Faculty and Staff Notes

Patrick Blaine, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, was elected to the executive committee of the Film Studies section of the Latin American Studies Association.

John Bowitz, M.F.A., professor emeritus of art, had his artwork on exhibit at the Sioux City Art Center. “Recent Thoughts” was on display from July until October.

Aaron Bunker, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, wrote a paper that was published in the Journal of Heart and Cardiology. Bunker’s paper examined how an animal model of vascular disease found only in the arms and legs influenced the function of blood vessels found only in the heart.

Marilyn Eastman, M.B.A., associate professor of marketing, attended the Digital Marketing Boot Camp in Chicago to prepare to teach a course on digital and social media marketing.

Geoff Harkness, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, authored a chapter in the book “The Cambridge Companion to Hip-Hop” published by Cambridge University Press. The chapter examines how hip-hop culture was portrayed in American feature films from 1983-2013, and how these images reflect and comment upon larger issues of race, social class and gender.

John Helms, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, wrote a paper published in the journal “Marine Chemistry.” His paper examines dissolved organic matter in the ocean. His findings suggest the existence of previously undetected compounds containing carbon that have resisted microbial and chemical degradation for hundreds or thousands of years.

Valerie Hennings 2001, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, has been named interim director of the Col. Bud Day Center for Civic Engagement. The center, which opened at Morningside in April, focuses on civic awareness and citizenship on campus and in the Sioux City area.

Jan D. Hodge, Ph.D., professor emeritus of English, had a collection of his carmina figurata – or shaped poems – published by Able Muse Press. “Hodge is the master par excellence of carmina figurata,” said Vince Gotera, editor of North American Review. “Hodge surely creates the best shaped poems anybody has done (in a long while),” said award-winning poet X.J. Kennedy. More information about the book is available at jandhodge.com/taking-shape. An exhibition of the poems is on display at the Sioux City Art Center through Jan. 24. James M. Hopkins, C.P.A., professor of accounting, had an article published in the May/June issue of TAXPRO Monthly. The article explains how situations can arise when a qualifying child meets the relationship, age, residency, support and joint return tests and is a qualifying child of two or more persons.

Susie Lubbers, M.S., assistant professor of education, and Leslie Werden, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of writing and rhetoric, gave a presentation at a school in Uri, Switzerland, on what it is like to be a high school student or to study abroad at a college in the United States. Lubbers also gave a presentation at The University of Lucerne in Switzerland that focused on teaching English in the United States and the research-based strategies for engaging students, such as differentiated instruction, motivation strategies, and growth and fixed mindset.

Brian McFarland, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, had a paper published in the “Journal of Polymer Science.” His paper dealt with the production of premixed systems that can create a plastic material at a desired time by adding heat.

Pam Mickelson, Ed.D., professor and chair of business, and student Drew Nolan gave a presentation on “Re-branding – How to Start a Brand Makeover” at the Midwest Educators Forum on Entrepreneurship in Mason City, Iowa.

Dick Owens, Ed.D., professor emeritus of education, received the Chadron State College Distinguished Alumni Award. Owens spent more than 20 years teaching in K-12 schools in Nebraska and Iowa, eight years supporting K-12 schools as an administrator for Western Hills Area Education Agency in Sioux City, and more than 20 years as a professor at Morningside.

Heather Reid, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, organized an interdisciplinary conference, gave lectures in Greece and Italy, and contributed to a book translation. The conference in Syracuse, Sicily, discussed the importance of Sicily and Southern Italy in ancient Greek culture. Her presentation at the 14th Biennial Conference of the International Olympic Academy Participants Association in Ancient Olympia, Greece, argued that the term “Olympic” should be used in an ethically prescriptive way instead of as a descriptor for athletic excellence. Her talk at the American Academy in Rome Classical Summer School discussed how Roman gladiators embody the philosophical ideals of Roman Stoicism. Her presentation at the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy-Temple University Conference on the Future of Study Abroad in Rome focused on her revival of the ancient Olympic-style games as part of the Morningside in Italy program, where Morningside students spend a semester studying in Italy with Morningside professors. Reid also worked with two scholars to complete a new Italian translation of “The Gymnasticus,” the only complete text from the ancient world devoted to the topic of athletics. Reid wrote the introduction and commentary in Italian. The new translation was published this summer.

