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News from the Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences
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XAVIER BOARD OF TRUSTEES GREENLIGHTS SPEECH
PATHOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM
Master’s in Speech Pathology Planned for 2018
his February, the Xavier University Board of Trustees approved a Master of
Science degree in Speech Pathology. This move followed a two-year feasibility study by Xavier’s Department of Speech Pathology to determine if
there was a need for this type of graduate program.
Dr. Nancy Martino, who is leading the graduate program’s development, says that
in addition to addressing Xavier’s mission by preparing leaders in the field, Xavier’s
program will respond to increased nationwide demand for speech-language
pathologists. Speech-language specialists are needed due to a growing number of
communication and swallowing related conditions affecting the large, aging baby
boomer population. Speech-language pathologists are also in demand in the prekindergarten population with children who have communication disorders related
to language-based literacy skills. In addition, there is a nationwide shortage of
speech-language pathologists from underrepresented backgrounds.
Xavier is the perfect setting for increasing clinically competent speech-language
pathologists of color, due to its undergraduate Speech Pathology program’s long
history of working with children from minority groups. Dr. Martino noted that for
DSBS SPEND A DAY EVENT In March, the Division of Social the past thirty years,
& Behavioral Sciences hosted high school students from Xavier’s program has
across the New Orleans metropolitan area to experience a trained Xavier studay in the life of a DSBS major of their choice. Students dents who have had
dined with a major in the U.C., attended classes, and clinical experiences
in the New Orleans
chatted with faculty to learn more about their major.
public schools, Headstart centers and the
local Veteran’s Administration Hospital.
Approval from the
Board is the first step
in a two-and-a-half
year process of accreditation by the
Southern Association
of Colleges and
Schools Commissions
on Colleges and the
American
Speech
Language
Hearing
WELCOME!
DSBS welcomes new Mass Association. The first
Communication Department Head, cohort of students is
Dr. Tia Smith. Dr. Smith comes to expected to enroll in
XULA from the University of the the fall of 2018.
West Indies.
T
Min ds
xuladsbs
Grea t
Speech Pathology Graduate Program
‘Dolled Up’ at DSBS Banquet
Department News
Scholarly News and Notes
Honors and Awards
People,
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



Caring
Inside:
 DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
communication studies
mass communication
political science
p s yc h o l o g y
sociology
speech pathology
DSBS GETS ‘DOLLED-UP & DECKED
OUT’ AT 2ND ANNUAL GALA
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
he academic year ended with the Second Annual DSBS Awards Banquet. This year’s theme was
“Dolled Up & Decked Out.” About 100 majors
from across the six DSBS disciplines gathered for dinner, awards, and a graduation ceremony charging seniors with responsibility to enact Xavier’s mission.
Highest GPA:
Aspiring Researcher:
Service Excellence:
Social Justice Award:
Outstanding Minor:
T
Communication Studies:
Emerald Dukes
Kynisha Christmas
Ebony Artis
Andre Morgan
Kayla Irby
Mass Communication:
Political Science:
Highest GPAs:
Most Improved:
Most Engaged:
Outstanding Leadership:
Outstanding Service:
Supreme Sacrifice in
Beating the Odds:
Taqiyyah Elliott (freshman)
Sierra Blanchard-Hodge (soph)
Eric Craig (junior)
Evangeline Dech (senior)
Brandon Blakely
Chianna Hart
Cierra Wilcox
Eric Craig
Felicia Woolens
Psychology:
Student of the Year:
Highest GPAs:
Jusiah Prowell
Bryan Redmond (freshman)
Beverlin Del Rosario (soph)
Alinna Sam (junior)
Khalil Thompson (senior)
Researcher of the Year: Khalil Thompson
Outstanding Service: Ricaylah Citizen
Creative & Critical Thinking: Chinyere Okafor
Sociology:
Academic Leadership: Sharmaine Russ
Outstanding Freshman: Javonte Vaden
Outstanding Senior:
Antanious White
Outstanding Researcher: Victoria Jones
Public Sociology Award:
Ranesha Turnipseed
Highest GPAs:
Alana Peck
Skky Martin
Rayonna Adams
Speech Pathology:
Highest GPAs:
Congratulations DSBS ‘15 Graduates
Mr. Arnold Crump and seniors following Rose Ceremony
Amithyse Moore (senior)
Cecily Williams (junior)
Kevin Thomas (soph)
Kiarra Hill (freshman)
Outstanding On Site Clinician: Amithyse Moore
Outstanding Off Site Clinician: Sabrina Washington
Most Engaged:
Kevin Thomas
Most Promising Underclassman: Morgan Dillard
2  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
DSBS banquet
Emcees Antanious White and Jazmin Taylor
Overall:
Banquet Committee members Sabrina
Washington and Kristin Williams
Kendall Lawson, Kareka Green,
Reyale Jones, Brie Merritt,
Dominique McCaskill
Highest GPAs:
Keshante Horton (overall)
Kareka Green (senior)
Dominique McCaskill (senior)
Jerome Brown (junior)
Jadzia James (soph)
Tatyana Aubert (freshman)
Best in Broadcasting: Justin Grier
Best in Public Relations: Dominique McCaskill
Best in Print:
Kaelin Maloid
Division of
Social &
Behavioral
Sciences
COMMUNICATION STUDIES FACULTY NEWS
Dr. Dominique Gendrin Retires after a Quarter-Century in Higher Education
Professor Emeritus, Dr. Dominique Gendrin
years in higher education, sixteen of those at Xavier, Dr. Gendrin served as the anchor for Communication Studies through its most transformative period in Xavier’s history.
