Wichita State News: Geology

Faculty/staff news update: March/April 2013

Wed, 8 May 2013 13:26:00 CST

Academe welcomes news from WSU faculty and staff about research, teaching and service activities. This column recognizes grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and deaths of our current and former colleagues.

William Proctor Artz, instructional technologist and designer, School of Community Affairs, presented a paper "Secure Testing in the Virtual Classroom: Is It Even Possible?" at the Innovative Technology to Recharge and Connect (ITRAC) instructional technology conference on March 8.

Dinorah Azpuru, associate professor of political science, was invited to present her research on U.S-Latin America relations at the Woodrow Wilson Center, in Washington, D.C., on March 27. In the framework of the seminar "China in Latin America: Public Impressions and Policy Implications" she compared public opinion in the Americas about the influence and role of China and the United States in the region. Watch the webcast here.

Michael Birzer

Michael Birzer, professor, School of Community Affairs, worked with the Wichita Police Department's Command Staff on organizational transformation and issues. He also recently received a $32,000 grant award from the Kansas Department of Transportation to continue his research on racial profiling across the state of Kansas.

Travis Bruce, assistant professor, history, has published a book about the trading community of Denia, a Muslim city state in al-Andalus in the Middle Ages, and the trade links and cultural ties between the Muslim and Christian worlds.

Amy Delamaide, director, community and organizational development, WSU Center for Community Support and Research, was recently named a BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer and is now certified to deliver BoardSource's signature nonprofit governance trainings in the Midwest and Great Plains area. BoardSource supports and promotes excellence in nonprofit board service by providing cutting-edge thinking and resources on board effectiveness and by engaging and developing the next generation of board leaders.

Amy DeVault, assistant professor, Elliott School of Communication, earned four awards in the Kansas Professional Communicators 2012 contest: First and second in magazine page design; first in PR magazine (editing/creative direction); and second in magazine feature story. First-place winners move on to compete at the national level.

Ed Flentje

Ed Flentje, professor, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, was recognized at the December 2012 legislative policy summit for outstanding service in fostering regional cooperation for south-central Kansas. At the invitation of the Center for Information and Resources for Development, he also traveled to Asuncion, Paraguay to participate in the Public Policy and Presidential Elections Project. This trip was the seventh of an eight-part series to educate and engage political activists on democracy, elections and public policy prior to upcoming elections in April 2013.

Mark Glaser, professor, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, and Misty Bruckner and Corinne Bannon, both from the Center for Urban Studies, collaborated with the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County as part of a four-step process to guide a comprehensive plan update and to develop and implement a multiphase citizen engagement effort. Glaser was also recently appointed to the publication committee of the American Society for Public Administration. This is a prestigious appointment to the committee that oversees publication of the Public Administration Review, the top rated journal in the field.

Sabrina Perez Glatt, director of field practicum, School of Social Work, is the 2013recipient of the Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to an unclassified professional who models the standard of extraordinary service.

Brandy Jackson, undergraduate program director, was approved to receive funding from the College of Health Professions' IPE Fund to support participation in the Team STEPPS training program at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Phyllis Jacobs, assistant professor, nursing, and her husband, Lou, are receiving the 2013 Joel A. Gingras, Jr. Award from the American Brain Tumor Association. The award recognizes individuals, organizations or groups who through philanthropy, advocacy, discovery or patient care and support, have had a transformative impact on the advancement of the mission of the American Brain Tumor Association. Phyllis and Lou have facilitated a brain tumor support group called Headstrong at Victory in the Valley in Wichita for the past 14 years. The Award will be given at the American Brain Tumor Association national conference in Chicago in July.

Kim Johnson, DNP Candidate, whose submission titled "Does primary care provider advance directive education influence attitudes and practice?," was accepted as a poster presentation at the Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. She was also selected to participate by WSU in the Rising Stars of Scholarship and Research Poster Program at Sigma Theta Tau International's 42nd Biennial Convention.

Stuart Lasine, professor of religion, has been elected vice president of the Society of Biblical Literature's southwest region. In 2014 he'll become president-elect and then in 2015, president.

Jacquelyn McClendon, senior clinical educator, Kelly Anderson (Dental Hygiene) and Mary Koehn (CHP IPE coordinator) abstract, "Making IPE Discipline Relevant" was accepted for presentation at the Collaborating Across Borders IV Conference in Canada.

