In the Spotlight: Feb. 12, 2016

In the Spotlight: Feb. 12, 2016

Kudos to these faculty, staff and students

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  • Wendy Holliday, head of teaching, learning and research services at Northern Arizona University, is the recipient of the Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section’s Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award. The honor recognizes a librarian who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of instruction in a college or research library environment. Holliday will receive a $1,000 award and be recognized with a plaque at the 2016 ALA annual conference in Orlando.
  • Michelle Tellez, project director for Beyond Boundaries in the Ethnic Studies department, was selected to receive a $2,000 grant from the Arizona Humanities, a nonprofit which supports projects that engage the public with humanities through public programming. With the award, Tellez will continue the university’s Beyond Boundaries programming bringing speakers, activists, media makers and artists to the NAU campus to increase dialogue and research paradigms around the topic of border crossings and disruptions, identity and community formations across multiple borderlands.
  • Capitol visitNearly 60 students from NAU’s Social Work program traveled to the Capitol this week to participate in Social Work Day at the Legislature. Students visited the Senate Chambers where they had the opportunity to learn about the National Association of Social Workers legislative priorities for 2016 and to advocate for the issues concerning social workers in Arizona. Students also met with three House Representatives and later observed the House in session. Students also were provided the opportunity to attend a session of the Committee on Health and Human Services.
  • John Hultgren, lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Affairs, was interviewed on Pacifica Radio’s talk show “Against the Grain.” Hultgren weighed in on the history and contemporary politics of environmentalists and immigration restrictionism and discussed his recent book, Border Walls Gone Green: Nature and Anti-immigrant Politics in America. Listen to the interview here.
  • Ishmael Munene, associate professor of educational leadership, has been appointed external examiner at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. The assignment, which begins next month, will focus on doctoral research theses with specific reference to education in Africa.
  • NAU’s Cline Library contributed a pre-conference session at the 2015 Arizona Library Association Conference held at High Country Conference Center. The session titled “So, You Have a Big Dream—Make It Come True! Lessons Learned froIntlStudentsSedonam Creating an Advanced Technology University Learning Studio in the Library” discussed the library’s Learning Studio renovation project, planning and assessment efforts. Contributors included Cynthia ChildreyJill Koelling FriedmannJeff Hillock, Janet CrumLaura Rose Taylor and
 Mark Manone. Poster session participants included Suzanne L. Pieper, Laura Rose TaylorMelissa L. Johnson, Kathee Rose, Theresa Alarid and Peter Runge.
  • NAU welcomed more than 700 new international students and 43 visiting scholars to campus in the 2015-16 academic year. International student orientation in January included a day trip to Red Rock State Park in Sedona, pictured above. Students were accompanied by Center for International Education staff and members of NAU’s International Club.