Division of
Many of the courses that students identify as most helpful when they graduate from
Social
&
Xavier and enter the workforce – Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural CommuBehavioral
nication and Small Group Communication – were designed and introduced by Dr. Gendrin. It is largely because of her curriculum innovation that Xavier students (and facul- Sciences
ty) now recognize and embrace that the study and practice of communication transcends the act of public speaking.
Throughout her career at Xavier, Dr. Gendrin has earned the University’s highest research honor, the NCF Faculty Excellence in Scholarship award, served as Chair of the
Department of Communications and Head of the Department of Mass Communication,
served as Associate Director for the Center for Undergraduate Research, and served on
Xavier’s Rank and Tenure Committee.
Dr. Gendrin has taught students and colleagues alike what it means to promote a more
just and humane society through a career in higher education.
Dr. Liz Edgecomb Served as Ethnography Division Vice-Chair
Dr. Liz Edgecomb completed a year as the Vice-Chair of the Ethnography Division of the Southern States Communication Association
(SSCA). In this role, Dr. Edgecomb coordinated every ethnographic
research presentation at the 2015 SSCA Conference in Tampa, FL.
She will serve as Chair of the Ethnography Division in 2015-2016.
Dr. Louis Receives UNCF/Mellon Faculty Residency Fellowship
Dr. Ross Louis received a UNCF/Mellon International Faculty Residency Fellowship to fund his project “Performative Moments of Presence
and Place in Richard Wright’s Haiku.” Louis will spend part of the
summer at the Incident. Res Residency program in France investigating sites at which author Richard Wright composed over 4,000
haiku near the end of his life. Louis will write an article on this topic.
STUDENT INTERNS WITH CENTER
FOR RESTORATIVE APPROACHES
C
ommunication Studies senior
Kynisha Christmas will spend
the summer interning with
the Center for Restorative Approaches, a New Orleans non-profit that
helps K-12 students resolve conflict by
building problem-solving and decisionmaking skills that result in better connections, less conflict, and a healthier
community.
Dr. Chandler Stars in “Vagina Monologues”
“ THIS OTHER WORLD”
Dr. Kimberly Chandler appeared in the Ashe Cultural Arts Center’s
production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” in April. The
performance was held in coordination with the internationally observed “V Day,” a global call to end violence against women.
ommunication studies minor
Mia Ruffin (English) and Theology major Thomas Nash performed “This Other World,” a researchbased performance scripted and directed by Dr. Ross Louis at Xavier’s Art
Village in March. The performance explored Richard Wright’s haiku poetry
with scenes from
his Native Son
and Black Boy,
while also considering the author’s
writing
process, formative experiences
with race identity, and iconic
scenes from his
literature.
Flanagan receives NCF Teaching Award
Dr. Lisa Flanagan received the Norman C. Francis Faculty Excellence
Award in Teaching for junior faculty. Initiated in 2009, the awards
include a monetary gift of $5,000, some of which is spent on Dr.
Flanagan’s teaching projects. Dr. Flanagan was recognized for her
innovative and creative teaching approaches at every level of Communication Studies coursework, her sustained and meaningful service-learning partnerships that advocate for environmental justice,
and her significant investment in working with students outside of
class, especially at performance festivals.
PATTI PACE PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
C
Xavier’s Performance Studies Laboratory, including Communication
Studies faculty Dr. Lisa Flanagan, Dr. Liz Edgecomb and Dr. Ross Louis,
along with Dr. Robin Vander (English and African American and Diaspora Studies), hosted the Patti Pace Performance Festival in February
at the Marigny Opera House. The national festival featured guest
scholar, Dr. Michael Bowman (LSU), who lectured and offered a workshop on experimental tourism to undergraduate and graduate stu- www.xula.edu/communicationstudies/
dents from ten universities. Xavier students who had completed or
xaviercommunicationstudies
who were enrolled in Communication Studies courses with a perfor@XULACommStudies
mance focus participated.
3  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
communication studies
D
r. Dominique Gendrin retired in May and was awarded the rank of Professor Emeritus. With twenty-five
MASS COMMUNICATION MAJOR GARNERS SEVERAL AWARDS AND HONORS
D
recognition reception.
In addition, McCaskill was selected as the recipient
of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s
(PRAL) $1,000 William Michelet Scholarship. This is
the first time that a Xavier student has received this
scholarship since the award was established in
1994.