Cheryl Miller, assistant dean, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned several awards in the 2012 Kansas Professional Communicators contest: First in personality profile, first in editing; second in advertising; and third in editing. Miller also received honorable mentions in feature writing, personality profile, and specialty articles - travel. First-place winners move on to compete at the national level.

Pamela O'Neal, SON Academic Writing Specialist, and Michelle Dreiling, a graduate student at the Elliott School of Communication, were invited to Wiley College in Marshall TX to speak at the Ethical Student Leadership Conference about the WSU Hunger Awareness Initiative.

Susan Parsons, assistant professor; Carla A. Lee, Debbie Strickert and Margaret Trumpp are authors of an article entitled "Oral Care and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia-An Integrated Review of the Literature" accepted for publication in the forthcoming May/June 2013 issue of Dimensions in Critical Care Nursing.

Elaine Steinke, professor, nursing, Adult Health & Illness Clinical nurse specialist program coordinator, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program coordinator, had two book chapters published. Steinke, E. E. (2014). Ineffective sexuality patterns. In B. Ackley, G. Ladwig. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook,10th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; pp. 724-730. And Steinke, E. E. (2014). Sexual dysfunction. In B.Ackley, G. Ladwig. Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, 10th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier; pp. 717-724.

DISTINGUISHED AND PHENOMENAL AWARDS
The Wichita State University Women's Association named its Distinguished Gentlemen Award winners in March. They are: Wilson Baldridge, chair, Modern & Classical Languages; Michael L. Birzer, professor, criminal justice/director SCA; William Bischoff, professor, geology; Buma Fridman, chair and professor, mathematics; Terre Johnson, vice president for major gifts, WSU Foundation; Chuck Koeber, associate dean, liberal arts, professor, sociology; Ron Matson, interim dean, liberal arts and sciences; Rodney Miller, dean, College of Fine Arts; Rick Muma, associate provost and professor, public health; Ravi Pendse, vice president, Information Technology, and chief information officer; Wade Robinson, vice president for Campus Life and University Relations; Mel Whiteside, director, engineering technology program;

The Office of Multicultural Affairs announced its Phenomenal Women of the Year at the fifth annual Phenomenal Women Award Recognition on March 14. Jean Patterson, from the Educational Leadership Department was awarded Faculty Phenomenal Woman of the Year. Frankie Brown, from Human Resources was awarded the Unclassified Professional Staff Phenomenal Woman of the Year. Juanita Reed from the Alumni Association was awarded the Classified Staff Phenomenal Woman of the Year. These women were recognized along with five other nominees.

IN MEMORIAM

Ronald Christy, 63, business instructor at Wichita State University, died Monday, April 22. He is survived by a son, Cody; Cody's mother, Linda Pool; extended family members, Jamie Doss, Mary Giordenella Belden and Wanda Aikin, and their children Jordan Doss, Kaylee Doss, Brooklyn Aikin, Madison Aikin, Makenna Belden and Cade Belden, who referred to Mr. Christy as Grandpa. Mr. Christy was a pioneer in entrepreneurial education and was instrumental in helping Fran Jabara found WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship in 1977. Mr. Christy taught the widely acclaimed "Your Future in Business" class to thousands of Kansans in the 1970s and 1980s. He co-authored four books on entrepreneurship, was the recipient of the prestigious Sargent Americanism Award, as well as the Outstanding Teaching Award from the W. Frank Barton School of Business. As a businessman, he founded several businesses and was a sought after consultant for over 35 years. The Ron Christy Entrepreneurship Memorial has been established through the WSU Foundation. Donations can be sent to support this memorial, in lieu of flowers, to 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260-0002. Services have been held.

Jeraldine Cobb, 77, retired, died April 15. Services have been held. Survivors: husband, James; sons, Terry (Diane) Evans, Larry Evans, Michael Cobb ; daughter, Jacqueline Cobb ; sister, Roberta (Lawrence) Crockett; brother, Claude (Linda) Dayton; 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a host of other relatives, Strangers Rest family and friends.

Donald Leroy Foster, 77, retired Wichita State Physics professor, died Sunday, May 5. He taught at WSU for 39 years, where he served as department chair. He is preceded in death by parents, Raymond and Hilda Mae (McCrea) Foster. Mr. Foster is survived by his cherished wife, Deanna; sister, Susan A. Foster; children, Andrew (Amy) Foster, Matt (Lucinda) Foster, Brandie (Kevin Blount) French and Kelly French; 12 grandchildren, Josh, Nick, Jack, Ethan, Luke, Zach, Alex, Sebastian, Sofia, Evelyn, Levi and Lydia; and one great-grandchild. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 9, followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m., both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Memorials may be sent to National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 51018, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741. Baker Funeral Home, Wichita.

