DSBS No tes
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
P E ER M E NTO R PROG RA M
KICKS OFF
DSBS Co-Sponsors panel on effects
of mass incarceration
Innovative program keeps DSBS freshmen
on track, offers leadership experience.
olleges nationwide are seeking to
improve retention— that is, students (particularly freshmen)
staying in college. Studies show a multitude of challenges confront today’s firsttime college students: adjustment to the
academic rigor of college; social adjustment; learning to be independent; and
managing educational costs. While there
Above: Renowned scholar-activist Angela are many formal, professional resources
Davis with Xavier Herald freshmen staffers for Xavier students, one of the best
Alexis Wright (MSCM) and Nick Davison sources of support and information can
(ART) following a discussion in the Qatar be fellow students who just completed
Pavilion that drew more than 500 activists, these same transitions.
students, and community members.
This fall The Division of Social and Behaviven students’ strong interest ioral Sciences (DSBS) launched a Peer
in the causes and consequenc- Mentor Program. As Dr. Brian Turner
es of mass incarceration, they (PSYC) told the group of two-dozen new
greeted the news that prominent activ- freshmen mentees at their September
ist Angela Davis was coming to Xavier orientation, “The program is designed to
with great enthusiasm. Renowned for make sure you get your Xavier degree.
We want y’all’s moms embarrassing you
(Continued, page 11)
at graduation.” While sounding simple,
:
re
Watch he
the program’s launch was the result of a
Missed it?
1136463 year of planning by a group of six DSBS
1
/1
m
o
.c
o
e
http://vim
faculty members, led by Dr. Lisa SchulteGipson (PSYC). (Continued, page 11)
C
G
Peer mentors and mentees enjoy New Orleans’
Riverwalk Marketplace, overlooking the Mississippi
River. Left to right: Chelsea Brown, Alethia Love,
Bianca Moore, Eric Craig, Shantel Berkeley, Ashlee Hill
communication studies
mass communication
Gre a t
ANGELA DAVIS AT XAVIER
Angela Davis at XULA
Peer Mentor Program Begins
Homecoming 2014
Department News
Scholarship News and Notes
Honors and Awards
Pe op le,
xuladsbs
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Inside:
 DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
political science
p s ych o l o g y
sociology
speech pathology
DSBS PROMINENT AMONG “FORTY UNDER FORTY” HONOREES
13 Alumni from DSBS disciplines in first class of “Forty Under Forty”
H
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
DSBS HOSTS HOMECOMING RECEPTION
H
ailing from across the country and even abroad,
from the classes of 1954 through 2014, fifty alumni
from across the six DSBS departments joined sixteen
faculty for a lively reception to celebrate Homecoming 2014.
The reception was held in Xavier South, which gave alumni a
chance to see how DSBS had converged in one locale, as well
as to see how the Xavier South renovations are progressing.
Classmates had a chance to catch up, alumni had a chance to
compare their experiences across generations, and older
alumni schooled newer faculty on the old times. The Division
hopes to make this an annual Homecoming event.
Photos by
Veronica Farve.
2  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
Homecoming
Photo by Veronica Farve
omecoming featured a new “Forty Under Forty” award this year, honoring
forty outstanding younger Xavierites. Nominations were solicited throughout
the summer and then announced a month prior to homecoming in a video
(http://vimeo.com/109557609). The video highlights two hallmarks of a Xavier education. First, the honorees represent the norm among Xavier grads in choosing meaningful
work and leadership roles in service to others. Second, Xavier’s broad liberal arts education is applicable to a remarkable range of career paths.
Of the 40 honorees, 13 majored in DSBS disciplines (more than any other and a large
proportion given Xavier’s large numbers of graduates in the natural sciences). Honorees
from DSBS disciplines are listed below, in order of year of graduation.
Gregory Lee, Mass Communication ’96: Executive Alissa Richardson, Psychology ’03: Founder, MOJO
Sports Editor, South Florida Sun Sentinel; President,
Lab; Emerging Media Professor; Nieman FoundaNational Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
tion Journalism Fellow at Harvard University
Donald R. Naylor, Jr., Political Science ’96: J.D., Trans- Ashleigh Bing, Mass Communication ’03: Campaign
actional Counsel, Intellectual Property, Air Liquide
Manager, Because of Them We Can; PhotograTiffany Zeno, Mass Communication ’96: Emmy Nomipher/Owner, Shoot Happens Photography
nated News Producer, NBC Universal, Inc.