FESTIVAL OF SCHOLARS
Dr. Shearon Roberts mentored students who participated in the Mass Communication Department Panel:
Young People and News Engagement in a Digital Age.
Presenters included Jasmine Francis, Christin Champion, Ashlee Hill, Candice Noel, Justin Grier, Jirah
Mikle, Kendall Lawson and Keshante Horton.
SPRING PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS CLASS TEAMS UP WITH GOOGLE CLP
I
n the spring semester, the Department of Mass Communication Public Relations Campaigns class (MSCM
4060) partnered with Google Community Leaders Program (Google CLP) to heighten awareness about free
digital tools designed to help small businesses and non-profit organizations thrive.
As a capstone course for the Strategic Communication sequence, students operate as a full-service public relations firm. The team named themselves “Top Coat Communications” (TCC), pitched their skills and ideas to the
client, and then created and implemented a detailed public relations plan.
The culminating event for the campaign was the free “#GetConnected Google CLP Block Party.” where more
than fifty small business owners learned how to use
tools to transform their businesses. The students
were impressive,” said Ian Rosenburg, Google CLP
leader. “We were beyond pleased with their professionalism, ideas and energy. They exceeded our expectations.”
Team members were: Misha Batiste, agency director, Dominique McCaskill, agency assistant director,
Fran Pirkl, senior account executive, JaLissa Latson,
junior account executive, and Sirdaria Williams, social media manager. Sheryl Kennedy-Haydel teaches
Top Coat Communications” (TCC) team members
the course.
M A S S C O M M U N I C AT I O N AWA R D E D G R A N T
T
he Mass Communication department was awarded a 2015-2016 Louisiana
Board of Regents grant for $159,893. Dr. Shearon Roberts wrote the grant
and will serve as Principal Investigator. Mr. Arnold Crump will assist Dr.
Roberts in administering the grant. This award funds upgrades in three areas. First,
the grant will fund a new iMac computer lab for multimedia instruction for Mass
Communication majors and minors. The grant will also furnish 5 multimedia suites
in the Mass Communication Department for student projects and innovation. Finally, the award will upgrade the television studio for digital capabilities. Implementation will run through June 2016.
4  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
@xulamasscomm
www.xula.edu/
masscommunication
Mass Communication
Mass Communication Major
Dominique McCaskill ‘15
ominique McCaskill is one of seventy university students selected to attend one of Google's 2015 AdCamps. She has
earned an all-expense paid trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan to learn
about Google's marketing strategies, to compete in case comDivision of
Social &
petitions, and to network.
Behavioral
McCaskill also received a 2015 LA GRANT Foundation Scholarship. Sciences
Along with $2,500, scholarship winners receive a trip to Chicago to
participate in career
building activities
including a welcome dinner with a
keynote
speaker,
two daylong career
and
professional
development workshops, and a scholarship and donor
POLITICAL SCIENCE CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2015
T
he political science department honored the Class of
2015 with a reception in April. At the 2015 Baccalaureate and Awards Ceremony six political science graduating
seniors were honored: Chianna Hart received the Louis Israel
Award; DeVon Pruitt received the Alphonse Pierre Auguste
Award; Felecia Woolens won the Walter J. Barker, Sr. Award;
and Cierra Wilcox, Jade Crutch, and Evangeline Dech all received
the University Service Key Award. Three graduates will be heading to law school: Evangeline Dech, Michael Moore, and
Ja’Keria McCowan. Senior Cierra Wilcox will continue her training in service with the U.S. Coast Guard. Jade Crutch will be
teaching English in France. Chianna Hart is returning to Illinois
before following her post-baccalaureate dreams.
Division of
Right, Top from left to right: Dr. Megan Osterbur, Cierra Wilcox,
Evangeline Dech, Michael Moore, Ja'Keria McCowan, Jade Crutch,
Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore, Chianna Hart (behind), Dr. Russell
Frazier, Dr. Willie Gin.
Right, Bottom: Dr. Waldron-Moore smiles with pride as she stands
with her Political Science graduates just moments before the 82nd
Commencement of Xavier University of Louisiana. From left to right:
Cierra Wilcox, Ja'Keria McCowan, Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore, DeVon Pruitt, Michael Moore, and Gregory Jones.
ERIC CRAIG NAMED TOM JOYNER FOUNDATION HERCULES SCHOLAR
S
enior Political Science major, Eric Craig has received a $1,500 scholarship from the Tom
Joyner Foundation and has been named a Hercules Scholar. Craig currently holds a 3.85
GPA . After earning his degree at Xavier, he plans to attend graduate school to further
his knowledge within political science. At Xavier University, he has worked in different capacities for the Xavier Herald. Eric was recently named a Top 5 Journalist and a Top 3 Feature Writer at the Southeast Journalism Conference for colleges and universities. In addition to his journalistic pursuits, he serves as the Vice President of the Public Policy Club, a member of Pi Gamma Mu, and a DSBS Peer Mentor. Eric holds several other community positions back in his hometown of Los Angeles.
IN OTHER NEWS...
