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Education graduate program cited |
Southeastern’s education graduate program listed among best
Southeastern’s graduate program in education has been listed among the best in the
nation, according to the website onlinemastersprograms.org.
Southeastern was ranked 44th and was the only program in Louisiana to be recognized.
The listing, designed to help prospective graduate students learn more about
what it considers the best programs, cited Southeastern for its dedication to online
or hybrid education, commitment to providing an excellent graduate-level curriculum,
and for comprehensive, academic and career services.
“We are proud to again be recognized for the quality educational opportunities
we present to graduate education students,” said Shirley Jacob, interim dean of the
College of Education. “Increasingly, teachers and school administrators need additional
preparation beyond the undergraduate degree in order to help students and their schools
achieve the degree of success that is being asked of them.”
Southeastern’s graduate program in education offers master’s degrees in curriculum
and instruction and special education and a doctoral program in educational leadership.
The site noted Southeastern’s emphasis on core classes that explore educational
research, child development and learning, education of young children with disabilities,
family collaboration, classroom techniques and best practices.
Using nationally certified data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data
System, Online Master’s Programs confirmed the university provides valuable assistance
to graduating students in the areas of academic and career counseling, employment
services for students and placement services for completers.
The ranking organization noted that these services are considered essential indicators
that a school understands how to bridge the gap between an online master’s program
and the working world. Any schools lacking these services were not included in the
list.
SOUTHEASTERN EDUCATION PROGRAM HONORED – Southeastern education student Jessica Lavander of Zachary works with five-year-old
Emma Holmes of Walker in one of the new play rooms in the university’s College of
Education. The college was recently ranked 44th in the nation by the website onlinemastersprograms.org.
Southeastern Alumni Association sponsors ‘Champagne, Chocolate & Diamonds’
The Southeastern Alumni Association – through a sponsorship with George Ibert Jewelry
and Gifts of Hammond – will present a new fund raising event for the organization
on Thursday, June 11.
“Champagne, Chocolate and Diamonds promises to be a special event with a new
twist,” explained Kathy Pittman, director of the Alumni Association. “Patrons can
indulgence themselves on champagne and a wide variety of chocolate delights, including
Godiva chocolates.”
Highlight of the event will be presentation of a certified one carat, high quality
colorless diamond to a single patron, compliments of Ibert’s. Winner need not be present
to win.
The event is limited to 150 patrons at a cost of $100 per couple. Tickets can
be purchased at Ibert’s Jewelry and Gifts, 1665 SW Railroad Ave.; K-Team Printing,
2107 W. Thomas St., at the Southeastern Alumni Center, 500 W. University Ave.; or
online through the association, southeastern.edu/alumni.
“We’ve heard from our male friends who feel slightly slighted they can’t participate
in our annual FeLions Champagne Bingo, so we’ve decided to open this event to couples,"
Pittman said.
Models will be wearing clothes from Dillards and jewelry from collections such
as Mastoloni Pearls, LeVian chocolate diamonds, and Vahan sterling. Modeling will
be former Miss Southeastern Rene Picou, current Miss Southeastern Emily Randon, and
alumnae Katie Morse and Katie Campbell Krause.
Music will be provided by the Reg Sanders Trio. Pittman also expressed gratitude
to K-Team Printing and Marketing, Dillards, the Crescent Bar and Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
More information is available from the Southeastern Alumni Association, 549-2150.
CHAMPAGNE, CHOCOLATE, AND DIAMONDS - Committee members organizing the Southeastern Alumni Association’s event Champagne,
Chocolate and Diamonds met recently at the Alumni Center to discuss the fundraiser,
scheduled 7 – 9 p.m., Thursday, June 11, at the center on University Avenue. Highlight
of the event will be the presentation of a certified, one-carat high quality colorless
diamond to a patron, compliments of Ibert’s Jewelry and Gifts. A limited number of
150 couple tickets will be sold. Pictured are, from left, Alumni Association President
Daryl Ferrara; Association Director Kathy Pittman, event chair Ricky Masaracchia,
and Yvonne and George Ibert, event sponsors and owners of George Ibert Jewelry and
Gifts. Not pictured is committee member Terri LeBlanc, a member of the board. For
ticket information, call the Alumni Center at 549-2150.
Southeastern, Pennington Biomedical form partnership to fight obesity in children
A new and unique program in Louisiana will allow college students to receive real-world
training in preparation for careers working with children who are struggling with
their weight.
Project I-PAL is a partnership between Southeastern and LSU Pennington Biomedical
Research Center in Baton Rouge that will create the first teaching space of its type
in Louisiana, where students will receive interactive instruction and learn to conduct
assessments as part of their curriculum.
