Mercer News

Young, Gibson, Barker Headline Mercer Baseball A-Sun Postseason Honors

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:00 GMT

MACON — After helping the Mercer baseball team to its first Atlantic Sun Regular Season Title in program history, several Bears received A-Sun Conference postseason honors as announced by the league office on May 20. Tenth-year head coach Craig Gibson was named A-Sun Conference Coach of the Year while sophomore third baseman Chesny Young was named the A-Sun Conference Player of the Year and junior Brandon Barker was voted the A-Sun Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Read the full story on the awards and the full listing of Bears on the All-Conference team on mercerbears.com >

Mercer Students Raise Most Donations Among Law Schools in Annual Georgia Lawyers' Food Drive

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:54:00 GMT

MACON – Mercer University School of Law successfully defended its title as the champion of the Attorney General's Cup in the Second Annual Legal Food Frenzy – a competition to help feed the hungry in Georgia. In a friendly competition against the state's other law schools to see which could gather the most food for Georgia's food banks, Mercer Law School gathered more than any other school. In all, the School gathered 8,037 pounds of food, or 22 pounds per student, to help support the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, which is more than double the total from last year. This effort is part of a statewide food drive organized by the Georgia Attorney General's Office and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, which will help provide food for the state's seven regional food banks.

"There are many ways a law school can distinguish itself, but surely one way that everyone would recognize as truly important is in its members' public-spiritedness and philanthropy," said Dean Gary Simson. "The Law School's repeat of its first-place finish of last year – the first year of the attorney general's food drive initiative – is very much in character for the Mercer Law School community and something of which we should all feel proud."

A total of 249 law firms and legal organizations representing 14,000 employees in 47 cities raised a total of 842,317 pounds of food during the competition this year.

"Due to the generosity of lawyers statewide, we not only met, but substantially exceeded our goal of raising 750,000 pounds of food for our regional food banks," said Attorney General Sam Olens. "Georgia lawyers have once again demonstrated a strong commitment to the less fortunate in their communities."

About Mercer Law School

Founded in 1873, the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and the first one in the state of Georgia accredited by the American Bar Association. Mercer Law School's educational philosophy is based on a broadly shared commitment to prepare students for the high-quality, general practice of law in a day-to-day learning environment that is both strongly supportive and consistently professional. Its innovative Woodruff Curriculum – which focuses on ethics and practical skills amid small class sizes – earned the Gambrell Professionalism Award from the ABA for its "depth of excellence." With an enrollment of about 430 students, Mercer Law School is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs in legal writing, moot court, public service, and ethics and professionalism. For more information about Mercer Law School, visit law.mercer.edu or call 478.301.5000.

Mercer Awarded $425,000 ArtPlace America Grant To Fund Tattnall Square Center for the Arts

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:27:00 GMT

MACON — Mercer University will support the revitalization of the former Tattnall Square Presbyterian Church to create the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts with a $425,000 grant from ArtPlace America. The University is one of 54 organizations across the country to be awarded funding from the highly competitive ArtPlace America grant program, which seeks to transform communities by driving vibrancy through investments in the arts and creative placemaking.

The proposed center will serve as a community theatre and arts venue, as well as home to the University's Theatre Department. The church property, located at the corner of College and Oglethorpe Streets in the College Hill Corridor, was donated to Mercer in 2010 by the Flint River Presbytery.

"Mercer is pleased to be one of the select few organizations to receive an ArtPlace America grant this year," said Mercer President William D. Underwood. "The fact Macon is represented in this elite group of awardees is a testament to the progress that has been made over the last three years in the College Hill Corridor. The ArtPlace America grant, combined with the other gifts and grants that have been committed to this project, puts us within striking distance of completing the fundraising so we can begin renovation of the facility this year."

Mercer's grant application was aided by input from a programming advisory board composed of representatives from such organizations as the Macon Arts Alliance, Macon Arts Roundtable, College Hill Corridor Commission and Macon Film Guild.

ArtPlace America received more than 1,200 grant inquiries from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The applications yielded 105 finalists, from which 54 were selected to receive grants for their potential to have a transformative impact on community vibrancy. Grant amounts range from $750,000 to $33,000, with an average grant size of just over $280,000. Funded projects include everything from temporary art spaces to permanent performance venues, theatre festivals to art walks, and streetscaping initiatives to artist residencies.

"ArtPlace America recognizes the central role arts and cultural activities can have in the revitalization of American cities," said Rip Rapson, chair of ArtPlace America's Presidents' Council. "With this grant award ArtPlace America is directing individual project support to scores of creative, high-impact projects throughout the country.

"ArtPlace America is also continuing to break new ground in drawing together some of the nation's leading foundations to think – in a concerted way – about how these kind of projects can become more widespread," Rapson said.

"The Tattnall Square Center for the Arts will serve as a cornerstone for revitalization of the College Hill Corridor," said Dennis Scholl, vice president/arts for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. "By creating a bustling gathering place for the entire community it will work to change the landscape of the neighborhood and help build stronger connections."

The Miami-based Knight Foundation, which believes in the power of the arts to engage communities, has been a founding funder of ArtPlace.

For more information on ArtPlace America and the complete list of 2013-14 awards, visit www.artplaceamerica.org.

About ArtPlace America

ArtPlace America provides grants and loans, supports research, and conducts outreach and advocacy. To date, ArtPlace America has awarded 134 grants totaling $42.1 million to 124 organizations in 79 U.S. communities (and a statewide project in the state of Connecticut).

Foundations participating in ArtPlace America include Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William Penn Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, The Surdna Foundation, and two anonymous donors.

ArtPlace America also seeks advice and counsel from close working relationships with various federal agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, along with leadership from the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Domestic Policy Council.

ArtPlace America is also supported by a $12 million loan fund capitalized by six major financial institutions and managed by the Nonprofit Finance Fund. Participating institutions are Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Chase, MetLife, and Morgan Stanley.

Education Dean to Retire after 10 Years at Mercer, Distinguished Career in Higher Education

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:14:00 GMT

Dr. Carl R. Martray, dean of the Tift College of Education, will retire at the end of the academic year, capping a 10-year tenure that saw expansion of the College both in enrollment and program offerings. He led the creation of Tift's first Ph.D. programs, as well as accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). He was also named dean emeritus by the University's Board of Trustees.

"As dean of the College, his accomplishments and leadership are unparalleled," said Dr. Al Stramiello, professor and director of the Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction program in Macon and Savannah. "Dean Martray was instrumental in helping the College become recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and NCATE as a leader among educator preparation institutions. More importantly, the faculty and students are deeply appreciative of the compassion and support that Carl Martray has given us over the past 10 years. In my 37 years of higher education experience, I have never taught under a more effective dean."

Since Dr. Martray arrived in 2003, the College has greatly expanded its program offerings, including three Ph.D. programs. Under his leadership the College established an educational leadership program, including Doctor of Philosophy and Education Specialist degrees and Master's in educational leadership and higher education leadership. The College was instrumental in designing the state's education standards for birth-through-5 education, while also launching its own degree program in early care and education. In addition, the College instituted a comprehensive tenure, promotion and annual-review process for faculty, including post-tenure evaluations. He also helped nearly double the number of faculty positions and, in the process, helped Mercer become the largest private preparer of teachers in Georgia.