ALUMNI NEWS
LEGAL BRIEFS



The Pre-Law Club held its 2015 induction
on April 22.
Dr. Pamela Waldron-Moore accompanied 19 students to this year's Law Day
at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
The students ranged in classification
from freshman to seniors and were from
five different disciplines: History, Mathematics, Mass Communication, Business,
and Political Science.
Three political science alumni graduated
from law school, earning their J.D. degrees: Brittani Melvin, Zachary Carroll,
and Xavier Semien. Monika Arceneaux
passed the bar in both Georgia and Louisiana.
C
ongratulations to
alumni Bailey Smith
and Kevin Wiles, who
completed masters degrees.
Above: Recent graduate,
Greg Jones is pictured with
fellow TLIP interns, the Governor of Texas (seated) and
Texas Senator Ellis to the
right of the governor .
Dr. Willie Gin has received a
grant to participate in the Policy
Analysis and Research seminar
sponsored by the Rand Foundation in Santa Monica, CA. Dr.
Pamela Waldron-Moore has
been invited to address this
year's participants in the seminar, as well.
The Political Science department developed a new network /internship relationship
with the local Homeland Security office. Two officers from the
Office of Homeland Security
(OHS) attended the last departmental meeting held in April to
introduce students to internship
opportunities and career options associated with the OHS.
political science
Social &
Behavioral
Sciences
Follow us!
Left: Pre-Law Inductees from left to right: Aja McCoy;
Brittney Gibson; Elorm August; Club Adviser Pamela @ X U L A P o l i S c i
Waldron-Moore; Jodi Hill; & Shelby Santiago.
www.xula.edu/political-science/index.php
5  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
NEUROSCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES EXPANDING IN PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
N
Curriculum, undergraduate research, collaborations, and grants offer synergies
euroscience is an expanding interdisciplinary field with exciting applications for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Speech Pathology, and Mathematics, as well as Psychology. In recent years, faculty interest and students’ enthusiasm for neuroscience have increased Xavier’s psychology department ‘s
engagement in this field. In addition to lab research, neuroscience academic opportunities are expanding at Xa- Division of
vier as well. Psychology faculty members are working to formalize a Neuroscience track within the major, with Social &
the goal of developing a Neuroscience minor. Last spring, Dr. Jeremy Cohen offered a new course, Clinical Neuro- Behavioral
psychology. This course joins existing neuroscience offerings: Comparative Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Sciences
Abnormal Psychology, and Psychopharmacology. Interested students should come visit us in Xavier South!
D
r. Jeremy Cohen is continuing to engage students in
his human neuroimaging research. Cohen joined Dr.
Anderson Sunda-meya (XULA Physics) in the HBCUUP program funded by NSF in Spring 2014. Dr. Cohen welcomed back three HBCU-UP student researchers for the 2014
-2015 academic year. The interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience was highlighted by diverse student backgrounds –
psychology, biology and chemistry. They analyzed and submitted research data concerning insular cortex anatomy in
individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and
normal aging. Their
poster presentation was
accepted to the Southeastern
Psychological
Association
annual
meeting in Hilton Head,
where they presented
Neuroimaging Lab Researchers:
their research in March
Khalil Thompson, Dr. Jeremy Cohen, Taylor
2015. In Fall 2014, Dr. Smith,
Armond Collins, and Kwame Jackson
Cohen’s lab group also
began a project emphasizing cognitive and affective neurodevelopment. Student researchers also completed targeted
data collection of insular cortex anatomy in Autism Spectrum
Disorder compared to healthy controls; statistical analyses
are on-going. After Khalil Thompson and Armond Collins
went on to graduate school and medical school, respectively,
Dr. Cohen welcomed three new members: Hakeem Brooks
(BUILD Scholar, Biology), Bria Landry (HBCU-UP, Psychology),
and Bianca Shrestha (HBCU-UP, Engineering) joining Taylor
Smith (HBCU-UP, Chemistry). The team is working with new
semi-automated whole brain structural and functional image
processing techniques to understand changes in neural networks associated with brain development.
D
r. Katherine Eskine’s Neuromusicology lab
explores the effects of music on executive
functions, attention, memory, problem
solving, and creativity in older and college populations. In May, the Neuromusicology lab presented
research on the effects of music listening on college
students’ creativity at the 27th Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention in New York.
Led by Ashanti Anderson, they found that when
students listened to Macklemore, their scores on a
creativity measure increased compared to their creativity scores after listening to classical or babble.
Dr. Eskine and the Neuromusicology lab are also
examining the effects of music in older adults
suffering from dementia. Anecdotal evidence suggests that music can improve behavior and mood in
at least some people with dementia. The Neuromusicology lab suspects that this effect is more
powerful when participants are exposed to their
preferred music and that cognition as well as mood
and behavior will be improved. This project’s research assistants Chinyere Okafor (CUR), Jeanette
Vernon (CUR), Ariana Mitchel (MARC), and Zaharra
Withers (BUILD Scholar) have been learning neuropsychological testing and patient rapport, both valuable skills for graduate or medical school. In this
within subject study, participants suffering from
mild to moderate dementia complete neuropsychological testing before and after listening to music
they enjoy and babble to examine effects on executive functions, attention, memory, and problem
solving. This fall the Neuromusicology lab will be
expanding the scope of their research by adding a
live music condition.