Officials at both institutions said Project I-PAL will create an interactive
physical activity lab housed in Southeastern’s Family and Consumer Sciences program,
which will accommodate digital health technology, exergaming and fitness equipment
designed for children and adolescents, with teaching space for faculty and students
to work directly with youth and families to help them develop healthier lifestyles.
Funded by a Louisiana Board of Regents Undergraduate Enhancement Program grant, Project
I-PAL will provide unique opportunities for children to engage in physical activity
and to address possible psychosocial issues such as poor self-esteem and body image
that may be detrimental to children’s overall health and wellness.
Additionally, I-PAL will allow researchers to work with families to study the
effects of formal exercise-based activities on weight and other health indicators,
according to Holly Kihm, PhD, assistant professor of Family and Consumer Sciences
at Southeastern and principal investigator of the I-PAL Project.
According to the journal “Pediatrics,” one in two children in Louisiana is considered
overweight or obese. It is projected that as many as 24,000 more children in the state
may be diagnosed with obesity by 2020, according to the Louisiana Department of Health
and Hospitals Adolescent School Health Program. This can lead to diabetes, high blood
pressure and a variety of other dangerous medical conditions.
“Our goal is to not only support healthy lifestyles and practices among the children
and youth but to also provide hands-on experiences for our university students who
may become teachers, nutritionists, physical education instructors or play other roles
in working with children,” Kihm said. “Before embarking on professional careers, these
students need to hone their skills and identify best practices so they are real-world
ready to work with children and adolescents who struggle with weight management.”
Project I-PAL will house 16 specially outfitted, youth-sized pieces of play
and exercise equipment, such as treadmills, spin bikes, ellipticals and a climbing
wall, including nine from Pennington Biomedical and seven purchased via grant funds.
Southeastern will provide the space for the research by transforming a traditional
classroom into a practical teaching space for faculty and students to work with children
and families. The classroom will also be outfitted with a video conferencing system
to allow researchers at Pennington Biomedical to be involved in teaching and coaching
experiences with Southeastern faculty and students.
“Project I-PAL works to ensure that children are able to develop healthy lifestyle
patterns early on so they are able to gain weight at a healthy pace and avoid critical
health problems related to obesity,” said Amanda Staiano, Ph.D., assistant professor
and director of the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory at Pennington
Biomedical and co-principal investigator on the I-PAL project.
Project I-PAL will draw from university students studying family and consumer
sciences, social work, counseling, kinesiology and health studies, exercise science,
education, nursing, and communication sciences and disorders.
I-PAL is recruiting students from area elementary schools to participate in the
program. Students selected to be part of the project will receive health assessments
and exercise lessons from Southeastern and Pennington Biomedical researchers at no
cost to them.
For more information, contact Kihm at holly.kihm@southeastern.edu.
Southeastern’s Baiamonte listed among ‘Must Take’ psychology professors
Brandon Baiamonte of the Department of Psychology at Southeastern has been listed
among the “10 Must Take Psychology Professors in New Orleans” by the website Careers
in Psychology.
An assistant professor at Southeastern since joining the faculty in 2013, his
research interests focus around pain perception, addiction, psychology and exercise.
“I am delighted, although not the least bit surprised, to learn that Dr. Baiamonte
has been identified as one of the 10 must take professors in the area,” said Susan
Coats, head of the Department of Psychology. “Dr. Baiamonte has a great talent for
teaching. Students often tell me how inspiring he is and how much they enjoy learning
under his instruction. He is particularly good at conveying the importance of research
and its relevance to everyday life. His passion for both teaching and research is
one of the reasons Dr. Baiamonte is such an excellent professor.”
Baiamonte, a resident of Ponchatoula, holds his doctorate in applied biopsychology
from the University of New Orleans. He earned his bachelor’s degree from LSU, master’s
degrees from Southeastern in general psychology and at UNO in biopsychology. He is
the recipient of Community Award for Innovation presented in 2013 by The Psychology Times.
Careers in Psychology is the Internet’s premier psychology career and education
media outlet. The list is subjective, depending upon writers who scour the Internet
and draw from referencing sites such as Rate My Professors, My Edu and Students Review,
and general news accounts.
The full listing of professors can be found on the site careersinpsychology.org.
BAIAMONTE A ‘MUST TAKE’ PROF – Brandon Baiamonte, assistant professor of psychology at Southeastern, has been
named one of “10 Must Take Psychology Professors in New Orleans by Careers in Psychology.
Southeastern Community Music School benefits from First Guaranty Bank sponsorship
First Guaranty Bank is once again providing support to the Southeastern Community
Music School. Over the past five years, many students from the community have benefited
from the bank’s sponsorship of the program, said Community Music School Director Jivka
Duke.