D’Andrea J. Morning, Psychology ’04: J.D., Senior AsAngelia Wade Stubbs, Psychology ’99, J.D.: Associate
sociate General Counsel, Grady Health System
General Counsel, AFL-CIO
Tennille M. Robinson, Mass Communication ’04: SenOmari Todd, Psychology ’99: Senior VP of Regional
ior Content and Event Producer, Inc. Magazine
Operations, Teach for America
Maryse E. Holly, Sociology ’06: Deputy Director at CaStarsky Wilson, Political Science ’99: Pastor; Board
pacity Building/AVANSE Project (Haiti); Leland InMember; President & CEO, Deaconess Foundation
ternational Hunger Fellow
Blair Dottin-Haley, Political Science ’02: National Pro- Jarvis Lewis, Political Science ’13: Councilman-atgram Manager, College Summit
Large, St. Charles Parish (LA)
F
gan, Ross Louis and Robin Vander
(English and African American and Diaspora
Studies) co-directed “Here Is Where You
Turn Back,” a staged adaptation of literary
works inspired by New Orleans history and
culture that traced the path of an energizing spirit through Storyville, St. Rocque
Cemetery and more. The show featured six
undergraduates and was staged in October
at Xavier. In February, the project will be
featured at the Patti Pace National Performance Festival, hosted by Xavier’s Performance Studies Laboratory in New Orleans.
s
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
ayNOLA is a regular event series
sponsored by the Department
of Communication Studies that
features dynamic presentations and interactive dialogues around relevant
community activism themes. In October
and November, students enrolled in Mr.
Bruce France and Dr. Ross Louis’ Honors
Public Speaking courses hosted two
community-based speakers and organized opportunities for audience members to participate in story
circle discussions
aimed
toward
building
and
strengthening
community
in
New Orleans. The
entire event was
organized
and
designed by students as part of a
course
servicelearning project.
s ay N O L A : B E Y O N D F E R G U S O N
I
TULSA RACE RIOT FEATURED
IN STAGED READING
D
n response to the events surrounding the Michael Brown case
in Ferguson, Missouri, the Department of Communication Studies, in partnership with the Department of Art, hosted sayNOLA:
Beyond Ferguson, an open-mic social justice-focused event. Dr. Kimberly Chandler emceed the night, as Xavier students and faculty
offered spoken word, poetry and personal reflections. CMST major/
Art minor Jasmin Henry coordinated a public art project that asked
Xavier students to respond in writing to the prompts: "My life
matters because ..." and
"Because
my
life
matters, I will ..." At the
close of the night, students from Xavier's Performance Studies Laboratory, including CMST
major Emerald Dukes,
translated these written
words, collected over
two days on campus, to
a spoken word performance.
rs. Lisa Flanagan, Ross Louis and
Robin Vander (English and African American and Diaspora
Studies) co-directed a staged reading of
“Diamond Dick,” an Erik Ehn play about
the 1921 Tulsa, Oklahoma Race Riots in
November. The performance was offered
in collaboration with ArtSpot Productions.
Inspired by the 1921 Tulsa Race Riots,
"Diamond Dick" chronicles the historic
racial uprising when mobs of white citixaviercommunicationstudies
zens attacked African Americans and
@XULACommStudies
burned the prosperous area of town
www.xula.edu/communicationstudies/
known at the time as “Black Wall Street.”
3  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
communication studies
HERE IS WHERE YOU TURN BACK HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
STUDENTS HOST TED TALKunded by a Center for UndergraduINSPIRED SPEAKERS
ate Research grant, Drs. Lisa Flana-
NABJ, PRSSA offer leadership opportunities, training beyond the classroom
NABJ CHAPTER UPDATES
PRSSA CHAPTER UPDATES
S
tudent members of the National Association for Black Journalists (NABJ) Xavier
Chapter accomplished a great deal this
semester. They engaged in community service
with OURstory, an enrichment program at St. Peter Claver School that helps first and third graders
develop stronger communication and critical
thinking skills through hands-on activities. They
also worked with Kelly's School of Dance and did
video recording, interviews with attendees and
promoted the dancing school’s grand opening on
Instagram and Twitter. They were involved with
the UNCF Walk, and co-sponsored a NABJ Coffee
House Spoken Word Gathering. Participants
shared poetry, raps and creative writing to promote excellence in all forms of communication.
They participated in the Trick or Trunk, a
Xavier Halloween event that brings in elementary
students from surrounding schools to trick or
treat for candy out of the trunks of student organizations, organized a Speed Networking Event
with PRSSA, and a NABJ Christmas Special, similar
to a Saturday Night Live format, with creative interactive games, invited our own WDSU’s Susan
Isaacs to host and shared her experience from
student to on-air personality, showing students
how to operate a camera, conducted a mock
press conference, and demonstrated how to develop interview techniques by writing broadcast
scripts about Santa and missing reindeer.