Jeremy Schnieder, Ph.D., assistant professor of writing and rhetoric, and Aaron Bunker, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, had a paper published in the Athens Journal of Education. The paper, “Once Upon a Time in a Biology Class,” centers on a biology writing project created by Bunker that epitomizes the Writing Across the Curriculum program at Morningside, of which Schnieder is the director.

Tim Sesterhenn, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, co-authored a paper published online by the Journal of Great Lakes Research. The paper examines the environmental factors during the critical early life transition from feeding on egg yolk to feeding on prey in yellow perch and alewife fishes in Lake Michigan.

Jessica Tinklenberg, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies, and Jeremy Schnieder, Ph.D., assistant professor of writing and rhetoric, gave the presentation “Home and Away: The Representation of Masculinity and Blame in Discussions of Domestic Violence in the NFL” at the International Conference on Sport and Society in Toronto, Canada.

Mary Zink, M.B.A., instructor of business, re-joined the board of directors for the Siouxland Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as college relations chair, and she presented at the Siouxland SHRM annual conference. As college relations chair, Zink will work to recruit members and administer scholarship money. Her presentation on “Managing Difficult Conversations” discussed the process of observing facts and reacting positively in business and in personal interactions.

New Faculty

Shannon Claxton, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, previously taught undergraduate courses and served as a graduate research assistant at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She has a doctorate

Marilyn Eastman, M.B.A., associate professor of marketing, previously taught at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. Earlier in her career, she worked for Procter & Gamble as an assistant brand manager and a marketing research manager. She has an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and she will be graduating with her doctorate in December.

Amanda (Van Meeteren) Haverhals

2003, M.S.N., assistant professor of nursing education, most recently was a nursing instructor at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa. She previously worked in rehabilitation nursing for eight years at Avera McKennan University Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. Haverhals has a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz.

Jayne Jadick, M.S.N., assistant professor of nursing education, most recently was a nurse at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ohio. She also served five years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps, serving in a combat zone during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jadick has a Master of Science in Nursing in health systems management from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa.

Dharma Jairam, Ph.D., assistant professor of education in the graduate program, previously was an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State University in Erie, Pa. Prior to that, he served as a doctoral fellow at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Jairam has a doctorate in cognition, learning and development from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Tiffany (Pribyl)

Lafrentz 2008, M.Ed., visiting instructor of education, previously was a teacher at Miller Park Elementary School in Omaha, Neb. She has experience mentoring and coaching novice teachers, designing and developing curriculum, and coordinating reading programs in the Omaha Public Schools. Lafrentz has a master’s degree in elementary education from Concordia University in Seward, Neb.

Tangela Sylvester

1980, Ed.D., assistant professor of education, has almost 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in South Sioux City, Neb. She also taught at Wayne State College and chaired the education departments at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., and Huron University in Huron, S.D. Sylvester has a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Staff Notes

Stacie Hays, career counselor, was elected to be president-elect of the Iowa College Recruiting Network. She will serve a threeyear term, with one year as president-elect, one year as president and one year as past president and auditor. The Iowa College Recruiting Network is a cooperative recruiting service representing 26 independent colleges and universities across Iowa that hold membership with the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Heather McFarland, first-year adviser, and Stacie Hays, career counselor, presented research at the 2015 National Academic Advising Association regional conference in Fargo, N.D. Their presentation focused on research they completed with first-year students on the Morningside College campus. Last year Morningside started a new advising program where full-time, professional advisers focus on meeting the needs of first-year students. Once the students have identified their goals and declared a major, they transfer to a faculty adviser. Barb Chambers 1977, director of graduate education, provides leadership and vision for the graduate education program. Chambers had served as lead coordinator for special education courses in the graduate education program since 2010.

Davi Gradert, associate registrar, assists the registrar in managing and supervising the registrar’s office. She previously was a transcript analyst for the graduate education program at Morningside.

Brett Lyon 2004, director of safety and security, oversees all safety and security issues related to the campus. He previously was assistant director of safety and security at Morningside.

Retirements

Jim Cornelia retired in July. He had been the director of safety and security since 2000. While at Morningside, he was instrumental in transforming the department into one that offers numerous services to the campus community and provides educational programs.

Linda Goode retired at the end of July after 10 years with the graduate program in education, where she served as a program coordinator and adviser. She continues to work as an adjunct faculty member in the program. Goode played a key role in the expansion of the program to all parts of Iowa.