OU-C psychology students bring home prizes in university student research expo

For the second year in a row, a group of Ohio University-Chillicothe psychology students won prizes for their poster presentations in the Ohio University Student Research and Creative Activity Expo, which was recently held on the Athens Campus. Zachary Schumacher and Nicholas Valentine won first prize in the Psychology II Division with their research poster, “A cross-cultural study on the impact of relational mobility on punishment and reward.” Further, Shawna Barr and Matthew Abbott earned second place in the Psychology I Division for their research poster, “Punishing the punisher: How we perceive those who punish.” “This is an outstanding accomplishment for these hard-working students, and it again proves that our students represent some of the top student-scholars in the university and beyond,” said OU-C Assistant Professor of Psychology Ann Rumble, who advised the students. “It should be noted that the competition was very stiff and that our students competed not only with psychology students from the Athens Campus, but also with students from the Honors Tutorial College.” The students previously presented on “Punishing the Punisher: at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in Chicago from April 29 to May 1. Abbott, a senior from Nordonia High School in Macedonia, said, “This was my first year participating in the student expo in Athens, and it was a great opportunity to gain an understanding of what to expect and how to prepare for next year. This experience was an amazing chance to see what everyone else is doing in Psychology at OU and what directions research is taking. It also gives us a way to see how our education on a regional campus is stacking up compared to the main campus in Athens. Doing this type of research is one of the greatest educational experiences you can have; it is a way to combine everything you have learned in class and put it in a real world settings and research that matters. The best part of it all is when you go for an interview to get into graduate school and they ask you what you have learned you can hand them your research projects that you have personally done and say ‘this.’” Abbott plans to attend graduate school and study industrial organizational psychology. “The expo in Athens was an experience that, at first, was a little overwhelming, with just the amount of students and their projects,” said Valentine, a junior from Circleville. “I felt comfortable enough, though that Zach and I were confident about our knowledge about the research project. After interacting with other psychology students, I feel that I am more prepared for a career in psychology. I would like to thank Ann Rumble for allowing us to have this experience.” Valentine plans to further psychological research in the field of social psychology. Barr, a senior from Bainbridge and Paint Valley High School graduate, said, “This is my second time competing at expo. Each time I present I am extremely nervous, but it is something that I just have to take a deep breath and do. I have also placed both times at expo, and it has helped me to learn that even though you are afraid, often times if you just give it your all that you will be successful. I believe this bit of insight is highly important in preparing me for a professional career in that I'm sure there will come a time when I am presented with a task that I may be afraid to take on, but with a deep breath and a little plunge that I can be successful. I believe that often times the community is unaware of the quality of research that takes place on our branch campus and it is exciting to share that with them.” She plans to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy. “I learned about relational mobility, punishment, reward and culture,” said Schumacher, a sophomore from Unioto High School in Chillicothe. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology.

Photo cutlines: Nicholas Valentine and Zachary Schumacher are shown with their poster presentation in top photo. In the bottom photo, Matthew Abbott and Shawna Barr pose with their presentation.

Upcoming OU-C theater production shines spotlight on the life & times of John Barrymore

The Ohio University-Chillicothe theater program will present Barrymore, a play about great stage and film actor John Barrymore, at 8 p.m. on June 4 and June 5 in the Bennett Hall auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, free for OU-C students. Tickets are available at the Bennett Hall Information Desk during business hours and at the OU-C Box Office on the evenings of performances. Group rates of $8 per ticket are also available. “The play focuses on Barrymore’s efforts to reignite his career on stage one last time, despite alcoholism and general extravagance,” said OU-C faculty member Ken Breidenbaugh, who directs the play. “It is set in 1942, the year preceding his death. It is a wildly entertaining and moving production, and it is full of theater history and lore.” Leading actors are Dan Jalbuena, as Barrymore, and Taylor Hicks, who plays the role of the prompter/manager who attempts to keep Barrrymore on task in the rehearsal process.

OU-C faculty members receive promotions and tenure

Two Ohio University-Chillicothe faculty members recently earned promotion and tenure from the university, pending official approval by the university’s Board of Trustees. They include: • Charman L. Miller earned tenure and was promoted to associate professor from assistant professor. Miller, who joined the OU-C faculty on a full-time basis n 2004, earned her associate degree and bachelor’s from the University Rio Grande and her master’s degree from Otterbein University. All three degrees are in nursing. • Robb Moats earned tenure and was promoted to associate professor from assistant professor. Moats, who joined the OU-C faculty in 2004, earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from West Virginia University, and his master’s degree and Ph.D., both in physiology, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I congratulate these faculty members on their accomplishments. Strong, capable faculty members who engage and inspire students are the hallmark of the OU-C educational experience,” OU-C Dean Richard Bebee said.

