2016newsletterFINAL
- 1. THE SCOOP ON THE PLACE TO BE College of Liberal Arts UNLV Summer/Fall 2016 Welcome Dean Christopher Heavey The College of Liberal Arts (COLA) is excited to welcome its new dean, Christopher Heavey. Although hes new to this position, hes not new to UNLV, having been on campus since 1992. Enjoy getting to know him through this interview. What are you most excited about in your new position as the dean? What Im most excited about is being able to support the great faculty, students, and staff of the College of Liberal Arts. There are so many exciting things happening in the college, like the groundbreaking research and inspiring creative activity of our faculty, and students transforming their lives and building their futures through hard work, and staff who come to work every day to make a difference by contributing to student success and the larger mission of the University. What are some of your goals, short- and long-term, for the college? I want to work to be sure we are providing both a great education and the foundation for a successful future for all our students. To me, that means that our classes and programs teach students what they will need to thrive in their lives after college, including in their careers and as citizens and individuals. It also means that we are creating a wide range of opportunities for engagement and growth outside of the classroom through things like internships, mentorship, research opportunities, and ways to build relationships with other students and with faculty and staff. And, I want to support faculty so they can conduct their scholarship and creative activity, which improves our community and our world. What is your management philosophy? I believe in leadership as serviceif Im not improving the lives of our students, our faculty, and our staff, then Im not doing my job. I also believe that what we do at universities as faculty and staff is important, so its crucial to find ways for everyone to contribute. The importance of building community and an appreciation for teamwork is also necessary. None of us can offer a college degree, or even conduct significant research or creative activity, by ourselves. It always takes a team. Recognizing the contributions that everyone makes to the larger effort and helping people feel valued for their contributions makes for more productive groups. Story continues on next page
- 2. 2 Vivamus porta est sed est. Whats your favorite part of working at UNLV? I feel honored to be part of such a special place. Students come here to build the foundation for their futures and faculty come here to contribute to students and the larger society. I would also say that UNLV and Las Vegas, both being so young and vibrant, make for a particularly interesting place to work. In the time Ive worked at the University, it has about doubled in size, with lots of new degrees, new buildings, and new people. What are your hobbies? Who are your favorite authors? I like outdoor activities, especially things that involve a bit of thrill, like snow and water skiing and river rafting. I tried parachuting once and Id really like to again. I completed a Class V river-rafting trip this summer, which was really exciting. Class V rapids are the could die kind pretty unlikely, but it could happen. I also like to ride my road bike and swim and hope to get back to playing tennis and golf soon. When my sons were involved with Boy Scouts, I was able to do a fair amount of hiking and backpacking. My favorite hikes have been rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon and a 50-mile backpacking trip in Yosemite. I love camping in Zion, which is so close and beautiful. In terms of reading, I dont read a lot of fiction during the school year because I get too wrapped up in it and cant put it down! When Im on vacation, I like historical fiction, among other things. I think Ive read just about everything Ken Follett has written. Reading the Harry Potter series with my sons was fun. But during the school year, I mostly read psychology books and other things relevant to work. Mindset by Carol Dweck and The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt are two I often recommend. Both of these books have lots of interesting psychology research woven together into a larger message. Whats something UNLV students might not know about you? Most students probably dont know that Im a licensed psychologist and have done quite a bit of marital therapy during my career. I really like helping couples stay together. Calling All Alumni! The College of Liberal Arts is in the process of creating an official Alumni Chapter. If you are interested in learning more or joining, please email: liberalarts@unlv.edu and in the subject line write: Alumni Chapter.
- 3. 3 Funded Fellowships Provide The PRACTICE with Even More Expertise With all of Nevadas easily accessible possibilities for addiction, one might think the state would have more than enough mental health professionals and resources. But exactly the opposite is trueNevada is ranked as one of the lowest in the country. This gives The PRACTICE: A UNLV Community Mental Health Clinic, a clear benchmark from which to work and has also attracted some sharp new minds with its fellowship program. The PRACTICE clinic serves as a teaching, training and research clinic for faculty and students in the Colleges of Education and Liberal Arts. I was finishing up an internship and looking for my next opportunity, when I heard about the fellowship, says Dr. Jared Grant, one of two fellows currently working at The PRACTICE. With the little I knew about Las Vegas, I assumed there would be a large community of clinicians so imagine my surprise when I learned about the high demand for these types of medical offerings and resources. The