Vol. 60 | No. 9 | December 9, 2011

Dr. Willene Paxton to speak at fall Commencement ceremonies Dr. Willene Paxton will be the speaker at both of ETSU’s fall Commencement exercises, scheduled at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, in the ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center. Paxton came to ETSU in 1963 as the dean of women, responsible for supervising women students’ housing, campus sororities, women’s honor societies, the establishment and decoration of new residence Paxton halls, and arranging dances, as well as major concerts and activities. Paxton left ETSU long enough to earn a doctoral degree in education at Indiana University, but returned to establish ETSU’s Counseling Center, which she directed until her retirement in 1993.

In addition to her doctorate, Paxton also holds degrees from Birmingham Southern College and Michigan State University. Before arriving at ETSU, Paxton held positions of increasing administrative responsibility at Texas Technological University, the State University of New York Teachers College in Fredonia and the University of New Mexico. An active and valued participant in the ETSU community, Paxton is a member of the ETSU Distinguished President’s Trust Society. In 2007, she developed and funded the Paxton Lectureship on Civic Engagement, which brings notable authors and educators to speak on campus. In addition, Paxton has served as secretary, vice-president and president of the ETSU Retirees Association and was a member of the ETSU Centennial Steering Committee. A leader at the local, regional and national levels in many professional education and counseling organizations, Paxton

ETSU to dedicate its most recent Habitat for Humanity home

ETSU will deliver a special holiday gift by dedicating its fifth completed Habitat for Humanity home on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. The celebration will take place at the building site, 1403 E. Holston Ave., where the keys to the house will be presented to the new homeowners, Selienna Presnell and her two grandchildren. ETSU faculty and staff, representatives from the ETSU Habitat student organization, and members of Holston Habitat for Humanity will attend. During the fall semester, students played an active role in both scheduling volunteers and fundraising. They are planning events for the spring semester as they prepare to build a sixth home to be constructed next fall. A student-managed Web site at www.bucshabitat.org provides news updates, volunteer information and fundraising opportunities. For more information, contact Theresa Marlow, Student Affairs, at 439-5377 or [email protected]. Continued on page 2

has been state president of both the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the Tennessee Association of Women Deans and Counselors. She has been affiliated with most of the professional organizations in her field and is listed in “Who’s Who in America” and “Who’s Who in the World.” Also involved in civic and religious affairs, Paxton was president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Monday Club of Johnson City from 2008-2010. She chaired the boards of CONTACT Teleministries and Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, where one of the committees she chaired initiated the Melting Pot breakfasts for the homeless. She served on the board and several committees for the Asbury Retirement Centers in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, and she was selected as “Area Volunteer Quarterback” for the Titans professional football team. Paxton resides in Johnson City. Continued on page 2

Noland family visits campus

Dr. Brian Noland, who will become the ninth president of ETSU after President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. retires in mid-January, visited Johnson City and the ETSU campus with his wife, Donna, and their six-year-old son, Jackson, on Nov. 28. While here, they explored schools for Jackson.

ETSU Accent, for and about university activities and employees, is published by Media Relations in the Office of University Relations. News items for upcoming issues should be forwarded to Jennifer L. Hill, assistant director, Box 70717, 300 Burgin E. Dossett Hall, telephone 439-5693, e-mail [email protected]. Contributing writers this issue: Carol Fox, coordinator, Media Relations Jennifer L. Hill, assistant director, Media Relations Brad Lifford, coordinator, Media Relations Randall Sanders, marketing/public relations coordinator, Center for Appalachian Studies and Services Joe Smith, director, Media Relations Photographs by ETSU Photo Lab Jim Padgett, photographer Jim Sledge, photographer Larry Smith, director Charlie Warden, photographer East Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution. The TBR is the nation’s sixth largest higher education system, governing 45 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system includes six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 technology centers, providing programs to over 180,000 students in 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Accreditation Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, or Website: www. sacscoc.org with any question regarding the accreditation of East Tennessee State University. ETSU is a Tobacco-Free Campus. All use of tobacco is limited to private vehicles only. ETSU makes available to prospective students and employees the ETSU Security Information Report. This annual report includes campus crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years and various campus policies concerning law enforcement, the reporting of criminal activity, and crime prevention programs. The ETSU Security Information Report is available upon request from ETSU, Department of Public Safety, Box 70646, Johnson City, TN 376141702. The report can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.etsu.edu/dps/security_report.asp. TBR #220-001-11 — East Tennessee State University is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its program and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Diversity/Affirmative Action Director, ETSU, Box 70734, Johnson City, TN 37614, (423) 439-4211.

Public health dean heartened by Tennessee’s leap in health rankings Tennessee leapt forward in the annual rankings that gauge the health of all 50 states, moving up to No. 39 to give the Volunteer State its highest ranking ever. America’s Health Rankings have been compiled and released annually by the United Health Foundation since 1990, and prior to 2011, Tennessee never claimed a ranking higher than No. 42. This year’s placement at 39th continues a steady upward trend. Five years ago,

Commencement Continued from page 1

During both ceremonies, the Distinguished Faculty Marshals will be Drs. Roberta Herrin and Joel Hillhouse, 2011 recipients of the Distinguished Faculty Awards in Service and Research respectively. Dr. Chris Dula, recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching, will be the Mace Bearer. Banner carriers for the 10 a.m. ceremony are Dr. Katrina Heil, Arts and Sciences; Dr. Arnold Nyarambi, Education; Dr. Allan Forsman, Public Health; Dr. Douglas Thewke, Medicine; Dr. Scott Champney, Graduate Studies; Kelly Hensley, University Libraries; and Dr. Scott ContrerasKoterbay, Honors. During the 2 p.m. ceremony, banner carriers are Dr. Ronald Zucker, Business and Technology; Dr. Debbie Dotson, Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences; Dr. Jill Leroy-Frazier, Continuing Studies and Academic Outreach; Dr. Susan Rasmussen, Nursing; Dr. Joel Ryman, Graduate Studies; Dalton Collins, Alumni; Dr. Mark Ellis, University Libraries; and ContrerasKoterbay, Honors.