“Due to the First Guaranty Bank’s generosity during the fall 2015 and the spring
of 2016 semesters, CMS will be able to provide need-based tuition assistance to students
who qualify,” Duke said. “Partners like First Guaranty Bank play an important role
in preserving the cultural uniqueness of our community and the quality of programs
such as the Community Music School.”
The Community Music School, located on the Southeastern campus and its two satellite
locations at the St. Tammany Center in Mandeville and the Livingston Center in Walker,
offers music instruction on various instruments and voice for children and adults
of all ages.
In addition to private music lessons, Duke said, the Community Music School offers
a number of programs, which allow for children and adults on the northshore and the
surrounding communities to engage in the art of music performance. Such programs include
the Middle School Band Camp, Piano Duet, Guitar and Chamber Music workshops taking
place during the month of July, Double Reed Workshop taking place in January, and
the Northlake Community Band having sessions year round.
For more information about the Community Music School program, visit www.southeastern.edu/cms, or call 549-5502.
FIRST GUARANTY BANK LENDS A HAND– Southeastern Community Music School Director Jivka Duke, left, receives a donation
from First Guaranty Bank representative Danielle Willie. First Guaranty Bank has helped
support Southeastern’s Community Music School over the last five years.
Check for Nepal relief
The Southeastern Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the university,
presented a $4,000 check to students from Nepal as a match for contributions to a
student-organized relief fund to help victims of earthquakes in the country. The Foundation’s
Board of Directors approved the matching funds to help the effort and to encourage
philanthropic activity among students.
Pictured are, from left, Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale,
fund initiator Suraj Ayer, Nepalese Student Association President Binit Sharma Poudel,
and Foundation Chair Cynthia Nesser.
Southeastern history faculty to teach at A+PEL American Studies Conference June 19
Three members of Southeastern’s history faculty will lead the annual American Studies
Conference of the Associate Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) with a focus
on Andrew Jackson’s campaign in the Battle of New Orleans.
The conference will be held Friday, June 19, at the LABI Conference Center, 3113
Valley Creek Drive in Baton Rouge. Cost to attend the conference, which is intended
for elementary and secondary social studies teachers, is $25, which is reimbursed
following conference attendance. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and eight CLUs
awarded. Reservations should be made by June 15 by going to the organization’s website
apeleducators.org. Southeastern history instructor and conference coordinator Charles
Elliott said this year’s summer program is titled “After-Battle Report: Jackson’s
New Orleans Campaign in Retrospect and in Your Classroom.”
The program will include presentations on “Andrew Jackson’s Battle of New Orleans:
a Bicentennial Reappraisal” by Professor of History Harry S. Laver, a specialist in
American military history; and “The War of 1812, the Battle of New Orleans, and Great
Power Politics: A Long-term International Perspective” by William B. Robison, professor
of history head of the Southeastern Department of History and Political Science.
Elliott will lecture on “Old Hickory in New Orleans: The View from Jackson Square,”
which he describes as a “Go there, Know where reconsideration.”
The program will conclude with a panel discussion “Heads-ups, Hands-ons, and
Hand-outs: Taking (and Talking) the Fight into Your Classroom: Exploring Jackson’s
New Orleans Campaign with Articles, Excerpts and Primary Documents.” Participating
in the panel will be conference faculty, staff and attending teachers.
For more information, visit the website apeleducators.org.
Southeastern Channel news reporter wins LAB scholarship
A student television news reporter at Southeastern has been named one of only two
recipients of 2015 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters scholarships.
Amairi Cordova of New Orleans, a member of the reporting team at the Southeastern
Channel, was presented the award in Baton Rouge recently at the LAB’s annual Prestige
Awards luncheon.
The $4,000 scholarship will go toward his junior year at Southeastern as he continues
his studies and practices his chosen craft.
A communication major with a focus in electronic media, Cordova reports for “Northshore
News,” named one of the top four college newscasts in the nation by College Broadcasters,
Inc. and “Best in the South” by the Southeast Journalism Conference, which includes
universities from eight southern states.
Cordova has also worked on the Southeastern Channel’s award-winning student entertainment
show, “College Night.” He has hosted a blues show, “The Dirt Road,” and a campus activities
program, “The Lion’s Den,” for KSLU radio.
This is the second year in a row that a Southeastern Channel representative has
won a LAB scholarship. Last year the scholarship was awarded to Paul Rivera, who this
year was named by LAB as the top student broadcaster in Louisiana.
