SHSU’s College of Criminal Justice, will share “Traits and Characteristics of Great Leaders” on Tuesday (Feb. 19).
The Honors 3332 Journeys Seminar presentation will begin at 5 p.m. in Smith-Hutson Building Room 186.
Garner’s discussion will focus on “the twists, turns and transitions in life that have led me to where I am today,” he said.
“One never knows what doors will open when others are closed and how these transitions impact who we become,” Garner said. “I will talk about some of the life lessons that I have learned both as a leader and as one who has studied leadership for many years. We will explore some of the traits and characteristics of those leaders who leave a lasting, positive legacy.”
Garner holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology, with specialization in the area of social psychology, and a doctoral minor in organizational behavior and management. Additionally, Garner has a second doctorate in theology and religious studies.
He has received numerous academic awards and honors including the “Excellence in Educational Instruction” award in 2006, the University of Houston’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Social Psychologist in Texas award in 2004.
Garner has authored numerous books and professional publications with particular emphasis in the areas of social influence, persuasion and leadership.
His books Criticism Management and Constructing Effective Criticism: How to Give, Receive and Seek Productive and Constructive Criticism in Our Lives have been adopted by command colleges, leadership courses, and communication programs across the country.
Prior to moving into academia, Garner dedicated 30 years to law enforcement service and has worked in all divisions and levels of command.
The public lecture, sponsored by the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College, is part of a new class designed to show students what characteristics lead to success.
For more information, contact instructor Patrick Lewis at 936.294.3397.
Two-Day Seminar To Raise Awareness Of Music Therapy
The SHSU chapter of the Mu Tau Omega national organization for music therapy will “spread awareness about what music therapy is to the community” with a weekend of lectures on various aspects of the subject and performances on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 22-23).
The MTO Music Therapy Awareness Weekend will get started at 3:30 p.m. on Friday with two lectures by board certified music therapists and a coffeehouse-style performance.
The presentations will include “Neurologic Music Therapy: Everything You Want to Know,” highlighting the use of musical interventions for curing cognitive, sensory or motor dysfunctions in the brain; and “Music Therapy in Oncology: An Intern’s Experiences.”
That evening, music therapy students and faculty members, will perform the MTO Coffeehouse Concert from 7:30-9:45 p.m. in Music Building Room 201.
Saturday’s activities include pastries and coffee from 8:30-9:15 a.m., followed by three lectures: “Music Therapy and Medically Fragile Infants in the NICU,” “How to Interview for an Internship,” and “Addictions Music Therapy: 12 Steps to Success.”
The Music Therapy Awareness Weekend is designed to show the community the benefits of music therapy, according to Samantha Allardyce, MTO secretary.
“MTO hosts the awareness weekend every year to bring in specific speakers who present on their current research and practice to share with students and the community, spread awareness of what music therapy is, and to share our passion to help others,” she said.
While the sessions are particularly useful for music therapy students and high school students considering music therapy as a major, the awareness weekend could also be helpful for parents of children who could benefit from music therapy services and adults from the community who are interested in learning more about the field or how music therapy can be used in their lives, according to Allardyce.
“Music therapy research and practices can be transferred to many other fields of work,” she said. “As knowledge and awareness of the benefits of music therapy continue to spread throughout the country, and even the world, MTO hopes to do their part in touching as many lives as possible with song.”
Music Therapy Awareness Weekend events are free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Miller at 936.294.1376 or musictherapy@shsu.edu, or call the School of Music at 936.294.1360.
SHSU To Celebrate Texas Hero, Namesake March 5
All alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students are invited to join the Sam Houston State University Alumni Association in celebrating the life of Texas’s greatest hero and SHSU namesake, Gen. Sam Houston on March 5.
The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin and will feature remarks by SHSU President Dana Gibson and others. The cost is $25 per person.
One of the most colorful figures of 19th Century America, Houston served as president of the Republic of Texas, governor of the State of Texas, governor of Tennessee, U.S. senator, and Tennessee congressman. He led the Texas Army in the Battle of San Jacinto—the decisive victory of the Texas Revolution, which cleared the way for Texas to become a part of the United States. A memorial museum, a U.S. Army base, a national forest, a historical park, and a university have all been named in his honor.
Houston was born on March 2, 1793. March 2 is also Texas Independence Day.
To purchase tickets to the event, or for details and information about the Sam Houston Birthday Celebration, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 800.283.7478 or visit alumni.shsu.edu.
LEMIT Trains Newly Elected Constables
More than 100 newly elected Texas constables converged on Sam Houston State University for training on their positions provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.
