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Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
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Divisional activities
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Department news
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Publication news and notes
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Scholarship news and notes
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Honors and achievements
Letter from the Chair
Welcome to DSBS! Our Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences is both old
and new. What is new is that our six departments have merged into a dynamic and innovative center for the study of people as social beings— their communication, organization, development, identification, and struggles. What
is also new is our centralization on the fifth floor of the Xavier South building
on Jefferson Davis Parkway.
This new structure builds on abiding, shared commitments and approaches to
teaching social and behavioral sciences at Xavier. Despite our distinct disciplinary perspectives, we share several core values. We are committed to social
justice, student success, community engagement, and hands-on learning.
Also not new is a tradition of excellence in social and behavioral research and
instruction. Our 27 full time faculty collectively hold 26 doctorate degrees,
four Xavier Faculty Excellence Awards, and seven endowed professorships.
They have published dozens of books and scores of articles. They compete
successfully for grants from major scientific communities such as NSF and NIH.
They hold leadership positions in professional organizations and serve as advisors to social service and civic agencies in New Orleans.
While less publicized than the success stories in the Natural Sciences or Pharmacy, our departments also send inordinate numbers of students into graduate school each year (often with fellowships). Our division’s legacy includes
graduates such as former Mayor and Urban League President Ernest Morial,
and former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman. Our alumni are elected leaders,
TV personalities, professors, lawyers, psychologists, teachers, social workers,
and civic leaders.
We are excited to have the opportunity to employ our distinct methods and
theories to study the lived, imagined, differentiated, emotional, behavioral,
historical, and segmented forms and contexts of human social behavior.
So please, take a moment to see what DSBS was up to in
its first six months. Explore the varied ways our students
are being trained in intimate, hands-on settings that open
the world and leave the traditional classroom behind. You
can also keep in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, or an
old-fashioned visit!
Amy Bellone Hite, Ph.D.
Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Times Picayune/Samuel Newhouse Professor of Sociology
abellone@xula.edu
Caring People, Great Minds
Inside:
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
communication studies
mass communication
political science
p s ych o l o g y
sociology
speech pathology
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
T
he holidays were a
chance for students,
faculty, and staff of our
newly formed Division of Social
and Behavioral Sciences to come
together to help others, to take
care of each other, and to build
community. Events between
Thanksgiving and exams included two fundraisers, a faculty
potluck lunch, and a week-long
“open house” where students
Top: Amy Bellone-Hite, Wyndi Ludwikowski, were treated to hot chocolate,
Kate Eskine, Elliott Hammer, and Erica Houston nuts, fruit, and a never-ending
tally up Penny War results following DSBS Fac- supply of home-baked goodies.
ulty potluck; Below: End of semester treats
and holiday tunes welcomed weary DSBS stu- Faculty, students, and staff were
dents visiting the 5th floor of Xavier South.
invited to hang donated, new
socks on a Christmas tree. DSBS
collected more than 50 pairs of
socks, which Bridge House included in the baskets they distributed
to guests at their Christmas dinner.
New Orleans Women’s Shelter
was the beneficiary for the “Penny War” DSBS held from November 22
through December 6. Each department was assigned a water jug. Participants either “voted” for a department by adding pennies or paper bills to a jug
(counting as positive) or cancelled out the accumulated monies in a department by adding silver coins (counting as a negative). The winner, Speech Pathology, had the most pennies and paper with the least “deduction” for silver
in their jug. Once faculty and students learned the rules, they engaged in lively “fighting” resulting in a $190 donation to New Orleans Women’s Shelter.
DSBS STUDENTS INTERN WITH NEW ORLEANS AGENCIES
X
· Divisional Activities ·
FESTIVITIES, CHARITY
MARK END OF DSBS’
FIRST SEMESTER
avier’s “HBCU Center for Excellence in Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Grant” supports a
unique internship program that fosters increased
interest in mental health and substance abuse prevention,
offering workforce training and expanding opportunities
for learning about behavioral health issues. Xavier’s Counseling Center collaborates with faculty from three DSBS
disciplines to place and to mentor interns. For the past
five years, students from psychology, sociology and political science have received small stipends for completing internships at a local
agency supporting substance abuse education and prevention programs. The
internships offer training and workforce exposure to emerging professionals,
allowing them to connect their coursework to their career interests.
This semester four DSBS students are participating in the program. Donielle Curry, a junior psychology major, is doing a psycho-educational program for African
American girls at the Ashe Cultural Center. Danielle Tucker, a senior political
science major is interning with the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
office in New Orleans. Jamaal Israel, a junior sociology major (pictured here), is
working with the Healthy Start New Orleans program. Alana Peck, also a sociology major, is working with Family Services of Greater New Orleans.