Habitat

Continued from page 1 To make a tax-deductible donation, contact Holston Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 5265, Kingsport, TN 37663, or online at www.holstonhabitat.org, noting that the gift is for the “ETSU Habitat Build.”

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Tennessee had a ranking of 48th. As dean of the ETSU College of Public Health, Dr. Randy Wykoff anxiously awaits this list each year. The college makes button pins when the rankings are released, with a slash through the number to illustrate the desire for upward movement. “I have never lived in a place that is as focused on better health as our state,” Wykoff said. “From the Governor’s Health and Wellness Task Force at the state level to the innumerable local efforts in communities such as ours, Tennessee is seeing real improvements based on real efforts. “We recognize that these advances in health statistics reflect important efforts to emphasize education, reduce poverty and provide access to affordable health care.” To assess an overall ranking, researchers for America’s Health Rankings track over 20 categories across the public health spectrum, ranging from numbers of cancer deaths to primary care physicians per capita. Tennessee gets high marks in some areas. For example, Tennesseans have the lowest rate of binge drinking in the nation. The state is also strong in the rate of childhood immunizations (eighth), frequency of poor mental health days (11th), geographic disparity (14th), primary care physicians per capita (18th) and public health funding (22nd). The state scores low in such things as violent crime – at 47th, its worst ranking – and also preventable hospitalizations, diabetes and cancer deaths, all coming in at No. 46. In rates of cardiovascular death and premature death, Tennessee is 44th. The College of Public Health gives away more than 1,000 of the buttons every year. Wykoff said that when Tennessee reaches a ranking of 20th, he’ll drop the slash. “One of the reasons that we do the annual pin campaign is to remind people that these numbers can change,” Wykoff said. “These numbers reflect things that we as individuals, as families and as communities really can influence.” The complete rankings are available at www.americashealthrankings.org.

2011 Service Awards

Thirty-five Year Award Winners

Thirty Year Award Winners

At the annual Service Awards Breakfast hosted on Nov. 15 by the Office of Human Resources, 348 individual faculty and staff members of ETSU were honored for providing 4,640 years of service to the university and the state of Tennessee. Special recognition was given to ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr., who will retire on Jan. 14, 2012, the 27th anniversary of his hire date at the university. Tammy Hamm, director of Human Resources, expressed appreciation to Stanton for his support of the Service Awards Breakfast each year. She mentioned that Stanton has always announced the number of hours worked over the years by the honorees in attendance, and pointed out that Stanton has personally put in 52,650 hours of service during his tenure, not counting all the other time he has worked in addition to the regular work days. “We want to thank you,” Hamm said, “for all your dedication and the love you have given us as a family during your tenure. Thank you, Dr. Stanton!” Recognized at the event were 250 employees with 5-, 10- and 15-year tenures, who received certificates of appreciation, signed by Stanton, plus silver pins denoting their years of service. Twenty-six employees with 20 years of service, and 39 with 25 years, were awarded certificates of appreciation and received jeweled pins. In addition to certificates and jeweled pins or lockets, engraved brass and wooden plaques signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam were presented to 21 ETSU 30-year, eight 35-year, and four 40-year employees in appreciation for their many years of service. In his remarks, Stanton expressed thankfulness for all of the dedicated, loyal and long-serving staff and faculty at the university.

Forty Years

Cecil N. Blankenship Carroll Ray Hyder Rita H. Presnell Janice P. Randolph

Thirty-five Years

Carolyn Ann Bond Edward J. Dwyer Kathleen H. Grover Paul Silven Hayes Michael P. Marchioni Helen Terilee Peavler Joe Leonard Robertson Martha Garland Whaley

Thirty Years

Cindy D. Canter Bonnie Kay Chandley Harold Kenton Hall

Dennis D. Hedrick Tresia Lynn Hill Charlotte V. Horton David Lynn Johnson Doris A. Lowe Richard A. Manahan Lynn Cecil Myers Susan Kay Rogers Brian Peter Rowe Debra A. Shaw Vaughn Simerly Jr. Pamela F. Simpson Michael A. Smith Allan D. Spritzer Valerie G. Swartz Teresa Jo Vanhoy Charles F. Warden Paul E. Woodby

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Twenty-five Years

Jafar Alavi Lisa Darlene Bare William Douglas Burgess Jr. Donna M. Corbitt John Stephen Culp Robert L. Davidson Deborah L. Dotson Charles Carroll Faust IV James C. Fulbright Delbert L. Hall Judith Harrell Karen A. Harrington Lakie D. Hensley Mark S. Holland Vida Joyce Hull Carol B. Johnson Robert A. Justice Sylvia J. Kirkpatrick W. Hal Knight

Stuart Leicht Theresa L. Marlow Terri L. McFeature K. Brent Morrow Amy E. Murphy Kenneth C. Nave Charles D. Parker Gerald Allen Philpott Robert M. Plummer George Douglas Poole Phillip Robert Scheuerman Mark Edward Steadman Terry R. Story Mark Allen Stout W. Reed Sturdivant Gary Dwight Taylor George R. Wagner Carla Rahn Warner Frederick Blair Warren Marian M. Young

Service Awards Continued from page 3

Twenty Years

Patty Ann Allen Rajani Anand Patricia S. Barnett Sandra Lee Countermine Mary Jo Davenport Mary Kathryn Deaton Grace Marie Graves Sherri Lynn Hardin Kelly Lee Hensley Rhona Susan Hurwitz Paul Kamolnick Theresa Fish Lura Carolyn S. Merriman Martin Elmer Olsen John Michael Orr Rebecca Ann Pyles Lisa J. Rowland Jimmy Loyd Seehorn Deborah Elaine Stuck Celia Marie Szarejko Thomas E. Townsend Jr. Richard L. Wallace Tonya Renee Ward Steven E. Webb David Loyd Williams Walter Wayne Witt

