In the Spotlight: May 8, 2020
Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs
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- Professor of communications Peter Friederici published the article “The Ends of the Earth” in the literary journal Dark Mountain. The journal brings together a collection of essays, stories, poetry and artwork about a new culture of restoration.
- Flower Darby, senior instructional designer with the Teaching and Learning Center, was a featured expert in a webinar series offered by the Association of College and University Educators. The series reached thousands of faculty in 64 countries to share expert insights about easing the transition to online instruction during an emergency.
- Several articles concerning water and its relation to culture were published in the Journal of Contemporary Water Reasearch & Education.
- Assistant professor in the School of Earth and Sustainability Denielle Perry and alumna in sustainable communities Rachel Ellis co-authored the article “A Confluence of Anticolonial Pathways for Indigenous Sacred Site Protection.” The article addresses concerns about diminished flows of sacred springs in the Little Colorado River basin, specifically the Hopi Sipapuni.
- Professor of chemistry and biochemistry Jani Ingram co-authored “Dissolved Uranium and Arsenic in Unregulated Groundwater Sources–Western Navajo Nation.” The article investigates uranium and arsenic levels and contamination in unregulated wells on the Navajo Nation while providing insight to human health risks and communicating the risks to the local Navajo people.
- Professor of biological sciences Catherine Propper, along with Ingram, co-authored the article “Arsenic Concentrations in Ground and Surface Waters across Arizona Including Native Lands.” The article compiled online databases of arsenic levels in water samples and tests into a spreadsheet containing more than 33,000 water samples to help water managers and private well owners determine safe drinking water sources.
- Michelle Miller, professor of psychological sciences, published the article “5 Takeaways From My Covid-19 Remote Teaching” in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The article discusses the lessons learned since the transition to online instruction and showcases the resilience and flexibility of the NAU faculty and staff during the pandemic.
- Nicole Hampton, lecturer in education specialties, received a regional Excellence Award as Postsecondary Teacher of the Year from the Association for Career and Technical Education. The region includes 16 western states, American Samoa, Guam and the Philippines.
- Associate professor of ethnic studies T. Mark Montoya was elected vice president of the Association for Borderlands Studies, an international association dedicated to the systematic interchange of ideas and information realting to international borderlands. Montoya also published the article “Unlearning Racism: The Classroom as a Space for Social Transforamtion through Borderlands Pedagogy” in Contemporary Justice Review. The article explores how borderlands pedagogy is useful in explaining and understanding the inherent facism of the citizenship regime, specifically how diverse learning communities challenge it and consequently tear down walls.