Smith Institute News Fall 2013

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MS students and families gathered on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University for MayFest on May 4. Faculty students of JCSU’s Smith MS students and families gathered on theand campus of Johnson C. Smith MS students and families gathered on the campus of Johnson C. Smith Institute for Applied Research factors that contribute to inUniversity for MayFest on Maystudied 4. Faculty and students of JCSU’s Smith University for MayFest on May 4. Faculty and students of JCSU’s Smith creased parental engagement.

Researchers studied the idea thatthat parents and children Institute for Applied Research studied factors contribute to inInstituteengagement. for Applied Researchstudied studiedthefactors that contribute to inparental idea that parents and children whocreased play together can learn andResearchers grow together. creased engagement. studied the idea that parents and children who parental play together can learnResearchers and grow together.

“This a wonderful collaboration between Johnson C. Smith and Charlottewho playistogether can learn and grow together.

“This is Schools,” a wonderful between Johnson C. Smith and CharlotteMecklenburg saidcollaboration LaTarzja Henry, CMS Assistant Superintendent for “This is a wonderful collaboration between Johnson C. Smith and CharlotteMecklenburg Schools,” said LaTarzja Henry, CMS Assistant Superintendent for Community Partnerships and Family Engagement. “We can really look at partnering Mecklenburg Schools,” saidand LaTarzja Engagement.

Henry, CMS“We Assistant Superintendent for Community can to look at familyPartnerships engagement in Family the Northwest Corridor. ” really look at partnering Community and Family “We can to look at Partnerships family engagement in the Engagement.

Northwest Corridor. ” really look at partnering CMSatfamilies food,inexhibits and prizes along with to look family enjoyed engagement the Northwest Corridor. ” a traditional Mexican CMS families enjoyed food, exhibits and prizes along with a traditional Mexican dance performance, story time and intergenerational aerobics. Jurored artist and dance performance, story time and intergenerational Jurored artist and CMS families enjoyed food, exhibits and prizes alongaerobics. with a traditional Mexican dance performance, story time and intergenerational aerobics. Jurored artist and

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MAYFEST:Researchers studied the connection between engagement, learning and play From Page 1

JCSU arts faculty researcher Cynthia Cole created a station for artistic expression through painting.

“We’re looking at math and art and how they can come together to bolster students confidence,” Cole said.

PHOTO CREDIT: JEFF CRAVOTTA

MayFest was a highlight of a parental engagement study conducted by Smith Institute in collaboration with CharlotteMecklenburg Schools. JCSU President Ronald L. Carter’s vision for the Smith Institute is to conduct applied research in the Northwest Corridor. The Smith Institute’s research into parental engagement resulted from conversations between Dr. Carter and CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison about encouraging more parents to participate in their child’s education.

JCSU and CMS created MayFest to research family engagement in the Northwest Corridor. Activities included dance and artistic stations.

Northwest Corridor renews focus on wellness, health Johnson C. Smith University is helping residents of the Northwest Corridor get healthy. The university opened the HealthPlex, which is next to the Jack S. Brayboy Gymnasium, to promote health and wellness through positive attitudes, healthy lifestyles and responsible self-care.

The HealthPlex includes a fitness center equipped with Freemotion Fitness cardio and strength equipment, a multipurpose room equipped with a teaching kitchen, yoga/Pilates studio, wellness programming, group exercise classes, aquatic programming, locker rooms and offices.

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“It’s not a fitness facility. It’s not a gym,” said Victor Romano, Ed.D, JCSU HealthPlex Wellness director. “It’s a wellness facility.”

JCSU collaborated with Charlotte city officials and numerous corporate partners on the construction of the new facility, which opened in October.

The HealthPlex was created for the JCSU campus and surrounding community through applied research in health, human performance and sports.

Access to the facility is free, but users must receive a medical referral from their primary care physician. Thus far,

more than 100 community members and more than 650 campus members have signed up to use the facility.

Wellness programs are held within the HealthPlex and at other locations within the Northwest Corridor.

