Opportunities,Leadership& Achievement... Forgingthe Future 1ewera is mifoldingat Oklahoma State University.DavidSchmidly,the 17th president, assumedthe leadership ofOSU on Jan. 16, 2003. All of us on campuslook forward to workingwith him as he forgesa new visionfor our instirntion'sfuture. In preparationfor a campus-widesu-ategicplanning effort, the president askedeach miit to analyze strengths and weaknessesand describe the successesachievedduring the '90s.
A
researchthrusts and targeted outreach programmingto professionaland industry clients.The result is a dynaniicrniit that has shown remarkablegrowth in every category of productivity.
The most visiblegrowth is in student enrollment- Lmdergraduates increased by 61 percent and graduatesby 66 percent for a total of 1,811 majors(compared with 1,124 in 1990). Most of our facultynow receiveextramuralfimdi.ng Reflectingon our accomplishments in for scholarlyactivitiesin the form of conthe CollegeofHrn11anEnvironmentalSci- u·actsand grants (up 431 percent during ences,we werestruckwith the sheermag- this decade).Privatesupport has increased by 571 percent, and last yearour teacliing nitudeof positivechangein the College. We wereequallyhumbledby the amollllt laboratories(hotel, restaurants,Cliild DevelopmentLaboratoryand Center for of supportwe receivedfrom om alumni and friends,who togetherwith our faculty, FaniilyServices)generated$1.1 million, studentsand staffmade possiblethe up from $225,000 in 1990. achievementof veryambitiousdrean1s. Numbers, however,only tell one part When we synthesizedthe "successes" section of our report, we could only conclude that the College reinventeditself during the 1990s. After carefulstudy, the College name was changed, and we reorganized administrativefimctionsfor greater efficiency,focusedacadeniicprograms for career tracks,identified
of the story. Qualitativemeasuresdemonsu·ateremarkableachievementas well, from the qualityof our updated laboratories and classrooms,to the successof our students in pursuing prestigious scholarshipsand competitions,to greater oppornuiities for rniiqueinternships,to facultyawardsfor excellencein research
and teaching,to nationalrecognitionfor outreach programmingand publications. Some examplesof recent acliievements are containedin this issueof Human EnvironmentalSciences. For instance,we look at the work of Wentz Scholars,students who as undergraduatesreceive fw1dingto developand conduct research projectswith facultymentors,and the role appliedresearchand other hands-on expetiencescan playin helpingstudents definetheir careerpaths. Leadersliipopportwiitieshave also expanded,and this issuefeaturestwo students who recentlyreceivednational awards,as well as students who have achievednational and internationalsuccess in design competitions,experienced tl1eexpandedoppornmities for Llllique internsliipsand study abroad and have appliedtl1ei.rresearchknowledgeto solve real-worldproblems. Also includedin tliis issueare examplesof faculty,staffand alum1iisuccesses,certainlyan indicator of quality, and those featured representonly a fraction of tl1eachievementsin just tliis year. Revisitingthe last 10 yearsor so has been a rewardingexpetience.We so often focuson tl1osetliings that still need to be done and do not take tl1etin1eto considerpast accomplishments.There is, of course,much yet to do - but also a great deal to celebrate.Thank you for coming with us on tliisjourney.
Dean Pau·iciaKnaub
Dean Patricia Knaub, right, congratulates Martha Johnston onher recent induction intotheOSU Alumni Association HallofFame. The CHES alumna isvice president anddirector oftheSouthern Living New Business Development forSouthern Progress Corporation.
6
BUREAUCELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY Only fiveyearsold, the OSU Bureau for SocialResearchhas already captured the nationalspotlight with a landmarkreport.
COMING OFAGE A reshaped Collegeof Human Environmental Sciencesexpands smdent educational opportwuties, developsleaderslup potential and fosters outstanding performance.
5 RAISEYOUR GLASSESAND TOAST A privategift adds the JoullianVineyards Tasting Room and Verandato The Atherton Hotel.
5 A LEADER WHO SHINES The College ofHrnnan EnvironmentalSciences inducts Cheryl Bittle into its Hall of Fame.
CHES MAGAZlNE • VOLUME 10, 2003 Dean,College of Himian EnvironmentalSciences-PatticiaKnaub SeniorDirectorof Dt:11elopmentJeaimeShort Editor- EileenMustain Art Director-PaulV. Fleming CHESPublications Manager- KelliShafer Associate Editor- Janet Varnum Asst.VicePres.,Communications Services-NataleaWatkins CHES Magazineis a publicationof the Oklal1omaState UniversityCollegeof Hrn11anEnvironmentalSciences. Its purposeis to connectthis Collegewith its many stakeholders,providinginformationon both cainpusnewsand pertinentissuesin the fieldof humai1envir01m1ental sciences. © Oklal1omaState University2003
COVER: Intransforming itself, theCollege ofHuman Environmental Sciences ispoised tobecome the"college ofchoice" forthose whostudy therelationships ofpeople intheirenvironments. Accomplished faculty andcuttingedge instructional andresearch programs inthe Department ofNutritional Sciences, School ofHotel and Restaurant Administration, theDepartment ofHuman Development andFamily Science andtheDepartment of Design, Housing andMerchandising areforging new educational andleadership opportunities along with record achievements. Cover illustration byPaul V.Fleming; photographs ofthechildren andofDr.Wei inthe laboratory taken byHeath Shelton.
Visit our websiteat: ches.okstate.edu or contact us at 128 Human EnvironmentalSciences Stillwater,OK 74078-6116 (405) 744-5053 telephone (405) 744-7113 fax
Oklohomo SlateUnive1sity incompliance withTilleVIondVIIoftheOYil Rights Actof 1964, Executive Order 11246 asamended, Title IXoftheEducation Amendments of1972, Americans with DisohilitiesActofl990,ondotherfederollowsondregulotions,doesnotdis ofroce,color,notionalorigin,sex,oge,1eligion,disobility,orsra1usosovt J)(llicies, practices orprocedures. This i11dudes butis1101 limited toodmissions, employment, fi11onciol aidandedurntionolservices. This publication, issuedbyOklohomoStote University asauthorized bytheCollege ofHuman Environmental Sciences, was p1inted byThe Audio Visuol Center, U11iversity Printing Se1vicesotnocost tothetoxpoyersofOk!ohomo.12,SOO/April/03. 5303
Of note
The OSU Bmeau for SocialResearch markedits fifth birthdayin 2002, and although the Bureauis barelypast toddlerhood, it has alreadygained some nationalli.n1elight with the releaseof a landmarkreport. The report titled "Marriagein Oklal1oma"is tl1efirstpublicly funded (Oklal1omaDepartment of Human Services)scientificsurveyto Stuart Godfrey, human development andfamily science graduate student fromShattuck, Okla., isamong 25OSU assessa particularstate's culture on marriageand divorce.BureauDirecstudents whowork part-time fortheOSU Bureau forSocial Research. Christine Johnson, right, whodirects each project, celebrated theBureau's fifthbirthday withanopen house. tor ChristineJohnson recentlypresented the survey'sfindingsat a nationalconferencein Washington, D.C., where the data was welcomed amid the ongoing Congressional debate on welfarereform.
EnrollmentT<eepsClimbing
OSU's Collegeof Human EnvironmentalSciencespersistsin attracting more students with higher academicperformancerecords each year, a clearindicator that Collegeprograms are on target, says Shiretta Ownbey,associatedean for academicprograms and services. In 2002, the College maintainedthe steadyincreasesthat have raised enrollment by 50 percent since 1996, with a freshmanenrollment of223 last fallcompared to 192 in the fallof 2001. OSU-Tulsa enrollment likewisejumped from 70 students to 120 in 2002, Ownbey notes.
The averagegrade point averagefor the incoming freshmenwas 3.6 with 63 studentsscoring25 or aboveon the ACT and 1,100 or above on the SAT.Elevenof the new Collegefreshmenalsoenrolled in the UniversityHonors program, 17 in the President'sLeadershipCouncil, and 33 were valedictoriansin their high schoolgraduatingclasses. Ownbey credits the growth to a combination of factors,including excellentprogramming and services,successfulinternship programs, extraordinaryrecruitment efforts spearheadedby KristiTh.tifi:,coordinator of student recruitment, dedicatedfacultyand staff and strong alunmi support.
"We surveyedmore than 2,300 individualsfor tl1estudy, and iliey were very clear on tl1ekey problems surrounding divorce," saysJohnson. The surveyshowed 85 percent of divorcedpersons cited a lack of commitment; 61 percent mentioned too much arguing and conflict,and 58 percent listed infidelityand extramatital affairsas ilie major cause of ilieir own divorce.
legislators,ilie surveyfound 72 percent of iliosesurveyedin lowincome categoriesalsoexpressedinterestin attendingsuch programs.
"This tellsus how importantit is tl1atilie cur1iculumchosenfor the Oklal10marelationshipeducation program addressissuespertainingto iliese keyconuibutors of divorce,and I an1very glad to atmOLmce tl1atit does," saysJoh.t1son.
The new progratn, whichstarted last year on a cow1ty-by-countybasi acrossilie state, is calledthe Preven tion at1dRelationshipEnhancemen Program or PREP for short. Three agenciesincluding County Extension, tl1eDeparunent ofHealtl1and tl1eDeparunent of Human Service have been training staffto offerthe program free of chai·ge.
"It's great to see so much progressso soon," saysJolmson. "And when you considerthat tliis surveyis only one of 126 different projectstl1eBureau has completedin tlie last fiveyears,you cat1beginto understat1dhow busy we'vebeenand how much we have to celebrate."
The vast majorityof Oklal10ma11s The Bmeau, which servesboth surveyed,whetl1ermarried or ilie public and p1ivatesectors, romat1ticallyinvolved,expressed employsmore ilian 25 part-timestuinterestin relationshipeducationto dents who assistwitl1phone surveys strengtl1entl1eirrelationships.Seventy- "We currentlyhave sixprojectsongo sevenpercentof those 25 yeai·sof age ing witl1compatuesand orgaiuzatio and Lmdervoicedinterestfor such pro- outside OSU and mat1yotl1erswith grams.Perhapsmore importantfor facultyat1dadnunistrationfrom tl1e wuversityitself,"notes Johnson. JIM MITCHELL
"Becausepeopleinvestin success,we havefound that the more successfulthe Collegeis, the more peoplewant to join us," she says."Our growth has reallybeen the resultof an extraordinaryteam effort." EllfEN MUSTAIN
2
CollegeofHum,in En,ironmenta/ Sciences 2003
New Faces, New Assignments StarlaIvey joined the College in October 2002 as coordinator of recruitment and careerservicesat OSU-Tulsa.
Ivey believesthe degree programs the Collegeoffersat OSU-Tulsa- interior design,child and familyservices,early childhood education and professional studies- are ideallysuited for the city, both for workingprofessionals who want to advancein their careersand u·aditionalstudents.
In naming the newestassociatedean for AcademicProgramsand Services,the College chose ShirettaOwnbey, one of its top facultymembersand advisers. "The collegehas expetienceda tremendous increasein enrollmentwithinthe last fewyears,and we facesignificantchallenges and opportunitiesas a result," Ownbey says."We are excitedabout our missionof developing effectiveprofessionals, engagedcitizensand visionaryleaderswho serve the physical,socialand economicneeds of people."