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
communication studies
mass communication
political science
psychology
sociology
speech pathology
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
s ay N O L A :
INSPIRING COMMUNITY-BASED ACTION
xaviercommunicationstudies
@XULACommStudies
www.xula.edu/communicationstudies/
PROFESSOR GENDRIN
AWARDED SABBATICAL
Dr
. Dominique Gendrin,
Professor in Communication Studies, was awarded a
sabbatical leave for the 2014
spring semester. She is working
on an anthology on the HBO series Treme and developing crosscultural studies reception studies
on the same series in collaboration with ELICO Research
Lab at the University of Lyon-3 (France).
CMST STUDENTS ATTEND PETIT JORDAN PERFORMS “RIVER PSALMS”
JEAN PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
enior Lexus Jordan developed and performed
C
ommunication Studies majors Caze Holloway, Kyia Mostella and Lexus Jordan
performed at the Petit Jean Performance
Festival in Morrilton, Arkansas on October 25-26.
The national festival featured undergraduate and
graduate student performers from six different
schools.
Xavier
students
presented
solo
performances
for peer
review
and worked with students from other schools to
create a final workshop performance piece. Other
Xavier students who attended included Kevin
Thomas, Ciera Hampton, Jessica Brooks, and Chantrell Williams. Dr. Lisa Flanagan and Dr. Ross Louis
from Communication Studies and Dr. Robin Vander
from English and African American and Diaspora
Studies mentored the students.
S
“River Psalms” in collaboration with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Cripple Creek Theatre
Company.
The
researchbased performance
emerged
from Lexus’ work
with the
Bucket
Brigade’s
Down By
the River
Project (http://www.downbytheriverproject.org/) during Dr. Lisa Flanagan’s Race, Culture and Communication
course in Spring 2013 and an independent study course
with Dr. Ross Louis in Fall 2013. Lexus wrote the script
by capturing voices of oppression and resistance along
River Road, including a plantation owner, an oil company executive, Charles Deslondes, who led the 1811 Slave
Revolt, and Margie Richard, an environmental activist
from Norco. The piece was performed as a precursor to
Cripple Creek’s production of “Possum Kingdom” on November 1 and 3.
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
communication studies
O
ur honors public speaking course worked
to inspire young people to take action toward building and strengthening community in New Orleans through sayNOLA, an event
hosted at Xavier University for 200 high school and
college students on November 12 from 6-9 p.m. in
the Administration Building Auditorium. Modeled
after the format made popular by TED Talks,
sayNOLA featured New Orleans citizens who gave
the 15-minute “talk of their lives” to activate young
people to create change. Speakers represented a
wide range of change agents, including: Hip hop
grassroots media collective “2-Cent”, Xavier SGA
President Javon Bracy, poet and New Orleans literary activist Kelly Harris-DeBerry, hip hop artists
“New Renaissance”, LA Bucket Brigade founding
director Anne Rolfes, and New Orleans spoken
word artist Gian Smith. The event also included
story circles that allowed high school and college
students to share their own personal narratives and
discuss meaningful social action alongside presenters. Participants networked with presenters and
community-based organizations to discover ways
to take action themselves. Mr. Bruce France and
Dr. Ross Louis taught the service-learning honors
public speaking course.
H
ello,
my
name
is
Dr. Okoye
Ahmose and I joined
Xavier University as
an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communication in August of
2013. Prior to coming to Xavier, I was a visiting
instructor at Southern University.
I received my B.A. and M.A. in mass communication from Southern University and I received
my Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in December of 2012.
My research interests involve the portrayals of
African Americans as criminals on television, in
particular in television newscasts and police
reality shows. Television is a powerful teacher,
which also has the propensity to create unwarranted stereotypes if continuously viewed.
As well as teaching full time at Xavier, I’m currently the coordinator of Xavier Sports Broadcasting which produces the live sporting
events, and video graphics, at the Convocation
Center. We cover women’s volleyball and basketball, as well as men’s basketball games. We
also will be covering the NAIA Conference
tournament in March that will be held at the
Convocation Center.
I’m a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My
hobbies included traveling, photography and
MASS COMMUNICATION
CO-HOSTS
AMERICAN
JOURNALISM
HISTORIAN
ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
X
avier’s Mass Communication
Department
co-hosted
the
American Journalism Historian
Association’s (AJHA) 32nd National Conference in late September. During the
proceedings, Xavier instructor and University of Southern Mississippi doctoral
student Sheryl Kennedy-Haydel presented two research papers on the history of Black Press and HBCUs. Xavier Department Head and Assistant Professor Dr. Brenda EdgertonWebster was elected to the AJHA Board of Directors. On the
lighter side, Associate Dean Kim Vaz discussed her book on
the second-line tradition of The "Baby Dolls": Breaking the
Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition. Dr. Michael White
and his jazz quartet performed at the Conference
Gala Dinner at Arnaud’s
Restaurant . As he talked
about the history of New
Orleans’ jazz, and how
second-lining is historically communicative form of
cultural expression, he
and his quartet interspersed performances of
the evolution of American
jazz. The evening ended
with a second-line procession out of the restaurant
into the streets of the
French Quarters!
