Newsmakers Assistant Professor of Human Environmental Sciences Nina Bostic and Professor of Human Environmental Sciences Deborah Tippett attended the annual meeting of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in Houston, Texas, in June. Tippett gave the luncheon speech for the Global Perspectives Community on “Connecting the Dots: From a Trustee’s Call to Breakfast with Desmond Tutu.” Tippett was elected chair of the Global Perspectives Community for AAFCS. Associate Professor of Mathematics Emily Burkhead taught a two-week course, Symbolic Dynamical Systems, for the George Washington University’s Summer Program for Women in Mathematics this July. This prestigious program, now in its 19th consecutive year, is a five-week intensive program for mathematically talented undergraduate women who are completing their junior year and may be contemplating graduate study in the mathematical sciences. Goals of this program are to communicate an enthusiasm for mathematics, develop research skills, cultivate mathematical self-confidence and independence, and promote success in graduate school. Associate Professor Woody Holliman presented a paper, “Paradigm Lost: Rethinking Graphic Design History,” at the 2013 Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) in Greensboro, N.C. Judy Peel, head of the Department of Nutrition, Health and Human Performance, was a co-presenter with NC Central University Assistant Professor Jay Jung, for a seminar on “Balancing Academics and Intercollegiate Athletics” to the Gyeongsangdukdo Sports Council, in South Korea, in June. Professor of Dance Sherry Shapiro’s article “The Act of Making: Dance as Aesthetic Activism,” was published in Choros, the Greek International Dance Journal, this spring. Adjunct Instructor of English Jennifer Tagsold won the Eastern Educational Research Association’s Best Professional Paper Award. Her winning paper focuses on strategies for preventing distraction in a 1:1 learning environment.
Meredith’s Kristy Dixon Named SHRM Advisor of the Year
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eredith College faculty member Kristy Dixon was named the 2012-13 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Advisor of the Year. The national organization presented the award to Dixon at its annual conference. A member of the Meredith College faculty since 2001, Dixon is an assistant professor of business and serves as advisor of the student chapter of SHRM. In addition to her work at Meredith, Dixon is president and HR professional at McLaurin Parking. Under Dixon’s guidance, Meredith’s SHRM chapter has received the Superior Merit Award from the national organization for the past ten years, and has been selected as a top ten student chapter. A Meredith team has also won the Southeast Regional SHRM Case Competition. Dixon herself has been recognized as the Meredith School of Business Teacher of the Year three times. Students who nominated Dixon for the SHRM Advisor of the Year award praised her leadership of the Meredith chapter and her work as a faculty member. In her nomination, Carrie Al-Danab, ’13, said Dixon had “continuously guided her students in obtaining valuable knowledge in the field of human resources and has been the perfect role model and mentor.”
Student Completes White House Internship
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mily Hawkins, ’14, spent her summer as an intern in the White House, an experience she calls an honor. “It was the honor of a lifetime to serve as an intern at the White House,” Hawkins said. “It was an unforgettable experience and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about public service.” Hawkins, who is earning a double major in political science and Spanish, worked in the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), which oversees the selection process for presidential appointments. The White House internship program interested Hawkins for a variety of reasons. “President Obama was the first president I ever voted for and for that reason I always have felt connected to this Administration,” Hawkins said. “When I found out about the White House Internship Program, I was immediately interested in the chance to serve the public. The historical nature of the White House and prestigious nature of the program were added bonuses.” The White House internship also supports her professional goals. “My passion and desire is to elect more women to office so while my plans after graduation are undecided, they will definitely include bridging the gender gap in politics,” Hawkins said. Hawkins said her Meredith education helped prepare her for the internship and for her future. “My coursework at Meredith has expanded my interest in politics, especially a course I took about practical politics with Adjunct Professor Wendy Kelly and my thesis course on women in politics with Dr. [Clyde] Frazier,” Hawkins said. Hawkins has participated in Meredith’s Student Government Association since being appointed as a freshman, and has been Elections Board Chair for three years. “Electing over 90 women to office every year in college inspires me every day to further that work outside of Meredith.” F all 2013 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E
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