2022-23 Faculty Accomplishments
(Listed in the order as received)
Summer 2022
Dr. Brian Dirck shared several recent accomplishments::
- Dr. Dirck lectured at Quincy University (Illinois) as part of their annual Rinella Lincoln Memorial Lecture series. Dr. Dirck’s talk was drawn from his book, The Black Heavens: Abraham Lincoln and Death. (Oct. 2021)
- He provided a manuscript review and jacket endorsement for a new collection of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches, to be published by the University Press of Kansas, as well as a new volume on Lincoln’s relationship with future Supreme Court Justice David Davis for the University of Illinois Press.
- He wrote professional book reviews for the Journal of the Civil War Era, Civil War History, and the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association.
Dr. Laura Stull shared several recent accomplishments::
- Dr. Stull completed four invited peer reviews for the following journals: Journal of Social Distress & Homelessness, Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, Mental Health & Religion, and Ethnicity and Health.
- She was again contracted by the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) programs of Madison, Tippecanoe, and Boone Counties to conduct a total of seven “Parenting the Teen Brain” four-hour training sessions over the course of the 22-23 academic year. Dr. Stull organizes, manages registration, and serves as primary speaker for the sessions; Dr. Lee Griffith and AU interpersonal trainers serve as co-hosts. During fall semester, AU senior Youth Leadership Development majors take an active role and also have an opportunity to present.
Prof. Jeff Siemon’s article, “Open Access Religious Resources for your Students” was published in the American Theological Library Association’s (ATLA) 75th Annual Conference Summary of Proceedings: 319-332 (12/2/21).
Dr. Rebekah Baker was appointed to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Membership and Affiliate Relations Committee.
Dr. Stefanie Leiter successfully defended her PhD dissertation, “Communicating through the Enneagram: A Christian Higher Education Leadership Study in Pre-Crisis Communication,” which marks the completion of her doctorate in Communication from Regent University.
Prof. Jon Craton was one of ten faculty selected by the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) to receive the 2021-22 PALSave Open Educator Award, which recognizes innovation and excellence in support of higher education, textbook affordability, and student success.
Dr. Ray Sylvester’s and Prof. Victoria Shaw’s position paper, “Student development in client-based projects (CBP) with small business and non-profit clients” was selected by the Marketing Educators’ Association (MEA) for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings for the 46th Annual MEA Conference in Seattle, Washington, and online. (April 2022)
Dr. Janell Blunt and Prof. Victoria Shaw presented “The Emotional Consumer: Measuring Affective Responses to Advertising Stimuli” (Shaw) and “Animacy and Animate Imagery Improve Retention in the Method of Loci among Novice Users (Blunt) at the April Faculty Colloquium on campus. (April 2022)
Dr. Lonnie Leeper served as moderator for the panel discussion, “The Power of Practicums: Best Practices for Sustainable Student and Community Collaboration” at the 2022 Campus Compact Summit & Research Symposium in French Lick, Indiana. Prof. Victoria Shaw and Dr. Ray Sylvester served on the panel. (April 2022)
Dr. Janell Blunt shared several recent accomplishments:
- Dr. Blunt gave the following invited talks:
○ Rhode Island College (Providence) on “The Science of Learning” – Feb. 2022 ○ 94th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association (Chicago) on “Animacy and Animate Imagery Improve Retention in the Method of Loci among Novice Users” (Blunt, J. R. & VanArsdall, J. E.) April 2022.
- She created a video, “Strengthen Memory: Retrieval Practice Strategies” in collaboration with Stanford Learning Lab (summer 2022).
- She was featured by Retrieval Practice as a cognitive scientist and AU professor who impacts her students by successfully using techniques that spark retrieval, spacing, and metacognition. ● She served as a peer reviewer for Cognitive, Af ective & Behavioral Neuroscience and Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition.
Dr. David Murphy published a review of the book, Antisemitism on the Rise: The 1930s and Today, Ari Kohen and Gerald J. Steinacher, eds., (Lincoln: 2021) in the Kentucky Review of History.
Dr. Connor Sutton reviewed “Demographic Engineering and Strategic Demography” a chapter in the book, Research Agenda for Political Demography, edited by Jennifer D. Sciubba. Dr. Sutton also served as a reviewer for Journal of Peace Research, an interdisciplinary and international peer-reviewed bimonthly journal of scholarly work in peace research.