Doris Kathleen "Kathy" Lewis, 73, former chair and associate professor, physical therapy, died March 11 in Peoria. Services have been held. She is survived by her daughter, Terri Lewis, and son-in-law, Daniel Angot, of Peoria; grandsons, Dustin and Jordan Angot; four brothers; two sisters; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery Program in Peoria.

Marguerite "Mickey" Miller, 92, professor emeritus and longtime former chair of keyboard, College of Fine Arts, died April 17. She was preceded in death by parents, Joe and Mary Smith; husband, Luther; and grandson, Brandon. Survivors include sons Joe of Wichita, Jay (Madeline) of Lake Forest, Ill., and Jon of Kechi; daughter, Jean Little (Kent) of Kechi; three grandchildren. In accordance with her wishes, services will be private.

Gilbert "Gil" Perez, 61, WSU Environmental Scientist, passed away Saturday, April 27, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Perez; children, Paul (Annie) Perez, Angela Perez, Isaac (Crystal) Perez, all of Wichita; grandchildren, LaTaylah, Zayda, Adrian, Evan, Aiden, Brittany (Kade), Cidnie, Daphne, Emilie and Remi; mother, Beatrice Perez of Kinsley; brothers, John (Olga) Perez of Dodge City, Larry Perez of Kinsley, Tom (Diane) Perez of Dodge City; sisters, Rose Perez of Kinsley, Gloria (Joe) Lock of Lewis and Mary (Alvaro) Bencomo of Dodge City; many other family and friends. Services have been held. Memorials to Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67204. Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center.

Bischoff stepping down as dean to return to faculty

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:00:00 CST

Bill Bischoff

Bill Bischoff, dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University, will step down as dean at the end of the academic year in June to return to the faculty as a professor in geology.

Bischoff has been dean for 11 years after serving four years as associate dean.

"I have had the privilege of working closely with Bill for the past 11 years and know firsthand the time and energy that he has put into being dean," said Keith Pickus, interim provost at Wichita State. "His commitment to the college and the university has been absolute, and I am confident that this will continue when he returns to the faculty."

Before serving as dean, Bischoff taught for 13 years in the geology department, including three as chairman.

"It has been my pleasure to serve as dean for these many years. I want to thank all of the great faculty and administrators I've worked with to advance Fairmount College and Wichita State," said Bischoff. "I look forward to my return to the faculty for the opportunities it affords me to work more closely with students, faculty and the geological community."

Pickus is asking WSU faculty to indicate whether they're interested in serving as interim dean for 2012-13. He will work with the LAS College Council to review the qualifications of those interested in the position before naming an interim dean.

Pickus anticipates that a national search will commence for a new college dean after a new president completes a search for provost.

Volcano becomes Wichita State student's temporary home

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:40:00 CST

Living on a volcano is crazy, right? Not necessarily. For Wichita State student Janine Keeler, it's a dream come true.

The WSU education major and Wichita resident is participating in a three-week field camp on a volcano. At the University of Hawaii at Hilo's Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, Keeler is operating tools used by volcanologists, collecting data on active volcanoes and interpreting the findings.

The opportunity to monitor and train on Mount Mauna Loa and Mount Kilauea will be beneficial to Keeler in her pursuit of becoming an Earth and science teacher. Her desire to teach stems from her childhood. Her uncle once built a school table, benches and a chalkboard so she could teach her dyslexic brother how to read.

Now a 50-year-old mother of two and grandmother of four, Keeler began her college career at age 32.

Keeler already has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, minors in psychology, addiction counseling and sociology, and a master's in anthropology, specializing in incarcerated American Indians.

Keeler teaches supplemental sessions for geology classes.

"I hope to inspire my future students to become interested in science as we need that in today's world," she said. "I also hope to transfer my knowledge on a college level to the WSU students who attend my supplemental instruction sessions. I want all of my students to know that despite age, gender or disability, they can achieve their dreams."

Toni Jackman, a professor in geology in WSU, introduced Keeler to the summer field camp opportunity and recommended her for the experience. Jackman often posts such opportunities for students.

