Appalachian Today

Fall 2010 Appalachian State University New Exposure – A look inside the College of Health Sciences 16 ENHANCING HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE The College of Health Sciences prepares a new generation of health care professionals to meet the needs of North Carolina and beyond. FALL 2010 | VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 2 CHANCELLOR'S MESSAGE 4 ON THE MOUNTAIN Campus news and accolades. 12 STUDENTS AND FACULTY THRIVE AT RESEARCH CAMPUS The North Carolina Research Campus offers incredible opportunities. 15 RESEARCH ROUNDUP Updates on recent scholarly work at Appalachian. 20 LEARNING AND SHARING WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE One student’s vision more than 10 years ago becomes an Appalachian tradition. 22 APPALACHIAN DEEPENS RELATIONSHIPS IN MEXICO Appalachian taps into Mexico’s educational opportunities. 24 GETTING TO THE “CORE” OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION Q & A with Andrew Miller ’99 ’02 on why Appalachian is a leader in this field. 26 HOPE AND SMILES FOR CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES Speech pathology students research an affliction overseas to better understand this condition at home. 28 MAKING CONNECTIONS A local support network links families in need with information and resources. 30 A TRUE APPALACHIAN FRIEND Alice Roess brightens campus in many ways. 32 ALUMNI IN ACTION ROTC students become military leaders. 34 ALUMNI NOTES On the cover At the heart of Appalachian's mission to change lives lies the responsibility to raise the quality of life. Photo illustration by Troy Tuttle. The inaugural class of the BSN pre-licensure nursing program has 20 students, including Ben Merrit and Jen Brown. Here, they practice basic nursing techniques in a state-of-the-art hospital setting in Edwin Duncan Hall. FALL 2010 | VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 Realizing our dreams Each fall semester brings with it a certain excitement – that heightened feeling of newness and opportunity. For me, this fall has been particularly exciting as we realize Appalachian Today is published by the Office the dream of adding a College of Health Sciences to of University Communications in the University our quality academics at Appalachian State University. Advancement Division twice annually for alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of Appalachian This semester marked the launch of our newest college, State University. It is funded through unrestricted and founding dean Dr. Fred Whitt started strong with gifts to The Appalachian Fund. 16 degree programs, 115 faculty and staff and 1,600 Send correspondence to: student majors. MEGAN HAYES ’97 Managing Editor Not since the Walker College of Business formed Appalachian Today University Communications nearly 40 years ago has Appalachian celebrated a new Appalachian State University academic emphasis. The college will meet the state and ASU Box 32153 Boone, NC 28608-2153 nation’s need for highly skilled health care workers in areas such as nursing, nutrition, communication Chancellor disorders and exercise science. The growing industry of health care is revitalizing KENNETH E. PEACOCK our state’s economy, and as Appalachian engages in more collaborative research and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement community outreach in this field – such as in preventing childhood obesity and im- SUSAN PETTYJOHN proving overall immune function – we are boosting the quality of life for individuals Executive Editor and families in our region and beyond. This would not be possible without support HANK FOREMAN ’95 MA from the Appalachian Family, as evidenced by the creation of the Hughlene Bostian Art Director Frank Scholarship for students, particularly those in the nursing program. Look for ROSLYN HOWARD ’83 a formal announcement soon about a generous gift from engineering and construc- Contributing Designers LEILA JACKSON ’00 tion firm Balfour Beatty that will support the entire College of Health Sciences. SARAH MCBRYDE ’97 ’09 I am proud that Appalachian worked with key community partners, including Senior Writer/Editor LINDA COUTANT ’01 MA long-time university supporter Appalachian Regional Healthcare, to identify a need Contributing Writers and then quickly and effectively implement ways to meet that need. Many people are KATE CAHOW ’08 MA to be thanked for helping create the new College of Health Sciences. My deep ap- JANE NICHOLSON ’95 MA LEILA JACKSON ’00 preciation goes to the N.C. General Assembly, private donors, loyal alumni, and our STEPHANIE NAOUM dedicated community partners and faculty and staff who shared this vision with me. I ANNA PARRISH ’09 SHARINE M. SABOUR ’10 encourage you to read more about the college beginning on page 16. Photographers There are other accomplishments at Appalachian worth applauding. More than LEILA JACKSON ’00 MARIE FREEMAN ’86 14,000 students applied for the 2,832 slots in this fall’s freshman class, showing the TROY TUTTLE ’07 continued desire for an Appalachian education. Those admitted had an average high Web Design school GPA of 