Newsletter Issue 3 - Fall 2016 Spotlight on a Shared Sense of Purpose By Dr. James Bell, Dean of Faculty erated by the close connection that we picture on page 35. And those are While the phrase “a rising tide share. only a few of the pictures. lift s all boats” is most commonly as- Of course, some of this interac- Many of the stories in this semes- sociated with JFK and economics, this tion is a consequence of our small ter’s newsletter describe eff orts and aphorism—which Kennedy speech- size and limited faculty and student events that brought us all together writer Ted Sorensen confi rms did not population, but those factors don’t to celebrate and labor and play. Th ey originate with him or the president— account for the genuine camaraderie also highlight the role of alumni and has applications far beyond econom- that characterizes life at Northwest- community members who use their ics. In fact, the phrase came to mind ern. Look at student Charlie Wylie talents and resources to support our as I read through this fall’s Spotlight and instructor Dawn Allen playing students’ eff orts. And—as always— and noted how many stories center on whatever that is they are playing on they showcase the skills and knowl- collaboration and interaction among page 7, check out Northwestern stu- edge that our faculty members bring faculty (within and among depart- dent teachers posing with high school to their classes each day. ments), students, administrators, students as part of a grant-funded We have many things to celebrate, alumni, and our community. Despite initiative that brought the students to from a new DNP program to existing fi nancial and practical challenges that our campuses on page 27, and note programs that continue to do what we have faced in recent years, I believe the diverse mix of volunteers listed they do well. We have students and we are experiencing a rising tide gen- in the caption that accompanies the faculty whose achievements contin- ue to be recognized nationally. Most of all, we have a multi-campus com- munity that understands the impor- tance of Northwestern in all of our lives. Th at shared commitment is the tide that lift s us all individually and enables our successful journey, even A Sense of Common Purpose when the waters get turbulent. As always, I am grateful to be a part of the Northwestern effort! Spotlight 1 Research Day has record number of entries Students and faculty members Dr. Steven Th ompson, professor of from Alva Riley Bryant and Brooke from Northwestern Oklahoma biology. Ortiz for their project titled “Cen- State University recently participat- In the category for chemistry, tral Line Infection.” Dr. Leslie Col- ed in Ranger Research Day. With fi rst place went to the group of Dal- lins, assistant professor of nursing 32 projects from 61 participants, ton Pannell, senior biology major and assistant chair to the Division of 22 poster projects, six artwork dis- from Longdale; Brady Fields, senior Nursing, was their sponsor. plays with accompanying posters, chemistry major from Seiling; and Second place for nursing went to and four conference-style papers, Yeboah Gyening, chemistry senior senior nursing majors Nissi Jordan the 11th Annual Ranger Research from Accra, Ghana, West Africa, from Grand Prairie, Texas; Jonathan Day event reached its highest re- for their project titled “Introduc- Allotey and Cydni Phelps, both cord of entries. tory Bioorganic Study of Firefl y Lu- from Alva, for their project titled Student poster entries were cri- ciferase—An Enzyme to Drive Bio- “Massage Th erapy for Pain in Older tiqued and eligible for awards. Win- luminescence.” Dr. Cornelia Mihai, Adults.” Collins was their sponsor. ners with hometown, classifi cation, professor of chemistry, was their Th ird place for nursing went research project name and sponsor sponsor. to the group of Shanndi Boor, se- include: Second place for chemistry was nior nursing major from Medicine First place in the psychology Austin Anderson, senior chemistry Lodge, Kansas; post-graduates from category went to Janet A. Faakye, se- major from Beaver, with the project Alva, Rebecca Ellis and Danielle nior psychology major from Accra, titled “Study of Iodine Gas Scrub- Williams, for their project titled Ghana, West Africa, for the project ber Effi ciency and Iodine Distribu- “Battle of the Biotics.” Collins was “Background Music during Stud- tion in Northwestern Oklahoma their sponsor. ies: Does It Impact Concentration, Brine Waters.” Anderson’s sponsor Students taking Visual Arts Comprehension, and Retention?” was Dr. Jason Wickham, associate classes also submitted works of art Faakye’s sponsor was Stephanie professor of chemistry. to be judged. Kyle Larson, assistant Widick, instructor of psychology. First place for the nursing cate- professor of art, was their