NAU News

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NAU Vball team campNorthern Arizona University’s campus will be bustling with young volleyball enthusiasts as the NAU Lumberjack Skills Camps and NAU Team Camp take place this July.

Lumberjack Skills Camps, for children in fifth through 12th grades, is offered July 14-16 and July 20-22. The NAU Team Camp, which provides workshops for high school volleyball teams, is scheduled for July 17-19.

Campers will receive instruction from head coach Ken Murphy, assistant coaches and top NAU players that will help develop their skill techniques for 6-on-6 games and tournament play.

Commuter and resident options are available for both camps.

Registration is online. For information, contact Anna Gott.

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Kudos to these faculty, staff and students

Do you have a spotlight item to share with the NAU community?

E-mail your announcements to Inside@nau.edu, or use our online submission form.

  • Richard Hofstetter, associate professor in NAU’s School of Forestry, edited a book titled Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species published by Academic Press. The book provides a thorough discussion of these economically important pests of coniferous and broadleaf trees and studies their importance in agriculture and forests. It is the first book in the market solely dedicated to this important group of insects.
  • Paul Beier, Regents’ professor in the School of Forestry and member of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science, contributed to the committee’s recently released report addressing climate change. Beier also was the lead author on a How-To guide for actionable science included in the report. The committee, which produces usable and action-oriented science that helps people prepare for these changes, is hoping this How-To guide is something everyone can use to obtain climate-resilience and sustainable communities. The full report can be found here.
  • David Patton, professor emeritus, and Richard Hofstetter, associate professor in NAU’s School of Forestry, have published a General Technical Report listing the vast number of species of plants and animals found in the ponderosa pine forest of Arizona. This information will provide comprehensive diversity lists for forest managers and scientists studying and managing ponderosa pine forests.
  • Eric Yordy, associate professor of business law, Nita Paden, professor of marketing and MBA student Kaitlin Bryant received The Case Journal and Emerald Group Publishing’s Excellence in Case Writing award for their submission, “Charmingly Delicious: Childhood Obesity and General Mills’ Dilemma.” The winner was announced at the CASE conference luncheon earlier this month in Philadelphia, Penn. Read more here.

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Northern Arizona University’s online bachelor’s and graduate degree programs were ranked in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs for Veterans, released this week.

While the online bachelor’s program ranked 115th of the 737 schools evaluated, the online master’s program ranked 91st. U.S. News & World Report’s third annual Best Online Programs for Veterans rankings were based on the degree’s affordability, faculty credentials, student services and reputation.

“NAU promotes a positive and collaborative student service approach in serving veteran students through all of our degree programs, including those offered online,” said Andrew Griffin, director of Military and Veteran Affairs. “Student service units meet regularly to discuss veteran issues to ensure our policies provide the very best service and support based on national best practices.”

Programs evaluated were business, education, engineering, nursing and computer information technology.

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Lync users across Northern Arizona University’s campus should expect to see changes to the instant messaging system throughout the coming year.

Skype for Business, Microsoft’s latest version of instant messaging, will be released May 22, and a campus-wide update for PC users will happen automatically.

The Skype for Business update is not currently available for Mac, iOS or Android devices. Skype for Business for iOS and Android devices will be released in June. Mac users will not see a Lync update until early 2016. Devices that will not be upgrading at this time will remain on the current version of Lync and will retain the ability to communicate with users of the Skype for Business upgrade.

For questions or concerns regarding the new Skype for Business client, contact the ITS Solution Center.

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Princeton Review recently released its annual Guide to Green Colleges, naming Northern Arizona University among the elite 353 schools committed to sustainability.

In order to make the list, the schools had to demonstrate they were environmentally aware by proving student life is both healthy and sustainable, employment preparation in the clean-energy of the economy is actively passed onto students and environmentally responsible school policies are in place.

NAU has 10 LEED certified buildings on campus, multiple reduce, reuse and recycle initiatives in place, free access to city buses and the Yellow Bike Program for students and faculty to use, a reclaimed water initiative saving more than 30 million gallons each year and an array of wind and solar power structures around campus.

Princeton Review studied more than 2,000 universities and compiled a list of green colleges to serve as a guide for environmentally conscious students when choosing a school to further their education.

Princeton Review’s free Guide to Green Colleges can be downloaded here. NAU’s plan to create a culture of sustainability can be found here.

 

 

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Making up nearly half of the awards presented, NAU alumni and students have dominated the Rodel Foundation’s Aspiring Principal and Promising Student Teacher awards.

The Rodel Foundation is an organization committed to improving Arizona’s education by honoring exemplary principals, aspiring principals and education role models in high-need schools throughout Maricopa, Pima, Pinal and Yavapai counties.

Rodel Aspiring Principals are selected each spring to participate in a two-year partnership where they will train, shadow and build a network with Rodel Exemplary Principal mentors as they prepare to become principals of their own schools.

NAU undergraduates named Promising Student Teachers will be mentored by Rodel Exemplary Teachers as they begin their student teacher experience during the fall 2015 semester.

“In order to create great schools, along with high-quality teachers, we need powerful leaders,” said Ramona Mellott, dean of the NAU’s College of Education, the state’s only institution meeting National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education standards. “We are proud of our programs and our faculty, who work hard to inspire our students to go out and make a difference.”

Listed below are the 2015 Rodel Aspiring Principals, degree or certificate earned from NAU, the school they are currently working and the city in which it is located:

  • Joel Bacalia, master’s, Pueblo Magnet High School, Tucson,
  • Karen Burns, bachelor’s and two master’s, Rancho Viejo Elementary School
  • Rose Devine, master’s, Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary School, Chandler
  • Jessica Felix, bachelor’s and master’s, Westwind Elementary School, Gilbert
  • Debbee Garcia, master’s, La Cima Middle School, Tucson
  • Michelle Gottleber, master’s, Gallego Basic Elementary School, Tucson
  • Cindy Hookstra, bachelor’s and master’s, Gary A. Knox Elementary School, Somerton
  • Nora Jaramillo, master’s, Irene Erickson Elementary School, Tucson
  • Brian Lockwood, master’s, Superstition Mountain Elementary School, Sedona
  • Albert Malis, master’s, Ironwood Ridge High School, Tucson
  • Stephanie Ponce, master’s, Sunnyside Unified District, San Tan Valley
  • Margaret Rodriguez, master’s, Madison Elementary District, Surprise
  • Allyson Stewart, bachelor’s, Willis Junior High School, Yuma
  • Jason Stuewe, master’s, Youngker High School, Goodyear

Listed below are the 2015 Promising Student Teachers and their degree currently in pursuit.

  • Chelsea Cleary, special and elementary education
  • Joseph Eccles, secondary education—English
  • Jana Jensen, special and elementary education
  • Chanel Turner, elementary education

A full list of award recipients can be found online.