The Louisiana Association of Broadcasters (LAB) established the scholarship program
to support promising future broadcasters and aid them in seeking the best quality
education in the field of broadcasting. By sponsoring the award, LAB hopes to encourage
students of the highest caliber to enter broadcasting as a career and guarantee the
future quality of broadcasting in Louisiana.
Cordova believes the experience he’s receiving at the Southeastern Channel will
help him realize his career goal of being a television news anchor.
“At the Southeastern Channel I am gaining a wealth of knowledge with regard to
reporting effective news stories, while also capturing the viewer’s attention,” Cordova
said. “In addition, I want to learn what it takes to remain objective in the news
and not introduce bias with my stories.”
“Amairi is very deserving,” said Rick Settoon, Southeastern Channel general manager.
“He’s extremely talented with a great work ethic and a promising future as a broadcast
news journalist. He has a great passion for reporting news that will both serve and
impact his community.”
In his scholarship application, Cordova had to answer questions related to his
choice of broadcasting as a career, along with questions on topics ranging from his
career goals to broadcast advertising and the role of the Federal Communications Commission,
or FCC.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT - Amairi Cordova, a Southeastern junior from New Orleans, was one of only two recipients
of 2015 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters scholarships. Cordova was awarded his
scholarship at the association’s annual Prestige Awards luncheon in Baton Rouge attended
by the top television and radio broadcasters in the state.
Southeastern Wind Symphony performs in Washington
The award-winning Southeastern Wind Symphony – all 70 members – received a professional
experience while performing in one of the nation’s most prestigious performance venues
as one of four selected ensembles to play in the first annual John Philip Sousa Wind
Band Festival on May 31.
Performing in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Southeastern
conductor and Director of Bands Glen J. Hemberger was joined by Col. Larry H. Lang,
commander and conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, in leading the Wind Symphony in
a performance of Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide.” Hemberger then conducted
a movement from Ira Hearshen’s “Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa” titled “After
the Thunderer.” The ensemble concluded with a multi-movement work, “Star Wars Trilogy,”
by John Williams.
Prior to the performance, participants had the opportunity to visit important
Sousa sites in Washington and took part in a clinic with Anthony J. Maiello, associate
director and professor of music at George Mason University School of Music.
“After our performance in the Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival in Chicago in
2013, we were contacted with the first opportunity to secure a performance space in
the Sousa Wind Band Festival,” explained Hemberger. “The Southeastern Wind Symphony
has earned a national reputation for programming and performance, and the festival
staff was thrilled when we accepted the invitation.”
He said this festival involved musicians of all levels – from college to high
school to middle school – all with the opportunity of performing in one of the country’s
finest concert halls, the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
“The symphony also collaborated with one of the country’s major wind band conductors,
Col. Lang,” he added. “This was an opportunity that presents itself once in a lifetime,
and the 70 musicians and staff were honored to represent our state and university
at this major musical event.”
In addition to Southeastern, featured ensembles included the National Christian
Honor Band sponsored by Houghton College, N.Y.; Quabbin Regional High School Symphonic
Wind Ensemble of Barre, Mass.; and Chaparral Middle Wind Ensemble of Diamond Bar,
Calif.
The festival was sponsored by Music Celebrations International.
Southeastern in the news
N.O. Advocate
Slidell man is Louisiana’s Student Broadcaster of the Year
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/community/sttammany/12407768-171/slidell-man-is-louisianas-student
LETTER: Southeastern students are thankful state legislators made the right tough
vote
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/opinion/12529355-123/letter-southeastern-louisiana-university-students
Hammer Time! SLU Trio Set to Compete in NCAA Championships
Three members of the Southeastern track and field program will compete at the highest
level this week at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Senior Jonathan Kinchen, junior Alex Young and junior Misha Frazier will all
compete in the hammer throw after qualifying last month at the NCAA Outdoor Track
and Field East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida. SLU assistant coach Lucais
Mackay, who is responsible for coaching the team’s throwers on head coach Sean Brady’s
staff, is proud of his group’s ability to break through among the nation’s elite in
a unique event.
“The hammer is a unique event,” Mackay said. “To be successful, you must have
a combination of power and technique. Alex, Jonathan and Misha all have different
styles, but they’re all going to Eugene because of their hard work and dedication
to mastering the event.”
The SLU trio has benefitted from the knowledge of Mackay, who was a national
champion in the hammer throw at Georgia. Mackay believes that his experience as a
student-athlete has greatly benefitted him coaching the Lion and Lady Lion throwers.
“I think it means more that they know I’ve been through the same things they
have,” Mackay commented. “When I see something they are doing wrong, I know what they’re
feeling.”
Though Young, Kinchen and Frazier all qualified for Eugene in the same event,
Mackay says all three have different skill sets.
