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Congratulations to all May graduates! This issue highlights resources for new alumni as well as returning students.
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What's inside this issue?
- Resources from the Center for Career and Talent Development
- An invitation from Radford's Alumni Association
- Graduate student awards and achievements
- Upcoming graduate courses of interest
- Winners of the "Pets of the Grad College" contest and t-shirt giveaway
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Note from the Dean
To say that the 2020 Spring semester has been challenging is an understatement. We have all been forced to adjust not only to changes in how classes have been taught, but how we live our personal lives and how we interact with people on a day-to-day basis. Everything seems to have changed, from shopping for food and everyday items to restricted travel and not being able to see friends and family. Normally, we would be preparing to celebrate the graduation of this spring’s class with hooding and commencement ceremonies. But those celebrations will have to wait until the fall when, hopefully, science and society have a better handle on the virus.
However, that doesn’t make your achievements this past semester any less significant. If anything, your persistence through these trying months should show the world how you were able to overcome a difficult situation and maintain or even perform at an even higher level in the face of adversity.
For our new graduates, some of you are moving on to the workforce, and some of you will be moving on to continue your education. But, did you know that as a new university alum you are still eligible to use the Center for Career and Talent Development (CCTD)? Interview coaching, resume review, and job searching are just a few areas with which they can assist. (Read more about what CCTD offers below!)
For those of you who will be continuing on this summer or fall, we will try to highlight events, opportunities and services that you can benefit from as a graduate student. If there is a resource on campus that has had a positive impact for you, or there is a service you need, please let me (bcaldwell13@radford.edu) or Interim Associate Dean Dr. Amy Rubens (arubens@radford.edu) know.
In closing, to our new graduates, I wish you all the best as you venture on with your lives and careers. And when people ask where you earned your degree, I hope you will say with pride, “Radford University!”
-- Dr. Ben Caldwell
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Resources for Students and New Alumni
Whether you're a new alumni or current student, Radford is here to support you. Featured this month are the Alumni Association and the Center for Career and Talent Development.
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Alumni Association
When you complete your graduate degree, you receive free membership to Radford's Alumni Association. Membership has many benefits, including:
- fun gatherings
- access to career support services
- an expanded professional network
If you're a May 2020 graduate, complete the Senior and Graduate Student Exit Interview to ensure the Alumni Association has your most recent contact information. What's more, you'll receive a special pin to wear during the December 2020 commencement ceremonies.
Not a May 2020 graduate? The Alumni Association sponsors activities that are open to current students, such as the currently ongoing Highlander Wisdom Webinar Series. Learn more by following the Alumni Association on Facebook.
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Career Support Services
Radford's Center for Career and Talent Development (CCTD) can assist your with their career journey. Here are 3 resources from the CCTD that you can utilize now:
- Handshake account. After posting your resume and building other parts of your profile, you can access job postings, virtual recruiting events, and skill-building workshops. Login and explore today; alumni have access to Handshake indefinitely.
- CCTD career coach. Your career coach is assigned based on the college in which your program is located. (RUC students are assigned to the career coach for Waldron College of Health and Human Services).
- First Destination Survey for May 2020 Graduates. Let the CCTD know what you'll be doing post-graduation. If you're not sure, take the survey anyway; this will help the CCTD know how they can assist with your career journey.
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This image of the Radford campus appears with permission from the Radford Alumni Association Facebook Page.
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Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
The academic programs below wish to announce the recipients of their outstanding graduate student awards for the 2019-2020 academic year:
Education, M.S.
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Curriculum and Instruction: Breann Mullen
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Secondary Mathematics: Matthew Fleischer
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Secondary Science: Elizabeth (Danielle) Williams and Jordan Edwards
- Outstanding Graduate Student in Social Science, Secondary Social Studies: Kaitlyn A. Partanen
Education - Mathematics Education, M.S.
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Joshua Taylor
English, M.A., M.S.
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Jennifer Hedges
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching Fellow: Mikaela Kelley
Experimental Psychology, M.A.
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Salena Diaz
Industrial/Organizational Psychology, M.A., M.S.
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Kasey Warren
Strategic Communication, M.S.