sponsor. Biology fi rst place went to senior gory went to senior nursing majors Continued to Page 3 biology majors from Accra, Ghana, West Africa, Fiifi Neizer-Ashun and Christian Agbola for the proj- ect “Chemical Communication in Earthworms.” Dr. Aaron Place, pro- fessor of biology, was their sponsor. Second place for biology was the group of Abbie Tillman, senior bi- ology major from Elk City; Willow Gahr, senior biology major from Carmen; and Riley Trousdale, se- nior biology major from Alva, for their project titled “Hot or Cold?” Place was their sponsor. Th ird place for biology was Wis- dom Baidoo Addae, senior biology major from Accra, Ghana, West Af- First place for the nursing category went to senior nursing majors from Alva Riley Bry- rica, for the project “Eff ects of Dif- ant (left ) and Brooke Ortiz for their project titled “Central Line Infection.” Dr. Leslie ferent Colors on Blood Pressure and Collins, assistant professor of nursing and assistant chair to the Division of Nursing, Heart Rate.” Addae’s sponsor was was their sponsor. 2 Spotlight Hidden gem: Quiet student study space On the 2nd fl oor of Vinson Hall is a hidden gem: the student study room. It is a quiet place where students can come to study or do homework without distraction. Oft en, students can be found reading in comfortable silence on the couch, or spreading out their homework on the large table that gives students room to work without feeling crowded. Th e north wall is painted with chalkboard paint for those students who need a cre- ative outlet during study breaks, or who want to share their favorite motivational quotes to spark inspiration in others. Shelby Brown, an English Education student, says that for her the student study room is “a nice, quiet place to catch up on reading before class.” Continued from Page 2 ...Research Day Winners with hometown, classi- ton Hill, junior psychology major the Phoenix.” Dr. Jennifer Page, as- fi cation, and art project name in- from Alva, for his work titled “Rac- sistant professor of English, was her clude: coon & Skunk Skulls, Bald Eagle.” sponsor. First place in Art (Natural His- Student conference paper en- Second place went to Ashley Wil- tory Drawing) went to Rachel Da- tries also were critiqued and eligible son, graduate student from Alva, for vis, mass communication major for awards. Winners with home- her work titled “McTeague Doesn’t from Kingston, for her work titled town, classifi cation, research project Go to College: McTeague and the “American Crow.” name and sponsor include: Historical Perspective of the Den- Second place in Art went to First place went to Chandler tal Profession in the United States.” Brieanna McClure, sophomore bi- Steckbeck, senior English ma- Dr. Shawn Holliday, associate dean ology major from Dacoma, for her jor from Enid, for her work titled of graduate studies and professor of work titled “Swanson’s Hawk, Her- “Th e Apparitional Presence: From English, was her sponsor. ring Gull.” Shakespeare’s Richard III to Rowl- Th ird place went to Sydnie Lowe, Th ird place in Art went to Clay- ing’s Harry Potter and the Order of senior biology major from Neosho, Missouri, for her work titled “Th e Role of Women in the Home.” Dr. Kathryn Lane, chair of the English, Foreign Language, and Humanities Department and associate professor of English, was her sponsor. All participants received a certif- icate of participation, and research- ers were encouraged to enter their research projects in the upcoming Oklahoma Research Day that takes place in March 2017 at the Central Students in the Visual Art department’s Natural History Drawing class participated in National Bank Center in Enid. the Ranger Research Day competition. Spotlight 3 Nolan to serve on NASW-OK board Dlonra (Dee Dee) Nolan, Enid In 2015, she served on the board of Work. senior, was elected as the under- directors for the Enid YMCA and is For more information on North- graduate student representative to a current member of the NASW. western’s Department of Social serve on the Oklahoma Chapter of “We are so proud to have a stu- Work, contact Rehder at (580) 327- the National Association of Social dent from Northwestern elected to 8135 or [email protected]. Workers’ (NASW-OK) 2016-2017 serve on the NASW-OK Board of Board of Directors. Directors,” Dr. Kylene Rehder, De- NASW is the largest member- partment of Social Work Chair, said. ship organization of professional so- “Th is is the fourth year a student cial workers in the world and works from Northwestern will have the to enhance the professional growth privilege to represent the interests and development of its members, of undergraduate students across to create and maintain professional Oklahoma. Ms. Nolan will make standards, and to advance sound so- signifi cant contributions to the so- cial practices.