Prof. Deborah Miller Fox reported that “Advice from Mary Oliver” appeared in the Last Stanza Poetry Journal (2022, issue #8).
Dr. Cara Miller presented at the Twentieth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities held at the University of the Aegean in Rhodes, Greece, June 20-22. Dr. Miller’s online presentation was titled “Changing Times: A Critical Examination of Time Constraints in the Composition Classroom.”
Dr. Rebekah Baker completed Population Education Facilitator Training in Boston, Mass. As a certified facilitator/trainer for PopEd, her responsibilities will include presenting at conferences, schools, and universities to assist educators in implementing the PopEd curriculum. During the fall semester 2022, AU Elementary Education Majors will be able to participate in workshops and receive access to PopEd curriculum and resources. (July 2022)
Dr. Stefanie Leiter presented a webinar on Strategic Crisis Communication Planning and Execution to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) of Georgia. (July 2022)
Dr. Andrew Jones successfully defended his dissertation entitled, “Heart rate based exercise intensity: Influence of fan airflow on physiological responses that regulate adaptation,” completing his PhD in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University. (7.23.22)
Prof. Christa Welty-Salgado received the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) “Outstanding Service Award” in recognition of her “expertise in cataloging and ready willingness to assist in a variety of ways in metadata work.” (Aug. 2022)
Prof. Holly Sims completed an amazing mural project this summer for Vibes Barber, Beauty & Spa near campus (immediately south of DQ on Scatterfield Road). She acknowledges collaborating with Prof. Victoria Shaw’s marketing class and her colleague Prof. Jason Higgs who designed the typography. Photos and more information HERE.
Prof. Jack Lugar was awarded a 2022 Fall Faculty Development Grant for his Category I proposal, “Postproduction Finishing of the Feature Film, Hellcat.“
Dr. Hyeon Joon Shin was awarded a 2022 Fall Faculty Development Grant for his Category I proposal, “Scapegoating the Poor in the Struggle for Existence: Poverty and Famine from a Girardian Perspective.”
Dr. Erich Yetter was awarded a 2022 Fall Faculty Development Grant for his Category I proposal, “Hansel & Gretel: Original Ballet Choreography.”
Dr. Andrew Jones received funding for Fall of 2022 to build an informational and interactive website to enhance nutritional awareness, aspects of health and well being, and the exercise science course curriculum.
September 2022
Dr. Lee Griffith supervised the AU Youth Leadership Development seniors and a group of AU interpersonal skills trainers as they provided training to a group of National Guard victim advocates at the Anderson Flagship Center Sept. 21-22. The victim advocates were taught skills to use in their work, including introductions, reflective listening, conversation skills, and expressing anger.
Dr. Dulce Maria Scott, following three years of work, recently had two books in the Interdisciplinary Studies in Diasporas series published with Peter Lang International Academic Publishers:
- Vol. 9 – American Studies Over_Seas 1: Narrating Multiple America(s)
- Vol. 10 – American Studies Over_Seas 2: (Multi)Vocal Exchanges Across the Atlantic Dr. Scott served as part of the editorial team and also as a contributor.
October 2022
Dr. Laura Stull was interviewed, along with Becca Palmer (AU Director of Spiritual Formation), on The Plant Strong Podcast: Championing Women in Church Planting. The episode (titled “The Church of Today”) was released in two parts: 9/28/22 (episode 102) and 10/12/22 (episode 103).
Dr. Leanne Ketcham was one of only 14 professors chosen to participate in the 2023 Hybrid Teaching and Learning Workshop for Early Career Religion Faculty. The workshop is run by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion located in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Prof. Peter Elliott was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the College English Association (CEA) beginning in the spring of 2023.
November 2022
Dr. Emmett Dulaney was presented with the 2022 Sharon Johnson Award from the Christian Business Faculty Association (CBFA) at its annual conference held at Oklahoma Baptist University in October. “The Johnson Award recognizes God-honoring intellectual contributions by individuals who incorporate learning, business, and faith into a dynamic process to promote Christian faith integration in business.”
January 2023
Dr. Courtney Taylor reports the publication of a peer-reviewed article, “Extensions of Rolle’s Theorem” in Involve: A Journal of Mathematics. Vol. 15 (2022) with Megan Moran and Laura Batts. The classical Rolle’s theorem, typically studied in first-semester calculus, provides some constraints on the ordering of the roots of a polynomial and its derivatives. We use elementary methods to prove several Rolle’s-type theorems that further constrain the orderings of the roots of polynomials and their derivatives.