X
avier’s Public Relations Student
Society of America chapter also
had a busy semester. For the
first time, PRSSA received $240 of funding
from Xavier’s IOC group. They hosted the
“Importance of Internships” with guest
speaker Ms. Marian Minnard from Career
Services, and co-hosted the “Future of
Social Media” Panel Discussion .
This was PRSSA’s third year participating in Xavier’s
Pink Day on the Yard for Breast Cancer Awareness. They set up
a table and offered donuts to anyone who stopped by and
tweeted or posted a photo on Instagram with PRSSA members.
Students were also able to make bracelets celebrating the life
of a family member or friend who battled cancer. They also
participated in the UNCF Walk for Education. They volunteered
with the International Fest, a community service with Spears
Consulting Group (local boutique public relations firm)
and Xavier’s Trick or Trunk
Halloween community service project. They hosted
Speed Networking with
NABJ and invited guest
PRSSA members promoting breast speakers such as Erik Waters
cancer awareness on Pink Day
from LSBDC, Erin Doucette
and Morgan Valerie from the Ehrhardt Group and Tonnesha
Foster ‘14. Finally, the executive board entered the 2015 PRSSA Bateman competition, a national competition developing
and implementing a public relations campaign.
ric Craig (right), The Xavier Herald editor-in-chief, holds
a copy of the sports photo that placed 3rd in the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker individual awards. The
stop-action photo captures XU standout athlete Devinn Rolland
in midair during a long jump in last spring’s GCAC track and field
championships at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans. Craig’s
is the first Herald photo to advance through the national ACP
competition. Craig is a junior political science major/mass communication minor from Los Angeles.
Photo by Melinda Shelton
X AV I E R H E R A L D E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F E A R N S
A S S O C I AT E D C O L L E G I AT E P R E S S AWA R D
E
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
Also featured in Mid-City & More at
http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans/2014/11/
xavier_photographer_wins_in_na.html
SERVICE LEARNING ENGAGES STUDENTS IN LIFE OF CITY, DEPARTMENT
N
Dr. Shearon Roberts
ew professor, Dr. Shearon Roberts, has wasted no time finding ways for Mass Communication students to apply their skills. One partnership with the Arts Council of
New Orleans allowed students to work at Mardi Gras World to set up the Community Arts Awards and to Gallier Hall for LUNA Fete. Throughout the semester they visited,
wrote stories, and took photos of community arts for Treme Center, Prospect 3, and Gretna
and Voodoo Fests. The Arts Council will feature “The Xavier Project” on their website.
In her introductory class, Dr. Roberts’ students created a #WeAreMassComm campaign to
define the importance of the mass media. One element of their project was to redesign the
department space, website, and social media. Check them out! @XulaMassComm
4  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
mass communication
STUDENT GROUPS TOUCH LIVES PUTTING SKILLS INTO ACTION
R
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
ev. Starsky Wilson ’99 is applying his Xavier degree
in Political Science to a life of leadership, community development, and faith-based activism. Most
recently, Wilson was appointed co-chair of the Missouri Governor’s Ferguson Commission. The group is charged with
making recommendations to address the issues raised by this
year’s events in Ferguson.
This leadership position taps into Wilson’s longstanding civic engagement in St. Louis and his activism in areas
ranging from youth violence to predatory lending. In addition
to being pastor of Saint John’s United Church of Christ (The Beloved Community)
and serving on multiple boards, Wilson is president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, a faith-based St. Louis organization dedicated to child well-being.
After his Xavier degree, he earned a master of divinity from Eden TheologiRev. Starsky Wilson ‘99
cal Seminary. He is pursuing a doctor of ministry at Duke Divinity School. In October, Wilson was one of Xavier’s “Forty Under Forty” honorees. To read about Wilson’s leadership and an interview
with him go to: http://blacklivesmatter.com/the-politics-of-jesus-and-blacklivesmatter-ferguson-as-movement/
U N D E R G R A D UAT E R E S E A R C H E R S H E A D T O S P S A C O N F E R E N C E
S
ix Xavier political science majors have had
papers accepted for
presentation at the Southern
Political Science Association
Conference to be held at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, January 15-17, 2015. Most presenters at the conference
will be professors and graduate students, so we are
very proud to have so many undergraduate researchers representing Xavier University of Louisiana. Join
us in congratulating the following students and in
extending best wishes for a successful conference:
LEFT: Arceneaux
Earns J.D.:
Monika Arceneaux ‘11 gradu-
Eric Malcolm Craig, “Ready, Aim, Adopt: Why States are
Adopting Stand Your Ground Laws”
Evangeline Dech and Bianca Moore, “Racial Risk in Privacy
Exposure on Social Media”
DeVon A. Pruitt, “Out the Door in Four: Discovering the
Keys to Success for African American Men in College”
Ja'Keria McCowan,“Transnational Surrogacy and the Need
for Litigation”
Cierra Wilcox, “Why Pookie is More Likely to be in Jail in
Louisiana than Maine: Variation in Incarceration Rates
Across the United States”
BELOW: From XU to India: Political Science alumna
Ariel Howard Pollock ‘02 is serving her second tour of
duty as a Foreign Service Officer in India. She joined the
State Department
in 2004 following
her completion of
an M.A. in International Affairs.