LEMIT handled its largest new constable class ever, splitting the training into two sessions, for the 148 new constables who have been elected or appointed within the last two years. Each is mandated by the Texas Legislature to participate in the biennial training program on the roles and duties of a constable.
“The program is an opportunity for the constables of Texas to learn from the instructors and from each other, and how their role is so important in the community they serve,” said Rita Watkins, LEMIT executive director.
In Texas, constables and their deputies are fully empowered peace officers with countywide jurisdiction. Their responsibilities may include serving civil process, executing warrants issued by Justice of the Peace courts, providing bailiff services to JP courts, and offering patrol, investigation and security services. In 2000, there were 760 Constable offices in Texas, with some of the largest employing 300 deputies.
During the five-day training, experienced constables from across the state provided sessions on the day-to-day operations of the office and highlighted such topics as law enforcement ethics and liabilities, rules and forms for licensed peace officers, office and records management, citation powers, evictions, and writs.
Presenters included Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman; Kim Vickers, executive director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education; Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Chief Deputy Aaron Tyksinski; Denton County Precinct 2 Constable Michael Truitt; Nacogdoches County Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Chuck Copeland; and Fort Bend Precinct 3 Constable Rob Cook.
The session closed with a question-and-answer session with Truitt, constables Bobby Gutierrez, of Williamson County Precinct 3, and Chad Jordan, of Hood County Precinct 4.
In addition to the training for new constables, LEMIT provides continuing education for constables every four years on emerging issues and trends in the profession. Among the topics discussed in those sessions are emotional survival, ethics/leadership, and additional training in writs, citations, collection and detecting deception.
Finally, LEMIT hosts an intensive, nine-week education program for constables and supervisors called the Texas Constable’s Leadership College, which covers all aspects of modern law enforcement management techniques, styles and philosophies. Held in three-week modules, the program covers leadership and management principals, including intensive communication skills; political, legal and society environments of contemporary law enforcement; and differences in cultural issues.
Business Alumni Recognized As 'Outstanding Young Grads'
Sam Houston State University’s management and marketing department recently recognized two of its alumni who have stood out among their peers as its inaugural “Outstanding Young Graduates.”
Wes Burke, a 2007 management graduate, and Candace Collins, a 2008 marketing graduate, were honored on Feb. 6, when they were presented with a plaque by department chair Roger Abshire.
They were selected by department faculty for demonstrating “successful progression in employment responsibility” since graduating within the past eight years.
During the ceremony, the two addressed more than 200 current students in the Smith-Hutson Building’s Mafrige Auditorium, where they provided an overview of their careers and spoke about how to best transition from being a student to a successful business person.
“The two alumni highlighted the importance of adaptability, learning from one’s mistakes, relationship building, receiving constructive feedback, and self-reflection,” said Aneika Simmons, assistant professor of management and marketing. “Mr. Burke explained how one hour of planning saves you 10 hours of work, while Ms. Collins exemplified resilience by applying for 75 positions with over 20 versions of her resume before she found a position.
“Students appeared to be encouraged, engaged, and inspired by the content of the messages,” she said.
Burke is currently employed with the Target Corporation as training and development manager, and Collins works for BDP International, Inc., as a project logistics specialist.
Following the ceremony, the two answered questions and spoke with interested students for about 30 minutes and were then honored with a luncheon.
“Both recipients indicated that they were honored by the award and continue to be supremely proud to be a Sam Houston State University alumni,” Simmons said.
Submit Update Items Here
In order to assist members of the Sam Houston State University community in publicizing events, the SHSU Communications Office (Today@Sam) is now requesting that students, faculty and staff submit information about events, accomplishments or ideas for feature stories online.
Submission criteria and guidelines, including deadlines, have now been placed online, at /guidelines.html. This information is also accessible through the “Submissions” link in the right-hand navigation on Today@Sam.
From there, those submitting ideas can access forms that will allow them to provide detailed information about their idea, as well as attach event calendars, vitas/resumes or photos, depending on the type of submission.
Ideas submitted to the SHSU Communications Office are directly utilized in several ways: as news stories, “slider” or SHSU home page stories, hometown releases, and on the Today@Sam calendar.
If your submission qualifies for distribution, we will either contact you for more detailed information, or we will edit the information using SHSU/journalistic style and forward the final release to the appropriate media.
All information is verified before release, so please provide complete, accurate and timely information. Please type all responses in appropriate upper and lower cases.
For more information, contact the Communications Office at 936.294.1836 or today@sam.edu.
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SHSU Media Contacts: Julia May, Jennifer Gauntt
Feb. 15, 2013
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Associate Director: Julia May
Manager: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.