Living on a volcano

Keeler was chosen to be one of 16 people to participate in the camp. The group is staying in hostel-style dormitories. They are learning topics in physical volcanology, gas chemistry, ground deformation and seismology. Then students will present case study reports in groups.

With the help of donations from a fundraiser and her supporters, Keeler paid $1,785 for the field camp. WSU paid for her airfare.
Keeler plans to record her experience through a handwritten journal. She says her friends call her "a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, primitive as can be" because she does not use a mobile phone, have Internet or cable TV.

She will complete the field camp on Aug. 5 and return to WSU to continue her education degree.

Geology professor's research highlighted in national publication

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 10:55:00 CST

Wichita State University geology professor Sal Mazzullo, WSU alumnus Brian Wilhite, and graduate students Beau Morris and Robert Turner were featured in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists "Explorer," the flagship publication for the petroleum geology industry.

The AAPG "Explorer," which is read by tens of thousands of people each month, published two articles in the May issue detailing new research done by Mazzullo, Wilhite, Darwin Boardman from Oklahoma State University, and several graduate students.

The publication features new and innovative advances in the understanding of Mississippian-age stratigraphic architecture and its relevance to the exploration for petroleum occurrences in the subsurface rocks in Kansas, Oklahoma and throughout the mid-continent.

Their research greatly expands Mazzullo and Wilhite's earlier studies of the subsurface Mississippian-age Cowley Formation in Kansas. That research was published in the 2009 issue of the "Bulletin" of the AAPG.

The Cowley Formation is a very prolific, but previously poorly understood petroleum reservoir in the mid-continent, Mazzullo said.

Advances in understanding of the stratigraphic architecture gained from their work at the outcrop level in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma has been re-applied to the subsurface of Oklahoma and Kansas to aid in better understanding previously misinterpreted reservoirs, hence adding new hydrocarbon production, Wilhite said.

In large part because of their research, Mazzullo said, now oil exploration can be more methodical, based on clear, concise and repeatable/testable science.

'Jumping on this information'

Oil exploration that used to be hit-and-miss is now more successful.

That's good news for petroleum geologists and oil and gas companies.

"The mid-continent region is experiencing a renaissance in exploration and production based on new drilling technology and a renewed desire to better understand discrete reservoir objectives, which makes the timing of our work quite relevant to Mississippian exploration," Wilhite said.

It's also a boost to local economy, meaning more money for landowners as the oil companies lease property for exploration. Subsequent oil and gas production from this recent leasing activity will yield additional tax revenues to county and state coffers.

"For the first time, we now have a more coherent picture of the Mississippian-age reservoirs that have produced so much oil and gas in the mid-continent, and petroleum geologists are literally jumping on this information," Mazzullo said.

Wichita State to host JASON DAYS for young students

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:51:00 CST

About 525 elementary and middle-school students will participate in "JASON DAYS: Tectonic Fury," a weeklong science program at Wichita State University, Sept. 27-Oct. 1.

The event is part of National Geographic's JASON project, a year-round scientific expedition created by explorer, Titanic discoverer and native Wichitan, Robert Ballard.

"JASON brings science alive by exposing students to real-world scientists and work they do in the field through hands-on exploration and discovery," said Amy Strong, assistant director of Wichita State's Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education and JASON program manager. "Teachers love the event because of the exposure to science their students get."

Teachers incorporate the JASON project curriculum, aligned with the National Science Education Standards, in their classrooms throughout the year. Each year WSU hosts JASON DAYS to give students the opportunity to meet active local scientists and apply what they've learned in different events.

This year's program focuses on geology. In the showcase event, students will learn about erosion and weathering using stream tables. In the theater event, WSU geology faculty member Collette Burke, WSU geology graduates Marjorie Noel and Angie Chadd and local scientist Mike Dealy of the Kansas Geological Survey will share with students about their day-to-day jobs and how they prepared for their careers.

"It's a great learning experience and a lot of fun for the students," said Strong.

WSU's participation in the JASON Project is supported financially by senior sponsors Toyota USA Foundation and The Boeing Co. Additional support comes from Excel/Cargill Cares, the Cargill Contributions Committee and the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.

The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences houses the JASON project and the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Fairmount College offers majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and programs of professional training.

Freshman rower comes to WSU Crew with unique experience

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:07:11 CST

Incoming freshman Sydney Fish began her rowing career in 2007, and she will continue rowing at Wichita State University for WSU Crew.