PRACTICE Clinic is a dynamic university-based training clinic providing low cost, evidence-based mental and behavioral health services to the community. From the very beginning, The PRACTICE really impressed me. This facility provides such a needed service and the level of quality care is phenomenal. Ive found that there is truly a desire to reach people, says Grant. The PRACTICE is appreciative of the funding provided by The Eleanor Kagi Foundation, a Lynn M. Bennett Legacy, which makes these fellowships possible. Recruitment for the two annual postdoctoral positions began during Spring 2015 and two more fellows will begin this fall as the original duo finishes up their terms. These positions are designed to meet licensure requirements for the professional psychologist. In addition to serving their time at UNLVs clinic, a goal of the fellowships is to retain them to continue their work in Nevada after becoming licensed, which both of the original fellows are planning. The clinic also welcomes additional funding opportunities to sustain and expand their services. As Dr. Grant says, More money would allow us to help more people, by being able to offer very low fees for quality service. Through community financial support, there could be more interns, more postdoc positions, and more mental health services available throughout Southern Nevada. Echoing this message, Dr. Jeremy Gallas said, Having more donors could help bring in more providers and train them to stay in Nevada, where there are so desperately needed. Gallas knows that he has had opportunities he might not have received elsewhere. I had enjoyed working in a college clinic setting before so when I saw the job posting for The PRACTICE on the American Psychological Associations website, it sounded exciting, explains Gallas. This clinic delivers some really unique options, like the opportunity to provide telemental health services, something I hadnt had the opportunity to do before. He was also pleased to learn that he could continue working with a variety of children, adults, and families. I hadnt previously aspired to develop my own programs but that has proved to be so essential at The PRACTICE. Dr. Grant and I have really taken notice of this communitys needs, through our research and communication with hospitals, other doctors, and the public, and come up with programs to address new topics. Story continues on next page
- 4. 4 With a group psychotherapy focus, Grant works primarily with adults but also sees adolescents. I have been able to provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families and love the fact that we have an entire sand tray room as well as a play therapy room, he notes. Im so proud to be part of such a dynamic staff, providing affordable, attainable quality care while serving the greatest number of people we can. Our clients know that we care about them. The work done at The PRACTICE benefits the entire community. Dr. Gallas was brought on with a focus on women and childrens mental health but has had the opportunity to work with all types of people. My PRACTICE experience has been excellent overall, he comments. The specific outreach weve conducted, combined with developing targeted, evidence-based programs, is so essential to this community. Ive also been very attracted to the diversity of the clients we serve. This is truly a cutting-edge institution that has the support of the community and the university. Both noted that the mentorship of and Director Dr. Michelle Paul and Assistant Director Dr. Noelle Lefforge has been phenomenal. We are so grateful that they are such proponents for the group therapy program, notes Dr. Gallas. With their support, people are learning about the ripple effect our work can have, like how improving wellness can reduce the stress load on a family and the community as a whole. The more work we can do to support mental health agencies, the better for everyone. SLICES Adds to its Team SLICES (Service Learning Initiative for Community Engagement in Sociology) is excited to announce two new positions funded by the Regents Service Award program. We welcome to the team incoming Sociology doctoral student, Kimberly Tejchma-Sandford, our new Community Engagement and Mentorship Coordinator, and undergraduate Sociology major, Ashley Hamilton, our new Program Coordinator. We also welcome our incoming cohort of peer facilitators and our newly formed student advisory committee. SLICES is an academically rigorous, community-based, leadership and knowledge project. During the year to a year-and-a-half in the program, students learn about the experiences of different racial and ethnic groups by engaging in key sociological texts (scholarly and popular texts from the communities they are learning about) by partnering with local community organizations to complete a community-based research project, and by learning about and applying a social change model of leadership. We believe that education can and should be intimately tied to social justice and the work of social change, that ALL students can make important contributions to the learning space and to learning activities, and that the engaged student is a successful student. We are looking forward to working with our 2016-2017 community partners: Immigrants Justice Initiative, Gold Butte Initiative, UndocuNetwork, and The Intersection. We would also like to thank our UNLV campus partners for their commitment to supporting high impact learning opportunities for students: Student Engagement and Diversity, Social Sciences Liaison Librarian and University Libraries, the Office of Undergraduate Research, Career Service, and the Writing Center. For more information, or to support SLICES, please contact Anna C. Smedley-L坦pez, Ph.D. at anna.smedley@unlv.edu.