Fifteen Years

Patricia L. Barcel Lisa Renee Kyle Bell Alice Arlene Bennett Beverly Ann Bibbins Jerrilyn S. Brehm Jeanine Lee Carroll Dennis M. DeFoe Susan Bramlett Epps Marc A. Fagelson Mary Suzanne Gray Bhuvana Guha Linda B. Hilbert Edward J. Hill Linda E. Hipple Mary A. Hooks Kenneth K. Hoss Clifford L. Hudson Rebecca D. Hunter Sheila Ann Lester Angela Radford Lewis Theresa A. Lloyd Roger Allen Lowe Donald G. Luttermoser Tina Denise Mann Donna Marie Miller Mary C. Myron Philip E. Pfeiffer IV

Charlotte Laraine Powers Connie Virginia Rogers Antonio E. Rusinol Beverly P. Sherwood Sidney A. Smith Guy Michael Strickland Patricia Jean Talley Douglas P. Thewke Jackie D.L. Vaughn Anneke P. Williams Connie Diana Yakley

Ten Years

Richard Ernest Aroney Sherrill S. Bailey James P. Batchelder Shirley Cherry Bates Lana Lowe Becker Helen M. Blevins Loretta Bradley Lesbia N. Bran Stephen Dwayne Brickey John David Briley Kathy A. Campbell Ranjan Nanigopal Chakraborty David O. Chastain Ting-Heng Chu Michael Amos Cody Kelly H. Collins Laura Odom Cooper Patrick Joseph Cronin Donald R. Davis Ariane Sonia Day Pamela Sue Dobbins-Eaton Dustin James Duncan Darla J. Dye Gerald E. Ellis Jennifer L. Eppley Karen H. Ervin Larry A. Estep Pamela A. Evanshen Tamera J. Fair Johnneta Denise Fenderson Teresa Burrell Finch Deborah Lynn Frakes Christopher D. Fuller Linda Odom Gibson Jonathan E. Gilbert Mark L. Giroux William Edward Harkleroad Jeanette M. Henry Jennifer Lea Hoard Tawana L. Holland James D. Holt Suzy Hooven Amy B. Horton

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Susan M. Hossler Mary E. Howell LaDonna Hutchins Matthew Raymond Johnson Istvan Karsai Koyamangalath Krishnan Michaele Duncan Laws Heather Danielle Ledwell Susan Caroline Lilly Jennifer Williams Lockmiller Kelly E. Logan Rebecca Ann Loyd Brian Christopher Martin Mitzi Marcella Martin Peggy D. McCurry Gina Reanne McGee Lana Urivna McGrady Shelia Petitt McKinney Jonathan Patrick Moorman David G. Mueller Michael S. Norris Deborah Susan Parks Josephine A. Paty Deborah Tate Pfortmiller Kenneth B. Powell Betsy Plank Preston Carrie L. Richardson Angela Sue Rosenbalm Robert Eugene Sawyer Terri E. Schreiner Chester Samuel Smith Willie D. Smith Jeffery R. Story Christopher N. Strode Barbara J. Sucher Diane Wheeler Taylor Malenia Cherie Truelove Fraser Gerald Tudiver Nelda S. Valentine Steven C. Wallace Tracy L. Watkins Mitchell Lee Watts Robin Ann Weise Brian James Wilson Lev Yampolsky Yue Zou

Five Years

Michael P. Allen Thomas R. Avonda Kara Ruth Barger Kristina S. Bartlett Cathy W. Belcher Ginette C. Blackhart Sorka Sheenn Blanton Jill L. Bumpus

Sandra S. Bundy Theresa Elaine Burchett Randy Lee Byington Krystal Dawn Carrier Stanley Percy Carroll Ke Chen Ray L. Clemons Ivy Alena Click Teresa Darlene Cochran Charles C. Collins Brenda Faye Compton P. Darlene Constantine Karlota Isla Contreras-Koterbay Sheila Margaret Cooke Phyllis D. Cooper Scott A. Curtis Dinah Lynn DeFord Nicole Miller Dolan Kermit L. Dugger Hadi Elias El Bazouni Teresa Kay Feltner Mary Jane Fields Joanne Lenise Foster Wanda S. Fox William Allan Garrett Jennine Marie Goodart-Lovette Fiona Jane Goodyear Victoria Hunt Graham Amanda E. Greene Nathan C. Grindstaff Vijaya K. Guntupalli Angela Teresa Haga Charles Ray Hall Angela Virginia Hanley David William Harker Vanessa Allen Hawkins Chad W. Head Robert John Head Cinnaman Star Hensel Ammi Sarai Hepler Lori B. Hill Chih-Long Hu Michael Hughes Gloria K. Hurt Joey Renee Icenhour Bradley T. Irwin Crystal Maurisa Jacobs Sheri Lea Jervis Yu-Lin Jiang Jodi Polaha Jones Kimberly Darlene Keith Kathryn Klopfenstein Melinda Bowles LaPrade Tiffany M. Lasky Continued on page

Students present community-based research in Washington, D.C. Graduate students in the “Documenting Community Traditions” class in the departments of Appalachian Studies and Sociology were in Washington, D.C., Dec. 2-3 to present research they have done as part of the Appalachian Teaching Project (ATP). Students in that class, taught by Drs. Tess Lloyd and John Lewis, have done field work in Unicoi County geared toward the eventual creation of a “Unicoi County Buy-Local Guide.” “This program has changed the way I teach all my classes,” Lloyd said, “because it provides a model for getting students to do meaningful work in the community – one of the real goals of education.”

