Outdoor Recreation Program Attracts Freshmen
The body fuels the mind, so the saying goes, and getting one's mental juices flowing through physical activity is the idea behind an outdoor orientation program for incoming freshmen at WVU.

The Student Recreation Center's Outdoor Recreation Center offered three summer activities plus year-round events as part of its Adventure West Virginia program. The summer activities consisted of three five-day programs—Paddle West Virginia, Backpacking West Virginia, and Explore West Virginia—featuring activities such as rowing, backpacking, rock climbing, and white-water rafting.

Besides the summer activities, participants will reunite throughout the academic year for various events, said graduate student Greg Corio, one of the program's coordinators. These include an "aloha" picnic at the start of the fall semester, a free climbing-wall class, an October adventure of the group's choice, and an April backpacking trip.

"The benefits of outdoor adventure programs for incoming freshmen go beyond the one week spent together in the outdoors," Corio said. "Several studies have shown that students who participate in similar programs at other schools post higher first-year grade point averages, display better social skills, and are more likely to stay in school."

Tofu Truck
WVU engineering students are relying on electricity, diesel, and soy-derived fuel to earn the "green" thumbs-up from judges looking for the most fuel-efficient sport utility vehicle in North America.

WVU was one of 15 schools from the United States and Canada that competed in FutureTruck 2003 held June 2-12 at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan, and the automaker's world headquarters in Dearborn. WVU has finished sixth overall in the past two years and shared the winning title with the University of Maryland in 2000.

"We competed again with a hybrid vehicle, part diesel and part electric," said Nigel Clark, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor and the team's faculty advisor. "We used a Detroit diesel engine, which will burn a 35 percent soy diesel/65 percent petroleum diesel blend. This year, we used the electric motor employed in the production of the electric Ford Ranger pickup."

Participants take a Ford Explorer donated by the automaker and reengineer the insides to improve fuel economy and exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance, safety, and affordable price. Ford also donates parts and $5,000 to each school.

Women's Studies Degree Approved
The WVU Board of Governors approved the establishment of a program leading to the bachelor of arts degree in women's studies.

The major is open to WVU students interested in furthering their understanding of women's studies as a discipline, developing literacy skills across the curriculum, and having opportunities to pursue their own interests through field experiences, research, and independent study.

"Women's studies majors will be able to learn about anything and everything they want to learn," says Nina Riivald, a graduate teaching assistant in the Center for Women's Studies. "This curriculum is multifaceted and allows for students to personalize their majors and take what they want from it."

The new major allows for double majoring with a variety of other disciplines, including communication studies, English, geography, history, international studies, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Student Lands Internship in Prague
A student in WVU's College of Business and Economics spent eight weeks in Prague, Czech Republic, over the summer.

Danielle Miller, a senior in organizational leadership from Bedford, Pennsylvania, landed an internship with Maersk Sealand, one of the largest liner shipping companies in the world. She worked in the company's human resources department.

This won't be her first international experience. She spent spring break in Cuba as part of a course on comparative economics. This fall she plans to attend classes in Italy as part of the college's study abroad program.

"A lot of business is connected with international markets, and it's very interesting how the global market has affected every business," said Miller. "I like the idea of being abroad—meeting all different people and being there to share their cultures and interests." I

n Prague, Miller worked for a company that owns more than 250 container vessels, 800,000 containers, and feeder vessels, trucks, and dedicated trains. Two other WVU business graduates were in Prague with Sealand: Michael Stolarczyk, managing director of Maersk Sealand in Prague, and Brian Harold, financial analyst.

D'Alessandri Drops a Title; WVU to Seek Dean of Medicine
Robert M. D'Alessandri, MD, dean of medicine and vice president for health sciences at WVU, will relinquish one of those titles next year.

"The expansion of WVU's statewide role in health education and healthcare has created the need for a full-time vice president for health sciences and a full-time dean of medicine," D'Alessandri said. "I intend to step down as dean sometime in 2004."

As vice president for health sciences, D'Alessandri oversees four health schools—medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing. Each, except for medicine, has a full-time dean. Educational offerings at WVU's health sciences schools have expanded rapidly in the past decade, with new doctoral-level programs in nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy, and master's programs in public health and occupational therapy.

D'Alessandri joined the WVU faculty in 1977. He was named dean of medicine in 1989 and added the vice president for health sciences post in 1992.

Student Affairs Administrator Retires
A WVU official who devoted most of his professional life to working with students and their families retired this summer after 36 years at his alma mater.

Herman Moses, associate vice president and dean of student affairs, was honored at a retirement reception June 19.

"What can you say about a man who has given his heart and soul to WVU for 36 years?" wondered Student Life associate Melanie Cook. "How do you thank him for all of his time, energy, guidance, and compassion?"

Some might reply: "Just take the rest of the day off, Herm . . ." —a quip he was famous for as he bade you a sly smile and a quick adieu following a mid-morning meeting or an afternoon work session.

But an afternoon off wouldn't even come close to paying proper respect to a gentleman who devoted his career to improving residence hall life, recreational programming, health and counseling services, admissions and recruiting functions, service learning opportunities, student programming, and student facilities, colleagues agree.

"He was always one of the first WVU staff members to respond to a student crisis, while always lending a helping hand to students in need, no matter the issue," Cook said.

