O’Connell Travels to Rio de Janeiro
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Dr. Debbie O’Connell, assistant professor of music, has been selected to participate in an international faculty development seminar in Rio de Janeiro this summer. Dr. O’Connell coordinates the music education licensure component of the Bachelor of Arts in Music program. The Community Engagement and Development Seminar will be conducted May 22-31. It is hosted by the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro. Dr. O’Connell will learn about the history, culture, and socioeconomic conditions of Rio de Janeiro. Part of the seminar about culture will feature Samba D e bbie O 'Conn ell and Brazilian percussion lessons. Through a series of service learning projects, Dr. O’Connell will see how the community engages in selfimprovement efforts. The Rio de Janeiro community strives to integrate more of the marginalized parts of society into the middle class as a way of improving the city’s safety and economic viability. Dr. O’Connell will reside with a host family during part of her stay. Dr. O’Connell is also co-author of an article entitled “Sound Exposure Levels of University Jazz Band Members” published in the Fall 2012 issue (Vol. 48, No. 1) of the Journal of Band Research. The study investigated the sound exposure levels of university jazz band members across the state. Results from the study reveal that the majority of university jazz band members experience sound overexposure during a typical jazz band rehearsal. Dr. O’Connell also co-authored an article on drum corps sound exposure. “How Loud Is a Drum and Bugle Corps?” appears in the July/August 2013 issue of Halftime magazine. n
GEMS
(GIRLS EMPOWERED BY MATH AND SCIENCE)
Dr. Denise T. Johnson, assistant professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching – Middle Grades Education program, received a $5,000 cash award from Time Warner Cable through its Connect A Million Minds (CAMM) program. CAMM is committed to buildD r. D e nise T. J ohnson ing the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) problem solvers. The cash award was given in support of efforts by WSSU and GEMS (Girls Empowered by Math and Science) to promote the involvement of middle-school girls in mathematics and science. n The CAMM "Connectory" is located at www.connectamillionminds.com
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