3.92 and a predicted GPA (PGPA) at Appalachian of 3.03, which brings PETE MONTALDI ’89 us closer to meeting our Strategic Plan’s goal of enrolling a freshman class in which Address changes should be sent to: 60 percent have a PGPA of 3.00 or higher. [email protected] The percentage of Fall 2009 freshman who returned for Fall 2010 is 87.2 percent, Appalachian State University is committed to a retention rate slightly higher than last year’s and increasingly closer to the UNC equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students or General Administration’s goal of 90 percent for all system universities by 2012-13. employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disabling condition While numbers are important, Appalachian cares about people – that is, providing or sexual orientation. Appalachian also actively individual students with a high-quality education that prepares them for success in promotes diversity among students and employees. both life and their chosen career. With the 2010-11 academic year under way, I hope you enjoy this edition of Appalachian Today and its stories of talented and coura- 34,000 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $25,528, or 75 cents per copy. geous students, faculty and alumni. They are the Appalachian Family. ©2010 Appalachian State University With Appalachian pride, Kenneth E. Peacock Chancellor Follow us at: twitter.com/appstate 2 Appalachian Today Fall 2010 APPALACHIAN CALENDAR Nov. 18 Dec. 3, 2010 - Feb. 15, 2011 Fiction Writer March 19, 2011 Balé Folclórico and Poet In the Void: da Bahia Brenda Sculpture Performing Arts Series Flanagan By David Meyer 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium (In Praise of Island Women; You Alone are Dancing) and The Hemlocks! March 2-3, 2011 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting The Hemlocks! Grief Writers Series How to Build 7:30 p.m., Plemmons Student and Celebration A Forest with Union By Lowell Hayes Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Visiting Artist Nov. 18-20 PearlDamour North Carolina Dec. 12 Department of Theatre and Dance Commencement 10 a.m., Valborg Theatre Dance Festival Holmes Convocation Department of Center March 17, 2011 Theatre and Dance 10 a.m., University Gene 7:30 p.m., Valborg Theatre College, Education, Arts Cochrane, and Sciences. 2 p.m., Health Sciences, Business, Duke Dec. 1-4 Fine and Applied Arts, Music. Endowment The Pursuit of Mr. Harlan Boyles CEO Lecture Series Rockefeller Jan. 22, 2011 2 p.m., Farthing Auditorium By Jonathan Fitts, LA Theatre March 29, 2011 Directed by Joel Williams Works: Department of Theatre and Dance David 7:30 p.m., I.G. Greer Studio The Real Dr. Montgomery, Theatre Strangelove: Edward Soils and the Teller and the Battle Sustainability of for the H-Bomb events.appstate.edu Civilizations Performing Arts Series University Forum 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium www.today.appstate.edu 3 ON THE MOUNTAIN North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since 1994, Jones has been the Thomas Whitmell Davis research historian there. This year, McFarland & Company Inc., will publish 2010 Rhododendron Society Professional Women’s Club, president of his memoir, “The Sonarman’s War: Chas- the Alpha Gamma chapter of Delta Kappa ing Submarines and Sweeping Mines in Inductees Gamma and co-chair of Mountain People World War II.” In April 2009, three Reich College of for Clean Mountain Air. During her retire- John B. Rogers ’69 ’80 ’84 of Statesville, Education alumni who have made exem- ment, she has continued to serve her com- served with the Rowan-Salisbury County plary contributions to the field of educa- munity through a variety of organizations. School System from 1969 to 2004. He tion were inducted into the Rhododendron As a county commissioner, her leadership worked at the middle school level teaching Society, the highest honor given by the helped assure the future of Watauga language arts, social studies, science, read- college. County's new high school, which opened its ing and academically gifted classes. He Mary Etta Moretz ’64 ’66, a native and doors to students this fall. was department chair of social studies and lifelong resident of Watauga County, has H.G. Jones ’49 of Pittsboro has served language arts, school chair of the Curricu- served both as educator and community North Carolina as a research historian, lum and Instruction Committee, chair for leader in the High Country. During her archivist, administrator and teacher. He the system-wide Language Arts Committee 37-year tenure at Watauga High School, has also been highly awarded, served for middle schools and co-chair for the she taught English and social studies, spon- with numerous professional associations, system-wide Academically Gifted Program sored numerous award-winning clubs, was contributed to the preservation of North Plan for middle and high schools. He was director of the Extended Day School and Carolina history and is a published author. named Teacher of the Year for two years founder and director of Pioneer Academy.

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