P s yc h o l o g y
Neuroimaging lab draws students from across campus Neuromusicology lab helping seniors and students
XAVIER PSYCHOLOGY WELL REPRESENTED IN AP PSYCHOLOGY EXAM
In June, more than 500 psychology high school teachers and college professors converged on Louisville, KY, to engage in the annual ritual of scoring the free response (essay) portions of Advanced Placement Psychology exam.
This year, more than 280,000 high school students took the exam in hopes of receiving college credit, and several
Xavier Psychology faculty played integral roles in the reading.
Dr. Wyndi Ludwikowski attended for the second consecutive year as a reader and was in charge of reading exams
for eight hours a day, for seven days straight! Dr. Elliott Hammer, who has attended the reading since 2001, assumed the title of Question Leader this year. In addition to assuring the quality of the rubric used to score the essays consistently, he consulted with readers on difficult cases and reported scoring to the test administrators.
Finally, Dr. Elizabeth Yost Hammer completed her 4th year as Chief Reader, in which capacity
she oversaw the entire operation. With so many readers and exams, this is obviously quite
an undertaking, but the three faculty report that they do it for the love of psychology and
the strength of the relationships they build over those days.
@XULAPsychology
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6 DSBS Notes Vol. 2 Issue 2 summer 2015
SOCIAL POLICY SPEAKER SERIES
D
BEVY OF ALUMNI EARN GRADUATE DEGREES
C
ongratulations to former majors and minors who completed graduate degrees:
 Sika Koudou ‘07, Ph.D. in Sociology, Johns Hopkins University
 Courtney Thomas PSYC ‘10, Ph.D. in Sociology, Vanderbilt University
 Bre’on Kelly ‘11, Masters in Social Work, Southern University New Orleans
 Domonique Bartley ‘12, Masters in Public Administration, Clark Atlanta University
 Teri’ Graham ‘12, Masters in Public Health, Mercer University
 Julien Grayer ’13, Masters in Sociology, University of Alabama, Birmingham
 Marquisha Johns ‘13, Masters in Public Health, Saint Louis University
 Kelly Allison PSYC ‘13, Masters in Social Work, Louisiana State University
Congratulations and best wishes also go to Sade Wilson Anumudu ‘14, who will begin a
Masters in Public Health at the University of California in Berkeley, and to Julien Grayer
‘13, who will pursue a Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Missouri.
RESEARCH METHODS INFUSED
WITH HANDS ON LEARNING
S
tudents in Dr. Amy Bellone Hite’s
research methods class and statistical software lab put their
knowledge and skills to use while experiencing life as social researchers. They
attended the Southern Sociological Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans and
designed and administered their own
survey to evaluate Xavier’s new campuswide recycling program. Hite says that
these types of experiences not only
make
learning
more
meaningful,
but
are
also
what
gives
Xavierites an
edge in
Sociology majors Dwanna Ealy gradu‘15, Kelvanisha Williams ‘17, and ate
Sharmaine Russ ‘17 enjoy the
school.
Plenty to Smile About
XU Psych major and
native New Orleanian
Dr. Courtney Thomas
will begin her career as
a sociology professor at
the University of
Kentucky.
SOCIOLOGY
FACULTY
MEMBER
SPENDS JUNE IN NEW YORK CITY
Associate Professor Chris Faircloth spent June at
New York University as a Scholar-in-Residence
through the Faculty Resource Network. Dr. Faircloth’s project was an initial exploration into the
literature on representations of health and illness
in popular culture, his main interests in the field
and one that has never been studied. Dr. FairDr. Faircloth poses cloth worked with research consultant, Dr. Julie
in in NYC’s East Livingston, a MacArthur Genius Fellowship recipVillage
ient, and accessed the enormous resources of
Bobst Library at NYU. This baseline work will allow Dr. Faircloth to
build a project which he looks to expand into conference presentations, for teaching Sociology’s Health, Medicine & Society concentration, and eventually a full-length manuscript.
Dr. Faircloth reports that the Scholar in Residence program was a
wonderful research experience, but also an opportunity to experience the East Village on a daily basis and explore New York City. He
also connected with other scholars from political science, psychology, and even chemistry.
French Quarter.
7  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
www.xula.edu/
sociology/index.php
xulasoci
Sociology
Social
Policy
class
poses
with
Judge
Chase.
r. Silas Lee’s Social Policy course featured a
series of New Orleans policy leaders as guest
speakers. Dr. Lee believes it is imperative for
students to have opportunities to see how real-life
Division of
leaders grapple with and shape policy in their daily
Social
&
lives. The series also gives students ample opportuBehavioral
nities to network with local leaders in their fields.
