ULM College of Pharmacy faculty published in major pharmaceutical journal

Leader

Dr. Greg Leader, interim dean of the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Pharmacy, recently congratulated three of his faculty following their publication in the Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

Dr. Emily Weidman-Evans, Dr. Tibb Jacobs and Dr. Jeff Evans from the Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, published the article, “Impact of a pharmacist-developed protocol on the cardiac monitoring of methadone in non-cancer pain management,” for the recent APhA edition.

The article was published electronically in September 2009 and the abstract is referenced in the pubmed database.

The article stemmed from their research involving a pain management clinic affiliated with LSU Health Sciences in Shreveport and in collaboration with Dr. Phillip Isherwood, M.D., and Dr. Tara Jenkins, an assistant professor of pharmacy administration in the ULM College of Pharmacy when the research was undertaken.

“It is especially rewarding to see the cross-campus and cross institution collaboration involved in the research. I look forward to seeing these researchers’ continued contributions to the literature,” said Leader.

Weidman-Evans earned a doctor of pharmacy from the University of Florida. Her teaching and clinical interests include diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain management, cultural competence, clinic development and implementation.

Jacobs earned a doctor of pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Her teaching and clinical interests include hypertension, gastrointestinal disease, ambulatory care; specifically, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and anticoagulation.

Jeff Evans earned his doctor of pharmacy from the University of Florida. His teaching and clinical interests include assessment through different teaching methods and implementation of disease state management clinics by pharmacists.

---

ULM faculty member to direct publishing house

Rubio

Smith

University of Louisiana at Monroe faculty member Dr. Christian Rubio, assistant professor of Spanish, was selected to plan a new publishing house sponsored by the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española.

The goal is for ANLE to serve as a publishing outlet for Spanish-teaching professors.

Rubio, who leads a committee of eight other ANLE members, indicates that he is still developing a logistics and marketing plan. When complete, he will identify professors from around the U.S. to help him identify projects for publication.

“I have divided the states into regions and we will create a directory of all Spanish professors,” Rubio said. “Once we establish our guidelines, I intend to send them a letter inviting them to publish with us.”

Rubio says that planning is scheduled for completion by December when he will present to the ANLE director.

“His work on this project contributes to the strong reputation that the faculty in the Department of Foreign Languages at ULM have in teaching, scholarship and service,” said Dr. Ruth Smith, foreign languages department head.

“I am confident that he will carry out the task with the thoroughness and enthusiasm that he brings to all his projects.”

---

ULM faculty member elected to UL System Faculty Advisory Council

Rhorer

Dr. Donna Rhorer, associate professor of English at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, was recently elected Chair of the University of Louisiana System Faculty Advisory Council for 2009-10. Rhorer previously served as ULM Faculty Senate president, ULM’s FAC representative and FAC secretary before being elected as FAC chair.

Faculty representatives from the eight UL System schools serve on the FAC, which is charged with addressing issues from the Faculty Senates of those schools.

The FAC serves as a collective voice for the eight institutions and constructs and presents resolutions to UL System President Dr. Randy Moffet, the UL System Board of Directors and to elected officials.

The FAC meets in Baton Rouge after each meeting of the UL System board. Rhorer reports on FAC activities at ULM Faculty Senate meetings, which faculty members can access through the Senate minutes.

"The FAC gives us the opportunity to voice issues important to faculty," Rhorer said. “Faculty should know that we take their concerns to a larger group of Faculty Senate representatives from all eight UL System schools.”

---

ULM broadcasting director receives commendation

Willer

University of Louisiana at Monroe Director of University Broadcasting Joel Willer received a special commendation recognizing his national contributions to student broadcasters from College Broadcasters Inc.

The award was presented Oct. 30 at the National College Media Convention in Austin, Texas.

The honor is an acknowledgement of Willer's role in successful copyright royalty negotiations covering Internet transmissions of sound recordings for the years 2011 through 2015. Willer negotiated on behalf of college webcasters nationwide to reach an agreement with representatives of the music recording industry, as authorized by Congress under the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009.

Willer has been actively involved with webcasting copyright issues at the national level since 2001; he previously received CBI awards in 2003 and 2005.

As director of university broadcasting, Willer manages ULM's student-operated radio station KXUL 91.1 FM and public radio station KEDM 90.3 FM.

---

ULM honor society recognizes Top 10 faculty and staff

Bryan	Fassett
Kuanliang	Walker
Weems	White

The University of Louisiana at Monroe chapter of the Mortar Board College Senior Honor Society recently named its Top 10 faculty and staff members for 2009-2010.

The honorees were selected by the group’s student members and were introduced on the field during the ULM homecoming football game on October 3. Each received a plaque to commemorate this recognition.