ated from Loyola
School of Law in
May 2014. She
recently passed
political science
X AV I E R P O L I T I C A L S C I E N C E
A L U M TA P P E D T O H E A D
FERGUSON COMMISSION
Follow us!
the bar exam for
Georgia, where
she plans to live.
5  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
@XULAPoliSci
www.xula.edu/political-science/index.php
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
XULA PSYCH Majors expand horizons with summer experiences Xavier University of
Louisiana
Summer research and internship expeydney Wing participated in the Xavierrience can be vital for being competitive for graduate programs and jobs,
as well as just broadening your horizons. Here are a few students who
enjoyed productive and enriching experiences in the summer of 2014:
D
anielle Hodges completed a 10
-week internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Research Institute, via the University of
Pennsylvania Center for Molecular
Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases
Division of Gastroenterology Undergraduate Student Scholars Program.
She studied the enteric nervous system
and learned about a life-threatening
defect called Hirschprung’s, which
affects children.
K
S
Tulane Minority MHIRT (Minority Health
International Research Training) program in Lima,
Peru.
She
worked on a
project
surrounding perceptions
of
health from residents of nearby
shantytowns,
also known as pueblos jovenes. She
collected data from two different
shantytowns, using the data to analyze and measure for any differences between groups. She found
that residents from the more recently established shantytown had
similar health concerns as residents
of the more developed shantytown.
R
icaylah Citizen participated in
the Council on International
Educational Exchange (CIEE)
summer community public health program for 7 weeks in Santiago de los
Caballeros, Dominican Republic. CIEE
and the Benjamin A. Gilman International scholarship provided her with
funding to travel there and work to
educate the participants about the
state of health care in the Hispanic
Caribbean. She earned 9 credit hours
that consisted of advanced conversation and grammar, community health
practicum, and medical sociology at
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre
y Maestra (PUCMM).
p s ych o l o g y
P S YC H O L O G Y W I T H O U T B O R D E R S
yriante’ Henry spent 9 weeks
in to Houston, Texas as a summer research intern of the
Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART)
PSI CHI INDUCTIONS
Program
at
Congratulations to our
ALUMNI NEWS:
Baylor College
latest Psi Chi Inductees:
of Medicine.
Frances Olajide ‘07
Tatyana
Haddock,
Brianna JohnShe conductis starting a doctorson,
Asia
Knowles,
Ahkibah Lott,
ed biomedical
ate
in
Education
and
Betool
Ridha.
Psi Chi, is the
research
in
Leadership
at
Harnational
honor
society
in psycholthe heart of
ogy.
This
selective
organization
vard
Graduate
world's largrequires a 3.0 overall GPA and a
School of Education.
est medical
3.25 in psychology. Inductees
center,
the
Candice Claiborne
also must have completed 9
Texas Medical
‘09 completed her
hours of psychology coursework
Center. Her
PhD in clinical psyat
lab is interestchology at UC Santa
ed in interpreting the molecular mechanism of
XaviFollow us!
Barbara.
chromosomal instability through identification of
er.
proteins that coordinate aneuploidy, cell division,
and apoptosis in cancer cells, as well as an analy@XULAPsychology
sis of factors that mediate sister chromatid cohehttp://www.xula.edu/psychology/index.php
sion and separation during mitosis.
