UMAR Newsletter Spring 2020, Volume I Number 3 COVID-19 UPDATE AND UMAR The first coronavirus case in Shelby County was confirmed on March 8, 2020. The next day the University discontinued international travel for faculty, staff, and students, and three days later, after the American Athletic Conference announced the cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament, the University suspended all spring competitions until further notice. The UofM then extended spring break by a week to enable a smooth transition to remote learning, canceled all in-person events consisting of 10 or more people, and scheduled a virtual commencement ceremony for spring 2020 graduates that took place on May 9. At this time, the University plans to conduct all summer school classes online, and although the University remains open, the majority of buildings on all campuses are locked and accessible via faculty, staff, or student ID only. Want to know more? Want to know more? Visit the University COVID-19 Update web page at https://www.memphis.edu/health/coronavirus/. When the University moved to remote and virtual learning and operations, UMAR was forced to cancel our spring and summer programs. However, the Executive Committee continues to meet via Zoom. Currently, we are assessing how we can best serve you, our constituency. Do you have suggestions? We understand that most activities must now take place online –or in small groups outside. picnic in a Memphis park? Would you be interested in taking virtual tours of the world’s great art museums under the guidance of a local art historian? Discussing great works of literature, such as Boccaccio’s "Decameron," inspired by the great plague in 14th century Florence? Listening to an expert fellow retiree or local official as they explore an issue of particular importance to UMAR members in an interactive Zoom meeting? What expert and what issue? Or, getting some help learning Zoom, so you could participate in a virtual wine tasting? Perhaps there is a need for help with transportation, pharmacy pick-up, or serving up some meals...? Now’s the time! Please send your ideas, suggestions, and thoughts to Mike Osborn, Program Chair and incoming 2020-2021 President of UMAR at [email protected] (https://shoutout.wix.com/so/fdN8FLQZ2/c?w=ByS- ff21sUTBzjLG9maxSw7BMG7Py_GrSfCJwJPKwbU.eyJ1IjoibWFpbHRvOm1vc2Jvcm4xQ GJlbGxzb3V0aC5jb20iLCJyIjoiYzJhMTY1NzEtMzdmNi00ZWZiLTIyZDctNjI2ZDFmNjMxM TMzIiwibSI6Im1haWxfbHAiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDA wMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0) FINDING UMAR How to find UMAR’s home page from your computer 1. Type “Alumni.Memphis.edu” in your web browser 2. Select “GET INVOLVED” from the tabs at the top of the page 3. Select “CONSTITUENT GROUPS” from the GET INVOLVED box at left of the page; 4. Select UMAR from list of CONSTITUENT GROUPS. How to find UMAR’s home page from your smartphone 1. Type “Alumni.Memphis.edu” into your web browser; 2. Scroll down, down, down until you see “Get Involved”; 3. Select “Academic Chapters” (Constituent Groups is listed but not hot); 4. Select “Constituent Groups” under list of Academic Chapters; 5. Select UMAR from list. MEET YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dr. Sheryl DeMarcus Maxwell, Ph.D., Associate Professor Emeritus UMAR Secretary, 2019-2020 Sheryl Anne DeMarcus was born in Denver, Colorado during the Second World War. Blessed with perfect pitch, she learned to play the piano at age four; later she played the violin in school orchestras starting with elementary school and continuing through college, where she became the concertmaster of the college orchestra. Additionally, she excelled in school academics, particularly in mathematics classes. She graduated seventh in her Denver, Colorado high school class of approximately 800 students. Although she enjoyed music, she decided to major in mathematics when attending Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado. She met her husband there while enrolled in a Calculus II class. She taught at Wheatridge Junior High School until her first son arrived in August 1969. While Sheryl and her husband, Mark, were on assignment with the United States Air Force, Sheryl taught mathematics to military personnel at US colleges and universities. Upon their return to the states, Sheryl completed her Master’s degree in Mathematics Teaching at the University of Nebraska at Omaha within a short amount of time. Soon, the family moved to Virginia where two of their sons graduated from high school and Mark retired from the Air Force. Sheryl taught at two colleges in the Newport News area: Christopher Newport College and The College of William and Mary. However, she could not permanently become a college faculty member until she had a doctorate so she started taking Mathematics Education classes at the University