Stewart Named New Dean of Students
A man who has been involved with WVU's student-centered movement since its revitalization nearly seven years ago became the new dean of students in July.

David Stewart, one of the original Resident Faculty Leaders (RFL) appointed in 1996, has been instrumental in the success of WVU's nationally acclaimed Operation Jump-Start program—a unique collection of programs that help students navigate and succeed from their first through final year.

"In his new role, Dr. Stewart's leadership and managerial skills will be a strong addition to the senior management team at Student Affairs," said Vice President Ken Gray. "He is committed to WVU's vision and to the mission of our office, and is well prepared to serve as a student-centered, dedicated, and energetic dean."

Stewart came to WVU in 1991 as an assistant professor of English teaching British literature, with a specialty in English Romanticism and the work of poet William Blake. He continued teaching while serving as the faculty leader for Boreman Residence Hall.

As dean, Stewart will serve as WVU's chief advocate for students, bringing focus to the array of student services outside the classroom and ensuring that these activities support and enrich students' academic life. In addition, he plans to remain the faculty leader at Boreman.

A native of Peterborough, England, Stewart and his wife, Shawna, are the parents of eight children.

What's Up Sunnyside?
The Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp. (CNRC) recently announced a contract with Environmental Planning and Design, LLC (EPD) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to help develop a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy plan for Morgantown's Sunnyside neighborhood.

The agreement with EPD calls for the firm to conduct an extensive inventory and analysis of the area's physical/visual opportunities and constraints. That includes a review of existing documents and project goal refinement; field reconnaissance and community orientation; base mapping; analysis of land use and demographics; evaluation of parcels, land ownership, and commercial and residential development; and parking, traffic, and market analysis. EPD will then formulate a vision concept, including an implications summary, detailed development concept sketches, conceptual design principles, and an implementation and action plan.

Focus groups encompassing recreation and the environment, housing, business/developers, faculty/staff, students, and government will be utilized by EPD to gather targeted specific planning and development issues. EPD also will solicit input from other stakeholders and may conduct public hearings.

Last September, WVU, the City of Morgantown, and the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the formation of CNRC in an effort to improve the Sunnyside neighborhood. The University and city each came up with $100,000 to jump start the nonprofit partnership.

School of Journalism Offers New Degree
The WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism has launched the first online integrated marketing communications (IMC) master's degree program in the nation.

Designed for working media professionals, the program allows them to earn academic credit and build innovative communication skills—completely online.

Seventeen professional students from across the nation are already enrolled. IMC Director Assistant Professor Archie Sader estimates that as many as 150 students will be enrolled in the program within the next three years.

IMC courses are taught by School of Journalism faculty, faculty from across the nation, and regional and national industry experts.

Students must have two years of professional experience in any area of communications and meet other requirements to be accepted into the program. To learn more, log on to www.wvu.edu/~imc/degree/imc.html.

Kudos

Outstanding Teachers Named
The six faculty members receiving this year's WVU Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award share a commitment to providing quality learning experiences for their students.

The honorees received their awards—either a $2,500 honorarium or a $5,000 U.S. savings bond—as part of WVU's Weekend of Honors celebration.

This year's Foundation Outstanding Teachers are:

• Robert E. Blobaum Jr., professor, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
• Jonathan R. Cumming, associate professor, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
• Peter F. Ehrlich, associate professor, School of Medicine
• Stacy A. Gartin, professor, Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences
• Virginia Franke Kleist, assistant professor, College of Business and Economics
• Dorian J. Williams, associate professor, School of Medicine
  

Debate Team Finishes in Top 20 Nationally
The WVU Debate Team finished the 2002-2003 season ranked 20th nationally in the comprehensive National Debate Tournament rankings, which includes more than 140 colleges and universities.

The 19-member Mountaineer team closed out the season ranked first in its East Central Region; the American Debate Association rankings placed WVU at fifth in the novice division. Collegiate debaters compete as two-person squads in novice, junior varsity, and varsity divisions.

Student Wins International Film Festival
Danny Cameron has good karma. His film, Karma . . . and a Little Bit of Love, won first place in the college division of the West Virginia International Film Festival, held May 1-4 in Charleston.

Set to an uplifting classical piece by Camille Saint-Saens (from the opera Samson and Delilah), and lasting approximately seven minutes, Karma contains action, suspense, drama, and even bits of comedy. The lighthearted, black-and-white, silent picture uses split-screen effects that add to the action.

"There's something for every human being," Cameron said of Karma, which was filmed in Morgantown in six hours using a personal digital camera.

Cameron, originally from Bluefield, currently edits videos at Blackwater Video Productions and plans to remain in Morgantown. He wants to film in West Virginia to show crews and filmmakers outside the state that great films can be made in West Virginia.

Student Captures Miss West Virginia Title
A first-year law student at WVU, Allison Williams was crowned Miss West Virginia 2003. Williams, from Jefferson County, not only won the title, but $11,000 in scholarships and a chance to compete and represent West Virginia in the Miss America Pageant on September 20 in Atlantic City.

"When you leave here and go out into the real world for a job, you know what to expect," Williams said of the interview portion of the competition. "After this, a job interview is simple."

First runner-up was Julia Burton, a WVU senior majoring in psychology and broadcast journalism.

Fall 2003 Contents

Home