6  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
T
aking research they did in sociology classes with Dr. Claire Norris and Dr. Farrah Cambrice a step further, several sociology majors had opportunities to
make their results public. Alana Peck and Jamaal Israel presented “Linking
Depression to Sexual Behavior for Black Women” at the Mid-South Sociological Society
Annual (MSSA) Meeting held in Mobile, Alabama November 5th-8th. At the same
meeting Victoria Jones presented her research: “Examining the Role of Urban Spaces of
Leisure by Observing the Racial Dynamics of Nightclubs: An Ethnographic Account.” In
preparation for their conference presentations Peck, Israel and Jones also presented
their papers to fellow majors at a departmental meeting. In addition to participating in
the MSSA meeting, Victoria Jones had a paper published in Xavier’s undergraduate, peer
-reviewed journal, XULAneXUS. “’Til Death Do Us Part: Examining Race and Gender
Differences in Perceptions of Divorce” was the product of Jones’ work with three professors: Drs. Norris, Cambrice, and Lee. Her manuscript is available at http://xulanexus.xula.edu/textpattern/index.php?id=186
FACULTY PUBLISH NEW EDITED VOLUMES
A
lthough in very different fields, Xavier’s Associate Professors of Sociology Dr. Amy Bellone Hite and Dr. Christopher Faircloth have both used their expertise toward the
same goal: creating exciting, accessible collections for instructors
wishing to venture beyond traditional textbooks. Collaborating
with two colleagues from Brown University, Bellone Hite’s new
book is an updated and expanded edition of The Globalization and
Development Reader (Willey Blackwell). The collection’s original
essays and excerpts of texts offer a snapshot of the major sociological theories, issues, and debates surrounding globalization and
development. Touching on everything from environmental sustainability to women’s rights, each issue is framed
as a broader sociological exploration of the intersection of large social structures and individuals’ daily lives.
Faircloth’s book, Readings in Sociology of Popular Culture (Cognella) turns a sociological eye to the study of popular culture. The book examines six specific areas of popular culture: subcultures and youth cultures, the cinema,
music, sports, television, technology, and social media, through readings that focus on topics as diverse as the
Punk movement in England, homosexuality and Mad Men, constructions of masculinity in music, hip-hop DJ
battles, food in the moviegoing experience, and cellphones and their impact on social interaction in public space,
framing it all within the theoretical insights of sociology and cultural studies. (See page 9 for full citations).
S O C I O L O G Y AWA R D & S C H O L A R S H I P W I N N E R S
C
ongratulations to this year’s sociology award winners! Alana Peck received our highest honor, The Sister Leo Award for Excellence in Sociology (strongest overall student ). The Sister Valerie Riggs Research
Award (recognizing commitment to research and promise as a researcher) went to Victoria Jones. The
Alexis Herman Spirit of Sociology Award (for service to the community) went to Jamaal Israel. Each year The
W.E.B. DuBois Scholarship in Sociology goes to the two incoming freshmen sociology majors with the strongest
academic record. This year’s recipients were Shadiah Martin and Javonte’ Vaden. The Justine Gueno Citizenship
Award (recognizing significant contributions to the quality of life of fellow students and faculty) went to Ranesha
Turnipseed and Antanious White. For significant academic improvement The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Perseverance
Award went to Tanisha Johnson and Kelvanisha Williams.
Nine additional sociology majors received academic
grants from the department: Rayonna Adams, Wayne
Carriere, Sharane Ellis, Dwanna Ealy, Briyana Newby,
Skky Martin, Teyana Backey, & Sharmaine Russ.
Special Guest: Xavier University President, Norman C. Francis,
who announced his retirement this October, took time to guest
lecture in Dr. Silas Lee’s Sociology of Education class. Dr. Francis lectured on “A Nation at Risk,” the 1983 report published by
the special Presidential “National Commission on Excellence in
Education” to which he was appointed. Dr. Lee’s class presented Dr. Francis a plaque in appreciation for his lecture as well as
his lifetime of work on behalf of Xavier students.
sociology
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
SOCIOLOGY STUDENT RESEARCHERS PRESENT, PUBLISH
xulasoci
http://www.xula.edu/sociology/index.php
7  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
PENN STATE ENTICES SPEECH PATH MAJOR
By Amithyse Moore ‘15
F
ully funded from travel to hotel accommodations, Penn State’s Office of
Diversity Enhancement Programs hosted the annual Healthy People Penn State
Conference/Exposition from October 1-4. With the purpose of showing underclassmen and master's students the opportunities offered within their various Ph.D. Programs in social and behavioral sciences, I attended
Healthy People Penn State as a prospective Communication Sciences & Disorders program graduate student. While at Penn State, the program directors arranged a meeting with the university’s
deans, introduced us to faculty , and provided
graduate school funding information. We also attended faculty research
presentations, and heard from countless graduate students about their
campus, academic and personal life. Overall, the experience was not only
academic but also genuinely fun!
Getting the opportunity to experience
PSU as a student for a weekend gave
perspective as to whether the institution was a good match, if I could live in
TOP: Second from the right, top row, senior Ami
the city, and informative for the entire
Moore at Penn State’s Healthy People event.
graduate school selection process.
RIGHT: Moore ‘15 posting with her 2014 Festival of
Scholar’s poster, “Speech preparation in patients with
apraxia of speech and Broca’s aphasia.” The poster
was based on research she did as a McNair scholar
with faculty from LSU and Tulane.