Dr. Penny Elkins, senior vice president for enrollment management, has been an enthusiastic supporter of Dr. Martray since he arrived on campus – when he was simply a candidate. She was chair of teacher education at the time and was wowed by his vision.

"A lot of people don't know this, but prior to Carl's arrival, I was exploring other opportunities outside of Mercer," Dr. Elkins said. "I changed my mind when I met Carl. I knew he was coming in with strong leadership and a new vision for the college and that is exactly what we were looking for in a new dean."

Dr. Elkins quickly rose through the ranks of the college and into University leadership and in leadership roles with the state, including chairing the Professional Standards Commission, which oversees educator preparation programs statewide. She credits Dean Martray's arrival as the catalyst for her success.

"He is the epitome of a servant leader. His leadership is steeped in humility, always putting others before himself," Dr. Elkins said. "He has great vision, bolstered by quiet strength. He used that vision and creativity at a time when Tift had just been renamed and was new in its journey. Though at the time we were known in the state for our teacher preparation, we did not have educational leadership programs or a wide array of advanced degrees. Now we are known throughout the state not only for teacher preparation, but for educational leadership as well."

Prior to joining Mercer, Dr. Martray served as dean of the College of Education and Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi, a position he held since 1998. Prior to joining USM, he spent 27 years at Western Kentucky University, where he began as assistant professor in 1972. He spent his last eight years at WKU as dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Both institutions are the largest preparers of professional educators in their respective states.

Marching Band Returns to Campus

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:51:00 GMT

By Jamie Dickson

Ring out the victory song! Mercerians will welcome back their marching band after a 72-year hiatus this fall. Uniforms and instruments have been ordered and band camp is scheduled for Aug. 4-17. The band will not only perform during all eight of the Bears' home football games in 2013, but also will attend select away games, exhibition performances and participate in marching band competitions.

While the organization is finishing up its recruitment efforts for the 2013 football season, the band is still looking for new members, said Emory Dunn, director of athletics admissions. "Our goal for 2013 is to have 60 new incoming freshmen in the marching band, with an overall goal of having 150 in the band for the first year," he said.

Doug Cowden, director of athletic bands, got his start at Mercer in 2005 as director of the basketball pep band. Now he's in charge of bringing the marching band back to life and said he and his students are looking forward to the fall.

"[The students] have a lot pride in what we're going to do," he said. "Come Aug. 31 we're going to give the fans a great show."

Jim Cole, director of athletics, said he believes the marching band will bring the same spirit to the football stadium as it has to the basketball arena.

"The athletic department is so excited about the start up of our marching band program," Cole said. "We have seen the immense benefits that a successful pep band brings to the game-day environment in basketball. We tasked Doug Cowden with bringing that same energy and spirit to the football games via the new marching band. He, as well as his band members, are more than up to the task, and we can't wait to hear them on Aug. 31."

Thanks to the generous support from the Carolina Crown, a drum corps based out of Ft. Hill, S.C., the band saved more than $150,000 on the cost of instruments. "They came through in a big way," Cowden said. "They heard we were starting from scratch and asked, 'what can we do to help?'"

Mercer's marching band is modeled after bands like the Carolina Crown, which features powerful, precisely tuned horns and intricate marching drills. "We're going to do a lot of things that other college marching bands won't do," Cowden said.

Band Captain Dillon Watkins, a junior from Gordon, said he's excited to be a part of Mercer's history.

"The announcement that Mercer would officially get a marching band was definitely the highlight of my year," he said. "After 72 years, there is finally another marching arts program at Mercer."

Watkins said he is eager to showcase the band's unique style.

"I think one thing I am looking forward to would be stepping off for the first game," he said. "So many question arise with starting new programs. 'Will they be any good?' 'How many people will they have?' 'What kind of shows will they do?' We are going to be a very surprising band."

This fall, the band will perform a halftime show titled "Resurrection," which tells the story of the return of football and the marching band. The show will feature three songs: "Gloria," by John Rutter; "The Humming Chorus," from the opera "Ivan the Terrible" by Sergei Prokofiev; and "Berceuse and Finale" from "The Firebird Suite," by Igor Stravinsky.

The current marching band is actually the fourth iteration in Mercer's history. The band was first formed in the early 1900s and dissolved in the 1930s. The band was restarted in 1940, but, due to World War II and the subsequent cancellation of football, it too dissolved after two years. In 1944, the ROTC program at Mercer started a band, and since there was no football due to the war, it was a military-style band that was used strictly for parades. This band was reported as being one of the best in the country.

Doris McCamy Jones was the marching band's drum major in 1941. She said she has fond memories of her time with the band and is excited to see the new band perform this fall.

"I enjoyed marching in a band and participating in a band program as much as anything I've done in my life," she said. "I would recommend any young person who likes music to participate in a marching band. I think it's great that it's coming back."

Cowden said the band plans to honor its history not only through this fall's halftime show, but also through its uniforms. The chevrons on the right sleeves of the new uniforms pay homage to the military version of the band circa 1944.

"All of us are shaped by our past. It forms our personality," Cowden said. "We must honor those who came before us."

And while the band is taking steps to salute its past, it also plans to start new traditions of its own. For example, the band will lead fans to the stadium in a "Bear Walk" each game.

"Everyone knows that football comes with many traditions," Watkins said. "Marching band will be leading the charge with this at Mercer. Whether it is playing the fight song at a pep rally, playing "Georgia On My Mind" at the end of a game, or playing marches and fight songs during pregame, we will be the first to start new traditions and the first to bring back some old ones."

The band will host a Sounds of Summer clinic, presented by Yamaha, June 5-8.This intensive, four-day workshop is open to recent high school graduates who have yet to decide where to attend college, as well as current high school students who might be interested in attending Mercer upon graduation.

For more information about the marching band or the Sounds of Summer clinic, visit www.mercerbands.com. Registration for the clinic closes May 20.

Mercer to Hold Law, Macon Commencements on Saturday

Mon, 06 May 2013 15:45:00 GMT

MACON —Mercer University will hold its final two commencements in Macon on Saturday in the University Center's Hawkins Arena. The Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. with 165 participants. At 3:30 p.m., the University will hold the Macon commencement for 536 participants, featuring graduates from the Macon campus and nearby programs. In all, the University will have conferred more than 1,800 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees during five commencements on three campuses since May 3.

Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 Mercer Law graduate, will deliver the commencement address to the Law School graduates, including graduates of the School's first Master of Laws program in Federal Criminal Practice and Procedure.

At the Macon commencement, the University will award an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree to musical pioneer and Macon native Richard "Little Richard" Wayne Penniman. The commencement speaker for the Macon commencement will be retired Lt. Gen. Claude M. Kicklighter, a 1955 College of Liberal Arts graduate, former inspector general of the Department of Defense and Mercer trustee.

The University's final commencement will include graduates from the Macon campus, as well as the Eastman Regional Academic Center and non-M.D. graduates from the Savannah campus. The ceremony will include graduates from the Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Townsend School of Music and the College of Continuing and Professional Studies.