Preventative wellness programming includes weight management, health coaching, physician exercise referrals, healthy living seminars, group exercise classes, water fitness and healthy cooking demonstrations.

The summer hours for the JCSU HealthPlex are Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Smith Institute News

Johnson C. Smith faculty and students spotlighted graduate student research when the university hosted the 22nd Annual Central Carolinas Conference in Psychology. Students from JCSU, UNC Charlotte, Belmont Abby College, Queens University, Livingstone College and visitors from the Charlotte community

“The conference focuses on undergraduate student research in psychology and career and graduate school success.”

- Dr. Ruth Greene Professor of Psychology

attended. The Smith Institute for Applied Research sponsored the conference that featured keynote speaker Dr. Robert Sellers of the University of Michigan.

During the conference students showcased their research by making oral presentations and displaying posters that featured abstracts of their research.

“The conference focuses on undergraduate student research in psychology and career and graduate school success,” stated Dr. Ruth Greene, Professor of Psychology, who chaired the conference.

The conference also highlighted racial diversity in academia. Keynote speaker Dr. Sellers is a Charles Moody Collegiate Professor and Research Associate at the Institute For Social Research at the University of Michigan. His address focused on the impact of discrimination experiences on individuals.

“I wanted them to hear issues around African-American youth. There are still issues that our young adolescents deal with,” Dr. Greene said.

This is the first year JCSU hosted the conference, which showcased the quality research being conducted at an HBCU. Throughout the academic year the JCSU faculty worked with students to conduct research to present during the conference.

The experience prepares students to apply for summer research programs and attend research universities for graduate studies. During the conference students showcased their research by making oral presentations and displaying posters that featured abstracts of their research.

“It was a great conference to show our kids the importance of what we do in our department in preparing them,” Dr. Greene said. “To see an AfricanAmerican male was important, but also the diversity of the research. We want our students to understand there is a place for them in academia, and their interests and topics are important in the academic academy.”

INNOVO UPDATES

PHOTO CREDIT: RICHARD ISRAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Art of the Deal Innovo Laboratory is pleased to announce a new partnership with the McColl Center of Visual and Performing Arts. Starting in fall 2013, Innovo and the McColl Center will collaborate on a three-credit hour course designed to inspire creativity to improve problem solving in business.

Congratulations, Innovo Scholars!

Innovo scholars visit South Carolina to learn about Chinese culture.

Congratulations to Daniel Rocha Herrera for being elected to the 2013-2014 SGA Executive Board as the Vice Presigraduating class of 2013: Erica Logan,

PHOTO CREDIT: LAYLAA RANDERA

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Go East, My Friends!

On April 20th, Innovo Scholars took a trip to South Carolina to learn about Chinese culture. Jiayi Qian and Susan Butler developed the module, which included a presentation by Jimmy Chao, an entrepreneur and engineer. Chao discussed how to do business with a Chinese businessperson and how historical

U.S. relations have had an impact on Chinese culture.

Innovo Hosts Think-Tank Small Business Administration convened leaders from Minority Serving Institutions to discuss entrepreneurship programs and best practices at their universities. Innovo hosted the meeting at Packard Place in August 2012.

It was part of an ongoing White House initiative to promote small-business development and entrepreneurial education and training in urban communities.

To Russia With Love Innovo scholars attended a February module on Eastern European culture that included a

visit to the Charlotte Symphony’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s No. 5 at the Blumenthal. Before the performance, Yuliya Baldwin, a UNC-Charlotte scholar, led a discussion on culture and economics of Russia while the group enjoyed a traditional Eastern European dinner. Susan Butler, Chris Massey and Angela MauldContribution by Innovo Laboratory

Innovo Hosts Think-Tank

PHOTO CREDIT: RICHARD ISRAEL PHOTOGRAPHY

The contents of this Smith Institute for Applied Research publication were developed under a Title III Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), Award Number PO31B100094, from the Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

A DARLING MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION

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