Amithyse Moore is a senior speech pathology major and psychology minor. She is a
Ronald McNair Scholar and member of the
Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society.
SERVICE LEARNING IN THE SPEECH PATHOLOGY/AUDIOLOGY PROGRAM
D
uring the fall 2014 semester, nine students enrolled in the audiology practicum course. These senior level
students provided hearing screenings to 200 high school students at Joseph S. Clark High School and to
240 Head Start children. Testing three and four year old children is a bit more challenging than testing
teen agers. The younger children often have to be taught a different response method when they won’t voluntarily
raise their hand when the sound is presented. For those children who do not give a voluntary response, an objective test called otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is administered. This is the same type of test administered to newborns because it assesses the function of both the inner and middle ear without requiring a voluntary response
from the patient. Depending on the test results the individual may be referred to a physician because an ear infection is suspected, or because the ear canal is occluded with ear wax. Those students who fail the hearing screening test are usually referred back to Xavier for a full audiological evaluation to determine the degree and type of
loss. The Xavier students also participated in the campus Wellness Week by providing hearing tests to a number of
students and staff. A couple of staff members were advised to get a complete evaluation because they did not pass
the screening. Students describe their practicum or “service learning” in the following ways: “It gives me a glimpse
of what to expect in my future occupation and I love every moment of it!” Another said: “Participating in the audiology clinic not only benefits us in getting real life experiences in the field at such an early stage in our career, but it
also allows us to learn and perfect our technical and professional skills before graduate school or applying for a
job.”
A LUMNI NEWS
Joy Sorrels Gardner ‘12 graduated from Valdosta State
University with a Master’s in
Speech Pathology.
Paris Florence ’10 is completing her internship year in
audiology in Los Angeles, CA.
Senior Sidnie Jackson poses with her
2014 Festival of Scholars poster, “The
effects of reading instruction on the
literacy skills of preschool children.”
Jackson collaborated with Dr. Patricia
Minnis on the project.
speech pathology
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
X avier University of
Louisiana
Follow us!
xula.commdept
http://www.xula.edu/speechpathology/
8  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier
University
of
Dr. Amy Bellone-Hite (Sociology) co-edited, with Timmons Roberts and Nitsan Chorev, an
Louisiana
RECENT DSBS PUBLICATIONS
expanded and updated second edition of The Globalization and Development Reader:
Perspectives on Development and Social Change (Wiley Blackwell, 2014)(story on page 7).
This fall she also had a review of Vincanne Adams’ book Markets of Sorrow, Labors of Faith:
New Orleans in the Wake of Katrina published in the journal Anthropos (vol. 109, no. 2).
Dr. Elliott Hammer (Psychology) co-authored an article entitled “Ethnic Variation in Gender-STEM Stereotypes and STEM Participation: An Intersectional Approach” that appeared in Cultural Diversity
and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Hammer and his collaborators (Laurie O’Brien from Tulane, Alison Blodorn
from UC Santa Barbara, Glenn Adams from University of Kansas, and Donna Garcia from Cal State San Bernardino) found that, compared to White women, Black women have a relatively strong initial interest in STEM
fields and relatively weak gender-based stereotypes. Their important findings were widely reported in news
sources such as Inside Higher Ed, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
RECENT DSBS PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Kimberly Chandler (Communication Studies) participated on a panel entitled, “Academics on the Edge: Engaging Communication Theory and Research in a Dialogue about Work-Life (Im)Balance,” at the National Communication Association annual convention in Chicago in November.
Dr. Dominique Gendrin (Communication Studies) presented a paper entitled, “Race, Place, and Space in HBO’s
Television Series Treme” at the National Communication Association annual convention in Chicago in November. Dr. Gendrin also presented “Constructing and Practicing Treme: A Cultural Reception Study” with Catherine
Dessinges in July at the International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies annual conference in
Providence, Rhode Island .
Dr. Wyndi Ludwikowski (Psychology) presented a poster entitled “The Impact of an Ability Measure in Predicting Vocational Outcomes” at the 122nd Annual American Psychological Convention in Washington, D.C. in
August 2014.
Dr. Megan Osterbur (Political Science) presented “A Hegemon Fighting for Equal Right: The Dominant Role of
COC Nederland in the LGBT Transnational Advocacy Network” at the 110th Annual American Political Science
Association Conference in Washington, D.C, in August 2014. Dr. Osterbur co-authored the paper with Christina
Kiel of University of New Orleans. Dr. Osterbur also led a workshop entitled “Student Recall and Feedback
Mechansims: Does Electronic Versus Handwritten Matter?” at the Lilly Conference on College and University
Teaching and Learning in Traverse City, MI in October 2014. This workshop was based on collaborative research
with Dr. Elliott Hammer and Dr. Elizabeth Yost Hammer of the Psychology Department at Xavier.