She plans to generate interest by increasingoutreach efforts to area high schools and cultivating relationshipswith feeder instituThe AcademicProtions such as Tulsa Jmlior College. Once on campus at Ownbey grams and Servicesoffice advisesstudent leadership OSU-Tulsa,prospectiveCollege organizations, administers scholarships, students will learn that receivesall new freshmanand u·ansferstulvey's efforts don't stop with recruiting. dents and providessupport for Career Servicesand Recruiunent Services.It also "Just as important workswith deparunent heads and faculty as getting students to addressacademicafturs, make technolhere is helping them ogy accessibleand continuallyassessColfind a path that lege programsand services. matches their career Ivey
goals and objectives," Ivey says. "It's important to make sure students identifysomething they can enjoy because if they like their classes,they will invest themselves more in the program." Ivey receiveda bachelor'sdegree in personalfinancialmanagement,a master's degree in consumerand familyeconomics and a doctorate in career and technical educationfrom the Universityof Missomi in Columbia. • She worked as a coordinator with the university'sacademicretention services, specializingin minorityrecruitment and retention,and as an acadenliccoordinator with the athleticprogram.
Ownbey,a facultymemberin the Deparm1e11t of Design,Housing and Merchandisingsince1991, servedas the deparU11ent's internshipcoordinatorand merchandisingprogram coordinator. She is a two-time wim1erof the Outstanding AdviserAward for the College, claimingthe honor in 1997 and 2001, as wellas the College's Outstanding Teaching Award in 1993. She also receivedthe Regents DistinguishedTeachingAward in 1996, the university'srecognition of the best instructor in the College for that year. "This has been a gradual transitionfor me and is requiringa great deal oflearning," Ownbey says,"but I'm fortunate to lead a group that is professionaland diverse,team-oriented,effectiveand passionate a.bouthelping others."
Cheng-i Wei becameassociatedean for researchand graduate studiesin the College in August 2002.
"By b1lildingtean1swith the expertise we have in this Collegein so many areas, we can better addressissues related to the human environmental sciencesas well as emerging homeland secmity researchareasin which several membersof om facultyare alreadyinvolved,"Wei says. He also hopes to invigorate graduate and doctoral Wei programs and capitalizeon the successof offeringssuch as the international Ph.D. program in the School of Hotel and RestaurantAdminisu-ation. "Ultimately,we hope to su-engthenand promote graduate programs by not only providing more stipends but also increasing researchoppornmities and student involvementin team studieswith the faculty," he says. Wei ca.meto OSU from Auburn Universityin Auburn, Ala.,where he served as Bruno Professorand head of the Nutrition and Food ScienceDeparU11ent. He previouslysei·vedas acting assistant dean for researchat the Institute of Food and Agriculnu-alSciencesat the University of Florida, Gainesville,and as director for the Southern Region of the USDA/ CREES IR-4 Project, a natiomvide researchand extensionendeavorinvolving the developmentof guidelinesfor pesticide usagein minor crops and green industry. He sayshis involvementwith the IR-4 program was an invaluableexperiencein building researchteams - experiencehe hopes to put to good use at OSU. STORJES BYADAM HUFFER
p/iotos Heath She/tan OklahomlJState University 3
Development IJpdate courtesy
Ch1isSalmonmade dreamscome n·ue for her OSU students in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchanclisingfrom 1959 to 1979. And now Chris' magicis working again as the inaugmalprofessorin the Chris Salmon Endowed Professorin Interior Design continues Salmon'sinnovativestyle. JanineJames,fow1derof The Moderns,a preeminentdesignfirm, has been on the campus severaltimesthis lastyear.In September she workedwith inte1iordesignsn1dentsat the onset of their semesterprojects.In December, Jamesrerurnedto overseethe finalevaluation of their work and to givea publiclecnu-e, detailingher designphilosophy.
Jan1es,who wasprofiledin the Aptil2002 edition of Interiorsand Solutions,beganher careerat industry powerhouseKnollInterna· tional in London, where her clientsincluded Wang, DeLorean and the royalpalaceof Jeddal.1,SaucliArabia.
The Cluis SalmonEndowed Professorshi in Interior Designwasinitiatedby the Depart ment of Design,Housing and Merchandising to bring to campusesteemedprofessionals for interactionwith students and faculty. Chris would be proud. BARBARA SWIGGART
James
McCormicksGrowing a GardenTheir Way To know Bob and Peggy McCormickof Stillwater, Okla.,is to know active "gardeners"in allaspectsof theirlives,givingof their time and energyand resomces,when needed,to their co1nn1mlity and Oklahoma StateUniversity. Peggy,who holds degreesin sociologyand familyrelationsand child development,is a College ofHmnan Environmental SciencesAssociateand servesas a memberof the OSU Foundationboard of governorsai:idthe athletic council.
Force 2000, which was the task force for public education, served as chair of the Boai·dof Governors for the OSU FOLmdation and as chair of the College of BusinessAssociates. They both have a long history of givingto Oklahoma State University, and their most recent gift is a prime exampleof the love they have for this great instin,tion. Heath She/tan
Bob, who holds a business adnli1lisn·ation degree from the Universityof Oklal.1oma, has served on the Board of Regents for Higher Education, serving one term as chair.He was vice-chairof Task
Due to the a11110Lmce- be used to help children ment last summerby Presi- attend the Child Developdent Jin1Halliganthat he ment Laboratory,"Peggy would be retiiing,it McCornlicksays. seemedthe right tii11eto "This next generation the McCornlicksto show is 100 percent of om appreciationfor his yearsof future. lnvestii1gin chilserviceto OSU. "The gift dren is a firndamental to the CollegeofH1U11an strategyfor cming the Enviro11111ental Sciences majorityof the socialillsin has been designatedas the our society,"Peggy says. Jim a11dAnn HalliganEn"Childrenhaveno dowment for Eai·lyChildvoice,"she says,"so it's hood Educationand will easyto forgetthem. Bob and I stronglybelievein the importa11ee of caringfor md educatingour children. Over the yeai-swe willsolve a great ma11y problemsif our childrenstayin school. We ca.11 decreaseabuseand poverty." This couple has truly grown a garden without weeds. They are a couple not just of words but of deeds as well. KELLI SHAFER
Bab andPeggy McCormick 4
Collegeof Human Environmmtnt Sciences2003
90th
Leidigh
Raise Your
Shared Dreams
Glassesand Toast!
Become Reality
Last December OSU began a $4.7 million renovationof The Atherton Hotel in the OSU Student Union funded by privategifts and the sale of revenue bonds. The renovations,when completed, will feature the JoullianVineyardsTasting Room and Veranda, thanks to a generous donation by Jeannette (A&S, 1954) and Richard Siasof Oklahoma City.
BryanCloseand Ed Long are two people who sharethe commond.rean1 of establishingan endowedprofessorship in the CollegeofHmmn Environmental Sciences.Both havea passionfor education and for givingback,so it seemedonly natma.lto establisha professorship in the EarlyChildhoodEducation(ECE) area of the Human Developmentand Family ScienceDepa.r011ent.
Heath Shelton
Long, ofEnid and a College of AgriculturalSciences and Natural Resomcesgraduate, earned his reputation as a passionateman about several subjects:cattle, children, education and doing what's right. "Smely om children Long a.re Oklal1oma'smost preThe Sias'own the JoullianVineyards, locatedin CarmelValley,Calif The Tast- ciousproduct, yet we invest a pittance in discoveringthe ing Room and Veranda,viiibe located best waysto give children on the conciergefloorof the hoteland enrichmentdming their early ,,~ add to the 5-starquality. childhood yea.rs,"Long says. "To have a room W<ethis in the Bryan Close completed hotel is very important economically the dream with his gift to and aesthetically,"he says."This tasting room is a Lmiqueopportunity for OSU establishthe Bryan Close Close Endowed Professorshipin to lead the state in providingthis kind Early Childhood Education. of education to future hotel managers Close, the owner of CloseBendInc. of and restamateurs. Tulsa, also recognizedthe need of "The hotel and restaurantmanagequalityeducation at a young age. ment programwe haveat OSU is so out"This gift fits into the overallpicstandingthat we wantedto help ture of my support," saysClose, a continuethat o.-adition of excellence.All graduate of the School of Hotel and they'vereallyneededis some helpin how RestaurantAd.ministration."The proto treat winein a hotel environment. Outstandinghotelsor resortsin business fessorshipis a bLwdingblock to achieving my goal of a lastingand substantial thesedayshavegotten there becauseof gift to OklaliomaState." serviceand knowledge,"he says.
"We decided to giveto The Atherton Hotel becausewe were contacted by our good.friend from Tulsa, BillAtherton, when we were already thinking about a gift to the University,"saysRichard Sias."We wanted to support something at OSU, and this tied in well\\~th our business."
Richard andJeannette Sias
y Benefits Scholarship! Last summer the Collegeof Human EnvironmentalSciences celebrateda specialbirthday,Mary Leidigh's90th! The party was to benefitthe Mary E. Leidigh Graduate Scholarslupin NutritionalSciences. Leidigh,who hasworkedmorethan60 yearsin nutritional sciences, beganher tenmeat OSU asan assistantprofessor. From1950until1977,Leidighwasdirectorof the OSU ad.minisnative dieteticinternshipprogram.Today,manyof her studentsholdmanagementpositioi1S throughoutthe world. Leidighhase111id1ed manylivesthroughher dedication and service.Whenthe lateVirginiaLambfromEdmondpresentedLeidighwiththe Oklal1oma Home EconomicsAssodation Professional award,she SLm1med up Leidigh's ato.ibutes."Plainhardwork,Lmselfish givingof her timeand effort,and her genuineinterestand faithin peopleare (and continueto be) the keysto MaryLeidigh'ssuccess." MICHELLE FLESSNER
"The hotel needed a gathering placeand the verandahas such a beautiful viewof the campus," says Jea1metteSias."It just seemed likethe perfect placeto house such a room that honors my family'sbusiness."
Thisprofessorship,viiisupport a high-levelappliedresearchprofessional and providean opportLmityto better educatestudentsand enhanceresearch capabilitieson the OSU-Stillwater campus, as wellas the OSU-Tulsacan1pus.
KELLI SHAFER
KELLI SHAFER
Oklahoma Stat& U11,i11ersity 5
Opportunities, l£adership & Achievement Corning of Age The Collegeof Hwnan EnvironmentalSciences,drawingfrom its
But the best is stillto come,saysDean PatriciaKnaub. "We'rejust
own richtraditionsand the synergiesof today,has reshapeditself
comingof age and haveyet to reachour fullpotential.The College .
overthe lastdecade,realizedextraordinarygrowth,creatednew
is positionedas a leaderin the studyof peoplein theirenvironments
educationaland leadershipopportunitiesfor studentsand scalednew for the 21st century.Growinginto that potentialpromisesa heightsin both studentand facultyachievement.
dynamicfoturefilledwith evenmore remarkablesuccesses."
Wentz Award Goes the Distance From Louis Haines Wentz' i.nirial investmentfor student loans in 1926 to today,tlie Wentz Foundation has fonded OSU student scholarshipand leaderslup.
cw-rentlya graduate student at tl1eUniversityof TexasSchool of Public Healtli in Houston.