The Macon campus will also celebrate with its traditional Baccalaureate ceremony on Friday at 5 p.m. in Willingham Auditorium. The event will feature selected readings, affirmation of faith, pastoral prayer and reflections leading up to the keynote address, titled "Marching Off the Map," by former College of Liberal Arts dean and Emeritus Professor of English Dr. Richard Fallis. A reception will be held outside after the service. In the event of rain, the reception will be held in Newton Chapel.

Below is the complete listing for the University's remaining commencements in Atlanta and Macon.

Macon

Walter F. George School of Law
Speaker: Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 Mercer Law graduate
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 165

Speaker: Claude M. Kicklighter, 1955 College of Liberal Arts graduate, former inspector general of the Department of Defense, Mercer trustee, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general
Saturday, May 11, 3:30 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 536

Atlanta - Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus

Speaker: Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer at American Cancer Society
Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m.
Upper field – Atlanta campus
Candidates for degrees: 1,003

University to Hold its Largest Commencement Saturday in Atlanta

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:05:00 GMT

ATLANTA —Mercer University will hold its annual campus-wide outdoor commencement in Atlanta on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on the upper field of the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus. More than 1,000 graduates are expected for the ceremony, which is the University's largest. Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer at American Cancer Society, will speak at the event. The University will also award Dr. Seffrin an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the ceremony.

In all, the University will have conferred more than 1,800 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees during five commencements on three campuses since early May. The Atlanta ceremony includes graduates from the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, McAfee School of Theology, and the Atlanta-area graduates from the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education and College of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Though the University has taken steps to ensure that traffic will flow smoothly around the Atlanta campus, there will be the possibility of delays because of the increased traffic volume from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The impacted areas may include the Interstate 85 interchange at Chamblee-Tucker Road, as well as Chamblee-Tucker Road between I-85 and Interstate 285. In addition, traffic will increase along Mercer University Drive and Flowers Road South.

Below is the complete listing for the University's remaining commencements in Atlanta and Macon.

Atlanta - Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus

Speaker: Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer at American Cancer Society
Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m.
Upper field – Atlanta campus
Candidates for degrees: 1,003

Macon

Walter F. George School of Law

Speaker: Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 Mercer Law graduate
Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 165

Mercer School of Medicine Holds Commencements

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:11:00 GMT

MACON/SAVANNAH – Mercer University's School of Medicine will hold its commencements this week, with a Macon ceremony on Friday and the Savannah commencement on Saturday. The commencements are the first of the University's five over the next two weeks. In all, the University will confer more than 1,800 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in May during five commencements in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah.

The School of Medicine's Macon campus will hold the University's first 2013 commencement ceremony on Friday at 1 p.m. in the University Center's Hawkins Arena, with 114 participants. In addition, the University will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree to commencement speaker and distinguished Medical School alumna Dr. Jean Rawlings Sumner at the Macon ceremony.

The School will honor distinguished faculty and graduates at the ceremony as well. Justin B. Beverly will receive the faculty Humanism in Medicine Award and graduating student Lauren Hollman Fried will receive the student Humanism in Medicine Award.

The 41 graduates from the School of Medicine's campus at Memorial University Medical Center mark the second graduating class for the Savannah campus. The ceremony will take place at the Savannah Arts Academy at 1 p.m. The commencement speaker will be Dr. William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

In addition to the conferring of degrees, the ceremony will include honors for students and faculty. Savannah native and graduating student Lindsey Boxxe will receive the student Humanism in Medicine Award and third-year class president Aly Smith will receive the University's James T. McAfee Vision and Leadership Endowed Scholarship.

There will also be posthumous honors for Dr. Gage Ochsner, chair of surgery, who passed away April 26. Dr. Ochsner earned both the Distinguished Service Award and the Faculty Humanism in Medicine Award, which is voted on by students. He joined Memorial Health in Savannah as chief of trauma services and surgical critical care in 1995, and he would also assume the role of director of surgical education in 2001. Dr. Ochsner also served as professor of surgery and later as chair of the Mercer School of Medicine's Department of Surgery in Savannah, where he received the Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award six times. This year's award was his seventh.

Macon

School of Medicine

Speaker: Dr. Jean R. Sumner, charter class member of the School of Medicine
Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 114

Savannah

School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Saturday, May 4, 1 p.m.
Savannah Arts Academy
Candidates for Degrees: 41

Mercer School of Medicine Student Group Earns Grant for Service Leadership

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:28:00 GMT

Mercer University School of Medicine is one of three medical schools awarded a grant by Alpha Omega Alpha to support leadership development for medical students through mentoring, observation and service learning.Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical and health care leadership organization, awarded the $9,000 grant to be dispersed over three years. The other two award winners for this year were Duke University School of Medicine and State University of New York Upstate Medical University.

The grant is awarded to Mercer's student chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha to create an experiential leadership training program focused on the development of community-responsive physician leaders. The project includes three key components: developing a service-leadership curriculum, developing a community mentoring program and developing a student-driven free health care clinic.

Students will work to develop a leadership curriculum for the School, exploring leadership curricula implemented at other medical schools and bringing in experts to the Savannah Campus to share their insights on the content and structure of leadership programs. Sessions will be videoconferenced to the Macon and Columbus campuses. Using that information, it will develop a curriculum for the School.

In parallel with the leadership curriculum development, interested students will have the benefit of building mentoring relationships with community leaders. Through four to six one-on-one sessions during the year, the community mentor will help students to understand the plight of the underserved, the role of service organizations in promoting community health and the employment of core leadership skills in practice.

As part of the grant, students will partner with two volunteer and nonprofit organizations that provide free and low-cost health care for medically underserved individuals: Community Health Mission in Savannah and The Hearts and Hands Clinic in Statesboro. Students will have the opportunity to directly reach Savannah's underserved urban patients through Community Health Mission and, through Hearts and Hands, treat underserved individuals from rural and migrant populations. The Saturday sessions will benefit the clinics and the patients by reducing patient waiting lists. As the students develop and implement the Saturday clinics, the "hands on" leadership experience will reinforce the core competencies developed through the leadership curriculum.

The project team includes medical students Mary Kate Claiborne, Andres Montes and Godfrey Ilonzo with team members Alison Smith, Tia Bingham, Keith Reeves, Bryan Renken, Kristin Walker and Haresh Soorma. The mentor leader will be Dr. Martin Greenberg, with mentor team members Dr. T. Philip Malan Jr., Dr. Marie Dent, Dr. Robert Shelley, Dr. Sarfaraz Dhanji and Dr. Miriam Rittmeyer.

Faculty, Staff Honored for Service to the University at Retirement and Recognition Ceremonies

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:38:00 GMT

The University honored faculty and staff for their service at Retirement and Recognition Ceremonies in Atlanta and Macon. In addition to honoring retirees and those who had reached five-year service milestones, the events honored two Mercer Spirit Award winners. This year's recipients were Cecilia Williams, library assistant III at Jack Tarver Library in Macon, and Jacquelynn Thompson, enrollment associate in the Admissions Office in Atlanta.