Dr. Shearon Roberts (Mass Communication) presented a paper entitled, “Reconstructing Haiti Over the Airwaves: Haitian Radio News After the 2010 Earthquake” at the 2014 Global Fusion Conference at the Moody
College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.
IN THE NEWS:
Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore (Political Science) presented the KeyDr. Jeremy Cohen
note address at the 40th Annual Fall Conference of “Research on
(Psychology) was
Women and Education” held in New Orleans on October 17, 2014.
interviewed
by
Her address was entitled “Gendered Profiles in Higher Education:
WDSU local news
A Cross-National Paradox.” Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore also preImage credit: Lifehacker AU about
phantom
sented a paper at the Faculty Resource Network’s National Symphone vibrations (the feeling that
your phone is vibrating or hearing it
posium on “The Global Imperative for Higher Education” that took
ring when it isn't).
place on November 22, 2014 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She led a
http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/newpanel discussion with colleagues from two other HBCUs: Hampton
orleans/weird-science-expert-explainsUniversity and Bennett College. The title of her presentation was
phantom-phone-vibrations/29720550
“Quantitative Literacy, Social Justice and Global Citizenship as Imperatives for Higher Education.”
9  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
Scholarship News & Notes
Dr. Christopher Faircloth (Sociology) published his third edited volume, Readings in Sociology of Popular Culture (Cognella, 2014) (story on page 7). His previous volumes were Aging Bodies: Images and Everyday Experience (AltaMira Press, 2003) and with co-editor Data
Rosenfeld, Medicalized Masculinities (Temple University Press, 2006).
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Xavier University of
Louisiana
PI GAMMA MU CHAPTER HOLDS INAUGURAL INDUCTION
International Social Science Honor Society Inducts Eight Charter Members
C
Russell Frazier (rfrazier@xula.edu).
Top, Left to Right: Dr. Russell M. Frazier (Adviser), Cierra Monique Wilcox (PSCI), Rayonna Shapri Adams
(SOCI), Donielle M. Curry (PSYC), Regina J. Hall (PSYC), Amithyse Halekulani Moore (SPTH), Keyaisha Nicole
Thomas (PSYC), Kyriante’ Savonn Henry (PSYC), and Eric M. Craig (PSCI).
PROFESSOR WINS SPOT IN ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNALISM PROGRAM
M
ass Communication’s new Assistant Professor, Dr. Shearon Roberts, was accepted as a fellow at the
2015 Scripps Howard Journalism Entrepreneurship Institute in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. She was one of an elite group of journalism
educators selected from an international pool of qualified applicants to participate in the program.
PASCHAL ‘57 HONORED FOR ALUMNI
LEADERSHIP
D
r. James Paschal ’57
(SOCI) who is the
new president of
the National Alumni Association, received the Victor H.
Labat Alumnus of the Year
Award. In addition to his
service to Xavier, Paschal has
had a long career in counseling and student affairs, as
well as leadership and service in his church, community, and national civic organizations.
#MISSXAVIER
T
his year’s
Miss Xavier
is
senior
Mass Communication major Jazmin
Taylor. Following
her
2014-2015
reign, Miss Taylor
anticipates working
in the media industry after graduation.
If you are
one of the few people around Xavier who doesn’t already
know Jazmin, learn more
at: http://www.xula.edu/
masscommunication/communication-spotlight.html
10  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
Honors & Awards
Photo by Irving Johnson
ongratulations to eight DSBS scholars inducted into the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Sciences on Friday, December 5. According
to faculty adviser, Dr. Russell Frazier, Pi Gamma Mu inductees must be in the
top third of their class in terms of GPA, as well as have at least 20 credit
hours in social science credit hours (political science, sociology, psychology, economics, or history). Induction is an incredible achievement and
enhancing their strong academic records with the enrichment available
through the honor society will prepare them for a lifetime of success. The mission of Pi Gamma Mu is to encourage and recognize superior scholarship in social-science disciplines and to foster cooperation and social service
among its members. Pi Gamma Mu serves the various social-science disciplines which
seek to understand and explain human behavior and social relaFor more information or to request an
tionships as well as their related problems and issues.
application for membership, contact Dr.
change in our prison and legal systems, Dr.