The Wentz award gave Sassertl1eopportmuty to researchtl1enutritional intake The WentzAcademicProject of people who receivefood Awards,one avenueof tl1atsup- stamps to addressfood proport, pro~desan LU1dergraduate gram policyissues. $4,000 per yearto completea "Altl1oughI am not cw-researchprojectLU1der tlie guidrently workingin tl1earea of a.neeof a facultymentor. food stamps and food insecu-
Sasser
The OSU Wentz FoLU1dation funds over 50 projects arnmally.Student projectsin tl1eCollegeofHLU11an Environmental Sciencesare among tl1osefonded. Whetl1ertliey researched bone loss or furniture design, past recipientsof tlie Wentz Projec~Award agree tlie experience givestliem a competitive advantage.
Stevenson ~ ;;s -£
~
z
Kim Sasser
~
~
Winterscheidt
"Undergraduate researchis invaluablefor individualspursuing advanceddegrees," says Kim Sasser,a recipientof two Wentz ProjectAwardswho is
6 College ofHu,min EnPironmental Sciences2003
rity,tl1eskillsI acquired tlu-oughmy Wentz research projectshavehelped with my graduate work and my position as a graduate researchassistant," saysSasser,a 2001 nutritional sciencesgraduate.
projectswere impressiveto tl1e Trw11ancommittee, my graduate school admittancecommittee and my dietetic internship director." Tambra Stevenson
Anotlier Wentz recipient, Tan1braStevenson,saysher award in 1999-2000 led her to reshapeher career goals. Stevenson,who researchedtl1e effecttrace mineralslikeiron have on bone calcim11, saysshe learned exactingtechniquesin tlie laboratory;objectivityand perseverance;and tliat bench researchwas not her goal.
Preferringappliedresearch, Stevenson,a 2002 nutritional "I gained experiencein litsciencesgraduate,is pursuinga erature review,collaboration master'sdegreein publichealtl1 witli experts, data collection at TuftsSchoolof Medicinein and analysis,databasemanage- Boston,whereshe saysexposure ment, scientificwriting, survey to researchas an w1dergraduate researchand peer reviewed now givesher an advantageover publications." her classmates."My research Sasser,a TrLU11an Scholar, expetienceshelpme more rapsaysilie m1dergraduateresearch idlytranslateclassroomlearning experienceopens other doors to application,"she says. as well. "My Wentz research
Kathryn Winterscheidt
A 2002 Senior of Excellence, Katlu-ynParkhw-st Winterscheidt,used her Wentz awardin 2000-2001 to researchand design furniture and intetior products for people ,,~tl1mobilitylimitations. The experienceconfirmed her interest in specializeddesign, whichshe now plans to pursue in graduate school.
She believestlie undergradu ate researchexperiencewill~re her an edge as a graduatestudent. "I'm more self-directed," Winterscheidtsays."I relyles.1 on facultyand can searchfor answerson my own. "Receivinga Wentz Project Award was one of my top collegiateexperiences,"she says. "I lovelearning, exploringa subject ... tlie opportunityto take it as far as I want to go."
Senior Hones Ana1ytica1 Ski11s,Autonomy Janie Johnson, the College's Outstanding Student for 2002 - 2003, is w1equivocal regarding the valueof her w1dergraduate research."I've learned more from this project than I could have ever learnedin a classroomsetting," she says. The hwnan developmentand family sciencesenioris a current recipientof the Wentz ProjectAward.Johnson, who plans to become a pediatricphysicaltherapist, is evaluatingmotor skillsassessmentmethods for preschoolchildren. She saysthe work has taught her a new appreciationfor the value of research. "I know now that research is going to be an important part of my career. I used to think of research as boring hours at the library, but now I'm not so afraid of it. Researchis actuallyvery rewarding and necessaryfor me to grow professionallyin my field."
Johnson has gained informationgathering and processingskillsthrough her Wentz project work. "I've started to think differently,to start seeing that tilings have cause and effectand can be mailipulated. I've started to ask 'why' a lot more," she says,noting tl1atresearchdemands critical thinking skillsto draw the best conclusions from tl1emate1ials.
applicable."She believes,however,that tl1ew1dergraduateresearchexperience broadly benefitseven those students who do not pursue careersinvolvingresearch. "Lear1lingto be independently directed is helpful on the job, where tasks aren't necessarilydefined for workers," Norris says. "Students also learn to tllink a little differently after going tl1rough the research process. They become better consumers of research information and start to ask, 'How did tl1eyget that information?'"
"I've also become more independent," she says."I don't have a syllabusto tell me when tilings ai·edue. As the p1incipal investigatoron tllis project, I have to be prepared to answerothers' questions.I've For Johnson, who expects to gradulearned to deal with unexpectedchallenges ate this spring, the Wentz experience has ai1dtl1ata plan doesn't alwayswork out." yielded yet anotl1er benefit from her hands-on work witl1the cllildren in tl1e Johnson's facultymentor, Deborah Norris, assista11t professorofhumai1 devel- College's Child Development Laboraopment and fanlilyscience,saysthe Wentz tory. "It has made me realize tliat working with cllildren is exactly what I want Project Awardhelps students to see tl1at "reseai·chis doable, approachableai1d to do," she says. STORIES BYEILEEN MUSTAIN
ForherWentz Pro;ect Award, human development andfamily science senior, Janie Johnson, shown here withChance Cain, left,andRobby Winters intheChild Development Laboratory, iscomparing motor skillevaluation methods inclinical andnatural settings forchildren 3 to5 years old.
Oklahoma State Uni,,ersity
7
Opporh1nities,T,eadership& Achievement courtesy
International Internships
Sharpe Internshipsallowstudents to translateclassroominstruction into valuable"real-world"experience, but students in the College of Human EnvironmentalSciences are going one step beyond. They're going global. The College'sinternational studiesminor requires 10 hours of a foreign languageand nine hours of International Dimension coursesthat are designedto teach students how to live, function and compete in a rapidlychanging, complexworld envirmrn1ent.
Emily Boozer, aninterior design senior, completed aninternship withanarchitecture firminTurker, where sheworked onteams thatconducted renovation farRobert College inIstanbul, thecityscope inthe background, andprepared anarchitectural proposal fartheGreat Egyptian Museum.
Severalyearsago the OSU School of Hotel and RestaurantAdministration began building relationships in southeast East Asia, before the area's international hospitalityand tourism industry mushroomed. Today,as other globally-consciousuniversities scrambleto gain an educational foothold in the region, the College alreadyhas a Ph.D. program in hospitalityadministration 1mderwayin Hong Kong. Dean PatriciaKnaub, along with Pat Moreo, professorand directorof hotel and restaurant administration,and Hailin Qu, professorand Wi.llian1 E. Davis DistinguishedChair of hotel and restaurantadministration,.initially conceivedthe program during a 1999 visitto destinationsin the region that includedHong Kong
8 Co/lr._qe of Hr,man EnvironmentRISciences2003
PolytechnicUniversitywhereQu worked from 1992 1mtil1996. The group noted developmentof the hospitalityand tourism industry in the region and learnedabout the demand for professionaleducatorsto further its growth. "The boomingindustryis foeling demandfor highereducation becausein order to establisha welltrained,well-educatedworkforce, you must firstupgradefaculty.We feltit wasa great opporumit:yfor the College,"Qu says. In 2002, Moreo, Qu and Willian1Warde, professorand head of OSU's statisticsdepartment, traveled to Hong Kong to teach four coursesas part of the CHES program. Presented individuallyas 10-day,intensivesessions,the comses composed the first
businessand educationalarenas another COLmtry.
LisaVogel,interior design assistantprofessorand coordina tor of the interior design internship program, saysinternational internshipsgive students theco petitiveedge - culturallyand professionally.
"It broadens their experienc and adds a flavorto that experience. It also shows potential employersthat these su1dentsh the initiativeto take on an additional challenge,"she says.
A third requirementis an The internshipsare available "immersionexperience"during an during summer sessionsand~'Pi internationalinternship.This procallybetween a student's jtmior videsan oppornmityfor students and senior year,Vogelsays. to participatein the cultmal,social,
12 credit hours toward a doctor's degree from OSU for the initial 10 su1dentsfrom Hong Kong, China, and South Korea.
comsesat instiu1tionsin there~ that grant doctoraldegrees.
The Ph.D. requiresat least60 credit hours beyonda master's degree.Betweentheir summers with OSU professors,the students may completeup to 30 transferable hours by takinggraduatelevel
School's global aspirations,Qu says."When you talk about tourism, hospitalityor any otherbusi ness, it's not one city,one state nor one country.What's notable is th.isCollegehas had a global
"We have a very wliquegrou as everyone of our studentsisa ''We offereda contemporary collegeor universityinstructor, issuescourse,a hospitalityhigher and most receivedtheir master's educationcomse and two statistics degreesoverseasin the United courses,"saysQu. "We willreturn Kingdom,Australiaand the this sunrn1erwith four more United States," he says."Thevar courses,and in the third sm1U11er, all mature and eager to learn. 2004, the studentswillcome to They are particularlydriven Stillwaterto completethe remain- becausein order to reachfullstaing four comses.At that time, they tus as activefacultymembers, willalsomeet their four-member they must hold doctorates." dissertationconmlitteesto talk Establishingthe programaug about their dissertationproposals." mented the College and the
"We feelthat internshipsof all kinds are essentialfor students to take their expetiencesin classes and applythem practicallyso they are better prepared for jobs after graduation,"Vogelsays."However, our students who have had internationalinternshipsgained adrutionalknowledgeof cultures other than their own. These su1dents wanted an experience beyond the norm, and I think the rewardsoutweighed any anxiety they may originallyhavehad about going overseas." One such student is Emily Boozer,an interior designsenior who has spent the last severalsummersin Turkeywith her husband.
"They're both in their early 20s, and he wanted to go back and work in that country, so Emilyresearchedrufferentfirms on the Web and found one that rud work she was interestedin," Vogelsays."She even created an online portfolio to advertiseher skillsand accomplishments." VogelsaysBoozerlandedan internshipwith an architectureprofessorwho alsohas a firmin Turkey and ended up workingon tean1s that conductedrenovationworkfor Robert Collegein Istanbuland prepared an architecturalproposalfor the GreatEgyptianMuseum.Sheis listedas a team memberon the projects'Web pages.
"It was an1azingto live and work in another culture," Boozer says. "I gained insight on business and work practicesin Turkey,which reallyhelped me refine my personal and career goals. I got to make friends and professionalcontacts as well as tour the historicalsites. I have grown in so many ways,and I am better person because of my time abroad. I encourage students to dream big and be adventmous for their internships."
when iliey applyfor tJ1eirfirst professionalpositions,Vogelsays, adrung tJ1atinterest in tJ1e college's internationalinternships appearsto be increasing.Two otJ1erinterior design students havesturued in Australia,and more are interested in going overseas tJ1isyear. "It's liketJ1efirst fewstudents were ilie pioneers,"Vogelsays. "Now, otJ1erswant to followin tJ1eirfootsteps." NESTOR GONZALES
The LU1usual expetienceis very impressiveon students' resumes and givesthem tJ1eadvantage
Hai/in QuandPotMorea hove been instrumental in establishing oCollege Ph.D. program inhospitality administration inHong Kong.
visionfor some time. We haveinitiated this progran1and an overseasinternshipprogram, and om graduate program has grown to 55 students- up from 17 or 18 when I came here in 2000."
the world. "The educatorswe are teachingnow are proud to be OSU students, and they will be our strongest advocatesin attracting even more scholarsto our program," Qu says.