The Mercer Spirit Award is a community-based recognition that re-affirms Mercer's commitment to customer service and satisfaction and recognizes employees who exhibit exceptional behaviors of caring, respect and the building of the Mercer community. It also recognizes two employees who have demonstrated a high level of service to members of the University community, both internal and external, as well as outside constituencies. Their accomplishments reflect a high level of service, dedication, conscientiousness and compassion, and going beyond what are normal expectations.

Atlanta faculty and staff retirees honored were: Laurel Ashworth-Neil, J. Colin Harris, Dana H. Lilly and Peter J. Otto. Macon faculty and staff retirees honored were: Lee D. Bowen Jr., David E. Burtner, Marjorie T. Davis, Daniel P. Fischer, Belinda E. Rushin and Jack L. Sammons. All retirees were honored for their dedication to the University.

Atlanta Faculty and Staff Service Awards

40 Years
Hewitt “Ted” Matthews

35 Years
Tanya K. Barton

30 Years
Virginia M. McCurdy
Diane Lynn Nykamp
Willie A. Woolfolk

25 Years
Michael W. Jan
Laurie L. Lankin
Leisa L. Marshall

20 Years
Marna L. Burns
Gary F. Hollums
Steven J. Miller
Sandra L. Shoemaker
Arthur J. Williams

15 Years
Kandy J. Cook
Karsen G. Massey
Arthur Latimer Rutledge
Florence Ye Tang
Kay N. Webb

10 Years
Mary Kay Bacallao
Sandria Laverne Coney
Melissa McCants Cruz
Louise L. Lowe
Lauren Lundquist Mason
Denise M. Massey
Rebecca F. Nelson
Karen R. Reynolds
Peter Adam Ross
Thomas Bowie Slater
Colleen Patricia Stapleton
Vijaya Subrahmanyam
Jacquelyn Thompson
Chad Martin Vanderberg
Andrea L. Winkler

5 Years
Joseph L. Balloun
Bridget Anne Bexho
Olivia M. Boggs
Margaret Wills Bowen
Dianne Mooney Burows
Brent Austin Daigle
Sammy Lee Felton
Maritza Engracia Ferreira
Barbara Ann Fleming
Lance Gus Fussell
Anthony J. Harris
Sandra Jane Watts Harvey
Stephen Demeris Jenkins
Robert Landy Lawrence, IV
Heidi Ingles Leonard
Nicole Leyland Metzger
Tangela Yvonne Mitchell
Frank Lewis Morris, Jr.
Etienne Musonera
Sharon Lynn Nieb
Mary E. O’Phelan
Melanie Roseanne Pavich
John Walter Payne
Gentral Porter, Jr.
Karen Denise Rowland
Karin M. Sandler
Angela Oluwakemi Shogbon
John Allen Stephens
Jamie D. Thomas
Andre Lamont Torrance
Clemie Bray Whatley
Arthur Boyd Williams
Tracey M. Wofford
Lynton Brett Younger

Faculty and Staff Service Awards for Macon and Savannah

40 Years
Barbara G. Short

35 Years
Michael D. Sabbath
Carol K. Williams

30 Years
David E. Burtner
David L. Cozart
Regina S. Edwards
Curtis D. Herink
Gary A. Richardson
Rickey J. Stewart
Wyndell L. Stokes
William H. Terry, III
Edward J. Weintraut

25 Years
Pamela S. Anderson
Anthony R. Baldwin
Terry Lee Bickley
Suzanne L. Cassidy
Daniel P. Fischer
R. Carlton Goddard
Cynthia M. Gottshall
Marsha A. Griffin
Douglas M. Hill
Frank J. Macke
Sarah Tate McCommon
Connie G. Smith
Rosemary R. Stringfield
Phyllis C. Tanner
Richard F. Wilson
Henry E. Young
Rudolfs K. Zalups

20 Years
Kevin D. Barnett
Gary W. Blome
Kenneth J. Boyer
Aaron S. Collins
Robert M. Good
Stephen M. Johnson
Behnam Kamali
Margaret R. Morris

15 Years
Joyce Elaine Arnold
Jose Luis Balduz, Jr.
William F. Bina
Delores Ann Collins
Tammy Neal Crutchfield
Margaret Marie Dent
Andy D. Digh
Darlene K. Flaming
Margaret N. Gaskill
Carolyn S. Goff
Arbazell Evans Grills
David Randall Harshbarger
Donna B. Hemphill
Robert Holland, Jr.
John A. Hudson
Laura W. Lackey
Matthew J. Marone
Donna L. McDonald
Hope McIlwain
Richard O. Mines, Jr.
Margaret F. Pope
Andrew J. Pounds
Ramachandran Radharamanan
Jennifer Kay Rayhill
Nancy Ellen Robinson
Lavonia Vonne Sheffield
Andrew Brian Silver
Anya Krugovoy Silver
Loren Bryan Stout Sumner
Regenia W. Toole
Norris W. Wallace IV

10 Years
Hugh Armstrong
Debbie S. Carty
Craig B. Coleman
Kevin John Cummings
Patricia E. Daniel
Elaine Farrar
Edwin Walker Grimsley
Elizabeth Opal Hatten
Alice Rose House
Sinjae Hyun
Linda Dyckman Jellum
Dominique R. Johnson
Will Ross Jordan
Michael J. Junod
April Michelle Mills
Pamela G. Noble
Sammy Joe Peacock
Cynthia Jay Pendleton
Barbara Elizabeth Sellers
Tanya Lee Sharon
Linda Gail Sheffield
Annie Lee Stephens
Jeffrey S. Takac
Fontina Marie Taylor
E. Terri Alston Walker

5 Years
Ashley M. Anderson
Julie Catherine Beier
Himangshu Sekhar Bose
Phyllis Ann Braly
LaQuanta Necole Brown
Mary Lou Brown
Kellie Elizabeth Chastain
William Herrin Collins
Wallace Lee Daniel, Jr.
David A. Davis
Megan Rebecca DeLong
Kevin McCoy Drace
Jessica Kathrine Ellison
Kimberly Ann Freeman
David Ryan Goode
Eloise A. Green
Martin H. Greenberg
Amy Lou Greene
James Bob Hoffman
Natalie Menendez Hogan
Angel Diana L. Horton
Leslie Snellman Jackson
William J. Jenkins
Shi-Wen Jiang
William Klugh Kennedy
Adam Mitchell Kiefer
Carolyn A. Klatt
Edward C. Klatt
James E. Knapp
Joseph Yi Leonard
Jinping Li
Nan Lin
Jennifer Lynette Look
Christopher B. Macklin
Whitney S. McArthur
Richard Olin McCann
Matthew Caine McCranie
James P. McGouirk
Tameka Nicole Milligan
Kimberly M. Morgan
Darlene Rutland Murphy
Teka Murphy
Ashley Paige Murray
Samuel DuBose Murray, Jr.
James Sidney Netherton
Edward Leon Perkins
Nathan Rowe Phillips
Michael James Powell
Barbara Jean Rascoe
Kelly Elizabeth Reffitt
Novetta Alyssa Reid
Ava Harolyn Rhodes
William Blocher Rhoten
Melinda D. Robinson-Moffett
Brad M. Ruzzo
Tracey Lynne Schwartz
Brent J. Shade
Todd A. Thomas
Elisabeth S. Vincent
Tonia Evans Wilkers
Spencer John Wright
Wei-Hsiung Yang
Zhi-Qing Zhao