Davis was the featured speaker in a unique
November 4 panel. Opening the panel were
Artists Chandra McCormick and Keith Calhoun,
whose photographic exhibit “Slavery, The Prison Industrial Complex” documents life at Angola prison (Louisiana’s infamous state penitentiary located on former plantations). Their
visual presentation was followed by three former prisoners-turned-activists sharing their
stories. Davis took the role of the keynote
speaker, contextualizing the personal experiences and concrete representations presented
by the other panelists.
Davis’ key message was that prisons allow us
to avoid solving real problems. “I want to suggest that problems of the so called ‘free world’
are connected to the use of prisons to solve
problems that ought to be solved in more humane ways,” argued Davis. She forcefully supported this point by illustrating linkages between the prison industrial complex and larger
issues pertaining to the criminal justice system, the global economy, social inequalities,
sexual violence, community support, militarization of policing, disaster capitalism, privatization of social services, and racial profiling.
Rather than reform, Davis called for the abolition of the prison industrial complex, which
allows racism and violence to flourish in our
society. She concluded the evening on a hopeful note, encouraging all to stay engaged
“because the time will come, very soon I believe, where we will be able to come together
and join our hands, and our hearts, and our
vision, in a struggle for a better world.”
The event, organized by Xavier’s African and
Diaspora Studies program director Dr. Sarah
Clunis and moderated by Loyola Law Professor
William Quigley, was made possible by a network of co-sponsors, evidencing both the topic’s import and Davis’ stature. Sponsors included: DSBS, the departments of Psychology,
Sociology, Mass Communications, Communications Studies, Art, the Women’s Studies and
African American and Diaspora Studies programs, Xavier’s Office of Academic Affairs, Loyola’s Poverty Law Center, Prospect 3 New Orleans, and L9 Center for the Arts. McCormick
and Calhoun’s exhibit is at the Ogden Museum
of Art through January 25th(free on Thursdays).
The entire panel is available for viewing at
http://vimeo.com/111136463 (Vimeo, “Xavier
University – Slavery: The Prison Industrial
Complex” from Jason Berry).
student program that pairs new freshmen with a junior or senior trained peer
mentor, and those mentors are paired with
a faculty mentor. The program’s focus is on
passing down advice and offering support
for the mentees’ academic success. With
shared academic interests and experiences
in the related disciplines in DSBS, students
can offer peers advice and support that will
increase their chances of returning to Xavier
next year, in good academic standing. At
the same time, the peer mentor program
offers DSBS majors a leadership opportunity that is especially
relevant to many of their career goals. Drawing from the
group’s best practices research, mentors are also mentored,
supported, and monitored by a faculty leader. In addition to
being recommended by DSBS faculty, mentors were required
to complete a six-hour training over two Saturdays. Also
based on best practices for peer support programs, freshmen
mentees’ participation is voluntary.
Mentors engaged in special Saturday training sessions led by
clinical psychologist Dr. Brian Turner. In these sessions student and faculty mentors reflected on issues such as what it
means to be a mentor, boundaries, and what makes a relationship rewarding. In addition to frequent informal meetings and
activities undertaken by each mentor-mentee pairing, DSBS
hosted a mid-term luncheon to discuss what to expect from
mid-terms and what steps to take to turn things around if they
are not going as planned. At a similar lunch before finals, students got advice from Student Academic Success Office representative Ms. Angelle Scott. The message: setbacks require
action! Mentors arranged for their mentees to receive exam
“goodie bags” with energy boosts and stress relievers. The
spring semester will have a kick-off lunch before launching into
routine meetings among mentors/mentees and the students
and their faculty mentors.
Faculty mentors are collecting data to assess how well the program helps participants (mentees and mentors) to access resources as necessary, to build academically-based social support networks, and to gather crucial information about the
behaviors and mindsets that promote academic success. For
more information about the program, contact Dr. Lisa Schulte
lschulte@xula.edu.
LEFT: The 2nd Annual
DSBS Penny War raised
$246 for Together We
Rise, an organization
that supports children in
the foster care system.
Faculty and students
competed to fill their
department’s jug with
pennies and paper bills
and competing departments’ jugs with silver (counting as negative).
Communication Studies won this year’s competition.
Other holiday events included a week of exam treats for DSBS majors and a faculty/staff potluck luncheon.
11  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015
ivision News, continued
Division
Social & Behavioral
Sciences
Cont. from Page 1, PEER MENTOR S
Cont. from Page 1, ANGELA DAVIS
Xavier University of
Louisiana
her scholarship and activism promoting radical The result is an innovative student-to-
Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
ONE D REXEL D RIVE
N EW ORLEANS, L A 7 0 1 2 5
Visit Us!
http://www.xula.edu/dsbs
Phone: 504-520-5054
xuladsbs
Campus
Location:
Xavier South
909
Jefferson
Davis
Parkway
12  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 1  Winter 2015