Moreo sayssuch efforts serve to en11ancetJ1ereputation of tJ1e hotel and restaurant administration progran1tJ1atlast year ranked eightJ1in the nation, accorrungto a smdy publishedin tJ1eJournal of HospitalityEducation.
Pending finalization,the Ph.D. program willbe introduced in Thailand along with a master's degree progran1in China, where demand for hospitalityand tomism managementeducation eclipsestJ1atin Hong Kong.
"The Ph.D. program enables us to attract and keep high-quality facultywho get to experience t~achinghospitalityeducation in other cultures," he says.
"One might ask 'Why OSU and why not Cornell or some otJ1erbig school?'We have tJ1e vision," Qu says."OtJ1erschools are beginningto realizethe huge The program is also producing market demand in SoutJ1eastAsia for education in the trades, in a new generationof professors financial services,in everyiliing... who in turn willcontinue to build but we are alreadythere." on tJ1eschool's reputation aroLU1d ADM\ HUFFER
Opportunities, I .eadership & Achievement Nurturing by Design LastMarchthe Oklahoma DeparU11ent ofHwnan Services(DRS) turned to inte1ior designassociateprofessor Ted Drab for designideasfor grouphomesfor young peoplewith developmental disabilities and mentalilh1ess. Present DRS regulations assurea safeenvironment that is reflectiveof a home atmosphererather than an it1stih1tion,but Drab and his team envisioncoming up with designsthat go even farther. They want to developa proactivedesign that can be a tool in nurmring and treating the 11- to 17-year-olds.
Drab, the principalmves"It's a very specifica11d a1nongma11yotl1ers,are tigator, is working with specialpopulation," Drab questions we will be design, housing and mernotes, "a11dthe government researchingtllis yea1·." chandisingcolleaguesCarol has not revisitedtl1esta11If tl1esefactorscould be Borma1m,associateprofesdards, requirementsa11d opt:ima!Jy incorporatedmto sor, a11dLisaVogel, assista11t regulationsfor these homes their enviromnent,nlight professor,a11dwith graduate since 1994." He saysDRS these ymmg people require students TraceyJa1nesa11d wa11tsto examinetl1e lowerlevelsof medications? Hema Boggavarapu. resea1·ch that has been done If their envit·onmentcould in tl1eensuingtime so new The team intends for be made more soothing to recommendationsca11be fomre homes to provide a them, would tl1erebe fewer made basedon tl1atresea1-ch. behavioralproblems,allowgreater measme ofmdependence, freedom of decisions a11dsense of privacy,all in a tightly controlled a11dmonitored environment. In addition to being a place of mait1tena11ee, tl1eywa11tit to be a place of development.
Heath She/tan
"And tl1at'swhere we are right now," Drab says."We have receiveda one-year gra11tfrom tl1eOkJal1oma DevelopmentalDisabilities Council, tl1efonding agency for tl1eU.S. Depa1·tmentof Health a11dHmna11Services. The gra11ta!Jowsus to researcha11dgatl1erinformation from published clinical smdies as well as examine the products, fi.muhu-ea11d systemsnow beit1gmanufachu-edto address tl1eneeds of tlus population. We're not doing tl1ecfuucalresea1-ch. We're collectingthe results of tl1eresea1-chto apply tl1emin tlus environment." There are ma11yconsiderations tl1atcome into play. "For insta11ce,"Drab says, "what in1pactdoes room size have on tl1eirsense of well-being1Is there resea1·ch that suggestsa11ideal bedroom size to it1stiJJa sense of securitya11dprivacy?Is tl1ere a ceilingheight tl1atsomebody has shown to be optimal?Is tl1erea color tl1athas been cfuuca!Jyproven to evoke rest a11dsere11ity? Are tl1erecertait1colors that should be avoided?These,
10 Collegeof HumanEn•i,.,._ul
&imces2003
ing staffto concentrateless on disciplinea11dmore on promoting tl1eirgrowth? These are questionsDrab's tea111 hopes resea1·cl1 willone day a11swer. When tl1e initial research is concluded in late 2003 and their recommendations put togetl1er, tl1edesign research group pla11sto apply for a gra11t to support building a home that implements tl1eir design recommendations. Research will then be done on the effects of tl1e new environment on tl1echildren, and those results will be compared witl1sinliJar research now being done witl1existit1ghome designs. "Once we have empirical results that we ca11show governmentalagencies,then we may be it1a position to help cha11gefor tl1ebetter tl1elivesof ma11yof tl1ese clliJdrena11dtl1eir caregivers,"Drab says. TOM JOHNSTON
Ted Drab, associate professor ofinterior design, examines concept models ofg,oo homes produced bystudents inhisdesign classes.
~ic{o/ Reaching For The
t
~
Buildinga T,adderto the Stars
~l.~
Sincetheir first DRS contract in 1998and a grant from the Presbyterian Health FoLmdation,Norris and DLUrn have conducted researchto help DRS refine its Stars rating system.Their Norris,assistantprofessorofhLUnan researchhas examinedchild care cenProfessional Development hos ters to see if the ratings accurately selected theCHES Child Deve~developmentand familyscience,and reflectthe quality issuesand if centers opment Laboratory osa Universityof Oklahomacolleague "model observation site," a LoraineDLUrn havecontractedwith the are in compliance.They've also identiprojed funded bytheOkla- OklahomaDepartment of Human Ser- fied problems that impede advancehoma Department ofHumanvices(DRS) to assessthe effectiveness ment to higher ratings,such as the Services, Division ofChild Care. retention of skilledteachers,and deterof"ReachingFor the Stars," a rating Asamodel site, theCDL will systemfor Oklahoma'schild care facili- mined what supports can be put in se,veasthebasis forthedeplace to help facilitiesmeet adclitional ties.The state adopted the program to velopment ondimplementaquality criteria. tionofaninitiative thatwill improvethe qualityof care for infants Nonis saysthe collaborationbetween provide opportunities forfonr and preschoolchildrenand to provide standardsfor parents to use in selecting OSU and OU has been an excitingone, ilychild care providers, directors but the greatestrewardis influencingthe childcare providers. andcenter stafftoobse1Ve state's childcarepolicies."DRS is quality child care settings. "ReachingFor the Stars" assignsa Amodel sitemusthave one-starrating to a facilitythat meets alreadyusingour reportsto make achieved national accreditaminimumrequirementsand a one-star- changesin requirementsand has put a tionmultiple times andbe bonus programin placeto help centers plus,two-staror three-starrating to o Department af Human keepqualifiedinstructors,"she says. facilitiesthat in1plementadclitional DeborahNorris has h1rnedher 26-year passionfor child care into policy College Facility researchthat is improvingOklahoma's Named 'Model childcare systemand givingstudents Site' new researchopportLmities. The Center forEarly Childhood
Services 3-Star facility. It mustalsoserve o diversequalitycriteriasuch parental involvement, educationalinstructionand group ofchildren. ADAM HUFFER
teachertraining.Built into the rating systemare remLmerationincentivesfor facilitiesthat volLU1tarily upgrade practicesand teacherqualificationlevelsto earn a higherstar rating. "The more information we can give about proviclingquality child care, the better the outcome. Policybased research has application to the real world," Norris says, "and projects that have to do with child care make a clifference."
Heath Shelton
For AngelaHolland,who began workingfor Nonis as a graduateSh1dent, the expetiencealsohas led to new professionalopporhmities.Encouragedby Nonis, Hollandbecamethe OSU site supervisorfor the EarlyChildhoodCollaborativeof Oklal1oma,another of Nonis and Dmm's DRS research projectsto assessthe qualityof childcare. After graduatingwith a master's in familyrelationsand child development in 2002, Holland continued working with Norris and is currentlyproject coordinator in charge of evaluatingthe Scholarsfor Excellencein Child Care, a DRS program to send child care professionalsback to school to raisetl1eir qualificationsand ultimatelythe quality of tl1estate's child care services. Holland creclitsNorris witl1teaching her to have confidencein her own knowledgeand skillsand providing stimulusfor professionaldevelopment. "I have learnedso much from my work \vitl1Dr. Norris tl1atit's hard to sum up. I now know more tl1ar1I ever wanted to know about statisticsand conducting ar1alyses,"she quips, "but more importantlyI'm learningwhat it means to be a professional- including humbling myselfand acceptingpraise from otl1ersand taking responsibility when I've made mistakes." EILEEN MUSTAIN
Policy researchers Deborah Norris, left,andAngela Ha/land review datafartheScholars forExcellence inChild Care program evaluation fortheDepartment ofHuman Services.
Oklabrmza State Unfrcrsity
11
Opportunities, T,eadership & Achievement Wei Boosts Research Capahi]ities Cheng-iWei has spent more than 20 yearsimprovingfood qualityand safety. The new associatedean of researchfor the College of Human EnvironmentalSciences has worked with more than 15 differentcompanies during his careeron facultyat Auburn Universityand the Universityof Flo1ida. Wei (pronOLmced Way) has helped developirradiation teclmiguesand chlorine dioxide washesto rid fruits, vegetablesand seafoodof dangerous bacteriaand parasites. He has developedtests to help prevent "mad cow" diseaseand to assistFlmida's
seafoodindustry in identifying variousspeciesof fishfillets. In one Lmusualproject, he helped develop biodegradable fishinglures that are currently being test-marketed. "I plan to continue my microbiologyand toxicology researchat OSU," saysWei, who waspart of a national team that receivedthe USDA Honor Awardin 1996 for work on Interregional ResearchProjectNo. 4. The team developedpest-conu·ol strategiesfor minor cropssuch as strawberriesand mangoes, reducingthe need for conventional chemicalpesticides.
A nativeof Taiwan,Wei earned bachelor'sand master's degreesin biology and medicalmicrobiologyin Taiwanbefore earning his doctorate from tl1eUniversity of California-Davisin 1979 in microbiologyand environmental toxicology. "I'm especiallyinterested in working with faculty in the Department ofNutri~ tional Sciencesto determine cs tl1eeffect of trace minerals and phytochemicals on host immune systems," Wei says. In one previous research project, Wei studied tile affectof a microscopicmetal byproductin coalflyash,called Briggs vanaditrn1, whichcan hinder the immunesystemwhen it is releasedinto the lungs. OSU is building a lab in the CollegeofHtm1an Environmental Sciencesto a biolevel2 facilitywitl1fonding from the Oklahomalegislature for homeland security research. Weisaystl1ein1provedlab will be a great assetto faculty researchers."This willgive our facultytl1eopportunity to do more researchrelated to food microorganismsand food safetyissuesrelated to bioterrorism." JANET VARNUM
Cheng·i Weisays theCollege's newbiolevel 2 laboratory willgivefaculty theopportunity tostepupfoodsafety research.
12 Collegeof H11,manEnrirom11e11t11/ Sciences2003
New Name,
The former Department of Fam· ily Relationsand Child Develop ment did not change its nameo a whim. TheDepartmentof Human Developmentand Famil Science,tl1enew name tl1atbecame officialin fall 2002, emergedfron a yearlong curriculum reviewand planning process.
The extensivetmdergraduate curriculum reviewtook courage,sav KatllleenBriggs,associate professorand deparu11ent head. "But we were committedt an integrated cuniculum builton knowledgeof lifestagesacrosstl1 lifespan. We've been teaching and researchingtl1isbroad viewo developmentfor decades.Wejust needed a name tl1atwouldexpr that synthesis."
