º£½ÇÉçÇøpreschoolers go wild for animals
By Amanda Ennis
Media Relations Manager
By Amanda Ennis
Media Relations Manager
Attention all º£½ÇÉçÇøstaff! You are invited to attend an informal conversation with President Limayem on Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 2 - 3 p.m. in the Talon Room, Building 16, 4th floor. The President will speak and answer questions. Refreshments will be provided.
If you plan to attend, before Oct. 28.
In the previous edition of Inside, we introduced a new look and refreshed layout. We also asked for your feedback. We're still looking to hear from you with any suggestions you feel will make the e-newsletter more interesting.
As a reminder, we've changed Inside's schedule, so you can now expect it to be sent to your inboxes twice a month, typically during the first and third weeks of each month.
We hope you enjoy this issue, but we want to continue to improve and provide the news you want. !
Open Enrollment has begun
For employees eligible for benefits through the State Group Insurance Program, the time is here to review your coverage and make any needed changes before Open Enrollment closes Friday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. Any changes you make now will take effect Jan. 1, 2023.
Learn more at the Employee Benefits Fair on campus
To learn more about the benefit plans, changes taking place for the following year, wellness options, employee perks and more, º£½ÇÉçÇøis holding an in-person Employee Benefits Fair, Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the .
Discover what’s new for 2023
Get screened at the mobile mammography unit at the Benefits Fair
Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Buddy Bus and First Coast News anchor Jeannie Blaylock will make a stop at UNF's Benefits Fair Oct. 21, which is also Mammogram Awareness Day. The Buddy Bus is a mobile mammography unit that provides convenient screening mammograms to individuals in Northeast Florida. Women must be at least 40 years old to receive a screening. To see if you are eligible and to schedule an appointment, . Once the registration form has been submitted, you can expect a phone call from the Baptist scheduling team within two business days. For questions, please contact BuddyBus@bmcjax.com.
More to do at the Benefits Fair:
Visit with Ozzie
Blood Pressure Checks
Flu Shot
Vendor Candy Bingo
Raffle, prizes, snacks and more
The Open Enrollment Process:
To access Open Enrollment, log in to the People’s First portal. A and are available if needed. If you have questions, call the People First Service Center at 866-663-4735. UNF’s Human Resources has also provided information online.
Relief agencies expect to need volunteers for the next 18 months to help the people in southwest Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian. Here are some ways Ospreys can help:
How to Volunteer
Prospective volunteers must coordinate with a specific relief agency (links listed below) and have a plan for check in, lodging, hygiene and food.
Please direct students or student organizations to ospreyimpact@unf.edu so information of those interested in ongoing and future opportunities for relief efforts can be collected and centralized.
What volunteers need to know
How to make donations
This information was provided to UNF’s Center for Community-Based Learning by relief agencies in southwest Florida. Information is constantly changing. For the latest news, contact Susan Trudeau, Co-Curricular Coordinator at s.trudeau@unf.edu or 904-620-3547.
Brooks College of Health
Dr. Catherine Christie, associate dean and professor at UNF's Brooks College of Health, has been honored by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics with a 2022 Medallion Award in recognition of her outstanding service and leadership in the Academy and the nutrition and dietetics profession. Christie is one of eight registered dietitian nutritionists to be honored with this prestigious award. Read more about the award and Christie.
Dr. Kristen Hicks-Roof, associate professor Nutrition and Dietetics, published “Nutrition Check: World Alzheimer’s Day and the Food/Brain Connection” . Also, with Caroline Jury, Hicks-Roof also published “Nutrition Check: Children’s Eye Health/Safety Month” .
Dr. Sericea Stallings-Smith, associate professor Public Health, presented “Association between Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in the U.S. Adult Population,” a collaborative project with Dr. Zhigang Xie, assistant professor Public Health; Dr. Andrea Arikawa, associate professor and Interim Chair, Nutrition and Dietetics; and Dr. Lauri Wright, associate professor Nutrition and Dietetics; at the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology conference in Athens, Greece, September 2022.