of Virginia in 1991. In 1994, twenty-nine years after she graduated with a BA, she was awarded a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education. Sheryl was a member of the University of Memphis faculty from 1994 through 2008, starting with the rank of Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the College of Education and after being tenured in 1998, as an Associate Professor. She taught mathematics methods to both preservice teacher candidates and in-service teachers in elementary and middle schools. Dr. Maxwell’s research focused on understanding and implementing aspects that assisted teachers to use best practices in teaching mathematics. Since she worked most closely with preparing teachers in the urban setting, she recognized how changing the teaching of mathematics in the K-12 classroom was crucial to helping students conceptually learn mathematics. She was the Principle Investigator of four Eisenhower Title II Grants and a Co-PI of one Teacher Quality Grant. In addition, she was the Co-PI of a National Science Foundation grant. Dr. Maxwell authored many articles about mathematics topics as well about educational issues. She presented over 60 mathematics and/or education-oriented topics at national, state, and local conferences throughout the United States during her 14 years as an active faculty member. She was active in the Research Council on Mathematics Learning (RCML) in the early 1990s when she was a graduate student at the University of Virginia and hosted the Annual RCML conference in Memphis, Tennessee in 2002. She served the RCML as President for two years (2003-2005), as the Vice President of Publications and as a member of the RCML journal’s editorial board. She was instrumental in helping the organization assume publication of its international journal, Investigations in Mathematics Learning. Additionally, she was President of The University of Memphis Faculty Senate (2005-2006) and earned Associate Professor Emeritus status in 2009. After her retirement, she became active in the University of Memphis Association of Retirees (UMAR). She was UMAR’s President from 2012-2014 and has been on the Executive Committee since currently serving as Secretary. Although she has had many “labels,” being “Grandma” to her two granddaughters is her most prized title. Mark and Sheryl moved to Kirby Pines Senior Citizen Retirement Center in 2016, where they live in the “Big House” independent living area. She continues to be actively involved with the 300+ residents. She has served on the Advisory Group and is currently a key member of the Memorial Committee. She plays Mah Jongg two times per week, is a member of the Poetry Club, Ham-Ateurs Group, Entertainers (playing the violin), Photo Club, Travel Club and displays current events/activities flyers on two decorated bulletin boards. On Thursday afternoon she volunteers in the Blossom Shop (convenience store for residents). You’ll find her hither and thither throughout the Kirby Pines buildings and campus. MEMBER NEWS Please send news of adventures, recognitions, and achievements, to Roger Iles, Communications Committee Chair [email protected] (https://shoutout.wix.com/so/fdN8FLQZ2/c? w=aY2ugaMc7jQqfL1IUxb9hhARr7tIjH0RH_ZmPlkyjSs.eyJ1IjoibWFpbHRvOnJpbGVzQG1lbXBoaXNy ZXRpcmVlcy5vcmciLCJyIjoiMDMyZDQ4MjItNjAzYi00M2U2LWY0MjMtNGJiNGY0NWIzMGVhIiwibSI6I m1haWxfbHAiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwIn0) for inclusion in the UMAR Newsletter. Dr. Michael Osborn, Program Chair and President-Elect, UMAR, Professor Emeritus, Department of Communication, and 2019 winner of UMAR’sTraces Award, has published a personal essay, "Barbecuing the Hog: a Political Novice hits the Campaign Trail," in Chapter 16, online journal of Humanities Tennessee and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Read the essay at https://chapter16.org/barbecuing- the-hog/ (https://shoutout.wix.com/so/fdN8FLQZ2/c? w=njYR8oAOIXweYM9dQxBRqvy7TWw5pLg- f1YaAhI0C9Y.eyJ1IjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jaGFwdGVyMTYub3JnL2JhcmJlY3VpbmctdGhlL WhvZy8iLCJyIjoiNWJmZWU0ZjAtOWQ3NS00NTZkLTgxOTgtZThhNzcyY2Q5ZDk5Iiwi bSI6Im1haWxfbHAiLCJjIjoiMDAwMDAwMDAtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAtMDAwMD AwMDAwMDAwIn0). In addition to regular teaching duties at the University of Memphis, Mike served as a visiting professor at the Universities of Vanderbilt, California-Davis, Indiana, North Carolina, Louisiana State, and Iowa, where he was the A. Craig Baird Distinguished Visiting Professor of Communication Studies. He has written six books, among them Alliance for a Better Public Voice, written for the Kettering Foundation, and co-authored eleven editions of Public Speaking: Finding Your Voice, used at hundreds of colleges and universities, and by nearly two million students during its 33-years in print. He also wrote