Another publication reported by Dr. Courtney Taylor was a peer-reviewed article, “Infinite Families of Infinite Series With Integer Sums“ in The College Mathematics Journal (25 Jan 2023) with James Sellers and Damiano Fulghesu. “We demonstrate a technique to calculate infinite sums using tools often demonstrated to calculus students. We then use these results, which include an explicit formula for the sums in question, to prove the existence of an infinite family of infinite series whose sums are integers.”
February 2023
Prof. Christine Colquitt Thacker was accepted as a presenter at the Wayne State University Research Symposium March 6-8 on the topic, “The Case for Sightless Somatic Ballet Practice: Visionless Dance and How it Can Accelerate Technique and Artistry while Alleviating Body Dysmorphia Issues.” educateevolveinspire.com
Dr. Carolyn Ahn shared several recent accomplishments:
- The Richmond (Virginia) Symphony Orchestra will be performing one of Dr. Ahn’s compositions on March 9 and 10.
- Dr. Ahn was one of three finalists for a CMI Lab Commission in Classical Music, which carries a significant financial award.
- Noblesville High School’s Director of Bands commissioned Dr. Ahn to compose a new piece for NHS winds and percussion.
- Carmel Symphony Orchestra commissioned Dr. Ahn to compose a piece for its 2023-24 opening season, to be performed at the Carmel Palladium on Saturday, October 7.
March 2023
Dr. Lee Griffith, Dr. Laura Stull, and AU Youth Leadership Development (YLD) students provided “Family Conversation Training” to families at a March 6 “Marvelous Monday” community event sponsored by South Meridian Church of God and Sherman Street Church of God. Approximately 80 people in attendance had opportunities to develop skills and engage in meaningful conversations.
Prof. Christine Colquitt Thacker earned a First Place finish and a $1,000 cash prize at the Wayne State Graduate Post-Doctoral Research Symposium (GRS) March 6-8 with her platform presentation entitled “The Case for Sightless Somatic Ballet Study.” Prof. Thacker’s research involves a supplemental learning technique for dancers that propels ballet technique forward through critical thinking and internal muscular-skeletal connections, while also aiding in alleviating body dysmorphia in dancers, building speed in choreographic retention, and aiding neuro-divergent students in the dance classroom. There were 180 submissions at this year’s GRS, with 1,325 people from 20 U.S. states, 30 countries, and 156 universities around the world attending.
Dr. Laura Stull was invited to give a Grand Rounds presentation for the Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare Network, which is comprised of six state psychiatric hospitals in Ohio. The presentation, titled “Explicit and Implicit Stigma of Mental Illness: Barriers to Recovery” was a live, virtual event presented on Friday, March 10. The presentation was recorded (available upon request).
April 2023
Dr. Matthew Bilik was accepted to present at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the South Central Society for Music Theory held at the University of Southern Mississippi [Gulf Park Campus], March 24-25. Dr. Bilik was also invited by the Rocky Mountain Society for Music Theory to present at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Scholar’s Conference held at Utah State University March 31-April 1. The topic of Dr. Bilik’s presentation is “Recontextualized Motives as Narrative in Debussy’s Études.”
Dr. Benjamin McPheron had two papers accepted for publication and presentation at the 2023 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) IL-IN Section Conference held April 1 at Southern Illinois University. The first is titled “Work-In-Progress: An Updated Peer Mentorship Strategy for First Year Engineering.” The second is titled “The Development of Low-Cost Programmable Logic Controller Labs for a Control Systems Course,” and was written alongside AU Engineering students Devin Goodrich and Michael Mullinix, and supported by a summer 2022 Faculty Development Grant.
May 2023
Dr. David Murphy was interviewed for an article, “Relics | Ancient footsteps: The Jeeninga Collection at Anderson University surveys 4,000 years from the ancient Levant“ for In Trust magazine‘s Spring 2023 issue (published quarterly for Theology Schools).
Dr. Connor Sutton co-authored a chapter of a 2022 publication (by the American Political Science Association) titled Strategies for Navigating Graduate School and Beyond. The chapter is “A Limited Time Of er: Exploring Adjunct, Visiting, and Fixed-Term Positions.”
Dr. Benjamin McPheron has been selected to participate in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) 2023 Leadership Development Institute. The year-long program kicks off June 8-12 with an institute retreat in Cedar Springs, Washington.