CONFERENCE BRINGS INDUSTRY
LEADERS TO NEW ORLEANS
D
MASS COMMUNICATION MAJOR
WINS NATIONAL
AWARD
irector of Student Publications Melinda Shelton
served on the planning committee for the 2013
Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Associophomore Branation's annual conference held in New Orleans in October
don J. Rouzan won
2013. Shelton set up six professional workshops and panThe
National
els that featured a number of Xavier Mass Communication
Newspaper
Publishers
graduates; English faculty; National Public Radio national
Association Foundation
and local correspondents; entertainment writers and pho(NNPAF) Award. NNPA
represents 180 Africantographers with the Times-Picayune/nola.com, the New
American owned newspaOrleans Advocate and Gambit Weekly; as wll as magazine
pers in the U.S..
publishers and community news editors and writers from
the New Orleans Advocate. Herald newspaper and Xavierite yearbook staff volunteered during the four-day conference and attended workshops and special onsite competitions. Additionally, Shelton served as an on-site critic/
reviewer for student publications from across the nation. http://www.xula.edu/communications/
The ACP/CMA conference brought 2,300 college journal- mass-communication.html
ists and faculty/staff advisers to New Orleans.
S
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
mass communication
AHMOSE
JOINS
FA C U LT Y
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND KEMPER:
A W I N N I N G C O M B I N AT I O N
G LOBA L
CONNECTIONS
or the past two years, Xavier’s Kemper
Scholars have been political science majors.
Xavier is one of only 15 universities participating in this prestigious, highly competitive program
promoting leadership and service. Freshmen with
strong academic, leadership, and service records are
nominated and compete for just one scholarship given to a Xavier student each year. This innovative
program offers three years of training and financial
support to foster non-profit leadership among liberal
arts students. Kemper scholars receive $3,000$10,000 a year for three years, plus $2,000-$6,000 in
summer stipends for internship placements at nonprofit organizations following their sophomore and
junior years. Kemper Scholars also receive special
mentoring, training at an annual conferences, and
job-placement assistance. Last year’s Kemper Scholar from Xavier was DeVon A. Pruitt. Jodi Hill won the
2013-2014 spot in the program. Sierra BlanchardHodge and Bria Dixon were also nominated in Fall
2013. These students are gaining valuable opportunities to apply what they are learning in their political
science classes while developing leadership skills and
knowledge about fund raising and non-profit management.
olitical science is at the
forefront of internationalizing Xavier’s campus.
In Fall 2013, Political Science was
the host department for a visiting
student from Pakistan, Hidayat
Ullah Jamote. “Jamote” brought
unique experiences to his classes,
clubs, and campus life. Although
he loved New Orleans, he preferred and missed tremendously Pakistani food (perhaps
a first among visitors to New Orleans). Also in Fall 2013,
Dr. Anaheed Al-Hardan from American University in
Lebanon visited campus to give a presentation based on
her forthcoming book on memories of the 1948 Nakba
in the Palestinian refugee community in Syria.
“Hi Dr. Moore,
I just wanted to let you know
about my first two days of law
school…. I want to take the time to
say thank you and thank you to the
department of Poli Sci (Political
Science) for preparing me for law
school. Honestly, it truly has. …”
~ Megan Haynes ‘13 (1L, Loyola
College of Law)
CLASS OF 2013 NEWS
P
C LUB S P OT LIG HT
The Gender Equity Club held an Inclusiveness training
and a workshop on intersectionality during wellness
week. Additionally, the club raised awareness of the
persistent gender pay gap in the United States via a gender pay gap sale in the University Center.
The Public Policy Club collaborated, coordinated, and
cooperated with the Xavier University (QEP) “Read to
Lead” readership program and Bethune Elementary to
enhance literacy among K-6 students. Public Policy students and XU (QEP) purchased books, engaged elementary students, and donated the reading material.
The Pre-Law Club hosted Kaplan and Princeton Review
LSAT Prep consultants in fall 2013. In addition, several
representatives from law schools across the nation
attended the 6th annual Law Reception on Oct 23, 2013.
The program provided pre-law students the opportunity
to learn about the law school admissions process.
B
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: DANIELLE TUCKER
esides being a forward for
Xavier’s Gold Nuggets
Women’s Basketball team,
senior political science major Danielle Tucker is also doing an internship. Danielle is working with New
Orleans’ Court Appointed Special
Advocates office as one of the HBCU
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health initiative interns. Like political science majors for
over two decades, Danielle is gaining a unique
opportunity to connect
Shaniese Foster ’13, enrolled in St. John’s University
School of Law, NY, fall 2013.