The ATP provides college students the opportunity to engage in research that addresses challenges facing Appalachian communities. The program is led by the Consortium of Appalachian Centers and Institutes, a coalition of Appalachian studies organizations throughout the region, and administered by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services (CASS) at ETSU. It includes coursework and active student research on ways to build sustainable communities in Appalachia. Hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the conference in the nation’s capital featured presentations from students representing 14 colleges and uni-

versities in 10 Appalachian states. Since the fall of 2001, 15 institutions of higher learning from 11 of the 13 states in the ARC service region have participated in the ATP. Undergraduate and graduate student participants engage in class work and field research that focuses on the question, “How do we build a sustainable future for Appalachian communities?” Each campus approaches the question uniquely, but all follow a set of common guidelines. Additional details about the ATP, including past presentations, may be found at www. etsu.edu/cass/projects and www.arc.gov/ program_areas/ARCExamplesofARCEducationProjects.asp.

Brass, percussion concerts conclude Music Department’s fall series The Department of Music will conclude its fall concert series with three free public concerts on Sunday, Dec. 11. The ETSU Brass Ensembles will perform at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church,

105 S. Boone St. These groups include the ETSU Trumpet Ensemble, Horn Choir, Trombone Choir and Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, led by Department of Music faculty members Dr. David Champouillon,

Service Awards Continued from page 4

Jill A. Leroy-Frazier Yusheng Liu Georgia Ann Love Patricia L. Lowe Ralph Anthony Lugo Michele A. Mangiacotti Stephen William Marshall Sherry Lynn Martinez Martha Moraa Michieka Rita Joan Minor Robin Walsh Montgomery Norman Charles Moore Laura Elizabeth Morin Brandi Renee Nave James Matthew Newland Yared Nigussie Edward Michieka Onyango Beatrice H. Owens Tammy Regena Ozment-Skelton Rene Hall Palumbo Tonya Lynn Poteet Tabitha Nicole Price Kelly Blake Price-Rhea Kimberly Ringley Raebel Phillip Jay Riley David S. Roane Amy Jean Roark Debra J. Roberson Trisha Kay Rogers Randall K. Sanders Mark Matthew Savage

Janna Lynn Scarborough Richard Stanley Scheuch Pamela Howell Scott Angela Dawn Sheek Corydon W. Siffring Ruby Pauline Stout Samuel David Taylor Margaret J. Tipton Mellissa Tolley William John Trainor Jr. Nancy L. Travis Shelia Stinson Trivette Aracelis Vasquez Ester Lee Verhovsek Patsy Jill Vines Gabriella L. Weiss Katherine Weiss Jennifer L. Whitehead Joshua Lee Whitlock Ruth Juarez Willbanks Jo Marjorie Willems Michele Diane Williams Stacey Lynne Williams Suzanne Dawn Williams Nakia Joye Woodward Penny Eileen Wright Randolph Forbes Wykoff Jeanne Eileen Zavada Michael Steven Zavada Christian M. Zembower

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Jeff Whaley, David Bubsey and Jimmie Self, respectively. Later, the ETSU Percussion Ensemble will perform at 5 p.m. in Mathes Hall. This concert will feature various styles of percussion literature, from traditional African music to contemporary Latin and jazz. The Percussion Ensemble performs under the direction of Dr. Rande Sanderbeck, associate professor of music. Finally, the ETSU Faculty Brass will present “Brass-Oh!” at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The Faculty Brass is made up of some of the leading brass performers in the area. Its members are veterans of United States military bands, current ETSU Department of Music faculty, and principal players in the Johnson City Symphony and Kingsport’s Symphony of the Mountains. They include Spencer Weese, bass trombone; Jimmie Self, euphonium and trombone; David Bubsey, trombone; Jeff Whaley, horn; and Charlie Babb and Dr. David Champouillon, trumpet. These musicians perform many different styles of music, including sacred, ceremonial, classical, pop, Dixieland and jazz. Their appearances throughout the region include graduation ceremonies at ETSU’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine, King College and Tusculum College; the Barter Theatre Performing Arts Series in Abingdon, Va.; gubernatorial election events; weddings; veterans’ functions; and church services. For more information, call the Department of Music at 439-4276.

‘Ray Hicks and Other Beech Mountain Folks’ DVD released The town of Beech Mountain is still eastern America’s highest town at 5,506 feet above sea level, but the area has changed dramatically since ETSU faculty members Dr. Thomas G. Burton and the late Professor Jack Schrader began filming in Southern Appalachian in the 1960s. In the mid-1970s, Burton, who has since retired, and Schrader turned their attention to Appalachian storyteller Ray Hicks and his family and friends. Two of their films, “A Film about Ray Hicks” and “Buna & Bertha,” have been packaged along with earlier footage recorded by Burton and his ETSU Department of English colleague, the late Professor Ambrose Manning, into a newly released DVD entitled “Ray Hicks and Other Beech Mountain Folks.” Each film and the additional footage are introduced by Burton in an informative, entertaining hour-long presentation. According to Burton, “There are just a lot of interesting stories and from a lot of interesting people around Beech Mountain. And I think Ray and Buna and Bertha and Stanley and Hattie — they’re some of the most interesting people up there, or were, on the Beech.” Standing nearly seven feet tall, Ray Hicks spoke a dialect of English that retained much of the vocabulary and phrasing of earlier immigrants to the region. His distinctive way of speaking is a particularly interesting aspect of “A Film about Ray Hicks.” Because of that speaking style, Robert McNeil featured Hicks in the PBS series “The Story of English.” Known primarily for his storytelling, particularly for a group of stories known as Jack Tales, Hicks was the first storyteller invited to what eventually became known as the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. Hicks died in 2003, but he remains an iconic figure in the storytelling revival movement. In Dr. Thomas Burton fact, upon entering the International Storytelling Center the first large photograph one notices is Ray Hicks telling a story to festival-goers. When asked if he “discovered” Ray Hicks, Burton explained that while he did not “discover” Hicks, he did introduce him to Jimmy Neil Smith, the founder of the National Storytelling Festival. Over the ensuing years, Ray was featured in documentaries, profiled by the New Yorker magazine, and recognized by the Smithsonian

