In the Spotlight: Sept. 13, 2019

Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs

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  • Communications professor Bill Carter is in Brazil working on a special projected commissioned by MIT Sloan School of Business’s Global Programs. “The Future of Work” is a documentary that will be used as an education and policy tool.
  • Career Development’s Student Employment Program was awarded a 2019 Career Innovation Award by the Career Leadership Collective for Integration of Career Readiness Competencies. NAU Career Development staff, Emily McCarthy, Diana Sundermeyer and Nick Rathbone, were featured as part of the summer webinar series hosted by the Career Leadership Collective.
  • Richard Hofstetter, professor of forest entomology in the School of Forestry, authored the paper “Bark beetle population dynamic in the Anthropocene: challenges and solutions,” which was published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. The study highlights the current causes of unprecedented damage caused by bark beetles in European and North American forests and proposes a conceptual framework to reveal the drivers of bark beetle populations.
  • Samantha Sabo, an associate professor in health sciences and a researcher with the Center for Health Equity Research, was recognized by the Community Health Representative Policy and Planning Committee for her commitment to the Community Health Representative (CHR) workforce and policy efforts in the state. The award recognizes her dedication to funding opportunities, advocacy, and innovative ideas she brings to her work.
  • Laura Noll, professor of psychological sciences, recently had an article accepted for publication. “Contextual Influences on the Perception of Pregnant Women Who Use Drugs: Information about Women’s Childhood Trauma History Reduces Punitive Attitudes,” will be published in the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation.
  • KNAU received the 2019 Best of the Best: News Station Category award from Verde Valley Newspapers. This was voted on by readers of Verde Independent, Camp Verde Bugle and Kudos publications.
  • Daniel Foley, instructor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation recently published “A meta-analysis of global crop water productivity of three leading world crops (wheat, corn and rice) in the irrigated areas over three decades” in the International Journal of Digital Earth. The meta-analysis gathered crop water productivity data from published articles, which covered a total of 148 crop growing sites throughout the world. The data collected addressed wheat, corn and rice to establish the volume of water that can be saved while growing each crop.
  • The American Heart Association invited and provided funding for Amir Arzani, assistant professor in mechanical engineering, to attend the AHA Research Leaders Academy held his month in Baltimore. The academy is an opportunity to engage more than 300 new and experienced research leaders in the exchange of ideas and debates to advance science in cardiovascular care and stroke.
  • David Begay, adjunct faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was featured in the podcast, “Indigenous Ways of Knowing-Journey of the Universe.” He is a member of the Navajo Nation and received a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, with a concentration in indigenous education and application of traditional knowledge.
  • Leah Mundell, professor of anthropology, continued her research with the Cape Town Women’s Platform this summer. This is a project of the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and helps migrants and refugees integrate into South African society. Mundell studies cross-cultural comparisons of migrants in South Africa and the United states to understand the phenomenon of human migration.
  • Communications professor, Martin Sommerness edited the most recent edition of “Survey of Communication,” a publication from McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Corina Kellner of the Department of Anthropology presented a talk at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the Society for American Archaeology meetings with principal investigator Sarah Kerchusky of the University of California Santa Barbara and collaborator Frank Ramos of New Mexico State University. The talk focused on research concerning eight Nasca-style “trophy” heads, what methods were used to assess the individuals, as well as historical context and the cultural significance of their findings.
  • The Civic Service Institute implemented the Foster Grandparents Program in an effort to share “life’s wisdom” with children in Mohave County. Foster Grandparents provides one-on-one time with children which helps with schoolwork and social skills. In return, studies have shown the interactions benefit the Foster Grandparents by improving health and decreasing depression.
  • The Arizona Teachers Academy was just approved to receive about $15 million in new state funding that will help with the development of new educators and teachers. The new funds will ease the teacher shortage, expand current certification programs, and support community colleges.
  • According to USA Today, Flagstaff ranked No. 9 among some of the best college towns in the U.S. The median age of residents is 25 years with 32 percent of the population enrolled in college.
  • Information Technology Services‘ user experience team (pictured below) was awarded the Best Student Engagement App of 2019 by Modo, the app company. The team created NAUgo, a mobile app for students that provides information and resources about campus. Features include tracking bus routes, selecting dining options and easier access to LOUIE and BbLearn along with clubs and organization on campus.