This year’s honorees include:

Linda Bryan, Associate Professor of Speech-language Pathology, nominated by Jennifer Hootsell and Ye Man Lo;

Brian Fassett, Professor of Art, nominated by Kelsea McCrary;

Deborah Golemon, Instructor of Risk Management, nominated by Katie Sanford;

Attapol Kuanliang, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, nominated by Brent Gibert;

Ruthoe Kyles, Custodian, nominated by Serena Waller;

Roslynn Pogue, Student Employee Administrator, nominated by Mary Webster;

Bruce Walker, Department Head of Management, nominated by Hannah Livingston;

Amy Weems, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Leadership, nominated by Hannah Livingston;

Coralie White, Associate Professor of Music, nominated by Kelsea McCrary;

Allison Wiedemeier, Assistant Professor of Biology, nominated by Hailey Boyter and Josh Hall.

Mortar Board is a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The group selects the Top 10 faculty and staff annually.

---

ULM students share Spanish skills with area elementary students

Smith

Holloway

The Department of Foreign Languages at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, in partnership with the Monroe City Schools, continued a program this fall to teach basic Spanish to elementary students enrolled in the Monroe City School District.

The program is offered through Cypress Point, Lexington, and J.S. Clark Elementary Schools. The district developed the program in response to an inquiry from Monroe School Board Member Vickie Krutzer who had been seeking a method for increasing access to language learning. It was initiated last year when Spanish students from ULM were placed at Cypress Point, Lexington, Lincoln, and Sallie Humble Elementary Schools.

ULM Department of Foreign Languages Head Dr. Ruth E. Smith and Dr. Charles Holloway developed the proposal, which was well received by several area elementary principals.

The program has proven mutually beneficial to the ULM students and the elementary students enrolled in the classes. ULM students use the language and experience the joy of teaching, while the elementary students study the language in a structured format before advancing to middle school and potential enrollment in foreign language courses.

As was the case during the previous year, Dr. Holloway prepares structured lesson plans and works closely with the schools while providing guidance to the ULM students.

---

ULM faculty presents research to federal substance abuse administration

Hanser

University of Louisiana at Monroe faculty member Dr. Robert Hanser, who serves as head of ULM’s Criminal Justice Department, presented research findings about a local drug treatment center to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The center, Rays of Sonshine, specializes in treating women and is where Hanser has served as an evaluator and researcher for more than four years. He presented his findings to DHHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Hanser’s research measured treatment progress for clients with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, and indicated that Rays of Sonshine had statistically significant positive effects with the people they serve. His findings have helped the center optimize and refine their treatment processes.

“This type of applied research is what I find most productive because it is directly relevant to the day-to-day operations of service providers,” Hanser said. “More importantly, it serves a useful purpose in helping people to overcome debilitating issues in their lives.”

Following his presentation, Hanser was invited to present his research at a workshop with other organizations that receive SAMHSA funds. His consulting fee for speaking at the workshop was donated to the Institute of Law Enforcement.

---

ULM art professor selected for sculpture works

Tresner

Cliff Tresner, associate professor of art at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, is exhibiting sculpture at both a national and state venue, including the Salmagundi XIII indoor/outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at the Imperial Arts Center at Rosy Mount, N.C.

Tresner’s sculpture “Oarspace,” a 10-foot tall steel and wood sculpture was selected by Juror Shawn Morin, and will remain on display until August 2010.

Tresner’s “Tree Tied,” steel, aluminum, and wood sculpture was also selected for the Marjorie Morrison Sculpture Biennial at the Hammond Regional Arts Center of Hammond. Juror Rose Courville selected Tresner’s work for exhibition from among several Louisiana artists.

For a look at more of Tresner’s work, visit www.clifftresner.com.

“Oarspace”

“Tree Tied”

---

ULM business professor presents paper at national meeting

Dunn

University of Louisiana at Monroe faculty member Dr. Paul Dunn presented a paper at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship’s annual meeting. The meeting was held Oct. 7-9 in San Antonio, Texas.

Dunn’s paper, “Entrepreneurial Characteristics, Optimism, Pessimism, and Realism,” won the group’s annual Outstanding Paper Award. The paper will be published in the 35th anniversary issue of the Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship this spring.

His paper attempts to better explain entrepreneurship and provide students with greater insight into the field. Dunn, who co-authored the paper with University of Vermont Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship Dr. Kathleen Liang, discovered that while entrepreneurs are generally more optimistic about their ventures than others in business, successful entrepreneurs have more realistic expectations.

The paper is one piece of a larger project that Dunn and Liang have worked on for two and a half years.

An active member since helping found the USASBE in 1974, this award is only the latest Dunn has received from the group. His last two papers in this series have similarly won Outstanding Paper Awards at previous meetings.