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Ray Hicks

Institution. Both he and his cousin, Stanley Hicks, received the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Burton offers the viewer “behind-the-scenes” anecdotes that enhance the original footage. For example, Burton talks about how Stanley Hicks and Hattie Presnell, in their own inimitable way, surprised Burton and Manning while filming a segment on how to make mountain moonshine. Burton also introduces earlier footage of Stanley Hicks seeing the “Gorilla Man,” or “Bigfoot,” also known as “Sasquatch.” Produced by the Archives of Appalachia, a unit of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU, the DVD can be watched straight through or scene-selected by either archival footage or Burton’s interviews. As such, the DVD can be a valuable teaching tool for classrooms and libraries, as well as an entertaining film for personal collections. As Amy Collins, director of the Archives of Appalachia, states, “The Archives’ commitment to serving the community extends to making its treasures available to a new generation. This DVD captures the essence of Appalachia in a format that can be used by teachers, students, researchers and the public in innovative ways.” “Ray Hicks and Other Beech Mountain Folks” can be purchased at the International Storytelling Center and Gift Shop in Jonesborough or online at www.etsustore.com. For more information about the DVD, contact the Archives of Appalachia at 439-4338.

Employees recognized for outstanding support of Staff Senate During the recent Staff Convocation, the ETSU Staff Senate recognized several members of the university community who, through their efforts, have shown outstanding support for the Staff Senate and its mission of being a voice for the staff. Plaques were awarded to the following: Bonnie Chandley Chandley began her career at ETSU in 1981 as a secretary in Nursing. She moved to the Comptroller’s Office as a cashier and then a secretary before becoming a clerk in the Payroll Office. In her current position as office manager for Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. David Collins, she “uses her attention to detail, work ethic and warmth to ensure that students, faculty and staff feel welcome and cared for.” Mary Cradic This former Staff Senator has worked in various roles at ETSU following her graduation from the university with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1989 and her master’s in 1993. She started as a thesis reader for the School of Graduate Studies and has been an English teaching assistant and writing tutor, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Literature and Language, and an assistant professor in Developmental Studies. Now executive coordinator for the President’s Office, Cradic “is dedicated and reliable, making the President’s Office a well-run and welcoming place.” Janice Randolph Randolph graduated from East Tennessee State College in 1962 with a degree in elementary education and began working at ETSU in 1971 in Computer Science. Later that same year, she went to work for President Dr. D.P. Culp. After Culp retired, she continued to work in the President’s Office, supporting four more ETSU presidents – Dr. Arthur DeRosier, Dr. Ronald Beller, Dr. Roy S. Nicks and Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. Randolph is recognized as a “meticulous, trustworthy and loyal employee who generously supports ETSU and the community.”

ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. receives a standing ovation from attendees of the Staff Convocation during his final State of the University address.

Jamie Simmons Since coming to ETSU in 1992, Simmons has been instrumental in transitioning Central Receiving “into the modern computer age.” Her nomination states, “Five years ago, she was reluctant to give up her typewriter … now she uses iPads.” She worked her way through college and earned her undergraduate degree and is currently pursuing her graduate degree in educational technology. Simmons served five years as a Staff Senator, spearheading many positive changes and “work(ing) tirelessly as a voice for the staff.” Although she is no longer a Staff Senator, she is still actively involved with the governing body. Certificates were presented to: Larry Smith, Jim Sledge, Charlie Warden and Jim Padgett These four men, who make up the Photo Lab in the Office of University Relations, have over 70 years of combined experience photographing the ETSU campus and its people and activities. They can be seen all over campus, “record(ing) the look of every emotion known to man on the faces of our students, staff and faculty” and providing a vivid, visual history of the university. Marty Harvey Harvey began his career at ETSU in 1992 in the Physical Plant and joined Central Receiving as a truck driver in 1999, later transitioning to office work in 2001. He has documented Staff Convocations and Picnics through video and pictures, giving his time and using his own equipment, and his work has been contributed to the Staff Senate Archives.

Tom Hill, center, is presented the 2011 Outstanding Staff Senator Award from ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. and Staff Senate President James Batchelder.

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Marla Hayman Hayman, a human resources generalist in the Office of Human Resources who has been with the university since 2008, has volunteered her time in collecting donations for fire and tornado victims. She has also collected items for the Staff Senate Holiday Food Drive for the past two years. Continued on page 9

Fagelson presents research at conference on blast-induced tinnitus An ETSU professor of audiology who has explored the connection between tinnitus and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among U.S. military veterans recently presented his research findings at a conference held by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). Dr. Marc Fagelson, the director of ETSU’s audiology program, works with veterans at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in a clinic that specializes in management of bothersome tinnitus, a condition where a person hears a sound – often characterized as a “buzzing” or “ringing” – that has no apparent external cause. He was one of only 12 researchers to present at the “International State-of-theScience Meeting on Blast-Induced Tinnitus,” held recently by the DoD in Chantilly, Va. Hearing loss and tinnitus are the most common injuries in military veterans returning from battle in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in most cases, the injuries are blast-related, according to the DoD. Fagelson’s work with veterans handicapped by their tinnitus has led to several publications, as well as national and international presentations. A class he created on the condition makes ETSU one of the nation’s few universities to offer a course devoted to tinnitus as well as hands-on clinical training experiences.