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Christopher K. Hull
- Outstanding Graduate Research: Samuel J. Taylor
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching: Christopher K. Hull
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Share your #RadGrad reflections on social media, and they may be featured in upcoming commemorations. Reflections also may be emailed to Ashley Schumaker, Chief of Staff and Vice President for University Relations, at aschumaker@radford.edu. |
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Thesis Defenses
The Criminal Justice, English, and Strategic Communication graduate programs wish to share that the following students have successfully defended their master's theses as of May 1, 2020:
Andrew Friedman (Criminal Justice), "The Effects of Stratified Policing on Key Organizational Change Components"
Jennifer Hedges (English), "Uncovering J.D. Salinger’s Exploration of War Fiction and Trauma"
Beth Murphy (English), "Quiet Resistance in the Nineteenth-Century British Novel: An Examination of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre"
Adam Sinnott (Criminal Justice), "An Integrated Theoretical Model Explanation for Residential Burglary through Ordinary Least Squares Multivariate Regression in Dallas, Texas"
Emily Skeens (English), “Strays: A Short Story Collection”
Samuel J. Taylor (Strategic Communication), "A Qualitative Analysis of the Communication Strategies of University Based Christian Ministries in the U.S. and England"
Additional Achievements of Note
Brennyn Polachek (School Psychology) was named “Graduate Student of the Year” by the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists.
Makenna Sands (Counselor Education) presented a poster at the 2020 VACES (Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision) Graduate Conference in February.
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In December, Dr. Wally Scott and graduate students in Counselor Education presented on their work with Pulaski Middle School at the Association for Creativity in Counseling's national conference. Left to right: Dr. Scott, Lauren Shewski-Higgs, Marissa Momchilov, Megan Dehart, Amanda Kephart, Kate Matthews, Kelly Tingler.
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Graduate Course Spotlight
Periodically, we'll spotlight a few courses that have no pre-requisites and are open to all Radford and RUC graduate students. Featured this month are online courses from Design Thinking, Communication, and Nursing.
Online Design Thinking Courses
Radford offers an MFA and graduate certificate in Design Thinking, and this summer, two Design Thinking courses are open to graduate students in any discipline:
- DSN 611: Multimedia and Storytelling [Summer I, 5 weeks]
- DSN 611: Empathy [Summer II, 5 weeks]
"Multimedia and Storytelling" helps students transform from a consumer to a designer of stories through mediums like podcasts, documentary film, virtual and augmented reality, and mobile applications. "Empathy" helps students use design thinking strategies to understand empathy and advance that skill in one's professional and personal life. Faculty Contact: Dr. Joan Dickinson, jidickins@radford.edu.
Online Communication and Culture Course
Explore how communication functions within various pop culture industries, including film, music, comics, sports, and beyond:
- COMS 635: Pop Culture and Communication [Summer II, 5 weeks]
This course uses open-access and library resources, and students are not required purchase textbooks. Faculty Contact: Prof. Michael J. Meindl, mmeindl@radford.edu.
Online Complementary Health Approaches Course
Enrich your knowledge of Complementary Health Approaches (CHA), such as traditional Chinese medicine, animal therapy/counseling, yoga, journaling, and more:
- NURS 573: Emerging Therapies for Health and Health Care Providers [Maymester, 3 weeks]
This course is open to anyone with graduate student standing, but those who have met the appropriate pre-requisites can enroll in NURS 773. Faculty Contact: Dr. Gini Weisz (PhD, WHNP), vweisz@radford.edu.
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Maymester and Summer I courses start on May 18.
Final versions of thesis and dissertations are due by May 22.
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Featured Grad Student of the Month
Margaret Tomann, MSPH, is pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Appalachian Studies. For her capstone project, she created the "Drowning in Dust" podcast, which draws from her certificate studies, advanced degree in public health, and professional work as Black Lung Program Director at Stone Mountain Health Services. The podcast, which you can listen to online, examines "how lived experiences of miners in our region would align, support, and challenge the quantitative data [that] shows a dramatic increase in black lung disease in central Appalachia." Margaret states that "working with, and learning from [her] faculty advisor, Dr. Theresa Burriss, Chair of Appalachian Studies [and Director of the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center] has been a tremendous and transformative opportunity." Margaret's research also is supported through funding from the Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center. |
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Furry Study Buddy Contest Winners
Last month, we asked you to submit pictures of your "furry study buddies" for possible inclusion in the newsletter. Featured this month are (clockwise from top) Ellen M., Karen K.G., and Lee Ann L. and their pets. Thanks to all who participated!
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T-Shirt Giveaway Winners
Thanks to all who completed the Grad College's newsletter survey. The following survey participants were randomly chosen to receive a Radford Graduate College t-shirt:
- Victor B.
- Arielle P.
- Andy W.
- Susanne C.
- Felicia F.
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