Promotions and Transfers

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:22:00 GMT

Macon

Lavinia Nell Moore, promoted to finance coordinator, Finance Office, School of Medicine

Ed Barnes, promoted to corporal, Mercer Police

Faculty and Staff Notables

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:16:00 GMT

College of Continuing and Professional Studies

Dr. Vikraman Baskaran, assistant professor of informatics in the department of math, science, and informatics, co-authored a paper, titled "Evaluation of HIV health services in Lagos State: an empirical study" in the International Journal of Services, Economics and Management by Inderscience Publishers. The paper evaluates the extent of the behavioral challenges concerning HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school and tertiary institution students in Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Thompson Biggers, associate professor, and Kelly Jones, instructional designer, had a program accepted for presentation at the American Communication Association Convention May 29-June 1 in Lafayette, La. The program deals with the future focus of the association as it begins its second decade. They will propose that the association should take the lead in research dealing with the ways in which technology influences the communication process.

Dr. Charles H. Roberts, associate professor of mathematics, and Dr. Kedrick Hartfield, associate professor in the department of mathematics, presented a paper, titled "Why Equity and Diversity Deserve Center Stage for Everyone," at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Denver, Colo., April 20.

Dr. Lynn Tankersley, assistant professor of criminal justice in the department of leadership studies, presented a paper, titled "Giving Grades a Pink Slip," at the 11th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference for Teachers of Undergraduates held March 22-23 on the campus of Gordon State College in Barnesville.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Andy Digh, associate professor, served on the program committee for the 51st Association for Computing Machinery Southeast Conference held April 4-6 on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah.

Dr. John Marson Dunaway, professor of French and interdisciplinary studies, spoke to Mercer's African Student Association on April 10 on the work of Chinua Achebe, the "Father of African Literature" who died on March 21. Dr. Dunaway also attended the annual brunch of the Francophone Festival in Atlanta on March 24 as an invited guest of the Belgian Consul General, Mme Geneviève Verbeek.

Dr. Gordon Johnston, professor of English, recorded 14 of his poems for the syndicated radio show "Melodically Challenged," which originates from WRAS in Atlanta. He was assisted by Sara Pirkle Hughes, CLA '02. Johnston hosted poet Jacqueline Osherow, author of six collections of poems and director of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Utah, April 7-9 on the Macon campus, arranging a free public reading on April 8 in Willingham Hall and holding an open workshop with Osherow at Jittery Joe's the same afternoon.

Dr. Anya Silver, associate professor of English, published two poems in Five Points, Vol. 15, No. 1 and 2 titled "Girl Braiding Her Hair" and "Tante Annel's Scrapbook." She also had her poem titled "Dannon" (67) published in the New Ohio Review 13, Spring 2013. Dr. Silver also read poetry at the Writing on Napkins at the Sunshine Club reading at Theater Macon on April 16.

Dr. Marian Zielinski, professor of theatre, was selected as a finalist in Quilting Arts Magazine's "Text Me!" challenge for her art quilt, titled "Here and Now," in April.

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Dr. Ajay K. Banga, professor, was awarded a $10,000 grant for "Effect of moisture on crystallization in transdermal patches" from Agile Therapeutics.

Dr. Annesha W. Lovett, assistant professor, Dr. Susan W. Miller, professor, and Simone Austin, doctor of pharmacy student, published "Geriatric care coordination: comparing the U.S., the U.K. and Japan" in European International Journal of Science and Technology." 2013; 2(2):150-166.

Dr. Maria M. Thurston, clinical assistant professor, achieved certification in "Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services" from the American Pharmacists Association.

Georgia Baptist College of Nursing

Dr. JoEllen Dattilo, associate dean for the undergraduate program, gave a presentation, titled "Second Time Around: Previously Degreed Students Returning to the Classroom," at the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference in Savannah in March.

Susan Estes, clinical associate professor, and Fran Kamp, clinical associate professor, presented "Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Experience in Appalachian Cultural" at the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference in Savannah in March.

Freida Fuller, professor, presented "Bridging the Gap: Connecting Nurse Practitioner Students with Other Health Professional Students" at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., in April.

Dr. Susan S. Gunby, professor, has been named as a reviewer for the Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library Online Research Repository.

Dr. Linda Streit, dean, was selected to serve as a judge for the 2103 Capstone International Book Award for Sigma Theta Tau International

McAfee School of Theology

Dr. R. Alan Culpepper, dean, participated in the interfaith Theology Conference on "Forgiveness" at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem in February. On April 9, he delivered the Radboud Prestige Lectures in New Testament at the Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands on "The Prologue of the Gospel of John as the Foundation of Johannine Ethics."

School of Medicine

Dr. Hamza Awad, assistant professor, published a paper, titled "Management and outcomes of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction by use of chronic oral anticoagulation: results from the GRACE registry," at the European Heart Journal Acute Cardiovascular Care (in press). The paper describes the characteristics, treatment and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction by use of chronic oral anticoagulant therapy.

Dr. Macram A. Ayoub, professor and vice chair of surgery, was honored at the Department of Surgery testimonial dinner and scientific symposium for his 34 years of service to the medical school and the residency in surgery at the Medical Center of Central Georgia. Nearly 200 people, including more than 30 former chief residents and medical students, attended a formal dinner at the Idle Hour Country Club on April 17. A festschrift commemorating the occasion was presented to him by Medical College of Central Georgia chief residents. Included were letters from members of the Georgia congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. Macon Mayor Robert Reichert issued a proclamation declaring the day "Macram Ayoub Day" in the city. On April 18, the department held a scientific symposium featuring graduates of the residency. T. Clark Gamblin, associate professor and chief of surgical oncology at the University of Wisconsin; Paul S. Dale, professor and chief of surgical oncology at the University of Missouri at Columbia; and Bradley Dennis, instructor in surgery and fellow in surgical critical care at Vanderbilt University, were featured speakers at the event. Dr. J. William Mix, assistant professor, and the chief residents in surgery represented the department at the event.

Dr. Kerry Lee Coburn, professor, and Dr. Ali Safet Gonul, associate professor, and several co-authers published "Computer Based classification of MR scans in living Alzheimer patients" in Current Alzheimer Research, 9(7):789-794), "The relationship between anterior corpus callosum size and prefrontal cortex volume in drug-free depressed patients" in the Journal of Affective Disorders, 146(2):281-285 and "Altered hippocampal formation shape in first-episode depressed patients at 5-year follow-up" in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(1):50-55 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2012.08.22.

Dr. Cheryl Gaddis, Master of Public Health program assistant director and instructor, was inducted into the Gamma Theta Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health on April 26. Her induction was based on her high academic standards and outstanding performance in scholarship, teaching, research and community service. Delta Omega is a national honor society existing to encourage research and scholarship among graduate students of public health and to recognize attainment and achievement in the field of public health.