This semester’s guests included: Civil Court Judge Sciences
Tiffany Chase (pictured left) educator Angela Kinlaw;
CEO of New Orleans Business Council, Coleman Ridley;
Tonia Moore from Tobacco Free New Orleans; and
Judge Judy Reese.
Dr. Melanique LaBeaud Fairman
ALUMNI PROFILE
COMMUNICATING STRONGER:
MY JOURNEY FROM NEW ORLEANS TO ABU DHABI
A
SPEECH PATH SENIOR GARNERS
UNIVERSITY
HONORS
BY LORI VAUGHN, M.A. SLP-CCC
s speech language pathologists, we work hard to bridge the
he 2015 Bacgap that links students, clients, and patients to an overall level
calaureate
of communication proficiency. Our desire is always to meet
and Awards
the individual needs of those we treat. In the process, there are times
ceremony honors the
that we can become jaded by the politics that we come up against,
best and the brightest
become frustrated with the lack of parental/client cooperation, or of each year’s graduaemotionally drained by the limited improvement associated with our
tion class. Taylor Venmore severe clientele. At such times, a moment of refreshing is someice-Martin (Speech
times the best action to take in restoring momentum & motivation.
Pathology ’15) was in that number this
This spring , I was provided the opportunity to visit The United Arab year. Venice-Martin received the UniverEmirates (UAE). The UAE is a country located in the southeast end of sity Service Key, a trophy for her student
the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi leadership and service, and the Sister
Arabia. Upon my arrival into Abu Dhabi, I was immediately captivated Beatrice Jefferies award for being a leadby the beauty of the landscape, the breathtaking national monu- er and always willing to help during her
ments, and the innovative style of modern four years at Xavier. Venice-Martin was
architecture. Although my eyes appeared as active within the Xavier community servsaucers for most of my eight-day trip, I was ing on Xavier Activities Board, including
looking for more. Then, I found the very taking on the role as president her senthing I needed among native and expatriate ior year. Additionally, she helped to plan
(otherwise known as expats) professionals of the Martin Luther King Day of Service.
education in the country. Through them, I
learned that although this very young country is filled with all that is modern, it is still
developing in the areas of special education, special needs resources, and initiatives for
persons with disabilities. I also learned of the limitations and hardships the many professionals that are attempting to make a difference in this country face. In addition,
there are many individuals struggling with disorders who are not receiving attention
that we often expect in the areas of diagnosis and treatment.
Lori Vaughn is a part time Upon my return, I experienced a refocus not only toward my clients, but also to the
clinical supervisor in the children back in the UAE. There was a time in the history of our country, when we neXavier University Speech
glected and were confounded by those we deemed abnormal. Since that time, we have
and Hearing Clinic.
taken aims to provide the support needed for public awareness, compassion, acceptance, and treatment for those individuals. I am both optimistic and hopeful about being a part of this country’s move toward its natural progression in attitudes and actions surrounding its most vulnerable.
T
8  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
Speech pathology
Name: Melanique LaBeaud Fairman, AuD
Program of Study at XU and Graduation Year: Speech Pathology - 2010
What did you do after graduation from XU?: After graduation, I took a year off to obDivision of
serve and practice in my intended field of study. While applying to graduate schools for
Social
&
the Doctor of Audiology program, I interned at ACL Hearing and Balance in Baton Rouge,
Behavioral
LA. There, I was offered the opportunity to get more familiar with hearing and balance
Sciences
testing procedures and protocols, patient care, and hearing aid technology.
Program of Study and Graduation Year from Professional School: Doctor of Audiology
program at the University of Florida - 2015
Where are you currently working?: During my 4th year externship, I worked for the Georgia Hearing Institute,
an affiliate of the ENT Center of Central Georgia. Upon graduation, I was offered a full time position to work for
the facility in an effort to expand their second location by offering services with a full time Audiologist on staff.
How did Xavier help you get to this point in your career?: My educational experience at Xavier University of
Louisiana afforded me the opportunity to not only study the science and ethics of Speech Pathology but also
Audiology at the undergraduate level. The partnership Xavier University has allowed with other outside clinics
such as the New Orleans Veterans Administration Hospital, Louisiana State University Speech Pathology and
Audiology program, and New Orleans Speech and Hearing Center, allows students first hand and even hands on
experience with the field.
Anything else that you would like to add?: Dr. Nancy Martino, Dr. Joe Melcher, and Dr. Catina Peoples have
each had a hand in preparing me academically and supporting me through my endeavors. I really appreciate
their wisdom, patience, encouragement, and continuous mentoring while completing my goals.
R E C E N T D S B S P U B L I C AT I O N S
R E C E N T D S B S P R E S E N TA T I O N S
Xavier psychology major Ashanti Anderson, Xavier psychology professor Katherine Eskine, and Tulane psychologist Ed Golob presented “Music listening, semantic memory, and creativity” as a poster at the 27th Association
for Psychological Science Annual Convention, in New York, NY.
