College of Fine and Applied Arts

The Department of Communication has unveiled its unique online Student Media Showcase which features student-produced video and audio productions.

Through the department’s electronic media concentration, students create audio and video productions, many of which are award-winning pieces.

“This website is very unique among college television,” said Kevin Balling, lecturer in the Department of Communication and coordinator of the showcase. “I have not seen any equivalent. I hope it helps raise some visibility for our department and the great work that comes from our students.”

Additional productions from the spring semester will be added this fall, and the site will be updated each semester.

The showcase is available at http://www.mediashowcase.appstate.edu/.

Dr. Glenda Treadaway, interim dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University, has announced that Dr. Marilyn Smith, professor of graphic design, will serve a second year as interim chairperson for the Department of Art. She has served as the department’s interim chair since July 1, 2007.

A search for a chairperson will be conducted by the department during the 2008-09 academic year.

“This past year was a very busy and challenging year in our department as we dealt with personnel shifts and the myriad of changes taking place at the university,” said Dr. Smith. “This next year I look forward to working with my colleagues to contribute to university directions such as general education, UNC-Tomorrow, possible college reorganization and to finalize several curricular changes in the department.”

Dr. Smith started her career at Appalachian in 1976 and helped to develop the university’s graphic design program. She teaches primarily in graphic design but also has taught courses in studio art, Mexican Art History and women’s studies. She holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts in painting from New York University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from the University of Georgia.

“I am pleased that the faculty selected Dr. Smith to oversee the department for a second year,” said Dr. Treadaway. “Her leadership is appreciated by the faculty, students and administration.”

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Department of Art offers degrees in graphic design, studio art, art education, art management and art history. The chair provides academic, artistic and administrative leadership and vision to the programs within the department.

Dr. James Toub will serve a second year as interim assistant chair. He holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Arts from the Interdisciplinary University Professors Program at Boston University with concentrations in Modern European Art History and Art Theory and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Hampshire College. His areas of specialty are Modern European Art History, art criticism and theory and painting. He has been at Appalachian since 1992.

Dr. Glenda Treadaway, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University, has announced that Jeff Tiller, professor of building science, has been named interim chairperson for the Department of Technology, effective July 1.

Tiller has taught at Appalachian for the past 13 years and is coordinator of the building science program. Dr. Marie Hoepfl, who served as interim chairperson for the 2007-08 academic year, will return to the faculty.

“First, I would like to thank Dr. Hoepfl for her service to the department, college and university this past year,” said Dr. Treadaway. “I look forward to working with Mr. Tiller this year. I believe he will represent the department well.”

Tiller holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in industrial and systems engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His teaching specialties include construction technology and building science, residential and commercial building design, mechanical systems, construction estimating and management, technology forecasting and assessment, renewable energy technologies and energy, economic and environmental analysis.

Tiller served as project director for development of the North Carolina State Energy Plan and on the Ad Hoc Energy Code Committee of the North Carolina Building Codes Council. In 2004, Tiller developed and organized the North Carolina’s Energy Star campaign.

The Department of Technology is one of the largest departments on the Appalachian campus with more than 700 majors. The department offers undergraduate degrees in appropriate technology, building science, graphic arts and imaging technology, industrial design, interior design, technical photography and technology education. It also offers graduate programs in technology education and industrial technology.

A search for a chairperson will be conducted by the department during the 2008-09 academic year.

Faculty award winners from the College of Fine and Applied Arts are (left to right) Emily Daughtridge, Jeffrey McBride and Jeanne Mercer-Ballard.

The College of Fine and Applied Arts each year recognizes faculty members with three awards presented during the spring commencement exercises.

This year’s award winners are Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, Department of Technology, Outstanding Service Award; Jeffrey McBride, Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science, Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Activity Award; and Emily Daughtridge, Department of Theatre and Dance, Excellence in Teaching Award. Each received $500 and a medallion.

Outstanding Service Award

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes service, concern for student development of an appreciation for service and enthusiasm for service.

Jeanne Mercer-Ballard’s service to her department includes serving on the Curriculum Committee, Facility Planning Committee, Hospitality Committee and Entry/Lobby Design and Renovation Committee. For the College of Fine and Applied Arts, which houses the Department of Technology, Mercer-Ballard has served on the Awards Committee and Grade Appeals Committee. For the university, Mercer-Ballard has served on numerous committees that will have long range effects on students and in the community. Mercer-Ballard has served as faculty advisor of the Renewable Energy Initiative, a group designed to discover and then design renewable energy projects for our campus; Appalachian State’s representative to the North Carolina Campus Compact, a grant writing task force that works through the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) program; and as a panelist for a program titled, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Service Learning: Advice for Faculty – Advice from Veteran Service-Learning Faculty” sponsored by ACT.

Mercer-Ballard’s service to the community is impressive: Service projects for the Hospitality House of Boone; Watauga Family Resource Center, which includes programs such as OASIS, WAMY, and the Children’s Council; Renewable Energy Initiative, projects that have presented design solutions for renewable energy for our community; Interior Design Educator’s Council (IDEC) “Make Difference Project,” which helps students learn how to make a difference by their involvement in their communities; and many others, including Turchin Center’s Carroll Gallery, the Boone Bike Initiative, the ASU Winery project, projects with the Ashe County Library, Watauga High School, the Western Youth Network, the Charles House, the Health and Hunger Coalition, Easter Seals, Appalachian Voices and the “Playhouse.”