Dr. Ashley Horner, associate professor of pharmacology, presented a seminar on Feb. 20 at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, titled "Cause or Effect? Reactive Aldehyde and Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity." Dr. Horner also presented a poster, titled "Ablation of the patch compartment alters methamphetamine-induced behavior and c-Fos expression in the striatum and substantia nigra," at the 11th triennial International Basal Ganglia Society meeting in Eilat, Israel, March 3-7. Co-authors on the poster included Ryan Murray, research assistant I, Mercer graduates Yamiece Gilbert and Anna Logan, and second-year medical student John Hebbard.

Dr. Edward C. Lauterbach, professor emeritus of psychiatry and neurology, recently published "Melatonin in antinociception: Its therapeutic applications" in the journal Current Neuropharmacology 2012:10:167-178 with colleagues from medical schools in India,Singapore, Spain, Malaysia and Israel.

Shirley A. Powell, technical director for the Histopathology Curricular Support Laboratory, attended the 40th Anniversary Georgia Society for Histopathology annual meeting, which was held at Jekyll Island on April 11-14. Powell is a co-founder of GSH and currently treasurer for the organization. She received the first ever GSH "Lifetime Achievement Award" at last year's meeting and July 18 of this year will mark her 51st year in the field of Histotechnology.

Dr. Wei-Hsiung Yang, assistant professor of physiology, and lab member, Chiung-Min Wang, presented a poster, titled "SUMOylation of ATF3 alters MC2R, NR5A1, STAR, and TP53 gene activities," at the American Association for Cancer Research's 104th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., April 6-10. Dr. Yang and Wang also published an article, titled "Loss of SUMOylation on ATF3 inhibits proliferation of prostate cancer cells by modulating CCND1/2 activity," in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which was accepted April 9.

Staff and Administration

Kim Meredith, assistant director of career services andcareer counselor, earned the Licensed Professional Counselor credential from the State of Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists on April 9.

Tift College of Education

Elaine M. Artman, associate professor for education leadership, presented "Leading Entrepreneurially: Strategies and Resources Contributing to One Community College's Survival" at Council for the Study of Community Colleges in April.

Dr. Anthony J. Harris, professor of education, published his book, titled Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: A coming of age story and a personal account of the Civil Rights Movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, released April 1.

Dr. William Lacefield, professor of mathematics education, presented "Real Opportunities for Reasoning through Matrix Logic Puzzles" at the annual conference of the United Kingdom's Association of Teachers of Mathematics, held April 2-5 in Sheffield, England. Dr. Lacefield and Cathy Costello, head of mathematics at London's British Recording Industry Trust Secondary School, also presented "Tangrams for Beginners: Who Knew Seven Polygons could Possess Such Power?" at the conference. Dr. Lacefield presented "Exploring Multiple Ways to Multiply: Ideas to Engage All Learners," at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, held April 17-20 in Denver, Colo.

Dr. Pamela Larde, assistant professor, was selected to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement from Cardinal Stritch University. Dr. Larde also recently published a book, titled Letters to the Brokenhearted.

Townsend School of Music

Dr. Douglas Hill, professor of music, presented high school band clinics at Veterans, Perry and Houston County high schools during March in preparation for their Georgia Music Educators National Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation performed at Peach County High School on March 9. Dr. Hill was a representative on the small university committee held March 20-23 at the national conference of the College Band Directors National Association in Greensboro, N.C. He performed a trumpet solo at the Riverside United Methodist Church in Macon on April 14 and performed in the brass choir with the Griffin Choral Arts Society's performance of John Rutter's Gloria on April 14 at the First United Methodist Church in Warner Robins. The Mercer University Faculty Brass Quintet performed brass clinics for the students of Sequoyah and River Ridge High Schools in Cherokee County on May 8.

University Libraries

Erin Edmond, library assistant at the Douglas Regional Academic Center Library, earned a Master of Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University in December 2012.

Amy Gratz, instructional services librarian, and Lee Twombly, outreach and assessment librarian, both at Jack Tarver Library, have had their article "Evolution of a Culture of Assessment: Developing a Mixed-Methods Approach for Evaluating Library Instruction," accepted for publication in College & Undergraduate Libraries.

Julie Poole, coordinator of center library services and assistant professor, attended the Association of College and Research Libraries Virtual Conference April 11-12.

Walter F. George School of Law

Jessica Feinberg, assistant professor, had her article, titled "Avoiding Marriage Tunnel Vision" accepted for publication in the Tulane Law Review. She also presented this article at the Midwest Family Law Consortium at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, Wis., in April and at the Feminist Legal Theory Conference at the University of Baltimore School of Law in Baltimore, Md., in March.

Jim Fleissner, professor and co-director of the LLM Program, presented to attorneys in the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia on April 3. The program provided an update on 20 cases concerning legal issues of interest to federal prosecutors that currently are on the docket of the U.S. Supreme Court.

New Faculty and Staff May 2013

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:02:00 GMT

Atlanta

Cameron Collins, student affairs specialist, Admissions and Student Affairs, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Susan Gilbert, dean and professor of economics and finance, Stetson School of Business

Carlene Knights, project coordinator, Dean's Office, James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology

Carla Tyrell, fitness instructor, Wellness

Macon

Carla Asbell, grants accountant, Accounting

Ginger Harper, director of creative services, Marketing Communications

Kristi Hutcheso, director of operations, Mercer Medicine, School of Medicine

Herman West, executive director of finance and administration, Finance Office, School of Medicine

Mercer Physical Therapy Program Awarded Full Accreditation Status

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:59:00 GMT

ATLANTA – The Mercer University Doctor of Physical Therapy program was awarded full accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), a seminal step in the program's impressive three-year journey.

The program's five-year accreditation status is the maximum time span allowed a newly accredited program by CAPTE and represents a program at the highest level of functionality. The accreditation status is particularly impressive because Mercer's Physical Therapy program became operational in 2010 and quickly began distinguishing itself. Within just two years of operations, the program established two residency programs, one in orthopaedic physical therapy and the other in neurologic physical therapy in partnership with the nationally recognized Shepherd Center. Both residencies are now fully credentialed.

Dr. Leslie Taylor, chair and program director of the Department of Physical Therapy, was thrilled when she received notice that the program received full accreditation status. The news comes just days before the program graduates its inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy class on May 11.

"Words cannot describe how proud I am of this faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in getting our program to this critical point," Taylor said. "It has taken countless hours and extraordinary commitment over the last three years to get us here. I thank the faculty and staff, and the leadership of this University, for their support of this program and our students."

The Mercer Physical Therapy program is an innovative eight-semester program that provides a comprehensive entry-level professional education. It includes an integrated clinical education track that consists of service-learning, clinical experiences, and clinical internships. Mercer Doctor of Physical Therapy students are actively engaged in patient/client-related activities each semester. Built upon an integrated traditional model, the DPT curriculum provides a strong foundation in basic, applied, and physical therapy science courses.

"Dr. Taylor and her faculty and staff have performed tremendously over the last three years, and being awarded full accreditation status is a testament to the excellence of this program," said Hewitt "Ted" Matthews, Ph.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and senior vice president for health sciences at the University. "I thank her for successfully leading the program to this achievement, and I look forward to seeing the program continue to thrive."