Sunseray Joseph ‘13, enrolled in Southern University Law Center, fall 2013.
Follow us!
Megan Haynes ’13, enrolled in Loyola University
College of Law, New Orleans, LA, fall 2013.
Bailey Smith ‘13, enrolled at The New School for
Social Research (Milano), NY, fall 2013.
@XULAPoliSci
Diamond Ward ‘13, enrolled in John F. Kennedy
University College of Law, San Francisco, fall 2013. http://www.xula.edu/political-science/index.php
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
political science
F
Hello! I’m Armond Collins. I heard about the Early Assurance Program (EAP) from the premed office and a Xavier graduate. The process to apply started sophomore year, and lasted
until the first semester of junior year. While the premed office
can give interested students the most comprehensive information, it is important that applicants maintain a GPA at or
above 3.5 in science and non-science courses, show your passion for medicine by participating in related volunteer and summer programs (even before entering undergrad), and have
some research experience. Before applying, I volunteered at a hospital during my summers
in high school, and I currently volunteer at the Association of Retarded Citizens. I participated in the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at Yale as well as the Frontiers in Aging and Regeneration Research course here at Xavier. I also conduct research with Dr. Jeremy Cohen of the Psychology department. The process is long, but worth it in the end. The key is to work closely with the premedical office
on campus during the process. After the interview, the hardest part is waiting!
TWO NEW PROFESSORS JOIN XAVIER’S PSYCHOLOGY FACULTY
Welcome Dr. Ludwikowski
Welcome Dr. Turner
Hi! My name is Wyndi Ludwikowski. The first few
months of working at Xavier have been exciting
and rewarding, and I have enjoyed getting to
know students in my classes and around campus!
I completed my bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral
course work at Iowa State University in Ames,
Iowa (Go Cyclones!), though I grew up in
Muleshoe, a small town of approximately 4,500
people in the panhandle of Texas. During my time
in graduate school, I also completed a certificate
in quantitative psychology, which fueled my passion for learning about various statistical analyses.
Another area of passion of mine is researching
the factors that influence college students’ career
decisions: I love meeting with students to help
them find their own passions in life! Currently, I
am finishing a manuscript, examining whether
learning experiences, gender identity, and perceptions of occupations influence the sex differences that exist in interest and confidence. My
next goal is to finish another manuscript on the
extent to which we can accurately classify individuals into major and occupational groups based on
their abilities, personalities, interests, and confidence in activities. Outside of work, I really enjoy
going on long
walks with my two
dogs,
exploring
New
Orleans,
watching and playing sports, and
cooking and eating
food (the spicier,
the better!).
I
hope to meet
many more of you
soon!
DSBS Notes 
Greetings. I am Brian Turner. I am a native of New Orleans, LA., where I graduated from Isidore Newman High
School. I earned an athletic scholarship to Southern University and A & M College where I was a four year letter
winner as member of the 1995, 1997 and 1998 Black College National Champion Football Teams. Previously, I
worked as a Senior Staff Psychologist at the University of
West Florida Counseling Services. Prior to accepting the
position at UWF, I completed my doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at Jackson State University. The last portion of my doctoral training required me to complete a
predoctoral internship at the Counseling and Testing Center at the University of Akron, Akron, OH. During my
graduate studies and career I focused my research and
clinical interests on the interaction of culture and psychology, issues of social justice/equality, coping styles, diversity/multicultural/inclusion issues (broadly defined), mental
health advocacy/legislative issues, sports psychology
(performance and mental preparation), psychodiagnostic
assessment and measures, and training/supervision. I am
a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Florida and I am preparing for the Louisiana licensure exam. Ideally I see myself
at Xavier University preparing students for graduate training programs, conducting solid research, and investing in
the continued health and wellbeing of the New Orleans
community. I look forward to reacquainting
myself with the many festivals, foods, and
folks that make New Orleans all its own!! I
am an avid sports fan (Saints/Southern U./
Pelicans/LSU/XU) and I have a four-year-old
Rottweiler named King Bailey.
Follow us!
@XULAPsychology
http://www.xula.edu/psychology/index.php
Vol. 1 Issue 1 Fall 2013
p s ych o l o g y
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T: A R M O N D C O L L I N S
Xavier
University
Armond Collins has been accepted into the University of
of Louisiana
Rochester Medical School.