Dr. Tes Tuason, professor and clinical director in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, is one of the top 20 individuals around the country who was chosen to participate in the Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health (SCT-MH) for Graduate Students project. This is a re-grant of the University of South Alabama from the John Templeton Foundation.
Coggin College of Business
Diane Denslow completed the requirements to receive the Rural Entrepreneurship Education Certificate. The Program, conducted by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduces educators to the expanding research and efforts to bolster rural ecosystems.
College of Arts and Sciences
Art, Art History, and Design
Trevor Dunn exhibited 15 works in the exhibition “Playing it Cool,” at the Red Lodge Clay Center in Red Lodge, Montana, August.
Stephen Heywood exhibited in the 12th Annual Clay International – National Juried Exhibition, at the Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, Virginia, August.
Dr. Elizabeth B. Heuer published “American Made: Paintings and Sculpture from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection,” D. Giles Limited, London.
Jenny K. Hager participated in the Juried International Exhibition, “Calculations: Units and Measurements” Alte Rathaus and Heidecksburg, Rudolstadt, Thüringennd, Germany, July – August.
Communication
Dr. Rachel E. Riggs, with her colleagues S. Melhem, C. Perez, C. Smith, and N. Punyanunt-Carter, published “Understanding American college students’ perceptions of Asians on television” in the journal Media Asia.
English
Mark Ari published “Santa’s House on Sunrise Highway” in the anthology Music Gigs Gone Wrong, August.
Marcus Pactor published "Risking Chaos: An Interview with David Leo Rice" in Heavy Feather Review, August.
Music
Joshua Tomlinson performed his electroacoustic theater piece “A Short Story,” at De Montfort University in Leicester, England as part of the Convergence Conference, September. “In ‘A Short Story’ a typewriter is first heard alone, but progressively its sound becomes further and further removed from reality. Additional sounds that help construct the narrative are triggered by a lamp, the only source of light. The audience is invited to observe an author's creative process — to hear his imagination and listen to his memories.”
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Dr. Bert Koegler published “Social Ontology, Dialogic Recognition, and Contemporary Challenges: A Reply,” in the anthology: , L. Dunaj/K. Mertel (eds.), London/New York, Bloomesbury.
Physics
Dr. Samana Shrestha received a 2022-23 American Short-Term Research Publication Grant Fellowship in the amount of $6,000. This amount was awarded to write a paper on “Improving radiation therapy and immunotherapy using magnetic nanoparticles-a review.”
Department of Psychology
Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons in collaboration with his coauthors C. J., Schiller, L. K., Scheibe, D., Taber, J. M., Sidney, P. G., Matthews, P. G., Coifman, K. G., Waters, E. A., & Thompson, C. A published an article, “Number lines can be more effective at facilitating adults' performance on health-related ratio problems than risk ladders and icon arrays” in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied.
Dr. Taylor Vigoureux, published an article as second author of an undergraduate mentee from University of South Florida titled “Daily association of stressors with perceived cognitive abilities: Moderating role of age,” in Stress and Health.
College of Education and Human Services
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich, associate professor, was recently elected to serve on Steering Committee representing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Digital Learning. The Steering Committee is representative of the WCET membership, makes recommendations on programmatic issues of interest to the membership-at-large, and leads and/or contributes to activities in support of WCET’s programs and membership. This is an elected position with a two-year term.
Drs. Wanda Lastrapes, faculty administrator, and Brian Zoellner, associate professor, both Project PIs, facilitated a workshop, “A STEM Induction Collaborative: Teacher Inquiry to Critically Examine Instructional Practices,” which was attended by Noyce project directors and teaching fellows.
Jacksonville Teacher Residency/National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teaching Fellows Program was represented at the 2022 Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Annual Summit in Washington, D.C., July 18 – 20. The Summit celebrated Noyce scholars, fellows, and researchers working to advance equity in high-need school districts over the past 20 years of NSF Noyce. º£½ÇÉçÇøMaster of Art in Teaching alumna Isabella Kitzis highlighted her Teacher Inquiry/Impact Project with a poster presentation titled, “Nothing You Taught Was on That Test: Analysis of the Biology Pacing Guide to Achieve Learning Outcomes at a Title 1 School.” Ms. Kitzis is a second-year biology teacher at Englewood High School, Duval County Public Schools.