Childdevelopmentimpliesa focuson 011.ly one stageof develop ment, whereashuman deiielopme reflectsthe entirelifespan,B1iggs explains."It is difficultto tmder· standadult developmentwithout knowledgeof childdevelopment. Likewisea childdoes not develop in isolationbut interactsand is caredfor by adultsat theirown vaiiousst.1gesof development."
Keepingfamily in the newtitle signalstl1edeparm1ent'sbeliefthat the fai11ily, regardlessof its configuration,continuesto be a cen· tral strucnffein tl1edevelopment of individuals.The termfamily relationshas come to mea.t1 an
Caring for the Caregjver Individualswho care for an elderlyfriend or relativeat home know all about the unique frustrationand fatiguethat comeswith the job.
ntto Qua1ity understanding of the factorsthat
limpactthedevelopmentof the
family acrossthe lifecycle,while fnmilyscience indicatesthe scientificstudyof thesedevelopmental factors."Theword science reflects the scientificbase and rigorassociated with our department,"shesays. "The'typicalfamily'no longer consists of a workingfather,stayat-homemom,two childrenand a whitepicketfence,"Briggs adds."Thereis a greaterdiversity withinfamilyforms,such as single parentfamilies, step families,fosterfamilies and blendedfamilies. Wearealsoawareof the impact rl1atethnicand culturaldifferencesmake.The varietyand diversity of familycompositionhave expanded ourviewsof normalcy." Research to Lmderst.1nd the dif!erences infamily strucurresand rl1eir impacton humandevelopment hasalsoincreased asthe conceptof fumily enlarges. Mindfolof the changes, theDepartmentof Human Development andFamilyScience hasstepped up itsintegrativeand coUaborative researchand itscommitment to applythat knowledgeto improve rl1equalityof Lifefor indi1~duals andrelationships. "Thedistinguishing featureof rl1enewdepartmentis the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary integration of i.nsu·uction, research, policy andpracticebetweenand amonghwrnmdevelopment,family science, earlychildhoodeducation andmarriage and familytherapy," Briggs says.
OSU's "Replenishingthe Caregiver"program providesfree help and informationto these individualstlu·ough training events, respite care, resourcesand support groups. "Our program has been highlysuccessful and is certainlya great model to emulate," saysLance Robertson, director of tl1e College'sUniversityExtension. "Replenishingthe Caregiver"is tl1e umbrellatitle for the caregivergrants we currently have and includes,primarily,the grants from tl1eCentral Oklal1omaEconomic Development DistrictAreaAgencyon Aging and tl1eOklal1omaEconomic Development AuthorityAreaAgencyon Aging.
"These grants allow us to provide free servicesto caregiversin 15 counties in central Oklal1omaand the panhandle," says Robertson, who is also executivedi.rectorof the PartnerShipsfor Aging. Servicesincludegroup and in-home training, medicaltraining, tl1eestablishmentof support groups, free respitecare tl1atallows participantsto take time off for training while someone else caresfor their relative,and ensuring that caregiversknow how to access servicesavailableto tl1em. Followingthe firstyear of "Replenishing tl1eCaregiver"services,tl1eOSU Bureau for SocialResearchsurveyedparticipantsand found: • 90 percent receivednew informationat training sessions, • 95 percent found tl1atinformationhelpful, • 96 percent now Lmderstandhow important it is to ask otl1ersfor help, • 64 percent a.reinterestedin joining a local support group, • 92 percent believethe program helped tl1em manage their frustrati~n,and • 90 percent feel tl1eycan now cope better witl1tl1eirca.regivingsituation.
For more information,visithttp:// Ata "Replenishing theCaregiver" program lastyear, Denise Brown, ches.okstate.edu/progra.ms_events/replcrgvr/ anexperienced caregiver fromIllinois, reviewed ways forparticipants tobetter care forthemselves sotheycanoffertheirbesttothose they JANET VARNUM care forathome.
"Replenishing theCaregiver" presenter, Denise Brown, paused during herpresentation todiscuss specific problems participants encountered at home incaring foranelderly relative orfriend.
fll.HN MUSTAIN
Okin/JomaStfl.tcU11i11ersity 13
Opportunities, T.eadership & Achieven1ent
Makinga Difference Rack Horne Everybodyhas to eat. Becauseof that u·uth, we shouldn't think the study of nutritionalsciencesis usefuJonly to the United States.That's BarbaraStoecker's philosophy.And Stoecker,head of the Department of NutritionalSciences,along with many departmentalfacultymembers, has worked hard to enlargethe scope of OSU's program to a worldwideview. OSU's educationalc01mectionswith Ethiopiago back to post WorldWar II, and Stoeckersaysit only made senseto build on those pre-establishedstrengths. "I, along with others of om faculty,have made trips to Ethiopia to help solidifythose relationships,and it's good to see the results of those efforts payingoff," Stoeckersays. "The main thing to remember,however,is that this is not the work of one person It is the result of the work of a facultyteam with a focusedvision." Most of the people coming for graduate study from Ethiopia and other Africannations are very bright, highly motivatedadults who are affiliatedin some way with the government of their countries,Stoeckerexplains. "For that reason, we try veryhard to cut red tape for these people, many of whom are on prestigiousscholarships.Not only do they learn from us, but also we learn from them. The contributionsthey make in graduate level discussionsare valuableto our U.S. faculty and students." Stoeckersaysthe project managersfrom Africannations, who-track the progressof the graduate students from their cow1try,seem to be quite pleasedwith the qualityof education the students are getting at OSU. That bodes well for the continued growth of the internationalcontingent in the nutritional sciencesprogram.
14 CoikBeofH,._,,,b,~~2003
PhumzileMdziniso Two yearsago, Phumzile Mdzin.isowas working for the Ministryof AgricuJnu-e and Cooperativesin Swazilandwhen she saw the aimmmcementof a study grai1tsprogram Lmderw1ittenby the KelloggFOLmdation. In accordancewith applicationrules, she appliedto fivewuversitiesand was acceptedat Tulaneai1dOSU. After comparingthe nutritionalsciencescur1iculumat both schools,she determined OSU offeredmore subjectsin her ai·ea of interest,commm1itynuuition. Seventypercent of the population of Swazilandlivesin rural areas of the country, and of that portion over half livein remote areas that have no electricity,she explains."We are able to raisegood vegetablesduring parts of the year, but there is no way to preserve the vegetablesfor the part of the year when notlung grows." She has focusedher graduateresearch on dryingvegetablesusingsolarheat,so theycai1be stored for periodsof time and maintaintheir nutritionalqualities. The solai·dryer is a vented wooden box, painted blackon the outside ai1d inside.The top of the box is a hinged frai11e,coveredwith heavyclearvinyl. Traysof slicedvegetablesare placed in the box and the top is closed.The radiai1theat from the sun is then captured, drying the vegetablesquicklyand allowingthem to be sackedfor later use. "The solar dryer is a simpleconstruction from materialsmost people cai1find or buy. It worksquickly, requiringless tin1ein the light than simpleair-drying,and therefore preservesthe levelofbeta-cai·otenein the vegetables,"she says. "I think it cai1help make a difference in the qualityof lifefor the people of Swazilai1d."
DjibrilTraore DjibrilTraore, a nativeof Senegal,in western Africa,willcomplete 11isPh.D. in nuttitionalsciences in 2005. He is studying tl1eeffectproper nutrition cai1have on diabetes. He saysSenegalhas undergone mai1ychanges in tl1elast 20 to 30 years.The counu·yusedto havean agrariai1culrnre of manysmallfarms,and people worked hard ai1dexpendedenergy. Becauseof the recent westernizationof the
Fanta Toure Yewelsew Abebe Providingpropernutrition forchildrenwho are being , weanedfromtheir mothers' milkis a passionwith EthiopiannativeYewelsew Abebe.
able to teach the people of Ethiopia how to use these combinationsto provide children palatable,balanced nuu·ition.
The focus of her study has been with corn and a locallygrown root crop caUedenset, as well as local bean varieties. She has made several trips to Ethiopia to test the formulations, and she says they have met with positive response. All of these food elements can be dried, Abebehasexpe1imented which protects their storwithcombinations oflocally age and nutritional value available cerealsand legw11es and makes them more conand hasthe visionof being veniently accessible. The Americanmeclia's repreentationof malnutrition in Ethiopianchildrenis not overstated,she says. Ethiopiaisa poor population,andalthoughnuu·itiousformulasexist,they are too expensive for the poor people,Abebe'starget population.
Abebe was teaching in Debub Universityin Awasa City, Ethiopia, when she heard of a competition to study in the United States. Windrock International and the U.S. Agency for International Development sponsored the competition, and Abebe was one of tl1e wmners. When she returns to Ethiopia and her position at Debub University,she will be helping train tl1e u·ainers who will go into tl1e remote regions and teach people how to prepare, store, cook and mix tl1esefoods.
Clockwise from thetop,Phumzile Mdziniso, Yewelsew Abede, Diibril Traore andFanta Toure, graduate students in nutritional sciences, plantousetheir research findings toimprove lifeathome.
culture,mostfarmworkis now done witl1tractors,and peopleare lessactive.In adclition,mey consumemoresugarsand fats. Twentyyearsago, t.l1eincidenceof cliabetes amongthe populationrangedbetween 1 and 3 percent.It is now 10 percent,he says. Traoreis interestedin producinga progran1to educatethe peopleof his com1tryabout me wide rangeof localfoodswit.l1low glycenucvalue.
Fanta Toure, a doctoral student in nutritional sciences, is researchingiodine deficiencyin the diet. Supported by a grant from her cow1u·yand the Agencyfor International Development,she came to OSU in 1998 and graduated with her master's degree two yearslater. She went home to Guinea in western Afiicafor a year and came back in June 2001 to start her doctoral study of tl1elackof iodine bio-availability in the diet and tl1eresultant deficiencyof sele11iw11 in the bones. She is also studying foods tl1atinterfere with t.l1eabsorption of iodine. Toure sayswhere American'shave ready access to iodized salt and otl1erstaple foods tl1atcontain iodine, me people of Gninea lack tl1ewide availabilityof such foods. Out of a total 7 million population, tl1eincidenceof myroid goiter is 73 percent, she adds, and cretinismis also high. Only 37 percent of tl1epopulation of Guinea has accessto iodine tich food, she says.UNICEF providessome help wim foods mat contain iodine, but it is not enough. Iodine and selenium support basicfunctions in me body, and to have a deficiencyin eitl1eris a healm risk. When Toure graduates in 2004 witl1her Ph.D., she will retmn to take a job as an assistant professor at tl1e University of Conakry in tl1e capitol of Guinea. The university has a service similar to tl1e Extension Service in tl1e United States, and Tome wants to institute an educational progral)1among the government • representatives and tl1e people to raise awareness of me need for proper levels of iodine and selenium in tl1e di.et. STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM JOHNSTON
Glycenucvalue is me measurementof a food's capabilityto quicklyincreaseblood glucose.ConSL1111ing a food wim 11ighglycenucvaluecan cause an insulinspikein tl1ebloodstream.The insulin spikemakesa person hm1gry,causingtl1eperson to want to eat more, and tl1ecyclestarts over again. • He sayslow glycemicfoods can make a nondiabetic healthierand help a diabetic acluevebetter control of blood sugars.Some of 11isresearch
has focusedon fo11io,a cereal grown in Senegal tl1atis similarto rice but, unlike rice, has low glycenuc value and is !ugh in soluble fiber. When Traore renu-nsto Senegalin 2005, he will work at the Institute of Food Technologyin Dakar, me capita.I,and will also teach freshman chemistry.He hopes ultimatelyto be in a situation where he can use 11isresearchto influencegovernmental nutritional policy.