Her first experience in competitive water sport was at 6 years old as a swimmer. Fish spent her summers at Twin Rivers swim club and swam for Wichita East High School for four years.

"I've never been a particularly great swimmer or a team star," she said, "but if my boat sank a couple miles away from a remote island shore, I'd survive."

Fish responded to a recruiting call from the Wichita Rowing Association when she was 16.

"Usually, you have to do a lot of training on land before you can get in a boat on the water," she said, "but the very first day I showed up, I got plopped in a boat and started rowing."

She said she picked up the sport in a couple of weeks and competed in her first regatta that fall.

Fish is the captain of the juniors' team and a member of the board, representing junior rowers, at the Wichita Rowing Association.

Her success traveled to WSU where she competed in the Shocker Sprints, an indoor regatta raced individually on rowing machines. She won both races in the junior women's division.

"But that race is really intense so I pretty much felt like a blob of jelly after it," she said.

Fish said the WSU Crew brought her on because she had past rowing experience, which is rare in Wichita.

"They realize that I'm going to hit the ground running, and I'll put in a lot of focus and effort and push myself," she said.

Fish will join the novice team when she begins college in the fall, but she does not know where she'll be placed in the boat.

"I'm an experienced rower on both starboard and port, not to mention stroke and bow and any seat in between," she said. "I can be useful wherever I'm put."

Fish will major in geology at WSU.

"I've always been an enthusiastic student of science, especially chemistry, and the earth sciences particularly interest me," she said.

But she also said she may not have chosen geology if it had not been for family members working as geologists.

"They really got me interested in it," she said.

Fish applied to both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas and was offered small rowing scholarships, but she said WSU was a better fit.

"I'm really excited about coming to WSU," she said. "It'll be a lot more compatible to my learning style, and I'm just ready to make the change."

Fish said she's an explorer and, as she did with rowing, she's always willing to try something new.

Lt. Gov. Parkinson to attend WSU Earth Day panel

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:03:09 CST

Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson plans to take part in a panel discussion titled "Green Energy Options in Kansas," on Earth Day at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22.

Mark Parkinson

The event will be held at Wichita State University in 209 Hubbard Hall. Parkinson is co-chair of the Kansas Energy Council and chair of the Kansas Wind Working Group.

Additional confirmed panelists include Kansas Sen. Donald Betts Jr.; WSU Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Wentz; and several other green energy experts. Betts has recently dealt with the proposed Holcomb coal-fired power plant expansion issue in the Kansas Legislature. He also is running for the seat in Congress currently held by Rep. Todd Tiahrt.

Wentz is working to develop a carbon footprint for the city of Wichita. He also is former executive director of the National Institute for Aviation research.

The panel will be moderated by WSU geology instructor Toni Jackman, assistant director of WSU's Center for Environment and Human Health.

The panel discussion will be preceded by a short documentary, "Revolution Green: A True Story of Biodiesel in America." The documentary has won awards at several film festivals and features Willie Nelson with narration by Woody Harrelson. Revolution Green is being shown through a special arrangement with the producer. More information can be found at www.revolutiongreen.com.

This event is co-sponsored by the WSU Green Group, WSU College Democrats, WSU Center for Environment and Human Health and WSU Student Activities Council. The goal of the event is to engage the community in an honest discussion of Kansas energy policy, green energy options and potential green energy solutions in Kansas.

WSU Green Group is an officially recognized WSU student organization. The mission of the group is to encourage the community to be conscious of its relationship with a shared natural environment. The group advocates conservation, awareness, responsibility and education. Additional information about the WSU Green Group can be found at www.wichita.edu/wsugreengroup.

The WSU Center for Environment and Human Health is a statewide clearinghouse for environmental, community coalitions, networks of community members and nonprofit health and human service organizations. More information about CEHH can be found at http://webs.wichita.edu/cehh/.

Geology department hosting 2008 Open House

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 10:43:52 CST

The Wichita State University geology department and WSU GeoAdvisory Association are hosting the Geology Open House from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in the Geology Building on the WSU campus.

The free event will allow people to reconnect with alumni and friends; visit with faculty, staff and students; learn about undergraduate and graduate geology programs; and see the department's geology collections and exhibitions.

The 2007-2008 Scholarship Award Presentation will be held from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by a lunch buffet. From noon-5 p.m. there will be tours, presentations and showcases.

For more information, call Kevin Smith, senior administrative assistant, at (316) 978-3140 or go to http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=geoscience&p=index.