For service to her profession, Mercer-Ballard has served in numerous capacities to her professional organizations, including the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, the Interior Design Educator’s Council, the Interior Design Experience Program, the Illuminating Engineering Society and the American Institute of Architects.

Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Activity Award

The Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Activity Award recognizes scholarly excellence and excellence in creative activity. Dr. Jeffrey McBride was nominated by one of his graduate students.

“Dr. Jeffrey McBride is the ideal candidate for the Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Activity Award,” said the student. “Dr. McBride has provided the field of sport science with many quality investigations making him a prominent and well respected researcher in the field. The body of research stemming from Dr. McBride’s work is not only innovative and thorough, but is also extremely practical and always affords application to optimizing athletic performance. Dr McBride is a passionate and devoted educator highlighted by his excellent publication and presentation history.”

Dr. McBride’s research has accumulated more than 50 peer reviewed publications, more than 75 conference abstracts and more than 20 invited presentations, all within the last 13 years. Eleven of his publications in refereed journals came prior to the completion of his Ph.D. in 1999. He currently has nine additional manuscripts in preparation for submission to scholarly journals or conferences.

Research grants are another measure of someone’s scholarly pursuits. Dr. McBride has submitted 32 grant proposals with 25 receiving funding. He also has been very involved with various organizations, especially the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He served on various committees with the Association including the Research Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Research Grant Review Committee. In addition, he has been a reviewer of manuscripts for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research since 1999.

Excellence in Teaching Award

Recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Award show factors that constitute outstanding teaching. Emily Daughtridge received high accolades from both her nominator and her students.

“This professor’s simple, authentic kindness and her genuine passion for her work were exactly what I needed to help me open up and grow,” said her nominator. “She is able to balance a demand for hard work with vital doses of encouragement that draws me in. She listens attentively, then offers her perspective on situations in a very kind, perceptive way. Emily can and does take her role as a teacher very seriously and offers her students the encouragement, strength, and affirmation we need to seek out and push past our limits, both in the dance studio and in our lives. Her encouragement and conversation is always appreciated. She is an amazing mentor, always giving great advice, always reassuring and helping to give her students confidence, always a good listener, and always going the extra mile to help.”

“As an artist and educator, I enjoy engaging and experiencing, discussing and making dance, while encouraging them to find new ways to communicate through creative expression,” Daughtridge said of her teaching. “I aim to cultivate curiosity within my students, thus fostering self-motivated learners whose desires to explore and discover overflow into all aspects of their lives. I intend to deepen their awareness, broaden their appreciation, and guide them to develop creative problem solving and critical thinking abilities – skills essential to becoming well-rounded as dancers and members of society.”

Additional comments from her students include:

“You’ve been a very positively influential and motivating force for me.”

“I really enjoy learning from you and I appreciate how much you inspire and encourage me to push myself further…thank you for sharing so much of yourself in the way that you show personal interest and sincere care for your students.”

“I truly enjoyed your class and your excitement for the subject…and getting to know such a devoted and energetic dancer like you.”

“I thank you for your enthusiasm for dance. I never really considered the subject before, and when one has a professor who exudes such obvious love for the subject taught, it makes it easy to learn.”

“You are so encouraging and inspiring and the BEST to work with.”

“Thank you for inspiring me to want to dance again. You are fully responsible for that. This experience has helped me adjust to this place so much better. You are an amazing teacher, choreographer, and friend.”

“I never thought of myself as much of a dancer. Thanks for showing me the ropes and believing in me!”

“I cannot thank you enough for taking a chance on me and giving me this awesome experience! I have truly enjoyed working with you, and have grown so much as a person and as a dancer.”

“We have been a fortunate group to have her as a leader.”

Dr. Phoebe Pollitt, assistant professor of nursing at Appalachian State University, has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students (NCANS) fall conference Oct. 3-5 in Durham.

The theme for the conference is “Pioneers in Nursing.” Pollitt will talk about “10 Pioneers in North Carolina Nursing,” focusing on nursing pioneers who have inspired her and other North Carolina nurses. Several of those are Mary Smedburg Wilkes, Lydia Holman, Mary Lewis Wyche, Gene Tranburger, Mary Mills, Carrie Early Broadfoot, Wilma Walkingstick and the UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share the stories of some amazing NC nurses with a new generation of nurses in our state,” said Pollitt. “We can all be inspired by the lives and work of nurses who struggled under incredibly hard circumstances to better the health of NC citizens through professional nursing.”

Pollitt was asked to serve as speaker based on her involvement in the documentary, “North Carolina Nurses: A Century of Caring.”

The purpose of NCANS is to assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care, to provide programs representative of the fundamental and current professional interest and concerns, to aid in the development of the whole person, their professional role, and their responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life and to represent nursing to the consumer, institutions and other organizations.