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Meredith Experts in the News
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outlets such as The Christian Science Monitor, The Daily Beast and Scientific American. You want to let people know, ‘We’re on top of this. Even if we don’t know everything, we’re going to get the answers quickly’.” —Associate Professor of Marketing Karen Mishra was quoted in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article about the public relations implications of the Penn State’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. [Santorum] has a much larger microphone than the average citizen, and this is a way to have a big microphone to respond to him. This is a political action by people offended by a political statement, and all politicians should be aware now that the public has tools like these to protest.” —Professor of Sociology Lori Brown was quoted in a Christian Science Monitor article about the Internet and presidential campaign politics.
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Twinkies’ low cost, wide distribution and long shelf-life makes it easy to consume a lot of extra calories with almost no effort.” —Professor of Nutrition Susan Fisher was quoted in an article in The Daily Beast about the nutritional impact of Twinkies, after the snack food’s parent company declared bankruptcy. The Daily Beast is an online news magazine published by Newsweek.
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It is time to make bold and innovative changes to our future economic and environmental planning for our coast. In the past we worried about saving a few beach houses; we must see that the news we are receiving now threatens our entire coastal economy.” —Assistant Professor of Geoscience Matt Stutz’s guest blog, “A Real Sea Change,” which discussed global climate change and its effect on sea levels, was published on Scientific American.com in December 2011.
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/ Mered ith Ma ga zin e / S pr i n g 2 0 12
N e w s
By Katrina Kempney, ’11
in a wide variety of news articles, in media
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a t h l e t i c s
Guest Coaches Enjoy New Opportunity to Support Student Athletes
Meredith faculty and staff have served as experts
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M e r e d i t h
2012 Faculty Distinguished Lecture Features Local Food, Film Premiere By Melyssa Allen
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ssociate Professor of Nutrition, Health and Human Performance Bill Landis presented the 2012 Faculty Distinguished Lecture on March 13. His lecture, titled “FROM ONE SEED: a Journey from Farm, to Plate, to You,” focused on local food, and featured the premiere of his original short film, “Seed.” Using on-location footage and featuring interviews with growers, scientists, Meredith students, and farmer’s market consumers, the film follows the development of a single organicallygrown tomato plant from seed to market. Prior to showing the film, Landis introduced the topic of local food, and how it relates to agricultural diversity issues. “Cosmonaut Volkov, Red October, Black Truffle, Dr. Carolyn, Aunt Ruby’s green. For many of you in the audience, you might be surprised to learn that these are vegetables, varieties of tomatoes, in fact,” Landis said. “Yet, these many varieties with the funny names are disappearing fast.” Landis offered many examples of the shrinking diversity of the modern food supply. “In the U.S., 90% of our plant and animal varieties that were once part of our food supply have disappeared,” said Landis. Landis described the array of emotions
an average grocery shopper might feel. “We may laugh at the fact that organic jelly beans even exist, cry over the price of organic broccoli, and feel satisfaction because the coffee you bought was fair-trade and the grower, in some far-off land, is able to make a living wage for his work,” Landis said. The presentation closed with a conversation with some of the farmers and other local food experts who appeared in “Seed.” Landis is the program coordinator for the foods and nutrition program, and is the director of the M.S. program in nutrition. His interests and research background include local and organic foods, sustainable diets and methods of food production, vegetarianism and sports nutrition. Landis started The Meredith Community Garden in 2005. The garden is a demonstration of the concepts and methods used in producing plants and food in an environmentally sound and ecologically sustainable manner. The first Faculty Distinguished Lecture was presented by Norma Rose in December 1964. According to “Faculty Distinguished Lectures 1964-1981,” the lecture series was designed to “represent a significant achievement of research by a faculty member.”
Meredith’s athletes also enjoy the chance to student’s life,” said Losordo. “Typically we ttendees of the Meredith volinteract with faculty and staff in a new way. see the student side rather than the athlete leyball team’s home matches may Junior volleyball player Kara Baughman have been surprised this fall to see side.” Guest coaching allowed her to learn some different faces on the bench alongside more about the students she helps every day. was excited to have President Jo Allen guest coach. For Losordo, supporting the team is what Coach Fiona Barkley and her team. Meredith’s new guest coaching program allows guest coaching is all about. “It’s really a spirit “Having President Allen sitting on our bench was especially memorable. It made the game very faculty and staff to interact with athletes by thing—being there for the athletes.” special for our team,” said Baughman. experiencing home games from the players’ Faculty member and guest coach Doug Junior Caroline Cobb recalled the Wakeman, professor of economics, said he side of the bench. enjoyed the chance to guest coach and plans encouragement the players gave the guest Guest coaches learn about the teams as they participate in team huddles and provide to participate again. “I thought it was terrific coaches in return. “Dr. Martinson attended one of our close fun. It was a great way to interact with our encouragement during the games. This matches, and at a pivotal timeout, I asked student athletes in a way that was intense spring Meredith’s basketball team particihim if he would lead our cheer before we and personal.” pated, and the program may expand to the headed back into play. His face was so sur Another faculty guest coach, Jeffrey soccer team as well. prised, but he was honored, and it touched Martinson, assistant professor of history, The response of Meredith’s volleyball me to know that he genuinely appreciated has now become a volleyball fan. “The team and guest coaches to the program has guest coaching program is a brilliant idea. our invitation to him,” said Cobb. been enthusiastic. Keep an eye out for more faculty and I’m now a confirmed volleyball fan and Coach Barkley commended the connecstaff at upcoming Meredith sporting events. can’t wait to introduce my kids— three tions formed between athletics and other areas of campus. “One of our objectives with daughters ages one and three—to the sport To learn more about Meredith athletics, visit goavengingangels.com. in a few years.” this program was to bring different areas of campus together. I think that was accomplished.” She is thrilled by the increased sup- “It means a lot to the athletes who are competing for Meredith port. “It means a lot to the athletes who are to have the campus community rally behind them.” —Fiona Barkley competing for Meredith to have the campus community rally behind them,” said Barkley. Betsy Dunn-Williams, assistant director of Student Leadership & Service, enjoyed the chance to learn more about leadership while participating as a guest coach. “As a learner and a teacher of leadership concepts, I often look to sports for leadership role models and examples of successful leadership behaviors. That was truly my favorite part of my guest coaching experience—to watch those leadership behaviors and concepts in action,” said Dunn-Williams. She praised the team for their positive attitudes and team spirit. “They were continually attentive to Coach Barkley and to each other, encouraging teammates and strategizing about how to gain the advantage in a tough match.” Another recent guest coach who applauds the program is Amy Losordo, assistant director of career development in Academic & Career Planning. “As staff, we tend to see students only President Jo Allen served as a guest coach for Meredith’s volleyball match versus Peace. The Avenging through our office, so we only see part of a Angels won the match 3-1. M eredith Ma ga zine / Spring 2012 /
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