About the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Mercer University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is ranked No. 4 among pharmacy programs at private institutions in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. The College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy(Pharm.D.), pharmaceutical sciences(Ph.D.), and physical therapy(DPT), and the master's degree (M.M.Sc.) for physician assistants. Founded in 1903 as the independent Southern School of Pharmacy, the school merged with Mercer University in 1959 and in 1981 became the first school in the Southeast to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy degree as its sole professional degree. The College officially became a comprehensive College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2006, adding the Department of Physician Assistant Studies in 2006 and the Department of Physical Therapy in 2010. With an enrollment of more than 850 students and a distinguished faculty ofbasic scientists and clinicians, the College houses five centers focusing on research, teaching and learning. The College's motto, "A Tradition of Excellence – A Legacy of Caring," frames its philosophy of providing excellent academic programs in an environment where every student matters and every person counts. For more information about the College, please call 678.547.6244 or visit www.cophs.mercer.edu.

English Department to Honor Noted Author and Alumnus Sams Today

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:43:00 GMT

MACON – Mercer University's Department of English will hold a remembrance of noted alumnus Dr. Ferrol A. Sams Jr. today at 2 p.m. in Newton Chapel. One of Mercer University's most accomplished graduates, the acclaimed author and rural doctor passed away on Jan. 29 at the age of 90. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend.

Known by many as "Sambo," Dr. Sams penned eight books, including a trilogy of works featuring Porter Osborne Jr., a character largely based on Dr. Sams' own Georgia boyhood in Fayette County and experiences at Mercer. All of his works are rooted in the oral traditions of Southern humor and folklore, and his novel, The Whisper of the River, to this day is used in the classrooms at Mercer.

Today's event includes several remembrances, as well as readings from his work and speeches at Mercer. Dr. Gordon Johnston will read his "Ferrol A. Sams, Jr.: A Life in Letters," and "Sambo's Words, My Words," by Dr. Anya Silver, will be read by her husband and fellow English professor Dr. Andrew Silver and "Joe Hendricks and The Whisper of the River," by Eric O'Dell, will be read by Dr. Gordon Johnston. There will also be readings of excerpts from Dr. Sams' fiction, including "Peabody Baptist Church," "Smooching 101" and "A Horse Tale," as well as a reading of Dr. Sams' 1986 commencement address at Mercer.

For more on Dr. Sams' life, please read on >

Mercerians and non-Mercerians alike have been influenced by the words and deeds of Dr. Sams. If you would like to share your memories, please do so by writing a remembrance at our memorial site. >

Mercer Counseling Team to Travel to Newtown, Conn.

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:07:00 GMT

ATLANTA — A team of Mercer students and faculty, funded by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will travel to Newtown, Conn., on Thursday to hold a pastor training conference, focused on conducting post traumatic stress disorder counseling sessions with local ministers. Many of the expected 50 pastors have experienced secondary trauma caused by the Newtown school shooting that occurred on Dec. 14. Although not victims themselves, many worked around Sandy Hook Elementary School, knew someone who was directly affected or have someone in their congregations who was affected.

"I approach this trip with excitement and apprehension because this is such an incredible tragedy and it strikes at everyone's heart when something happens to their children," said Dr. W. David Lane, professor and to associate counseling program coordinator for doctoral studies. "I am praying we do something of meaning for these folks to help them move forward."

The Mercer team of seven includes Dr. Lane, the team leader; Dr. Craig McMahan, university minister and dean of the chapel; Dr. Arthur Williams, professor and chair of the Counseling and Human Sciences Department; and Dr. Donna Lane, an adjunct professor in counseling and co-author of the material being used at the conference and Dr. Lane's wife. Three doctoral students in the counselor education and supervision program will also travel with the group, including David Kim, Sanaz Rezaei and Stan Hoover.

The Mercer team will work with the local pastors in small groups. One of the important steps in dealing with trauma is debriefing and letting the affected tell their story, Dr. Lane said. The group will teach the pastors using a program that Dr. Lane's team used in Haiti in 2010 following the devastating earthquake there. The program, which "trained the trainers," proved to be successful and the group will seek to replicate parts of the curriculum in Newtown, he said. The Mercer team will teach the pastors to learn to spot post-traumatic stress disorder cases and how to refer the sufferers for help.

The Mercer team will present on Friday about "Working with People Affected by Trauma" with an introduction and overview led by Dr. David Lane. He and Dr. Williams will present on the "Effects of Trauma" and Dr. Donna Lane will end the presentation by discussing "The Story of the Gold Stone," which is part of the trauma materials. Following the presentations, attendees will break up into small groups for intensive work. The day will end with a question-and-answer session about what can be done to further help and what problems may occur.

On Saturday, Dr. McMahan will moderate a panel discussion before the group departs and returns to Atlanta later that day.

"It's an approach to teaching small groups about trauma and how to deal with it and teaching them how to teach it to their congregations as they deal with this horrific trauma," Dr. Lane said.

Mercer Installing Charging Stations on Macon Campus, in Mercer Village

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:26:00 GMT

MACON – By the end of the week, two new charging stations are set to appear on the smart phone apps and GPS systems of electric car owners who plan trips through and to Macon. Two electric vehicle charging stations are being installed on the Mercer University campus this week, each with the capacity to charge two vehicles. The stations are the first along Interstate 75 in Macon and the first to be placed in a retail area in Macon.

Workers from Hannah Solar and Worry Free Power are installing a station at Mercer's first LEED-certified building, the Emily Parker Myers Admissions and Welcome Center, and in the parking lot of Mercer Village. The new stations are paid for through a grant-funded program from the U.S. Department of Energy, with matching funds from Ecotality. The stations are part of a group of the 30 that the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition acquired for Macon.

Ecotality plans to place and operate more than 10,000 stations throughout the U.S., including the two at Mercer. The grant funds cover most of the installation costs, with Mercer providing the difference. Ecotality will operate the stations for the coming year as part of a research project, and then ownership will pass to Mercer.

Electric car owners can swipe a credit card at the stations and pay a small fee per hour of charge. A full charge takes about three hours, said Scott Kilgore, director of EV infrastructure at Hannah. That time can be filled touring the Mercer campus, dining or shopping in Mercer Village, or taking in College Hill. J.R. Olive, program coordinator with College Hill Alliance, helped Mercer secure the charging stations and fill out the necessary paperwork.

"This will be a great addition to Mercer Village and the Mercer campus," Olive said. "It's great for the environment, and it's great for us. Now, if you need to charge your car, you can stop in and take in the amenities of campus, Mercer Village and the College Hill Corridor."

About Mercer University
Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,300 students in 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies – on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah – and four regional academic centers across the state. The Mercer Health Sciences Center launched July 1, 2012, and includes the University's medical, nursing and pharmacy schools and will add a fourth college – the College of Health Professions – on July 1, 2013. Mercer is affiliated with four teaching hospitals — Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. The University also has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. It operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. www.mercer.edu

— 30 —

Macon Arts Alliance Receives NEA Grant to Support Arts Journalism Partnership with Mercer's Center For Collaborative Journalism

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:32:00 GMT

MACON — National Endowment of the Arts Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced today that Macon Arts Alliance is one of 817 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Macon Arts Alliance is recommended for a $40,000 grant to support Art Matters: Engaging the Community through Embedded Arts Journalists. Additional funding for the project will come from a matching grant from Knight Arts, a program of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts.

