Faculty and Staff Sketches

August 31, 2021 (Volume 45, Number 1)

Copy URL

In the News

James K. Winkler Jr., senior staff athletic trainer, was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Athletic Trainer Board. His term began in June and will end in 2025.

Richard Gross, who graduated with a master's degree in engineering, received the 2021 Distinguished Thesis Award from the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools for his thesis,  “Algorithm for Geodetic Positioning Based on Angle-Of-Arrival of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcasts” Gross is the first GVSU student to earn the award.

Grand Valley was among 66 institutions selected to participate in the Association of American Colleges and Universities Institute on Open Educational Resources in late July. The institute was sponsored by the Pew Faculty Teaching Learning Center and University Libraries, with additional funding from the Accelerating OER Innovation Fund program. Matt Ruen, scholarly communications outreach coordinator, said Grand Valley was the only institution to have a student, Faith Kidd, Student Senate vice president for educational affairs, participate. Other faculty and staff members who participated were Bobbie Biby, Patty Stow Bolea, Séverine Collignon, Amber Dierking, Courtney Karasinski, Justin Melick, Steve Schlicker and William Washington.

Sketches

Faculty and staff members who have given virtual presentations or had their research published are detailed below. The campus community can submit a sketch via email to [email protected].

Annis Water Resources Institute faculty members Sarah Hamsher, James N. McNair, Sean Woznicki and graduate student Emily Neuman gave a presentation, “Using a Random Forest Algorithm to Predict Suitable Habitat for Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa),” at the 2021 virtual Northeast Algal Symposium. 

Engineering faculty members Lindsay Corneal and Wendy Reffeor were named fellows in the third cohort of the IAspire Leadership Academy, a leadership program aimed at helping STEM faculty from underrepresented backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at colleges and universities. 

Carl Ruetz, associate professor of water resources, gave the keynote address, “Connectivity and Movement of Fishes Inhabiting Lake Michigan Drowned River Mouths,” at the annual meeting of the Mississippi River Research Consortium.

Sean Woznicki, assistant professor of water resources, gave an invited lecture, “Mapping Floodplains, Wetlands, and Agricultural Runoff: A Geospatial Perspective for Preserving Freshwater Resources,” at BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.

Sarah Nechuta, assistant professor of public health, was a co-author of an article, "Prediction Models for Breast Cancer Prognosis among Asian Women", published in Cancer.

Jina Lee, assistant professor of criminal justice, was a co-author of an article, "The Specific Deterrent Effects of Criminal Sanctions for Intimate Partner Violence," published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.

Jennifer Marson-Reed, assistant professor of criminal justice, wrote an article, "The Rwandan Diaspora: Residual Politics and the Culture of Silence," published in the Journal of Sociology and Social Work.

Emily First, student support manager, gave a presentation at the Higher Education Case Managers Association Conference.

Adrienne Wallace, assistant professor of advertising and public relations, was a co-author of an article, "Shifting the Paradigm: Improving Student Awareness of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts Through Public Relations Campaigns," published in the Journal of Public Relations Education. Wallace gave a presentation, "Revisioning the Student-Run Agency through the Pandemic: Lessons Learned," at the UNCW IMC Conference.

Jennifer Fortuna, assistant professor of occupational science and therapy, wrote three articles published in the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy; Fortuna gave presentations, "A Survey of Universal Design Principles at Museums," at the Georgia Association of Museums Annual Conference, and "Exploring Associations Between Health Literacy and Visual Impairment in Older Adults with Age-Related Macular Degeneration," at the American Occupational Therapy Association Inspire Conference.

Eric Kunnen, senior director, IT Innovation and Research, wrote an article, "Pioneering the Future Through Technology Innovation," published in CIO Review.

Bob Swieringa, assistant professor of communication studies, wrote an article, "The ASIFA Prize Laureates: 35 Years Honoring Contributors to Independent Animated Film," published in ASIFA Magazine: The International Film Journal and gave an invited presentation, "The ASIFA Prize Laureates," at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

Ross Sherman, associate professor of movement science, gave a presentation, "Heat Stress, Hydration and Cooling," to three shifts of the Grand Rapids Fire Department as part of the Safety Stand Down event.

Categories

Faculty & Staff Sketches