Oklahoma State Uuii,ersity
15
Opportunities,T,eadership& Achievement Tacklingthe Ethics of Aging Heath She/tan
In responseto the growing elderlypopulation and the resultingneed for increased health care and socialneeds, OSU formed the GerontologyInstitute in 1995. The OSU GerontologyInstitute has since grown to become a leaderin its field, offeringa wide varietyof academic,outreach and networkingopportwlities for students and professionals. The institute's purpose is to serve the growing demand for education and training in aging studiesand to promote an Lmderstandingof aging issueswithin the con1111Lmity. Esther Winterfeldtis the inte1imdirector.
Conferencesthrough the yearshave addresseda varietyof topics,such as "Caring for Those in Need," "EtllicalIssuesin Housing Choices," "EtllicalIssuesin Alzheimer'sDisease,""End of Life Issues," "IntergenerationalJustice" and "Cultural Diversityand Human Rights." Speakershaveincluded well-knowngerontology professionalsand researchers,as well as celebritiessuch as actressShelley Fabares,who spoke about Alzheimer'sdisease, and Betty Rollin,author and former NBC correspondent,who talked about caring for her terminallyill mother.
The conferencesare held in Tulsa and open to the public. Health care profession• The institute'spremierprogramis its als, nursing home admiilistrators,social annualEtllics& AgingConference.The workers, collegestudents, wliversity conferenceserieswastl1efirstgerontology researchers and otl1ersinterestedin aging continuingeducationprogramin tl1ecollege, issues attend the conferences,Gambrellsays. saysShonaGambrell,programmanager. A credit course component of me conTllis past fall,the institutecelebratedthe ferenceis availablefor undergraduatesand series' l0tl1 anniversarywitl1a conference graduate students who are studying gerontitled "ForeverYmmg"to help people tology,and Contiiming Education Urlits understandthe options availablein society are offered for professionalswho need the for staying"foreverymmg" and tl1eetllical wlits for licensure. issuessurrow1dingtl1osechoices.Discussionsand presentationsalso exploredthe importanceof keepingemotionally,mentallyand physicallyactivein one's lateryears. The 150 participantsheard speakers addressthe issuesof positiveaging, antiageism,anti-aging,genetic modification and anti-agingmedicines.
CAROl YNGONZALES
The OSU Gerontology Institute willholdits11th annual Ethics & Aging Conference November 12,2003, atTulsa's Marriott Southern Hills Hotel. The theme willbe"Ethirnl Issues inMental Health." Formore information, logonto http//osugerontology.org/gi/ orml/theGerontology Institute at(405)744-7511.
Claire Dowers, Gerontology Institute rnordinotor, andtheCollege's University andExtension director, Lance Robertson, and Shona Gambrell, extension programs manager, survey materials forthe11th annual Ethics andAging Conference. ?
IJdallSch Autumn Ferris, 2002-2003 MorrisK. Udall Scholar,has no doubts about her careerpath. The nutritional sciencesse1liorwho hails from me small central-Oklahomatown of Milburn has already been accepted to tl1e U1liversityof Oklahoma's medicalschoolfor fall 2004.
After obtaiilingher medicaldegree,tl1e WapanuckaHigh School graduate plansto return home to practicetribal medicine,focus ing on preventivehealth care tl1roughnutritional counselingand education.
But in tl1emeantiine,she's leadii1gotl1er seniorsin tl1eCollegeof Human Environmen tal Sciencesas an executivemember of tl1e 2003 Senior LegacyProgram.
16 Collegeof Human Environ,,.,,,tal Sde,,ees 2003
~oLen_Scholar:_Tamhra_SteyenstUll ______________ L1St1\ilay, TambraStevensongraduatedfrom OSU11~th a degreein hw11annutrition,then spentthesummersnidyingand practicingpublichealthin the DominicanRepublicas a 2002 BorenNationalSecmityEducationScholar. Thisspring,Stevensonis in her second semesterat TuftsUniversityin Boston, Mass., ll'hcresheispursuinga master'sdegree in publichealthwitha concentrationin health communication. Besidesmaintaininga follacademicschedule,she'salsoa publicrelationsintern at the BostonBlackWomen'sHealth Institute, a printdesigninternat the BostonNeighborhoodNetworkand webmasterand representativeforTufts'PublicHealthStudent Senate.
"Asseniors,we try to givebackto OSU througha seniorgiftand alsoby doing philanthropicwork,"sl1esays."Wehavechosen to updatethe Collegestudentlounge as our seniorgift." Executivemembersare in chargeof coordinatingparticipating seniors,so that the group canaccomplish as muchas possiblebefore theygraduatethisyear. FerrissaysOSU hasopei.1edher eyesto the vaiiouspossibilities of helpingsocietytlu·ough the benefitof her education. "I cameto OSU to get my Ph.D. and go into the fieldof research,"she says,"but the moreI learnedabout tl1emedicalfieldand the
"As a foture publichealth professional,it is imperativeto be equipped with the knowledge, skillsand experiencesthat will be necessary to battle public health issues,"says Stevenson,who was named the Big XII's Most Outstanding Freshman in 1998 and one of OSU's Top Ten Freshmen Women. Stevenson'sinterest in public health blossomed drning summer internshipsat the Universityof PennsylvaniaSchool of Medicine and the Harvard School of Public Health.
_ to particulardiseases,such as African-Americans and sicklecell anemia. Stevensonhopes to combine her interests in health care, public relationsand Spanishto eventuallyservesociety'sunderrepresented segmentsand societyas a whole. She saysher expetiencein the Dominican Republiclast summer convincedher that more nationalattention there is vitalto provide equal health care and to improvethe public health care system.
One particulararea of interest to Stevenson "Becauseof this expe1ience,I anticipate is increasingpublic literacyabout genetically working to improveminorityhealth through related issues,such as genetic discrimination innovativecommunicationstrategies,research by health care providerswho deny health care and policy,"she adds. to large populationsthat may be predisposed JANET VARNUM
opportrnutiestl1erefor helping people, tl1e more I knew I wanted to combine my interests in botl1areas." Fenis saystl1eUdallscholarshipis fi.mding her senioryear,givingher more time for research and otl1eractivitiessuch as the LegacyProgram. "CongressmanUdall'seffortsrevisedthe NativeAme1icanhealtllca.re system,whichis wherea majorityof my healthcarecomesfrom," saysFerris,a memberof tl1eCluckasa.w ttibe.
"It would be a wonderful oppornuut:yfor me to give back to tl1eorgaiuzationthat has givenso much to me, ai1dit would be a great honor for tl1eChickasawNation to put its tt·ustai1dconfidencein me ai1dallowme to serve tl1epeople of my tribe." JANET VARNUM
Oklahoma State University
17
Opporh1nities,T,eadership& Achievement
Heath Shelton
Jeremy Canning ofGuthrie, Okla., demonstrates the absorbed, uncritical television viewing oftenexhibited by children andteens.
Casting a CriticalEye on Advertising Are advertisersinappropriatelymarketingto children and teens?Are they getting awaywith too much?AJ:ethere ethics in advertising?
An edlicalissue liesat the heart of each of d1ethree scenariosin "Ethics in Advertising." The charactershold conflictingviewpoints, and the plots develop as the students, who assmneassignedroles, interact online toward conflictresolution.
These questionshave no simpleanswers, but a new o.nli.necourse in the Collegeof Human EnvironmentalSciencesis helping students develop d1etools to respond critically In one scenario,when his young son to d1eseand od1ercomplexquestionssurdevelopstype-two diabetes, a fad1erdecides rounding ilie use of advertising. to confront the fast-food and television industries for marketing non-nutritious foods The course, "Ethics in Advertising,"is an to young children. A televisionexecutiveand umbrella topic for three scena1iosin d1eareas a restaurant manager are among the characof nutrition, appareldesign and production ters in the scenario. and child developmentpresented in a critical thinking, interactivesoftwareprogram tided "The Virtual Exchange." A team of Collegeresearchers,funded by ilie U.S. Department of Agriculture,developed the softwareprogram. Team members are StacyThompson, assistantprofessorin human developmentand familyscience; Lynda Martin, assistantprofessorin hotel and restaurant administration;Lynne Richards, professorin design, housing and merchandising; and Donna Branson,design,housing and merchandisingprofessorand head.
18 Co/leg, of Huffl11nEnPi,,,,.,,,.,,tlll Sdmees2003
Studentsare required to researchthe sihiation and d1ei.rcharacters'viewpoints,says courseinstructorSheti Carter. "The students' anonynlityeasesilie role playing.They can say how they reallyfeel,evenif they are outnumbered," she says."Portrayingcharacters,vid1 divergentviews,such as a parent, makessh1dents see d1esituation- and advertisingdifferently.They begin to analyze,to use critical dlinki.ngskills." Carter saysdlis criticalapproachis vitally important for su1dentswhose careersmaywell involvemarketingproducts. "The students are havingfun and learning a lot iliat willstick with iliem as parents and out on ilie job."
In one short year Stm1merMizeraturnedher appareldesign talent and training into awardwinning garments, an internsllipin Parisand employmentin New YorkCity,successes she saysshe owes to d1einstruction and support she receivedat OSU.
The appareldesignand productionmajor's firsttaste of successcamein April2002 when she walkedawayfrom d1eDallasInternation~ ApparelMart \vid1sixawardsfrom her nine entriesin the FasllionGroup Internationalof DallasCareerDay FasllionCompetition.Her impressiveshowingalso earnedMizeraoneof only two of the competition'sGerti Marcus Pool scholarshipsto the PatisFasllionInstitute. "One of the reasonsI was able to receive this award is becauseI was encouragedto work toward my goals. I was supportedand inspiredby the help at1ddedicationprovided by my instructorsat OSU," she says."Mv designteachersstressedd1eimportanceofboth designand garment construction,at1dthey were nevershy to giveme feedbackand nitiques that expandedmy ideasand creativity." Mizerasayswimlingin Dallasboostedher confidencein her education and in herselfasa new designer."Believingin myselfand my education gave me the confidenceto go to Paris." Followinggraduation in spring2002, she studied at d1eParisFashion Institute,and more successfollowed.
As one of only a handful of studentsasked to stay in Parisfor an internsllip,Mizeracontinued her studies last fallas a designand
courtesy photos
Garments created byOSU apparel design andproduction students, Summer Mizera andThao Nguyen, aremodeled antherunway in Dallas attheFashion Group lntematian Competition. Photos courtesy ofDiane Marton.
Dallas,Paris productionassistantfor designerLoanna Haseltine, whereshe performedmultipletasks thatrangedfromusingcouture sewingtechniquesto participating in a shoot for the fashionphotography publication,SpoonMagazine. HaseltineofferedMizeraa job, but the Shawnee(Okla.)nativehad New YorkCity in hersights."I hopedto obtain a design and technology-related position,"she says,"where I coulduseproblem-solving, design,productionand management skills." Asshehadhoped,Mizeranow works in NewYorkdoingproductdata management andimplementation for GerberTechnology,a companythat designsand developsequipment andcomputersoftwarefor apparelproduction. Mizera,whohasexperiencewith industrial sewingequipmentand computerprograms, saysGerberofferslearningopportunitiesshe wouldn'thaveat Haseltine."I'll learn more aboutproductionprograms,make contactsin the apparelindustryand learn about other industriesaswell,"she says,noting that Gerberalsoservesthe forniture,technicaltextileand transportationindustries. "I wouldLikeone dayto own my own children'swearcompany,but I know how thingsarealwayschanging.Parisexposedme to manydifferentcareerpathsin apparel-related fieldsthatI wouldLiketo exploreas wellas careersin othersoftgoodsindustries,"she says. "I planto keepan open mind and to continuelearningabout differentareasuntil I find myniche."