C
ongratulations to the winners of the
2013-2014 Sociology Scholarships! Skky
Martin and Sharmaine Russ are this
year’s recipients of the W.E.B. DuBois Scholarship in Sociology. This $1,500 scholarship is
awarded to two incoming sociology majors with
the greatest promise to succeed in our program.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Perseverance award
went to senior Olufunmilayo (Fumi) Oke. This
award of $500 goes to the sociology major who
demonstrates the greatest improvement in overall GPA in an academic year. The department
also presented $400 book scholarships as merit
awards to Sociology majors in good academic
standing: Nikole Calhoun, Brionee Broussard,
Fumi Oke, Jeanece Kelly, Debra Williams, Wayne
Carriere, Antanious White, Sharene Ellis, Tanisha
Johnson, Darienne McKenzie, Folasade WilsonAnumudu, Ranesha Turnipseed, Briyana Newby,
Rayonna Adams, Ashanta Fulmore, and Rae Fiera
Pickett. Sociology majors should watch your
email for information about the 2014-2015
Scholarship competition.
xulasoci
http://www.xula.edu/sociology/index.php
S T U D E N T S P O T L I G H T:
SADE WILSON-ANUMUDU
When Sociology major and Health,
Medicine and Society (HMS) student
Sade Wilson-Anumudu starts her
public health graduate degree in the
fall, she will be well prepared with a wide array of research
experiences. As a junior, Sade worked as a research assistant on a project with Sankofa Community Development
Corporation in the Lower and Upper Ninth Ward communities. She worked with Dr. Norris to investigate the structural barriers that differentially impact health outcomes. In
addition, in the HMS Capstone Seminar, Sade and her classmates completed a research project they submitted to the
American Public Health Association student paper competition which they won! Pictured here Sade is showing off the
award-winning poster she and Alexandra Harris, Marquisha
Johns, Jeanece Kelly, Tiara Murray, Rae'Fiera Pickett, Makeda Roberts, Takara Turner, and Ranesha Turnipseed, created. Sade will continue her
interest in studying the linkages between social factors
and health this summer.
She was accepted to the
“Summer Research Program in Social Determinants of Health” at UC
Berkeley School of Public
Health. Sade hopes to continue her studies next year
at one of the Master’s in
Public Health programs to
Sociology scholarship recipients, from left to
which she has applied.
right: Fumi Oke, Sharmaine Russ, Skky Martin
SOCIOLOGY A LUMNI NEW S
2013: Several graduates began Master’s in Public Health programs: Teri Graham (Mercer University), Alexandra
Harris (LSU), Marquisha Johns (Saint Louis University), and Takara Turner (LSU). Julien Grayer began a master’s
in criminology at University of Alabama Birmingham. Amanda Manley is employed as Activities Director for
Episcopal Social Services in Bronx, New York. Alacia Honora is employed by Touro Hospital. Makeda Roberts is
employed as a researcher under the direction of Dr. Norris. Gerquel Bowman is employed by New Orleans
Women’s Shelter. 2012: Domonique Bartley is completing her Master’s in Public Administration at Clark Atlanta while working as a legislative aid in the Georgia House of Representatives. Brandy Davis ’12 completed her
MPH at LSU and now works for HAART, directing a program for HIV patients. Bre’on Kelly is pursuing her MSW
at SUNO. Ariana Stone ’12 is completing her second year with Teach For America., teaching middle school science in San Antonio. Jasmine Wise ’12 (PSYC) is pursuing a PhD in sociology at Baylor University. 2007-2011:
Sika Koudou ’07 is completing her doctorate in sociology at Johns Hopkins University. She also teaches at Hopkins and works at the Social Security Administration. Dominee Matthews ’07 earned a Masters of Social work
and recently led a biddy basketball team to a championship. Giayana Dorsey ’07 has just become a Youth Development Coach following seven years working with Youth Empowerment Project. Giayana is also pursuing a
masters in adult education. Juliana Walker ’09 completed her MSW. Erin Fairly ’10 accepted a position as an
admissions counselor at Ashford University in San Diego. Courtney Thomas (Psyc ’11) is completing her Ph.D. in
Sociology at Vanderbilt University.
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
sociology
SOCIOLOGY SCHOLARSH IPS
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
DR. JOE MELCHER
TO RETIRE AFTER
44 YEARS
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
X avier University
of Louisiana
SPEECH PATHOLOGY MAJOR
TEACHES SCHOOL IN ZAMBIA
S
enior Jade Romain spent her summer
teaching English to children from Lusaka, Zambia. With virtually no materials,
she worked in a community school classroom
with no desks, no chairs, and no windows
teaching pre-K and kindergarten children the
basics. By the end of the summer, the children
were well on their way to mastering some of
the English language. That wasn’t enough for
Jade, however, who is always up for a challenge. She and a colleague created the Khondanani Project with the local U.S. Embassy. The
project provides educational resources for the
nation’s community schools. Here in the states,
she has contacted local schools to provide their
surplus materials to be sent to Zambia. Jade
hopes to return to Zambia to continue the work
she started there. Her long term goal is to pro- STUDENTS PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE
vide speech pathology services to the popula- All Speech Pathology majors take courses in audiology, the
tion since there are no speech-language study of hearing and hearing disorders. One of the required
pathologists in the entire country.
senior level courses is clinical practicum in audiology. Dr.