Fagelson said tinnitus is particularly vexing for those who suffer from it because it is a genuine perception with no external cause, no simple cure, and most patients believe they cannot control the sound. The sounds reported by those who endure the condition range widely in persistence and volume and are characterized as everything from a “pulse” to a “whoosh” to an insectlike “chirping,” Fagelson said. “This unusual situation also provokes or worsens psychological problems that many of these patients experience,” said Fagelson, assistant chair of the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, which is housed in the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences. Fagelson opened the Quillen VAMC Tinnitus Clinic in 2001, and it now serves more than 800 patients. Early on in his 10 years of working with veterans there, he observed that tinnitus affected some patients more acutely than others, and there was often a common denominator associated with that group: PTSD. “I began to notice there was a group of patients that was more bothered than others by the condition,” Fagelson said. “They expressed difficulty tolerating many routinely-experienced sounds, sounds that do not bother most people; they startled easily, and when they did, they noticed that

Fagelson

the tinnitus sound became more bothersome. On the whole, they tended to have more difficulty coping with tinnitus.” Fagelson’s research revealed that tinnitus symptoms are more severe in patients with PTSD when compared to those who do not have PTSD. He also determined that a patient’s confidence in his or her ability to manage tinnitus successfully was lower in those who have PTSD. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, Fagelson said that doesn’t mean there is no help available for those who cope with it. “While there is no simple cure,” Fagelson said, “we offer management strategies and coping skills that can make it easier to live with the condition. Even though the tinnitus doesn’t go away, most patients can learn to manage the condition more effectively.”

Zou receives grant to study disease that causes premature aging in kids An ETSU scientist noted for his explorations of how the body repairs damaged DNA has received a research grant to study new treatment strategies for progeria, a genetic disorder that causes premature aging in children. Dr. Yue Zou, a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, received the grant from the Progeria Research Foundation. The organization awarded Zou $100,000 in extramural funding over two years. Progeria is a rare condition that has no known treatment. Those who suffer from it usually die during their teens.

Zou’s primary research focus is the physiological mechanisms and pathways that lead to repair of damaged DNA. If the damaged DNA goes unrepaired, mutations are likely to occur via error-prone replication, which is the catalyst of many cancers. In the study of progeria, Zou’s lab, in collaboration with Dr. Phillip Musich from the ETSU Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, will seek to define the molecular basis of replication abnormality and genetic instability in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) cells. Through an understanding of why the process of DNA repair is defective in those

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cells, researchers could better discern why progeria develops and discover treatments for the disease. Zou is highly regarded for his work in the field, and he has received extramural grant support from a variety of sources, including the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. He received ETSU’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Research in 2009. “Progeria is a devastating genetic disorder, so we’re hopeful our work will lead to new treatments,” Zou said. “The things we learn from our study of this disease could also help with our research on DNA repair and cancer.”

Researcher receives NIH grant to study immune response A researcher at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine has received grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how molecular proteins called Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) can adversely affect the body’s immune response during stress. A study by Dr. Deling Yin, an associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, has shown that those molecular proteins – in particular, a Toll-like Receptor known as TLR4 – can suppress the immune system during times of stress. Conversely, Yin found that organisms deficient in TLR4 are more resistant to immune suppression. NIH awarded Yin a grant of nearly $400,000 to more closely study the mechanisms underlying TLR4’s adverse effect on immune response. This is the second NIH grant Yin has received in 2011; he is also principal investigator in a study of how drug abuse affects the immune system. The role of TLRs in human physiology is complex, as they sometimes work in aid of the body and other times work as a detriment. “The presence of TLR4 can play a critical role in suppressing the stressinduced immune response,” Yin said. “In our study, we will seek a better understanding of the why this happens. And through our research, we hope to identify new strategies and drug therapies that could mitigate the effect of Toll-like Receptors and preserve the immune response.” Yin is drawn to studying the human immune system because new science in that field affects everyone, he said. “Physical and psychological stress can have pronounced effects on the immune system, and a drop in your body’s immune response can make you more susceptible to infection and disease,” Yin said. “And everyone is affected by stress.” ETSU co-investigators on the grant are Drs. Gene LeSage and Hui Li from the Department of Internal Medicine and Dr. Gregory Hanley from the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources.

Robertson Diversity Leadership Awards presented Dr. Arnold Nyarambi, assistant professor of Human Development and Learning, and ETSU public health major Maria Hernandez, who are the 2011 winners of the Patricia E. Robertson Diversity Leadership Awards, are pictured here with the award’s namesake. Nyarambi mentors ETSU international students from Asia and Africa through a variety of programs, and Hernandez is active in Quest for Success, a program that aids underrepresented students in the transition to campus life, and various other efforts to help and encourage youth.

Staff Senate

Continued from page 7 The Outstanding Staff Senator Award was presented to Tom Hill, maintenance mechanic lead worker in Facilities Management. Hill completed his associate’s degree in electrical technology at Northeast State Community College in 2007 and is pursuing his B.S. degree in construction management at ETSU. He has served five terms on the Staff Senate, taking much of his own time

to serve on the Veterans, Holiday and Picnic committees. He currently chairs the Visibility Committee, which works to help raise awareness of the Staff Senate throughout the campus and community. He has been the recipient of the Residence Hall Association’s Cornerstone Award, a 10-year ETSU service award, and a Service Award for his participation on the Staff Senate.

Thank You! Thank you very much to all who contributed to the university’s 2011 Employee Giving Campaign! At last count, the goal of $80,000 had been exceeded, reaching 104 percent at $83,349 and still counting. “This has been a very successful campaign, and I will be eternally grateful for your support of the agencies and individuals who will benefit from your generosity,” ETSU President Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr. wrote to the campus community. “You have never let me — or this institution — down.” At right, Employee Giving Campaign Chair Trish Stafford is pictured, having painted the symbol of the campaign’s sucess — the mercury shooting out from the top of the thermometer.