Rakesh Maurya, assistant professor, published “Counsellors' lived experiences of empathy & compassion: An interpretive phenomenological inquiry,” in . This study explored counselors’ lived experiences of empathy and compassion. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, findings highlighted how counselors experience compassion and empathy, how boundaries shape wellness and practice with clients, and the impact of empathy and compassion over a career. The findings suggest that self-other differentiation is key while using empathy to develop a strong therapeutic alliance and counselor self-care.
Dr. Matthew Ohlson, director of Taylor Leadership Institute, said the Taylor Leadership Institute is certifying more than 1000 students, staff and community stakeholders in the highly regarded leadership program — the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, thanks to an award from Franklin Covey. The partnership pilot will include representatives from º£½ÇÉçÇøAthletics, CCB (Graduate and Executive Program), BCH (Health Administration Leadership Institute), ROTC & the Jax Icemen. The Covey 7 Habits training has been implemented by 90 percent of the Fortune 100 and more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500. Those interested in participating should email Dr. Ohlson.
In addition, student-athlete leaders from the º£½ÇÉçÇøbaseball and women’s tennis teams participated in a leadership mentoring initiative with the Ronald McDonald House. The º£½ÇÉçÇøstudent-athletes took time out of their busy schedules to bake cookies, cook meals, play games and enjoy some heartfelt laughter with children and families undergoing significant medical treatment and care at area hospitals. Their efforts helped to further strengthen the powerful partnership between the Taylor Leadership Institute and the Ronald McDonald house.
Dr. Elizabeth Hale Rozas, assistant professor of Literacy, has a book coming out Oct. 28 titled “High Attention Reading: Preparing Student for Independent Reading of Informational Text,” published by .
By Marsha Blasco
Elise Ballash was the child who endlessly asked the question “Why?” Now a master’s student at UNF, she has channeled her boundless curiosity into research.
Today, her inquiries relate to the work she is doing with Dr. Amy Lane, Presidential professor of chemistry, who is focusing on using bacteria as a possible source for the next drug breakthrough. Ballash has discovered that a bacteria she has been studying is producing a new compound that may have the potential to be used for medicinal purposes. “Right now, we’re in the phase that I’m trying to get enough of this compound to determine its structure,” she said. “It’s really cool because this compound has never been studied before.” This past summer, Ballash also participated in the University’s inaugural Chemistry Department Summer Undergraduate Research Program that was sponsored through a º£½ÇÉçÇøpartnership with Johnson & Johnson Vision.
To find research opportunities, Ballash talked with several professors during her junior year as a biology undergrad at UNF, in preparation for her start in the new accelerated BS/MS program in Biomedical Sciences. When she met with Lane, the research just clicked with her interests in researching pharmaceuticals from natural sources. “I’m so pleased to have found Dr. Lane,” Ballash said. “She has been a very influential and important part of my time at UNF. I do not think I would have this research opportunity elsewhere as a student just because I think º£½ÇÉçÇøis a more personable university, and everybody wants to get to know you and has your best interests in mind.”
The research project has also helped Ballash in planning her career. She had been weighing opportunities — medical school, a Doctor of Pharmacy, a Ph.D. program or a job in the pharmaceutical industry. “This has definitely helped me figure out what I want to do,” she said. “I would like to ideally get my Ph.D. and pursue more research, which is something I’ve discovered that I love.”
Ballash began her journey at º£½ÇÉçÇøas a student-athlete on the swim team, yet said she also chose the University for the academic programs she wanted to pursue. When an injury at the end of her freshman year ended her ability to swim, she was glad she had looked so closely at the quality of UNF’s degree offerings. “I loved swimming and the team, but in the end it has all worked out for me,” she said. “I am also very passionate about what I’m studying here and happy to be able to devote all my time to my academics.”