Psychology professor Jeremy D. Cohen and his research lab students Khalil Thompson, Kwame Jackson, Armond
Collins, and Taylor Smith attended the Southeastern Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Hilton Head,
South Carolina. They presented their research as a poster entitled “Insular volume reduction in Alzheimer’s disease compared to Mild Cognitive Impairment.”
Political Science professor Willie Gin presented a paper entitled “Big Data and Racial Order: Informational Richness in the Context of Institutionalized Racism” at the Western Political Science Conference in Boulder, Colorado.
Psychology professor and Xavier CAT director Elizabeth Hammer traveled to Seattle to present “Metacognition
to enhance student success” at the Northwest Conference on Teaching Introductory Psychology.
Mass Communication professor Sheryl Kennedy-Haydel shared her research on “How Women at Bennett College Discussed Race, Politics & Community Building in their Student-Run Campus Newspaper from 1930 – 1939”
with audiences at the AEJMC Midwinter Conference in Norman, Oklahoma, as well as at the National Association
of African-American Studies & Affiliates National Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Political scientist Megan Osterbur traveled to Chicago for the MPSA
Conference to present a paper entitled “Where Babies are Made: Determinants of Surrogacy Policy Around the Globe.” Political science
major Jodi Hill also presented a research poster at MPSA entitled
“Explaining the Variation in the Protection of Women’s Reproductive
Rights Across OECD Welfare States through Convergence Theory.”
The 40th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Studies Association was
held in New Orleans. Among Xavier faculty in attendance, mass communication professor Shearon Roberts presented a paper entitled
“Presentando ‘Sin Patria’: Una Comparación de reportajes de la Ley 169
-14 en los medios de comunicación del CARICOM, Haití y la República
Dominicana.” Roberts also presented a paper at a symposium in Los
Angeles (Public Diplomacy and Development Communications: Intersections, Overlaps and Challenges). Her presentation was titled “Media
Roles in Haiti’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction: A Comparison of StateOwned and Mainstream Media.“
Psychology professor Lisa Schulte presented a poster on
“Contemplative practices in the classroom: Effects on objective versus
subjective well-being” at the SETOP conference.
STUDENT PRESENTS WEBINAR
ON DEPRESSION
S
ociology major
Alana
Peck
conducted
a
webinar on her research for the Morehouse School of Medicine Department of
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences’ HBCU– Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health. Her presentation, “A Students Perspective: Tips for
Combating Depression” included her
research on depression and behavioral
health in young women across race.
This research was previously presented
at the Mid-South Sociological Association's Annual Convention.
9  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
Scholarly News & Notes
Amy Bellone Hite (SOCI) coauthored a chapter (with Elizabeth Fussell) entitled “Disaster, Reconstruction, and
Racialization: Latinos in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.” It appears in a Katrina 10th Anniversary volume
edited by Jeannie Haubert entitled Rethinking Disaster Recovery: A Hurricane Katrina Retrospective (New York:
Lexington Books).
Division of
Elizabeth Hammer (PSYC) and her co-authors (W. Weiten and D.S. Dunn) published the 11th edition of their
Social &
textbook, Psychology Applied to Modern Life ( Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning).
Behavioral
Elliott Hammer (PSYC) and coauthors Laurie O’Brien, Donna Garcia, Glenn Adams, J. Guillermo Villalobos, and Sciences
Patricia Gilbert published an article in the latest issue of Social Psychology Education entitled “The threat of sexism in a STEM educational setting: the moderating impacts of ethnicity and legitimacy beliefs on test performance.”
Megan Osterbur (PSCI), Elizabeth Hammer (PSYC), and Elliott Hammer (PSYC) published the results of a research collaboration in an article entitled “Does Mechanism Matter? Student Recall of Electronic versus Handwritten Feedback.” It appears in the International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (Volume
9, Issue 1).
Shearon Roberts (MSCM) finished her first year of teaching while publishing two journal articles. “The Role of
State-Owned Media in Haiti’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction” appears in Media and Communication (volume 3,
issue 2). Another article, “Then and Now. Framing U.S. Occupation in Haiti’s Media” was published in the Journal
of Haitian Studies (volume 21, issue 2).
PI GAMMA MU CHAPTER INDUCTS THREE NEW MEMBERS
P
International Social Science Honor Society Inducts second class
i Gamma Mu, an international social science honor society has three new members. Psychology majors Armond Collins, Amber Teresa, and Betool Ridha were inducted on April
27 and join Xavier’s chapter as the second class in it’s young history. The mission of Pi
Division of
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 &
social science disciplines which seek to understand and explain human behavior and social relationships as well Behavioral
Sciences
as their related problems and issues.
DR. LISA FLANAGAN WINS
NCF TEACHING AWARD
Xavier talent recognized by several groups in varied media
DSBS faculty member
X
avier Student Media brought home a number
of awards in early 2015. The Xavier Herald
received six awards in the Better College
Newspaper competition. First place awards included:
best feature story, Anthony Lotten; the Gary Hebert
Award for most effective use of graphic design on a
single page, Nick Davison; and individual color photo,
Eric Craig. Third place award included: most effective
use of graphic design on a single page, Leah Labat;
feature photo, Eric Craig; and staff generated black/
white ad, Herald graphics team.