Joe Melcher, a certified and licensed audiologist, arranges
A LUMNI NEWS
Corinne Williams ‘13 began graduate school in for his students to obtain hands on experience by providing
speech pathology at Illinois State University. hearing screening tests to children in Head Start Centers and
Kirsten Smith ‘12 and Tailyr McAlpin ‘12 are pur- to students who attend Lafayette Academy. During the fall
suing Speech Pathology graduate degrees at 2013 semester the students tested approximately 278 stuSouthern University. Leslie Verret ‘13 is em- dents at four locations. When a child fails the screening
ployed as a Speech-Language-Pathology Assis- she/he is either referred for medical examination or retant at New Orleans Speech and Hearing Center. ceives further diagnostic testing at Xavier’s Speech and
Hearing Clinic. Although speech pathologists perform hearing screenings, most undergraduate programs reserve this
xula.commdept
type of hands-on learning and community service for their
graduate students.
http://www.xula.edu/speechpathology/index.php
Follow us!
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
speech pathology
B
eloved Audiology professor,
Dr. Joe Melcher, is leaving academia this May after serving
44 years at Xavier. Dr. Melcher began
his career here in 1970 while working
on his Ph.D. at LSU. To many speechlanguage pathologists and audiologists
who have graduated from Xavier, Dr.
Melcher is the face of the Speech Pathology program. As one audiologist said recently, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Dr. Melcher.”
Dr. Melcher has always given of himself when it came to holding leadership positions at the University. He
served as Chair of the Communications Department, Program Director
for Speech Pathology/Audiology, and
Interim Chair of the Art Department.
He was awarded the President Normal C. Francis Excellence in Service
Award in 2012.
Dr. Melcher has contributed to the
Academy by moderating and/ or presenting on several important topics related to audiology, undergraduate education, multicultural affairs, and diversity issues. His work on
sickle cell disease and auditory functioning led to Biomedical Research Support Grants in 1983 and 1987. This study
indicated that children with Sickle Cell Disease had a higher
incidence of middle ear disorders than children without Sickle Cell Disease. More recently his research with students
under a grant from the Center for Undergraduate Research
focused on the possible relationship between poor reading
skills and auditory processing skills.
It does not take long
for a conversation
with Assistant Professor Claire Norris
to turn to “social
support.” This area
of research explores
how our social networks offer us emotional support, information, material help, or a sense of belonging. In particular, Dr. Norris investigates how the amount and type of support
systems affect our mental and physical
health (either positively or negatively), and
how those associations vary by race. Her
research resulted in two recent publications.
“Exploring the Stress-SupportDistress Process Among Black Women” (co
-authored with Flint D. Mitchell) appeared
in Journal of Black Studies (volume 45, issue 1). Another piece (co-authored with
B. Paige Miller), titled “Growing Up Black
and Female: Life Course Transitions and
Depressive Symptoms” is a chapter in
What the Village Gave Me: Conceptualizations of Womanhood (cover photo above).
Most recently Dr. Norris has been leading
a team of student researchers in a survey
exploring which types of support or the
absence of support affect the development of scientists as they leave Xavier and
go on to graduate programs. She is a
member of the team awarded a NIH grant
for over two-hundred thousand dollars
(“Project ATTAIN: Increasing participation
of Xavier Students in the NIH Workforce”).
PROFESSOR FRAZIER STUDIES
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr.
Russell Frazier has had his article, “A Cannon for Cooperation: A Review of the Interagency Cooperation Literature” published in the Journal of Public Administration and Governance (Vol. 4, No. 1). Interagency cooperation is key to effective governance and increasingly important for
public agencies in our complex, globalizing
world. In addition to his interest in interagency cooperation, Dr. Frazier advises the
public policy club and teaches Freshman
Seminar.
Professor Elliott Hammer (PSYC),
recently had two new publications. His article, “On teaching
multicultural psychology” (coauthored with Dana S. Dunn) appears in APA Handbook of Multicultural Psychology: Theory and
Research (Volume I) (published by
Wiley-Blackwell). He also wrote
the entry on “Racial Identity” for
the Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural
Psychology (edited by K. Keith
and
published
by
WileyBlackwell). Both works draw on
his expertise in the areas of racial
identity and the role of race in
learning. Dr. Hammer is DSBS
Associate Division Chair and active on many university projects
that support students preparing
to go on to graduate school.