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University Libraries News: Rebecca Tolley-Stokes is a co-editor, with librarians Martin K. Wallace of the University of Maine and Erik Sean Estep at East Carolina University, of The Generation X Librarian: Essays on Leadership, Technology, Pop Culture, Social Responsibility and Professional Identity, which was published this year by McFarland. In addition, TolleyStokes co-edited, with Carol Smallwood of Michigan, Mentoring in Librarianship: Essays on Working with Adults and Students to Further the Profession, also published by McFarland. Leslie Adebonojo, Kathy Campbell and Dr. Mark Ellis gave a presentation, “Reaching the Masses Through Your Content Management System,” at LOEX (Library Orientation Exchange) national conference in Houston. Dr. Marie Jones presented “Organizational Development” at the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans. Tolley-Stokes and Katy Libby also attended this conference. Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist, a textbook co-authored by Dr. Peter C. Panus, Pharmaceutical Sciences, was translated into Portuguese for educational use in Brazil. Department of Art and Design News: Dr. Scott Contreras-Koterbay presented a paper at the FATE (Foundations in Art: Theory and Education) conference in St. Louis entitled “Situational Translation: Teaching Contemporary Art History to Contemporary Students.” He also serves on the College Art Association’s Committee for Intellectual Property. Don Davis presented an artist lecture and demonstration/workshop at Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C., as well as a segment in the “Masters of the Mountain” series at the Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Asheville, N.C.. He was juror for the “2011 Handcrafted” Exhibition at the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Art Center. Davis gave a lecture, “The Nuovo Forno Etruco Project,” at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, sponsored by the American Institute of Archaeology and the UNC-A Department of Classics. He was also an invited exhibitor

in the National Teapot Show at the Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, N.C. David Dixon was included in the juried show, “The Edge of Night: Okanagan Art Show” at Ex Nihilo Vineyards, Lake Country, British Columbia. Mira Gerard was awarded an Artist’s Residency and Fellowship at the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Red Wing, Minn. She was a panelist in the “Memory and Art” session at the Southeastern College Art Conference (SECAC) in Richmond, Va. She recently presented a paper at the “Psychology and the Other” conference in Cambridge, Mass., and another paper at SECAC. Gerard’s work was featured in the solo exhibition, “Unknown Continent,” at SAS Gallery, Sewanee, as well as the following group exhibitions: “Chain Letter,” Samson Projects, Boston; “Buy What You Love,” Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York; the 33rd Bradley International Exhibition, Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.; and “Mountain Visions” at ETSU’s Reece Museum, in which she won a third place award. Travis Graves received an ETSU Research and Development Committee Grant. His work was featured in a national juried solo exhibit, “Some Kind of Nature,” at the Valdosta (Ga.) State University Fine Arts Gallery. With artist Jackson Martin, he developed a collaborative installation, “Paper Forest,” at the William King Museum, Abingdon, Va. Graves’ work was also included in several recent national juried group exhibitions: ReceiverFest, a city-wide festival of multimedia art in Charleston, S.C.; “Nature’s Human” at the Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond; the 32nd “Paper in Particular” exhibit at the Larson Gallery, Columbia (Mo.) College; “Art from Detritus” at Viridian Artists Inc., New York; and “Art Prize” at the West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology, Grand Rapids. His work was shown in the Dogwood Regional Fine Art Exhibit at Bennett Galleries, Knoxville. Mindy Herrin has had work in several group exhibitions, including the 64 Arts National Juried Exhibition at the Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, Ill., in which she was presented the Sculpture Award, and Topeka Competition 30 at the

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Alice C. Sabatini Gallery, Topeka (Kan.) and Shawnee County Public Library; images of her work were selected for the show publications of both exhibits. Her art was also featured in a self-titled solo exhibition at the Northwest Art Center, Hartnett Hall Gallery and Library Gallery, Minot (N.D.) State University. Amanda Hood exhibited in group shows in Ames, Iowa, at Carbon Six Studio and the Iowa State University College of Business. Several of her works were recently added to the Iowa State permanent collection. Her art is currently featured in the traveling exhibition, “Digital Unity,” by the Annex Art gallery and residency program; print and digital installations are taking place in Lubzow, Tangendorf and Berlin, Germany. Dr. Vida Hull presented a conference paper, “The Fogg ‘Judgment of Paris’: Allegory and Antiquity in ‘Quattrocento’ Italy,” in a SECAC session on “Minor Artists of the Italian Renaissance.” She had two articles accepted for publication: “The Single Serpent: Family Pride and Female Education in a Portrait by Lucia Anguissola, a Woman Artist of the Renaissance” in the Southeastern College Art Conference Review and “The Iconography of the Temple in Parmigianino’s ‘Madonna with the Long Neck’” in Studies in Iconography. Hull serves on the board of SECAC as the Tennessee state representative. Pat Mink won an Award of Excellence in the “Form Not Function” exhibition at the Carnegie Center, New Albany, Ind., as well as Best of Show honors in both “Extraordinary Things: Chattahoochee Biennial of Textiles” at the Art Institute of Atlanta and “New Legacies: Contemporary Art Quilts” at the Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, Colo. Her work was also featured in “Mountain Visions” at the Reece Museum. Catherine Murray, chair, had work in three regional juried exhibitions: “Mountain Sculptors” at the Pack Place Gallery, Asheville Museum of Art; “Mountain Visions” at the Reece Museum”; and the North Georgia Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at North Georgia College and State University, Dahlonega. She served as juror for the annual art student honors show at Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville, N.C. Continued on page 11