- 5. 5 There is no doubt in her family and friends minds that Angela Nichole Peterson would have led a most interesting and fulfilling life. The dedicated double major student would have graduated during the spring of 2010. However, on November 29, 2009, while driving home from a friends house, she died tragically in a car accident after being hit by a drunk driver. Its hard to believe that nearly six years have passed since that horrific night and the tears still come easily to Frank and Linda Peterson, the parents of the former UNLV student. She was going to do great things in her life, says her father. From a young age, she was interested in studying three things: ocean biology, paleontology, and anthropology. A person of academic integrity and scholarship, Angela was a wonderful example of the student every professor hopes to have, recalls Lea Sexton, the director of the Wilson Advising Center on campus. She had a bright future in front of her, and none of us who knew her ever questioned her ability to make it to the top. The Petersons have channeled their love for their daughter into a living tribute through the Angela Peterson Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology. There is never an Honors Convocation or Anthropology event where the Petersons arent present, spreading that same joy that Angela was always so ready to share. In addition to endowing the scholarship, the Petersons provide funding to undergraduate anthropology majors and MA graduate students to help support field work, research, and related travel expenses. They also contribute generous financial support for the Friends of World Anthropology (FWA), an organization within the Department of Anthropology that facilitates lectures, funds graduate research, and provides community outreach. Meeting the students were able to help is bittersweet, comments Linda. UNLV has really become our family in Nevada and has been so good to us. Her parents received her double Bachelors of Arts (dual majors in Anthropology and Psychology in memoriam during the spring 2010 commencement. She was also posthumously honored with the UNLV Department of Anthropology's Future Anthropologist Award. Gifts like the ones made by the Petersons in honor of Angela provide an impact far into the future, while honoring and recognizing an individuals dedication to a program, personal interest, excellence in industry, or field of study. A tribute or memorial gift may support any college or program and may be given by an individual or a group. If you would like to learn more about leaving a legacy within the College of Liberal Arts at UNLV, please contact Heather Torgersen at (702) 895-2945 or heather.torgersen@unlv.edu. Creating a Living Legacy In Memoriam Gifts Pave the Way for Future Success
- 6. 6 Interdisciplinary Program Focusing on Social Science Studies Receives Accolade The Social Science Studies Program housed in IDP was recently named by BestSchools.org as the fifth best online Social Science program in the country. Truly an example of the collaborative and interdisciplinary spirit within the College of Liberal Arts, Social Science Studies involves a number of departments (Anthropology, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Gender and Sexuality Studies). This unique offering provides students with a rigorous plan of study, including the completion of a Capstone project. Additionally, the degree exposes students to different disciplinary and theoretical approaches, preparing them for their respective academic and professional pursuits. Since 2008, Social Science Studies has graduated more than 250 students, indicating the continuing appeal of this degree. Students have gone on to graduate work and fulfilling various employment opportunities. According to Anita Tijerina Revilla, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of the Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Interdisciplinary Degree Programs, I believe this recognition is only the beginning. We are committed to advancing all of our online offerings. She continues, We are working with amazing online education instructors to continue to develop the courses and make them state of the art interactive projects. We know that many students are looking for the convenience of online education, but we are also offering them cutting-edge scholarship and instruction. Anthropology Conducts Field School In May and June, Dr. Barbara Roth and Ph.D. student Aaron Woods of the Anthropology Department directed an archaeological field school at a large pueblo site in the Mimbres River Valley of southwestern New Mexico with a team of ten UNLV undergraduate and graduate students. The Elk Ridge site, occupied from AD 1000-1130, is unique because it is the largest unlooted pueblo in the Mimbres region, an area renowned for its elaborate black-on-white pottery, which has led to extensive looting. The project is being done in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, Gila National Forest, because an arroyo is cutting into the west side of the pueblo and destroying the pueblo rooms. Roth, Woods, and the UNLV students excavated four pueblo rooms this season and are ready to begin analyzing the materials they found in Roth's laboratory on campus this fall. Students working on excavations at the Elk Ridge site in New Mexico.
- 7. 7 Welcome Heather Torgersen Director of Development Heather Torgersen joins the College of Liberal Arts with over a dozen years of development experience. After receiving a B.S. in Political Science and Sociology at Southern Utah University, she started her career working on political campaigns and earned an M.A. in Political Science, officially becoming a UNLV Rebel. She transitioned into development work with non-profits, and spent nearly a decade with the American Cancer Society. While there, she worked in event planning and fundraising, led a national training team for development, and secured major gifts while managing a team of fundraisers. She can be reached at (702) 895-2945 or heather.torgersen@unlv.edu. Cross-Campus Collaboration Breaking Down Silos Meaningful collaboration projects with other colleges on campus are becoming more common. As the term breaking down silos suggests, working together can lead to the incorporation of best ideas and eventually, better output. Recently, such a research partnership led to the publishing of an article in Nutrition Research entitled Human placenta processed for encapsulation contains modest concentrations of 14 trace minerals and elements. This exploration, a joint project between the Metabolism, Anthropometry, and Nutrition Laboratory within the Department of Anthropology, the School of Community Health Sciences, and the Department of Geoscience, was conducted by the following UNLV faculty members: Sharon Young, Laura K. Gryder, Winnie B. David, Yuanxin Teng, Shawn Gerstenberger, and Daniel Benyshek. According to Shawn Gerstenberger, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Community Health Sciences, The big thing we want to emphasize is that this is an example of collaborative, interdisciplinary research at work and what I think we need to aspire to do to be a top-tier university. When we can quit worrying about who gets the credit and worry about how we can make a difference, thats when we can be successful, and I think thats what happened on this project. As much as the results are exciting, I think reaching across these arbitrary lines that we call colleges and schools to get the work done is even more exciting. My reaction here is that this is really one of the first publications that has even evaluated human placenta, which is really interesting. Figuring out how the contaminants or hormone levels in the placenta can really influence behavior and health outcomes is fascinating. The good news, obviously, is that there was a reasonably low concentration of metals in the placenta so that is the finding you would like to see from a human health perspective. One of the things that happened was we had anthropology students come over and take courses in our shop, specifically my toxicology class. They told me they were conducting human placenta research and asked what my concerns would be as a toxicologist. They were already studying hormones, but I suggested looking at contaminants. They added the whole medical anthropology piece and when the two came together, thats how the collaboration started. We realized we actually do a lot of work that is related to one another, but there really wasnt a mechanism for us to connect other than we had some students in a class that ask really good questions. Its kind of a neat way of how it happened." Results of the entire study are available online at sciencedirect.com as well as at nrjournal.com.