“Alex came to us from Gardner Webb with an All-American pedigree,” Mackay said.
“He’s such a quiet, nice guy outside of competition. He flips the switch when he steps
in the ring and he’s a beast of a competitor. I think he has an opportunity to have
a special performance this week.”
Young, the Southland Conference Outdoor Newcomer of the Year in his first year
in Hammond, will look to continue his upward trend in the event. He had a personal
best last month in Jacksonville.
“If I can PR again and make the finals, I’ll be happy.” Young said. “I’m comfortable
in the bigger competitions, because when I see someone I’m competing against throw
far that just pushes me to throw even further.”
Kinchen, who comes from nearby Ponchatoula and was the Southland champion in
the event, took a different road to his track success. As a freshman, he also was
a standout defensive lineman for the Southeastern football team. And at the time,
the hammer wasn’t something he was interested in, as he was more polished in the discus.
“Jonathan has only been throwing the hammer for three years,” Mackay said. “So
every day, even as a senior, he continues to get better. He and Alex are totally different
performers. Alex is more technically sound, but Jonathan’s success is largely due
to his pure power. I’m really proud of the work he has put in to blend his strength
with his technique. Now that he’s put it all together, he’s really reaching his potential.”
For his part, Kinchen is satisfied with his decisions to concentrate fully on
track and give in to his coaches’ desires for him to try the hammer throw.
“I wasn’t sure whether I was going to stick with football or not, so the hammer
looked like it was too technical and I wanted to stay with what I knew, which was
the discus,” Kinchen said. “I think I made the right decision to fully concentrate
on track. Track has been very enjoyable for me. I like pushing myself to beat the
standard I’ve set.”
Frazier is the first SLU woman to advance to the NCAA Championships in nearly
a decade. Mackay is quick to point out the attribute that has made the Lady Lion junior
successful.
“Misha is just an all-around great athlete,” Mackay commented. “In high school,
in addition to track, she also was a great volleyball and basketball player. There’s
not a doubt in my mind that she could succeed on the Division I level in either of
those sports. She’s very self-motivated and a quick learner, which coupled with her
next-level athleticism has led to her success.”
Much like Kinchen, Frazier is pleased with her choice to concentrate on track
as a collegian.
“I miss volleyball and basketball because of the team aspect, although you get
some of that in track even though it’s an individual competition,” Frazier said. “But
I definitely made the right choice. I love throwing.”
Frazier, the Southland Conference outdoor champion in the shot put, was the standout
female in a quintet of Southland champion throwers. Frazier enjoyed being a part of
a group that included Young, Kinchen, league discus champion Brett Olsen and Southland
javelin champion Derek Hampton, as well as javelin regional qualifier Collin Rowland.
“It’s fun to be able to compete with them,” Frazier said. “Alex and Jonathan
are great training partners, because we can bounce things off of each other. They
pick on me sometimes like I’m their little sister, but I like being the only girl
out here with the guys.”
In Jacksonville, Frazier competed in the second flight of three in the hammer
throw. Having posted what Mackay described as, ‘for her, a B-plus throw,’ Frazier
had to wait through a 30-minute warmup and the performances of the 16-member third
flight. When she finally realized that she had cracked the top 12 necessary to advance,
she searched out Mackay.
“That was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” Frazier said. “Me and Brett (Olsen)
just sat there and kept refreshing the live results and I kept watching my name drop.
When it was finally over and I realized I was in, I didn’t know what to do. Then I
saw Coach Mackay and I just ran over and full-on tackled him and was just so happy.”
Mackay was equally excited for his protégé.
“There were probably 12 to 15 people who were walking through the entrance at
the time of that scene,” Mackay said. “To see Misha that happy, I guarantee it made
their day.”
Young and Kinchen will compete on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. On Thursday, Frazier
will compete at 3:30 p.m. Both events will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
Professional activities
Dr. Alan Cannon (Mathematics) has been informed that his paper “Centers and Generalized Centers of
Nearrings Without Identity,” which is coauthored with three recent Southeastern mathematics
graduates, has been accepted for publication in the Missouri Journal of Mathematical Sciences. Coauthors are Vincent Glorioso, currently a graduate student at Auburn University;
Brad Hall, who will attend Wake Forest University in the fall of 2015; and Taylor
Triche, currently a graduate student at Boston University.
ByLion is published weekly online (bi-weekly during the summer session) for the faculty and staff of Southeastern Louisiana University. Send submissions to publicinfo@southeastern.edu, SLU 10880, fax 985-549-2061, or bring to University Marketing and Communications Office in East Stadium. Submission deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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