Planning (and the Talent) For Success Thao Nguyen plans to become a recognized nan1ein the fashionindustry,a goal that is not far-fetched.The awardsshe garnered this past year indicateshe is well on her way to success. Nguyen won first placefor her butterfly wedding gown design in the Fashion Group Internationalfashioncompetition, held in KansasCity in September2002. The gown also earned "Best of Show" in the Fashion Group Internationalof DallasCareer Day Fashion Competition at the DallasInternational ApparelMart in April.At the same competition,Nguyen's suit design placed second in the suiting category. The awardscome as no surp1isegiven Nguyen's accomplishments.She is experienced in design,pattern makingand sewingconstruction as wellas proficientin apparelornan1entation, includingembroidery,beadingand applique.Her skillsqualifiedher to work a year in the OSU SewnProductsProductionLaboratory as a student assistantinstructingand assisting other studentswith their projects. She first becameinterestedin design as a smallchild playingwith buttons, thread and fabricsin her sister's apparel-makingshop. Nguyen saysher sister,who taught her to sew when she was 9, influencedher. "I learned to make dolls' clothesand improved myself through the years," she says.
By the time Nguyen, a jwuor apparel designand production major,graduatedfrom Tulsa'sUnion High School,she says,"I knew that I wanted to be a fasluondesignerand was determinedto followmy goal." Nguyen's 10-yearplan callsfor completing her bachelor'sin spring 2004, working for a design house for a few yearsand eventuallyopening her own apparel-makingshop with another sister,a 2001 OSU apparel design and production graduate currently working as a tecruucaldesignerassistantfor May MerchandisingCompanyin St. Louis. She hopes one day the sisterwho taught her to sew willjoin tl1eirbusiness. "My goal for tl1enext 10 yearsis to make my name and name brand recognizedin Women;sWearDailymagazineand to contribute my part to the world of fashionand style," she says. But for now, Nguyen is preparingfive entries for the April2003 DallasCareer Day competition, a denim jacket, a white wedding dress, an asymmetrical,black,Chinese silkevening gown, a pink casualand an art ~ear evening gown of green fisru1et,wlute feathersand shells. STORIES BYEILEEN MUSTAIN
Oklahoma State Univenity
19
Opportunities,Teadership & Achieve1nent FirstStop, QSIJ When KristinRitter graduated from the CollegeofHLUm.11 Environmental Sciencesin December 2002, she had al.J·eady been selectedto show an originaldesign in the world's fashioncapital.
could la.11d her a.11 IFM scholarship. Her assignment- submit a portfolio and a ,~deoof herselfand her work a.11d create a ga.1·ment tl1at showsher fo1:1.ire on the front a.11d her past on tl1eback.
Ritter,a winnerat the Art of Fashion U.S. Competition,is one of only 10 Ameticanswho qualifiedto compete in the 2002 InternationalYmmg FashionDesignersCompetitionheld in Decemberat the Carouseldu Louvre in Paris.Her entry ,~edwith those of top student designersfrom many COLUlUies including,among others, Canada,Brazil,Japan,France,China and Argentina.
Ritter actuallyset off on her journey to Paris at Broken Anow (Okla.) High School where she began her ni.t1e-year study of French and learned to sew i.t14-HClub, but she saysher stopover at OSU made it possibleto reach her goals.
Ritter's winning design in the U.S. Competition at the University of Cincinnatiin October poru-ayed the theme, "Love and Fashion," with an originalgown suggestiveof an old romance novel, she says."I wanted the dTessto appear old, decayedby time but still an object of exquisitebeauty,a u-easureyou would find in an old trunk."
gs nee improvemyself,"shesays" the opporl:!.mity b a.11d network with peoplein the industry."
Creating thedress with its many hand-dyed and handcrafted roses tookhours andhours, "butitwasalabor of love," saysKristen Ritter, who learned tamake roses during her internship with American designer Richard Tyler.
While a French a.11d business major at OSU, taki.t1gsewingclasses on the side "for fun," Ritter says, "It all can1etogetl1er."She switched her major to appareldesign and production, a change i.t1direction that allowedRitter to pursue her love of handcrafted,miginalfashion. "I've alwaysbeen drawn to haute coul:!.lrebecauseof tl1edetailwork," she says."There's not reallya ma.1-ket i.t1the·u.S. for tl1edetailedwork I likedoing. It's more of an art." She plans to stay for a while in Paris where there is a ma.1·ketfor haute couture. Eventually she hopes to start her own business. She says her OSU degree with a minor in international business and a double major in French and apparel design and production will help her reach that goal as well.
Ritter,who wastl1efirstOSU student to pa.1·ticipate i.t1the Art of FashHer win at Cinci.tmatialso qualiion competition,sayssuccessgivesher fiesRitter to s1:1.1dy at the French talent a-edibilityand drawsattention FashionInstitute (IFM). She is qu-to the excellenceof the OSU prorentlyin Patisstudyi.t1g tl1eold-world gran1."Wi.t1.11i.t1g i.t1Ci.t1ei.t111ati paves art of hand embroideryat tl1efan1ed the wayfor other studentsby letti.t1g LesageSchoolof Embroideryand them know tl1atthey havethe opporprepari.J1g for a competitiontl1at tLUuty to do tlus at OSU." EILEEN MUSTAIN
' ... And Something New' Brings a Dream to life Cui Hinckleylovesweddings,especially when theb1ideiswearinga gownshedesigned.
Barge saysshe wanted to encourage creativespirit in tl1estores' employees, Now that a majordesigneris producing owners and consultantsand to raise involvementand awarenessof me design one of her own originalwedding gown designs,Hinckley,a new bride herself,can process,as well as to create excitement about Barge's collection. be happyin the lmowledgethat her creationwilladorn manyluckybrides and Contestantswere to create tl1eirdream becomea cherishedheirloom. wedding dresses.Winners' designswould How did an OSU seniordesignand pro- be created and featuredin Barge'sMarch 2003 fashionshow in New York,and me ductionmajorfromMoore,Okla.,break design would becomepart of Barge'snew intothe bigtime1Hinckleysaysit's alldue line of merchandise. to beingwellpreparedby her instructors whenthe rightopportimitycamealong.
Designershad to include a sketch of me gown and fabricationinformation,as well as a briefexplanationof me design and why it would sell in today's market.
Hinckleyworkedon an internshipat the BridalPortfolioin McKinney,Texas, lastsummer.The store sellsdesignerAnne Barge'sweddinggown collection.Barge, Hinckley says the mings she learned whois headquarteredin Atlanta, decided at OSU, especiallyfrom classeson flat to sponsora designcompetitionfor pattern, draping, color rendering and employees of storesthat carryher collection.
presentation, were invaluable to her as she designed her dream gown. Hinckleyand the B1idalPortfolio's owner,SherryDorman (alsoa designerand mentor for Hinckley),both decidedto enter tl1econtest.A total of 50 designers from storesarow1dthe countryentered. Onlytl1reewinnerswerepicked.Amazingly, bom Hinckleyand Dormanwerewinners. Althoughwinnersdidn't receivea free trip to Barge'sNew Yorkshow,Hinckley wasn't about to missthe nationalpremier of her gown, so she attended at her own expenseto enjoythe lin1elightand get an up-closelook at me New Yorkfashionscene. Hinckleylovesdesigningweddinggowns and wouldliketo specializein mem, but she isn't closingany doors.Shewilljust be ready for the next opportimitiesmat come along. CAROLYN GONZALES
Cari Hinckley made themost ofher internship withBridal Portfolio in McKinney, Texas, where sheentered adesign competition thatresulted in marketing oneofherdesigns.
Oklahoma State Uninrsiry
21
CHES Alumni
Honoring Achievement, Service Mary McGinleyAdolf, presidentand CEO of the National RestaurantAssociationEducational Foundation,and RamonaWarePaul, assistantstate superintendentof the OklahomaDepartment of Education, are the 2002 College of Human EnvironmentalSciencesDistinguishedAlumni. The honor recognizesoutstandingcareerachievementsand serviceto the College. "Beef. It's What's for Dinner." Mary McGinleyAdolf wouldn't be surprisedif the slogan she inventedis engravedon her headstone someday. That award-winningadvertising campaignhas become part of today's vernacular."You may only have an opportunity once in a lifetimeto work on a really good slogan;real classicsyou don't get very often," saysAdolf, who was part of the team that Adolf came up with the idea for a consumer advertising campaignfor the beef industrywhen she served as vice presidentof promotion and advertisingof the National Cattlemen's BeefAssociationin Chicago. Adolf,who makesher home in Burr Ridge, m., is now presidentand chief operating officerof the National RestaurantAssociationEducationalFow1dation. The foundation provideseducation and training resourcesto the food serviceindusu-yto help in the areas of risk management(food safety)and workforce recruitment and retention. She praisesthe.dietetic internshipprogram she completedat OSU to complementher education at the Universityof Nebraska. "It was a great program with a wonderfol staff," she says."The opportwlity to work with Dr. Esther Winterfeldt,a great visionary and mentor, was wonderfol," Adolf says. "It was an opportunity to work with a first-class,first-ratecollege food serviceoperation. Every time I come back to OSU, I'm a.mazedat the continual evolutionof the progran1.It's very impressive,and it keepsup with the changesin the workplace."
22 Co/1,,:gc ,ifffumnu Em•itmmi.,;un/Stioues 2002
Few people probablyhave as strong a history with the Collegeof Hw11anEnvironmentalSciencesas RamonaWarePaul. She grew up there. Literally. Paul attended nurseryschool at OSU, where her mother was on the faculty,and when she entered a nearbyelementaryschool, she would walkback to her mother's officeeveryday for lm1eh. She receivedher bachelor'sand master's degreesbefore heading to Purdue for her doctorate, and then she joined the earlychildhood education facultyat OSU herself. "Since my mother was in the field, I've lived my lifein early cl1ilclJ1ood education. Only the names havechanged," Paul says. Paul, assistantstate superintendent for professionalservicesin the Oklal1omaState Department of Education since 1991, now oversees earlycl1ilclJ1ood/fa.rnily education and all teacher certification,as wellas other education areas. "What we're doing is so exciting. In 1998, tlie state made it possiblefor any 4-year-oldto attend schoolon a volw1tarybasis,"she says,"voluntary for the schoolto offerthe progran1 and for childrento participate." Oklaliomais one of only four entities to offerschoolingto tl1eseyOLmg cllikiren,but Oklal10mais the only one that requiresan earlycllildhoodcertificatefor the teachers. "We're very proud of that," she says. Paul alsois the author of 36 books, includingthe 35-book Your Worldseries.Publishedby TaylorPublishingCo., the bookswere tl1efirstcllildren'sbooks publishedwith colorpicturesof children and adults from many .:uJtures.The idea for the books ca.meto Paul when she wasworkingvvithHead Sta.rtand discoveredthat all the literatmefor yoW1gchildrenwasfor wllitechildren.