PSYCHOLOGY TEXT NOW
IN 11TH
EDITION
Dr. Elizabeth Yost
Hammer
(nicknamed
“She Hammer”
by
students to
distinguish
her from spouse, psychology department head and DSBS Associate Division Chair Elliott Hammer)
recently celebrated the publication of the 11th edition of her
wildly popular psychology text,
Psychology Applied to Modern
Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century by Wadsworth Cengage
Learning. She co-authored the
text with two colleagues: Wayne
Weiten (University of Nevada, Las
Vegas) and Dana S. Dunn
(Moravian College). Psychology
majors Marion N. Alejos, Joni C.
Banks, Terreca Cato, Jarica D.
Garner, Shanti G. Hubbard, and
LaShante’ Q. Scott worked with
her on this project .
  Publication News and Notes 
S O C I A L P S YC H O L O G I S T
SOCIOLOGIST
STUDIES SOCIAL E X P E R T O N R A C E A N D
LEARNING
SUPPORT
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
communication studies
mass communication
political science
psychology
sociology
speech pathology
STUDENT-FACULTY RESEARCH
continued
Nine undergraduate researchers
from across campus have been
working as researchers for two
projects directed by Dr. Jeremy
Cohen (PSYC), made possible by
funding through CUR and the
Louisiana Biomedical Research
Network Summer Fellowship. He
has set up a small neuroimaging
lab where he and his student researchers are investigating brain
related changes in Alzheimer's
disease and their relationships to
cognitive performance measures,
as well as investigating whether
the insular cortex is an effective
biomarker n Alzheimer's .
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
 Scholarship News and Notes 
Dr. Megan Osterbur (PSCI) received a
grant from Xavier’s Center for Undergraduate Research (CUR) to research international surrogacy policy.
Ja’Keria
McCowan, a junior political science major,
will assist on the project. The research expands the literature on the policies and
feminist ethics governing surrogacy policy,
emphasizing the growing commodification
of reproduction and need for international
treaties to prevent exploitation.
Dr. Katherine
Eskine (PSYC)
and students
Gabrielle
Gloston and
Tyler Hunter
NOTEWORTHY
(pictured
Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore’s
right) presentpaper, “Preparing Students for
ed a poster at
Global Citizenship: Role Play as a
the 25th Annual Association for Psychological Science Pedagogical Tool” was recently
conference in Washington, D.C. The re- listed among the top-ten most
search, supported by a CUR grant, found a downloaded political science edulink between emotional intelligence and cation documents on the Social
musical production, suggesting music may Science Research Network
indicate emotional fitness to possible ma- In October, Dr. Dominique Gentes.
drin (CMST) co-presented a paper
Dr. Nancy Martino (SPTH), Dr. Dominique at the 2013 at the University of
Gendrin (CMST) and Jade Romain (SPTH) Aix-en-Provence. Loyola Universipresented a poster at the American Speech ty, and The University of Louisi-Language-Hearing Associations' annual ana-Lafayette international conconference in November titled, “How Cen- ference on “New Orleans: A City
tral American Parents Cope With Children Apart.” Her paper was titled, "
with Communication Disorders.”
The Racialization of Urban Spaces
Senior Lexus Jordan (CMST) developed in HBO’s TV Series Treme.”
and performed a one-woman piece titled In November, Dr. Jeremy Cohen
“River Psalms” in collaboration with the (PSYC) delivered a talk at the
Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Cripple Creek Tulane Neuroscience Program
Theater in October. The performance was Seminar Series. His talk, was tistaged during a Cripple Creek production tled: Anxiety, Depression & Psyand the Environmental Grantsmakers Asso- chosis: A Role of Insular Cortex.”.
ciation conference. Drs. Lisa Flanagan and Also in November, Dr. Brenda
Ross Louis were her mentors.
Edgerton-Webster (MSCM) was
Nine sociology majors in Dr. Claire Norris’ the Fall Faculty Colloquium
“Health, Medicine and Society Seminar” Speaker. Her talk, hosted by The
were awarded the 2013 Student Research Office of Academic Affairs, was
Award by the Public Health Education and titled "Strangest Fruit: Newspaper
Health Promotion Section of the American Coverage of Mississippi African
Public Health Association.
Their study, American Women at the End of
“Unveiling the Truths of Depression: A Jim Crow's Noose." It was based
Comparative Analysis Exploring Variations on her research on the role of the
in Stress Exposure and Vulnerability in De- press and the memory of women
pression for Young Black and White Wom- lynch victims.
en” was presented in Boston in November.
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
communication studies
mass communication
political science
p s ych o l o g y
sociology
speech pathology
S
enior psychology major YvesYvette Young was one of four
students honored at the 28th
annual MLK Week for Peace celebration, a collaboration among Xavier,
Tulane, Loyola and Dillard Universities.