OU-C students, faculty member present at diversity conference

Several Ohio University-Chillicothe students recently participated in a diversity conference on the Athens Campus. “Building Community Through Diversity Initiatives: An Undergraduate Research Conference for Ohio University and Its Regional Campuses” was held May 7-8 in the Baker University Center. Faculty member Kathleen Davies and Writing Center Coordinator Debra Nickles accompanied the students. Heather Welshimer and Tammy Simkins presented in "Young Women Communicating Change" regarding ways to reach out to young women in the Ross county community through WGS initiatives. Karalea Lane presented a piece entitled “Reflections of a Woman Reinventing Herself.” Anita Lane presented her paper on “The Need to Connect Deaf and Hearing World” with Julie Parma as interpreter. She was also sponsored and supported by Lori Woods and Abby White. Kandice Valentine provided technology support. This group also put together an awareness table for the conference. Kurrie Boddorf created a “tape” sculpture and presented her ideas about “gender conception” Sarah Cook presented a paper, “10 Years, 3 Wars, 1 Woman: Teaching Students the ‘Art’ of War,” in which she examined how to build reading skills for middle school students while examining the Gulf wars through an Iraqi perspective. Sarah Wagner presented, “Transphobia and Its Effects on the Non-Trans Partner.” Also, Davies participated in the faculty/staff plenary session, which concluded the conference. “The conference provided us with a rare opportunity to spend quality time with each other and with people from other campuses. The students were very excited to be presenting their ideas outside of a classroom. Adrenaline was high, and the experience empowered all. Debra and I are proud of the students for the degree of professionalism and intellectual prowess they exhibited,” Davies said. “This conference was a great professional outlet for those OU-C students who are interested in exploring topics of diversity. They were able to showcase their scholarship and participate in an exciting, academically rich atmosphere. Undergraduates don't typically have many opportunities to participate in a fully funded conference of this sort, so we are grateful to the Women's Center for organizing this inaugural event and we look forward to next year,” Nickles added.

Upcoming Campus Events

• Campus ‘Spring Fling’ on May 19 • OU-C political science faculty member Nicholas Kiersey to discuss “Debating Politics Through Science Fiction” at noon on May 27 in Bennett Hall room 105 • Recognition of Graduation event at 7:30 p.m. on June 11 in the Shoemaker Center; Nursing pinning ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

Columbus Dispatch story highlights OU-C freshman student’s financial savvy

The story of OU-C freshman Lindsay Binegar, a freshman who is majoring in early elementary education, was featured on the front page of the Columbus Dispatch Metro & State on May 17. “Hog Wild? Not this girl” details how the student from Greenfield used money she earned from her winnings in 4-H hog competitions to buy a house that she leases. And, she accomplished this while still a teen-ager and prior to setting foot on a college campus. You can read about Lindsay Binegar’s financial acumen online at: http://static.dispatch.com/www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/17/hog-wildnot-this-girl.html

OU-C education, nursing faculty collaborate on presentation for professional conference

Several Ohio University-Chillicothe faculty members collaborated on a recent presentation before the Association of Childhood Education International conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Education faculty member and nursing faculty members Charlotte McManus, Lisa Kauffman and Nita Penn presented “Teacher and Nurse Education University Programs Build Partnerships for Innovative Classroom Practices.” Trube delivered the presentation on behalf of the group. The presentation focused on the ability of teacher education and nurse preparation faculty members to build partnerships that involve students in service-oriented projects. For years, nursing students have been involved in outreach efforts in area middle schools and elementary schools. This particular project also involved an interdisciplinary co-teaching approach with the areas of nursing and education to prepare future teachers and nursing to work among many disciplines in providing service to children. Area schools that were involved in the partnership include West Elementary, Unioto Primary School and Adena Elementary School. Early childhood programs include Pioneer School Preschool, Chillicothe City School Prekindergarten and Ross County Community Action Head Start. As the presentation notes, nursing and education faculty have a common interest in developing service-oriented projects for students. The presentation focused on a collaborative process that includes: • Faculty developing a vision of fostering students’ competence in group communication • Faculty meeting and planning sessions • Contacting area schools, agencies & programs • Developing coordinated syllabi and field placements • Assigning students to appropriate school/program presentations • Developing project presentation lessons • Working with students to evaluate projects Further, Ohio University-Chillicothe Early Childhood Education faculty member Barbara Trube recently was a co-presenter of a session sponsored by the ACEI Global Guidelines Committee entitled “Train-the-Trainer Approach to Support the GGA,” with professors from Minnesota State University and Clemson University. Trube has used the GGA (Global Guidelines Assessment) in three cities in China and in 10 counties in Appalachia Ohio, and participates in the Global Guidelines research agenda through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The GGA program is currently translated into 12 languages and has been used in more than 100 countries since 2000.

Ceramic pieces by OU-C faculty member are included in “Best of 2010” traveling art exhibit

Two ceramic pieces of OU-C Professor of Art Margaret McAdams’ Aesop’s Fable series are included in the “Best of 2010” juried exhibition sponsored by the Ohio Designer Craftsmen. “Not so Bad, After All” earned the Lonsway Memorial Award for humor in craft. This work was reproduced in a review of the show in the Art Section of the May 9 Columbus Dispatch. The exhibition continues through June 20, at the Ohio Crafts Museum then travels to Owens Community College, Perrysburg and the Lima Artspace. Images of McAdams’ work are available online at http://www.ohiocraft.org/exhibition_bo10_ceramics.html