At the spring Southeast Journalism Conference convention in Atlanta, Ga., Ariel Jallah-Norfleet ’15 captured second place in the highly competitive on-site TV
reporting contest. Other SEJC winners included: Craig,
best feature writer, third place; and Davison, best
news graphic designer, eighth place. Craig also was a
finalist for College Journalist of the Year. The student
media delegation stopped in Selma, Ala., where they
covered a unity march with more than 2,000 participants. The team included XTV’s Jallah-Norfleet, Herald
editor-in-chief Craig, staff members Davison, Hill and
Maloid, and advisors Melinda Shelton and Arnold
Crump.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation awarded MSCM sophomore Kaelin Maloid, a
$1,000 scholarship for her work as a rising young journalist, which she will
receive for the fall
2015 semester. Ashlee Hill, a senior, received the NNPAF
award in 2014.
Freshman Kaelin Maloid and
Junior Ashlee Hill display the
array of awards received by the
Xavier Herald
claims top honor for
second year in a row
Full story on page 3
Above: Flanagan with commencement speaker Attorney
General Eric Holder; Top, Right:
Flanagan with commencement
speakers Dr. Vartan Gregorian
and Magic Johnson; Right:
Flanagan celebrates with Communication Studies colleagues
Dr. Dominique Gendrin and Dr.
Ross Louis
D S B S S P I K E S I T B I G I N FA C U LT Y
VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
T
he DSBS Faculty Volleyball team, “They Hate Us
’Cause They Ain’t Us,” participated in the University wide faculty volleyball tournament. DSBS
received second place honors. Team members (pictured
left to right below) include Drs. Wyndi Ludwikowski,
Willie Gin, Elliott Hammer, Katherine Eskine, Brian
Turner, and Nancy Martino. Below, they are seen celebrating their victory against Fine Arts and Humanities.
Alejandro “Al” Perkins, PSCI
'99, a partner with Hammonds,
Sills, Adkins, & Guice Law Firm
in
Baton
Rouge,
has
been appointed National
Bar Association
(NBA)
deputy general counsel
for 2015-16
10  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
Honors & Awards
S T U D E N T M E D I A AWA R D S
DSBS STUDENTS LEAD NORDC COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA ARTS SUMMER CAMP
T
DSBS STUDENTS, FACULTY TRAVEL THE WORLD
FESTIVE
DANCING
IN CHINA
Xavierites
practice
diplomacy
skills by
showing
off their
dance
moves.
S
everal DSBS students are spending the summer
studying abroad. Sociology major Skky Martin
is interning in the Dominican Republic. Mass
Communication major Jalissa Latson is participating in
a study abroad program that will take her to London,
Paris, Prague, & Berlin. Psychology majors Amber
Dominique and Ricayla Citizen are spending their summers in Mexico and Peru, respectively.
Participating in the Confucious Institute’s summer program in Boading, China were Director of Student Media. Ms. Melinda Shelton. political Science major Eric
Craig, and Psychology major Jusiah Prowell ‘15. The
program, sponsored by Xavier and Hebei University’s Confucious Institutes included travel,
as well as language and cultural immersion
experiences.
Among faculty, Dr. Amy Bellone-Hite represented DSBS during spring break to develop
study abroad ‘Memoranda of Understandings’
with universities in London and Paris. Drs.
Pamela Waldron–Moore and Dr. Ross Louis
both traveled to France for scholarly projects.
Dr. Nancy Martino traveled to Honduras to
offer speech and language therapy services.
SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!
The DSBS Peer Mentoring Program
completed its first successful year.
The program will resume in
September. Several current
mentors will continue to serve in
that role, while some of their
mentees will move on to become
mentors. The program is for DSBS
first-time freshmen,
upperclassmen, and faculty.
Pictured here is the first cohort of
mentors and mentees at an end-of
-the-year breakfast selfie.
11  DSBS Notes  Vol. 2  Issue 2  summer 2015
Division News
eaching teenagers to become smart consumers and content producers across social media platforms was
the focus of the Smothers Academy Communication and Media Arts Camp sponsored by the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. Xavier Department of Communication Studies assistant professor Dr. Kimberly ChanDivision of
dler designed the summer Pictured, left to right, are:
Social
&
program’s curriculum and Sirdaria Williams, Justin Grier,
Behavioral
Sciences
Chandler Education Solu- Smothers Academy co-founder
tions, LLC employed four Kemic Smothers, Candice Noel
Antanious
White.
Xavier students as camp fa- and
Williams,
Grier
and
Noel
are
cilitators. Southern UniversiXavier
Department
of
Mass
ty-New Orleans’ College of
Business and Public Admin- Communication majors, and
istration hosted the camp White is a May 2015 sociology
graduate. Photo by Melinda L.
for sixty teenagers.
Shelton.
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 2  summer 2015