Young’s award recognized her commitment to service and her leadership
in service organizations such as Peer
Deans, XU Love, and co-chair of MAX
(Mobilization at Xavier). In addition to
her outstanding service and leadership, Young is also an outstanding
scholar. A MARC scholar, she has also
been accepted into multiple Master’s
of Public Health programs including:
Johns Hopkins University, Emory University, Southeastern Louisiana University, St. Louis University, University
of Texas, Tulane University and University of California Berkeley (with full
funding).
W
HO’S WHO The 2014 edition
of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges will feature 26 DSBS
students. Congratuations Brionnee
Broussard , Ricaylah Citizen, Armond
Collins, Jade Crutch, Evangeline Dech,
Nia Geiggar, Gabrielle Gloston, Kyriante Henry, Gregory Jones, Jeanece
Kelly, Jazzolynn Kelly, Randi Lemons,
Ja’Keria McCowan, Ariana Mitchell,
Alonda Moore, Amithyse Moore, Michael Moore, Autumn Myers, ThuyLihn Nguyen, Amber Owens, DeVon
Pruitt, Jade Romain, Emmanuel
Spence, Taylor St. Charles, Khalil
Thompson, and Jillian Young
D
 Honors and Achievements 
PSYCHOLOGY SENIOR EXCELS
IN SERVICE AND SCHOLARSHIP
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
EAN’S LIST Congratulations to the
80 DSBS students who were included in the Fall 2013 Dean’s List!
Rayonna Adams, Ashanti Anderson, Sierra
Blanchard-Hodge, Jasmine Blunt, Ariel Bonnee, Ariel Bonvillian, Stephen Bourgeois,
Megan Bright, Angel Carlin, Ricaylah Citizen,
Armond Collins, Amandine Coupet, Eric
P O L I T I C A L S C I E N C E J U N I O R Craig, Jade Crutch, Drusallar Davis, Whitney
Davis, Evangeline Dech, Bria Dixon, Amber
AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP
regory Jones will not be Domingue, Rita Dyson, Deanna Eaton, Efehi
Edomwonyi, David Elliott, Andrew Ferdiaround campus in Spring nand, Ivory Garner, Lauren Gonzales,
2014. The junior political sci- Tatyana Haddock, Jodi Hill, Danielle Hodges,
ence major will be spending the se- Keshante Horton, Shanti Hubbard, Yolanda
mester at Richmond University in Lon- Jackson, Nia James, Brianna Johnson, Kayla
don, England, enjoying sights, culture Jones, Jeanece Kelly, Baileigh Landrum,
and travel opportunities while contin- Dominiqueca Lewis, Fredericka Lewis,
uing to work towards his degree at Mireille Lonian, Ahkibah Lott, Darian MarXavier. Jones’ adventure is being par- tin, Dominique McCaskill, Caitlin Mercier,
tially funded by a Benjamin A. Gilman Jirah Mickle, Glenda Middleton, Amithyse
Scholarship for Study Abroad. The Moore, Bianca Moore, Michael Moore,
Kaleb Murry, Autumn Myers, Catherine
Gilman Scholarship program is one of Nash, Daniel Nguyen, Thuy-Linh Nguyen,
many that can make study abroad very Chinyere Okafor, Sydney O'Neal, Cindy Paz,
affordable, allowing students to have a Alana Peck, Franziska Pirkl, Jamayne Potts,
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Kristen Priestley, Tamara Richardson, Betool
study in another country.
Ridha, Megan Roell, Jade Romain, Alinna
Sam, Halina Sims, Taylor St Charles, Kevin
XAVIER ANNIVERSARIES
Thomas, Keyaisha Thomas, Balfour Thompour DSBS professors celebrated
son,
Khalil
anniversaries of their employThompson,
ment at Xavier. From left to
Sabrina Washright: Drs. Nancy Martino (Speech Paington , Cierra
thology) and Lisa Schulte-Gipson
Wilcox, Cecily
Williams, Sir(Psychology) celebrated twenty years at
daria
WilXavier; Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore
liams,
Toiya
(Political Science) celebrated fifteen
Williams, Foyears.; Dr. Ross Louis (Communication
lasade Wilson
Studies) celebrated ten years. We are
-Anumudu,
very fortunate that these esteemed colSydney Wing,
leagues have made Xavier their life’s
Felecia Woolwork. Thanks and congratulations!
ens.
G
F
DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013
communication studies
mass communication
political science
p s ych o l o g y
sociology
speech pathology
Division of
Social &
Behavioral
Sciences
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
Visit Us!
http://www.xula.edu
Phone: 504-520-5555
Campus
Location:
Xavier South
909 Jefferson
Davis
Parkway
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DSBS Notes  Vol. 1   Issue 1   Fall 2013