CHFA Research Symposium
The third annual CHFA Graduate Research Symposium kicked off with opening remarks on “Finding a Scholarly Voice in the Humanities” by Dr. Gregory Colón Semenza, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Semenza served as an adjudicator for the day along with Dean Reinhold K. Bubser, Dr. Betty DeBerg, Assistant to the Dean and Professor of Religion, and Professor Jeffery Byrd, Head of the Department of Art.
First prize of $1500 will be shared by three students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, nominated by Dr. Carlin Hageman. Alison Corbett, Jeff Backlin, and Crystal Williamson presented “A Motor Speech Programming Investigation Using Inhibition,” a study that examined the various response times of subjects who were prompted to produce single- and multi-syllable responses to computer-generated stimuli.
Second prize of $1000 went to Kyle G. Wilson of the Department of English Language and Literature for his paper “Mental Realities of the Multi-Culture: Multiple Othering in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart,” nominated by Dr. Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure.
Third prize of $750 went to Hue Trong Duong of the Department of Communication Studies for his paper, “Using Communication Theories in Mine-Risk Education Campaigns: The Case of Vietnam” nominated by Dr. Victoria De Francisco.
Four students from the Department of Communication Studies tied for fourth place, which carries individual travel reimbursement awards of $300 for each student who presents his or her work from the Graduate Symposium at a regional, national, or international conference. These include Maria del Pilar Montoya, Tanna White, Matt Foy, and Kaori Yamada.
Submitted by Samuel Lyndon Gladden, CHFA Dean’s Faculty Administrative Fellow
Competition Win for Master of Music Student
Matthew Andreini, a percussion graduate student of Randy Hogancamp, won the UNI School of Music Instrumental Concerto Competition in November. As a result of the competition, Matthew performed the first movement of Emmanuel Séjourné's Concerto pour Vibraphone et Orchestre à Cordes with the UNI Symphony Orchestra on March 26th. Additionally, Matthew performed the second movement of this work at the Graduate College Research Symposium, taking 2nd prize in the Creative Performance category. Matthew gave one additional performance of this work at UNI with the UNI Percussion Ensemble at their April 15th concert. Matthew will also be featured as a soloist on April 30th with the UNI New Horizons Band performing a novelty Xylophone solo, Steppin' 'Round. |
Matthew Andreini performing on the vibraphone |
MBA Student Wins Business Plan Competition
Zach Hedrington, a UNI MBA student, won one of three $5,000 first place awards for his business 3Fueled L.L.C. in the Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition. The competition was held at UNI on March 6. Fifteen regional-winner students or student teams compete at the state level. The three seed grants are awarded to the top three business plans. Hedrington’s business, 3Fueled, consults with companies that want to produce energy and byproducts from renewable energy and annually renewable feedstocks. 3Fueled helps these companies attain economic utilization of the major fractions of biomass as well as minor components that can be functionalized into high-value specialty products.
“The biggest challenge in the competition was going up against brilliant students from all over the state of Iowa who have as much passion and determination behind their ideas as I do,” said Hedrington. “The win is a confirmation that my efforts paid off. The response I received from Equity Dynamics, one of the most reputable venture capital firms in Iowa, solidified in my mind that my concept could make a significant impact on the renewable energy industry.” |
(left to right) Dante Means, Band of Christians LLC; Zach Hedrington, 3Fueled LLC; Matt Kinley, competition judge from Equity Dynamics; Travis Lloyd Smith, Band of Christians LLC |
The annual competition is sponsored by John Pappajohn, Equity Dynamics, and the Pappajohn Centers at Drake University, Iowa State University, North Iowa Area Community College, The University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa. The competition is intended for Iowa university and college students with an interest in starting their own business. A second UNI team, Dante Means and Travis Lloyd Smith, received honorable mention and $1,000 for their business Band of Christians L.L.C.