Art Matters is an initiative designed to engage the community through high-quality arts journalism. The Macon Arts Alliance, in collaboration with Mercer University's Center for Collaborative Journalism, will embed paid journalism interns in various arts organizations served by Macon Arts Alliance. These students will create news articles, blogs, video reports and more for local news outlets, the CCJ's newsroom, and Macon Arts Alliance's Ovations365.com and other publications. The program will provide funding for an Art Critic in Residence at the CCJ and a series of public symposia that will pair different artists and critics to discuss the state of various art forms and criticism.

Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable opportunities for the public to engage with the arts."

Michael Killoren, NEA's director of local arts agencies and Challenge America said, "On behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts, I congratulate the Macon Arts Alliance on their NEA grant to support Art Matters. This collaboration between the Alliance, Mercer University, Georgia Public Broadcasting and The Telegraph exemplifies the kind of smart partnerships and innovative thinking necessary to advance the field of arts journalism and strengthen the arts. I look forward to learning more as the project progresses."

"We are honored to be recommended for a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support this program," said Jan Beeland, executive director of Macon Arts Alliance. "Our selection among such a large pool of qualified applicants is a testament to the strength of the project."

"Embedding journalists within arts organizations is a key component of the program. The ability to go beyond traditional arts criticism and tell the full story behind the productions and exhibits presented by local organizations allows us to foster greater appreciation for the hard work required to bring arts events to the community," explained Jonathan Dye, director of communications at Macon Arts Alliance.

"We are very excited to participate in this innovative program with the Macon Arts Alliance," said Tim Regan-Porter, director of the Center for Collaborative Journalism. "The arts are crucial component of Macon's history and identity, as well as a vital part of economic development. This NEA grant will help arts organizations in the area improve their presence in the community, it will provide students with valuable experience in the field, and it will further enhance our regional reputation as a cultural center."

"The arts play an important role in bringing us together to share our common history, culture and context," said Beverly Blake, Macon program director for Knight Foundation. "This grant will not only inform people and highlight the vibrant art offerings in Central Georgia, it will support a new generation of journalists as they come to appreciate the power of the arts in building a connected community."

In August 2012, the NEA received 1,547 eligible applications for Art Works grants requesting more than $80 million in funding. Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. The 817 recommended NEA grants total $26.3 million and span 13 artistic disciplines and fields. Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.

About Macon Arts Alliance

The mission of the Macon Arts Alliance is to foster and support the advancement of arts and culture in Central Georgia. Macon Arts Alliance works to create an environment where arts and culture thrive and Central Georgia is recognized as an unparalleled cultural destination.

About the Center for Collaborative Journalism

The Center for Collaborative Journalism (CCJ) is a unique partnership between Mercer University, The Telegraph and Georgia Public Broadcasting, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and The Peyton Anderson Foundation. The Center's groundbreaking collaboration has students, faculty and veteran journalists working together in a joint newsroom. Learning in a "teaching hospital" model, students engage the community using the latest digital tools and leave with a strong portfolio of published work.

###

Mercer Commencement: More Than 1,800 to Graduate in Five Ceremonies Across the State

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:08:00 GMT

MACON/ATLANTA/SAVANNAH --More than 1,800 graduates will participate in Mercer University commencements during May in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah. This marks the third year for the University's campus-wide outdoor commencement in Atlanta, which has become the University's largest. The University will confer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees during five commencement ceremonies across the state.

The University will also confer three honorary degrees during the commencements to distinguished alumni and community members. The University will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree to commencement speaker and distinguished Medical School alumna Dr. Jean Rawlings Sumner on May 3 at the School of Medicine ceremony in Macon. On May 11, in Atlanta, the University will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree to Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society; and, at the Macon commencement, the University will award a Doctor of Humanities to musical pioneer and Macon native Richard "Little Richard" Wayne Penniman.

Mercer's commencement season begins on May 3 in Macon, when the School of Medicine's Macon campus will hold the University's first commencement at 1 p.m. in the University Center's Hawkins Arena. Dr. Sumner, in addition to being awarded an honorary degree, will serve as the commencement speaker. She was a member of the School's charter class and formerly served as a University trustee. In Macon, 114 students from the School of Medicine will participate in the commencement.

The School of Medicine will also hold the second commencement of the year, when the University's Savannah campus holds its ceremony for the second class of medical students to graduate from that campus. The ceremony will take place at the Savannah Arts Academy on May 4, at 1 p.m. In Savannah, the 41 participants from of the School of Medicine will hear a commencement address by Dr. William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

On May 11, the Atlanta campus will hold its combined outdoor commencement at 8:30 a.m. on the upper field. The ceremony includes graduates from the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, McAfee School of Theology, and the Atlanta-area graduates from the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education and College of Continuing and Professional Studies. Dr. Seffrin will deliver the commencement address to the more than 1,000 candidates for degrees and their families.

Also on May 11, the Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. in the University Center's Hawkins Arena where 165 candidates will participate. Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author and 1980 graduate of the School of Law, will deliver the commencement address.

The University's final commencement on May 11 will include graduates from the Macon campus. It will take place in the University Center's Hawkins Arena at 3:30 p.m. with 536 participating degree candidates. The ceremony will include graduates from the Stetson School of Business and Economics, Tift College of Education, School of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts, Townsend School of Music and the College of Continuing and Professional Studies. The commencement speaker will be retired Lt. Gen. Claude M. Kicklighter, CLA '55, former inspector general of the Department of Defense and Mercer trustee.

Below is the complete listing for Savannah, Atlanta and Macon commencement dates, times and speakers.

Savannah

School of Medicine

Speaker: William J. Hoskins, executive director of surgical activities at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Saturday, May 4, 1 p.m.
Savannah Arts Academy
Candidates for Degrees: 41

Atlanta - Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus

Atlanta Commencement - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Atlanta, Henry and Douglas), McAfee School of Theology, Tift College of Education (Atlanta, Douglas, Henry and Newnan) and College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Atlanta, Henry and Douglas)
Speaker: Dr. John R. Seffrin, chief executive officer at American Cancer Society
Saturday, May 11, 8:30 a.m.
Upper field – Atlanta campus
Candidates for degrees: 1,003

Macon

School of Medicine
Speaker: Dr. Jean R. Sumner, charter class member of the School of Medicine
Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 114

Macon Commencement – College of Liberal Arts, Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics (Savannah and Macon), School of Engineering, Tift College of Education (Macon and Eastman), Townsend School of Music and College of Continuing and Professional Studies (Macon and Eastman)
Speaker: Claude M. Kicklighter, 1955 College of Liberal Arts graduate, former inspector general of the Department of Defense, Mercer trustee, and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general
Saturday, May 11, 3:30 p.m.
Hawkins Arena, University Center
Candidates for degrees: 536

###