Seitz, Cotnn Designated RisingStars The Collegeof Human EnvironmentalScienceshonored graduatesBen Coffin and Amy Seitz with its RisingStar Award at Homecoming 2002. The Collegebestowsthe RisingStar Award armuallyfor outstar1dingand significantaccomplishmentsin businessor professionallifewithin 10 yearsof graduation.
I
Coffin
i
To say2002 RisingStar Ben Coffin BeSpokcis open by appointspecializesin chocolatewedding ment only and offerscatering, cakesis only part of the story. wedding cakesand specialevents The base of his flourlesschoco- such as teas and luncheons. Coffin's specialtiesare French cuilate cake,made with nuts and spesine and pastries. ciallyordered Belgianchocolate,is a chocolateSachertorte. The outside of the cake is finishedwith chocolateganachewith either dark or white chocolatecurls, or a smooth glossychocolate,then decoratedwith fresh flowers. "Most people are used to the typicalwhite wedding cake, but my customersare brideswho reallylike chocolate,and that's what they want," Coffin says.
Seitz
Memorablefine dining may not be what you expect to fu1din one of Oklahoma'ssmallertowns, but his recent opening ofBeSpoke DistinctiveDining in downtown historic Gutluie is changing all tliat.
After receivinghis bachelor's degree in restaurantadministration in 1998, he receiveda Grande Diplome in cuisineand pastry from Le Cordon Blue in London. He tl1enworked as pasu-ychief at Purita Hyam Wedding Calcesand as a chef at Julia Robinson Catering Inc., botli in Sussex,U.K. Amy Seitz of Franklin,Term., sees a lot of sadness,but she also sees a lot of hope. Sincereceiving her bachelor's degree in pre-professionalchild developmentin 1997, she has spent her time working witl1cancerpatients, especiallychildren.
After fiveyearsas a certified child lifespecialistat Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, working primarilywitli children with cancer,she joined the American CancerSocietyin Nashvilleas a healtl1initiativesrepresentative.She is responsiblefor patient support programsand servicesand prevention and earlydetection activities. Seitzalsoworkswith schools, wellnessfairs,hospitals,commrnuties and Can1pHorizon, a sunm1ercamp for pediatriccancerpatients.One weekof campis for the patients, wluleanotl1erweekis for tl1ebrotl1ers and sistersof cancerpatients. "Having a siblingwith canceris a LU1ique situation,and manytimes tl1ehealthychildrenin the fanuly aren't able to receiveas much attention from the parents.This weekis especiallyfor tl1em,"she says. STORIES BYDOTTIE WITTER
CHES Wclco1ncs Nc,v Alun1ni Board Mcn1bers John Burdge, Speech, 1986, Hotel ondRestaurant Administration, 1999, Tulsa, Okla. Cecelia Schieber, Nutritional Sciences, 1969, Dietetic Intern, 1970, Ponca City, Okla. Cindy Witherspoon, Design, Housing andMerchandising, 1979 and1990, Tulsa, Okla.
Celebrating a50-year relationship withtheCollege ofHuman Environmental Sciences, graduates ofthe class of 1952 reunited forHomecoming 2002. Shown here atTaylor's Dining Room ore,frontrow,leftto right, Jane Francis Henry, Dorothy Tompkins, Jeon Kennedy Young, Jerlene Comstock andJoyce Colvert; middle row,Bertie Mendenhall Wooten, Jane Robertson Morgan, Doris McBride Dunkin andRuth Carver; and,back raw, Joan Redding Saver, Almeda Orr, Margaret Casey Taylor andNorma Fitter Bakorney.
CHES Alumni Anderson,T.ongNamed Honorary Alumni Jim Anderson and Ed Long are the 2002 Collegeof Human Environmental SciencesHonorary Alumni.The designation recognizesoutstanding serviceto the College. Enid residentEd Long mayhave graduatedwith a degreein agrintltmal education,but when it comesto the Collegeof Human EnvironmentalSciences, "That's wheremy heart is," saysthe newest HonoraryAlwnnusof the College. Long served in the OklahomaState Senate from 1988-96, chairingthe Senate Education Committee for fom years.He wrote the "Oklahoma Parents as TeachersBill," which establishedparents as their child's first best teacher.
Anderson
"We need to investin proven researchby helping young mothers to be the best first teachersof their children that they can be," he says.
Long
Long comparesthe processto staking a smalltree upright to keep the wind from causingit to permanently lean. "Like tl1etree, you have to help childrenget straight to start with, and a mother can do tl1at.
"The fortunate tlling about early childhood is tl1atbecauseof colleges like tllis - becauseof tl1eearlychildhood people involvedand the leadersllip tl1eyare taking- tl1ebattle is being won," he says.
Andersonto teacha courseone daya week.Acceptingtl1eofferled to fivedaysa weekai1dl 3 yearsof teaching,includ.i.t1g two yearsas interimdirector,before Andersonretiredin 1997.
When JimAndersonof Enid becameinterested in tl1enew teaching facilityfor tl1eSchool of Hotel and Restamant Adm.i.tlistration in tl1emid'80s, he never dreamed tl1atone day he'd be a part of tl1eprogram. Wanting to recruit graduates trained with state-of-the-artequipment, Anderson, owner of Next Door Restaurants,along witl1Bob Clift of tl1eOklal10maRestamantAssociation, and Dick Stubbs, owner of tl1e Cattleman's Restamant in Oklahoma City,struck a deal witl1tl1elate OSU President Larry Boger to finishtl1e second floor of the Human Environmental SciencesWest build.i.t1g. He'd do tl1ewallsand tl1emechailicals; tl1ey'dget tl1eequipment. Shortlyafterward,BakerBokorney, directorof tl1eSchool of Hotel and Restamant Adm.i.tlistration, asked
Bokorneyalso askedhim to help raise$1 millionfor equipment. The first responseto Anderson's letter requesting support from state compa11ies that raise, sell or maimfacturefood products, came from VirgilJmgensmeyer,owner ofJM Farms, a mushroom plant in Miaini.He made a significantdonation and continues to be a strong Collegesupporter, Anderson says. Believingindustryfood professionals shouldteachstudents,Andersonasked Dea.J.1 Pat1iciaKnaubifhe coLtldhirea chef as a professional teacher.Shepromptlytold him it wasn'tin the budget. Two weekslater he was back witl1a plan; chefswould come ai1dteach for a week, tl1e11 present a specialdi.tung experienceto cover the expenses.The first event lost only $250. Knaub told hin1that was closeenough, ai1dthe Distinguished Chef ScholarsllipBenefit Serieswas born, an aimual event tl1at today has a.waitinglist to attend. STORIES BYDOTTIE WITTER
2003 Membership Information Oklahoma State University Alumni Association/ College of Human Environmental Sciences/ Membership Application
Join the OklahomaState UniversityAllll11ni Associationby Oct. 1, and $5 of your membershipwill go back to the collegeto fund prograins such as homecoming and other alumni events.Membershipquestions?Call (800) 433-4678. CHECKONE: 1-YEAR LIFE NAME Single............ D $35 □ $750 Joint............ □ $45 □ $1,000 (Poyrnenl options exisl forLifeMembers, please collBOO 4334678 fordetails.)
COLLEGE/GRAD.YR/MAJOR
PAYMENT:(please circle aneofthefallowing) Check Visa (poyoble toOSUAA)
MasterCard
CREDITCARD NO.
EXPIRATIONDATE
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(ollcredit cord opplicotions must besigned)
Pleasereturn to:Collegeof HumanEnvironmental Sciences/128 HES/ Stillwater,Oklahoma74078-6116
HallofFame One of the thingsCherylBittlelikesbest about her job is that it changesallthe time. Bittleis directorof the Officeof HealthProgramswith the PortlandAreaIndianHealth Service.The officeservesthe statesof Oregon, Washingtonand Idaho and alsoadministersservicesfor more than 90,000 NativeAmericansand Alaskanatives. "My job offersvariety,"she says. "The fieldof health care is alwayschanging, so it's never boring." Of course,she'sso busy,she doesn't havetimeto be bored.In additionto beingconcerned,,~thaccreditationby professional organizations, this 1966 graduate is responsible for the oversightof the agency'sCorin-actHealthCare Program, whid1hasa $40 millionbudget. She servesas a member of the executivestaffand is involvedin a varietyof activitiesrelatedto clinicaldevelopment, expansionof community-basedhealth servicesand tribalself-governanceto assmequalityhealth servicesdelivery. Bittlealsosupervisesarea health care specialistsin areassuch as laboratory/ radiology,maternaland child health,
health education, dental services,nutriShe remembersOSU for its great tion and dietetics,clinicand commLulity peopleand saysher top influenceswere nursing, pharmacy,mental health, social two legendarywomen deans:Zelma servicesand alcohol and substance abuse. Patchin,formerdean of women,and Lela O'Toole,former dean of home econonlics. Shelovesher professionand saysher onlyfrustrationis not havingenoughfunding for everythingthat needsto be done in healthpromotionand diseaseprevention. Bittle, a native of Checotal1,Okla., and a member of the Creek Indian tribe, receivedher degree in Foods, Nutrition and Institutional Administrationfrom OSU. She then completed her master's degree in Public Health Nutrition from Case Western ReserveUniversityin Cleveland,Ohio, and her doctorate in Nuttition Food Scienceand Organizational Management from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
"They influencedme becauseof what they taught me about what one could achieveand what one could do with one's career,"she says."They both encomaged women to seeksuccessin allarenasof life." Her adviceto students followingin her footsteps is to take on the challenges and enjoy the rewards. "It will be rewardingin that you will be able to help people make positive changesin their lives;but it will also be frustratingbecausethe health care climate is so volatile,"she says."In nutrition, so much informationis now availablethat changeis alwaysoccurring." NESTOR GONZALES
The College of Human Environmental Sciences shines the spotlight on an outstanding leader whose dedication to the College and the community merits her induction into the College Hall of Fame
Cheryl Bittle, theCollege 2003HallofFame indudee, received anAward ofExcellence from Indian Health Service (IHS) inRockville, Md.,inNovember 2002.Presenting theaward for management excellence isCharles Grim, interim diredar of/HS.
Theseittlefolksknowwhotheycan lean and lo k tofor theirfuture! When these youngstersare ready for col- The Dean PatriciaKnaub Endowed Prolege, willthey havethe opportimity1 fessorshipFw1dcan1paignprovidesthe They will if Dean Panfoa Knaub has any- oppornmity to look ahead and investin thing to do with it! the funu-e.The fund willallowthe current and funu-edeans the oppornmity to The Collegeof Hm11anEnvironmental investin instruction and researchwithin SciencesAssociates initiatedthe can1paign the College,meaning growth, innovation and are "forging"ahead to ensurecontin- and flexibility- just what the Collegeof ued support for students,facultyand pro- HtU11anEnvironmentalSciencesat OSU gramstoday and stabilityfor the futme. is known for.
And the great thing abo t an endowment is that it is enduring. There's a steady income streamin perpetuity,whilethe p1incipalremainsintact. Plus everygiftto this fimd is consideredby the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Educationfor matching dollars. Help the HES Associates forge the funu-e for children,like these, with youc,check or pledge. BARBARA SWIGGART
Formore information, callJeanne Short, OSU Foundation at(405)744-9736; send anemail toshortj@okstate.edu orvisitourwebsite athttp://ches.okstate.edu photos byHeoth Shelton