Olson shares two Grammy nominations for ‘The Bristol Sessions’ Dr. Ted Olson, a professor in the Department of Appalachian Studies, has been nominated for two Grammy awards. Olson served as writer and producer for “The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang of Country Music,” a five-CD box set with an accompanying 120-page hardcover book released by Bear Family Records in March of this year. The collection has been nominated for Grammy awards in the categories of Best Historical Album, along with co-producer Christopher King and mastering engineer Chris Zwarg, and Best Liner Notes with co-writer Tony Russell. The “birth” of country music is attributed to recording sessions held by music

industry pioneer Ralph Peer of the Victor recording company in Bristol over a period of two weeks starting July 25, 1927. The renowned 1927 Bristol sessions were among the earliest attempts to make field recordings of musicians in Appalachia. Peer recorded 76 performances by 19 music acts in Bristol during 1927, including the first-ever recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, as well as numerous recordings of fellow Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman. Peer returned the next year to make additional recordings. Bear Family Records’ digitally remastered compilation represents the first time both the 1927 and 1928 sessions have been packaged together. The box set features

some never-before-released recordings and many that have not been reissued since their initial release as 78 rpm records in the 1920s. This year’s Grammy Award winners will be announced on the televised program in February.

Continued from page 10 Dr. Peter Pawlowicz presented a paper at the South-Central Society for Eighteenth Century Studies entitled “Reading and Revery: Novel Dangers,” which examined 18th century ideas of reading as a dream state, in which unregulated thoughts constituted a threat to the social order. Andrew Scott Ross had a solo show, “Century Zoo,” at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wis. His art was included in two group shows in New York City: “Tempo,” curated by Chiara Bernasconi, at the .NO Gallery and “Can’t Hear the Revolution” at Kunsthalle Galapagos. Ross’ work is featured in Papercraft II, a book on contemporary artists using cut paper, published by Gestalten. Ralph Slatton had a solo exhibition, “Animal Psyche,” at Ohio University Southern, Ironton, and was represented in group exhibitions at Central Connecticut State University (“East/West Portfolio”), New Britain; the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; the Schoenherr Gallery, North Central College, Naperville, Ill; the Prince Street Gallery, New York (Society of American Graphic Artists); and the Farnham Gallery, Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa. Mike Smith received an ETSU Research and Development Committee Major Grant

and an NIA grant. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is including his work in an exhibition, “Conversations,” which will travel to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin, Ireland, in the spring of 2012; the IMMA will produce a catalog of images with an essay. He has also received the prestigious United States Artist Fellowship, a non-restricted $50,000 award in the arts granted by the non-profit organization, United States Artists (look for more details in the next issue of Accent). Chase Westfall participated in several group exhibitions, including “Movers and Shakers” at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia in Atlanta and “On Spirituality,” a traveling exhibit most recently shown at the Patrick Henry Air Force Base, Heidelberg, Germany. He curated and participated in the “On Spirituality” exhibition at Gallery 842, Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va. His collaborative performance, “Platonic Voyage,” was selected for inclusion in the “Sea Worthy” exhibit at Flux Factory. He will present a paper, “Hirst’s Transubstantiation,” as part of the “How Dead is Too Dead?” panel at SECAC. Dr. Elwood Watson, History/African and African American Studies/Women’s

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Studies, was the keynote speaker at a recent conference on “American Identity and Its Representations Today” at the University of Poznan (Poland) School of Modern Languages. The title of his talk was “The Anatomy of Successful Television Shows from the 1950s to the Present.” Watson was selected as one of five professors to serve as a grant evaluator for proposals in American Studies and History for the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. His co-edited anthology, Performing American Masculinities: The 21st Century Man in Popular Culture, was published by Indiana University Press. This book – a collection of essays on various issues, such as men with disabilities, President Barack Obama, masculinity in the media, and more – has been well-received by academic critics and was referenced by St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times media critic Eric Deggans in an article about images of contemporary manhood in the media; Watson was quoted in this article, as well. Watson’s forthcoming projects are two anthologies on Generation X and the academy and a book-length manuscript on “Cosmopolitan Conservatism from the 1980s to the Present.”

Photography by Alice Anthony on display in ARC Center “Gone But Not Forgotten,” a collection of photographs by ETSU alumna Alice Anthony, is on display in the university’s Advisement Resource and Career (ARC) Center through Dec. 22. The exhibit features photographs Anthony has taken of fans visiting Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion in Memphis. “When I was a child, my family moved to the Graceland subdivision, which adjoins the grounds of Graceland,” Anthony said. “We would often see Elvis at the front gates signing autographs and talking with young fans. I was always curious about the people who would come to Graceland hoping to catch a glimpse of Elvis, the ‘King of Rock and Roll.’” Anthony says that “the Elvis phenomenon” has seemingly grown larger since his unexpected death in 1977. Graceland was opened to the public in 1982 and has become one of the most visited homes in America, attracting over 600,000 visitors annually. “Each year on the anniversary of (Presley’s) death, thousands of fans come from every part of the world, making a pilgrimage to Graceland in August during Elvis Week,” Anthony said. “They see this as a celebration of his life, more than a time for grief. They honor Elvis by bringing gifts and

flowers, and leave many messages to him on the pink fieldstone wall that surrounds the front of the estate. “For the past 14 years, I have concentrated on photographing and getting to know some of these loyal fans who come to pay homage to Elvis.” Anthony, who earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Memphis and her master of fine arts degree at ETSU, has been an associate professor of photography in the departments of Art and Communications at Milligan College since 1991. Her works have been included in exhibitions in over 20 states, and she was a featured artist at the Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery in Nashville in 2003. In addition, her photographs have been published in Photo Review, Southern Exposure and Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, published by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services at ETSU. In addition to its current showing in the ARC Center, Anthony’s “Gone But Not Forgotten” exhibition has been displayed locally at the Johnson City Area Arts Council and ETSU’s Reece Museum, and also at galleries in the Memphis area and the Tunica (Miss.) Museum.

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The ARC Center is located on the second level of the D.P. Culp Center and is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information, call Dr. Caroline Jackson, director of the University Advisement Center, at 439-4098.