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Master's in Science Education Student and Teacher Finds Research Avenue
Joshua Hanna is a Master in Science Education. He currently teaches life science at Muscatine High School. Recently, Joshua participated in the RAISE (Research Avenues for Iowa Science Educators) program, hosted by UNI. The program allowed Joshua to work with Dr. Carl Thurman, Biology, both in the lab and in the field. The research was part of an ongoing study in osmoregulation by fiddler crabs (genus Uca) from the Northern Caribbean and included a trip to the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. Together, Joshua and Dr. Thurman collected four different species of fiddler crabs, including Uca Speciosa, which previously had not been found anywhere in the Bahamas. Data collected has since become a part of research into the potential impact of global climate change on the distribution and abundance of Atlantic fiddler crabs. |
Josh at the end of a long collecting session |
Joshua collecting crabs in the Bahamas |
Joshua’s invaluable experience both in his graduate studies and the RAISE program has served as the catalyst to additional professional opportunities. In February 2009, Joshua received the Catherine Miller Explorer Award presented by the Stanley Foundation. The annual award was developed to honor and educate teachers who are dedicated to sharing global perspectives with students and colleagues. The award gives Joshua the chance to travel anywhere in the world to supplement his curriculum. Joshua admits that prior to the RAISE program he had never left the country. His time spent both in the lab and in the field has had an impact on not only how he views himself as a teacher but the many roles that scientists play as well. More importantly, Joshua's cultural awareness has been enhanced by the RAISE program. His travels to the Bahamas enhanced his global perspective, introducing him to a more connected and cohesive world. He saw firsthand how the data being collected in a small lab in Iowa was being used to benefit the entire world. |
Joshua often uses his experiences from the RAISE program in his classroom. In doing so, he has given a new face to the label of “scientist,” which benefits his students. They are able to see science through a different lens. He in part attributes his recent 2009 IAS (Iowa Academy of Science) Excellence in Teaching Life Science Nomination to the enthusiasm generated by the RAISE program.
In addition to Joshua’s academic and professional pursuits, he secures a very demanding personal life. He is married and is a father of four children, ranging in ages from 11 years old to 1 year old. He has found a unique balance to this challenging situation by incorporating his academic/professional life with his personal life. His experiments at school often find their way home to his family’s kitchen, just as his son’s science fair project research finds its way into Joshua’s classroom. In addition, he plans to incorporate his daughter’s afterschool program into his thesis. Joshua acknowledges that he is always trying to better his pedagogy and that teaching is not for the “faint of heart.” However witnessing discovery taking place as seen through a child’s eyes makes all of the long hard days of preparation worth it!
Story written by Joshua Hanna and submitted by Dr. Cherin Lee, Science Education |
Crab specimens collected by Josh
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Psychology MA Students Present at Society for Personality and Social Psychology
Three Psychology graduate students presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) conference February 5-7 in Tampa, Florida. Taylor Wadian and Duoc Nguyen presented their co-authored poster titled “A Test of Time: Trend in Blind and Constructive Patriotism.” Priyanka Joshi presented her poster titled “Threats Mediate the Relationship Between Personality and Prejudice.” Dr. Helen C. Harton is the research advisor for both presentations.
SPSP is one of the largest and most popular conferences in the field of social psychology. Renowned psychologists, researchers, and representatives from U.S. and international institutions attend the conference. The students fielded questions, received constructive advice, and discussed directions for future research with the professionals attending the poster presentations. They honed their research skills, networked with others doing related research, and saw the current research in social psychology, in some cases before it goes to publication. |
Duoc Nguyen and Priyanka Joshi in Tampa |
Taylor Wadian and Duoc Nguyen pose
in front of their poster presentation |
Wadian attended talks, symposia, and poster sessions and made career connections. Nguyen enjoyed a talk given by Dr. Richard Petty, Ohio State University psychologist and current SPSP president, on the affects of attitude, certainty, and doubt on persuasion. Joshi attended presentations about group morality, evolution, cultural differences in perceptions of self, funding sources in psychology, and job opportunities after graduating. Joshi applied to PhD programs this year and the conference allowed her to meet faculty from those programs. She now knows more about their research and they have a face to go with her application. The students also enjoyed the warm weather of Tampa and saw pirates at the Gasparilla Festival. |
Postsecondary Ed Student Attends National Conference
Brock Holman, second year graduate student in the Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs program, recently attended the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Conference in Seattle, Washington. Holman joined 4,016 other graduate students and current professionals from across the nation, and around the world, for the annual conference. Holman attended a number of programs related to hot topics or current issues in the field, including sessions on Parent Programs, Universal Access for those with Disabilities, Facebook/Twitter/and Blogs, and Becoming a New Professional. "There is certainly something from each session that I can use in the future. I discovered new areas of interest, such as parent programs and working with families of college students," Holman commented. He also had the chance to explore Seattle, and enjoyed time at the original Starbucks, Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle. Holman graduates this May and plans to attend NASPA next year to continue fostering the connections he made this year. |
Brock Holman in Seattle for NASPA |
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