Meet Michele Johnson Moore
Dr. Michele Moore serves as chair and professor in the Department of Public Health. Her areas of expertise include Adolescent Health, Reproductive Health and Sexuality, and Social Behavioral Public Health, and she teaches the courses PHC 6940 Public Health Capstone and PHC 6945 Public Health Internship. Moore has won several teaching awards during her tenure at UNF. Most recently she is the recipient of The Distinguished Professor Award for 2022. The honor is presented annually to a º£½ÇÉçÇøfaculty member who has a balanced record of distinction at º£½ÇÉçÇøin all three areas of teaching, scholarship and service.
What research are you doing?
Currently, I collaborate with the Duval County Public Schools and Department of Health-Duval on a CDC-funded grant, which includes multiple aspects: to monitor adolescent health behaviors through implementation of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS); to train teachers to implement evidence-based sexuality education curriculum; to provide sexual health services through school-based clinics; to assess community support for sexuality education and health services; and to disseminate project outcomes.
How long have you worked at UNF?
This is my 24th year.
How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t working?
I love to travel and have a bucket list of places a mile long! But on a daily basis, I just love to be outside —hiking, boating, walking the beach — with my family, our dog or friends.
Where did you grow up?
Stuart, Florida
Where did you go to school?
University of Florida
Who inspires you and why?
Our office manager Delores. She has such a passion for our students, our faculty, º£½ÇÉçÇøand the work she does each day. She always has a smile on her face and makes everyone who walks through the door feel like they are the best thing since sliced bread. She truly has a heart of gold and inspires me to do good every day.
What is a fun fact about you many people may not know?
I spent a semester studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria, during college and our classes were held in the Schloss Leopoldskron, better known as the "Sound of Music" palace.
º£½ÇÉçÇøArt, Art History and Design Annual Faculty Exhibition
Now through Nov. 11, º£½ÇÉçÇøGallery of Art, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Mon. through Thurs.)
UNF's annual Department of Art, Art History and Design faculty exhibit features work in ceramics, drawing, installation, painting and more.
Intro to Organic Gardening
Friday, Oct. 21, 10 - 11 a.m. at Ogier Gardens
Learn the basics to starting your own garden with Ogier Gardens Coordinator, Kevin Anderson.
Distinguished Voices Lectures
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. at the Adam W. Herbert University Center
‘The U.S. and the Holocaust: Lessons for Today’s Challenges’ with Lynn Novick and Ken Burns
Join distinguished documentarians Lynn Novick and Ken Burns for an insightful dialogue on their September film, The U.S. and The Holocaust, and the lessons learned from the international response to the Holocaust and how they can be implemented today. Novick and Burns have a combined 17 Emmys and two Grammys for their work in film. Lynn Novick will be with us in person, while Ken Burns will join virtually.
Free, .
Faculty Recital: Hello Mr. Clarke! The Music of Herbert L. Clarke
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m., Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Center
Featuring Drs. Marc Dickman, trombone, euphonium; Randy Tinnin, cornet, trumpet; and Gary Smart, piano.
35th Annual Great American Jazz Series
Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater
Saxophonist Joel Frahm and Douglas Anderson SOTA JE1
Features Dr. James Hall, artistic director.
Free admission; suggested donation: $10
Fall Choral Showcase
Sunday, Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m., Recital Hall of the Fine Arts Center
Features Dr. Cara Tasher, conductor.
Free admission; suggested donation: $10
The º£½ÇÉçÇø has proudly received the 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the eighth consecutive year. º£½ÇÉçÇøis recognized as a Diversity Champion, scoring in the top tier of all HEED Award institutions.
The annual HEED award is presented by INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This national honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Continuing to receive the HEED award and the Diversity Champion distinction is an honor as it signifies UNF’s commitment to holding diversity and inclusion as institutional core values,” said Dr. Richmond Wynn, º£½ÇÉçÇøVP and chief diversity officer. “We will continue our work to build a culturally inclusive university environment that values and respects human differences and honors the dignity and well-being of each of our community members.”
Wynn leads the º£½ÇÉçÇøOffice on Diversity and Inclusion, which is home to the Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, Intercultural Center, Interfaith Center, LGBTQ Center, Women’s Center and Student Alliance for Inclusion and Diversity.
The HEED Award is the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. For more information about the 2022 HEED Award, visit .
See more news on the º£½ÇÉçÇønewsroom.