---

ULM nursing faculty member selected for national panel

Laird

University of Louisiana at Monroe nursing faculty member Celia Laird was recently selected to sit on the Research Abstract Review Panel for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

The purpose of the panel is to select research abstracts and fund projects to be presented at AACN’s national meeting. The abstracts selected will be presented at AACN’s National Teaching Institute in May 2010 in Washington, D.C.

Laird, and assistant professor of nursing, was also selected to sit on AACN’s examination development committee. The committee appointment enables her to help improve the group’s certification exam for the critical care registered nurse designation. Starting next year, the test will be used to certify registered nurses as Critical Care Registered Nurses.

“Certified nurses are role models of professional accountability. They distinguish themselves through a commitment to lifelong learning and career advancement,” Laird said. “Both appointments have allowed me to network with critical care nurses across the country. At the same time, I have the opportunity to influence the future direction of critical care nursing in the U.S.”

---

ULM history professor presents work at national conference

Carpenter

Roger Carpenter, assistant professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, presented a paper titled “Striving for Authenticity: ‘Real’ Indians, Scalping, and The Last of the Mohicans” at the American Society for Ethnohistory’s Annual Meeting, held from Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 in New Orleans.

Carpenter’s paper examined the 1936 film Last of the Mohicans and the effort made by the film’s producers to find “real Indians” for the film, as well as to accurately portray 18th century North American warfare. His paper discussed how these efforts proved to be a problem for the film’s producers, as “scalping” proved to be too difficult to portray.

Carpenter also chaired a session titled “Images: Literary, Motion Picture, and ‘Scientific’ Perspectives on North American Indians,” which examined native stereotypes in film, the tendency of European travel writers to refer to native leaders as “kings” and native authors in the 1890s critiquing US actions in Cuba and the Philippines.

The ASE was founded in 1954 to promote investigation of the Native Peoples of the Americas’ histories. This involves developing histories informed by ethnography, linguistics, archaeology and ecology.

---

Echols elected as Louisiana State Arts Council’s vice chairman

Echols

University of Louisiana Monroe Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Echols was recently elected vice chairman of the Louisiana State Arts Council. Echols previously served on the group’s Board of Directors.

The LSAC is a volunteer body appointed by the governor that meets quarterly to address arts related issues of importance to the state as well as approving all grant awards made by the Louisiana Division of the Arts.

“It was a pleasure to be selected by my fellow state arts council members to serve as the vice chairman. Our work in the cultural economy is critical to Louisiana’s long term success,” Echols said. “We are rich with resources and a wonderful place to live, learn and prosper. The state arts council makes it possible for the creative economy to flourish through grants and support.”

Echols also serves on the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Directors and participates in several other civic organizations, including the Monroe Symphony Orchestra Endowment, Leadership Louisiana Graduate, the Monroe Kiwanis Club, and more.

A Monroe native, Echols earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees of business administration at ULM. Past experience includes a position as the chief operating officer for a financial services firm while serving ULM as an adjunct professor of marketing.

---

ULM administrative assistant/breast cancer survivor takes crown

Diane Eubanks, an administrative assistant at the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s University Advancement Division, was recently crowned a winner at “The Beauty and the Breast Pageant,” in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Diane Eubanks with her escort at the “The Beauty and the Breast Pageant.”

Eubanks, a breast cancer survivor, earned her crown in the 47 to 59-year-old category on Oct. 17. The Kitty DeGree Breast Health Center sponsored Eubanks. Eubanks and the other winners demonstrated their skills in the following categories: talent, casual wear, eveningwear and interview. More than Conquerors Breast Cancer Support Group of Grambling hosted the event to raise awareness about the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

---

ULM’s Matthews serves on LLA committees; works published in journals

Melinda F. Matthews, Interlibrary Loan/Reference Librarian, is serving on two committees this year for the Louisiana Library Association.

Matthews serves on the Louisiana Library Association Anthony H. Benoit Mid-Career Award Committee and the Louisiana Library Association Scholarship Committee. She is also the Subject Specialists Section Representative of the LLA Presidential Committee.

Matthews also recently wrote two articles published in library journals.

Matthews wrote “Professional Hat Rack: The Ever-Changing Role of an Academic Librarian" for the June 2009 issue of Library Worklife. She wrote "A Gold Mine of Career Opportunities: How Academic Librarians Can Dig Deep" for the September 2009 issue of Library Worklife.

Matthews earned her master's degree in Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in May 1990. She earned a bachelor's degree in English in December 1988 from McNeese State University in Lake Charles.

She has worked at the ULM Library since July 1990, where she started as Humanities Reference Librarian. She became Interlibrary Loan/Reference Librarian in January 1992.